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

The Ghostly Clarinetist of Centennial Hall

 

Source: Cherry County Tourism Board

I'm fascinated with the hauntings of Centennial Hall, located in Valentine, Nebraska. Unfortunately, the internet hasn't provided the casual reader with too much information on this spooky location. So, today's blog will just be a little short Fright Bite! Here's what we do know:

Today, Centennial Hall houses a 12 room museum, each with a different theme. You can see military antiques, the Hallock Bell collection of over 1700 bells, and if you listen closely, you might even experience a ghost.

The building dates back to 1897 when it was built as a high school for the area. Tragedy stuck, however in 1947 when a young female student was murdered. It is believed that the girl's friend poisoned the girl's clarinet reed. When she went into the music room to practice, she came in contact with the poison reed, and passed away.

The hauntings began shortly after, while the building was still used as a school. Teachers would see the apparition of a small girl, which came with an accompanying feeling of dread. After the building converted into a museum, all the instruments were removed from the former music room, but visitors and staff alike still have reported hearing eerie clarinet music being played. A rocking chair has also been spotted rocking on its own. 

Centennial Hall seems like a fascinating museum to visit, with lots to see, an on-site thrift shop to browse, and the ghost of a murdered student to provide some background music for your stay. 

More Info:

This Former School is Haunted by the Ghost of a Clarinetist, by Jenny Maclay. 20 October 20202

New Mexico's Haunted Herzstein Memorial Museum

Herzstein Memorial Museum. Source: Clayton-Union County Chamber of Commerce

In October 2018, the New Mexico Department of Tourism proclaimed the town of Clayton to be the most haunted city in the entire state. Along with Union County Courthouse and the Hotel Eklund, the Herzstein Memorial Museum is listed as a spooky example of why Clayton is New Mexico's Most Haunted City.

The Herzstein Memorial Museum is housed in a beautiful old building, dating back to 1919. It began its life as a Methodist Church, but also served as skating rink, a bowling alley and a library. The Museum gets its name from Albert Herzstein, whose foundation paid for extensive renovations and restoration of the building in 1987. Albert was the son of pioneers; his parents built the first cinema in Clayton, New Mexico in addition to operating a successful mercantile business. 

To honor the Herzstein family, one whole exhibit in the museum is dedicated to all the interesting treasures and artifacts they collected from their travels around the world. Other exhibits deal with the Santa Fe Trail, Native Americans, the Dust Bowl, and other aspects of New Mexico history.

With so many different artifacts and with a building used for so many different purposes, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly who or what is causing the hauntings. However, museum staff feel that the main ghost to call the Herzstein home is 'a sassy older lady.' 

In 2015, a ghost hunting group claims to have caught the apparition of a woman in white on video. Executive Director of the museum, Victoria Baker, has also noted that the sound of disembodied high-heeled footsteps have heard in the kitchen area. 

Subsequent paranormal investigations have produced an EVP of a little boy's voice in a back bedroom area, poltergeist activity, and strange noises throughout the museum, including a rattling noise on or near the staircase. Quite a few videos exist on YouTube from various ghost hunting groups sharing their Hertzstein evidence, but you can view the 2015 apparition photo right from the local Chamber of Commerce's website! 

Clayton, New Mexico is embracing its haunted history and living up to its reputation as New Mexico's most haunted city.  If you're in the area, make sure to include a stop at the Herzstein Memorial Museum. You'll learn about the early history of New Mexico, and you might even catch a glimpse of a sassy older lady from the early 20th century!

MORE HAUNTED AMERICA

The 666 Bible of Morris Memorial Hospital

Not everyone realizes that in Moundsville, WV there is a paranormal museum that rivals even the most well known of its kind.  Alongside of the Warrens' Occult Museum and Zak Bagan's Haunted Museum is the Mountain state's very own Archive of the Afterlife!

Photo from the Archive of the Afterlife Facebook Page

I have visited the Archive of the Afterlife twice now, and each time I've been blown away the sheer quality and quantity of exhibits.  Haunted objects, funerary history, military history, and a host of memorabilia from haunted locations are just a sampling of what you'll find here.  There are several exhibits that I have felt a really strong fascination for, and one of those is the infamous 666 Bible.

