Charleston's Haunted East End

Charleston Ghost Tour Company FB Page

Last November, my husband and I moved into an apartment on Charleston's historic East End. My dad has worked and lived in the area for quite a few years now, and often tells me about the ghost stories and reports of hauntings HE has heard, many from some of the buildings where he works. Hell, we've even experienced a few unexplained things in our own apartment, including the sensation of being touched, and seeing a man standing in our hallway. So, when the Charleston Ghost Tour Company announced that it would be offering a Ghost Walk of the Historic East End as part of the annual Sternwheel Regatta festivities, I signed my husband and me up!

Despite living in the area, life has always seemed to get in the way, so this was only the third tour I've gotten to take with Charleston Ghost Tour Company---the first two being focused on downtown haunts. Those were awesome, but I REALLY enjoyed the East End tour as we meandered about this historic district, learning about the haunted history of my new home.

April and Scott start the tour

It was hotter than Hades as my husband and met the rest of the tour participants in front of the Governor's Mansion. We had signed up for the 9pm tour on June 30th (I had an investigation on the 1st!) hoping that the later time would be a little cooler. It wasn't, and the humidity was oppressive, but thankfully the tour was conducted at an easy walking pace with the opportunity to sit down in a few spots. 

As stated, we started off at the Governor's Mansion and learned why employees are no longer allowed to enter by themselves. I'd like to think that Governor Jim Justice is just terrified by the ghosts, and that's why he refuses to follow state protocol and actually LIVE there...but the Greenbriar also is said to have it's fair share of ghosts, so I guess he can't use that as an excuse!  Following the Governor's Mansion, we moved onto another building on the state capitol grounds, Holly Grove Mansion. Holly Grove is Charleston's oldest home, being built in 1815 by Daniel Ruffner. From the legends and lore, even during the Ruffner's tenure there, a servant had an unfortunate run-in with an alleged ghost...a run-in that would prove fatal. 

The Ruffner family, who at one point owned all the land in the current East End (and pretty much all of the land between Malden and the Elk River, too), would make a couple of appearances on this tour. We also made stops at Ruffner Park, which once served as the town's burial grounds, and where several members of the Ruffner Family are still said to be buried. Dogs tend to avoid this area (except for my beagle, who when we tried it, was far more fascinated by the squirrels and new places to pee, rather than any potential ghosts) and strange temperature fluctuations are common. 

Holly Grove Mansion

We also stopped at a private home along Kanawha Boulevard that also once belonged to Ruffner heirs. According to a famous psychic medium of the late 19th/early 20th century, this home was a portal to connecting with deceased Ruffner ancestors and she would occasionally hold seances there. A modern owner of the property also had some paranormal activity, and contributed the less-than-friendly atmosphere of the ghosts to him NOT being a Ruffner relative. 

Two more houses along the boulevard were near-identical copies of each other, or at least they were when they were built in 1923 by Albert Schwabe for his two daughters. The daughters, Claire and Hedwig, were giving matching EVERYTHING, and it is said that even in death, the two girls' spirits are still in the homes, copying each other. If one turns a light on, the other will turn a light on in the reciprocating room. This must be quite the spectacle for anyone happening to pass by at night, or watching from across the river.

Speaking of the river...

April Morgan, owner of the Charleston Ghost Tour Company was accompanied by Scott Worley of Beckley Ghosts, a tour company, offering tours in the southern part of the state. One of the stories Scott added to the tour was the tale of a strange giant leech creature that lived in the Kanawha River, luring people, especially small children, to their demise. That's a pretty horrific aquatic cryptid to lay claim to, but being the Kanawha River, nothing surprises me.

Capito Mansion

Another stop on the tour, and my favorite home we visited, was the Capito Mansion on Virginia Street. I drive by this location all the time on my way to my dad's place. Now, I'll make sure to slow down a little and try to catch a glimpse of either the shadow man, who struts across the front porch, still acting as a guard for Mr. Capito's perfectly legal wholesale liquor business *coughcough*, or the angelic image in the stained glass, depicting a woman who passed away while giving blood during the home's time as a Red Cross donation site. 

