Happy Halloween 2018!

Happy Halloween, everyone!  Tonight, the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. Ghosts and goblins may be out and about...so keep those cameras and voice recorders ready to go, lol.   I hope you have a wonderfully spooky Halloween holiday.  Come on over to Theresa's Haunted History Facebook page and let me know what YOUR Halloween plans are for today. Trick-or-treating?  Scary movie marathon? Party time?  Or, are you just gonna curl up with a book of ghost stories and wait until morning?

Stay spooky...and I'll catch ya back here in November for more ghostly goodies!

How the Juniors Came Together

So this is a pretty horrifying picture! I found this macabre gem posted on the Facebook page, The Victorian Book of the Dead, with the following description: 1905 medical students dressed as ghosts, with a cadaver. As I've remarked before, there is a genre of disrespectful photographs of medical students playing pranks with cadavers.

That's all well and good, but if you know me, you know that when I find something that interests me, I NEED to find out all I can about it!  Thanks to a quick Google reverse image search, I found enough to appease me!  This isn't just a medical school class...it is the WHOLE Junior Class of Otterbein University, a small liberal arts college in Westerville, Ohio!

The photo is from the 1905 edition of Sibyl, the school's yearbook. And, this wasn't the only photo included from this particular event!  The three pictures below show the Juniors, dressed as ghosts, having some sort of party? ritual? with the anatomy class skeleton, a fellow they apparently call Pluto.  Images from the event are accompanied by a poem, The Wigwam by the Styx, penned by Henrietta Du Pre, the class president. College kids are known for doing some strange things, and having some cider with an anatomy skeleton while wrapped up in ghostly sheets seems pretty tame by today's standards...even though as most of you will know...anatomy skeletons from the time period were actual REAL HUMAN SKELETONS. This sort of brings to mind my blog post on WVU's female secret society, the Rejetos Jichancas, although those students never showed their faces on film!  Anyway, to read the poem for yourself, you can click on the individual pictures to enlarge, or you can go to the PDF version of the 1905 Sybil.  The entry starts on page 39.  Stay spooky, ya'll...just maybe not THIS spooky!

Give Yourself Time: A Mothman Motivational Post

Lemme tell ya...I'm just not feeling it today.  I'm unmotivated, melancholy, and just not in the mood to write right now.  But, I am SO close to finishing out October's Ultimate Blog Challenge!  I cannot let this seasonal apathy that always sets in right about now prevent me from reaching my goals.  Far too many times I have let fear, insecurity, self-consciousness, and just general lack of motivation stop me from taking my work in the paranormal field to the next level.  And while finishing a blog challenge isn't necessarily going to lead to any breakthroughs, personally, its a huge step in finishing what I've started.

So, today I've chosen to share a little bit of inspiration...Mothman style!  Sometimes I need a reminder to just give myself time...time to rest, time to sort out my issues, and time to evolve.  No one can illustrate that concept like Mothman himself, West Virginia's most beloved (and mysterious) cryptid.  You'll be seeing quite a bit about Mothman on Theresa's Haunted History's Facebook page next month, as November was when the first sightings of our favorite oversize insect took place.

This particular graphic was shared to me by a dear friend, and looks like it was originally posted on the Facebook page, Mothman is Real.  If you're a fan of cryptozoology and not easily offended, go check their page out!  I'll see ya back here tomorrow for day #30.  Stay spooky!

The Black Ghost

In Lithuania, an historic seaside city is protected by an eerie statue, which literally emerges from the ocean. Known as Juodasis Vaiduoklis, or The Black Ghost, this spooky artwork is based on an old Klaipeda legend.

Photos From Apie vija and Vladas Balsys

Back in 1595, the city of Klaipeda was saved by a phantom.  It is said that one of the guards for nearby Memel Castle, Hans von Heidi, encountered the hooded ghost while patrolling the docks one night.  This particular ghost was a chatty one, and asked the guard if the city had a sufficient grain and timber supply.  The guard replied that indeed, the town was fairly well supplied. However, the ghost predicted that the supply would soon run low, and urged the city to beef up their stock.  The mysterious phantom then vanished into the mist.

The city apparently took this warning seriously and took extra steps to ensure that their supply was truly sufficient.  As a result, the people were able to ride out the impending famine and the city became the third largest in Lithuania, its people prospering.

The Black Ghost statue is the work of Svajunas Jurkus and Sergejus Plotnikovas.  It stands at almost 8 feet tall and is made of bronze. It was installed in 2010, and I'm pretty sure it tops the list of most photographed items in town!

More Information: My Modern Met

Personal Experience at Cabell Huntington Hospital

If you follow me on Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State Facebook page, you may remember seeing a post from way back on July 28, 2018 asking for any information on potential hauntings or personal experiences from the Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, WV.

Cabell Huntington (Source)

In the comment section, I did share WHY I was asking, but I wanted to go ahead and share it again here, just so that hopefully my story will reach more people and hopefully someone else will come forward with more information!  Anyway, here's what happened to me...

I'm pretty sure it was Thursday evening.  My son, Luke (8 years old at the time) had gone to the local library earlier that day to watch a program about wolves.  We were now sitting around the house waiting to go to a birthday party for a family friend when Luke started complaining that he was having some pain in the boy parts.  It wasn't real bad, so I suggested he take a nice warm bath before the party to see if that helped.  By the time he got out, the pain was worse and he decided he felt too bad to go to the party.  Luke has a pretty high tolerance for pain, so I knew if he was willing to miss a party, he was feeling bad.  And, even though I still didn't think there was anything really wrong, I decided to throw him in the car and run him down to the local MedExpress before they closed...just to be sure.  We were leaving on Saturday for the beach, and if he needed any prescriptions or anything I wanted to have plenty of time to fill them.

