The Feathered Monster of Lincoln County

"Don't shoot me, bro."
The stare of the Shoebill Stork

Between February and October of 1896, newspapers around the country (except any in West Virginia that I have access to) ran an interesting story of a large, unknown "feathered monster." These cookie-cutter articles claim that Elias Midkiff of Hamlin had visited Charleston in hopes of convincing the State Historical and Antiquarian Society that if they'd send a taxidermist to Lincoln County, he'd ensure they'd be adding a bird specimen that no one had ever seen before...at least not here in West Virginia!

The bird in question was shot by a Mr. W.W. Adkins while out on a deer-hunting trip, just south of Hamlin in the Ranger area, near Vannater's Creek. According to Adkins' story, the bird had been circling in the sky before alighting on the water, where he was able to get a good shot at it. He got it in the wing, hoping to take it alive, but as it was overly aggressive, he had to finish the job. It took five bullets to finally bring the monster bird down. 

Adkins and Midkiff measured the bird, which was 7 feet, 4 inches from tip to tip (I'm guessing wingspan), and 4 feet from the tip of its bill to the tip of its tail. Its bill was flat, like a duck's and measured 4 inches long and 3 inches wide. It had webbed feet located at the end of its 11-inch legs. The coloring was dark brown, with light blue highlights along the wings and breast.

Adult Shoebill

I couldn't find any follow-up as to whether the creature was ever taxidermized, and if so, where it ended up. There's really not a good date as to when this actually happened, as the story leaves that detail out and the story literally ran in different newspapers over the span of at least 8 months. The newspaper article below is from February 1896, but the same article ran as late as October of that same year. 

Out of curiosity, I searched the physical description given of the bird, and Google's best guess is that it might be a juvenile shoebill stork. While adults are usually a lighter gray color (possibly mistaken for light blue?), the juveniles are brown in color. These would be birds that have a HUGE duck-like bill, long legs, and webbed feet. I can't vouch for how aggressive they are, but if you look at pictures of these things, they just LOOK like they'd mess you up, especially after you SHOT them. The problem is, the shoebill stork is absolutely not native to West Virginia, or even the United States. Could a bird all the way from a limited geographical region in Africa make it to a little West Virginia town, or was this really some mysterious, unknown cryptid? Or...was the whole story simply a tale taller than the bird itself? 

As we enter the final stretch to the annual Mothman Festival and are just a couple months out from the first wave of the 1966-67 Pt. Pleasant sightings, I love sharing additional stories of large, unknown bird-like creatures terrorizing the skies over the Mountain State. West Virginia has no shortage of strange creatures, on land, in water, or in the air. 

The Bay City Times (Michigan)
4 February 1896

The Phillips House: A Hinton Historic Home

Phillips Residence (Hinton, WV)
Currently REACHH Child Advocacy Center
Photo from Google Maps

A white frame home sits at 411 Temple Street in Hinton, WV. Built around 1910-1911, the former residence houses REACHH, a charitable organization aimed at community outreach and youth services. It serves as the Child Advocacy Center, with a playroom for Birth-Age 5 programs, counseling services, intervention services, abuse awareness, and a host of other services for the area's youth. But, it once was just a normal family home in Hinton. 

The home was (most-likely) built by the Phillips Family. George Phillips, like so many other Hinton residents, worked as an engineer for the C&O Railroad. George Hayward Phillips was born on March 16, 1860 in Fayetteville to Mary Elizabeth and James Phillips. He settled in Hinton in the early 1890's, where he married Amanda Lowry Bailey, a widow with a young daughter of her own. They were married on October 23, 1893.

Amanda Hallie Lowry was born near Salt Sulphur Springs on February 14, 1864 to Samuel and Sarah Lowry. Her family arrived in Hinton in the early 1880s, where she married her first husband, James Henry Bailey, who passed away in 1890. Together, they had a daughter named Clara.

It doesn't appear that Amanda and George had any additional children. George continued to work as an engineer for C&O, and to pass the time, Amanda operated a floral shop out of the home for many years. Each holiday season, the local newspaper was filled with ads for the women of Hinton to come to Mrs. Philllips' home at 411 Temple Street to purchase their Easter lilies, Christmas wreaths, and any other decorative and/or exotic plants they could want for their homes. 

Death would come for Amanda Phillips on Halloween morning at 8 am, 1942. She had been ill for over two years and had recently taken a turn for the worse, but the doctors thought she was improving. Unfortunately, they were wrong. Amanda passed away in her Temple Street home from complications due to diabetes. Within a few months, the home was listed in the newspaper for sale, and George went to live with the Hedricks family on Tunnel Hill.

Photo from REACHH Child Advocacy Center FaceBook

George's own health had been in decline since his retirement in 1938. He would pass away at the Hedrick home on May 16, 1946 from pneumonia. Both George and Amanda were buried in Hinton's Greenbrier Burial Park. Despite the couple being well-known and respected citizens, involved in many civic and church activities (he was a Mason, she was an Eastern Star, for example), George had very little family left upon his death. He was survived by a sister, and his step-daughter, Clara, and her husband Allen Hill. 

Over the years, several additional families called the old house home, both the main living area and the attached above-garage apartment. In 1956, there was a near-fatal fire at this apartment that almost took the lives of a father and two small children. While Mrs. Morgan was at her nursing job at the local hospital, her husband, Homer and their two children (Cecil, 3 and Susie, 18 months) napped. Cecil woke his father up to tell him that the apartment was filled with smoke. Homer was able to safely exit the blaze with his two children, singing his hair and eyebrows in the process. 1956 was not a great year for the Morgan family, as that year Mrs. Morgan's sister, Jennie Lester passed away. Her body was brought to the home on 411 Temple for the funeral. 

In 1951, there was another near-fatal accident in the home. E.D. Fredeking, a C&O fireman, took a nasty fall down the stairs before bedtime, around 10:30pm. He tumbled down 15 steps and was bruised severely. He was also bleeding profusely from several cuts on his head. The doctors believed he had fractured his skull, but luckily, the hospital checked him out and he suffered no broken bones. 

