Tombstone Tuesday: Miles Vernon Dixson at Charleston's Spring Hill

Miles Vernon Dixson's Tombstone at Spring Hill
Photo by Find-a-Grave User, Rosa Nutt

My husband and I recently rented an apartment in Charleston's East End...which means I'm literally about a five minute drive from the city's beautiful, historic Victorian-era burial ground known as Spring Hill Cemetery. This massive, sprawling cemetery overlooking the state capitol is the final resting place for many of Charleston's most famous and accomplished citizens. It's a wonderful look at the history of the city and a snapshot of the lives of those who made it all possible. 

But there's one tombstone included in the cemetery's self-guided history walk that is rather unassuming. To walk up on the small, rather plain marker amid elaborate obelisks and extravagant displays of funerary art, you might not take a second glance. However, the young man buried there has a fascinating tale to tell. 

Twenty-one year old Miles Vernon Dixson of South Hills was a teller at the Kanawha Valley Bank, but his dream was to become a pilot. So, the young man enrolled in Glen Clark's flying school, which he ran from his seaplane base, located on the Kanawha River. On Saturday March 2, 1935, Dixson took one of the training sea planes out for a practice run in preparation for his upcoming licensing exam. As he was flying over the vicinity of Spring Hill Cemetery, something went wrong.

Spring Hill Mausoleum 
Photo by Theresa Racer

Newspaper articles of the time period aren't 100% clear, but it seems as if a stunt may have went wrong, and one or both of the plane's wings were torn away from the body of the plane at about 1,800 feet up. He tried to deploy his parachute, but was unable to until he was only 200 feet high and it didn't have time to open. The plane crashed, and his body plummeted to the ground, right beside the mausoleum of Spring Hill Cemetery. His death certificate lists his cause of death as a fractured skull and crushed chest. Ironically, he was buried in Spring Hill, just a short walk from where his life actually ended. 

Over the years, Spring Hill Cemetery in Charleston (like it's counterpart, Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington) has gained a reputation for being haunted. In recent years, the debate as to why cemeteries would even BE haunted locations of note has been a hot topic among the paranormal community. That's a blog post for another day, but it's stories like this one that definitely add an interesting layer to that debate! Unfortunately, this was a really sad case where a young life was extinguished way too soon. 

Bluefield Daily Telegraph
03 March 1935

A Case of Second Sight

 

Martinsburg Independent
08 May 1897

Back in May of 1897, little five year old Lutie Frankenberry was taken to the newspaper office of the Martinsburg Independent, where she was able to demonstrate a remarkable gift of second sight by correctly identifying the number of dots on a set of face-down dominoes. Of course, the newspaper had to write up a brief story about the feats of little Lutie, the daughter of George Frankenberry, but failed to mention WHAT brought about this display of her alleged abilities.

And, being the curious sort, I had to do a little more digging! Unfortunately, I was disappointed, lol. Surprisingly, I DID find some additional newspaper articles mentioning Lutie through the years, but nothing about her psychic abilities. She and her family lived on Moler Avenue, and she was a pretty good student, being mentioned in the newspaper for receiving good marks at school. Like many other young ladies of the time, she was mentioned in the social columns for attending various parties and other social gatherings. There was even a Lost and Found ad where Lutie was asking for information on the return of a coat that she had lost (which, I guess if she really still had her psychic abilities, she'd know where it was??). Finally, a newspaper article appeared in 1923 announcing that Miss Lutie Frankenberry of Martinsburg, WV had married Harry C. Beard of Harrisburg, PA and that the couple would be residing in Pennsylvania. 

It's often said that children do tend to have a stronger, more open pineal gland, and therefore, will display a greater aptitude for psychic abilities, which tends to wane as they get older. Was that the case with Lutie? Was she really blessed with the gift of second sight, and if so, did she lose it, or was it something she carried with her throughout her life, but only shared with a select few? 

Giant Skeleton in Harrison County

West Virginia's old newspapers are FULL of reports of giant skeletons being found throughout the state. In the November 27, 1916 edition of the Martinsburg WVa Evening Journal, a story can be found about workmen uncovering a giant skeleton while putting in a railway line in Harrison County. You can see this article at the Chronicling America website. 

SKELETON OF GIANT FOUND BY WORKMEN

While grading for the Fairmont and Wyatt Railroad on the farm of B.W. Shinn near Pine Bluff, W.Va, workmen unearthed the skeleton of a human giant, believed to be the remains of a prehistoric man. The skull and several of the large bones are in splendid state of preservation. The skull is near the size of a two-gallon bucket, with no forehead and a large under jaw. The ribs are about three times the size of the present-day average man. One thigh bone, well preserved, measures four and one-half feet in length. The skeleton was found in a mound and there had long been speculation as to what the mound contained, but all feared to open it. The skeleton will be shipped to the New York museum. 

Theresa's Note: In the December 13, 1916 edition of the Martinsburg, WVa Evening Journal a little addendum to this story appeared, claiming that the tale, which originated in the Shinnston News, was the work of practical jokers upon an otherwise honest newspaper editor. 

*Want more posts about giant skeletons in WV? Check out my post, Giant Skeleton in Central City!*

The Fae and Fairy Folk: January Paranormal Discussion Group

After taking a brief hiatus to celebrate the holiday season, St. Alban's Paranormal Discussion Group is back and in full force! Our January 2023 get-together was held at the St. Alban's Historical Society on Wednesday, January 25th and featured a really cool topic that we hadn't touched on before: Fairies.

The Fae and Fairy Folk discussion was led by Krista Antis, who brought with her an extensive knowledge of fairy lore, especially as it pertains to the British Isles, as well as an extensive library of fairy resource books. 

So, for most of my life, I've had a healthy interest in fairy lore. Like many native West Virginians, my ancestry is mostly Scots-Irish and English. With that came the stories of The Good Neighbors and the tricks they liked to play, passed down to me from my grandparents. But even though I was always taught to remain respectful of and to avoid certain behaviors that could annoy our unseen friends, I don't think I ever actually believed in the fairy realm. I found it to be a beautiful and interesting topic, and I did try to maintain a working knowledge of it due to my involvement in paranormal investigation and research. 

But, as I get older I find a lot of my beliefs not necessarily changing, but shifting and expanding. I'm definitely more open to the possibility that the Fae not only exist, but are an integral part of the paranormal umbrella. As Krista talked about the different types of fairies, their characteristics, and ways to appease them and/or protect yourself, it became apparent that a lot of the widely-held beliefs regarding fairies also overlap with beliefs regarding other types of entities, including ghosts, demons, and aliens. 

