April Wrap Up

 

It's April 30th...which means it's the last day of this round of the Ultimate Blog Challenge! I'm super proud to announce that I've completed the challenge...30 days straight of new blog content! 

And that was on top of a pretty busy month. Last night, Spectral Research and Investigations completed our second Investigation of the Glen Ferris Inn in Fayette County. We were joined by Buffy and Kim of MiMi Paranormal and had a wonderful time.

Unfortunately, quite a few more guests meant a little less paranormal activity, but we still had some strange things going on. Something seemed rather interested in setting off the trigger objects brought by MiMi Paranormal. We may have made contact with a lonely (and raunchy!) young man who stayed at the inn when it was used as housing for local workers. And...Brian once again seemed to tap into the spirits using the Estes Method, answering direct questions. 

Keep an eye on the SRI YouTube and social media pages for updates as we go through the process of analyzing the data for potential evidence! 

Early Podcasting: A Friday Funny

I've seen this posted around social media a lot over the past week or so, and there is nothing more Appalachian in my opinion! So much of West Virginia's ghost lore has been passed down from generation to generation through oral storytelling, sometimes over a roaring campfire, sometimes while sitting around the fireplace on a cold, snowy evening, and sometimes...while undertaking those tedious chores like churning butter. 

Whether these tales were passed down as entertainment to drown out the monotony of a hard life in the mountains, or whether they held a more significant message, I really love the comparison to modern day podcasting. I'm grateful that so many wonderful spooky stories of West Virginia's strange and unusual history have been preserved in this manner, and are reaching a new audience through means like  modern podcasts and websites like Theresa's Haunted History!

So let me know in the comments below: What are some of YOUR favorite spooky podcasts featuring ghost stories, cryptid tales, and UFO encounters?

Paranormal with a Purpose Gets Wild and Weird

Dave, Barry, and Ron
Photo by Angie Breeden

Last month, Brian and I were honored to represent Spectral Research and Investigation as well as Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State as speakers for the first ever Paranormal Discussion Group, created and hosted by the St. Albans On Purpose Project! The group, which started as an idea by Barry, a young man with quite a bit of knowledge and love for the paranormal, is a monthly meeting of paranormal enthusiasts that meets on the last Wednesday of each month.

This month, I attended as one of those paranormal enthusiasts, and sat back and enjoyed a delightful presentation by some of my most respected colleagues in the field. These presenters were none other than Ron Lanham and Dave Roberts from Wild and Weird West Virginia/The West Virginia High Strangeness Collective! But before there was Wild and Weird WV...there was Ghost Watch RIP, the paranormal investigation group that Ron and Dave were members. After giving some heartfelt background into how they came to be involved in paranormal research, Ron and Dave shared quite a bit of information on some of their favorite Ghost Watch investigations, in particular, the old Purity Bread Factory on the western end of Charleston.

The Purity Maid Bread Factory is a location that I've been hearing about for years, so I was excited to hear about some of the paranormal activity that has been witnessed over the years. Several apparitions have been spotted, including a man on the 'bread floor' with glasses, a pot belly, and a blue and white striped uniform, matching a type the workers at one point wore. In addition to actual apparitions, disembodied voices seem to be a recurring event at the factory, some of which were caught on voice recorder. Other voices, not heard by the human ear at time of recording, were also captured, and a number of these EVPs were played for the group. 

Ya'll know I love and appreciate the technical side of paranormal investigation, but my heart really lies within the context of historical research. Dave provided us with a heap of information from the history of the bread factory's years of operation...but I was impressed to see that they took this back even further. Not only did they examine where troop movement and skirmishes were fought during the Civil War's Battle of Charleston, but also took a look at where the old plantations stretched, and what exactly was on that land way before Charleston became the capital city of West Virginia. But they took it back even further, with research into the Native American populations that lived, hunted, and traveled through the area. 

One especially interesting piece of research they shared was a map of West Virginia's magnetic pull, and the area around Charleston, where both the bread factory AND quite a number of burial mounds, was very very dark blue, meaning it had a low (-500) level of magnetism. I'm not sure exactly what that means, but that's the kind of stuff that we need to look at and study further if we want to evolve the field of paranormal research. 

A couple of other locations were discussed, such as my old stomping grounds---The Lakin Industrial School for Colored Boys, located outside of Pt. Pleasant, and plenty of ideas on paranormal theory were shared. Once again, the members of the audience were eager to ask their own questions, which were answered thoughtfully and honestly. As an added bonus, Ron has a wonderful way of making people feel comfortable and heard, and inspired quite a few people to share their own stories and experiences. And as he pointed out, these stories are a hugely important part of what we do as paranormal researchers and investigators. They could provide the missing pieces of the puzzle...we just need to encourage people to document them, share them, and don't let them get lost to history. 

Overall, it was another successful meeting of the Paranormal Discussion Group!  I got to see my friend Ike, who has joined SRI on a few adventures already, and also got to meet Eric and some of the members from WV Unseen Paranormal. St. Albans On Purpose Project's Paranormal Discussion Group is an awesome resource to have here in the Kanawha Valley, and I'm so lucky that I had the opportunity to be a part of it.  I'll continue to come as long as it's in operation, so keep an eye on Theresa's Haunted History as well as On Purpose Project for updates.  Next month's meeting will again be at the St. Albans Historical Society at 6pm on May 25th. Suggested donation is $10. 

Collections: Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

Today's blog post is a result of a request for information. When a friend contacted me about some information regarding the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, WV, I decided the easiest way to share my writings on the subject would just be to compile them all together, in one place. But something odd kinda struck me as I was doing so. You see, although the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is often credited as being one of the most haunted locations in West Virginia, if not the country, as of today, I have actually written very little about the many documented ghost stories and suspected encounters with the paranormal!

Rather, I've chosen to highlight some of the more forgotten stories from the asylum, from interesting inmate stories, to tragic murders not currently associated with any hauntings. Part of this is because I feel like so much has already been written about the ghosts of the former Weston State Hospital. The Miami Ghost Chronicles is an awesome website that I reference often when it comes to TALA hauntings, and Sherri Brake's massive book, The Haunted History of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, is a wealth of information. So, I feel like that aspect has been covered pretty thoroughly already. What has received far less attention is just the normal, day-to-day glimpses into asylum life, and those who died tragically but have largely been forgotten in time.

I promise that in the future, I will post more stories about the actual ghosts who haunt the halls of the old hospital. But until then, if you find yourself making a visit to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, take a look at some of the stories below. You never know if some of the people mentioned here are still sticking around, waiting for the right person to tell their story to. Happy Haunting! 