The REACHH House/Phillips House is one of the featured locations on Hinton's Haunt Fest 2025 Creepy Crawl! Come join Appalachian Ghost Tours for a rare chance to investigate the potential paranormal activity! Can we capture on audio the residual "thump, thump, thump" and the unfortunate Mr. Fredeking takes a nasty tumble down the stairs? Does the aroma of violets and roses still permeate the air as a testament to the love and devotion by Mrs. Phillips to her craft? Or, do the spirits of those who lived and died in the home still walk its halls?

There have been recent reports of visitors having personal communications come through the spirit box from what appears to be an intelligent haunting connected with the home. From hearing one's name called to having confirmation that yes, the spirit DID know the person 'since they were a little girl' definitely indicates that the property is still home to at least one former resident. 

To find out for yourself, come see me on Saturday, September 13th at 411 Temple Street! From 7pm to 12am, the building will be open for paranormal investigation and exploration. Bring your own equipment, or borrow ours---we'll guide you through the building and ghost hunting process. The cost is only $25, which includes full access to all speakers and workshops during the day. You may stay in one location the entire evening, or you can Creepy Crawl to a total of five locations throughout town, including the Poe Haus, the Campbell-Flanagan-Murrell Museum, the Summers County Library, and the old Wilson Warehouse. More information on Hinton Haunt Fest can be found at our Facebook Event Page, or on the flyer below!

The Independent Herald (Hinton, WV)
4 November 1942

Beckley Post Herald
17 May 1946

The Haunted Halloran Home (Hinton's Poe Haus)

Poe Haus (formerly the Halloran Home)
Hinton, WV
Photo by Rachel Weaver

On the corner of Summers Street and Fourth Avenue in Hinton sits a beautiful and well-loved Queen Ann Victorian home. Now known as the Poe Haus, this magnificent piece of history and architecture dates back to 1896 when it became the family home of Dan Halloran, his wife Emma, and their seven (I think!) children. 

Dan was born in Washington, D.C. on July 4th, 1864, to parents John and Ellen, who hailed from Ireland. At the age of sixteen, he moved to Montgomery, WV where he got a job with the C&O Railroad as a car repairman. He was promoted to fireman in 1886, and then to engineer in 1887. The following year, he married Emma Humphreys, and within a few more years, the couple moved to Hinton and built their home.

Emma, who was born on March 23, 1872, near Montgomery to Thomas and Melissa Humphreys, raised seven children at the Summers Street home. Known for her skill at baking, the Halloran home was a popular party spot and after-school hangout for the local kids and teens. Mrs. Halloran made sure no one went away hungry; donuts, walnut fudge, cakes, candies, and other pastries were always in abundance. So was popular music. The Halloran family was a musically inclined one, with several of the children becoming proficient at the piano and son, Earl, taking up the banjo and the sax. Those who weren't playing an instrument sang and hummed along to favorite tunes of the day. 

But, the children would grow up and the parties would wind down. Two of the sons, Linville and R. Overt, went to medical school and became well-known physicians. Daughter Vera, married Dr. R.G. Broaddus. Earl, the banjo/saxophone playing son, was incredibly mechanically inclined. He enjoyed ham radio and aviation. In a controversial move, he piloted a plane 'rented' by coal operators during the mine wars to spy on miners' activities. On a return trip to Hinton from Logan in 1921, the plane crashed, and Earl narrowly escaped with his life. After settling in the Hinton area, he opened up an Oldsmobile dealership and garage with a partner, and later operated the Victory Bus Lines in town. 

Throughout it all, Dan Halloran continued to work as an engineer for the C&O Railroad, as did many men who lived in Hinton at the time. That almost all ended in 1909 when Mr. Halloran was involved in a major accident. A train derailment left him pinned under the fire box of the engine. When he was pulled out, he was unconscious with no pulse and had been vomiting blood. He had severe head and internal injuries and was burned severely on the back. It was assumed he would not make it when he was brought to the local hospital. However, miraculously, Halloran slowly recovered. He was able to go back to work and remained with the C&O until his retirement in 1933.

Dan Halloran's Tombstone
Greenbrier Cemetery
Photo by Find-a-Grave user (D. Mack)

Death would eventually find Mr. Halloran. After suffering from paralysis for several months, he passed away on July 16, 1942, at Raleigh General Hospital. He died around 3 am, with the official cause of death being pneumonia, a complication from the paralysis. He was buried in Greenbrier Cemetery in Hinton. 

After living in the home on Summers Street for 40 years, Emma moved to another beautiful home in the Bellepoint area. It is there that she died on November 23, 1960 at the age of 88. She was buried alongside her husband in Greenbrier Cemetery. 

Beginning in 1935, the Dillon Family became associated with the old Halloran home. In 1951, they were mentioned in the local paper for completed EXTENSIVE apartment renovations on the house. In fact, since 1931, rooms were being offered for rent at the 401 Summers Street address. A few of the names who were mentioned as living at this address over the years are as follows: 1935--S.B. Coleman and family (who welcomed a baby daughter), 1945--Mary Carden, 1945---Edna Hall (husband still on deployment at the time), 1947--Robert Sims (who also welcomed a daughter born in the house), 1947---Claude Scott, 1950---Mrs. Minnie Farr, who had taken in a Korean refugee (16 year old Insoo "Skippy" Kwak) after her son and the boy's guardian, Guss Farr, was killed in action, 1954---Sadie Steele, 1959---W.A. Womack, 1960---Dewey Ranson who complained of chest pains before heading to bed and died of a massive heart attack on arrival at the hospital, and 1973---Katherine Redden who started the Restlawn Cemetery with her husband and was a member of multiple civic organizations such as the Eastern Star, the Silver Leaf, and the White Shrine. 

In the early 2000s, ownership was under Larry and Sue Carmichael. However, in September of 2010, Mike and Alisha Segars opened up the Chestnut Revival. The coffee shop/tea room would have made Emma Halloran proud, as fresh-baked goodies were available each day, along with an extensive tea menu. Guests could enjoy the fare in a beautifully renovated sitting space and on occasion, experience live music and other events.  Services were expanded to renovate the upper areas of the building into a B&B space. 

Today, the Halloran house has resorted once again to a private family home and is being lovingly cared for, inside and out by Les Haas and family. Bursting with unique pieces of art, Victorian furnishings, plants, family, friends, and some adorable kitties, the home is the perfect combination of historical living space and museum. And, with many of Hinton's historic homes, the newly minted 'Poe Haus' may have a few ghosts lingering about.