How this phenomenon is all connected (if it even IS) is one of the many questions that keep me hunting for answers, and it makes me even more appreciative that I've found the St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group to help me learn about all these fascinating topics, and to connect with people who are also searching for answers.

Anyway, Krista's talk was really informative and fun. Although focusing mainly on the Seelie Court vs. the Unseelie Court, she spoke about several types of fairy lore from various cultures, and of course SRI's lil' buddy, The Ovinnik of Deep End Antiques was brought up! That sort of led into a discussion about the differences between fairies and cryptids, bringing the theory that this stuff is probably more inter-related than we realize full circle. 

As always, it was a super-fun evening, connecting and sharing stories with fellow paranormal enthusiasts. This was a unique topic, and I know everyone at the meeting enjoyed it immensely. If you're in the St. Albans area and think that this is something YOU'D like to be a part of, please join us. We meet at 6pm on the last Wednesday of the month at the St. Albans Historical Society building. You can follow the group's Facebook page for more information on upcoming topics...including next month's talk where I'll be back again discussing Local Haunts! I hope to see ya there, and as always, stay spooky!

*Bonus: I've linked to my Ovinnik encounter above, but he's not the only member of the fairy realm that I've potentially met. Check out my blog, My Strangest Personal Experience, for another really weird sighting I had in my own front yard.*

Investigator's Night Out: A Friday Funny

 

I cannot be the only one who identifies with this, right? Where are my fellow ghost hunters at who would much rather spent their evenings out searching for proof of the afterlife? Don't get me wrong--I have no problem with how others spend their free time (as long as they aren't hurting anyone), but to me, there's nothing more fun than exploring the haunted history of a spooky old building with my closest friends, hoping to make some sort of interaction with the dead. 

I know that we have to stress to people that ghost hunting is not always what you see on television, and that for the most part, it is NOT an exciting, non-stop action-filled adventure, but honestly, I don't mind. I still always have fun, even through the down times, and I'm never bored during an investigation. I'm fascinated by all aspects of the paranormal investigation and research process, no matter how tedious they may seem. I see those slow moments during an investigation as a chance to re-think our investigation strategy and come up with some new ideas to try out. Anyway...

As we get ready to enter into another weekend, I hope you take this fun little post as a reminder to have fun, but no matter what your plans are, please be careful out there! I love investigating hauntings...but I don't want to have to come investigate YOU. 

Most Popular Blogs of 2022

As a blogger, it's important to analyze statistics every once in awhile. I like to see how the blog is doing, and what types of posts you guys seem to like the best. It's both enlightening, and at times, entertaining! Recently, I was curious about 2022. It was a pretty good year in terms of traffic to the site, as well as the number of new posts I was able to put out. But, I wanted to take it a step further and see just which posts I created in 2022 actually brought in the majority of that traffic. And, I thought some of you might be interested as well. So, here are the Top Five Most Popular Blogs of 2022 for Theresa's Haunted History. 

#5: Book Review for Appalachian Bigfoot, by Russ Jones. I'm not even gonna lie; this one threw me for a loop, because normally, book reviews are some of my least popular blogs here on Theresa's Haunted History. I love to read and share what I read, but those blogs don't usually get a whole lot of views in comparison to my other writings. I guess that says a lot about Russ Jones' work! This blog was originally published on Saturday, July 9, 2022.

#4: Friday Night Funny: Hot Bigfoot: Okay, another one that completely shocked me because my Friday Night Funnies, while I think are hilarious, also don't get a whole lot of organic traffic. But this one did, probably because it was a pretty funny summertime meme. This blog was originally published on Friday, July 8, 2022.

#3: TALA Tales: Karl Kunst. I find it important to share the forgotten stories from famous haunted locations that don't necessarily have well-known hauntings attached to them, and the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is a perfect well of these stories. The story of Karl Kunst is a really sad one; he was not a patient at the hospital, but rather the son of the hospital's superintendent. He tragically took his own life at the hospital in the staff quarters. This blog was originally published on Sunday, July 10, 2022.

#2: The Bewitched Hen of Roney's Point. This was a really weird story I found in an old newspaper about a hen that laid eggs with cabbalistic inscriptions. It was originally published on July 6, 2022. 

#1: June's Paranormal Discussion Group-Haunted Objects. I wrote about the St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group's monthly meeting for June. That month's topic was a really cool one---haunted objects. We had a great show and tell session, and even had some interactive spirit communication/ghost hunting taking place! That's kind of awesome that this was the most popular blog post of 2022 because I think very highly of this group and am very proud to have the opportunity to attend meetings and write about it. This post was published on July 5, 2022. 

Okay, so I'm seeing a definite pattern here! All of these blogs were published in early July, within a week of each other. That must have been a really, really good month for Theresa's Haunted History! I'm not great about tracking my daily stats (especially around then, as that was when my mom was especially sick) so I'm not sure if I had some older posts 'went viral,' if I was just getting some weird traffic because search engines were indexing me, or if I was just really, really lucky that plenty of people were looking for haunted stuff in and around West Virginia and happened to come across my blog.

Either way, I am so, so grateful to have the wonderful supporters that I do and even though I'd probably STILL write this blog if no one read it, I get so excited seeing my visitor count grow. If you enjoy what you read here, please consider sharing it on social media, sending it to a spooky friend, or even pinning it to Pinterest. I love sharing my love for West Virginia's spooky history and I hope to reach as many people who share that same passion as possible. Thank you and as always...stay spooky! 

Ohio Wild Man

The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer
26 August 1891
Source: Chronicling America

Originally, I was going to stick to only our West Virginia Wild Men in this Wild Men Wednesday feature, but since this story comes directly across the river from Moundsville, I thought I'd go ahead and include it. It's a nice contrast to last week's tale. Whereas the Weston Wild Man was obviously a human, this creature's identity is a little more dubious. Is it a man wrapped in robes or furs, or is it an escaped trained bear? The fact that the creature runs sometimes on two legs, and other times on four AND is slaughtering livestock further compounds the mystery. Oh, and apparently the livestock killings are accompanied by blood-curdling screams. 

This is a huge departure from the non-violent wild man running around the Weston area, not really bothering anyone. But, let me know down in the comments below: What do YOU think the Ohio Wild Man was...wild animal, escaped trained animal, Bigfoot or other monster, or simply a guy donned in animal furs? 

