Roma’s little ghost: City Hall haunted by playful spirit

ROMA, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Roma’s historic downtown plaza, renowned for its centuries-old buildings, has long been shrouded in tales of restless spirits. From ghostly cries of a woman in white to the echo of old wagons at midnight, locals say the past is never far away.

Now, city employees and business owners say the spirits are more than just stories—they’re part of daily life.

Arlene Ceballos, front desk administrator for the City of Roma, says one particular spirit, a little girl she’s named “Paty,” has made herself at home in City Hall.

“It’s an everyday thing. You can see right now that they’re messed up. I don’t even know why. But yes, sometimes even the windows, especially one over there, it opens by itself. So, we don’t know as to why, but it happens every day. Hourly, it happens a lot,” Ceballos said.

Ceballos describes objects being moved constantly, doors locking or opening on their own, and papers mysteriously disappearing. Despite the unusual activity, she says Paty is more a friend than a fright.

“I see Patricia as one of my friends because when I’m very frustrated, she always does something and we just like start talking about it, and it’s like all the frustration goes away, so I am pretty comfortable with Patricia,” she said.

Downtown business owners also report unexplained occurrences. Iris Ojeda, owner of Porcion 72, says items often vanish only to reappear later.

“When you leave something on the table, the counter, anywhere, you are more than sure that you left it there, but you turn around and by the time you say I left it here, it’s not there anymore,” Ojeda said.

Ojeda also recounted a visit from a medium who confirmed the presence of the spirit of a playful little girl in her restaurant.

“She started saying that this is a happy place. Then the Ring doorbell rang, and we opened the door—there was nobody there. She said it’s just a little girl. She means no harm,” Ojeda said.

Noel Benavides Jr., owner of Casa del Rio, believes the encounters connect the city to its spiritual past.

“I believe the presence of our ancestors is always here with us. I felt it when we started restoring this building 20 years ago. The spiritual history, the spirits—they really shine through in this historic area,” Benavides said.

The story of Paty, who is rumored to have fallen from a balcony decades ago, is now part of Roma’s identity. Locals say the friendly spirit adds a unique charm to City Hall and the surrounding historic district.

Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, in Roma, the past isn’t just history—it’s present.