The evening was wrapped up back at the West Virginia State Capitol, which is full of enough legends and lore for its own tour, probably. Both guides shared some personal experiences from the building, and also shared some of the more famous tales, such as the Suicide Stain and the phantom maintenance man. Overall, I had a great time. It was certainly worth the $10 admission fee, and (mostly) worth the mini fibro flare up due to the heat and being so outta shape, lol. I had a great time learning more about the haunted history of the state's capital city and will be waiting patiently for more tours held during slightly cooler months!

Both the Charleston Ghost Tour Company and Haunted Beckley offer a variety of tours throughout the year, so please follow them both for more updates! 

Ending at the State Capitol

Halloween with the Charleston Ghost Tour Company!

The last month or so has been super busy! Between my personal life and SRI/Theresa's Haunted History commitments, I've been booked solid. Because of my crazy schedule and overall exhaustion, I was afraid that I would miss out on the Charleston Ghost Tour Company's October schedule. But, as they tend to do, the pieces fell into place, and I was able to grab a pretty last-minute ticket to Saturday night's Midnight Mischief Halloween tour/ghost hunt. 

When my husband and I took the tour in September, we had an awesome time, walking around downtown Charleston and hearing the wonderfully told stories of the city's haunted history. Unfortunately, my husband had to work this weekend, but I still had a ton of fun as April, owner of the Charleston Ghost Tour Company, shook things up a bit with this special Halloween edition. Instead of just hearing about the ghosts of Charleston, tour guests were given the opportunity to actually try to interact with them and capture proof of their existence!

Our ghost tour/investigation began at 11:30pm at the United Bank Courtyard, where we checked in, and were given glow sticks and a choice of light-up crown or light up sunglasses. That was a fun little surprise and definitely put everyone in the mood for some Halloween party fun. The big surprise, however, was that April had gone all out and purchased a ton of ghost hunting equipment to use on the tour. 

Brawley Walkway. Tour guests have captured alleged photos 
of a ghost in this doorway! This is also where we contacted the spirit
of 'Darren.'

Before we headed out, the tour group got a quick tutorial on the use of pendulums, dowsing rods, laser grids, EMF meters, spirit boxes, digital recorders for EVP work, and even a FLIR-type thermal camera! Equipment was divided up, and we headed to our first location---Brawley Walkway. 

Brawley Walkway is reported to be haunted by a mischief-causing ghost that at one point, terrorized a homeless man who would sleep in the area, mainly by stealing his possessions and moving them to a different location. On previous tours, patrons had reported finding strange anomalies in their photos, especially in the doorway of one particular storefront. 

As the group spread out to test their equipment and see if they could capture evidence of ghosts, I headed straight for the doorway in question. Joined by two other tours guests, one with a K-2 meter, I attempted to make contact with whatever may be in Brawley through pendulum work. According to the pendulum, we made contact with a homeless man named Darren, who originally didn't want to share his name, but agreed to if I asked nicely, lol. It's important to note that it was cold...and my hands were shaky as a result. But, even if it hadn't been cold, it's important to remember that this type of pendulum work is heavily influenced by the ideomotor effect---tiny, involuntary muscle movements that make it SEEM like the pendulum is moving on its own, but in reality, it's not. Eventually, I wandered away from the doorway, leaving the two other tour guests there to see if they could continue talking with Darren. When I met up with them later, they said that Darren had left, been replaced by a not-so-nice entity, who then left when Darren returned. Darren also lit up the K-2 meter---something he wouldn't do when I asked him to earlier, lol.