The Murder of Wade Marcum: An OHOCH Story

The Old Hospital on 
College Hill

It's been awhile since I've written about one of SRI's favorite haunted locations, the Old Hospital on College Hill! This haunted hot spot, located in Williamson, WV has quite a few ghost stories that have made it famous among paranormal investigators and paranormal enthusiasts around the country...but we've found that during our investigations at the former Williamson Memorial Hospital, we've been more apt to interact with some unknown entities. Therefore, I think it's important to highlight as many of the stories of those who died within the walls of this historic hospital as I can find. You never know who might try reaching out to you and who might not be completely at peace yet. With such a violent and bloody past as the Mingo County area has, there is no shortage of tragic tales and potential ghosts walking the halls of The Old Hospital on College Hill. 

One of the unfortunate souls who lost his life within the walls of the old hospital was Deputy Sheriff Wade Marcum. As the story goes, it was Saturday night, January 5, 1935. Marcum had stopped his car at the one-way bridge between Dingess and Kirk, in Mingo County. Albert Dillon, 33 years old, go out of another car and started shooting at Marcum. A gun battle ensued. Dillon was wounded in the left wrist. Marcum, however, took shots to the abdomen and the left leg. 

Hurt badly,  42 year old Marcum was taken to Williamson Memorial Hospital where Dr. Henry Hatfield was called in from Huntington to attempt to perform a lifesaving operation on him. Dillon turned himself into authorities in Logan. On Monday, January 7th at 6:30am, Wade Marcum succumbed to his injuries, dying from shock. Later that day, Dillon made his first appearance in court. Until the very end, Dillon maintained that the shooting was done in self-defense. His father went on record as saying that Dillon saw Marcum's stopped car, and therefore got out of the car he was in and approached Marcum. He struck up a conversation and for no reason, Marcum started shooting at Dillon, hitting him in the wrist, and striking the other vehicle. Dillon turned briefly, and then began firing back. 

Not much was mentioned about the case until February 22nd, when a local newspaper mentioned that jury selection had begun and that Judge B.F. Howard had overruled a motion for a continuance on the grounds that three witnesses were absent---he instead sent out arrest warrants for the three missing witnesses. Deliberations only took a day or two, because by the February 23rd newspapers, it was reported that after 4 hours of deliberation, the jury had still not reached an agreement. 

I'm not sure if they ever did. As of this writing, I can't find any more mention of the case in any of the newspaper archive services I subscribe to. However, I did find a death certificate for Mr. Albert Dillon dated for 1948. He died in Logan County...not at the WV State Penitentiary. So, if he WAS found guilty, he didn't do more than 13 years.

The Old Hospital on College Hill is an awesome place to investigate, and it offers various public and private investigations throughout the year, as well as many other fun and spooky events. Check out their website, or follow them on Facebook for more information! 

Wade Marcum Death Certificate
Source: WV State Archives

Bloodmobile Vs. UFO

Red Cross Van, 1960's
Source

When 71 year old Beau Shertzer passed away on October 22, 2015, his obituary painted a picture of a fascinating and well respected gentleman. The former Pt. Pleasant resident was a Vietnam Vet who earned a Bronze Star for Heroism and was also a well-known philanthropist. He was an esteemed dancer, having performed locally on stage and on television in his younger days, and even in Walt Disney and Universal Studios later in life.

Beau was the son of Bob Shertzer, who coached football at Pt. Pleasant High School, and Beau himself was a 1964 graduate of the school, who later helped establish and raise funds for a scholarship program in his father's name. After retiring from the medical field, he moved to Florida to help care for his parents and brother, where he continued his dancing and philanthropic interests until his death. 

But, one thing his obituary leaves out is that in Fortean circles, Beau is famous for something much stranger...

On March 5, 1967 Beau was 21 years old and working for the Red Cross. He and a young nurse had been busy collecting human blood, and in the wee hours of that dark, cold, rainy morning, were transporting the specimens back to the Red Cross headquarters in Huntington, WV. As they were driving along Route 2 between Pt. Pleasant and Huntington, they entered a particularly desolate stretch of highway. However, they weren't alone. From behind a nearby hill, a large, glowing object lifted into the air and swooped directly towards and over the bloodmobile van. 

Beau rolled down his window to get a better look at the craft, which was above the van and keeping pace with it along the highway. He was horrified to see that there was some type of mechanical looking arm or extension coming out of the light, directly towards the van. The nurse, by now in hysterics, shouted that she could see another arm coming towards the van on her side. It was almost as if this UFO was involved in playing a giant version of an arcade crane game, and trying to grab the van up in its eerie clutches. 

Beau stomped the gas and tried to gun it, but he couldn't outpace the craft. The only thing that seemed to save them were the headlights of an oncoming car, which caused the arms to retract and the strange light to fly off. Understandably shaken, Beau and the nurse alerted the state police of what they experienced, and the incident was briefly mentioned that evening on a local radio broadcast. 

What was weird, though, is that despite the fact that the rash of Mothman sightings and the accompanying UFO flap that was occurring in the area was being covered heavily by the newspapers, this story was never picked up by local press. In fact, it doesn't really appear to get a whole lot of attention, even from John Keel himself who investigated the incident. He did briefly mention it in several of his books, as well as in a short column he wrote for the Burlington, NC newspaper, The Daily Times-News.  However, it seems as if the story was never really fleshed out any further. Was the story just too weird to be taken seriously, or was there some other reason that  the idea of a UFO or its occupants perhaps needing HUMAN BLOOD decidedly kept on the down low? John Keel does mention that at around this same time, there were several cases of animal mutilations being investigated, and that out of curiosity, he contacted the Red Cross to see if any of their bloodmobiles had ever gone missing. Understandably, he didn't get an answer, so the investigation into why a UFO would be trying to abduct an automobile full of human blood was largely dropped, leaving more questions than answers and another layer into the High Strangeness that overtook the Pt. Pleasant area during the mid 1960's untapped. 

Sources:

Keel, John. Strange Creatures From Time and Space. 

Keel, John. The Mothman Prophecies. 

22 June 1967
The Daily Times-News
Burlington, North Carolina

TALA TALES: Thomas Funk

Bathroom at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
Source: Trip Advisor

The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, also known as Weston State Hospital or Weston State Hospital for the Insane has a long and tragic history, with a reported ghost population that accurately reflects the violence, anger, sadness, and despair that were surely experienced within its walls over it's 100+ years in use. But, not every death that occurred in the building has a connected ghost story. I like to include these TALA Tales features on my blog to help spotlight some of the people who made the asylum home and possibly, spent their last moments there. You never know when you're going to get an EVP, spirit box, or some other type of communication from a previously un-named entity. Plus, I just like to share the stories of the everyday life at the asylum and give remembrance to those who can no longer speak for themselves. Today's story is a quick, but tragic snapshot into the death of Thomas M. Funk. 

