Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State: Terror on Temple Street (A Hinton Haunted House)

Dr. Stokes' Office on Temple Street (1922)
Source: WV History on View
(Note: I don't know if this is the house in question, or not)

I have a special affinity for the Hinton, WV area. My grandma grew up there before moving to Beckley as a teenager, and as far as I know, I've still got plenty of distant relatives in town and throughout Summers County. When I was growing up, she always told me ghost stories passed down from her family, some of which actually took place nearby. So, I always get a little excited when I come across evidence of Hinton's spooky history and often wonder if my grandma and her family talked about such tales.

Recently, I stumbled across this haunted house story from Temple Street in Hinton. The Hinton Daily News covered the haunted happenings it its February 27, 1925, edition. According to the reports, two days earlier, there was a disturbance at the Temple Street home of Dr. J.W. Stokes and his wife. On Wednesday, February 25, the couple was awakened by unexplained noises. Dr. Stokes got up to check, and the door violently flew open without the aid of human hands.

Shutting and bolting the door closed had no effect on the ghostly intruder, as the door once again flew open, and a cold draft blasted through the window, which the couple knew was closed tight. But that wasn't all. The beds, which were on casters, suddenly began moving on their own. This was enough for Dr and Mrs. Stokes. They fled the home and sought shelter at a local hotel.

Locals weren't surprised, as this wasn't the first time renters of the Temple Street home had fled in terror. In fact, before the Stokes had moved in, less than a month before, the home had sat empty for 6 months. Many believed that the home was haunted by a young woman named Margaret Ann Youell who took her own life in the same home two and a half years prior.

Hinton High School Yearbook
Photo from Find-a-Grave user, E.M. Smith

On Thursday, June 8, 1922, 18-year-old Margaret (sometimes known as Sallie) was at home with her family. She had spent much of the day in her bedroom but seemed in good spirits as she joined her mother and sister out on the front porch for a bit. However, around 8pm, Margaret headed back inside. She grabbed a revolver and shot herself in the chest, the bullet traveling straight to her heart. She passed away a few minutes later in her bedroom. A physician was called, but there was nothing that could be done. Dr. G.L. Pence was by her side as she took her last breath. A large crowd gathered at the home, including Squire W.F. Argabright, who declared the young woman dead. No inquest was needed.

Margaret, born on November 28, 1903, had been a student at Hinton High School's Normal School program, having graduated the regular academic program the year before. She reportedly had many friends and was generally seen as a sweet, cheerful, intelligent girl. No motive was ever given for the horrible deed, but it was surmised that undisclosed family problems were likely. One version of her obituary hints that rumors were flying as to the reason why, but that most Hintonians most likely knew the probable cause, and they'd leave it at that. Kinda cryptic...

The funeral was held at First Baptist Church, and Margaret was buried in Hill Top Cemetery. She was survived by her parents, H.P. and Daisy Youell, her sister Nelle, and her brothers, Harry and James. Whether or not Margaret chose to stay in her Temple Street home after her death is speculation. What is fact is that a young, vibrant life was taken too soon in an act that would have a lasting impact on her community.

*If you are experiencing thoughts of depression and/or self-harm, there is help available. A good place to start is calling/texting/chatting with the 988 Hotline. Please remember that you are loved, you are enough, and you're worth fighting for.*

I thought this was the end of the story, but while researching a completely different case later the same evening, I stumbled across a rather tongue in cheek follow-up. On March 18th, the Hinton Daily News published a story that a detachment of volunteer officers and privates of Company E, 150th Infantry, based in Princeton, WV were planning an investigation of the haunted house. Remarks such as Captain Tyler having knee pads made to prevent his knees from knocking together, and Lieutenant McMichel buying Royal glue from the 10 cent store to keep his hair down made it obvious that this was not a serious inquiry into the matter at hand. I've included a clipping of that newspaper below, as well as the rest of the relevant news stories.