Our next location was a double stop---we explored the area of the 1921 capitol building fire, which sits directly across from the old Oddfellows building, both of which are said to be haunted. The Oddfellows building is a favorite spot on the tours, and many tour patrons have submitted photos taken of the building which seem to have human figures or shadow beings in the windows, especially one in particular. This is fairly significant, because the story that is told about the building is that a large, shadowy, humanoid figure actually attacked an unsuspecting cleaning woman one evening! And, of further interest is that when I posted the photos I took to Theresa's Haunted History Facebook page on Sunday, I had someone say they saw something in that exact window! 

Oddfellows Building. Do you see anything?

Despite that particular building's potential, I focused the majority of my time spent in that location trying to contact the ghosts associated with the capitol building fire. It is believed the fire that brought down West Virginia's fourth capitol and killed two people was the result of a poker game gone bad. When an argument erupted and a lantern was knocked over, the night watchmen who was responsible for this secret attic activity felt so bad that he is said to come back to the spot, trying to save the two people who were lost because of him. I chose to do some EVP work, but upon analyzing the recording, haven't found anything of note. 

Further stops on the tour didn't afford much opportunity for ghost hunting, but it was fun to rehash some of the tales we heard on the first tour, such as the mysterious Mortar Man figure, the ghosts of the Capitol Theater, and the firemen still trying to put out the fire at the old Woolworth Building. I was pleasantly surprised to also hear about the ghost that likes to play with the vintage elevator in the old Masonic Lodge building, as well as the 'Southside Bridge hanged man.' I've been meaning to blog about the strange addition to the mural, seen from the Southside Bridge that has a hidden figure of a man hanging himself, since I first learned about it back in 2012, but never had an opportunity to stop and get a photo! So...be looking for that in the near future. 

Anyway, it was well past 1am when we finally wrapped up the tour with one last tale--the strange disappearance of a colony of settlers along the Kanawha River. I was worn out, a little damp from the misty rain that never quite completely cleared up that night, but thrilled to have rang in the Halloween holiday sharing the spooky history of West Virginia's capital city with other ghost enthusiasts. 

Do you see the hanging shadow man? 
More info coming soon!

Obviously, ghost hunting outside in downtown Charleston, especially on the Saturday before Halloween, isn't exactly an ideal set-up for legitimate evidence, but that's not really the point. I had an awesome time hearing the stories of each haunted location and seeing the excitement of other tour guests when they seemingly 'got a hit' on a piece of equipment! It was a really cool introduction to various tools of paranormal investigation and a really fun way for those who don't do this kind of thing regularly to get a taste of what it's like and some hands-on experience in a fun and laid-back setting. I can't say enough good things about this tour and I'm so happy that Charleston has such a fun, spooky activity available. After this weekend, I'm even MORE excited for the November tour route, which will feature haunted locations in Charleston's East End. 

For more information on upcoming tours and events:

Charleston Ghost Tour Company Website

Charleston Ghost Tour Company Facebook page

Theresa's Travels: Tour Time with the Charleston Ghost Tour Company

Tour Guide and Owner
of Charleston Ghost Tour Company
April Morgan

Okay, so I didn't travel far---just about 25 minutes away---but, my plans for Thursday evening included taking a haunted history walking tour of Charleston, WV!  Yup, you read that right---Charleston, WV has finally gotten it's own ghost tour, which I think will soon become not only a fun, hip way for locals to spend the evening, but also serve as a great destination activity for those outside the Kanawha Valley. 

Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend the inaugural weekend of the Charleston Ghost Tour Company tours, but I was able to attend during its second week in operation. On the way there, the skies opened up and dumped a ton of rain on the Charleston area. I was terrified we'd have to reschedule, but the weather cleared up and it turned out to be a beautiful night. 

My husband and I had signed up for the 8:30pm to 9:45pm tour, which the second and last time slot of the evening. The sun had already disappeared as we met our guide and fellow tour patrons at the United Bank Building's courtyard. Our guide, April Morgan, is a local history buff and paranormal enthusiast. She owns and operates the Charleston Ghost Tour Company along with her husband, who was there to assist. He did a great job, but you could tell that this is April's baby! 