In preparation for the upcoming Hinton Haunt Fest Creepy Crawl on September 13, 2025 (Facebook Event Page Link HERE), members of Appalachian Ghost Tours were graciously invited to explore the home in search of paranormal activity. We were not disappointed! Outside the home, shadow figures had been seen, lurking around the surrounding streets, that were once part of a bustling railroad town. Inside, phantom scents came and went, shadows moved under doorways, and some pretty strange stuff came across the spirit box. At one point, a member even got locked in the restroom! Some of our more intuitive members also picked up on several different entities that call the Poe Haus home, including Emma, who is the lady of the house, and possibly Dan. What was interesting is that several of us picked up on Mr. Flanagan, who lived at the other end of the block in what is now the Campbell-Flanagan-Murrell House Museum! Through cursory newspaper archive research, there is definitely a family connection between the two families, and the two men did work on the C&O together. Mr. Flanagan has not once attempted to speak or make his presence known to me over the multiple times I've investigated the CFM House Museum, so it was exceptionally weird that I tended to pick up on him down the street. 

As the new owners have not lived in the house long, and our investigation wasn't a full one, there are still many more mysteries to uncover and (hopefully!) many more spooky experiences to share at the Poe Haus! And, on September 13th, you'll have your own opportunity! As part of Hinton Haunt Fest, AGT will be hosting a city-wide paranormal investigation at FIVE different locations. Between 8pm and midnight, you may stop at our locations, listed below, and join us in an investigation. Pick one favorite to stay at the entire time, or "crawl" to each location when you're ready. The cost is $25, which also gets you access to all speakers and workshops being held throughout the day. 

CREEPY CRAWL DESTINATIONS:

1. Campbell-Flanagan-Murrell House Museum (422 Summers Street)

2. The Poe Haus (401 Summers Street)

3. Summers County Library (201 Temple Street)

4. The Reachh House (411 Temple Street)

5. Historic Wilson Warehouse (501 Commercial Street)

Forest Dale Cemetery's Not-So-Ghostly Ghost

Entrance to Forest Dale Cemetery
Malden, Mass
Photo by Find-a-Grave user (LMJ)

The Forest Dale or Forestdale Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts is picturesque tribute to the city's former residents. Laid out in 1884 by Boston surveyor, F.R. Page, the cemetery was formally dedicated on Memorial Day of 1885. For many years, the cemetery was also adjacent to property operated by the county alms house and 'Contagious Hospital'. It was one of the patients at this hospital that gave one passerby quite a fright back in 1915!

It was early in the morning when milk dealer, Isaac Cohen, passed by the cemetery on his route. What he saw, however, shocked him awake. Rushing through the cemetery at break-neck speed was a white figure. After rubbing his eyes and assuring himself that he wasn't just seeing things, Cohen made a hasty decision to follow the fleeing figure. 

As he caught up to the figure, he was probably pretty relieved to see that he hadn't been chasing a ghost at all. Rather, he had caught up with 14 year old Ivan Clark. Clark was a patient at the nearby Contagious Hospital and had escaped out a second-story window around 3 am when a nurse woke him up to give him some medicine. Cohen turned the kid over to authorities, and he was returned to the hospital to continue treatment for his diphtheria. 

Clark has to be commended for his extreme elusive action as he definitely didn't want to be confined any longer to the hospital, which is completely understandable. However, I think if I was Cohen, I'd have much rather had a run-in with a ghost than a living person with a presumed highly contagious and potentially fatal disease! 

The Sunday Telegram (Clarksburg, WV)
4 July 1915

Haunted Hinton: The Campbell-Flanagan-Murrell House

Campbell-Flanagan-Murrell House Museum
Hinton, WV

The Campbell-Flanagan-Murrell House Museum will be a featured location for Appalachian Ghost Tours' Hinton Haunt Fest, Saturday, September 13, 2025! Beginning at noon and throughout the day, we'll have various workshops going on at the museum. Later that evening, the house will be a featured investigation location on our Creepy Crawl! Come investigate the mysteries of the Campbell-Flanagan-Murrell House with AGT and support a wonderful piece of Hinton's history!

(Haunt Fest Hinton Event Page)

It is said that without the C&O Railroad, the town of Hinton, located in Summers County, West Virginia, would not have existed. At the very least, it would not have been the bustling city it once was at its peak. The area that is now Hinton was originally settled in the 1700's, with the Ballangee Family arriving around 1778 and owning most of the land. However, after the Civil War, with the country's railway system in shambles, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad company had big plans. With the help of Collis P. Huntington, they were intent of establishing major rail lines up and down the east coast. Here in the mountainous region of the newly minted state of West Virginia, these rail lines would largely follow the rivers. And in the soon-to-be town of Hinton, that meant construction of a railroad system along the mighty New River.

In 1871, the C&O Railroad purchased the Isaac Ballangee property, deeding the excess land not needed for the rail line to Collis P. Huntington's Central Land Company. In January of 1873, Huntington hired engineer Bennett R. Dunn to parcel out the land into lots, and thus, the town of Hinton was officially born. 

One such family that saw opportunity in this new railroad town was the Edgar Campbell family. Edgar and his second wife Elizabeth, came to Hinton and by 1875 had built what would become the Campbell-Flanagan-Murrell House Museum. Edgar and Elizabeth had three children (Mary, Alice, and Thomas) and Edgar had another daughter from a previous marriage (Caroline). Located at 422 Summers Street, the Campbells ran a general store out of the lower level of the home. 

Campbell-Flanagan-Murrell Home
Source: WV History on View

That same year, Alice Campbell married John Flanagan (December 2, 1875). John had come to Hinton a few years prior to work for the C&O Railroad. Described as a "fat little Irishman from a farm outside Charlottesville, Va.", John was actually a very well-liked and prominent citizen, belonging to such organizations as the Free Masons. In 1876, the Campbells deeded the house to Alice and John.