1. Reasons for Being Admitted to an 1800's Asylum: This list of reasons why patients were admitted to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum/Weston State Hospital between 1864 and 1899 is pretty scary. Examples such as uterine derangement, novel reading, and time of life make it easy to see how an 'unwanted' woman could easily be committed by her father, her husband, or even a brother and locked away for however long they wanted her gone. I also go into a short explanation of how diagnoses worked at the time, explaining some of the more...interesting...reasons for committal. 

2. The Legend of Lilly: A TALA Ghost Story: Who is Lilly, the first little girl of the Trans-Allegheny to make herself know to staff members? She was first spotted back when the hospital was running a Halloween haunted house attraction and has quickly become a favorite spook of paranormal investigators. Was she the child of a patient, or a patient herself?

3. Suspicious Deaths at the Weston State Hospital (1992): In September of 1992, the Weston State Hospital reported two patient deaths that made the newspaper. George Edward Bodie was murdered by another patient (who was involved in a previous murder at the hospital) and Brian Scott Bee's badly decomposed body was discovered, believed to have been a victim of suicide. 

4. TALA Tales: Sonny's Story: In 1975, William P. Hall, otherwise known as Sonny, was set on fire by another inmate while the two and several other men were locked into an enclosed balcony area. Sonny passed from his injuries and his father was able to successfully sue the hospital. 

5. TALA Tales: The Tragic Case of Ivan Hoover: Ivan Hoover was a troubled young man who had suffered a tragic accident, leaving him mentally delayed. When he decided that his aging parents could no longer care for him, he killed them, and attempted to head South to find a job, but was found by law enforcement and sentenced back to the asylum. He made several escapes, but always found himself back in the institution until later in life when he was presumably released into the care of his brother.

6. Forgotten Murder at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum: In 1963, Muriel Creamer was killed by another patient, Wanda Janes. Janes freely admitted to strangling Mrs. Creamer because she had made improper advances against her. 

7. 1877 Murder at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum: A local newspaper reported in 1877 that a patient at the hospital had been murdered by another patient. The unlucky fellow had been beaten to death with a bed slat. The perpetrator had no history of homicidal tendencies, but claimed that God had told him to do it. 

8. TALA Tales: Annie All Alone: In 1917, the sheriff of Wheeling received a request for help from the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. They were looking for any living friends or relatives of a lady named Annie Bogart, who had been at the asylum for over 35 years and was now gravely ill. No one ever came forward, and Annie died alone, then was buried in the hospital cemetery. 

9. Madness and Mistaken Identity at the Weston State Hospital: In 1931, hospital officials notified Mrs. Amanda Kurl that her brother, George Marzic, had died. He had been admitted two years prior. However, in 1936, a recently lucid patient now claimed that HE was George Marzic...and the family and hospital agreed!

10. 1881 Murder of John Rose: In October of 1881, patient Blaine Starry beat to death an elderly dementia patient by the name of John Rose and severely wounded another man before guards could subdue him. Did neglect from a new superintendent and/or poorly designed room features play a part in the violent attack? 

11. The Tragic Suicide of Karl Kunst: In November of 1904, the son of Weston State Hospital's superintendent took his own life. What caused the young man to make such a tragic decision? 

12. 1898 Suicide of Thomas Funk: On August 11, 1898 a patient at the asylum, Thomas Funk took his own life. He wrapped a towel around his neck and hanged himself from a towel rack in the toilet room of Ward 8. 

13. Gypsy Curse Sends Woman to Asylum: After turning away a gypsy woman at her door, a muttered 'curse' and her husband's sudden death would send Mrs. Callahan into madness.

14. Crazy on Religion: A young woman attended a series of religious meetings, and as a result, would lose her sanity. Just what went wrong for Rose Hardy in the spring of 1892?

15. Too Much Fiddlin': In 1909, a man was adjudged insane and sent to the Weston State Hospital for...fiddle playing. Unfortunately, he spent seven years as a patient, before passing away from exhaustion due to acute mania. 

16. The Death of J.G. Whitten: In 1890, a 52 year old man named John Whitten escaped from the asylum. He was found more than a month later, having succumbed to the elements. 

17. The Horrific Death of William Cook: William 'Frank' Cook was scalded to death in 1891 as he was trying to bathe himself after having a bathroom mishap, due to dysentery. He was unable or unwillingly to pull himself out of the scalding tub full of water, and died a painful death, many saying he literally cooked himself alive. Today, his ghost is said to haunt the area of the bathroom where this happened. 

18. George Elkins' Accidental Death: Upon suffering an epileptic seizure, a 22 year old patient fell face-first into a bed of mortar. By the time he was found, it was too late. 

19. An Escape Gone Wrong: Abraham Haines, a 72 year old man from Wood County, died on July 14, 1891 when he tried to escape his fourth floor room. His death was one of four accidents/suicides that occurred within a very short amount of time at the hospital. 

Spirit Trumpets on Summers Street

Harry Houdini and Annie Benninghofen
1926

On August 12, 1920 the Charleston Daily Mail, a local newspaper for the Charleston, WV area, ran a small article announcing the 'considerable attention' a plumbing shop on Summers Street was attracting. It seems as if this plumbing shop had hopped on the Spiritualist bandwagon by displaying a selection of 'spook horns' in it's front window. The article goes on to explain that these spirit horns were used by psychic mediums who spoke in one end while the listener held the other end.

This lil' plumbing shop on Summers Street was somewhat behind the times (as we so often are, still to this day in West Virginia!). Spirit trumpets had been around for over 20 years already, since the late 1800's. They were created to solve a problem---during seances, spirits just seemed to have a really hard time having their voices heard. They spoke in garbled whispers, barely able to be understood by the human ear. So in response, mediums began fashioning amplifying devices to better hear the messages from beyond.

It is believed that the first spirit trumpet was created and named by Nahum, the son of famed Spiritualist medium, Jonathan Koons of Athens County, Ohio. It was certainly Koons who really made the use of the spirit trumpet popular among seance circles.

Charleston Daily Mail
12 August 1920

In the early days, spirit trumpets were generally homemade from metal or even cardboard. However, as they grew in popularity, their designs became more elaborate, with some even featuring glow in the dark rings at the end.  That was so you could actually SEE them floating through the air in the pitch dark of the seance room! Also, different makers began offering them for sale commercially. Everett Atwood Eckel was one of the first to do so, and sold the spirit trumpets in his tin shop, located in Anderson, Indiana. I assume that's the story with our plumbing shop in Charleston, WV. One wouldn't necessarily think to associate a plumbing service with contacting the dead (although maybe today you would, as the Jason and Grant from TAPS/Ghost Hunters were plumbers by day, investigators by night!) but if you think about it, a plumbing shop would be the perfect business to have the materials and skills necessary to fashion out skinny metal cones...whatever their intended purpose might be. But, perhaps there is more of a connection there. Maybe the owner belonged to the Spiritualist Church of Charleston (which I'll be blogging about at a later time). Or maybe they were taking advantage of their close proximity to the Plaza Theater on Summers Street, which regularly hosted performers such as Leona LaMar, The Girl with 1000 Eyes. 

