The Hungry Ghosts of Hong Kong

Beef Ho Fun
That definitely looks delicious!
Source

I love a good urban legend story, even if it does take place outside of the tri-state (and in this case, outside of the United States!). In an act of synchronicity, I've come across this tale a few times in the past month or so and thought it would be fitting for this time of the year. Not only does it take place in December, but it also mirrors one of my personal resolutions for 2025...

Back in December of 1989, there was a busy little tea house in the Tai Po neighborhood of Hong Kong called Chao Chung Kee. One evening, the restaurant received a telephone order for delivery. The caller requested a feast for four, including beef ho fun and char siu rice, among other dishes. As soon as the food was ready, it was sent out with a delivery man to the Hei Hau Fai Gardens residence.

Much to the chagrin of any delivery person, the residence in question was dark and quiet. After a frustratingly amount of time knocking at the door, it finally opened. All the delivery person could see was a black void, out of which came a pale hand, clutching some bills. A voice from the void requested that the food be left on the stoop. Payment was exchanged, and the delivery man made his regular pleasantries and headed back to the restaurant.

That evening, the owner of the restaurant was counting the day's income and noticed that among the bills were several pieces of brittle "joss paper." Joss paper, also known as ghost or Hell money, were non-legal tender bills that were usually burned by family members in veneration of the deceased. The idea was to make sure that our deceased ancestors had enough money to cover everything they'd need in the afterlife. More than a little miffed, the owner chalked it up to either a practical joke or an honest mistake.

He changed his mind the next day.

Once again, a call came in from Hei Hau Fai Gardens requesting a feast for four to be delivered. When the same delivery driver went out, it was a repeat of the day before. A hand clutching bills poked out and the food was left on the stoop. At closing, more joss paper was found among the day's profits.

When the same call came in for a third day in a row, the owner himself decided to deliver the food. He found the conditions much the same as reported by his delivery man, but this time, before leaving, he confirmed that the money given was legal tender. So, it was quite the surprise when later on, MORE joss paper was found among the day's earnings. At that point, the owner of the restaurant decided to get the police involved. 

The police arrived at the residence, yet no one answered the door. They finally resorted to kicking the door down and were met with a stench of death and decay. Around a mahjong table, still set up for play, were four young men, obviously deceased. However, there were no wounds or other signs of what killed them so quickly and without warning. Investigation, however, would offer up some answers. The men were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning from a makeshift coal-burning stove. They had been deceased for at least a week when found, based on decomposition....but that didn't quite make sense.

Neighbors had heard the talking of young men and clink of mahjong tiles as recent as the night before! Not to mention, SOMEONE was answering the door and receiving food delivery. Interestingly, the same order that was dropped off three days in a row by the Chao Chung Kee restaurant matched up with the 'fresh' food that was found undigested within the stomachs of the mens' corpses. 

Like many people this time of year, I've made a plan to reduce the amount of takeout food I order, both for health and for financial reasons. But, I admittedly am a little bit addicted. I hate to cook, and I certainly enjoy the luxury of choosing favorite dishes from favorite restaurants to have delivered straight to my door. That makes me wonder if that when I die, will I still try to partake in this activity as long as I can?

Obviously, this tale is less ghost story and more urban legend. Although we've got some pretty definitive dates and place names, none of these can really be verified. When you search for any of the terms, the first results are always re-tellings of the ghostly mahjong players. Further, variations of the tale date back all the way to right after World War 2. But why? With many urban legends, there is some reason behind the tale, usually a morality tale or warning to act in a certain way. Is this a subtle reminder from the companies that produce joss paper to stock up, because you never know when your deceased loved ones will have a craving for beef ho fun?

The awesome blog, Urban FolkOres, shares an early variant of the tale and offers up one of those grains of truth that so often accompany urban legends. It seems that in 1953, a local newspaper shared a story about a group playing mahjong in a Hong Kong apartment who noticed several pairs of disembodied hands had joined their game! They fled in terror, but word spread and people from all over flooded the area to see where the haunted apartment with the mahjong playing ghosts was located. This ended up being a hoax, stemming from a dispute with the landlord and tenants. 

I hope you enjoyed this urban legend as much as I did. Have a happy holiday season, and remember, it's up to you to ensure that your loved ones' fast food fix is fulfilled in the afterlife!

YouTube Recommendation:

The Paranormal Incident that Shook Hong Kong in 1989, by Sketch Telling

New Jersey's Official State Demon

The Jersey Devil
NJ's 'Official' State Demon...or Not?

Here in West Virginia we have a lot of official state 'stuff.' Our state bird is the majestic cardinal. In 2021, pepperoni rolls finally became our state food. And, of course among several others, our state song is the world-wide favorite, Country Roads. What we don't have, however, is an official state DEMON. As far as I can tell, that honor has only been bestowed upon the state of New Jersey.  Or has it...

There's a 'fun fact' floating around the paranormal world that in 1939, the Leeds Devil, more popularly known as the Jersey Devil, became the official state demon of New Jersey. Unfortunately, when you look at the actual state laws (yeah, this official state stuff is actually presented as a bill, voted on and passed by state government) there is no mention of the Jersey Devil being the state's officially recognized demonic being. So where did this information come from?

The New Jersey State Library puts out a wonderfully informative newsletter for its employees, and in issue No. 33, covers the origin story fantastically. 

Back on October 31, 1979 The Washington Post published an article stating that the Jersey Devil/Leeds Demon had been New Jersey's official state demon since 1939. This assertion was supported by a 1970's documentary on the Jersey Devil produced by the NJ Public Broadcasting Authority, stating the same thing.  But, it all really does date back to 1939. 

That year, a book called New Jersey: A Guide to Its Present and Past was published. The book contained a chapter entitled Folklore and Folkways, which opened with: By default, the title of official State demon has rested for nearly a century with the Leeds Devil, a friendly native of Atlantic County who has traveled extensively throughout southern New Jersey.

This tongue-in-cheek commentary was accompanied by the assertion that the Jersey Devil was also at the time studying for his doctorate degree at the University of Hell, and enjoyed discussing Republican politics over breakfast. I guess just flapping around the Pine Barrens is a little too low-brow for everyone's favorite winged, horse-faced monstrosity!

