Located in Marion County, the small community of Mannington hosts one of WV's most popular urban legends: The Witch's Grave at Highland Cemetery.
Highland Cemetery and its chapel sit off a rural road deep in Marion County. Abandoned for years, the chapel itself has its own legends. Locals tell of a Satanic cult that used the chapel for worship. Visitors and thrill seekers to the chapel noted a stark absence of crosses and Christian iconography throughout the chapel, in addition to a sense of creepiness and unease. An attendance bulletin board is rumored to read the same number as the number of people in the visiting party, changed with each new group by unseen, and possibly, unhuman hands.
Perhaps the abandoned chapel became a hub of alleged Satanic activity due to a much older urban legend surrounding one of the interred citizens of the cemetery. Highland Cemetery is reported to be the final resting spot of Fairmont's most famous witch.
The lady in question goes by many variations of name. Zelda, Sarah Jane, Serlinda Jane, and simply, the Witch of Highland, are among the many variations. Her tombstone, however, reads something to the affect of Serilda Jane Whetzel, date of death: May 29th, 1909.
Legend states that Ms. Whetzel's tombstone is upside down, and contains the imagery of a staircase descending down into the fiery mouth of a demon. Although buried in what was a Christian burial ground, Ms. Whetzel had her tombstone faced away from the rest of the flock in obvious defiance. The witch herself, along with a gentleman, often referred to as a warlock, have been seen in the vicinty of the grave, and quickly disappear when approached.
Although seemingly unbelievable, there is a grain of truth in these stories. The tombstone itself IS quite strange. Firstly, it DOES face away from the rest of the stones in the cemetery. However, it is obvious that the tombstone has been knocked down, and replaced in a new position. According to locals, any attempt to restore the stone to its original position is met with opposition from local vandals, quick to undo the work.
Secondly, there is a staircase motif carved on Ms. Whetzel's tomb. Generally, staircases in tombstone symbolism represent the passage into Heaven. These are often accompanied by weeping willow trees in the background, symbolizing mourning. Due to stone weathering and a slightly off-kilter perspective, it DOES give the illusion that the staircase is not ascending into Heaven, but DESCENDING into something not as pleasant! Today, services are once again being held in the small chapel, so please be respectful and obey all laws if visiting the cemetery.
The video above comes from YouTube user cemeterytan and shows an excellent collection of images from the cemetery and chapel, including close-ups of the "Witch's Grave".
I have NO clue if you seen this Tomb Stone or NOT. However I HAVE, The stairway is a Stairway UP INTO HEAVEN with the pearly gates at the top of the stairway. There is ALSO a poem on the tombstone which many recite to be: "Here I lay my burden down, I chain the cross to the ground". This CANNOT be further from the truth. The poem goes as quotes: " Here I lay my burden down I change my Cross into a crown". Ms Whetzel was a distant relative of a GREAT family friend and there ARE pictures on the tombstone when first set. It WAS setting facing with ALL the OTHER tombstones, so ALL the myths of the HIGHLAND RIDGE WITCHED are debunked.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree about your relative but the satanic worship around her grave and the church. If you do not believe those "rumors" I have first hand knowledge. As a teen I was very much into the occult. My best friend and I became known as the greatest white warlocks around. Close to a Friday the 13th at midnight a satanic cult had plans to kidnap and sacrifice us. How did I know? Simple the State Police knocked on my door and told my mother. So those rumors are very true. But I never once felt threatened by Serlindas' grave. She is definitely at peace.
DeleteThe Tombstone is beautiful the stairs are leading to Heaven with crosses on both sides of the staircase.. On bothsides of Tombstone look like wooded hinges from a door that’s open leading to HEAVEN with a figure waiting with open arms on top
DeleteThank You for the Poem I need to go back and read it! For the last several months I have been having 3 white butterflies around me every day when I arrived at sight again three white butterflies meet me at the gate when we finally find her tombstone with the help of my Crystal pendants they lead me right to it!!! People have laid butterflies upon her tombstone it was a very Beautiful Spiritual experience!!! I need to do more research
DeleteALSO, This PLACE is NOT abandoned, there are NEW graves as new as 2004 in this cemetery and it is kept cut. The Church that STILL stands I cannot comment on anything inside and NEVER really paid attention to the outside for crosses or religious symbols of ANY sort.
ReplyDeleteHi, russ...thank you for your comments. If you read carefully through the entire entry, I have clearly stated that the location is no longer abandoned, and encourage anyone who seeks the truth to this urban legend to do so with respect and in the confines of state and local laws.
ReplyDeleteI have also (I thought) clearly stated that yes...the tombstone WAS set properly, but there is a problem with vandals knocking it down and turning it to the opposite direction.