Whatever the motive behind this plumbing shop featuring 'spook horns' may have been, the fact that they did so and it was documented in the local paper is just another testament to Charleston's spooky past and West Virginia's connection to the Spiritualist movement as a whole.

For more info on spirit trumpets:

How Victorian Mediums Gave Shy Ghosts a Megaphone, by Sabrina Imbler. 23 October 2019. Atlas Obscura.

Theresa's Travels: Williamson, WV and the Coal House

Last month, the Spectral Research and Investigation team made our third trip to Williamson, WV. Our goal was to once again explore the mysteries of the former Williamson Memorial Hospital, now known on the paranormal circuit as The Old Hospital on College Hill! The Old Hospital on College Hill is an awesome location, full of history and hauntings, and I often tell people that it is quickly becoming one of those super-sites when it comes to paranormal destinations! In addition to offering private investigation opportunities for a VERY reasonable fee, the Old Hospital routinely offers a variety of fun and spooky public events throughout the year! Starting as a Halloween haunted house attraction, under its current ownership, the hospital now offers public investigations/tours, horror-themed weddings with actual horror celebrities, spooky holiday dinners, escape rooms, and much, much more! 

The Old Hospital on College Hill is quickly becoming one of MY favorite haunted locations. Each time we've been there it has been an excellent experience all-around. The owners, Tonya and Charlie, are so welcoming and accommodating. They really go out of their way to make sure that you feel comfortable and have everything you need...including a most awesome addition of indoor plumbing! Yes, you heard that right! No more port-a-potties...there are two very clean, well-stocked, and comfortable bathrooms now located on the first floor.  

We've also had plenty of really strange experiences that we cannot debunk, including two of our members seeing a creepy, pinkish-orangish FACE peek around the corner at them. I've personally had sightings of a little shadow figure with white eyes, heard a lady's voice humming, heard a child crying for her daddy, and have had some full-on two-way conversations via various spirit box/Ovilus technology. But...those blogs are for another day. I've already written a little about the Old Hospital on College Hill (The Nurse Who Never Clocked Out and The Haunting of Mose Blackburn) and I'll be writing even MORE about some of the stories and our investigative experiences in the near future...but for today's blog, I wanted to highlight some other areas of my latest trip!

As the Old Hospital on College Hill continues to grow into a premier paranormal destination, more and more people will find themselves making the pilgrimage to the small, southern WV town. And those people will need to eat, fuel up the car, and possibly spend the night off-site. They'll want to see the sights, both those of historic interest as well as additional paranormal hot-spots, and they may even wanna purchase a few locally made crafts and souvenirs! 

On this most recent trip to Williamson, I got to town pretty early---early enough to make a stop at the famed Coal House! Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Coal House is home to the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce and is an excellent little place to pick up some books or postcards featuring local history, handmade craft items from West Virginia artisans, t-shirts, and much more. It's also a great place to pick up some information on what else there is to see and do around Williamson. Whether you're looking for some outdoor adventures on the Hatfield and McCoy trails, wanting to travel back in time to the historic Matewan Massacre, or simply need some suggestions for where to eat (Starters on E. 2nd Ave is a great place that's open later) and stay while you're in town, the staff at the Coal House can give you a hand! 

The Coal House itself, however, is a tourist destination all on its own. Located right in downtown Williamson, the Coal House is made up of 65 tons of bituminous coal. The idea originated in 1931 when O.W. Evans, manager of the Norfolk & Western Railroad's fuel department conceived the concept of a structure built entirely of coal as a way of symbolizing Williamson's contribution to the coal industry.

The Coal House was constructed in 1933, designed by Welch, WV architect, H.T. Hicks. Construction was supervised by Williamson resident, David M. Goode. For over 2 decades, it stood as the only structure in West Virginia to be made out of coal, and today is still only one of two such buildings. Historical signage and beautiful landscaping frame the exterior of the Coal House, while the inside wood paneling gives the little shop a comfortable, homey feel. It's just a really cool place to see, and its filled with fun things to take home to yourself or give as gifts. Unfortunately, the Coal House's hours tend to be short. According to their website, they are open Tuesday-Friday 10am to 2pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. When I visited, it was a weekday, and they were closing at 4pm...so just give them a call or check them out on Facebook to make sure they'll be open when you're in town. But, even if they're closed, it's still a cool, easily accessible spot to take some pictures, read the outdoor signs, then walk around the historic downtown Williamson area. Plus, the website offers an on-line shop, so you can still pick out your favorite local goodies! 

I'm really glad I was able to finally see the Coal House for myself after hearing about it for years. I picked up some postcards and a book about Williamson history and had a nice chat with the staff member working that day. It might seem like there's not a WHOLE lot to do around Williamson, but I'm quickly discovering that there may be too much to do. There's a lot of history packed into this southern corner of West Virginia, but it's a place that I never really made plans to visit before The Old Hospital on College Hill came on the scene. Spectral Research and Investigation has now completed three investigations of the OHOCH, and each time we're in town, we try to eat locally, check out area businesses, and of course, take a peek at other sites of haunted and historical interest, including the nearby Dingess Tunnel. The Tug Valley Area CVB has a section of their website dedicated to area hauntings, so definitely check that out, and make a little time to explore Williamson and surrounding areas. 

The Old Hospital on College Hill is a wonderful location, full of activity and very accessible to the serious paranormal investigator, or just someone wanting a fun, spooky night out. It's a great destination all on its own, but it has given me the opportunity to get to know the town better. It has inspired me to check out what else is in the area, and every trip to the old hospital gives me another chance to see something new. 

The Witch of Hooker Hollow

Today, I wanted to share with you a story I found in Fall 1985 edition of Goldenseal Magazine. It was told by Vernon O. Giffin and relates the tale of Mineral County's Witch of Hooker Hollow. Giffin was born in Brown, WV in 1915, but moved to Maryland in 1933 to marry. He served in the Navy during WW2. He is the author of several books about West Virginia folklore, including The Witch of Hooker Hollow, which was published in 1981. He passed away six years later, on December 30, 1987.

I've transcribed the story as it appears in Goldenseal. And, of course, you know I had to see what background research I could find. Unfortunately, nothing connected to any of the names given panned out. Still, it's an interesting tale of mountain witchcraft...or, alleged mountain witchcraft, at least. 

There is a road in the Allegheny Mountains in Mineral County that has two names.  At one end of the road the sign says "Limestone Road," while at the other end the sign reads "Hooker Hollow." Just where one ends and the other begins, no one this day and age seems to know. The local people say as long as they can remember it has always been that way.