So unfortunately, the Jersey Devil isn't really recognized officially as New Jersey's Official State Demon...but he's certainly their unofficial state demon! We can only hope that one day, what started as a joke in 1939 may very well be voted on for real one day. At the very least, it's given me something fun and silly to share on today's Friday Funnies blog post! I hope you all have a great weekend, and as always, stay spooky! 

Avon, Indiana's Haunted Bridge

Avon Haunted Bridge--Source: Visit Hendricks County

Avon, Indiana is a small town located in Hendricks County, almost in the center of the state. And, like most small, mid-western towns, Avon is home to a local urban legend: The Legend of Avon Bridge. 

In typical urban legend fashion, stories as to why exactly the bridge is haunted not only differ depending on who is telling the tale, but also can't really be proven or disproved by historical documentation. Further, the stories as to what the 'haunting' entails also seem to differ from telling to telling, making the location a quintessential urban legend hot spot!  Here's what we do know:

The Avon Bridge can be found in Washington Township Park, its distinct arches spanning across County Road 625 East. Built in 1906, the bridge was designed by engineer, W.M. Dunne for the Big Four Railroad.  Today, it is still owned and operated as an active train bridge by CSX.

It's also one of the most popular places to go at Halloween for a little spooky fun!

Stories tell that one of the workers who built the bridge, sometimes noted as an Irish worker, and sometimes an African-American one, drunkenly slipped and fell into the wet cement used in the construction of the massive arches. His body was never recovered, and his ghastly moans for help can still be heard, over 100 years later, each time a train crosses.

Another story involves a young mother who was taking a shortcut home across the train bridge while carrying her baby. While on the bridge, a train quickly approached, and the young mother was caught off-guard as to what to do. She went to set the infant down, but it fell to the ground below the tracks, causing the mother to subsequently fall after it.  Both were killed, but again, when the train rumbles by overhead, people below the bridge can hear either a woman's mournful scream, a baby's wail, or both. 

It's customary to honk your car's horn as you drive under the bridge, presumably to drown out the eerie sounds that you might hear, especially if you're passing under the bridge on Halloween.  But, a word to legend trippers---by some accounts, the area is closed after dark, so if you want to experience the spooky sounds of the Avon Bridge, you'll have to go before dusk. Feel free to blow your horn as you drive underneath, but take a second to stop and listen; if there's a train overhead, ghost or not, you're sure to hear some strange sounds! 

Sources and Further Reading:

Visit Hendricks County: The Legend of the Avon Haunted Bridge, by Ericka Bethel. 22 October 2020

WishTV: Avon's Haunted Bridge: The Truth Behind the Tales, by Nina Criscuolo 27 October 2017

Prepare for Death and Follow Me: An Iowa Cemetery Legend

Photo by Gravefinder, of Find-a-Grave

Atop a hill near Williamson, Iowa sits a quaint little cemetery.  Known as the Oak Hill Cemetery by some, and the Stoneking Cemetery by others, this final resting spot of the Stoneking and Darrah families is home to a rather creepy urban legend!

Like many similarly spooky legends, this one is all over the map.  Websites that feature lists of hauntings, such as Shadowlands and Iowa Haunted Houses, note that apparitions of horribly burned people and apparitions of people missing their hands have been spotted in the area.  And although it is no longer there, an abandoned home adjacent to the cemetery property was said to be rather scary itself.  Those brave enough to attempt to walk up the front steps of the home found the task physically impossible---something always stopped them from making it to the top.

The most talked about legend, however, is that of Joseph Stoneking. Joseph Stoneking was born on February 9, 1849 in what is now Wetzel County, West Virginia.  He passed away on March 17, 1916.

It is discussed among legend trippers that if one were to go behind the trees to the rear of the cemetery, they would witness the ghost of Joseph Stoneking sitting atop his own grave.  Anyone unlucky enough to experience this would be dead shortly after.

Fueling this fear, undoubtedly, is the rather grim epitaph found on the tombstone that Joseph shares with his wife, Lucinda:

DEAR CHILDREN AS YOU PASS BY

AS YOU ARE NOW, SO ONCE WAS I

AS I AM NOW, SO SOON YOU'LL BE

PREPARE FOR DEATH AND FOLLOW ME

While a tad unsettling today, this epitaph (and small variations of such) were actually quite  common here in the United States throughout the late 18th century to the early 20th century.  The blog, Vast Public Indifference, has a nice little write-up about the origins and use of this verse, so definitely go check that out!  

And, if you're in the area, actually check out this peaceful little cemetery...but only if you plan to do so respectfully.  In years past, the cemetery has seen bouts of vandalism, such as tombstones being knocked over and the cemetery sign being shot at.  Another aspect of Joseph's tombstone legend has visitors actually urinating on it, as doing so is believed to cause the epitaph to disappear.  Obviously, if you get a dark colored stone with lighter colored engraving wet, its going to be harder to read...so keep it in your pants and refrain from pissing on someone's relatives! 

The Donkey Tree of Kentucky

Kentucky has a lot of weird trees! Last month, I posted about a tree near Paducah that kept trying to tell passersby that there was treasure buried at its roots. Today, however, is dedicated to the Donkey Tree, a cursed tree near Springfield.

Source

Like all urban legends, the story behind the Donkey Tree changes slightly depending on who is telling it. Along with the background, the consequences of visiting the cursed tree also change from person to person. But, here's the gist:

There was once a farmer who was especially cruel to his donkey, and would often beat the animal severely. One day, the farmer took it too far and beat the animal to death. Atop the site where the donkey died (or was buried) grew what is today known as The Donkey Tree.

Visitors to the spooky tree, which does closely resemble a donkey, believe that the tree is cursed. It is said that anyone who touches the tree will have bad luck. Some believe that touching the tree will result in the person being in an accident, and some even say that its a death sentence. On the flip side, putting an apple in the 'donkey's' mouth is considered good luck. If you do put an apple in its mouth and then leave, you'll find that the apple has mysteriously disappeared by the time you get back.