As we pull up to the MedExpress, Luke is now in so much pain that he can't sit down.  They take him right back, and at this point, I'm still thinking its nothing too bad.  My first thought was that he had a UTI, and that the doctor was going to tell Luke to stop using bubble bath. However, the doctor pushed on his left testicle and this kid let out a yelp of pain that I had never heard before.  THAT is when things got serious.  Luke was tentatively diagnosed with testicular torsion, but needed an ultrasound to confirm it.  The doctor told us we had a choice of hospitals:  Women's and Children's in Charleston, or Cabell Huntington in Huntington.  These were the only two options because she said if he needed emergency surgery, these would be the best two places to be.  We thought we could make it to CHH quicker, so we were sent on our way, with instructions to go straight there, without stopping.

Our doctor had called ahead, so when we checked into the emergency room at Cabell Huntington, we didn't have to wait too long until we were called back into the ultrasound waiting room.  And, this is where my experience happened!

There were a group of us who were called back to the ultrasound waiting room together.  There was a middle aged man by himself, a man in his 50s or 60s there with his wife, and Luke, along with my mom and I.  The six of us were shown into a fairly good sized waiting room to await our individual turns back to the ultrasound room.  This room was rectangular, running parallel to the hallway.  The side of the waiting room against the hallway was all glass.  The younger man sat near the door on the short wall; the older couple sat under the windows about 3/4 of the way from the waiting room door, and Luke, my mom and I sat in the corner furthest from the door.  Luke and I sat in the last two chairs facing the windows, and my mom sat in the adjoining chair on the short wall.

The only other person we saw the whole time in that area of the hospital was the nurse who came to take us from the waiting room to the ultrasound room.  It was shortly after the younger man had been taken back, that I noticed movement coming down the hall.  I looked up briefly and saw a young boy.  I couldn't get a great look at him, but he had dark hair, not quite a bowl cut, but similar.  From his height and size, I would guess him to be anywhere from 6-10 years old. I can't recall what he was wearing, but it wasn't a hospital gown.  It wasn't anything that would stand out, like old-fashioned clothing, either.  He just looked like a normal kid...mostly.

I have no idea what it was about him, but something just FELT off. I thought it was weird that this kid was being allowed to walk in this section of the hospital by himself, so I was focusing less on HIM, and watching the hallway behind him to see if he was accompanied by anyone.  No one else ever came down the hall.  While all this was going on, the kid was still walking down the hall, and he was passing behind where the older couple was sitting.  These people weren't huge, but they were bigger people.  They were tall and broad shouldered, so they took up quite a bit of viewing area.  However, I could still see the top of the kid's head moving behind them.  But, what was weird...he never passed by them.  There was still a good bit of unblocked window space between the couple and the wall and this kid just never showed up in that space.  I even got up out of my seat to look for a door or hall he could have gone through, but there was nothing but blank wall there.  It left me feeling a little eerie, but I kind of just chalked up the whole thing to the stress of the situation.

Luckily, whatever was wrong with my son corrected itself.  His ultrasound came back clear and he felt fine the next day. He has since had no more problems.  Although the ultrasound didn't indicate it, his doctor felt that perhaps he DID have a slight case of testicular torsion, but that the twisty bits had un-twisted themselves so quickly after that it didn't do any damage.  That still leaves the question of what I saw that evening in the ultrasound waiting room, around 9 p.m.  When I asked on my Facebook page, no one came forth with any similar experiences...but that's where things took an even weirder turn, lol.

So, last month I saw a new story pop up on one of my favorite websites, WV Ghosts.  It was from Cabell Huntington Hospital!  I'm reading this story, and with a few altered details, it is the same story that I had told back in July!  I thought that it was really, really weird...but hey, maybe someone had an eerily similar experience as me and this would be a great confirmation!  I contacted the owner of the site, and found out the story was submitted the same day that I made my post.  When we looked at it, there were even some of the same words used that I had used in my post...That post is still available, and can be found HERE.

I'm still curious, though.  If you have a similar experience, or ANY experience from Cabell Huntington please let me know!  You can drop me a comment here, or catch me over at Theresa's Haunted History Facebook page.  Stay spooky, ya'll!

Horton Hears an EVP

Now THIS is a Dr. Seuss book I'd definitely buy!  Although, admittedly, I don't think I'd like to be tasked with analyzing any EVPs that would come from deceased Dr. Seuss characters, lol.  Lots of rhyming, tongue twisters, and complete nonsensical gibberish....well, that last part actually sounds a lot like REAL EVP work, lol.  Happy Friday, ya'll!  Halloween is coming!

The Legend of Lily: A Trans-Allegheny Ghost Story

Earlier this month, The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, WV was voted number one in the USA Today's Top 10 list of Best Haunted Destinations!  Appearing on such television shows such as Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures, the former mental institution has really made its impact in the paranormal community.

Construction on the massive Kirkbride Building technically dates back to right before the Civil War and the hospital, known throughout most of its modern life as the Weston State Hospital, accepted patients up through 1994 when it was finally closed.  For years, the building sat, not totally abandoned, and gaining a reputation for being a very spooky place indeed!  However, it wouldn't be until 2007 when the building was auctioned off and acquired by the Jordan family that details of TALA's haunting would emerge.