Brawley Walkway

We started off with a quick overview of Charleston's history, including its pre-history as a Native American hunting ground. Back before the United States was...well, the United States, Thomas Bullit, on the direction of Lord Dunmore, met with the Shawnee leader, Chief Black Fish, to ask permission for Europeans to settle in the area now known as West Virginia. Black Fish denied the request, saying the land was not his to give. Rather, it belonged to a mysterious race of Moon Eyed People, known as the Azgen tribe, who had been wiped out by other tribes. He said the spirits of these people haunted the hills and terrified the Shawnee people more now than they did when they were alive. He also mentioned that if anyone tried to settle their lands, the Azgen would not kill them. Instead, they would turn brother against brother, and son against son. 

Whether or not the darker side of Charleston's history and its hauntings are directly related to this Azgen curse, it was certainly a spooky way to start off the tour! And, the spookiness continued as we took a stroll around the city. We learned about the ghosts occupying the old Capitol Plaza Theater and the Mortar Man hiding on Capitol Street. We heard a terrifying tale of a shadow being in the Oddfellows Building, and of a ghost who liked to steal from a homeless man in Brawley Walkway. We made a stop at the site of West Virginia's former capitol building which burned down in 1921 and heard some amusing stories about the ghost of the man responsible for the fire. The Woolworth Building was another stop. This was the site of a horrific fire in 1949 that took the lives of 7 firemen. Many believe those firemen are still wandering the halls. 

Kanawha River, across from the Sunrise Carriage Trail

Our evening concluded down by the river, across from the Sunrise Carriage Trail, as we listened to the stories of the two Confederate women who were executed and buried along the trail, along with the tragic story of Governor MacCorkle's daughter, who died in a car accident and had quite the spooky memorial set up along the trail in her honor. 

I absolutely loved this glimpse into the spooky side of Charleston's history! I learned a couple of different ghost stories that I wasn't familiar with, and even the ones I already knew were told with such passion and skilled storytelling, that I was thoroughly enthralled all evening. April did a wonderful job, and she and her husband were a delight to talk to on the way back to our vehicles. It turns out that we have a lot more in common than just our love for haunted history! I know I'll definitely be a regular visitor, and I hope you'll come out for a tour as well! Even just a few weeks into their first tour season, Charleston Ghost Tour Company is already helping out the community by working with various groups and causes (such as Poca Middle School Cheerleading and the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Society). With such commitment to charity and such a commitment to bringing a fun, educational, and SPOOKY activity to this area, I really see the Charleston Ghost Tour Company growing and thriving. And I can say I was here from the (almost) beginning, lol!

Know Before You Go

*Ghost Tours are held Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 7pm and again at 8:30pm. 

*These are walking tours, but they are handicap accessible. It's an easy enough pace that my jacked-up back didn't have any problems. Tours last about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes and the trip length is around 12 blocks.

*September tours are currently meeting at the United Bank Building courtyard. We had no problem finding street parking on Thursday evening, but there are several options, including area parking garages. Please see the website's FAQ section for suggestions. 

*Tickets can be reserved on the Charleston Ghost Tour Company website, through EventBrite. You can pay through PayPal, or pay in person when you arrive with cash/check/card. Again, see website's FAQ section for more info!

*Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12 years old, and free for kids 5 and under

*Each month the tours will be different! October will bring some different locations and different stories!

*Private and corporate tours are available.

Contact Information

Call or text: (304) 610-4439

Email: charlestonghosttourcompany@gmail.com

Website: Charleston Ghost Tour Company

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Charleston's Woolworth Building Fire

In the early morning hours of March 4, 1949 patrolman Wayne Casdorph was on duty near the Woolworth's Department Store on Capitol Street when he smelled smoke and noticed a milky color coming from one of the store windows.  He called in the report and shortly thereafter, the old Elizabeth Street Fire Department was the first to arrive on the scene.