According to a Find-a-Grave researcher, Thomas M Funk was born about 1863 to parents John Nathan Funk and Catherine Cassedy Funk. Thomas was from Preston County, living out at Buffalo, near Jones' Ridge. In his mid 30's, Thomas was single and, unfortunately, had a history with mental illness. Once before, he was committed to the Weston State Hospital and was treated. He was deemed cured, and sent home. However, it wouldn't be too long before his mind would again become agitated and was said to have become violent at times. On May 5, 1898, an article appeared in the West Virginia Argus newspaper that  Funk had been taken to Kingwood by Constables Fried Halbritter and John M. Devall and jailed there for insanity, to await transportation BACK to the Weston State Hospital. A week earlier, he had been arrested and committed by Justice John Carrico of Rowlesburg. 

Thomas was taken to Weston and became a resident of Ward 8. But, on August 11, 1898, tragedy would strike. Thomas would take his own life in the toilet room of the ward that afternoon. He looped a towel around his neck and apparently hanged himself from the towel rack. His body was still warm when found, but unfortunately, he could not be revived. As per custom, an investigation was held and it was deemed that Thomas did in fact take his own life, and no fault was to be found in regards to hospital staff or administration. He was buried in the hospital's on-site cemetery. It was said that he had no previous suicidal tendencies. 

It's an unhappy story, with an unhappy ending. However, this story and the fate of Thomas Funk are not unusual. The grand old building has seen a lot of death over the years, from illness to violence to suicide. The next time you're investigating or simply visiting the haunted and historic Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, take a moment to remember Thomas' story...and if you find yourself in the area of Ward 8's toilet room, maybe say hello. You might just get a response. 

Sources:

West Virginia Argus. 05 May 1898. Page 3

Martinsburg Independent. 20 August 1898. Page 3

The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer. 22 August 1898. Page 4

WV State Archives: Thomas Funk Death Certificate

Find-a-Grave

*If you or a loved one has thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself, please dial the new Suicide Hotline at 988. It's free, available 24/7, and has plenty of caring people willing to talk or text with you.*

WV Woman Imprisoned for Witchcraft

Ladies' Cell at the WV State Penitentiary
at Moundsville ca 1924
Source: WV History on View

Sure, it looks a little cramped, but overall, the women's cells at the WV State Penitentiary at Moundsville didn't look too shabby. Up until a new, all-female prison was established in 1947, the state's female offenders were housed at Moundsville. One such prisoner who called a cell like the one above home for four years was Mrs. Mary Loveall. She didn't She didn't murder her husband, rob a bank, or even write forged checks. She was imprisoned for the crime of witchcraft. 

In the summer of 1918, Mary Loveall of Bridgeport, WV was tried in a Wheeling criminal court and found guilty of witchcraft. The cause of all the trouble started when Mrs. Theresa Kullman of East Wheeling contacted Mrs. Loveall about her sick son. In exchange for $640, Mrs. Loveall was to remove the 'sick spell' that was making Kullman's son sick. However, the son passed away and Mrs. Loveall was consequently arrested and tried. 

There is frustratingly little information about this story, but the same several newspaper articles appeared all over West Virginia, making their way into newspapers across the country. Mrs. Loveall did not deny the charges of witchcraft. In fact, she openly admitted that she believed in witchery and that she learned it from her mother, who also practiced. Mrs. Loveall stated that she practiced in both Ohio and in West Virginia, but, this was the only incident that I could find where her success, or lack thereof, was news-worthy. Allegedly, she had no comment when the judge handed down her sentence of four years in the state penitentiary. 

I can only imagine what the other inmates thought of the Witch of the Women's Ward. I'm sure some thought the whole thing was a scam and that she was a fraud...but there were probably a few of the more superstitious of the lot who didn't dare look at her wrong. Also, can we just take a moment to take in the fact that a woman was sent to prison for WITCHCRAFT in the 20th century?? I'm sure fraud charges were more likely what she was actually prosecuted for, but I still find it interesting how witchcraft was so boldly emphasized by the papers, and possibly even the court. And, going off on another tangent...yeah, even if Mrs. Loveall truly believed that she had the power to remove the spell from the young man in question, and tried to do so in good faith, it probably wasn't the smartest idea for the mother, no matter how desperate, to resort to such measures. But, if she had paid a doctor $640 for treatment and the son still died, would she still have a case to pursue? 

In any event, its a sad case that resulted in the loss of a life and a woman sent to prison. But, it's an absolutely fascinating case that takes its rightful place among the strange and unusual history of West Virginia! 

Sources: 

Martinsburg, WVa Evening Journal. 17 July 1918. Page 3

The Independent Herald (Hinton, WV). 25 July 1918. Page 6

 

 

Ghosts and Goblins on Robinson's Run: A Friday Fright Bite

Stock Image, NOT Robinson's Run

Every once in awhile, I like to offer a little Friday Fright Bite. These are tales that don't have a lot of meat to them, but I find interesting enough to want to share, nevertheless. Today's story comes from the February 22, 1892 edition of the Wheeling Register, a local newspaper from Wheeling, WV in the state's northern panhandle. It goes as follows:

Some young men on Robinson's Run, in Monongalia county, hearing stories of ghosts and goblins which were said to have sprung from a certain Indian grave in the vicinity, visited the grave the other day and dug into the grave, and within eighteen inches of the top of the earth found the remains of a man. The bones were much decayed, many of them entirely gone, but enough remained to show that the skeleton was that of a man of very large stature. The skull was decayed and found in several pieces, but several teeth were found to be sound. We hope after this the children of that vicinity can sleep soundly. Tradition tells us that it was the grave of an old chief. The boys settled the mystery. 

Okay, maybe I'm missing something here, but WTaF? How will disturbing the grave of an alleged Indian chief going to lead to the children of the vicinity sleeping soundly? If folklore and pop culture have taught us anything it's that disturbing human remains, especially those of NATIVE humans, CAUSES activity, not lays it to rest. The ghosts and goblins springing from this grave aren't going to be laid to rest by digging the poor man up! And what mystery, pray tell, has been solved? I guess they confirmed there was body located in a rather shallow grave, but nothing of this article shows that it was proven to be an Indian chief, or that disturbing his final resting place put an end to the ghosts and goblins. The only scenario I can see where this could make sense would be if this original burial was the result someone murdering the chief and hastily disposing of him, or something similar, where the body was not buried according to the deceased person's traditions or final wishes, and as a result, the ghost of the deceased was trying to reach out and have his remains found and treated respectfully. Maybe he even wanted his killer brought to justice.