According to the Donkey Tree Facebook page, in October 2014, people began contacting the admins of the site to report that they were hearing the sounds of a child laughing or crying near the tree between the hours of 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. Even stranger, the Facebook page mentions that an abandoned car was found in front of the Donkey Tree in September of 2015. The car allegedly belonged to a YouTuber from Indiana who was visiting the area to shoot a documentary for his channel. No updates were ever posted, and I couldn't find any additional information on this case.

Having said that, if you're still brave enough to visit the Donkey Tree yourself, it's located on Valley Hill Road in Springfield, KY. Roadside America gives the following directions:

Directions:  From Springfield drive north on Hwy 55/Bloomfield Rd. Just past the nursery on the left, turn left onto Valley Hill Rd. The tree is on the left, just past the little one lane bridge.

*Kentucky has donkey trees...West Virginia has men's faces in rocks.  It's all thanks to the wonders of Pareidolia!  Learn more about pareidolia at the link provided!*

Catman's Grave, Delaware

Source

At the end of an old dirt road in Frankfort, Delaware, there sits an old cemetery, with burials dating back to the early 1800s. If you're lucky enough to find this elusive spot, you've found the site of Catman's Grave.

Urban legend states that the cemetery was once looked after by a caretaker with strange, cat-like features known as Catman. Catman lived in a nearby home and didn't take too kindly to the local teenagers who would come to the secluded spot, spending much of his time running them off. When he died, he was interred in an above-ground crypt in the cemetery....and apparently kept up with his caretaking duties, even in death!

According to one commentator on the StrangeUSA site, the tomb in which he was said to be interred was torn down in 1994 at the request of the family (due to threats of vandalism), and the four people who claimed it as their final resting spot were given regular in-ground burials. However, those who claim to have seen the crypt before it was taken down claim that the inside was marked by strange scratches....like the kind made by a cat's claws.

Although the crypt is no more, Catman still makes his presence known in the cemetery. There is apparently the remains of a brick wall towards the back of the cemetery. It is believed that those who knock on this wall three times will summon Catman, who, in retaliation, will cause the visitor's car to stall, fail to start, or a host of similar problems.

If you choose to visit this location, please do so respectfully...and gain permission if you wish to actively investigate. This cemetery, while known in ghost hunting circles as Catman's Grave, is actually the Colonel Armwell Long Cemetery. Armwell Long served with George Washington in the Revolutionary War. When he died in 1834, he joined his wife, a son, and several other relatives in their small, family plot. However, plans were soon made to turn the burial ground, as well as the surrounding lands owned by the Layton family, into a large, public cemetery in Armwell's memory, with him being cited as the new cemetery's first official burial. Today, the cemetery sits off of a private road, which is interestly just off Route 401,  known locally as Catman's Road. It is unclear whether or not the road was named that before or after the legends of Catman took root, lol.

Sources:
StrangeUSA
Haunted Places
Find-a-Grave

Murdered by Human Wolves

If you were to visit Oklahoma's Konawa Memorial Cemetery, you might come across the grave of Katherine Cross. The unassuming stone reads states that Katherine Cross, daughter of JT and MK Cross, was born on March 13, 1899 and died on October 10, 1917.  It's always sad to see the grave of someone who died so young, but death is a normal part of life, and it doesn't discriminate based on age---especially during that time period!

It isn't until you take a much closer look at the tombstone that you realize there is much more to the story...

Yup. That's right.  It says, "Murdered by human wolves." Who or what were these human wolves and how was Katherine murdered? Rumors sprang up that her body had been found mutilated---torn to shreds. Some say the culprits were Ku Klux Klan members, while others took a more supernatural approach and claimed that these 'human wolves' were actual WEREWOLVES. Further legends sprang up that Katherine's ghost was haunting the cemetery, being seen AND heard in the vicinity of her tombstone, a legend that persists to this day.

But what REALLY happened to Katherine?

According to data from Katherine's death certificate and an October 25th, 1917 edition of the Seminole County News, Katherine's death was every bit as horrific as the legends would lead one to believe---but with a much more human monster than any werewolf or even Klan member.  Katherine died of what was listed as a 'criminal operation' at the hands of Dr. A.H. Yates, and his assistant, a school teacher named Fred O'Neal. While not confirmed, this cause of death heavily implied that Katherine had undergone an illegal abortion and succumbed due to complications.

What is especially tragic is that she wasn't the first.  On August 15, 1917 another young lady named Elise Stone was admitted under Dr. Yates' care.  She stayed at his office for four days before being sent home, where she died soon after. The original cause of death listed for Elise was 'congestive chill,' but suspicion arose and her body was disinterred for an autopsy. Like Katherine, her cause of death was now listed as complications from a criminal operation. Although the newspaper article states that the two men were charged, it doesn't appear that any further legal action was ever taken. And even with the cause of death cleared up, there are still more questions than answers concerning this strange tale of how two young women suffered a nearly identical fate two months apart and what the heck a school teacher was doing assisting abortions.

One researcher has delved into a few different theories suggesting that Mr. O'Neal was actually the father of these unborn children or perhaps even worked as a 'scout,' choosing among his young pupils boys and girls to engage in illicit sex acts with prominent town citizens. Whether or not any of that is true, we will probably never know.

*All Photos from Find-a-Grave*

Sources:
Merlyn's Cave
Wikipedia
Find-a-Grave
USGenWeb

The Slit-Mouthed Woman

Today's blog takes us far, far away from the tri-state. The legend of Japan's Kuchisake-onna has fascinated me for years and it has been interesting to see 'new' versions of the legend pop up on different websites! If you ever plan on visiting any Asian country, especially Japan, you might want to pay attention to this blog---it might just save your life.

The Kuchisake-onna is more commonly known as the Slit-Mouthed Woman, so named for her grotesque appearance.  Beginning around 1979 in Nagasaki Prefecture, school children walking home alone would report that a very beautiful woman with long, black hair and wearing a beige trench coat would approach them.  In these days, her mouth was covered by the collar of her coat or a scarf.  She would approach the child and ask him or her if they thought she was beautiful.  If the child said no, the woman would take out a large pair of scissors from underneath her coat and immediately kill the child.  If the child said YES, the woman would remove the covering from her mouth, revealing an horrific gash.