Near the Hooker Hollow end of the road, some 40 years ago, lived a Mrs. Russel who proclaimed to the world she was a witch possessing great powers.  Most of the population thereabouts doubted her boasts. There were others that were not so sure. A man refused her a ride home from town one day, and for a week his cow gave bloody milk. She warned another family not to allow any of their children to run their lawnmower for at least a week. The family ignored her warning and the very next day their son Seth lost two fingers on his right hand when he caught them in the mower.

A family by the name of Robinson owned a small apple orchard there on the mountain. They had placed "No Trespass" signs everywhere, with no exceptions allowed. One day they found Mrs. Russel eating an apple as if she owned the place. She tried to tell them she was hungry and only wanted one apple. Mrs. Robinson informed her that she could care less about her being hungry and that those signs meant everyone, including her. Mrs. Russel climbed over the fence and turned and smiled out of the corner of her mouth at Mrs. Robinson.

"I see you're pregnant," she said. "Soon you will see someone a lot more hungry than I am now. I don't think you'll like the price you'll pay for your apples." She waved and grinned as she walked slowly down the road.

About a month later the Robinson's first child was born. It cried almost constantly. The doctor tried one bottle formula after the other. None seemed to work. One day the doctor told Mrs. Robinson the baby was starving to death and he had done absolutely all he could. As he left that afternoon, he picked up an apple from a nearby table and began eating it as he walked out the door. That caused Mrs. Robinson to remember the words Mrs. Russel had spoken in the orchard only a few weeks before.

The next morning she bundled up the baby and went to see Mrs. Russel. "My baby is ill, very ill," she said. "If you did cast a spell over him, won't you please take it away? I'm sorry the way I spoke to you that day in the apple orchard. You can have all the apples you want as long as you live. Won't you please help me if you can? He's our first child."

"I'm afraid you have waited too long with your apology," said Mrs. Russel. "Maybe, just maybe, I can help him. I'll try. Lay him out there on the porch so I can measure him. Measuring a baby can do a lot of good, you known. That's about the only thing I can do for him now."

She went into the house and came out with a cloth tape measure and measured the baby. She then made an "X" on the baby's chest with her right forefinger and told Mrs. Robinson to take the baby home, for she had done all she could do.

The next day the baby died. Whether Mrs. Russel was the cause of the baby's death or not, the Robinsons would think so as long as they lived.

In her later years Mrs. Russel's grandson, Jason Lambert, came to live with her. Jason was a quiet, likeable fellow in his early teens and slim as a rail. A new family moved into the hollow that summer who had a son, David, about Jason's age. The boys soon became good friends and spent many happy hours that fall roaming the hollow during evenings after school. David, of course, had heard that Jason's grandmother was a witch and one day asked him if it was so.

"Naw," said Jason. "I don't think so. But I'll admit she does do and say some funny things at times. You don't believe in witches, do you, Dave?"

"No, I guess not," said David

About the time school started that fall, Jason developed a dry hacking cough. David suggested he see a doctor, but Jason said his grandmother was taking care of him and he'd be all right. As the cooler weather of winter approached, Jason's cough became worse. One day David and his father insisted so strongly that he see a doctor that he finally agreed if David would go with him. The doctor diagnosed tuberculosis and suggested Jason go to a sanatorium immediately. When Mrs. Russel was informed of the situation, she simply shook her head, placed an arm around Jason's shoulders, and, in no uncertain words, informed anyone who cared to listen that she could take care of her own.

The day before school was to close for Christmas vacation, Jason was absent. That evening David went to see why. He found his friend in bed, face red and flushed with a high fever. He asked Mrs. Russel to please get Jason to a doctor, but she reminded him she had great powers and Jason would be up and ready to go rabbit hunting with him in a couple of days.

Snow began falling the day school closed and it kept falling for the next two days and nights. As the storm raged, David could not help but worry about Jason and hope he was better than the last time he had seen him. When the storm finally ended, the snow measured three feet on the level and six feet and more in some of the drifts. The road in the hollow was almost impassable. The next day it rained and turned bitterly cold. One could walk anywhere on the frozen crust and not break through.

Christmas day dawned clear and cold. As soon as David finished breakfast, he told his parents he was going to see Jason and take him a box of shotgun shells for a Christmas present. As he approached the house, he sensed something wrong. To this very day he cannot explain why he felt that way as he knocked on the door. Mrs. Russel opened the door and calmly invited him in.

"My, Davie, it sure is nice of you to come out in this cold to see Jason," she said. "I've got something I want you to help me with."

"How is he?" asked David as he removed his coat and threw it across the back of a chair.

"Oh, he died last night," she said. "But don't you worry none, Davie. You see, I'm going to take care of my grandson. You can bet on that. Come on, let's go see him. I'm gonna need a little help and you're just the one to help me.

"There he is stretched out on the bed just like he was asleep," she said as they entered the room. "Davie, I'm an old woman, witch if you will, and Jason is so young. He's just too young to die. So, what I aim to do is this. I'm gonna breathe my life into him, but you gotta help. I can do it, too. Just you wait and see. I guess I'm gonna die; and, if I do, don't worry none about me. It's Jason we gotta worry about now. Will you help me?"

By this time David was petrified. He had always thought she was at least half witch and now he was certain she was all witch. He was so scared he could not utter a word. He was afraid to refuse because of what she might do to him, so he slowly nodded his head in the affirmative.

"Good," said Mrs. Russel. "Now I'll tell you what to do. You hold Jason's nose closed, so when I breathe my breath into him by his mouth, it can't get out his nose. You'll have to hold it till he starts to breathe on his own."

"Oh! My God! Please, Mrs. Russel," wailed David. "I never touched a dead person before. Please, I'm scared. Do I have to?"

"Oh, for goodness sake," said Mrs. Russel, taking David's hand and placing it on Jason's forehead. "See, it's just like any cold piece of meat. Nothing to it. Now do like I told you so we can get Jason breathing again."

By this time, of course, rigor mortis had set in, but David shut his eyes and slowly began to squeeze on Jason's cold, stiff nose. He was shaking like a tree caught in a storm.

David opened his eyes for a second and the room began to spin. But he was afraid if he fainted she might take his life and give it to Jason. This brought him back to the world of reality in a hurry. He liked Jason, but not that much.

"Just can't understand it," said Mrs. Russel after awhile. "You can let go now. I know I can do it. They are not going to embalm him, Davie. They're just not. I just know I can give him my breath of life. I know I can. I guess I'll have to get word to a doctor and buy a casket. Will you do that for me and Jason? If I do get life into him, you can bury me in the coffin instead of him. And, Davie, just in case Jason's still dead this evening, will you come back and set up with him tonight?"