While maintaining the general store, John continued to work for C&O up until his tragic death. Although one of the more elderly employees, John was still considered an extremely capable and competent employee. Unfortunately, that would all come to an end on March 12, 1907. The train he was engineering, the Fast-Flying Virginian, had struck a slide eight miles east of Hinton. Flanagan and his fireman, Mike Quinn, were both gravely injured, but alive when help came. Quinn was taken to the Hinton hospital and died around 1:30pm. Flanagan was taken to his home on Summers Street and passed there at about 11:30am. It is a somewhat strange coincidence that this was the SECOND fatal train wreck that happened in the area that day. An earlier accident took the life of conductor John. B. Lutz and gravely injured brakeman Hugh Ratliff. That wreck had largely been cleared up and the Fast-Flying Virginian was on-time to arrive in Hinton at 9:20am before it also crashed.

Funeral Procession for
John Flanagan, 1907
Source: WV History on View

The funeral for John Flanagan was said to be one of the biggest the town had ever seen and he was laid to rest in nearby Hill Top Cemetery. Shortly thereafter, the family home was deeded to Flanagan's daughter Mary, who had married Robert "Bob" Murrell in 1902.

Bob Murrell was also a C&O man. In fact, he had been brought to Hinton by the company due to his outstanding baseball skills to play on the local team. Bob was also an accomplished painter, and evidence of both hobbies can be found today in the museum. It was also under the Murrell's ownership that the house truly became a hub of civic activity. The Murrells, especially Mary, were constantly hosting church meetings, clubs, and other get-togethers at the home. When Bob passed away, Mary remained in the home until her own death, being cared for by her daughter Mildred in her older years. Mildred never married, nor had children, but she was a beloved teacher who lived in the home until her own death in 1986. Mildred is responsible for preserving quite a bit of family history, in addition to physical artifacts belonging to the Campbell/Flanagan/Murrell families. These items are lovingly shared with the public today, thanks to the Campbell-Flanagan-Murrell House Museum staff. 

Visitors can visit the home at 422 Summers Street, very much in its original state. The general store still makes up the first floor, while the upper floors are home to the history of not just the family, but of the town of Hinton and its significance to the railroad industry. Guided and self-guided tours are available on most weekends throughout the year, and the old general store offers a few souvenirs for sale. It's a great place to see what life in southern WV was like back in the early 20th century...and it's also a great place to have a paranormal experience!

In one story, a museum member was ascending the stairs to the top floor and encountered a group of women in period dress, sitting on the sunporch. These women were discussing how pleased they were with how work on the house was progressing.

Robert Murrell Under a Tree in his Side Yard
Source: WV History on View

In another incident, a mysterious arsonist was setting fires around Hinton, and a fire was set outside of the old, wooden home. However, before help could arrive on scene, the fire had extinguished itself...just as mysteriously as it had been lit. Was the home being protected by members of the Campbell/Flanagan/Murrell families? 

I've been lucky enough to have investigated this historic home three times, once with HPIR, once with SRI, and once with Appalachian Ghost Tours. Each investigation was an excellent opportunity that did not disappoint! While it seems like with many historic locations, our primary ghostly interactions tend to be with the men of the house, it was not that way with the Campbell-Flanagan-Murrell House. There is definitely a strong, female presence that makes itself known. It's interesting to note that throughout the years, the house was continually passed down through the female heirs, and the presumed ghosts seen discussing the home from the porch, were all women. I like to think that there is some sort of divine feminine energy attached to the home, and the ladies who lived their lives here are still watching and protecting their beloved home. 

On my last investigation of the house, we had plenty of strange activity, but one incident sticks out in my mind as being one of the coolest things I've personally experienced. I was with a small group downstairs in the general store, when the main door opened. This isn't that unusual. There is actually a large pole/bar used to barricade the door when not in use to keep it closed, as it has a habit of popping open by itself (actually, that phenomenon seems to affect most of the doors to the outside throughout the house), most likely from wind and/or pressure changes. As we sat around and tried to communicate with the spirits, I picked up on the thermal camera what looked like a human figure standing in front of the door. As I was trying to figure out if anyone in the room could be casting a reflection that would match, someone asked the ghosts to please shut the door. Right on command, the door slowly yet FIRMLY shut. This was not weather related or otherwise a normal, natural occurrence. That door shut with INTENTION. As we had promised to leave the area if the ghost shut the door for us, we packed up and headed back upstairs. 

Mrs. Murrell and a Group of Women Outside the Home
Source: WV History on View

Another really fun interaction I had with the potential ghosts of the museum was with an entity that identified himself as an African-American man named Lester. Lester was a fun-loving guy who just wanted to listen to music, dance, and maybe flirt a little bit with one of the museum volunteers. His voice kept coming over our spirit box until we heard an exasperated woman's voice yell his name. We giggled and asked if that was his wife. The response we immediately got was his voice saying "Gotta go!" And he did go, for the time being. 

There are many more mysteries to unlock at the Campbell-Flanagan-Murrell House. It is one of the oldest buildings in town, and served as the residence of the same family for over 100 years. I've been kind of hesitant to feature this location here at Theresa's Haunted History, because there is just so much information about this family that can't fit nicely into a short blog post. I hope that despite the omissions, I've done justice to this awesome location and those who lived there. More sources are available upon request, but I've included a few links and articles for more information. 

Campbell-Flanagan-Murrell House Museum (website) (Facebook)

WV National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form

Hinton Town Website History Section

John William Flannagan Article by Jamie Wood (Genealogy.com  Posted January24, 2002)

Hinton Daily News
12 March 1907

Wyoming County "Wago Owanhan"

Wago Owanhan?
Wyoming County, WV
Image created with ChatGPT

If you've never heard of the Wago Owanhan, don't worry. Even those who have lived in the southern coalfields of West Virginia in and around Wyoming County (the alleged home of the phenomenon) have no idea what the heck this is. That's because...it doesn't exist. 

I feel pretty confident in saying that. Often with alleged paranormal phenomenon, I try to give the benefit of the doubt and entertain the idea that there may be something behind the claims. However, with the Wago Owanhan, there are just too many red flags. 

The story appeared in newspapers across the country in 1896. And then again in 1897. And once in 1903 for some reason. The story was the exact same copy and paste text for each different newspaper, yet oddly I couldn't find any newspaper in West Virginia that carried the story, despite the eerie phenomenon taking place right here in the Mountain State. So what is this phenomenon that supposedly occurred in Wyoming County?