She would then repeat the question, "Am I pretty/beautiful?"  If the child said no, he would be cut in half with the large pair of scissors.  However, if he child said YES, the Slit-Mouth Woman would let him off easily---the scissors would be used only to slash the child's mouth, copying the woman's own injury.

In later years as a fear of germs would lead many Japanese to wear surgical masks out in public on a regular basis, the Slit-Mouth Woman kept her beige trench coat, but upgraded her mouth covering.  Her back story has also changed over the years.  In the original tales, the Kuchisake-onna had been the beautiful, yet unfaithful wife of a samurai.  After discovering that she had cheated on him, the samurai slashed his sword across the woman's face, marring her great beauty so that no one would ever love her again.  With the 2007 release of the film, Carved, a back story developed to explain that the ghost was that of a woman who was hit and killed by a car in the 1970s, an accident that left a disfiguring wound across her face.  She allegedly was a child murderer.

So, if you DO encounter the Slit-Mouth Woman you're doomed right?  Well, not exactly.  For one thing, she only seems to go after school children, so if you're of a more mature age, you're automatically pretty safe.  She only goes after children who are walking ALONE, so if you are a child, make sure you take a buddy with you wherever you go.  But, if you still find yourself a victim of the Slit-Mouth Woman, you'll need to trick her!

Make sure to tell her she's beautiful when she first asks.  Then, when she takes off the mask to reveal her wound, don't answer her with a yes or no.  Instead, when she asks if you find her pretty, tell her you find her average, or so-so.  Better yet, answer her question with a question: ask HER if she thinks YOU'RE pretty!  In her confusion, you'll be able to get away.  If for some reason, you mess up and the scissors come out, grab a handful of candy and throw it at her. She'll be forced to stop and pick it all up, giving you ample time to run away.  I hear she's particularly fond of butterscotch...

More Asian Ghost Stories on Theresa's Haunted History
The Yurei
The Ubume
The Cursed Japanese Kleenex Commercial

A Haunted House Urban Legend

The following story was posted by the Facebook page Creepy? or Not? in late March, 2015. 

"Killer Turns Abandoned Home Into Haunted House, Uses Real Corpses As Props

There is a serial killer in Gary, Indiana that is finally off the streets. But not before he could murder 11 people, hang their bodies on the walls and open his insanity to the public as a “Haunted House” attraction.


The serial killer in custody is 34 year old Donald Vann, and police have been looking for him since 2005. According to police, 25 bodies had been found between 2005 – 2012 – all of the murders with one thing in common.

All of the victims showed wounds with ‘crucifixion’ style markings in the hands and feet. They knew they had a serial killer on their hands. However, according to police, the killer seemed to have vanished. No bodies had been found for 2 years…. Until now.

Gary, Indiana is known for their surplus of abandoned homes, 10,000 to be exact. Most of them too run down to give away. Vann decided to find an abandoned home to occupy and make his own.
Authorities say Vann turned the basement of this abandoned house into a make shift morgue, collecting the bodies of his victims. In a video taped confession, Vann admitted he wanted to get caught. “I wanted to end this. But I wanted to make sure I’d be remembered.”

Vann said he had planned the ‘Haunted House’ for the last 8 months. Prepping the bodies for display. He opened the home on October 18 and police were called immediately by terrified attendees.

“When we entered the home, the smell was putrid. At first I thought the odor was like a stink bomb or something, ” said one attendee. “Then as we went through, he had bodies hanging up on crosses on the wall. It looked way too real. My husband went up close and touched it and said ‘Let’s get out of here! I think that’s real!’ At that point, the other people that were in there with us all ran out of the house screaming. It was absolute chaos!”

Another eyewitness said that Vann just sat there in a chair at the door entrance while people ran out.

“As we were all running out and screaming, he sat to the left of the door with a psychotic smirk on his face. He just had this blank stare, an emptiness in his eyes. I don’t know which was scarier, him or the dead people.”

The police department reported receiving over 50 911 calls reporting the incident. Police showed up within minutes, and arrested Vann.

The District Attorney’s office is hoping to charge Vann with the 11 murders in the home, as well as the 25 murders that occurred since 2005. According to police, he has already confessed to 17 out of those first 25."

Darren Vann

Sounds completely and utterly horrifying, right?  But...is it a TRUE story?  What makes this tale interesting is that it IS based on a grain of truth.   Research into the case reveals that Darren Deon Vann IS a real person from Gary, Indiana.  And, while he never turned any abandoned home into a haunted house attraction starring his victims, Vann is reported to have murdered at least seven women and hid their bodies in different abandoned properties in and around Gary, Indiana. 

So where does this fictionalized account of events come from? On October 23, 2014 the article above appeared on the BoomViral website.  BoomViral is an internet satire site, which explicitly states in its disclaimer that its stories are often completely fictional, or are fictionalized accounts based on true events.  This story falls into the latter category. It capitalized off an already sensational news story and turned it into a Halloween-themed read, just in time for the holiday.

The photo that was being used to illustrate this story comes from the iStock Getty Images webpage, and was uploaded by user 'andydidyk.' Over 40 tags were attached to this photo and others of the same building, including Kentucky, Indiana, AND Ohio, making exactly where this photo was taken difficult to ascertain, but it does NOT appear to be one of the homes where Vann's victims were found or where police were searching.  However, according to a member of the West Virginia Paranormal Group Facebook page, the home in question does have some history to it. It is believed to be located somewhere in Ohio and is allegedly haunted.  Loud noises and voices are said to be heard coming from the home, and some believe a ghostly figure can be seen in one of the windows.

Frozen Urine

History is full of weird, unexplained happenings and spooky, strange coincidences.  With all this 'truth is stranger than fiction' fodder to explore, it always amazes that people still try passing off completely fictitious stories and photos as the real deal.  Some have said that social media has ruined the paranormal field---for me, CreepyPasta has ruined the paranormal field!  (I actually love CreepyPasta, but there are just too many folks out there who cannot distinguish fact from fiction, and are constantly posting CreepyPasta works as truth.) But its not just CreepyPasta stories that keep getting passed around as real....