"Dad and I will take care of things," said David. "Someone will be here tonight to set up with Jason, I promise."

On the way home David's knees almost buckled under him a couple of times. He could still feel that cold, dead flesh under his hands and hear the voice of the witch. Yes, he was sure now she was one. No doubt about it.

For the next two nights David and a couple of his friends sat up with the body. Each evening as he approached the house, he half expected to see Jason wave from the door or a window. But Jason lay still and white in his coffin.

The day of the funeral arrived. David and his friends were pallbearers. They carried the casket out on top of the snow to the main road where a horse and sled waited. Some hour and a half later, the casket rested in the front of the Zion Church. There the casket was to remain open for viewing for the next 30 minutes. Then the funeral services would begin.

As David looked around the church, cold chills played cat and mouse up and down his spine. There, on a seat in the back row, wearing a long black cape, was Mrs. Russel. She was shaking her fist in the air but making no sound. The minister rose from his chair and took a step forward. As he did so, Mrs. Russel let out a bloodcurdling scream and ran forward. She threw her black cape over the casket and tried once more to breathe her life into Jason's corpse. It took two strong men to restrain the frail woman. Finally Jason was laid to rest in the church cemetery to be followed by his grandmother, Mrs. Russel, within a week.

As David walked away from Mrs. Russel's funeral, he was heard to remark, "Maybe she did breathe at least part of her life into Jason, after all."

Noiseless Earthquake in Jefferson County?

It's a strange, strange Saturday! This historic newspaper article comes from a July 25, 1899 edition of The Wheeling Intelligencer. Just what the heck was going on in West Virginia's eastern panhandle in the late 19th century? 

STRANGE PHENOMENON

Occurs in Jefferson County-Sort of Noiseless Earthquake

Special dispatch to the Intelligencer

CHARLES-TOWN, W.Va., July 24--A strange phenomenon occurred yesterday in the orchard of Harrison Roper, a few miles west of this city. Huge beds of rocks, weighing tons, which for centuries have lain undisturbed, on Sunday slowly began to upheave and mixed with earth worked among themselves for some minutes, after which they again became quiet, and have since remained so. 

The disturbance was not accompanied by any rumbling noises as of an earthquake. Trees of the orchard which stood in the track of the disturbance were uprooted. People from the surrounding neighborhood have been all day flocking to the scene of the phenomenon. 

Fresno Fashion

 

I know my last Friday Funny was from the Cryptid Club, but I am seriously addicted to these hilariously adorable depictions of famous cryptids! The Fresno Night Crawlers are one of the newest, and honestly, WEIRDEST cryptids to hit the spooky scene, and normally, I would refer to them as anything BUT cute.  But, DANG! These lil' hotties are rocking those booty-enhancing leggings! Slenderman, the Jackalope, and that little alien are rather...shook? I dunno if I'd say that. I'd say they're enjoying the view quite a bit!

This particular cartoon was posted to the Cryptid Club's Facebook page on April 14, 2022. Go check them out and give them a LIKE!

10+ FREE Online History Resources for Paranormal Investigators

Whenever I research the history of a haunted location, or undertake the arduous task of finding any truth behind West Virginia's rich, spooky folklore, I draw upon many, many resources.  I'm lucky to have access to quite a few different avenues. I live close to Charleston, so visiting the state archives is no biggie. I live close to Huntington, where the Cabell County Public Library has an AWESOME local history and genealogy room. My background as a paralegal has given me training in navigating county courthouses for vital statistics and title searches. I have an extensive library of West Virginia history books and magazines. And, most of the time, I can afford to access paid newspaper archive services. 

But during the pandemic, I found myself relying a lot more on internet resources. Even before that, though, before I ever left the house in search of information, I'd find out all I could online. There are an innumerable amount of websites and other online resources that have helped me along the way, but I wanted to quickly share just a few that I find myself using over and over again. All of these services are completely FREE, with several focusing on West Virginia. Still, others are a great resource for any state. By no means is this a complete list, so if you have any suggestions to add, please feel free to comment below, or find me over on Theresa's Haunted History Facebook to share what FREE resources you use! 

1. WV History on View: West Virginia History on View is a service of West Virginia University's WV and Regional History Center. It is a collection of over 54,000 easily searchable historic photos from around West Virginia! 

2. The West Virginia State Archives: If you cannot make it to the physical archives in Charleston, the next best thing is to check out the digital collection. West Virginia was one of the first states to start digitizing vital statistic information, and their database of birth, marriage, and death certificates is easy to navigate and a HUGELY informative resource. Another area of the website I frequent is the database of applications for the National Register of Historic Places---if you're investigating a well-known historic building (or even one that may be part of a historic district), these applications provide a wealth of information that is so, so helpful. Browse around the rest of the site as well. There are lots of articles and pictures online, and if you're doing a deep dive into a particular location or subject, you can get a sense of what is available on that topic in the archives, so when you're ready to make the trip, you'll be prepared!

3. Chronicling America: This service, hosted by the Library of Congress, is a database of historic, pre-1963 newspapers. They obviously don't have each and every newspaper ever printed in the United States, but their collection is impressive. Early newspapers are full of articles about monsters, ghosts, and all sorts of other spooky things, as well as 'normal' articles about people, locations, and stories that could be of relevance to the case you're researching.

4. Sanborn Fire Maps: Also provided by the Library of Congress, this collection of old fire maps is a great resource for finding out what may have been built on a location prior to its current construction. It can be a little time-consuming and frustrating finding the exact area you need sometimes, but when you do, the reward is worth it. But don't just stop with the maps---the Library of Congress site in general gives access to tons of books, films, and other documents that may help you in your research. 

5. Find-a-Grave: Find-a-Grave is a user-submitted collection of cemeteries and the burials within. Not only do users submit who is buried in a particular cemetery, but information on where the cemetery is located, photos of the graves, and sometimes, background documents such as death certificates, personal photographs, and newspaper articles. I can't tell you how many times that missing puzzle piece about a person's death is easily solved by finding them on Find-a-Grave. In addition, links to the subjects deceased family member's burials are included.

6. Family Search: This is a FREE genealogy website. Although it isn't always as 'complete' as some of the paid services, it is a great resource. Genealogy research is an important part of the historical profile of a haunted location. Knowing the familial connections and where exactly a person lived, plus other details from their lives makes for some well-researched EVP questions, but also provides a bigger-picture understanding of the case.

7. tDar: The Digital Archaeological Record is a resource I've just recently started using myself, and am taking the time to get familiar with. While I've found that the actual documents usually aren't available for free, the site will let you know if there have been any archaeological digs/discoveries in the area, which you can then further research through other means.