According to the article, the Wago Owanhan was a mysterious light of ancient origin. Dating back to prehistoric times, the Wago Owanhan could be spotted over the river (I'm guessing the Guyandotte?) within Pat Wess Canyon (I can't find any mention of such a place existing).  It's source wasn't anywhere along the canyon walls, but rather, just seemed to be a floating mist or fog that illuminated the river valley below. The light was said to be so intense that one could read a book or newspaper by it in the dead of night. 

On February 15th and 16th (year unknown as the article appeared across MANY months in different years), an expedition was led by I.E. Christian of Oceana, WV. Accompanied by Professor Tohlure, the men observed snowflakes falling over the canyon. When they reached a height of about 200 feet above the water, they would "blaze out with dazzling brightness" and remain illuminous until they reached the surface of the river. 

Someone reading this in the late 1800's might not find this too unbelievable, as there could be several scientific explanations for what was interpreted as a supernatural sight. However, journalism during this time was a little...iffy. Sensationalized stories appeared in newspapers across the country. Touted as being actual news, these fictitious tales were used for a number of reasons---for entertainment, to fill space, to attract readership, and in many cases, to make a thinly veiled commentary on a political, moral, or social issue. Someone in Connecticut reading this story isn't likely to know that there's no such location as Pat Wess Canyon in rural West Virginia. They aren't likely to look up the credentials of Professor Tohlure. And they sure aren't going to seek a follow-up to the claimed upcoming scientific inquiry. 

Author Chris Woodyard covered the story on her Haunted Ohio website, with some additional insights. I. E. Christan WAS a real person; he was an attorney/judge who was murdered a few years after this article was published. Check it out HERE.

The Day (New London, Connecticut)
26 October 1896

The Haunted History of Coalfield Manor

 

Coalfield Manor
McGraw-Worrell Building (Mullens, WV)

Coalfield Manor is southern West Virginia's newest paranormal investigation destination! Located in the McGraw-Worrell Building at 102 Moran Avenue in downtown Mullens, Coalfield Manor dates back to 1918 and has functioned as a department store and most recently....a funeral home! Please see Coalfield Manor on Facebook for more information on this fascinating location and for updates on how YOU can explore its mysteries for yourself. 

At the confluence of the Guyandotte River and Slab Fork Creek in Wyoming County, WV sits the town of Mullens. Mullens was named after A.J. Mullins, who owned quite a bit of land where the town now sits and built his first cabin around the area of First Street and the (former) Guyandotte Avenue (now Moran Avenue) around 1898. On September 17, 1912, the town was officially incorporated as Mullens---someone forgot to dot the 'i' in Mullins, and it was interpreted as being an 'e'. In February of 1929, Mullens was upgraded to city status. Along the way, the Virginian Railway completed a terminal in Mullens (1909), and the timber and coal industries popped up and thrived in the surrounding areas. Mullens became a bustling place of business and residence in the southern WV coalfields. 

Unfortunately, Mullens was no stranger to tragedy. While the town thrived overall for quite a number of years, it was forced to persevere through some tough times. On Tuesday December 11, 1917, a massive fire completely destroyed Mullens business district. The fire began around noon in the apartment of the Jackson family, located above the 5 and 10 Store. This store was located extremely close to where Coalfield Manor now sits. Coalfield Manor is attached to the Bank of Mullens building, which is on the corner of First Street and Moran Avenue (formerly Guyandotte Avenue, and the approximate location of the Mullins cabin. The 5 and 10 Store was located halfway between the Bank of Mullens and the Dunman Hotel, putting it right around the corner from the current Coalfield Manor. 

Mullens ca 1914
The two-story building to the right of the corner building
is where Coalfield Manor now sits.
Source: WV History on View

This fire caused an estimated $500,000-$750,000 in damages and left 75 families (most of whom lived in apartments above the storefronts) homeless. It also resulted in the loss of one life. The 6-month-old son of Bertha Jackson, who was living above the 5 and 10 Store with her parents, was killed in the fire. According to one newspaper, the baby's body was completely cremated in the fire, leaving no remains behind. However, another newspaper article claimed the baby died of exposure---which is possible as 6 inches of snow fell that evening, complicating efforts to fight the fire.

Before the fire, there was a building on the site, which some sources list as possibly being a pharmacy/drug store. That building, which was also a wooden frame structure, was destroyed in the fire and replaced between 1918 and 1919 with the current McGraw-Worrell Building. Presumably built as a department store, the McGraw-Worrell Building was named for land developer, H.G. McGraw and attorney, Grover Worrell. 

1922 Sanborn Fire Map Detail
The McGraw-Worrell Building is the attached
pink structure pictured above the brown bank building.

The McGraw-Worrell building makes up a huge chunk of what is now the home of Coalfield Manor. However, the property is a mash-up of several buildings, constructed and renovated several times over the years. Additional fires and flooding have destroyed historical records, and the moving and renaming of several businesses and streets around town have made it a little unclear as to a complete history of the property at this time (don't worry---I'm still working on it!). We do know, however, that beginning in 1961, the property was used as the Sam Foglesong Funeral Home. The company did extensive renovations to the property, adding in the chapel, music room, operating room, etc. At one point, a third-floor apartment was also added to the property.

Following the Foglesong Funeral Home, the Tankersley Funeral Home would take up operations at the property, closing in May of 2024. Luckily for the paranormal community, the property would not sit abandoned for too long. While on a quest to find a rather spooky location, Heather Wheeler came across the listing for this former funeral home. At first, her husband Bob didn't seem super interested in the property, but after looking at several other options and weighing the benefits of the Mullens property, the couple decided to come to WV to take a look at it. Although their primary residence is out of state, the couple were familiar with the area and its potential. On a trip over Thanksgiving break, they toured the property and put in a bid. By January of 2025, they were the proud owners of a former funeral home, with plans on incorporating the building both as a future residence upon retirement, and as a hub of southern West Virginia tourism---including our state's spooky tourism!