I've written about several false infographics---photos with a little bit of text---before on Theresa's Haunted History, and now its time for another!  This photo shows a very unfortunate accident involving a woman in England who was killed when a large spear of frozen urine leaked from an airplane and impaled her from above.  Just by looking at the photo, we can already see that things aren't quite right.  Wouldn't the urine spear have melted by the time she was found? Judging by the angle of the spear, she would have already been lying down on the ground when it hit her.  Oh, and isn't that stuff that leaks out of planes usually BLUE?

A tad of authenticity seems to go along with this tall tale, which may be why people are so quick to believe it.  While to date no one has been killed (except in various television shows, movies, and other pop culture references) it IS possible to be hit by a chunk of ice falling from an airplane. Even MythBusters said that part was true!  But, does that mean this photo is proof of such?  Of course not...and all it took was a 3-minute Google search.

This image comes from a satirical news story featured on the comedic (and completely made up) news broadcast, The Day Today.  Airing in 1994, The Day Today is a series of six half-hour episodes full of utter hilarity.  Hosted by Chris Morris, the show has long been off the air, originally being shown on BBC2, but all six episodes can be found on Youtube!  In fact, if you'd like to see this story as it aired, you can find it in Episode One, about 23 minutes and 24 seconds into the 'broadcast!'

The Bloody Horseshoe Grave

By Josh Guisinger

A couple of days ago, I posted about a really bizarre urban legend concerning a Kentucky cemetery and the road that runs past it.  Much like the Hell-Hound of Baker Hollow Road, the tale surrounding Ohio's Bloody Horseshoe Grave is also a convoluted tale that really is best just being taken at face value-- as a fun, spooky story, perfect for the Halloween season!

Outside of Somerset, in Perry County Ohio, sits the small Otterbein United Method Church and its adjoining graveyard.  Full of historic tombstones, many dating back to a time before the Civil War, the church has done an excellent job in keeping the old burial ground clean and kept up.  But, that hasn't stopped hordes of legend trippers, collectors of the macabre, and vandals from visiting Otterbein's most famous grave---The Bloody Horseshoe Grave.

The grave belongs to a young woman by the name of Mary Catherine Angle Henry, wife of local farmer, James K. Henry.  In the winter of 1843-1844, James Kennedy Henry was thirty years old, and looking to settle down into married life.  Unfortunately, he was having a terrible time choosing between two local beauties--Mary Angle and Rachael Hodge.  One night, after heading back home after allegedly courting with BOTH women, James fell asleep astride his favorite horse, Bob.  When he awoke, he found that Bob had not taken him back home, but rather, had returned to the home of Mary Angle.  Taking it as a sign, James wasted no time in asking Mary to be his wife.  The two were wed on January 11, 1844 with Rachael serving as a bridesmaid.

Mary loved to hook up the carriage to Bob and tour the beautiful countryside with her new husband.  However, marriage bliss would not last long for the couple.  Mary became pregnant with a son, but unfortunately died from complications on February 28, 1845.  The baby was stillborn.  James buried them in the Otterbein Church graveyard, and faithfully visited nearly everyday.

Source

However, James was still a young man and nature would finally take its course when he and Rachael began a more intimate relationship. Puzzled over what to do, once again James fell asleep astride Bob, this time coming home from Mary's grave.  When he awoke, Bob had again failed to bring him home.  Instead, he brought him to Rachael.  Again, Bob's actions were taken as a sign, and James asked Rachael to be his wife.  They were married on December 7, 1848.  The service was held at Mary's grave site.

And that's when things started getting ugly.  Apparently Mary wasn't too thrilled with being forced to be the bridesmaid at the wedding of her own husband.  The following day (or a week later by some accounts), the caretaker of the graveyard ran to the Henry household and told the couple they needed to get to Mary's grave immediately.  What they found was a blood-red outline of a horseshoe on the back of the grave!  The appearance of the strange marking was accompanied by mournful wailing and a ball of light that blazed over the tombstone that night.

Puzzled, and most likely pretty darn scared, James and Rachael tried to get their life back to normal.  Early the next morning, James arose to take care of morning chores out in the barn.  However, when he failed to return to the house, Rachael got worried.  When she went out to see where he was, she found him in the barn, lying dead with a bloody outline of a horseshoe on his forehead.  Bob had become spooked by something and kicked James in the head, killing him, leaving a mark on him identical to the one on Mary's tomb?  Was it all just another coincidence...or did Mary's spirit have something to do with James' tragic death?  We may never know, but visitors to the cemetery today can still see the red horseshoe on the back of Mary's stone and some still say they can hear her mournful wails and the clomp of horse hooves nearby.

*In an alternative version of this story, James and Mary received two horses as wedding presents--one from her parents, and one from his.  After her death, it was considered socially appropriate and expected that the horse be given back to her parents, who were struggling to make ends meet.  While the issue was never brought up in polite conversation, it was said that there were a lot of bad feelings, especially after James remarried and still refused to turn over the wedding present from his first marriage.*

Sources:

Forgotten Ohio

Haunted Hocking

Find-a-Grave

The Hell Hound of Baker Hollow Road Cemetery

Baker Hollow Church, Source

It's getting closer and closer to my favorite holiday...HALLOWEEN!  To help celebrate the more fun, light-hearted side of Halloween spookiness, today's blog post is nothing but pure, unadulterated urban legend.  For the investigation and research process, we try to uncover the truth about haunted locations, supported with as much historical documentation as possible.  However, in the spirit of the season, sometimes its just as important to enjoy a good story for what its worth.  With that caveat, I bring you the tale of Baker Hollow Road Cemetery.

Baker Hollow Road Cemetery is located in Marion, Kentucky and there are so many aspects to this legend, that there's no way I could cover them all.  But before we get to all that, I can't resist throwing in a LITTLE bit of history!