Perhaps the most well-known ghost story to have emerged is the tale of a little girl named Lily (or Lilly).  Lily is said to be a young girl, around the age of 9, who appears in a simple white dress or night gown.  Over the years, it is believed that she has interacted with paranormal investigators through EVP communication, ghost box sessions, and by moving toys and other 'gifts' left to her in a room now dubbed 'Lily's Room.'  So how was Lily 'discovered?'

Lily's Room, by Patricia Temples Photography

On my last public investigation I participated in at TALA, our guide told us that Lily was pretty much the first ghost to make herself known, shortly after the new owners took over.  During their first year as new owners, the Jordans held a classic Halloween haunted house attraction in a small section of the main building. There were a number of scare actors working the haunt, including a teenage girl stationed at a room in the eastern corner of Ward 4.  This room, which is now known as Lily's room, is kinda right across where you turn from the main hallway into the older 'Civil War' section of the hospital, and this scare actor's job was to help keep visitors moving in the right direction.

In between groups of visitors, she heard a voice coming from the room behind her.  She turned to look and saw a young girl in white.  This girl looked....off.  The little girl then asked if she (the actor) had seen her mother.  Something about this whole thing must have raised red flags to this poor actor, because she told the girl she was going to go find help, and then she locked her into the room!  She then went and got a supervisor, who followed her back.  As expected, there was no little girl waiting in the room and no one else working that night had seen a little girl matching that description.

That tour was the first and only time I had heard this version of Lily's 'origin' story. But what the story leaves out is where the name 'Lily' came from.  An episode of Ghost Stories, which aired in April of 2010 notes that the name Lily came from Tammy Wilson, a psychic who toured the facility.  Wilson also saw that Lily's mother was a woman whose name started with an 'E,' who came from a prominent English family, and who gave birth while at the asylum. 

Are these footprints Lily's?

Other stories have been shared about how Lily came to live at the asylum, but most versions generally agree that she was born here and died here, possibly of pneumonia, around the age of 9.  And, the basic story is rather plausible.  Not only did the hospital accept child patients, suffering from a range of disorders, but there WERE births here.  Some patients were already pregnant at the time of admittance, but it wasn't unheard of for a patient to become impregnated during her stay, either through consensual or non-consensual contact with other patients, and potentially, staff. 

Whoever Lily may be or where she came from, she certainly is a favorite among staff and visitors alike today.  Her room is stuffed full of dolls, balls, a music box, and other toys left for her by well-meaning visitors.  Investigators have heard her light giggle in the area of her room, but elsewhere through the hospital as well.  She enjoys and tends to remember repeat visitors, and favors some of the more regular staff, who in turn, are very protective of her. 

If you find yourself investigating the former Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, or even just taking one of the many awesome tours offered, take a moment to listen and observe.  If you're lucky, you may hear the faint giggle of a little girl trapped in time.  

*For an excellent look at Lily's story, check out this article by Eric Olsen:
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum and the Haunting Enigma of Lily

The Fireco Varmint

It's been awhile since I shared a transcribed article about something weird and creepy that made local newspapers!  So, today's blog is an article from the Raleigh Register, a local newspaper out of Beckley, WV.  This particular article dates to 17 May 1934.  However, there are loads of articles about what people are calling either the Fireco Varmint, or the Fireco Monster, a really odd creature that haunted this small coal company town in rural Raleigh County, WV.  There was a rash of sightings in the spring of 1934, and then another bunch of sightings in the late summer/early fall of 1936.  After that, the tale was retold, time and time again up through recent history.  Theories abounded as to what this creature could be, but I don't think there was ever any definitive answer. 

Image from the John W. Barriger III Collection, from Coal Camp USA

VARMINT YET RUNS LOOSE
Head Snatching Fireco Creature Widens Field of Labor

The weird creature reported snatching heads from hogs and dogs in the vicinity of Fireco and terrorizing inhabitants has grown mightily, since first tales of him trickled into Beckley, and in his new-found size and strength widens the field of his depredations.

First described as "about two feet tall," wearing yellowish gray hair, swift as the wind and especially fond of the brains of hogs, he is now said to be four feet in height, six feet long, to leave a track as large as a man's hand, and to have developed an appetite for beef.

Moreover, he is immune to pistol and shotgun fire, according to reports of a sanguinary engagement in which he participated last night on the high grade north of Fireco.

Tomas Roark, 18, and his brother Lawrence, 23, sighting the monster on the grade about 9 o'clock, near their home, fired on him.  Despite the fact that the target had grown from "two feet high" to four feet, and from an indefinite length to "five or six feet," he lumbered away into the underbrush, either not hit or else not harmed by three .38 caliber pistol shots and two 12-gauge shotgun charges which the Roarks sent after him.

Sunday morning, Wallace Bowling, manager Lillybrook's Company Store, found his cow incised in the midriff and much of her internal arrangements outside; she had, obviously, been attacked by the Fireco Monster from over the mountain, and a veterinarian had to be summoned to patch the cow---now reported recovering nicely.

And Sunday morning, Willis Wooten, 15, found a dog dead, his head "knocked off," and nearby the tracks of some creature--tracks "about as big as your hand."

Berlin Shumate, of Lillybrook, also caught sight of the varmint last Wednesday night on the same high grade above Fireco.

But he has not yet been classified.