Was a cause of death established? Was law enforcement, or even scientists involved at any point to identify the remains? Were the remains reburied, or otherwise respectfully treated? If they were, this little newspaper blurb certainly doesn't mention it, and I'm probably waaay over thinking things, trying to make sense in my own mind. Anyway, I know it's cliche, but really...it's just bad form and disrespectful, no matter what your religious and cultural background is, to disturb the final resting place of a buried body without making an effort to properly handle it afterwards. Unfortunately, that was the case with so many American Indians during this period of time, and newspapers of the era have no shortage of stories about bones and other artifacts being dug up and kept in private collections, or worse, being dumped. No wonder we have so many ghost stories...

Note on Robinson's Run: I found this blurb about Robinson's Run on Trails Offroad: "Located in western Monongalia County, 40 minutes from Morgantown, Robinson Run is a fun trail nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. On the drive there, you'll instantly get a feeling for the area. The area is entirely rural, consisting of dispersed homes, farmland, and large tracts of vacant land. Like many trails in Monongalia county, this is an unmaintained public road built to connect communities that arose when the timber and coal industries brought people to the area."

My (Maybe) Bigfoot Experience at Kanawha State Forest

I was born and raised in West Virginia and come from a family of avid outdoorsmen and hunters. Yet, personally, as much as I love nature, I've never really ventured that deeply into the wilderness. Therefore, I always thought my chances of running into a Bigfoot were slim to none. Oddly enough, I DID have a potential sighting of a white Bigfoot in Lawrence County, Ohio while a friend and I were doing some research at a small, country cemetery, but that was my only sighting of anything I would even remotely consider cryptozoological. But, it may not have been my only ENCOUNTER.

It's been over a year now, closer to two actually (March 2021), that I had a strange experience at Kanawha State Forest. I had seen my therapist that morning and after talking through some pretty heavy stuff, I felt the need to just reconnect with nature for a little while. So, I hopped in the car and drove to Kanawha State Forest. I made a couple of stops throughout the park, taking some photos and even walking one of the easy trails. I still had some time before I needed to be back to pick my son up from school, so I made my way down to a little area known as Dunlop Hollow that had some stories about being haunted by a woman who, folklore says was lynched from a large tree at the site.

I parked the car, took a few photos, and made my way over to a picnic bench and sat down with a book. I didn't stay too long, but spent probably about a half hour or so, just enjoying the sunshine, listening to the birds, and reading my book. For the most part, Kanawha State Forest is a really clean, well-maintained park. But, like any outdoor area, there had been some visitors some time before me that didn't quite get their garbage to the garbage can.Before I left, I spent about 5-10 minutes picking up the trash in the area, which was mostly some little things, like candy wrappers, fast food cups/straws, and random plastic pieces. Just as I had dumped a handful into the trashcan, I distinctly heard a deep man's voice say "Thank you." 

Thinking maybe a park ranger or other employee had somehow snuck down to where I was without me seeing them, I looked around but didn't see anyone. And, that's when I realized that I THINK I heard the words in my head, not aloud, and also got the feeling that someone, or something was watching me. I needed to leave to go get my son, but I was kind of...unsettled...about what had happened. Was I hallucinating? Did I hear a ghost? Or, did I experience Mind Speak, a type of telepathic communication that some believe these creatures known as Bigfoot may be capable of? The skeptical side of me absolutely believes it wasn't anything more than my imagination (or maybe an actual person that I didn't see). But, there's a side of me that really, really wants there to be some type of paranormal explanation. I'd love it if my actions, no matter how small, were appreciated by an elusive beast who called the area home. And, you never know---Kanawha State Forest IS known for sightings of a Bigfoot! You can learn more about at least one of these documented sightings, as investigated by the Wild and Weird team from the videos below!

Possible Bigfoot Activity in Kanawha County at the Salamander Site

Unexpected Sasquatch Encounter

Wild Man of Weston

 

From The Daily Telegram (Clarksburg, WV)

March 14, 1903

Source: Chronicling America

Somewhat by accident, I stumbled upon quite a few stories of wild men running amok through the hills of West Virginia recently. Up until now, I haven't really featured these stories too often here at Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State. Sure, I love a good monster story and my heart skips a beat when I find tales that mirror early reports of Bigfoot-type creatures in our area. However, I've kinda shied away from the wild man tales that are obviously modern humans who, for whatever reason, have shunned the norms of everyday society. These men, whether they're just loners, or mentally ill, as supposed in the story above, just didn't fit the mold I was going for.

But, the more I come across such tales, the more I realize that they're a unique part of our state's folklore and history as well. And, if they were important enough to be written about in newspapers at the time, they're surely important enough to find a cozy lil' spot here on my blog. So, until I run out of tales to share, Wednesdays will be Wild Men Wednesdays here at Theresa's Haunted History. Stay weird, stay spooky, stay wild. 

Happy Retreat...Haunted?

 

Happy Retreat
Source: Wikipedia

West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle is arguably the most haunted area of the whole state, and for good reason. The area is filled with historic structures that are still being occupied today, and very few other places in the state was Civil War activity more prevalent. However, despite the numerous historic haunts that dot the landscape, there's one 18th century property that you really never hear about when it comes to ghost stories. In fact, if you do a search for this location and 'haunted' or 'ghosts,' you come up pretty empty handed.

That location is Happy Retreat, located just outside of Charles Town. Happy Retreat was the happy retreat for Charles Washington (George's youngest brother), his wife Mildred, and their children. When Charles was just 14, he inherited the land from his older brother Lawrence upon Lawrence's death. This would have been about 1752. There's reason to believe that the property was being farmed as early as 1768, and Charles certainly did visit the property a few times before finally moving his family out there for good and starting construction on what would be known as Happy Retreat in 1780.  Six years later, Charles would take 80 acres of his inherited land and establish the city of Charles Town.

Upon his death in 1799, Happy Retreat was sold to Charles' son-in-law, Thomas Hammond and stayed in the family until 1837, when George Washington Hammond sold the property to Judge Isasc R. Douglass. Douglass was responsible for extensive renovations to the house, and decided to rename it Mordington after his ancestral estate back in Scotland. 