Bank of Mullens with Coalfield Manor to the Right

After a winter and spring full of cleaning, renovating, and furnishing the property, Coalfield Manor opened to the public for paranormal investigation. Offering both public and private options, the Wheelers have cultivated a fantastic opportunity for the paranormal community---which is already yielding some spooky results!  According to a psychic friend of the owners who visited, the location has a few regular ghosties that hang out...but the property is also full of transient spirits who seem to stop by, make themselves known, then move on for whatever reason. As Mullens was a railroad town, this seems to fit in with its history of people constantly coming and going, with lives lived and lives ended. With so many fires, coal/timber tragedies, train-related incidents, floods, buildings being torn down and destroyed, and a HUGE number of traffic accidents in the area, it's easy to see where Coalfield Manor could easily become a place of gathering for those on their journey into the unknown. In many ways, the property has stayed the same for over 100 years, but at the same time, has seen so much change. Further, Coalfield Manor is surrounded on three sides by either water or train tracks, causing almost a 'trapping' effect.

And, with over 60 years as being a funeral home, the property WAS a gathering place for the town. It was a place where they came together to celebrate the lives and mourn the loss of friends and loved ones. That type of emotion is sure to leave an imprint on a location. There may even be a ghost or two attached not to the property, but an object within it. There were many items from the funeral home left on the property, including embalming equipment and caskets. In order to pay homage to that history, the owners have brought in additional funerary antiques to furnish the space. There's even a casket that visitors can 'test drive' for themselves while there! So, with that all in mind, this place has all the makings of being a haunted hot spot. But what type of activity has actually been reported?

Battery drain and equipment malfunction, especially in the area of the main viewing room is common. Members of Appalachian Ghost Tours experienced our own issues with batteries dying prematurely in the embalming area. 

The main viewing area. This room is known for
battery drainage and equipment malfunction.

Apparitions have also been seen...mostly. Earlier this year, a visitor to the property was on her phone, sitting in the main foyer when what appeared to be a man walked by. She scooted over a bit to let him by and looked up to realize that she couldn't see anything above his waist. All she saw was the man's shoes and slacks. In an odd addendum to this experience, the next day, an elderly visitor was in the same area when suddenly she pointed straight ahead and said she saw a man. When asked about his shoes and pants (to see if he was the same guy seen on the previous day) she stated that she could only see him from the waist UP. Why this guy chose to reveal his top half to one woman and his bottom half to another is one of those mysteries that keep me in this field!

Unfortunately, I didn't see either half of this dude during AGT's preliminary investigation, but I DID see what I thought was a woman's white skirt on the staircase a few times, as if she was at the top of the stairs, watching us. And it does seem that there is a female entity on the property as well. This female entity seems to connect with mothers, or those with a maternal instinct and we certainly got a ton of spirit box communication mentioning various aspects of motherhood. 

This woman may or may not be named Evelyn, a name that has come across for the owners and visitors several times, although always in a male voice. Aside from that clue, and a few other names that tend to pop up with varying degrees of frequency, we're not really sure the identity of any of the resident spirits quite yet. Hopefully, as the building is researched and investigated more, these answers will become clearer. 

Christy 'test drives' the embalming table.
We experienced equipment malfunction and battery
drain in this room. Christy was also touched on the neck.

As stated before, there are a variety of investigation opportunities available during the summer months at Coalfield Manor. Private overnights are available from either 6p-12a, or 6p-8a. There are also various public events which are shorter, but come with the education and guidance of experienced paranormal investigators to lead you through your experience. And, if you're reading this before August 23, 2025:

Appalachian Ghost Tours will be leading an investigation from 7pm to 12am on Saturday, August 23rd! Come join us for an exciting evening of food, fun, and hopefully ghosts! The price of admission gets you a fabulous potluck-style dinner in addition to your investigation. Bring your own equipment or borrow ours---we'll teach you how to use it, guide you through the process, and give you plenty of time to check out the behind-the-scenes areas of a former funeral home. A portion of the proceeds directly goes to benefit Coalfield Manor and to hopefully keep it flourishing as one of West Virginia's newest paranormal tourism destinations. Come hang out with AGT and help support this cool location owned by two of the coolest, nicest, most dedicated people you'll meet. (Facebook Event Page for more info!)

Sources and Further Reading: 

Coalfield Manor (Web Site) (Facebook) (YouTube)

Paranormal Musings Podcast with Heather Wheeler of Coalfield Manor (YouTube)

WOAY TV Interview with Heather Wheeler (YouTube)

History of Mullens (Abandoned Online)

Mullens Historic District (National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form)

The Independent-Herald (Hinton, WV)
13 December 1917

The Raleigh Register
13 December 1917

The Independent-Herald (Hinton, WV)
20 December 1917

The Independent-Herald (Hinton, WV)
30 December 1920

The Raleigh Register
16 June 1961

Beckley Post-Herald
02 August 1975

What Happened to Thomas Steele? A WV State Pen Story

WV State Penitentiary
Source: WV History on View

 

In April of 1959, a letter was received by the Wheeling, WV police, addressed to Sgt. Elmer Hehr. The letter was from Francis W. (Chicago Red) Brassell, written from Brassell's jail cell in El Paso, Texas. Brassell was in the county jail, currently awaiting transfer to a state facility in Huntsville. He had been sentenced to 50 years for armed robbery and decided that now was as good a time as any to confess to an earlier crime. In the letter, Chicago Red Brassell admitted that in 1952, while incarcerated at the WV State Penitentiary for (you guessed it) armed robbery, he had killed a fellow inmate and made it look like a suicide. 

Brassell had been sent to the West Virginia State Penitentiary on November 19, 1947. He had received a ten year sentence for armed robbery in Kanawha County, but had served his sentence, and was released April 17, 1957. Two years later, he found himself sitting in a Texas jail cell for the same thing. Instead of ten years, however, he was being sentenced to 50 years with the added 'benefit' of working on a prison work crew, affectionately known as a 'chain gang' in the oppressive Texas heat. 

It is theorized that Brassell wrote the letter, hoping to get transferred back to West Virginia and serve out his sentence there. So, he made up a story that in October of 1952, he had strangled fellow inmate, Thomas G. Steele, then hung his body over the cell door to make it look like a suicide. The warden at the time, Donivan E. Adams, sent the Marshall County Prosecutor, Everett Fox, and a WV State Trooper, H.E. Robinson, to Texas for an investigation.