West Virginia's Creepy County Courthouses

Over the years, my research into the haunted history of West Virginia has allowed me to collect ghost stories, strange encounters, and other bits of weirdness from all over the state.  I've looked into haunted hospitals, phantom-filled restaurants, spooky cemeteries, and so much more.  And, I've come to realize something...West Virginia has a LOT of creepy county courthouses!  Out of WV's 55 counties, I've collected at least five courthouses with an established haunted reputation, but I'm sure there are more out there!  Please take a second to click through the links for more information on each of these haunted government buildings, and let me know if you have any stories from any of West Virginia's other 50 county courthouses!  

Mercer County Courthouse

1. Mercer County Courthouse:  Located in Princeton, construction of the Mercer County Courthouse began in 1930, with the building officially opening the following year. Activity includes shadow beings, phantom voices, unexplained noises, and even full-bodied apparitions that disappear right in front of one's eyes!  The staircase connecting the upper and lower levels of the former on-site jail seems to be the most haunted area of the courthouse, but spooky experiences have been reported from all areas. 

Wyoming County Courthouse

2. Wyoming County Courthouse:  The Wyoming County Courthouse is located in Pineville and was built in 1916. On January 18, 1935, Virgil A. Cook, the County Clerk for Wyoming County, was working late in his office one evening when he died a tragic death from drinking carbolic acid.  It is unknown whether the death was a suicide, a murder, or simply an accident, but it is believed that Cook's ghost is still haunting the courthouse. 

Greenbrier County Courthouse

3. Greenbrier County Courthouse: The Greenbrier County Courthouse, located in historic Lewisburg, is the oldest courthouse on the list.  Although its been renovated and added onto, the main section of the building dates back to 1837. In addition to it being the oldest courthouse on the list, it also can claim the weirdest ghost story!  Like many courthouses throughout West Virginia, at least at one time the building held the county jail.  For years, people have believed that former criminals have haunted the building, but two teenagers actually SAW something that may back up those claims.  They report seeing a misty apparition of a man, holding a knife, who chased them around the building!

Raleigh County Courthouse

4. Raleigh County Courthouse: Located in Beckley, the Raleigh County Courthouse was built in the late 1930s around the older courthouse, which dates back to 1894.  The jury room is said to house the ghost of a woman who wears a red dress.  Who she is, no one knows for sure, but it is believed that she is either a former employee or a family member of someone whose life was changed by a conviction received here in the courtrooms.

Monroe County Courthouse

5. Monroe County Courthouse: Located in Union, the Monroe County Courthouse has a host of ghosts!  The disembodied voice of a man is heard mumbling in the basement, where the old jail was located. Perhaps this old man is the same entity that has a penchant for Halloween candy!  One October, several witnesses saw a bucket of Halloween candy slide across a counter and fall to the floor. Security cameras have supposedly caught apparitions in the courtroom, and at least one helpful ghost has been known to help reset the clocks for Daylight Savings Time!  The current building was completed around 1882.

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

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! 

Buried Alive in Wilmington, NC

The temperature made a drastic drop this week here in West Virginia...and while I absolutely have no problem with it...it does make me a little nostalgic for summer vacation.  This year, my family visited Carolina Beach, North Carolina and spent quite a bit of time in nearby Wilmington.  On one of our excursions into town, we made a stop at the small, historic cemetery located behind St. James Episcopal Church.

You won't find a tombstone with his name on it, but records to indicate that a young man by the name of Samuel Joselyn was buried in this cemetery back in 1810.  Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that Samuel was actually DEAD at the time of his burial!

Samuel came from a wealthy family, which afforded him the opportunity for a good education and the leisure time to get together with young men of similar means and discuss philosophical and academic ideas.  One rainy evening, the discussion turned to the topic of the afterlife and the survival of the soul after death.  Samuel and his best friend, Alexander (Sandy) Hostler made a pact:  whoever died first would come back and contact the survivor.

The two young men probably weren't thinking much about that pact on July 4, 1809.  On that date, Samuel married Mary Ann Sampson of another wealthy Wilmington family, and settled down with the intent to open his own law practice in town.  Unfortunately, his marriage would be a short one.

On March 16, 1810, The Jocelyn's and several other wealthy families were vacationing at one of their nearby hunting lodges. Mary Ann and Samuel apparently got into a fight that evening, and Samuel, in a rage, fled the hunting lodge wearing only a thin coat.  Due to the poor weather and Samuel's apparent poor state of mind, a search party went looking for them.  It wasn't until two days later that he was found in the swamp, lying in 4 inches of icy cold water.  He had apparently fallen or was thrown from his horse.   

Family and friends were distraught as Samuel was laid to rest at St. James' graveyard soon afterward.  Sandy Hostler took the loss of his friend especially hard.  The grieving Sandy was horrified when on the night of Samuel's funeral, an apparition of the deceased young man appeared before him.  The apparition spoke, imploring Sandy to "dig up my body."  Sandy, shaken by the vision, assumed that the ghost was nothing more than a product of his grief and his sleeplessness.  And then, the apparition appeared twice more.  At a loss of what to do, Sandy sought the advice of Louis Toomer.  Louis reminded Sandy of the pact that Sandy and Samuel had made, which Sandy had completely forgotten about. 

Louis further theorized that Samuel had somehow hidden in the coffin some sort of proof of life after death, and that's why he was so insistent that Sandy open his coffin. So, after much deliberation, the two young men decided that it had to be done.  They would exhume their friend's body themselves.