You would think that a home with such a long history involving such historic personages would be haunted, right? But, there was never anything in any of the paranormal literature that I've come across suggesting that the Washington (or any other) family stuck around after death. In fact, in Rosemary Guiley's Big Book of West Virginia Ghost Stories, she explicitly states on page 23 when introducing the chapter about that region, that Happy Retreat does not have any reported ghosts. And, so that was the accepted answer; Happy Retreat was NOT haunted. Or was it? 

I just recently came across an article from the Shepherdstown Register, dated June 17, 1920. I ALMOST missed the connection because in the article, it talks of a house where Charles Washington lived, but it doesn't call the house Happy Retreat. Instead, in 1920, the home is still being referred to as Mordington. Whether you choose to refer to the home as Mordington or Happy Retreat is a moot point, though. What's important is that this article clearly states that the home has had a long reputation for being haunted by ghosts who enjoy opening doors, even ones that are locked! And, despite the family having no problems with their alleged poltergeists, certain residents in the area have been known to avoid the property when possible. 

June 17th 1920
Shepherdstown Register

Further Reading:

Happy Retreat Website

National Register of Historic Places Application 

Happy Birthday to Theresa's Haunted History!

 

Happy Birthday to Theresa's Haunted History

of the Tri-State Blog!

I can't believe it. It has been TWELVE YEARS since I outgrew my little FreeWebs page of haunted locations, and made the decision to move everything to the free and easy to use Blogger platform. Over a decade later, I'm still happy with my decision, and still working hard to crank out new content.

You wouldn't think it was possible, but there is a never-ending supply of ghost stories, haunted locations, creepy critters, and just plain weirdness to talk about! Every day, I come across new ideas to share on the blog, and I'm also constantly attending new paranormal events, going on new investigations, and reading/watching/listening to all the paranormal media I can consume, which all makes for even MORE fun stuff to share with you all. 

West Virginia is one weird place, and while it will continue to be the focus of my content here, 2023 will bring a little more in the way of some personal theories and advice regarding paranormal investigation and ghost theory. I'm also going to refocus on trying to incorporate the tri-state a little more, with new haunted locations and ghost stories from Ohio and Kentucky being added, as well as sharing a little more about the actual investigation case files of Spectral Research and Investigation.

Thank you so much for joining me on another year of spooky fun as we explore the unexplained here in West Virginia and beyond. 2022 was a roller coaster of a year, full of wonderful things...but at the same time, one of the worst years of my life. I know it sounds sappy and cliche but having this blog to distract me got me through some rough times. I'm really proud of how it has progressed over the last dozen years, but I couldn't have done it without all of you. So, on the 12th birthday of Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State blog, I hope you'll celebrate with me! Here's to many, many more years of searching for the spooky!

*Last year, I wrote a little bit about what inspired me to start Theresa's Haunted History, and how the process actually got started. If you're interested in that, please see my blog post, Happy Blog-a-Versary!*

Dead Soldiers Haunt Martinsburg Lumberyard

Example of WV Saw Mill, ca 1900
Source: WV History on View

Today's vintage ghost story comes from the June 30, 1900 edition of the Martinsburg Herald and, much like with the tale from the Littleton Quarry I posted about earlier this month, involves a work crew being haunted by phantom sounds. But, unlike the Littleton Quarry story, the cause of the ghostly disturbances aren't due to the violent, accidental death of a co-worker. Rather, it is believed the land that the men were clearing for the Bessimer/Bessemer Limestone Company was haunted by the spirits of Civil War era soldiers who were buried in a trench on the property. 

Ghosts in Lumber Camp

The lumbermen who have been encamped in the fields to the north of town, which are being cleared of the timber by the Bessimer Limestone Company for the purpose of making crossties for the new railroad switch to the limestone and iron ore fields, have become so alarmed at the uncanny surroundings and the ghostly noises that they have positively refused to remain at the place after dark.

When Mr. W.C. Leonard, the manager of the business for the company, went to the saw mill at ten o clock Saturday morning he found the half dozen lumbermen sitting around talking with frightened expressions upon their faces. Mr. Leonard was at first somewhat angry at seeing that no work had been done that morning, but when he learned the cause of the cessation of work he could not help but give way to his anger to other feelings.

The truth of the matter is the men were really scared. Among the crowd of lumbermen, is the well known sawyer, James Moran, were too scared to work, so frightened that they could do nothing but sit around and chat and wonder at what had taken place the night before.

It was in the J.V. Kearney field, now owned by Mrs. Brister, where the strange occurrences took place. The company has purchased the timber on it for the purpose of making crossties and lumber for the new buildings they are soon to erect. In the field near the place where the saw mill stands are several trenches in which dead soldiers are buried. This is what gave rise to the uncanny feelings in the breasts of the lumbermen in the camp.

Every night since they have been there they claim they have heard ghostly noises of every description, beginning at ten o'clock and ending at midnight. They said they were with difficulty able to stand it until Friday night, when the climax was reached. That night beginning at about ten o'clock they could hear axes chopping, trees falling, the saw mill going at full speed and the engine door opening and shutting at intervals. They looked outside the tent, but could see nothing, no ghosts nor falling trees nor the saw mill in operation. This noise continued, however.

The lumbermen said it was about all they could stand and they huddled about in the tent and prepared for the worst. Thoughts of the dead soldiers buried at their feet added to the uneasiness of the situation. At midnight the noise ceased and the men managed to hold out until morning. 

At daylight they went to investigate, but they could see no signs of fallen trees or where the mill had been in operation at night. Right there the men decided not to do another stroke of work in that field and it was in that mood they were in when Mr. Leonard found them. He finally prevailed upon them to finish out the few trees that were left and they are now working there during the day and spending the night somewhere else. 

Mr. Leonard and Mr. L.W. Robinson approached the men again about the ghosts and they still cling to their statement that the place is haunted and declare they will not go near it after dark. The men are all good, steady men, but they all told the same story in all seriousness.

Since this has come to light, other people living in that vicinity, who have held back for fear that their listeners would laugh at them, are coming forward and telling what strange things they have heard and the whole neighborhood is becoming alarmed.

Theresa's Note: The above article was posted on Page 2 of the June 30th edition. However, there would be some more information regarding this tale on Page 5. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any further updates as to how the ghost hunt went, which apparently had the potential for being pretty wild if real guns were planned: 

A Ghostly Expedition

Mr. Jas. Moran was in town Thursday morning and repeated the tales about the actions of the spooks at the saw mill north of town. He was confronted and questioned closely by a number of prominent men and he repeated the tales of his experiences many times this morning.