The fire, having started in the department store's basement, was deceivingly small at first.  One squad was sent into the first floor with hoses, while another squad was making their way down a back staircase to battle the blaze at the source. Unfortunately, no one could predict just HOW badly the fire had already gotten out of control.  The first floor gave way, sending firemen crashing down into the burning debris of the basement.  Witnesses say men were buried up to their armpits in fiery merchandise, stock, and building debris. Two men, Roy C. Hill and Shawkey Jones, managed to escape out of the basement.  In interviews after the fire, Jones relates the sad tale of desperately trying to pull a fellow firefighter from the rubble onto what was left of the first floor, but the man slipping from his grasp and plunging back down into the inferno.

In total, seven firefighters lost their lives in the blaze.  Those men are:
Frank Miller
Freddie Summers
James Paul (Jiggs) Little
T. Frank Sharp
Richard McCormick
George Coates
Emory Pauley

15 additional firemen were injured, including two who were critically injured: Captain Charles Clendenin, who was overcome by smoke inhalation, and Carl Wiblin, who suffered severe burns.

Of those who passed away, many were WWII veterans who had returned to the Charleston area to work for the fire department.  Two of these men who made this ultimate sacrifice were African American.  According to an invocation at a memorial years later, it was stressed how at the time, these two men, Richard McCormick and George Coates, were not allowed to even SIT at the Woolworth lunch counter.  George Coates is further singled out for honors in this horrific incident.  After the floor collapsed, Coates was able to save one man's life by grabbing him and flinging him out to the alley to safety.  Noticing his partner was missing, Coates went back in after him, never to leave the building alive.  Unfortunately, in the chaos, Coates was unaware that his injured partner had made it safely out of the building and was in an ambulance en route to the hospital.

By noon, the fire was finally under control, and exhausted firemen were said to have wept as the bodies of fallen comrades were removed from the rubble.  In addition to the damage suffered by Woolworth's, the roof of the adjoining Kresge store burned and partially collapsed.  The Fleetwood Hotel, located next to the Kresge, and the Charleston National Bank Building, suffered water and smoke damage.  Total damages were estimated at close to $1 million.

Of course, property damage wasn't the biggest tragedy in this fire.  At the time of the incident, this was known as the nation's worst fire disaster, losing the most firemen in one single blaze.  An impromptu collection was set in place for the victims' families, spurred by an anonymous $200 donation made that same day.  Seven trees were planted along nearby Kanawha Blvd. for the seven fallen firefighters and today, a plaque hangs on the original renovated Woolworth building commemorating the sacrifice these men made.  In addition, a Fallen Firefighters Memorial was erected in 1994 at the Cultural Center on State Capitol Grounds that prominently features the list of these seven men along with all those other heroes who gave their lives in the line of duty.

Woolworth Building Today

Whenever there is a tragedy of this magnitude, there is usually a ghost story that goes along with it.  In this case, it is reported that many people working in the newly renovated Woolworth building have had sightings of firemen in 1940s era garb roaming the halls. The buildings fire alarms constantly go off, despite there being no fire. When examined for defects, inspectors can never find any reason why the alarms went off. And weirdly, some people have reported feeling an overwhelming sensation of heat while in the building. Ice water, fans, and even strong A/C cannot cool these people down. Their only relief is exiting the building.

Were the emotions of this tragic event so strong as to leave a psychic residue or imprint on the environment available to be picked up by those more in tune to such things?  Or, are the lost souls of this tragedy still roaming the halls, trying to find a way out? 

This location is currently a stop on the Charleston Ghost Tour Company tours for September 2021! Make sure you check the link for ticket information on upcoming tours and other events! 

Video taken by the owner of the nearby S. Spencer Moore store
Article from FireFighting News
Article from Kingsport (TN) News