The night came and the two met just outside the graveyard's gates.  As they completed their grisly task, it finally became apparent that Samuel had not hidden any proof of the afterlife in his coffin.  It was much, much worse.

Samuel's ghost DID contact Sandy that first night, and on two subsequent nights, but it wasn't to share proof an afterlife.  It was an attempt to SAVE his life.  Samuel's face wore a twisted look of sheer terror.  His fingers had scratched the coffin lid until they were nothing but bloody stumps, bones exposed.  Samuel hadn't died in the swamp; he had died a horrifying death buried alive.  Perhaps by the time his apparition had come to Samuel, it had already been too late.  Or, perhaps what was his 'ghost' was actually his soul temporarily leaving his body in order to seek help.

Sandy is also long gone now, but Samuel's ghost is still scaring the residents of Wilmington.  Before the fence and the security cameras, locals would scare themselves by daring each other to lie atop of Samuel's grave, ear to the ground, for one hour.  Legend states that no one was ever able to last the entire time without fleeing.  Others refuse to even walk past the graveyard at night fearing they might hear the muffled cries of Samuel Jocelyn, reliving the horror of being buried alive.

*You can read more about Samuel Joselyn's story in the book, Ghosts of Old Wilmington, by John Hirchak!  The church is also one of the potential stops on the Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington Ghost Tour!*

Blog Bonus!

On Monday, I shared a blog post about songs based on real paranormal events and popular ghost stories.  One of my readers, the awesome Mr. Lewis O. Powell, IV who runs The Southern Spirit Guide, an awesome blog about ghostly goings-on in the Southern US, shared this song with me!  Sam Jocelyn's Ghost is a musical re-telling of the story by the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band.  Definitely give it a listen!  (Here's the direct YouTube link in case the video below won't play.)

Ancient Spirits

Ancient spirit, no...but I have a feeling that as society continues to evolve what we used to call 'text speak,' there's gonna be a lot of afterlife communications coming across in just this manner!  If you were on the other side and trying to contact the living, what would YOU say?  Let me know in the comments below, or join me over at Theresa's Haunted History Facebook page! 

Spirits of the Dead: A Poem by Edgar Allan Poe

What's the Halloween season without a selection from the original Master of Horror, Edgar Allan Poe?  His poem, Spirits of the Dead, was originally published in 1827, yet it still remains just as creepy and beautiful today as it did back then. Enjoy the poem for what it is...but if you'd like a closer analysis of its meaning, check out this site, Like Paper and Pencil.  Happy Haunting, everyone.  

Louisville's Witches' Tree

Louisville Witches' Tree (Source)

Gnarled, twisted, strangely-shaped trees can be spooky enough on their own.  However, its when they are given a supernatural back story and explanation that they catch my attention!  That's the case with this creepy old tree in Kentucky's Old Louisville District.

You can find the tree at the corner of Sixth Street and Park Avenue, among the breathtaking architecture of the area's Victorian era homes.  Local author, David Domine, who has written extensively about the haunted history of Old Louisville, tells the legend of the Witches' Tree.  According to that legend, there used to be a grand maple tree growing on the spot of today's tree.  In 1889, this tree was a favorite meeting place for a coven of witches in the area. The witches would meet at the mighty maple tree and cast spells, brew potions, and generally do whatever it is that witches would do.

Unfortunately, the city wasn't too fond of this coven of witches.  However, they WERE fond of the maple tree, believing it would make the ideal May Pole for that year's annual May Day celebration.  The witches warned the town that they'd be sorry if they cut down the tree.  But, the warning was ignored, and the tree was cut down and fashioned into a May Pole.  Meanwhile, the witches found a new location on the outskirts of town to practice...and to plot their revenge.

Exactly 11 months after the maple tree was cut down for use as a May Pole, a catastrophic tornado ripped through Louisville.  The storm hit on March 27, 1890 at 8:30 p.m. It only lasted about 5 minutes, but left a path of death and destruction through Old Louisville.  During the chaos, lightning struck the tree stump---the only thing remaining of the old maple.

As the town struggled to clean up and put the pieces back together after the tornado, something began happening with the tree stump.  From its remains grew a new tree, a tree twisted and gnarled and full of knots.  Locals believed that the witches had conjured the tornado to get revenge on the town for cutting down the maple tree.  The strange and unusual tree that grew in its place was a reminder that the town chose poorly for their May Pole that year.

Today, visitors flock to the area to get a glimpse of the tree for themselves.  They also leave offerings at the tree, possibly for a small blessing of good fortune, and possibly as a reminder of what happens when you cross a coven of witches!

Further Reading and Info
The Witches' Tree Facebook Page
Legend of the Witches' Tree by Katie Molck (October 26, 2015)
1890 Louisville Cyclone--The Filson Historical Society

Storm damage of Union Depot (Source)

Theresa Travels to the Midnight at Moonville Festival

The haunted Moonville Tunnel in McArthur, Ohio is one of those haunted places that I've always wanted to visit, but just never got around to actually making the 1.5 hour drive to do so.  Moonville was once just a small coal mining community in a remote section of rural Ohio, and the railroad route through the area was a long, dark, and lonely trip.