The Baker Hollow Road Cemetery is actually two separate and distinct cemeteries known collectively as the Baker-Phillips Cemetery.  Baker Cemetery is the burial ground associated with the Baker Church, and can be found to the side of the building.  Phillips Cemetery is located towards the front of the church.  When the new road came through this area, it split the farm property of Edgar Ovel Phillips in two, leaving one section on the other side of the road in front of the church.  When a cousin's son passed away in 1949, Phillips gave permission for the boy, Major Samuel, to be buried on that strip of land for free.  As more and more family members passed away, they were also buried on that plot of land.  It wouldn't be until 2008, however, that an arch would be erected denoting the fact that this was a separate cemetery from Baker. (Source)

Courtesy, Find-a-Grave

Find-a-Grave, however, still has the both sections listed under the Baker name, and contributor, Jean, posted the photo of Major Samuel's grave.  The boy died of non-infectious encephalitis just shy of his 10th birthday.  He was the son of James and Marie Samuel.  The reason why its important to note who Major Samuel was is because his burial may or may not have a direct affect on at least one of the cemetery legends!  It is a belief, especially in the southern United States, that the first person to be buried in a new cemetery is destined to become the cemetery's guardian, protecting the grounds and manifesting in a variety of ways, including...in the shape of a black dog.

But, in order to experience the black dog, one must first FIND the cemetery in question, which is located off Baker Church Road.  Coming from Marion, the church and one section of cemetery will be on your left.  Pass the church until you come to the fork in the road and turn around at the fork.  Those who have experienced the Baker Hollow Road legend report that midnight is the best time to go and under the cover of this darkness, the section of cemetery in question will not be visible until one turns around at the fork.  But, as the cemetery suddenly pops into view, its not unusual to experience feelings of extreme sadness to the point of even crying.  Now is the time to keep your eyes open for the Hell Hound.

The rather large dog is described as being as black as night with glowing yellow eyes.  It may appear as limping, or otherwise injured, but DO NOT get out of the car and attempt to pick it up!  If you speed up the car in attempt to get away from this dog, it will keep time with your car, always watching you with its yellow eyes.  If you manage to follow it back to the triangle section of the fork in the road, watch its shadow---legend says that the shadow will turn into a large, demonic beast, before it and the dog disappear from view altogether.

Image by Abellia

As creepy as that sounds, encounters with the Hell Hound, or cemetery guardian, are tame in comparison to what others have experienced.  Just on the road alone, people have heard laughing, screaming, crying, and the voices of deceased loved ones calling out to them.  Strange weather phenomena, such as very centralized rains have been noted, as have thick pockets of fog and mist that appear and disappear out of thin air.  Along the sides of the roads, the spectral bodies of men, hanged years ago for crimes lost to history, can be seen swaying from the trees, and broken down cars will be parked, filled with the tormented screams of those crying for help.

If seeing and hearing all this still hasn't scared you off, feel free to drive into the cemetery itself---just be prepared to stay for awhile.  Those who have dared enter the sacred grounds after dark have found that their vehicles will mysteriously shut off and refuse to start back up.  Even if you wait it out until morning or gather the courage to get out and push the car out through the gates, your encounter has not yet ended.  Visitors often report being plagued by horrible nightmares and nocturnal visits by unclean spirits.

Obviously there is a lot of "information" out there on this location, and it seems like everyone has their own story to tell about what they or a friend of a friend experienced!  Strange USA has a wonderful collection of these experiences, but if you've had your own...I want to hear about it!

More photos and directions

Japanese Kleenex Commercial Curse

This is the creepiest commercial you've seen in a long time, right?  Hitting the airways around 1986, millions of Japanese viewers agreed...and it was quickly pulled from Kleenex's advertising campaign, which featured this ad, and two similar.  But, why is this commercial so darn creepy?  And just what the heck is going on with that kid?!

According to internet sources, this popular Japanese urban legend got its start when viewers noted that the jingle for this song, which is actually an English-lyric version of "It's a Fine Day" by Jane and Barton, sounded an awful lot like a German curse-- "Die, die, everyone is cursed and will be killed."

After it was pulled, the rumors began to pour in.  First it was said that the ad wasn't just pulled due to complaints of it being creepy, but that it was banned because people who watched it either died of mysterious circumstances or felt the overwhelming urge to commit suicide.  Secondly, it was widely believed that the cursed commercial had led to the deaths of the entire cast and crew, and that not one person who worked on the commercial was alive at the time it aired.

One cameraman was rumored to have been burned to death in a freak mechanical failure with his sauna.  The little boy had a whole list of things allegedly happen to him.  Some milder accounts place him as the victim of horrific nightmares lasting for days after filming.  In other versions of the legend, he isn't so lucky, either dying of organ failure from the toxicity of the paint used on his body, or decapitation resulting from being hit by a car.

The actress in the commercial may have had it worst of all.  Legend states that she went insane after the filming, and either hung herself or is still rotting away in a catatonic state in a mental institution.  Or, in my preferred telling, she became pregnant with the devil's child, and went insane.  It's actually the actress who gives us the biggest piece of evidence that this story is nothing more than an urban legend.  Her name is Keiko Matsuzaka, and if she DID go insane after giving birth to a devil baby, she recovered well, still working on film and television projects as late as 2007.

So, as rational people, we can be reasonably sure that the entire curse is simply an urban legend...but that leaves the question of what is going on in this commercial?  Well, as many sites that discuss this legend state, the child IS an ogre.  More specifically, he is a type of being called an oni, which is a demon, devil, ogre, troll mash-up, basically.  More specifically than THAT, he is an example of an Akaoni, or Red Demon.

The Akaoni is a pretty popular creature from Japanese folklore, and tends to show up in children's literature as a red critter, with green, moppish hair, a horn or two, and wearing tiger striped pants.  The Akaoni makes a prominent appearance in the 1933 children's book by Kousuku Hamada, called Naita Akaoni, or, the Red Demon who cried.

It was also the basis for a character named Ten in the popular anime of the time period, Ursei Yatsura!  In fact, it is widely speculated that the characters of Ten and Sakura, as seen below, were the inspiration for this commercial, as Kleenex tried to capitalize off a widely known television show airing in 1985-6.  So, yeah, its a little creepy as far as commercials go, but its definitely not the creepiest thing I've seen come out of Japan!

Ten, from Urusei Yatsura

It's a Fine Day Lyrics
The Horror Tree

Sakura, from Urusei Yatsura

Debunking a Kentucky Cemetery Legend

This morning, I saw a Facebook post for a cemetery legend out of Marion, Kentucky.  The legend was that of the Pilot's Knob Cemetery Witch Girl.  Since I'm always short on interesting places in the Bluegrass State, I decided to research this location a little more and add it to the Haunted Kentucky Page.