According to the museum's website, this mysterious artifact was donated by an anonymous urban explorer from Glen Dale, WV.  This person and his friend were visiting the abandoned Morris Memorial Hospital for Crippled Children in Milton, WV.  The current Morris Memorial building was originally built between 1935 and 1936 and treated over 10,000 children, most of who were suffering from polio, up until the hospital closed in 1960.  With advances in medicine, including a polio vaccine, the great need for a hospital of this type was no longer needed, and the next year, Morris Memorial became a nursing home under the direction of John and Rose Greene.  It operated as a nursing home until it was completely turned over to the city and used as storage about ten years ago.

At first, security wasn't exactly tight at this location, and many amateur ghost hunters, urban explorers, and just plain curious folks ventured onto the property. Even the grounds gave off a spooky feel and peering into windows, one could easily see a mixture of old nursing home furniture and the city's Christmas decorations.  Unfortunately, vandalism was a big issue, with some people going as far as to breaking windows and doors and tearing apart the inside of the old hospital.  At any given time, access to the hospital was easily obtained through one of these busted windows or doors.

With a change in local government came a change in how the property was maintained.  No Trespassing signs flooded the property, and security cameras were installed.  Those caught breaking in were punished, and the vandalism began to curb.  Today, there are plans being implemented to turn the former hospital into a high-end hotel and resort facility.  All that's quite fascinating...but what about this Bible?

The person who donated the Bible to the museum noted that it was found in an otherwise empty room.  The rather large book was opened up to pages 666-667, and the pages were being held in place by a small angel figurine.  Even creepier, the top of page 667 appeared to have been scorched!  As a souvenir, our donor took the Bible home, and his friend took the angel.

In my investigation group, we didn't have too many rules, but one thing that was highly encouraged was leaving things alone.  Ghost lore is filled with many tales illustrating the idea that taking an object from a haunted location is never a good idea.  Unfortunately for this urban explorer, he would find that out the hard way.

Upon returning home, he put the Bible on his fireplace mantle.  Within three days, the family cat died.  His mother and pet dog became gravely ill.  He heard his name being whispered, only to find no living person anywhere in ear shot.  Things reached a spooky crescendo when three full-bodied shadow people were observed in the back yard.

Presumably, the streak of bad luck and paranormal activity ended when the Bible was donated to the museum.  And if you're brave enough, YOU can visit this seemingly cursed holy book for yourself!  The museum, which has recently expanded, can be found in Moundsville's Sanford Community Center, just a short drive from the WV State Penitentiary at Moundsville!  The museum is a great deal at $3 per person, or $5 per couple and you could spend hours browsing just the collection itself.  But, if you're a little more eager, there are investigation opportunities and paranormal conventions/events held throughout the year.  Now...I wonder if anything similar ever happened with that angel figurine!

More Reading:
Archive of the Afterlife Website
Archive of the Afterlife Facebook
Excellent article by James E. Casto in the Herald Dispatch about the history of Morris Memorial
Theresa's Visit to the Archive of the Afterlife

Ghosts of the Kelton House: Columbus, Ohio

The Kelton House in Columbus, Ohio's historic Town Street District is a beautiful old Italianate home.  It was built around 1852 by pharmaceutical and dry goods wholesaler, Fernando Cortez Kelton and his wife, Sophia. The Keltons, who were staunch abolitionists, made their mansion into much more than a home. It was a refuge for both freed and fugitive slaves, serving as a stop on the Underground Railroad. 

The Kelton House stayed in the family until the death of Fernando and Sophia's granddaughter, Grace Kelton, in 1975.  Grace was a renowned interior designer and preserved the history of her family home and much of its Victorian-era furnishings.  Upon her death, she willed the house to the Columbus Foundation for use in educational purposes. Today, the Kelton House is run by Columbus' Junior League, and operates as a museum.  It's a popular venue for school field trips as well as local weddings...and it would seem as if the Kelton family were still around, keeping watch over their property!