For such a desolate area, there are a surprising number of deaths associated with the Moonville Rail Tunnel, and with such deaths, ghost stories naturally follow.  The most well-known ghost tale is that of the phantom engineer, Theodore Lawhead.  In November of 1880, Lawhead and his fireman, Charles Krick, were killed instantly when their train collided head-on with another train at Moonville.  Since that day, other railroad employees making the same journey have reported a misty white human-shape on the tracks.  Others have claimed that mysterious white lights without an apparent source have been seen along the tracks near the tunnel. The ghost was even mentioned in a Chillicothe newspaper in 1895:

"A ghost (after an absence of one year) returned and appeared in front of a freight at the point where Engineer Lawhead lost his life. The ghost is seen in a white robe and carrying a lantern. "The eyes glistened like balls of fire and surrounding it was a halo of twinkling stars" - Chillicothe Gazette, 17 Feb 1895"

Today, the area around Moonville Tunnel is just as rural and isolated as it was 100 years ago...if not more so.  However, the Vinton County Tourism board and the Moonville Rail Trail Association have worked diligently to preserve the history of the area and covert the former rail route into a beautiful nature trail.

This past weekend, the two organizations held their third annual Midnight at Moonville Festival!  This festival is a wonderful little get-together that not only helps raise funds for the rail trail, but also helps share and preserve the haunted history of the area. There was live music, story-telling, wagon rides to the nearby cemetery, paranormal presentations and a ghost hunt by P.R.I.S.M., tons of photo ops, and plenty of local crafters and vendors.

The festival ran from 3 pm to 11 pm and we arrived a little before 6 pm.  Parking was $5 and then we took the free shuttle down the road to the actual festival.   Both Aaron and I were really impressed with how awesome the festival was set up!  The shuttle dropped us off near the majority of the food vendors.  It was a short walk over the bridge and up the hill to where we made a left turn into the heart of the festival.  From the trail head all the way to the actual tunnel, vendors lined the path selling a variety of Moonville Tunnel t-shirts, souvenirs, and other crafts. There were also a ton of really cool spooky, interactive props that were the perfect selfie spots.

Steve Zarate

A small stage was set up with plenty of straw bale seating.  We took a small break to get our bearings and enjoyed several songs by Steve Zarate. Steve had somewhat of a folksy rock flair and played guitar as well as harmonica in addition to singing.  Also playing that evening were Todd Martin of Mothman, Ben Davis, Jr., and Bart Wiseman. 

After enjoying some tunes, we were ready to make the trek down the path to the haunted tunnel!  Moonville Tunnel isn't very long, and it isn't very wide...but even in the broad daylight it still gave off some spooky vibes. Knowing the amount of tragic history that happened in this isolated area, its easy to see why the tunnel is a favorite spot in the paranormal community.  We didn't see or experience any ghosts in the tunnel during the festival, unfortunately...but we may not be able to say the same thing about the cemetery!

Although most of the festival's activities were free (aside from the parking fee), they were offering horse-drawn wagon rides to the small local cemetery for $10.  The cemetery was close enough that you could have walked to it (and many people did) but we opted for the wagon experience and were glad we did!  Our driver was a lively character and our horses were rather stubborn.  The ride to the cemetery was mostly uphill, and one of our horses, a young stud by the name of Moose, didn't appreciate the hard work of pulling our loaded wagon.  Twice he refused to budge and even decided that the other horse, Bill?, I believe, wasn't doing his share of the work and nibbled on him in protest, lol.  We stopped just short of the cemetery and our driver gave us a brief history of Moonville and the cemetery...and an explanation that Bill's normal partner had been injured this summer and was recovering. 

The cemetery was actually quite small, tucked away into what is now a forested area.  However, the tree cover wasn't always so...lush.  At the time of the first burials, most of the trees in the area had been cleared for the local iron furnaces. Anyway, the sun was setting as we entered the small space, which was decked out for the occasion.  Luminaries lined the trail, faux candles hung from a tree, and wooden cutouts peeked out from every available corner.  Our driver told us that the wooden figures were built by prisoners down in Chillicothe! 

We didn't have too long to spend at the cemetery, but since it was so small, we had plenty of time to take a good look around and take pictures.  Our trip down the hill was much smoother and we arrived safely back at the main festivities.  A couple of interesting things happened while at the cemetery, though.  Aaron checked his phone's charge at the beginning of our short wagon ride to make sure he had enough juice to take video once we got there.  However, by the time we made the trip and Aaron tried to take a photo, he noticed his phone was at 0%.  He hadn't received any of the normal low battery notifications, it just...died.  About the same time he had noticed his phone battery was dead, I had noticed something off in the woods.  At about a height of 8-9 feet, I saw what looked like a very concentrated ball of fog, about the size of a basketball, making its way down through the trees before it just disappeared. 

Unfortunately, that was really the only strange thing that happened that night, but we had a great time, nonetheless!  I had an eerily accurate tarot card reading, and came home with a Moonville Tunnel drawstring bag, a sticker, and the book, A History of Moonville, Ohio and a Collection of its Haunting Tales, by William M. Cullen.  Aaron purchased a Moonville Tunnel shot glass and a hand-crafted wooden Moonville Tunnel Rail Trail sign. 

If you get a chance to visit the Midnight at Moonville festival in the future, I'd highly recommend it! It was a really fun way to spend the evening, and everyone we encountered was very friendly and helpful.  All the volunteers that came together to make this festival happen seem to be really passionate about bringing awareness of Moonville's history and its future endeavors to as many people as possible. 