C.H. Sprinkle, the noted spiritualist, living about a mile from the spooks infested woods, called at The Evening World office Thursday morning to get the story of the strange occurrences. He said that the people in that neighborhood were becoming alarmed, but that he was at home with spirits.

Mr. Sprinkle said he would like to stop the young men who were going out on the ghost hunting expedition. He said it was a mistake to call them ghosts as they were the spirits of the departed returned earth. He said he held consultations with them every day and that if the young men went to shooting at them with guns they would disturb them and there would be trouble. The young men are determined to solve the mystery, however, and are going on the expedition prepared for the worst. 

Equipment Bag Essentials: Walkie-Talkies

One of those questions that is constantly asked of paranormal investigators is, 'what types of equipment would you recommend to those new to this field?' The paranormal field is full of really fun, unique gadgets marketed as tools to communicate with the other side. It's also saturated with tools designed to measure and record audio, video, and fluctuations/anomalies with environmental factors. It seems like each year, new and improved toys are hitting the market with promises of being the ONE THING you need to gather solid proof of the afterlife.

Unfortunately, at this point in time, we have to accept the fact that not one single piece of investigation equipment we use can 100% without a doubt PROVE that ghosts exist. So, while these new toys are really fun to play with and may offer some head scratching data, I always suggest to those who are new to this field to start with some basics---a good voice recorder, a way to record video, a means of measuring temperature and EMF fluctuations, a reliable flashlight, and if feasible, a set of walkie-talkies!

Walkie-talkies (or two-way radios, to sound more proper) are probably not the first thing you think of when it comes to paranormal investigation equipment, but I personally feel they are a wonderful addition to a team's equipment bag. They're versatile, portable, and can be found in a range of price ranges, starting from quite reasonably inexpensive. Let's take a closer look at how walkie-talkies can benefit your ghost hunt, as well as examine some things you need to watch out for!

Pros of Using Walkie-Talkies on Investigations:

*Keep in Contact with Your Teammates:  The obvious use of a handheld two-way radio on an investigation is to keep in communication with your teammates. Some places we investigate, both indoors and outdoors, are large enough to require that we break into two or more teams while on location. Many locations that we investigate are out in the middle of nowhere, and cell reception (even in 2023) is spotty at best. But, even if we had reliable cell reception, walkie-talkies allow instantaneous contact with multiple groups at once, as opposed to trying to text or call several different team members and waiting for a response. Those few moments saved could be critical if you have an event happening in real time, or if there is some type of emergency situation. And, in addition to the communication benefits while on site, walkie-talkies can be used to communicate between team members driving in different cars TO the location, granted they aren't that far apart. Speaking from personal experience, this has come in handy when trying to figure out directions in places we've had multiple cars carpooling to sites with absolutely no cell service whatsoever. 

*Communicate with the Ghosts: Theoretically, walkie-talkies can be used for more than just staying in contact with your teammates; they can be used as ITC devices! ITC, or instrumental trans-communication devices are basically just any sort of electronic device that can be used to interact with paranormal entities. If a living person can send a message via a two-way radio, why couldn't a spirit/ghost? Spectral Research and Investigations has actually had this happen to us, during a public investigation event we assisted with at the Haunted Haymond House in Sutton, WV. We clearly heard the voice of a fellow investigator come over the radio, in a frantic, almost panicked voice say, "hello? hello?" However, she wasn't even TOUCHING her radio at the time, and neither were we--it was sitting on a table in front of us. So whose voice did we hear?

There's also an experiment laid out by Dr. Lloyd Auerbach that involves the use of a walkie-talkie. Instead of having investigators INSIDE a room doing EVP work, you can seal the room off, with just a walkie-talkie and a voice recorder. Ask your questions from another location, via the walkie-talkie. The idea is that not having a living person on site might allow the spirit to be more comfortable in answering questions, or may even assure that the recording device is not being psychically imprinted on by the living investigator. Yeah, it gets complicated, lol...but just try some of your own experiments. See if keeping only ONE walkie-talkie on yields results over multiple units being turned on. See what channels seem to be the most open to communication. Experiment with anything you can think of and document, document, document!

Cons of Using Walkie-Talkies During Investigations:

However, remember that as with any piece of investigation equipment, walkie-talkies have their drawbacks. They aren't infallible. They require batteries (which can get expensive) or charging (which can be time consuming), and can quickly lose their charge...because of NON paranormal reasons. Having a non-functioning communication device can be both dangerous AND frustrating. Unfortunately, the higher quality radios may be more reliable, but they can run into the hundreds of dollars---money that may be better spent on other items for your investigation toolkit.

They can also interfere with other pieces of investigation equipment. They will absolutely set off your K-II and other EMF detectors, so experiment around to see how far away they have to be to react, and just keep that in mind if you get an anomalous reading that can't be explained. 

And finally, two-way radios can pick up other frequencies. If there are truck drivers or other CB users in the area, you can absolutely accidentally pick up their transmissions.If there are road construction crews, hunters, or even kids that are using two-way radios, you run the risk of picking up their conversations. During my work with a previous team, we even picked up a signal from a nearby baby monitor! And, while not many people have them these days, it wasn't unheard of to pick up conversations from cordless phones as well. 

In conclusion, I think that two-way radios are a great addition to your equipment bag, but as with every piece of equipment we use in this field, must be used with a full understanding of their limitations. But, walkie-talkies make a great, versatile tool that I think you'll get a lot of practical AND experimental use of. Let me know in the comments below whether or not YOU carry walkies with you on YOUR investigations, and if you've ever had anything strange come across them! Happy Haunting! 

West Virginia's Unluckiest Man

 

The Leader (Hinton, WV)
11 May 1933

It all started on a Friday. Friday the 13th, that is. On Friday, November 13th, 1931, Edward C. Kirk, a 57 year old resident of Charleston, West Virginia would kick off a series of mishaps that would shape the rest of his life for the worse. On that day, he fell beneath a train and lost his leg. A few months later, he lost an eye in an automobile accident. 

But, his streak of bad luck wasn't over; it merely just took a break for a year or so. On May 8, 1933, as he was groping for his artificial leg, he accidentally discharged a pistol, shattering the bone of his left arm, which had to be amputated the next day. 

This poor guy just couldn't catch a break, and that bad luck POSSIBLY rubbed off on his son, as well! While I was searching for some any updates (okay, I was morbidly looking to see if this guy had any further accidents) I came across a small blurb in the Charleston Daily Mail from September 12, 1933, stating the results of a court case. A Mr. Edward Kirk JUNIOR of Charleston had sued several men over being struck by a truck on Anaconda Avenue on May 16th, 1933, barely a week after Mr. Kirk, Sr. had his arm amputated. I can't prove that this was the same family, as when I looked at the death certificate index, there were actually several Edward Kirks in Kanawha County around this time, but it makes ya wonder....