What I found was not exactly shocking.  From what I can find, there is not one single supporting piece of evidence to show that there's even a grain of truth buried somewhere in the deep recesses of this urban legend.

As the stories go, Mary Evelyn Ford lived with her mother near Marion, Kentucky around the early 1900s.  For reasons unnamed, the mother and the girl were universally believed to be witches by the townspeople, and thus, in an act of vigilante justice, the townspeople swooped in and burned both mother and daughter alive.  The mother's charred remains were taken away, yet the little girl's body was buried in the Pilot Knob Cemetery.  However, it was believed that without proper precautions, her spirit would seek vengeance on those who took the lives of her mother and herself...so she buried in a lead-lined coffin, and covered in concrete and gravel.  As an added precaution, her grave was surrounded by an iron fence, made of interlocking crosses, designed to keep her spirit from escaping.

That hasn't stopped her from trying, however.  Visitors to the site have noted that they've seen the apparition of the little blonde girl, wandering back and forth in her white iron cage, wearing a singed white nightgown.  She reaches out to those who get close enough, trying to pull them in with her.  She's even been seen making faces at people, peering through the iron bars.  If you do manage to climb over the fence, its said she'll hold you down and pull you into her grave with her.

In reality, Mary Evelyn Ford was the youngest of at least six children born to James Andy Ford and Mary Rebecca Davis Ford.  According to her death certificate, she passed away on May 31, 1915, just a few weeks after her fifth birthday, from peritonitis.  Her mother, who legend claims is missing, is really buried in the same cemetery, dying in 1955 after outliving her husband and at least two of her children.  It seems like the legend was nothing more than a made up story intended to keep people away from the cemetery at night...and to account for why Mary's grave seems to be the only one with a gravel top and iron fence.

But...that still doesn't account for some of the other spooky goings-on in the cemetery, one of which is directly related to the little witch girl.  There is said to be an evil presence in the cemetery, that of a man known only as The Watcher.  The Watcher allegedly was killed at a nearby bridge, but is drawn to the cemetery by the little witch, whom he tries to capture, but cannot, due to the fence of crosses.

Links:
Pilot Knob Cemetery (has pictures of Mary's death certificate and links to tons of info on the legend)
Find-a-Grave Listing for Mary (includes links to parents)
Louisville Ghost Hunters Society (investigation and readers' comments)

The Devil's Baby of Ravenswood

Tombstone of George Elwood Sharp
Photo by Theresa (September 2023)

*Updated September 2023*

It was recently brought to my attention (thanks to an article from WhoForted?) that the Ravenswood Cemetery in Jackson County, WV is home to quite the fascinating combined urban legend and ghost story.  The story is known locally as the Devil's Baby. 

According to the legend, there is a Devil Baby buried in the cemetery and on moonlit nights, visitors have reported hearing the eerie, disembodied cries of an infant as the clock strikes midnight.   These cries are said to be those of George Elwood Sharp, infant son of Louis and Willa Sharp.  George was born on 27 April 1915 and passed away on 21 July 1917, making him a little older than two years of age at the time of death.  A tombstone was erected in his honor on to which was added a ceramic tombstone portrait, a popular choice in funerary art at the time.

It is this tombstone portrait of a slightly younger George that is actually the whole basis of the Devil Baby legend...

The porcelain or ceramic tombstone portrait was patented by two French photographers in 1854 and was a process that was especially popular, and thus perfected, by the Italians throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s.  The portrait is created with a porcelain (or ceramic) tile which is either solid, or applied over a metal base.  It is produced by firing an image over that porcelain tile at a very high temperature for several hours in a kiln.  Ideally, the process is designed to resist fading for at least 100 years.

Close-up of George E. Sharp's 
Porcelain Portrain
Photo by Theresa (September 2023)

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case with George's portrait.  Severe weathering has caused an alarming pattern of fading and discoloration.  To some, when the moonlight hits it just right, the baby's image appears to take on the appearance of having horns.  To others, the teeth appear as vampire-like fangs.  All take note of the eerie white void of the eyes.

The horns and fangs have led to the legend of the Devil Baby moniker, but there is one more interesting aspect of this tombstone portrait:  it glows!  Although more likely due to the material composition of the portrait than a paranormal explanation, the picture does actually appear to give off a soft glow in the dark and thus, sparking a decades old local legend about an innocent child.

If you decide to check out this legend for yourself, please remain respectful. Please be advised that according to West Virginia laws, it is trespassing to enter a public cemetery after dark without permission.  Also keep in mind that this IS a legend.  Although not much is known about George Sharp and his family, we do know that he was someone's child...a child that was taken too early.

Links of Interest:
Tombstone Portraits
The Devil's Baby (Who Forted?)
Find-a-Grave

Skeptical Inquirer Article

*Theresa's Note: Since originally publishing this article in 2014, I've gone back and done some additional research on George's family. Although I've yet to uncover a death certificate or even an obituary for George, I did find his birth register entry on the WVCulture site. As stated, he was born April 27th, 1915 to Louis and Willa/Willie Sharp. Louis was originally from Lawrence County, Ohio and was born in Ironton on 17 March 1895 to parents Charles and Rosabelle. 

Louis married Willie Mae Siders, daughter of James and Hattie Siders on 13 June 1914 in Lawrence County, Ohio. She was born 19 February 1896 in Mason County, WV. 

Little George was born in Jackson County. I found Louis' WWI draft card from June 1917 stating that the 22 year old with brown hair and eyes and of medium height and build was working for the U.S. Government as a fireman at the Ravenswood Lock and Dam 22. (The dam is now gone, but the building is still down at the riverfront, being used as a local history museum.)

The family shows up in the 1920 census, living in Barboursville, WV on the same street as Louis' parents and sister's family. Louis and Willie have one child, 2 year old Louis, Jr. and Louis is working as a railroad engineer. By the 1930 census, the family has expanded...and moved back to the Ironton area. Louis Jr. is now 12 years old, and daughters Marguerite (9), Lillian (5) and Billie Sue (1) have joined the family. Louis continues to work for the railroad. 