Further Reading:
Midnight at Moonville 2018 Festival Facebook Event Page
Moonville Tunnel:  The Ghosts, The Legends, The Town
Haunted Hocking: Moonville Tunnel Ghosts

Spooky Tunes

The tri-state area of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio is absolutely full of ghost stories and other legends that have found firm roots in our local culture.  Often, these iconic tales become the inspiration and basis for local musicians.  These songs help to preserve and share the stories behind our favorite spooky citizens.  For today's blog, I've compiled a very short list of ghostly-inspired music---three songs from my home state of West Virginia, and one each for Kentucky and Ohio.  Take a few moments to listen...and then hop on over to Theresa's Haunted History Facebook page to let me know any of your suggestions for songs inspired by true events.

1. Behind Red Eyes--A Tribute to Mothman by StellaRising:  West Virginia's favorite cryptid has a number of songs written about and inspired by him, but Behind Red Eyes is probably my favorite.

2. The Being:  The Being, by Argyle Goolsby is an awesome tribute to The Braxton County Monster, which has for years, been lost in the shadows behind Mothman.  However, I think as the local community of Flatwoods and surrounding areas continues to embrace their weird history, we'll be seeing a lot more from this mysterious creature.

3. Johanna:  Bobby Mackey, musician and owner of the super-haunted Bobby Mackey's Music World in Wilder, Kentucky, has written a couple of songs about his bar's resident ghosts.  Johanna is a tribute to a young pregnant woman who worked at the location in the 1930s.  Johanna is believed to have committed suicide after her father had the father of her unborn child killed.

4. The Greenbrier Ghost:  Johanna isn't the only ghostly girl to have a song written to her memory.  The Greenbrier Ghost, by Steve Schroeder tells the story of Zona Heaster Shue and her untimely end at the hands of her husband.

5. Ghosts of the Moonville Tunnel: This song, by Ron Mash, tells of Ohio's Moonville Tunnel and the ghosts that roam the former train tunnel, taken too early by railroad accidents in/near the tunnel.

Shadows of Ghent

West Virginians are no strangers to tragedy.  As a state, we were born out of the chaos of the Civil War, and throughout our 150+ years of statehood, have seen numerous mine accidents, train crashes and other violent acts of nature and man.  Nevertheless, its never easy when such tragedies strike, taking the lives of our fellow citizens far too soon.  West Virginia saw one of these tragedies on the morning of January 30, 2007.

Photo by W. Dayton Whittle, via NYTimes

It was a little before 11 a.m. when employees at the popular Flat Top Little General Store (a gas and convenience store) located near Ghent, WV called 911 to report a suspected propane gas leak. First responders, including members of the Ghent Volunteer Fire Department, along with at least two propane technicians responded to the issue.  To several of these first responders, it would be the last call they would ever respond to.  Something ignited the propane leak, destroying the Little General store and tossing the fire truck parked outside over like a toy.  It was said that homes up to a mile away experienced windows being blown out, and one resident even claims the force threw her from her couch.

The explosion rocked the small community, both literally and figuratively.  Four people were killed instantly, and another five were injured.  The first reports that came out about the explosion stated that the deceased included a volunteer firefighter, a county building inspector, and an EMT.  Later, the names of the victims were released.  They were:

Ghent Fire Chief, Fred Burroughs
Craig 'Toad' Dorsey, Jr.
Glenn Bennett and Jeffrey Lee Treadway, both listed as propane technicians.

Three years later, volunteer firefighter, Donnie Caldwell, would pass away from complications associated with the injuries he suffered during the explosion.  The devastation from this event was immeasurable.  Many in the community lost a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor, or a relative.  A popular store serving both locals and visitors to nearby Winterplace Ski Resort was leveled.  Over ten years later, the scars from that cold, winter day run deep.

This is still a fresh tragedy, with the victims' families and friends still alive and living in the area.  Because of that, it was hard for a witness to come forward with quite an unnerving story associated with the site of the former Little General Store.

Back in 2015, someone with the username, wvseller, posted a personal experience on the Your Ghost Stories website. Definitely go check out the website to read the complete story in the author's own words, as it is a really interesting experience.  In short, however, the author had to drive by the Little General location one evening in August 2014.  A black, shadowy human figure, described as being darker than dark, was spotted on the Little General side of the road.  As it ran towards the road, the author slammed on the brakes, and the figure crossed in front of the car.  Before the author could make sense of what had just been seen, three more shadowy figures ran across the road from the Little General side, disappearing into the woods opposite.

Were these four shadow beings representative of the four men who were taken that January morning...or was it all just an ironic coincidence?

*My thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by this tragedy.  In posting the names of the victims, it is not my intention to exploit their plight, but rather to help preserve their memory.*

Further Reading:
New York Times article by Ian Urbina
Register-Herald article on the 10th anniversary of the explosion

The Elk Garden Cemetery UFO

West Virginia is a weird place.  The amount of ghosts, monsters, UFOs and other strangeness here in the Mountain State make West Virginia a paranormal enthusiast's dream.  And, one of the weirder incidents in our spooky lore is the Elk Garden Cemetery UFO.

RD Dean Memorial I.O.O.F. Cemetery Gate and Nethken Methodist Church in background. Photo by KC of Find-a-Grave (2014)

UFO flaps are nothing too out of the ordinary, and West Virginia has seen a few times over the years where a large amount of unidentified flying objects have been seen by multiple witnesses over a period of time.  One such UFO flap occurred in the small community of Elk Garden, located in Mineral County, during the 1960's and 1970's.  It seems as if a large, rounded craft was seen shining lights in the vicinity of Nethken Hill, especially around the local Methodist Church and its adjoining cemetery.  The best viewing spot was around the Kalbaugh Farm on the western side of the hill, and it wasn't unusual for carloads of residents and out of town visitors to drive up the hill and try to catch a glimpse of the unexplained lights.  Not everyone was lucky enough to see the lights, but a few residents did over the years, including a local minister.

