MAYSVILLE, Ky. (WKRC) – On the eve of Halloween, the Maysville community celebrates the start of a new chapter for the old Hayswood Hospital, a building long said to be haunted.

The hospital has stood empty since it closed in 1983, with reports of flickering lights and mysterious images fueling its ghostly reputation. Paranormal investigations have even been carried out on site.

Finally, Wednesday marked the start of cleanup work at the hospital, thanks to a nearly $2 million federal grant aimed at removing hazardous materials, including asbestos and lead paint. Gov. Andy Beshear visited Maysville to celebrate the grant.

Contractors have submitted bids for the cleanup work, which is expected to begin by the end of the year and could take six to nine months. The project aims to transform the building into a mix of residential and commercial spaces.