8. County IAS Portals/County Assessor Pages: Each county in WV does things a little differently, but their IAS portals are generally pretty similar. An important aspect of the historical research on a haunted location is the property search, which back when I started, could ONLY be done by going to the county courthouse and sifting through huge, heavy deed/title books, finding out just who owned the property throughout history, and where the property lines actually were. Most of the time, you still have to do that, but IAS portals make it possible to pull up map cards and other relevant information BEFORE you head to the courthouse, giving you in most cases, a pretty complete look at former ownership (with deed book/page info included) and other architectural details. I've included the link for Kanawha County, WV.

9. Google Maps: I love Google Maps. Whenever we have a new case pop up, I search out the address of the location on Google Maps. Street View gives a pretty darn look at the outside of the property and surrounding area, while Google Earth is a great way to see just how close the property is to creeks, rivers, major roadways, railroads, and other significant things. Take a look at the area in regular map settings as well to get a feel for what the streets in the area are called (could a clue to the history be in the name?), and where places like cemeteries, businesses, and historic properties are located. 

10. Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State: I'd be remiss if I didn't remind you that this blog itself is a great starting point for historical research! I love sharing my research, complete with as many primary source documents that I can viably put directly in a blog post! If you take a look around, you'll see most posts dotted with old newspaper articles, historic photos, transcriptions from old books and magazines, and lots and lots of links for more information. 

11.MapWV: Looking for maps related to West Virginia? This is your one-stop shop! Find out property information, geological information, and even where you can go fishing nearby! 

The Mysterious (and Murderous?) England Family

On Tuesday, I posted a very tragic story of a young girl who was killed during a ghost hunt in Doddridge County. As I was trying to find just what legend from West Virginia folklore she was trying to track down, I ran across the story of the John England Family who lived in the area known as Smithsburg. The England house, built by John and his sons prior to 1800, stood at the mouth of England's Run, which of course, takes its name from the family. But, the story wasn't recorded until 100 years later.

In 1901, a man named Lewis Edwin (Ned) Jones published a book called The History of Smithsburg. Ned was the son of Thomas A. and Catherine Luella Jones. Thomas was a failed businessman from Baltimore. He came to present-day Doddridge County with his wife and kids in 1824, originally settling in an area known as Buckeye Bottom. However, he had to sell that property to pay off an old debt from his Baltimore days, and thus needed to find a place to live...cheap.

The solution was to move to the "Old England Place," that homestead built by John England. But why was this property available for such an affordable price? Well, the England family MIGHT have been haunted by a peddler they murdered...and after they each died in their own uniquely tragic way, they too might still be left to wander the land. In his book, Jones tells the story as told to him by his father. Here's an excerpt:

Arrival of John England

"But for the present, I must write of another house more ancient and of equal importance which stood at the mouth of England's Run, built by a man by the name of England and his sons. This house and outbuildings was a departure in design and magnitude from all the buildings in the settlement, and at the time of which I write was not occupied because of its having gotten a bad name by the wicked deeds said to have been committed by the Englands, who were undoubtedly a dark, mysterious people. The crimes alleged to have been committed, or rather the allegation, was not without foundation, but the evidence that they were committed was circumstantial rather than positive.

 

Foul Play

"It will be borne in mind, this house, when first built, stood in the midst of a dense forest without a break for miles around on every side, and that these people were as much alone as if they had lived on some desolate island in the middle of the sea. Remember that at that time there was no highway except the Indian trail which connected their camping ground, which was just below the mouth of England's Run, with the Ohio River, and you will understand that any crime, however bad, might have been committed here with impunity and with almost perfect safety. The crime charged was the murder of a peddler who was making his way from the trading post through the forest to the Ohio River, putting up for the night at the Englands and never was heard of afterwards. It was alleged that his horse was found many days after wandering in the forest by some hunters who happened that way, and suspecting foul play, they went to England’s and found conclusive evidence that the man had been robbed and murdered and from something they saw concluded that he had been buried under the barn floor. The tradition goes on to say that the Englands became morose and demented because of being haunted by the spirit of the murdered peddler.

 

Mysterious Deaths

"Be that as it may, they were a fated people and died in singular ways. One of them at shearing time threw himself up on the shears and died; another one fell from an upper porch and broke his neck; and another was thrown from a horse and killed. His grave is just at the top of the hill east of S. 0. Jones’ house just beside the road. This grave was plain to be seen forty years afterwards, and thus they perished one by one till all were dead, and for these reasons the house was supposed to be haunted, and as the people of those days were a little superstitious, the house was left without an occupant for many years, or in other words, the people shunned it on account of the ghost of the Englands which were said to hold high carnival nightly. I am only telling the truth, for I have heard men of sense

and education say that there were so many strange noises and midnight rackets that one could not live in the house. I do not mean to have it understood that the stories about the ghosts were but simply to carry the idea that the settlers were a little superstitious as learned people are today."

Information for today's blog comes from an article by Jennifer Wilt, for the Doddridge Independent. 

The Mysterious Settlers of England's Run

A Ghost Hunting Tragedy

Linda Sue McMillan
Photo by Find-a-Grave user,
Peggy Rocchio

Earlier this month, I shared with you the story of a group of students from Shady Spring High School who spent the night at their school, looking for the alleged whistling ghost said to haunt its halls. That was a fun, and light-hearted tale that proves a point---even though interest may wane at various times through history, kids' interest in legend tripping, spooky things, and scaring the hell out of each other never truly goes away. Even in the mid-20th century, kids were going out and hunting down the hauntings. 

Unfortunately, not all of these pursuits into the paranormal end on a happy note, as was the case with Linda Sue McMillan, eight years later.

Linda Sue was born on September 15, 1944 to parents Thomas Roy and Maude Ferrell McMillan. Just two months shy of her 17th birthday, sixteen year old Linda Sue of Weirton spent a warm summer's evening doing what so many young kids do---she went out in search of a spooky adventure. On Sunday, July 16th, Linda and five other young people, all members of the family, piled in the car and headed about seven miles north of the town of West Union, to a little area known as Morgansville. Their destination was a road called "Big Flimp Rd." by the Charleston Daily Mail. However, I can't find any mention of such a road, and suspect that the actual road was Big Flint Rd., located in that same vicinity.

They were going ghost hunting.

I haven't found the exact ghost story or haunting from West Virginia's folklore that the group was searching for, but I imagine it was a tale that had been told orally and passed around in the family and friend group for quite some time. Perhaps they were seeking out the ghost of one of the many murdered peddlers, whose spirits are said to still haunt so many corners of the Mountain State. Perhaps they were seeking out the haunted John England property a few miles away. Either way, this adventure seemed to involve a dare of some sort.