According to an article from Columbus Monthly website, dated 6 February 2014, quite a few ghosts have been heard, spotted and felt in the home.  Experiences began in 1976, immediately as the former residence was being renovated into a museum. It was not uncommon for workers to return to work in the morning and find that furniture they had moved the previous day had been moved back to its previous spot.  Tools and supplies would also move around on their own, or go missing altogether.  Once, the burglar alarm went off by itself.

Sophia Kelton

It wouldn't be long before the ghosts of the Kelton family would actually start to show themselves.  One volunteer was locking up one night when she noticed a woman watching her from an upstairs window.  She later identified the mysterious woman from a portrait of Sophia Kelton.  Another volunteer may have also seen Mrs. Kelton; while speaking to a group of museum visitors, she noticed a woman slip into a room across the hall.  As this area was off-limits, she went to find the woman and ask her to leave.  However, there was no one in the room---only a feeling of peace throughout.

Sophia isn't the only ghost of the Kelton House.  Another volunteer ran into what she believed to be a tall gentleman in the hall.  She looked up to apologize to thin air.  Another male entity seen on the property is a man dressed as a Union soldier.  He is believed to be Oscar Kelton, who died in battle during the Civil War.  A child ghost dressed in Victorian-era clothing rounds out the bevy of apparitions one can witness while visiting the Kelton House today, and your normal ghostly activity such as unexplained footsteps, whispering, and other sounds is ever-present.

It would definitely seem as if the Kelton family were still around, keeping an eye on their beautiful property that over the years, was a place of refuge to so many seeking freedom. If you find yourself in the Columbus area, make plans to stop by...you might just catch a glimpse of Mrs. Kelton guarding her home, or even a glimpse of Oscar finally made it home from war...in spirit form.

*The Columbus Monthly article quoted above was written by Josie Rubio, and originally appeared in the October 2003 issue of Columbus Monthly.

*Photos are from the Kelton House Museum website's Gallery

Paranormal Activity at the Titanic Museum in Branson

Branson, Missouri is a great family vacation destination. Amid such attractions as the theme park Silver Dollar City, Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner Theater, and plenty of live music, there sits a unique museum along 76 Country BLVD.

From Wikipedia

The Titanic Museum is any history buff's dream location. Opening in 2006, the museum itself is a smaller version of the actual ship. The inside is packed with over 400 artifacts, some belonging to survivors of the Titanic sinking in 1912, and some actually from the Titanic shipwreck debris field.  The Museum is owned by John Joslyn, who led a 1987 expedition of the Titanic wreckage, and is one of two of his Titanic Museums, the other being located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

However, it is the Branson location that has really obtained a reputation for being haunted! In 2009, the Wichita Paranormal Research Society, led by Shane Elliot, conducted a paranormal investigation of the museum after staff and visitors alike began having experiences.

Museum character actor Jamie Terrell, said in a November 8, 2009 interview with Ozarks First that many people have reported the smell of cigar smoke around the area of the First Class elevators and that staff members routinely hear their names being called by phantom voices in the area of the Third Class corridor.  She also goes on to say that she has personally witnessed the apparition of a man in a black suit.

These claims of activity, including full-bodied apparitions, drew the attention of Zak and his gang, and the museum became the focus of Episode 12, Season 15 of Ghost Adventures.

During the pre-investigation walk-through, Zak met with Jamie Terrell in the Grand Staircase, built based on actual blueprints of the original Titanic Grand Staircase.  Jamie once again tells of seeing a man's apparition.  He is seen near the top of the Grand Staircase, near the private quarters of First Class passenger, John Jacob Astor. She believes the apparition to be the wealthy businessman, who perished in the sinking.

Jaime also mentions to Zak that visitors to the museum are often overcome with emotion, some to the point of uncontrollable sobbing, stating that they can actually hear the screams recorded in time of that fateful night and early morning in April of 1912  when the Unsinkable Ship struck an iceberg and began to go down.

After Zak's interview with Jamie, he meets in the Musician's Gallery with another Tour Guide/Character Actor named Alexis. Before Alexis can even tell HER story to Zak, Zak starts freaking out and asking everyone if they "can feel that?" Zak, Alexis, and even Jamie all confirm that they do feel something that can only be described as a child-sized pocket of ice cold energy. Alexis then shares that her story for this room is that she has actually experienced a child's ghost here.