In any event, I hope YOU have a much luckier and happier Friday the 13th! 

Intro to Ghost Hunting with the WV Paranormal Exploration Team

Please forgive me---I'm still playing catch up! Back on November 11, 2022 I attended an introductory ghost hunting class in South Charleston, hosted by Tracey Perry and other members of the WV Paranormal Exploration Team. Even though it's been over two months ago, I still wanted to let you guys know how it went, and share some information so that if interested, you can be ready for any potential upcoming events!

So, if you know me, you know that I'm all for continued education for paranormal investigators. Throughout the year, I try to take advantage of any classes, lectures, conventions, workshops, etc. that I see pop up, in person or online. I'm a firm believer that no matter how long you've been in this field, there's always something new to learn and experience. Therefore, when I saw this event pop up on my Facebook feed, I decided that I needed to go check it out and support another local team!

It was a super rainy evening, but I easily found the location, which happened to be the Women's Club in South Charleston. It made for a beautiful, comfortable, spacious spot to set up the projection screen, a table displaying some of the team's equipment, ample tables and chairs for guests, and a bountiful spread of snacks and refreshments. A charge of $10 covered the presentation, unlimited refreshments, and a chance for a door prize, to be revealed later in the evening. 

Tracey led the presentation, which was an excellent introduction to basic ghost hunting and ghost theory. Vincent, and his wife, two additional members of the team, were on hand to also discuss previous cases, go over equipment, and answer questions. 

The door prize I won! Yay!

A couple of highlights of the evening for me were definitely when I won the door prize! I took home a new IR video camera, which I actually desperately needed for my investigative work with SRI. Also, it was just really awesome to get to know and network with another team. They invited me to stay over a few minutes after the official presentation and speak with another attendee who was having some paranormal issues at her own home. I think that working together, we were able to provide her with some good information and some answers that could offer her some peace of mind to take back home with her. 

Overall, it was a great evening, and I'm really glad that I braved the weather to attend. I love meeting other investigators and seeing how they approach the paranormal investigation process. There's always something new I can learn from the expertise of others and it's just fun to hang out with other people who love the paranormal as much as I do! I've linked the WV Paranormal Exploration Facebook page below, so if you're interested, please come check it out and follow along for updates on any upcoming events. Stay spooky, ya'll! 

WV Paranormal Exploration Team Facebook Group

Ellis McDonald's Message

Rail Yard at Keyser
Source: WV History on View

The following 'remarkable ghost story' was published in the July 23, 1881 edition of the Martinsburg Independent, although as stated in the story, it originally came from the Keyser Tribune a week earlier. If true, it IS a remarkable tale of a young man who was killed in a train accident coming back two years later to pass on a message to someone living on this side. He didn't appear as a wispy, ethereal form, or communicate in moans and whispers; rather, he looked as solid as any living person, and spoke normally. The only problem was, he was recognized as being, well...dead. But, this story has an interesting post script, as you'll see below. 

A Remarkable Ghost Story

We take the following from the Keyser Tribune of last week. It reads a little like a Western story.

The following ghost story created a sensation among the superstitious, and from the straightforward story given by the party to whom it appeared and connections with it generally give a rather mysterious significance. The fireman on 434, a 2nd division engine, was sitting in the cab while the engine was standing in the round house in Keyser, one night last week, when he beheld a man approaching. The fireman took no particular notice of the approaching figure, as it was a common occurrence to see men in the round house after night, attending to their work. It came nearer and nearer, mounted the cab and spoke to the fireman. He looked up at the intruder, then turned pale as death, and trembled as though the ague had seized him in every limb. Oh! horrors! He tried to speak but his voice failed; he tried to move, but he was as if paralyzed, and the cold sweat stood in large drops on his forehead, as he recognized, standing before him as if alive, Ellis McDonald a man who was killed in a collision at Black Oak about two years since. The phantom spoke to him in a steady, natural voice, and requested that he deliver a message to a man in Martinsburg, whose name it gave, also giving him the message, and warned him to intimate it to no living soul except the one for whom it was intended. The fireman consented and the ghost vanished. At the disappearance of the visitor the fireman leaped from the cab and made his way to a caboose in the yard, in which some men were sitting, to whom he related his experience. Next day he went to Martinsburg, and went into a saloon where he found the man to whom the message was sent. Calling the man aside he delivered the message. "My God!" he exclaimed, and sank into a chair, quivering all over; "that affair was known to only one man on earth besides myself, and he has been dead two years!" "Where did you hear it?" "McDonald came and told me while I was sitting on my engine in Keyser," said the fireman. 

We failed to learn the names of the principals of this story, but it came from good authority, and no doubt has a good foundation.  

Theresa's Note: It's too bad that they failed to learn the names of the principals of the story. That omission really doesn't help to authenticate this case. There is one name that is given, however, and that is the name of our ghost--Ellis McDonald. I can confirm that an Ellis McDonald, aged 30, DID die in Martinsburg on 17 August 1879, two years before this story was published. His cause of death is listed as a railroad accident.

Could the writers simply have exploited a known death in the area to sensationalize into an entertaining ghost story to sell papers? That seems to be the opinion of one woman who wasn't shy about writing into the paper to share her disgust about what she felt was a false story being published.Spoiler alert--the woman was the deceased man's WIFE!!  I completely empathize with her and as someone who documents ghost stories, the reactions of living family members and friends is always something that I struggle with. I plan on blogging about it more thoroughly in the near future, but until then, let's just say that a little tact and empathy can go a long way. Anyway, here is Mrs. McDonald's response, as published in the July 30, 1881 edition of the Martinsburg Independent: 

That Ghost Story

Eds. Independent:

The pretended "Ghost Story" which appeared in the Keyser Tribune, and was copied into the INDEPENDENT, is a purely sensational fabrication, having no foundation in fact, else why did not the Tribune give the name of its informant, or the "fireman of 434" give the story over his own signature.

The publication in the Tribune, unbacked by any reliable evidence, was uncalled for, and could have no other effect than to wound the feelings of the relatives and friends of the deceased, whose name is mentioned in the article. 

The use of his name in that connection was entirely unwarranted, and in respect to his memory, and out of consideration for my own feelings and that of his other relatives and friends, I protest against it, and warn all persons against a like repetition of the matter complained of.  -MRS. ELLIS MCDONALD