Thomas G. Steele was from Mason County. He was sent to the penitentiary in April of 1947 to serve out a 1-10 year sentence for grand larceny. In July of 1952, he decided he had had enough of prison life. While working at a prison work camp in Gypsy (Harrison County), Steele escaped. He was missing for 12 hours before he was found six miles away in a poison ivy patch. He surrendered peaceably.  However, there were consequences to his actions. 

Steele, along with Brassell and 2-3 other 'incorrigibles' were placed in Death Row cells so that the guards could better control and monitor them. It was in this cell block where Thomas Steele was found on October 4, 1952. His death was ruled a suicide and he was buried in the prison cemetery. He was just 23 years old. 

Thomas Steele's story probably would have ended there, if Brassell hadn't had the bright idea to take credit for the death. But, this grand plan of being sent back to West Virginia would not come to fruition. The only person who believed Brassell had been responsible for Steele's death was Everett Fox. Trooper Robinson, Warden Adams, and former Warden Orel J. Skeen, all believed the story was made up. Skeen, who was warden at the time of the incident, claimed that Brassell definitely had the mental capacity to commit murder, but didn't think it was physically possible. Brassell was a small man, weighing in at only 126 pounds. It would have been difficult for him to have strangled Steele, then hoisted his body up before being found out by the guards in their more secured setting. 

Officials went on to say that it didn't really matter, either way. Even if they had believed there was sufficient evidence to suggest Steele was murdered, they wouldn't bother to extradite him from Texas. And therefore, Steele's official cause of death remains 'suicide' and Brassell presumably served his time in a Texas prison. 

From a paranormal perspective, I find this case extremely interesting in regards to its potential for producing ghosts. Both suicide and murder victims are largely believed to stick around a location after their untimely death, but what if you were falsely accused of taking your own life, and your name was never cleared? To many, that false narrative is a really big deal, and the hunt for justice that is never going to come is more than enough reason to stick around and haunt a location. 

And what about Brassell? What really prompted him to confess to murder? A popular trope in these types of stories is that he felt compelled to finally admitting his crime by being haunted, either literally or figuratively by thoughts of Steele. Or, did he really just prefer to serve out a murder sentence over an armed robbery sentence if it meant being back in West Virginia? Could that draw to West Virginia actually be enough to cause his spirit to return to the old prison, despite dying beyond its walls? As an interesting side note, he's not the only prisoner I've read about who desperately wanted to be at WV State Penitentiary! We always hear about how violent and filthy and overcrowded the prison was throughout much of its operation, but inmates such as Bill Dorsey (story HERE) purposefully tried to be re-committed, and even Charles Manson has his infamous letter to the warden begging to be transferred. 

It's undeniable that the former West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville is a powerful place, with an energy that is all its own. Whether that energy draws you in, or causes you to run screaming from within its walls is a whole other mystery...

Ghosts of Cass

Cass, WV

My family and I love to take weekend trips to see some of West Virginia's most scenic and historic sites. Luckily, many of those sites tend to have a reputation for being haunted! Our latest adventure took us to the Cass Scenic Railroad. Not only did we ride the Shay #5 engine up to the town of Durbin and back, but we spent two nights in the restored town of Cass itself.

Cass was a company town, created in 1901 by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company, to accommodate the logging crews working the nearby sawmills. Most of the two-story employee homes were built around 1902 and were pretty nice, with lots of modern amenities (excluding bathrooms until the 1920s!) and plenty of room to raise a family. Loggers had the option to rent or purchase their homes. If they purchased the home, they were allowed plenty of free lumber to build additions onto the houses. The only catch was, if they ever sold their home, they had to sell it back to the company at the SAME PRICE they paid for it. They were ensured to not LOSE money, but if they did any improvements to the home, then they were not compensated for the added value. 

Logging operations in the area ran until about 1960. The following year, the state purchased the railroad and by 1963 was operating it as the Cass Scenic Railroad, a huge tourist attraction. The town itself wasn't made a part of the state park until 1977. 

Company House on Spruce Street

We stayed at 332 Spruce Street, a handicap accessible, 4-bedroom home up on the hill. We checked in Friday evening, got up Saturday to catch the train, then spent another night before checking out early Sunday. It was a comfortable stay with plenty of room and a great view. From our back deck, we could look down over much of the town of Cass. From our front porch, we could watch a whole herd of deer frolicking along the tree line and field.  It was relaxing, yet a little...spooky. 

To be honest, I didn't do very much research into the haunted history of the town before our trip. I knew people had said it was haunted, but I didn't look very far into the details of why they thought that beyond a story found on the WV Ghosts website. In the story (LINK HERE), the author tells of staying in one of the furbished employee homes, much like us. They visited a small craft shop and saw a strange white blur go by quickly; when asked about it, the shopkeeper informed them that a little girl had died in the home from an illness that the local doctor couldn't treat.

The story goes on further to say that they heard a woman screaming around 10pm. When they went to look outside to see where the scream was coming from, it sounded like someone was rattling the doorknob, trying to get into the house. When the author discussed the story the next day with family, their sister and dad had also heard the scream, but they had heard something the author hadn't---a man whistling INSIDE the house!

Ghost Hunting at the
Company House

That was enough for me, so I decided to pack just a few, very basic pieces of ghost hunting equipment. My son has recently expressed an interest in ghost hunting, so I thought a little investigating of the company house would be a fun activity to fill some time. We had a few interesting things happen, but nothing too crazy. At two separate times during our stay, we heard what sounded like the back doorknob jiggle. When filming a short 'reaction video' to a Dubai chocolate taste-testing, my son and I both heard a voice coming from the downstairs bedroom. When we played the video back, there is a voice, but I can't prove that it wasn't actually my son saying 'okay' off-camera, despite none of us remembering him saying that. 

During our Saturday night 'ghost hunt,' we had some strange K-II hits, some hilarious things come over the spirit box, including both our names (which, my son is named Luke and the Luke family was instrumental in the creation of Cass, so that might be unrelated), a comment on Luke's dad being 'a fool,' and lots of stuff about an accident. We may have also gotten an EVP, but I'm still trying to clean it up, because I can't make out what it says. Before bed that night, I laid around and just did a simple search through the newspaper archives for Cass, just to see if anything came up that was interesting, or seemed to fit what we had heard over the spirit box.