The child ghost(s) has also been experienced in other parts of the boat. Alexis leads Zak to the Captain's Bridge and Promenade Deck where the child has also been known to frequent. While showing the area to him, Zak notices that there are child's hand prints on the class---a common occurrence witnessed in this area. Alexis confirms that the glass was cleaned just prior to the Ghost Adventures crew coming  aboard, and it even seems as if some of the hand prints seem to materialize right then and there!

The Ghost Adventures crew returns the next night for the actual investigation, and they are not disappointed by the level of activity. Things start off sort of mundanely, with a simple light anomaly being observed over the piano keys of the Musician's Gallery's piano.  However, the child ghosts of the museum quickly show up, possibly lured by candy, cookies, and several toys. While in the Captain's Bridge area, a child-sized figure shows up twice on the structured light sensor (SLS) camera before the figure can be seen jumping THROUGH the glass window. When the window is inspected, tiny hand prints can be seen.

Back in the Musician's Gallery, the Ovilus is giving information that the ghost is possibly a 6 year old female who likes to eat cookies!  But, the fun isn't over yet.  Later on, Zak claims to see the apparition of a chubby-cheeked boy with dirty blonde hair and a life preserver standing in a doorway. The doorway happens to be the entryway to where the memorial for the children lost on the Titanic is located. Soon after, what appears to be a non-heat producing figure of a child is seen on the Thermal Imaging Camera, peeking around a corner.

With so many actual artifacts that were on the Titanic being on display here, combined with the fact that both the outside and the inside of the museum are built to closely resemble the real deal, it is theorized that all ghosts on site are directly related to (as in being passengers on) the Titanic disaster. Has their energy somehow imprinted itself on these objects, only to replay their final night, over and over...or are these sentient beings attached to their last possessions? It would seem that at least some of the ghosts of the Titanic Museum are intelligent hauntings.

Well, I didn't mean for this blog to be a re-cap of Ghost Adventures! However, much of the information about the Branson, Missouri Titanic Museum that I was able to find came from this episode! If you've had an experience here and want to share, I'd love to hear your stories! Let me know down below in the comments how you were affected by the ghosts of the Titanic Museum!

The Ghosts of Yunker Farm

Schools around the country may be out for summer vacation, but that doesn't mean the learning has to take a break! Both educational AND fun, children's museums offer a great opportunity for a quick family outing...and bonus points for the grown ups when those same museums are said to be haunted!

That's the case with North Dakota's Yunker Farm Children's Museum. The museum itself is located in an old farmhouse, built in 1876 by Newton Whitman. Whitman and his wife raised eight children and even built a schoolhouse on the property before selling to John and Elizabeth Yunker in 1905.

The Yunkers were also very...fruitful. They raised ten children on the property, which stayed in the Yunker family until 1968. After the property was donated to the Fargo Park District, the old farmhouse eventually would become a children's museum. After four years of renovations, the Yunker Farm Children's Museum officially opened in November of 1989.

A couple of different ghosts are said to wander the Yunker Farm property. The head ghost seems to be a woman, more often felt than seen. According to Rich Newman in the book, The Ghost Hunter's Field Guide, the staff have named this ghost, 'Vanessa,' but others feel that she is actually Mrs. Elizabeth Yunker. It is believed that Mrs. Yunker's love for children draws her to the second story exhibits, which are designed for the younger visitors. Staff members have reported sensing a friendly female presence in this area after closing. They believe that Mrs. Yunker is happy to see her former home being used as a nurturing place for children.

Whomever the resident ghost may be, he/she/it is blamed for lights flickering on and off, an elevator that moves from floor to floor with no human hands working the buttons, and windows being found opened or closed with no one around to have touched them.