Three girls in the group, Linda Sue included, were sent to walk about a mile down the road by themselves. However, at some point, Linda Sue climbed onto the back of the car, without the knowledge of the driver. Clyde McMillan, 20 years old, started the car up and began driving the down the road. It is unclear if Linda Sue tried to jump off, or if she simply fell, but she ended up hitting the pavement and suffering a fatal fracture to her skull. 

Linda Sue's funeral was held on July 18th, as reported by the Weirton Daily Times. She was buried in Beechwood Cemetery, in Tyler County, West Virginia. She lies beside her parents, who passed in the 1990's. 

I never like sharing sad stories such as this one, but I chose to highlight this one in particular for a few reasons. I obviously want to pay respects to this sweet, beautiful young soul who was taken too soon. She must have been pretty brave to take on hunting ghosts and as a paranormal investigator myself, have to give her kudos. Even though this was probably intended as a fun little legend-tripping adventure, in my eyes she has still earned her place among West Virginia's paranormal research community.

But, I also wanted to highlight just how dangerous ghost hunting CAN be...and it's not the ghosts that we have to fear. Unfortunately, the tragic death of Linda Sue is eerily similar to another tragedy that occurred in Clay County, WV back in 2013. A truck full of young people searching for ghosts in the infamous Booger Hole area turned over, killing 18 year old Kara Conley.  Exploring West Virginia's rich haunted history can be a fun way to get a thrill, but please keep in mind to keep safety a top priority. Use common sense, don't take unnecessary risks, and remain constantly aware of your surroundings. I want to share these spooky stories with you and encourage you to experience them yourselves...what I DON'T want is to have to come investigate YOUR ghost!

Stay safe, stay spooky!

Sources:

The Charleston Daily Mail. 17 July 1961. Page 6

The Weirton Daily Times. 18 July 1961. Page 2

Find-a-Grave Entry for Beechwood Cemetery

Charleston Daily Mail
17 July 1961

Theresa's Haunted History + Paranormal Tourism in WV

Theresa Racer and Brian Clary 
of Spectral Research and Investigation
Photo by April Morgan

A couple of weeks ago, I was honored to take part in the first annual West Virginia Paranormal Tourism Convention, hosted by Charleston Ghost Tour Company and Haunted Beckley. The two-day event was held in Beckley, WV at the Raleigh Theater and Playhouse, and brought together a unique blend of representatives from all aspects of West Virginia's paranormal community. Brian and I spoke together on Saturday (and taught a ghost hunting class) but on Friday, we both spoke separately; him speaking about how Spectral Research and Investigation can be an asset to the paranormal tourism field, and me focusing on my blog, Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State.

I will eventually be posting a blog dedicated to convention as a whole, but for today, I just wanted to share the written article version of the presentation I made on Friday about the role Theresa's Haunted History plays in paranormal tourism. Before this convention, I had written a couple of blogs specifically about paranormal tourism, in addition to my Theresa's Travels features and spotlights on various 'touristy destinations.' However, I never really stopped to think about it. I knew I loved sharing my own experiences, and I loved sharing any updates I found about events/locations, but it never really clicked that yeah...this blog and it's accompanying social media platforms ARE excellent sources of information for the paranormal tourist. I'm so glad I was given this opportunity to really think about how I can personally expand my role in helping to bring people from all over to West Virginia's many, many paranormal hot spots!  Anyway....here's what I discussed:

As the name suggests, the topic of the first annual West Virginia Paranormal Tourism Convention was obviously paranormal tourism in the Mountain State. Paranormal tourism is a quickly growing, and rather lucrative field...and West Virginia is in a unique position to be able to take advantage of such. West Virginia is known for having some of the most haunted locations in the country, if not the world. Locations such as the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, the former WV State Penitentiary at Moundsville, and even Lake Shawnee Amusement Park, are consistently featured on television, and in books, podcasts, and articles. We also have some of the weirdest UFO and cryptozoological case files to grace the annals of Fortean research---Mothman, the Flatwoods Monster, and the Indrid Cold case are just a few that come to mind. In addition, we've got plenty of Bigfoot sightings to keep even the most casual monster hunter satisfied!

As more and more paranormal-themed museums are created around the state, and as more and more locations begin offering haunted history tours, and as more and more 'haunted' buildings open up for investigations...West Virginia is surely becoming a premier destination location for lovers of all things spooky.  And, a great tool for learning about all these haunted locations, spooky stories, and places where YOU can go to experience them for yourself is this blog, Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State!

This January marked the 11th anniversary of Theresa's Haunted History blog, but the idea behind it goes back a little further, all the way to 2006...

That's when I found myself the newly appointed Historic Research Manager for Huntington Paranormal Investigations and Research (HPIR). As a newly formed group, we were constantly on the hunt for new and exciting haunted locations to investigate, and it was part of my job to find and vet possible places. And, at the time, it was a little...frustrating...because back in 2006, there weren't a whole lot of places you could go online for really good information. Two resources come to mind, however: WVGhosts.com and the Shadowlands.net. 

Both these sites still exist today, and for the most part are excellent resources, but they were problematic to the researcher trying to find locations to investigate. At best, they were incomplete. The stories were great, but they often didn't contain the needed details to distinguish where exactly the haunting took place, or even if it was a consistent thing, and not just a once-only encounter. At worst, the stories were downright inaccurate, with wildly erroneous details (such as calling a building a former Civil War hospital that was built in 1932). The problem was that the curated lists of haunted locations found on these sites was user-submitted; anyone with an internet connection could pretty much post whatever the heck they wanted and no one had the time to actually fact-check. So, I thought I could do better.

But, it took awhile to get there. I won't bore you with the details of how Theresa's Haunted History came to be, since I did that back in a January blog about my 11th Anniversary. No, today's blog topic is just how exactly this little blog has grown into a tool to help push that paranormal tourism industry into our great state.

As of this writing, Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State features about 1300 posts. Nearly 300 of those feature haunted locations, right here in West Virginia, many of which you can go visit yourself. But what do the other 1000 posts cover? Well, if you've followed Theresa's Haunted History for any time, you'd know that I love to cover just about anything and everything spooky related to West Virginia and beyond. I love to share those ghost stories from folklore that don't necessarily have a location that can be visited today. I love to share West Virginia's rich UFO history, and it's history of various monster sightings throughout the years. I cover book reviews, tips for ghost hunters, and advice for those experiencing paranormal activity in their home or business. Most importantly (to this article, at least!) I have made a commitment to keep sharing all the fun and spooky things there are to see and do in West Virginia.

Every time there is a paranormal convention in West Virginia, I write about it! Every time I visit one of West Virginia's paranormal museums or works of public art, I write about it! Every ghost tour, story-telling event, or similar attraction I can find and attend, that's right...I write about it. And, of course, whenever my current investigation team, Spectral Research and Investigation (SRI) is invited to investigate a public location, I write about it! I love sharing my own paranormal travel and experiences, but I also love helping to spread the word about events, locations, and stories that I'm not directly a part of...which I use social media for.

Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State blog is (and always will be) my main forum for spreading information. With an average rate of 1500 unique visitors a day, jumping to an average of 5000 a day near Halloween, it reaches quite a few people throughout the world. My work has been referenced in over 20 professionally published books, is part of the lesson plan for Ruth Ann Music's Trunk of Tales project, and was recently named #16 in Feedspot's 90 Best Paranormal Blogs of 2022. But, I'm no stranger to social media!

The FaceBook page for Theresa's Haunted History has over 7000 followers, and has given me a way to not only share MY work, but to keep those followers informed of what's going on throughout West Virginia's paranormal community---which locations are holding public events, where other teams are investigating, and new reports and stories, just to give a few examples. I'm also on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, and hope to grow those platforms even further in the coming months and years. I've also been very lucky to have been asked to speak on multiple podcasts, and at several different conventions and other events, all in an effort to not just promote MY work within the field, but to promote West Virginia as a whole as being one helluva spooky and awesome place to come visit! 

West Virginia's paranormal community is a wonderfully supportive group of people, all working together to preserve West Virginia's rich, cultural history as it pertains to the strange and unusual. I am honored to play a small role within that community, and I invite everyone reading this to take advantage of all the ghostly goodness West Virginia has to offer. Whether it be taking one of our state's popular haunted history tours, visiting a creepy museum, or even taking part in an actual paranormal investigation, there is so much to see and do in every corner of the state. Come see why West Virginia truly is becoming (but really, always was) a premier destination for paranormal tourism! 

*Interested in what there is to see and do for the UFO enthusiast? Check out my blog, UFO TOURISM IN WEST VIRGINIA!* 

Happy Easter 2022!

 Happy Easter from Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State!

April is another busy month here at Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State and for the Spectral Research and Investigation team. Conferences, tours, investigations, book research, AND another attempt at the Ultimate Blog Challenge have kept me on my toes...and that's not even taking into consideration that my kid is playing another season of baseball! 

So, today, I'll be taking a rare day off and spending time with family...but that doesn't mean the spookiness has to take a break. Theresa's Haunted History is always available to provide you with your paranormal fix! I've already scheduled plenty of Easter-themed ghostly posts over at my Facebook page for you to enjoy throughout the day. In addition, there's a ton of NEW content right here on the blog. Whether your interests lie more in the ghosts and hauntings side of the paranormal, or if you prefer cryptozoology, ufology, psychic/spiritualism, or just general West Virginia weirdness, it's all here---with plenty of local history thrown in. Theresa's Haunted History continues to grow, and continues to be one of the largest online repositories of haunted locations throughout the Mountain State and beyond. 

I've really enjoyed being able to share with you West Virginia's haunted history, and I've enjoyed seeing how this blog has evolved over the years, incorporating even more aspects of Fortean phenomena into the mix. I've been really motivated this year to explore different directions in which to take my work and I think the natural progression is to focus more on ALL of West Virginia's weird and wonderful history. But, I still want this blog to have a little 'something for everyone.' Therefore, expect to continue seeing posts on different aspects of paranormal investigation, paranormal theory, and of course, haunted locations/mysterious happenings from Kentucky, Ohio, and beyond! 

But, as always, I want to hear from YOU. Leave me a comment below on what YOU'D like to see more of on Theresa's Haunted History. I might be taking a quick break today, but I'll be right back at it tomorrow, researching and writing all the strange and unusual paranormal content that can only be found right here on Theresa's Haunted History blog. 

Have a wonderful Easter holiday and as always, stay spooky y'all!

*Be sure to check out my Haunted West Virginia Page for quick access to TONS of haunted locations throughout the Mountain State, many of which YOU can visit!*

A Marshall County Poltergeist Tale

On the outskirts of Cameron, WV sits the 
community of Loudensville (Marshall County)

Today's vintage ghost tale comes from the 07 December 1891 edition of the Wheeling Daily Intelligencer. This newspaper article, which discusses the strange noises and reports from a wealthy Marshall County farmer and his family, can be accessed for free at the Chronicling America website! I'm especially intrigued by this tale as it seems to have some elements more commonly associated with a poltergeist-type haunting.  (Theresa's Note: Loudensville is very close to Cameron, West Virginia...which is the current home to the Archive of the Afterlife Museum! So, the next time you're up that way visiting this awesome museum, keep the following story in mind as well...)

 A GOOD GHOST STORY

Which Comes to Hand from out in Marshall County

STRANGE HAPPENINGS AT A HOUSE

Where Guards Have Tried Night after Night, but in Vain, to find a Clue to the Cause--Explosions, Windows Broken and Doors Rattled. The Perpetrators Bullet Proof.

Reports come from the vicinity of Loudensville, Marshall County of some strange happenings that would make a capital ghost story, but at this age of the world, ghost stories are not in it, so it is enough to relate the incidents as they were given to a reporter and let the reader form his own conclusions.

About two weeks ago strange and weird noises and reports began to annoy the family of a wealthy farmer living on the hills back of the above named town. While the family was seeking repose a loud report would be heard, as of a gun being fired off just outside the house. Search would be made all around the premises, but nothing could be found to indicate the presence of anything or anybody that could cause such a noise. About the time the family would get settled down ready to turn in again, crash would go the glass in a window, and all would be confusion again; then an outside door would be shaken as though somebody was trying to pull it from its hinges.

Not only has the family kept a close lookout, but four or five men have been kept on guard, both in moonlight and darkness, and while the strange noises and weird transactions go on as usual, nothing has yet been discovered that would throw the slightest light on the mystery. Glass will be smashed and loud reports occur "right under the nose of the guard", as the reliable informant put it, but the closest scrutiny reveals nothing.

The family is distracted and the guards worn out and no solution of the mystery in sight. The farmer thought to catch somebody by shooting through the doors when they were shaken; so he loaded his trusty rifle and when the outside door was seized by the shakes he would bang away, sending a bullet crashing through the thin panel of the door, expecting when it was unbolted and opened to find the prostate form of his tormentor lying lifeless at his feet, but no trace of anything has been bagged in this way, although the doors have been in that manner riddled with bullets.

The matter is puzzling in the extreme, and there must be some explanation of it, but it does not appear on the surface. The farmer at whose house these things are taking place is known throughout the county, and he is wealthy and influential.

The source of the information is the most reliable and trustworthy. It is somewhat like the case of the McComas "haunted house" over in Belmont county twelve or fifteen years ago, which attracted national attention before it was discovered that a hysterical girl's very simple tricks were at the bottom of all the seemingly mysterious manifestations.