Being a railroad and logging community, there were plenty of articles about untimely deaths from industrial accidents. I was kind of surprised at the amount of murders, though. There were quite a few angry fellas running around Cass at the turn of the last century. But there was one article that stood out; it was an article about a fire that had killed a mother and two young children. The father managed to save two additional children and himself, and the tragedy rocked the community. Little did I know that there was way more to the story...and that it would actually play a part in the haunted reputation of the town!

Company Store, Museum and Restaurant

When we got home after a long, jam-packed weekend (another blog about that coming soon!) I started delving into the research a little more in preparation for writing about Cass' haunted history. The website for Pocahontas County tourism has a page dedicated to the area's haunted locations, and I was pleased to see that Cass was on their list. The article mentions hearing the ghostly train whistle of a phantom train....but it mentions that there is one house in the restored neighborhood that is more haunted than others. The house in question is the Doyle House on Main Street. According to the article, witnesses have reported seeing a woman with two young children walking down Main Street near the house, late at night.

Unfortunately, we weren't staying in the Doyle House. Even though the house number wasn't given, we were up on Spruce, so it definitely wasn't us. But, the name caught my attention. Where had I heard Doyle before? 

You may have guessed it; Doyle was the name of the family who suffered from the tragic fire! On February 3, 1915, a fire at the Doyle residence took the lives of Mrs. George Doyle (Jessie) and two of her children---8 year old Charlotte and two year old George William Lee Doyle, Jr. George was able to save 4 year old Ethel, and George Jr.'s twin sister, Claris. In his efforts, he was burned severely, and suffered a broken arm. In addition to the house, fire was also set to the nearby Oddfellows Hall, and a picture theater owned by Mr. Doyle. Those two locations were saved through a bucket brigade. 

What makes this story all the more tragic is that the fire was no accident. It took over a year, but a man named L.H. Haroff/Harouff was finally arrested and confessed to the crime. Harouff, a restaurant owner from Marlington, was a firebug with a history of burning down the homes and businesses of his rivals. He admitted to the Doyle arson because he was in negotiations to buy the picture theater owned by Doyle and a relative, but Doyle wouldn't sell. 

Aaron and Luke in front of the
(haunted?) Shay No. 5 Engine

Harouff's defense was that he was insane. The idea of an insanity plea was backed up by the fact that when Harouff was finally tracked down and arrested for the arson of lawyer, L.M. McClintic's home, HE ASKED MCCLINTIC TO REPRESENT HIM! It also doesn't appear as if Harouff ever really made it to the WV State Penitentiary for his crimes. It's possible that he was sent to a state hospital, such as the Weston State Hospital (Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum), but I cannot find any mention of the verdict of his trial through the archive service I use. I did, however, find what I THINK is his obituary...and at the time of this person's death, they are not incarcerated.

So yeah, I can totally understand why Jessie's ghost, along with two of her children, are seen roaming the streets of Cass after such a senseless tragedy. The scream that the visitors from the WV Ghosts story heard may also be tied in the fire. But, there are plenty of more ghosts in town apparently!

Cass Depot

On July 30, 2025 (AFTER WE HAD COME HOME) a new blog post was published on Salt Shaker Press, giving a list of haunted locations throughout Pocahontas County. I REALLY wish I had this list before our vacation, because we actually visited, saw, or drove by a lot of these places, and I would have definitely paid more attention and taken more pictures. Anyway, the post lists a ton of places throughout Pocahontas County, but specific to Cass:

1. The Phantom Train Whistle: Heard throughout the area after the last train of the night has long passed, this whistle is believed to indicate a special run for the spirits of those killed in nearby logging/train accidents.

2. Shay No. 5 Engine: This is actually the engine we were assigned on our round trip to Durbin! It is said to be haunted by a brakeman who was crushed to death in the 1930's. This ghost makes his presence known by the scent of pipe tobacco and the occasional shadowy apparition. 

3. Company Store: Witnesses have reported seeing the apparition of a woman in an early 20th century dress, peering out the second floor windows of the company store. It is believed she is a wife, watching for her husband to return. While we were in town, there was one strange thing about the store, which most likely is NOT paranormal, but I thought I'd go ahead and record it. When we arrived in town on Friday and checked in, we were told the internet was out, but they had an order in to fix it. We bought some drinks and snacks at the company store (now a museum and gift shop) and asked about paying with a card vs. cash. We were told that they could take a card, because they had a separate backup system that never went down. Later that evening, the wifi was restored. It was a little slow at times, but there were no real problems until right before we checked out Sunday morning. As we were planning our route home, the internet wifi once again went out and there was no cell service in the area. We headed down to the company store and attached restaurant for breakfast, where we were told by a panicked young waitress that the backup internet connection had also gone down and they could only accept cash. According to the staff we talked to, this had never happened before, and it had everyone a little on edge that morning! 

4. Greenbrier River Trail: We didn't really explore the Greenbrier River Trail, but apparently it's a hot spot for paranormal activity, too. Hikers and bikers have seen a lantern light swinging in the distance. The light approaches them, but as they get closer, they can see that no person is holding the light. The light then abruptly goes out. 

That's a LOT of paranormal activity for such a little town. But, it's a little town steeped in history and it is a great place to have a family adventure. Our company house was comfortable, everyone was super nice and polite, and the train ride was a lot of fun. It was a beautiful, scenic trip up there and back and I would highly recommend it for a weekend getaway. You'll see a lot of wildlife. You'll see a lot of history. And if you're lucky, you might even see a ghost! 

Sources and Further Reading:

Cass Railroad Ghosts, by Kelly Bowman. Published on WVGhosts.com 14 July 2004

The Paranormal Sites of Pocahontas County. Posted 29 October 2024 on the Pocahontas County Tourism site. 

Cass Scenic Railroad: WV State Parks Website

Ghost Stories, by Normal Alderman. Salt Shaker Press Blogspot. Published 30 July 2025

National Register of Historic Places Nomination for Town of Cass

National Register of Historic Places Nomination for Cass Scenic Railroad

Death Registry for Doyle Family

Find-a-Grave Entries for George Doyle Jr., Jessie Doyle, and Charlotte Doyle

The Charleston Daily Mail
15 July 1916