The incident in question was documented in Bob Teets' 1994 book, West Virginia UFOs: Close Encounters in the Mountain State.  On the evening of October 8th, 1967 Reverend Harley DeLeurere was contacted by a member of his congregation (noted in the book as being the town's mayor) and the man's adult son.  The man and his son told the minister that they were going to watch for UFOs on Nethken Hill and asked Rev. DeLeurere to join them.  He gladly did...and it would be about two hours later that he would question that decision.

At that point, the men noticed something strange near the roof line of the Kalbaugh home.  The mayor's son described it as 'a big turtle with lights on it.' The craft moved towards the Methodist Church cemetery, but it ultimately ended in the nearby R.D. Dean Memorial I.O.O.F. cemetery.  There is hovered over a day-old grave at a height of about six feet and shone a beam of light directly down onto the fresh grave. The men ran towards the cemetery, but by the time they got there, the craft and the light had vanished without a trace.

It was believed even at that time that there was a connection between new burials at both cemeteries and the strange craft.  It seemed to many that any time someone was buried in either the Methodist Church or the I.O.O.F. cemetery, the mystery lights were seen.  But what WAS the connection?  West Virginia isn't the only area where UFOs have been seen hovering over cemeteries.  According to the site, Inexplicata--The Journal of Hispanic Ufology, similar tales can be found in Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere.  One theory that has been proposed is that these UFOs are sending these beams down to freshly buried bodies to retrieve previous alien implants from those bodies.

The community of Elk Garden only had a population of about 300 during the time of the sightings and witnesses do feel there was a correlation between the lights and new funerals.  If these lights were intended to retrieve implants...well, that's a HUGE chunk of residents that must have had these implants!  What was so special about this community and its citizenry that would warrant such close study by beings from another world?

Out of curiosity, I went to the Find-a-Grave page to check out the list of burials for the R.D. Dean I.O.O.F. Cemetery.  The VERY FIRST entry was for an 81 year old woman named Berdie Mae Roderick Abernathy.  Berdie Mae passed away on October 5, 1967...just days before the incident noted by Rev. DeLeurere.  Could she have been the owner of the fresh grave that allegedly drew the attention of a turtle-shaped craft from beyond our understanding?

In a state full of weirdness, this is truly one of the stranger incidents, not just in West Virginia UFO lore, but of UFO lore in general.  Why do YOU think these UFOs were so interested in these two little cemeteries in a small WV community?  Let me know your thoughts down below in the comments or over at Theresa's Haunted History Facebook! 

I Used to be Somebody

Today's Friday Funny is another cute, silly cartoon that we can all enjoy...but there is a deeper meaning that can be read into it. I think we, as members of the paranormal community, sometime need to remember that these spooky bumps in the night that we love to track down were in fact someone once.  Many of them were parents, spouses, students.  They held jobs.  They had friends.  They were someone's child. And many of them were taken out of this world way too soon. There's nothing wrong with enjoying a hauntingly good story or seeking the answers of the afterlife...just keep in mind that you may be dealing with a former living, breathing human being.

Happy Haunting!

West Virginia's Werewolf Hitchhiker

There are several iconic works within the ghost lore of West Virginia.  A Guide to Haunted West Virginia, by Walter Gavenda and Michael T. Shoemaker is one of those works that I have often referred to for information and inspiration in writing this blog.  Within its pages is a short little blurb of a story.  It almost gets lost among the more well-known and established haunts of the Mountain State, but I find it so utterly weird that I have to share it!

The story comes from Vicki Cunningham, who was a manager at the Days Inn in Elkins at the time of the book's publication (2001).  Vicki tells the authors, who stayed at the motel during one of their research trips to the area, quite the strange tale.  It happened one cold, snowy night along CR-151, somewhere between Jimtown and Norton.  Vicki and her husband were driving down this stretch of road rather late that night when they were surprised to see a man out walking.  They were even more surprised when they drove past the man---he turned to look directly at the couple, revealing that he had the face of a dog!

Unfortunately, the story leaves out whether or not it was a full moon when this weird creature was sighted.  Perhaps he didn't need a full moon, though...

Several years ago, I read Linda S. Godfrey's book, Real Wolfmen--True Encounters in Modern America.  Wolfmen or dogmen are similar to a werewolf in some aspects, but very characteristically different in other ways.  These creatures don't appear to be humans who experience a monthly transformation with the phases of the moon.  Rather, they seem to be in a class of creatures all by themselves.  As noted by Godfrey, wolfmen are prevalent in heavily wooded areas, areas near water, and locations of Native American significance, particularly near burial mounds.  I also noticed that the vast majority of encounters occurred on the road.

Based on this criteria, you'd think West Virginia would be CRAWLING with Wolfmen and Dogmen...but tales of such, including classic werewolf sightings, are sorely lacking here.  If you have a dogman, wolfman, or werewolf story you'd like to share, (it doesn't have to be from West Virginia) I'd love to hear it!  You can find me on Facebook at Theresa's Haunted History or email me at theresarhps@yahoo.com.   And...be careful out there!  The next time you see someone walking alongside the road, especially late at night, try to get a good look at them.  You never know what you might see!