There are also tales of another entity at the home, a much sadder tale than Mrs. Yunker coming back to monitor the activities in her old home. It is believed that a well on the property was the sight of a drowning death of a young girl. Unauthorized ghost hunters on the property have claimed to see the young girl, wearing all white, standing beside the well. It is reported that visitors to the well area may also experience feelings of shortness of breath or chest pains, which are believed to be the little girl's spirit showing them how she died. 

If you're in the area and you have young kids, definitely go check out this location and see if you can feel the friendly spirit of Mrs. Yunker. Stand by the well and imagine what some believe happened to a young girl in that very spot. But...you might want to refrain from asking about investigating the property. Apparently, staff prefer the ghost stories to be kept to minimum as to prevent children from becoming frightened of the museum. 

Sources:

Newman, Rich. The Ghost Hunter's Field Guide (2011)

Yunker Farm Children's Museum at HauntedHouses.com

Yunker Farm Children's Museum Website

ShadowClaw777 at Your Ghost Stories

Theresa Travels: Whipple Company Store

Whew! It's been a busy, busy Memorial Day Weekend! On Saturday, the family and I headed down to Fayette County, WV where we visited the Whipple Company Store, the ghost town of Thurmond, Hawks Nest State Park, The Mystery Hole, and the Glen Ferris Inn. Sunday, we attended the annual Vandalia Festival at the capital and explored the state museum. Monday, we took it fairly easy and took Luke to see the Angry Birds movie. And, on Tuesday, we watched my nephew walk across the stage and receive his high school diploma. So yeah, I'm ready for June....and a little rest and relaxation!

For the first blog of the new month, I wanted to share with you a little about our trip, starting with the always awesome Whipple Company Store. Our original itinerary only included the Mystery Hole and Hawks Nest, but since we were so close to Whipple, we decided we had to make a stop there, too. I am SO glad we did. The travel gods were really smiling down on us that day!

But before I get into that, a little about Whipple....The Whipple Company Store near Oak Hill was built around 1890 and used as a company store until the Whipple Mine shut down in the 1950s. After that, it was privately owned and operated as a general store for many, many years. Now, it is owned by a wonderful couple who work diligently to preserve not only the unique structure itself, but the fascinating history and the forgotten stories, both good and bad. And of course, the building is believed to be haunted!  One of the most haunted areas of the building is said to be the third floor ballroom. The ballroom was added for Lucy Collins, the wife of the mine owner, Justus Collins. It was a place where she could stay and entertain while accompanying her husband on trips to this particular mine town. After the Collins' home in Charleston was completed in 1907, Lucy's entertaining at the company store dwindled. Interestingly, in the 1950s when the first private owner took over, she completely boarded up that part of the building for fear of the spirits that resided there. HPIR was fortunate enough to have given the opportunity to privately investigate this location in 2012. If your own private investigation isn't feasible, you can still experience the darker history of Whipple; each fall, there are haunted history tours available for the public. You can read more about the ghosts of Whipple in my original blog, Coal Camp History Comes to Life at the Whipple Company Store.

Anyway, back to our trip. So we arrive at Whipple, and are pleasantly surprised to see that we arrived on a special day. There was an antique car show going on that day! Not only did we get to take a look at some really awesome vintage wheels, but Luke got to actively participate as a Youth Judge! He received an official hat, t-shirt, and lanyard. I have no idea why, but he picked the General Lee as his favorite car, lol. The owner of the car was really cool---he let Luke sit inside and get his picture taken.

When it was time for our tour to start, once again I was pleasantly surprised! Since the car show was going on that day, the owners of the store were offering complimentary tours! This was a somewhat more abbreviated tour than the normal, intended to be an introduction to the store to spark interest in it. However, it was still an excellent tour, full of information and even some hands-on activities for the kids. One interesting tidbit that I learned was that obviously poorly mannered children were not welcome during the reign of the coal company store. If a poorly mannered child were to approach the porch, the guards on duty did not say a word or touch the child. Instead, they would simply knock into the mother, causing her to fall down the narrow and cleverly designed front steps. Luke really took this info to heart; he was well-behaved as usual, but I did remind him that if he acted up, someone might push Mommy down the stairs, and he seemed to take that seriously, lol.