Louis and Willie both lived long lives, dying in Florida in 1973 and 1982 respectfully. What makes this story even sadder, however, is the fact that George seems to be all alone with no other family in the Ravenswood Cemetery. Neither of his parents were from the area, and it doesn't appear that anyone in the family died there, either. The Sharps were simply living in the area for Louis' work at the dam, and then moved away not long after his death, leaving only the infamous tombstone behind as a reminder of their lost son. 

Oklahoma's Purple Church

On the outskirts of Spencer, Oklahoma there is a location so scary that the alleged paranormal activity that is said to take place there is the LEAST horrifying aspect of its history!

That location is the Purple Church.  This location isn't exactly a church...and it isn't exactly purple either.  Located off of rural Douglas Avenue, the Purple Church is actually a concrete foundation, with steps leading into an "underground" cellar type area.  There is speculation as to what this structure was originally used as, with the general consensus being that this was the cellar to either an old clapboard church or a private home, which was destroyed many years ago.  The "purple" comes from the many occult and "Satanic" symbols that are spray painted inside and out of the small structure.

Over the past 20 years or so, this structure has become one of Oklahoma's most infamous legend tripping locations, as scores of teens and young adults flock there in order for a good scare...and just about anyone who has visited for this purpose has not been disappointed.

The Purple Church has a long history of alleged Satanic cult rituals, and there are many sources online saying that Sean Sellers, the 16 year old alleged Satanist convicted of killing both his parents and a convenience store clerk, was instrumental in first using the property for these purposes.  One of the most prevalent beliefs is that when a full moon falls on a Saturday, cult members meet at the Purple Church to engage in a virgin sacrifice.  Similar tales involve mothers sacrificing newborn babies here.

Source: Professor Caleb Lack-Youtube

While there is little to no evidence that human sacrifices are, or have ever been, conducted at the Purple Church, there are plenty of eyewitness accounts that say that animal sacrifices are routinely conducted.  Dead and mutilated animals, as well as animal bones, have been found hanging from the trees, on make-shift altars, and along the path leading to the Purple Church.  In one tale, a witness claimed to have found a tub full of animal body parts.

As far as the paranormal stories go, there is actually very little information on that, although the Purple Church has a widespread reputation as a "haunted location."  Strange floating lights in the woods, disembodied voices, and a smell of death are the most widely reported incidents.  However, as I said....the paranormal aspects are the least of anyone's worries when visiting this site.

Again, many visitors to this site, including those in law enforcement, the military, and other stations in life we'd consider more "credible" when it comes to reporting, have had similar horrifying incidents with the living.  People claim to be chased out of the area by men in robes.  They've had shotguns pulled on them, or have otherwise been threatened.  Some witnesses claim that nails are regularly thrown into the road in order to damage tires, and possibly strand people in the area.  Others were chased down the road by someone in a large truck, usually with its headlights turned off.

The property is currently owned by the Chesapeake Energy Company and is private property.  In 2006, there were rumors spread  that the structure had been filled in, in order to cull the amount of thrill seekers, but subsequent investigations into the property have proved this to be false.  However, neighbors who live across the street from the turn off have been known to monitor the property and confront trespassers.  Please seek proper permission before exploring this legend for yourself!  Plus, there are ample YouTube videos where one can vicariously check out the location from the safety of behind the computer screen.

The video I've posted above is from a documentary made by Katherine Jones, a student at the University of Central Oklahoma, for a Science vs. Pseudoscience class.

More info from Only in Your State

Huntington's Own Urban Legend

Ask anyone about the tale of the vanishing hitchhiker, and they can cite you a dozen instances for a dozen cities.  Ever since there has been transportation, there has been the tales of the vanishing hitchhikers.  As far as urban legends go, this one is at the top of my list...the quintessential ghost story of a phantom hitchhiker who disappears before being dropped off at her destination.  She may have gone from hailing horse-drawn carriages to automobiles, but her plight is still as prevalent as it ever was.

While many people have heard these stories passed around for years, not many people are aware that Huntington, WV has its OWN version of the timeless classic occuring on Fifth Street Hill, a main thoroughfare between Huntington and Wayne County.  The young girl only appears late at night, after midnight, and always when the weather is rainy and dreary. She's always waiting at the top of the hill, thumbing a ride down. 

The first published account of this tale comes from an October 30th, 1942 newspaper article, in which a Black and White Cab driver tells of his eerie encounter.  Around 4:30am, the driver dropped off a fare at a dance hall, and was making his way back into Huntington, when he was hailed by a young woman wearing nothing but a thin blouse and skirt, despite the chilly weather.  He picked her up, and when asked about her lack of a coat, the young lady replied that she hadn't worn a coat for 9-10 years.  She asked to b dropped off at the bottom of the hill, and when they arrived, the driver noticed the woman was missing from the cab.

The driver came back to the garage to complain to his supervisor about being cheated a quarter's fare...what he got was the shock of hearing that the supervisor had also known drivers from another cab company, Yellow Cab, to have had the exact same experience.  In fact, one driver from that company had the experienc just a year prior.

A second newspaper article reported on the story in November of 1958, and reported that the phantom hitchhiker was still around, scaring up cab drivers, as well as bus drivers who picked her up.  This particular article expanded on the backstory of the ghostly girl's existence.  Apparently, a Huntington couple had taken their daughter and her fiance to Wayne to be married.  All went well, but on the drive home, the rain started falling, making the road quite slick.  At the area where Fifth Street meets the boulevard, right before the bridge, the car turned over, killing the new bride.

More recent interviews with the current Yellow Cab operation have resulted in drivers being familiar with the story, but no reports of anyone picking up the phantom hitchhiker.  Perhaps she finally made her way home?

More information available in Joseph Plantania's Huntington Quarterly article

Update Summer 2012:  While the tale of the lonely bride of 5th Street Hill is tragic enough, there is another terrible story that hails from this area, concerning a young boy who was tragically shot by a playmate.  I've transcribed the article concerning the shooting HERE, and you can find out this location has had an impact on the haunted history in Theresa's new book, Haunted Huntington, Volume 1!