Also, thank you for the information on the poem. As I had not touched on that aspect of the legend, it does add another interesting facet that clears up some of the rumors. As this website is devoted to not only sharing and perserving the region's folklore, but also offering a more historically accurate portrayal, I appreciate extra background information that reiterates and strengthens what I am trying to get across. Thanks, and happy reading!
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ReplyDeleteHey can some1 give me directions to this cemetary I just found out there mightbe 1 of my relatives buried there. I have searched twice for it & cant find it. So please any help will be great.
ReplyDeleteI don't have directions, but if it helps, I found on a respected genealogy site that the cemetery is located at the head of Flat Run, and is located right at the border of Marion and Monongahela Counties (but is on the Marion side). There is a Find-a-Grave entry for this cemetery, but it fails to provide coordinates or directions. I'll update if I find anything further.
Deletethis church is on loveridge mine property . church road to be exact
DeleteDo you know were Mannington is
DeleteGo through morgan turn right on flat run road at the top of the hill turn roght down a dirt road you will see it
Deleteno it is not on mine property
ReplyDeleteMy husbands family donated the property that the church and grave is on and a great amount of his family is buried there.
ReplyDeleteThere is no witch and warlock. The church has never been abandoned either. It just doesn't have very many members anymore. The church and grounds has had more that its fair share of vandalism too, so that is why there isn't much religious icons and embelishments. Sad really. We love going there.
What I can say is that there is a different kind of vibe there, from time to time. Sometimes you feel like you are being watched, or your power will suddenly drain from your electronics. We have even caught a few pictures with anomalies in them, but not because we were there to investigate. It is just what adds to the character of the old place. The hills are filled with the rich lore of our ancestors. Most of the graves of the cemetary aren't even in the graveyard, but beyond it, in the woods, with markers of stone or no markers at all.
Since it is still attached to familly property we still use, I ask that people respect the property and not vandalize.
Would you be willing to provide information about your husband's family and their connection to Highland Church? I am the church historian, and appreciate any information you might offer. Thanks.
DeleteYou can read more about the highland history at the Mannington museum. The old cabin in the back of the school house was of the Prices and the Prices are the ones who donated the use of the property to the church. The original property drops down the ridge into Mononghalia Co. onto the Price farm that we still own, maitain, and watch the grounds of the cemetery too.
ReplyDeleteWe toured the Highland Cemetery and some very interesting things happened. Going up the hill to the cemetary my car made a really loud noise underneath then my air conditioning came on full blast.. Also my gas guage dropped to empty. My teenage girls and their friends wanted to go and visit sites of known paranormal activity. We didn't enter the cemetery because I am a firm believer of the paranormal and didn't want to go with a bunch of kids. Later that evening we went back with another adult.. Going back up the hill I kept hearing someone talking and my on ★ star kicked in and wanted to know if I was OK? HECK NO I WASN'T!!!! CREEPY. . . My family were Efaws and their are several graves with EFAW them.. We did visit Serlinda Wetzels grave.. It has orange wax and white wax on it. It did look as if the stairs were descending, but you can also see them as going up. Some one had put yellow roses on the grave but they were quite old.. I seriously love folklore and the stories... We also visited Coffin Hollow and Vinegar Hill..
ReplyDeleteThe best thing I can say is you haft to get your own feel for the graveyard .. if decided to ..be respectful remember these grounds are the final resting spot of people's loved one's .. what I can say is I am some one who is sensitive to the paranormal to a certain extent . Was very excited to go .. I put my phone by what is known as the witches grave and walked to my car . Me and my girlfriend walked to the car and waited about 10-15 min . We walked back to retrieve my phone . And my girlfriend took some still shot's of the grave .. then we went to check out the church before I reached the church grunt porch . I Hurd a noise I have never Hurd very dark grown that took me back for o moment than I asked my girlfriend if she Hurd it she said no . I froze in fear .. we peeked in side the church and that was the most Erie part about my time here .. I have been a Cristian all my life . The way the church was laid out . It was almost like it was fake . I could be wrong if I am than it is very nicely maintain bit it thu me thu a loop .. the weirdest vibes I got were in the church .. still don't know what I believe but it is a beautiful grave yard . I will return some time soon by the way this was all in the day time .. remover if u go be respectful . And pay homage to the one's that came before us
ReplyDeleteMy family is from Mannington and Farmington,, When Mannington Fair, Plum Run Fair was goin on for the week I went down and stayed with my family… We would drive up to the cemetery at night and yes some freaky stuff would happen…. The witch grave is all by its self and no one has ever touched it to make it turn around… We seen and heard a womens voice saying we need togo ,leave someone touched my arm, my cousins horn went off and so much more…. I do believe the witch is very active up in the grave yard… Mannington is a very small town and if u speak about the witch everyone has story if they been up to the grave yard!!! The stair way is up to heaven and hopefully she crossed over to heaven!!!
ReplyDeleteI am a Mannington local and I can say for 100% certainty that place is very active.
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