On a funner note, he got to operate the old elevator, explore how a scrip register and scrip worked, and sit in an old phone booth. I really enjoyed getting a refresher on some of the information I already knew about the store, learning a few more interesting tidbits, and just BEING there. Growing up in West Virginia and coming from a long family history of coal mining, the idea of the company store fascinates me. Joy and Chuck, the owners, have done such a wonderful job in keeping the history of this unique treasure alive. The Whipple Company store truly is one of a kind. It's like a time capsule and it is something that I would encourage EVERYONE to visit. You WILL learn something. You WILL be entertained. You WILL be touched by the overwhelming emotion that permeates throughout the walls of the Whipple Company Store. You might even be creeped out! During the autumn, special haunted history tours are available! Whether you're interested in coal mining history, women's history, West Virginia history, paranormal history, or history in general, Whipple is a treasure trove. Make it a must-see stop on your next trip through southern West Virginia. It's not a long drive from Charleston, and its a very short drive from Beckley. It's also located nearby a ton of other great tourist spots.

If you can't make it to southern West Virginia any time soon, you can still support this wonderful location. You can pick up a copy of one of their awesome books (I got Volume I), make a donation through their website, or follow them on Facebook and spread the word! Let friends and family know about this little gem of Appalachia.

Pettigrew House and Museum--South Dakota

The beautiful old Victorian home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota was originally built in 1889 for Thomas and Jennie McMartin. However, it would become known as the Pettigrew House in 1911 when  Senator Richard Franklin Pettigrew returned to South Dakota and purchased the home.

Pettigrew, who was born in Vermont and moved to Wisconsin with his parents in his youth, finally settled in what was then the Dakota Territory. When South Dakota was admitted as a state, Pettigrew became its first U.S. Senator. He served from November 2, 1889 to March 4, 1901. After briefly moving to New York to practice law, Pettigrew made his way back to Sioux Falls and purchased the McMartin home.

Pettigrew was somewhat of an amateur archaeologist and collector. In 1925, he chose to display his collection of Native American artifacts, natural history specimens, and memorabilia related to the early days of Sioux Falls in his own little museum in the back of the home. Pettigrew would pass away a short time later, on October 5, 1926. While playing cards with his wife in his upstairs study, Pettigrew suffered a stroke. He died a few days later in his bedroom. However, his legacy and dream would live on. Pettigrew left his home and his collection to the city of Sioux Falls under the condition that the museum be maintained. Presumably, this was the occur AFTER his wife passed away or remarried, because she was still listed as living in the home at 131 N. Duluth Avenue in 1929 and other sources say the museum wasn't opened to the public until 1930.

Whenever it actually opened, the museum has stood the test of time and is STILL in operation today! As the collection grew, an addition had to be built in the 1930s, but visitors today can visit the Pettigrew House Museum FOR FREE and view the original collection, as well as more recent acquisitions. The house itself is part of the museum, being set up with period appropriate furnishings to show how a man of Pettigrew's social standing would have lived during that time period. If one is REALLY lucky, one might also encounter a ghost among its halls!

During a 2012 radio interview on local hauntings, manager Kevin Gansz discussed the hauntings, saying that the second floor of the old Victorian mansion was known for its darker, heavier mood. The mansion is also known for possibly three different ghostly inhabitants, one of who is believed to be Pettigrew's second wife, Roberta. While working in Mrs. Pettigrew's room, Gansz experienced a phantom scent of heavy perfume, believed to have been a sign of Mrs. Pettigrew.

Mrs. Jennie McMartin, who passed away in 1908, is also believed to still be in the home. According to The Apparition Atlas by Daniel Diehl, Jennie has been seen wandering about the house, inspecting it to ensure that her home is kept in good order. The third apparition, which is mentioned in the book, appears to be a little girl wearing a white dress who appears on the staircase landing. Some her have seen her claim that she has blood on her face. Research into the house's history done by Kevin Gansz indicate that the McMartin family did lose a child while living in the home, which may account for those sightings. And, according to research I found on Find-a-Grave, Mr. Pettigrew had a maiden sister who lived in the home with the family and passed away there in October of 1922---could SHE be one of these female apparitions as well?

Apparition Atlas
Haunted South Dakota Interview
Pettigrew House and Museum 
Pettigrew's 167th Birthday Celebration
McMartin Bio

Our House Museum

Our House Museum in Gallipolis, Ohio

Gallipolis, Ohio is full of beautiful old homes, many dating back to the early 19th century, not long after the town was settled by a group of 500 French immigrants.  Located just across the Ohio River from Point Pleasant, WV, this quaint little area has a lot to offer in the way of historic (and sometimes haunted!) buildings.  One such building is located not far from the riverfront park on First Avenue.  That building is the Our House Tavern.

Now serving as a museum of local history, Our House Tavern dates back to 1819 and was simply known as Cushing's Tavern at first.  It was built by a prominent local citizen by the name of Henry Cushing, who ran Our House as both a tavern and and inn for travelers going up and down the Ohio River by steamboat. It is said that the tavern gained the name 'Our House' because Cushing would go down to where the boats were docked and yell, "Come on over to our house!", enticing travelers to spend the night at his establishment.  And, at an expensive 75 cents a night, only the more well-to-do traveler was able to stay.  However, the tavern was still a local favorite as well, as it was a social gathering place for the town---a place where citizens could hear the latest news and mingle with out of town guests.

Cushing, with the help of his sister, Elizabeth Cushing Foster, ran the tavern until the early 1860's.  During the Civil War, the home was used briefly as a hospital and then later served as both a private residence and then a boarding house.  In 1933, Dr. Charles E. Holzer bought the property, and eleven years later, donated it to the Ohio Historical Society.  Today, the museum is run by the Friends of Our House Committee, who along with a staff of volunteers, open Our House up every summer for tours and throughout the year for special events.  And while admission to the old tavern is much more reasonably priced these days, many still imagine a time when the home sheltered the more 'genteel' folk.                                                                                                                     

In fact, Our House hosted two very famous, well-to-do celebrities of the 19th century. On May 22, 1825 the General Marquis de Lafayette was a guest of the Cushings.  de Lafayette had met Henry and Elizabeth's brother, General Nathanial Cushing during his war service, and was invited to stay at the inn, where a large reception was held for him in the upstairs ballroom. The museum boasts ownership of a jacket owned by Lafayette, which was left behind during his stay and each spring, the museum holds an event to commemorate Lafayette's visit to Gallipolis.  However, he isn't the only famous visitor.  In the 1850's, Jenny Lind, the Swedish opera singer, made a stop at Our House.  She performed, presumably in the second floor ballroom, during her big American tour.

Interestingly enough, it is said that a phantom repeat of that performance is one of the more well-known hauntings associated with Our House.  According to the book,  Haunted Ohio II by Chris Woodyard, the curator at the time and her son were downstairs.  Above them, in the ballroom, they heard what sounded like chairs scraping the floor and other sounds associated with a large group settling into their seats.  Moments later, they hears a woman singing one of the songs Jenny Lind was known for performing.  As they rushed upstairs to investigate, they found nothing that could have accounted for what they heard.                                                                                                                                The sounds of footsteps walking through the house and sometimes running up the stairs are pretty common, as are hearing the sounds of what seems like an unseen visitor walking in the front door.  However, the most...visual...ghost on the Our House property is believed to be none other than Henry Cushing himself.  In one pretty interesting experience, the museum curator had some guests in the kitchen area.  The group observed the apparition of a man, presumed to be Henry, who appeared upset and then abruptly vanished.  Turns out, the guests were descendants of a family whom the Cushings were at odds with!

Aside from that one incident, Henry's ghost seems otherwise content.  He is most often seen around midnight, walking up the back path to the home, wearing a pair of short, green breeches.  Neighbors who have witnessed this phantom stroll aren't scared, however.  They just believe that Henry is still watching out for his beloved tavern after almost 200 years in service.

Further Reading:
Haunted Ohio II, by Chris Woodyard
Gallia Herald Article: Our House Tavern Museum officially opens for the season on May 25

Our House Tavern (Clio website)

Our House Tavern Facebook

*Updated November 2018.  All photos by Theresa Racer*