1950 Rectangular UFO Over Charleston

Photo Source

This month,Theresa's Haunted History blog has been filled with UFO stories! I didn't plan on it, but it's been an interesting ride, documenting some of West Virginia's forgotten cases of strange objects in the skies. For the last day of the month, I've got yet another saucer tale for ya!

So, back in the Spring of 1950, there was somewhat of a significant UFO flap occurring across the Mountain State. Between March 14th and March 18th, UFOs were seen in both Bluefield and in Fairmont. But, a month later, on April 8, 1950 another UFO was spotted over the skies of Charleston. The report was published in the 13 April 1950 edition of The Leader (Hinton, WV). It states that Mrs. Hazel Lewis, a Statehouse telephone operator, saw a RECTANGULAR shaped craft flying at a terrific speed. It circled the area, high above the city, then shot straight up and out of sight. It did all of this without making any noticeable sound. 

What's interesting is that up until Mrs. Lewis' sighting, all the flying saucers being reported around the area were described as round or saucer shaped. No one had reported such an angular craft. Did Mrs. Lewis simply misidentify a saucer-shaped UFO, possibly based on her angle of viewing it? Or, was she lucky enough to be one of the first to witness a new type of flying saucer, different from those previously recorded in West Virginia and beyond? Today, there are actually quite a few reports of rectangular shaped UFOs, but even still, they pale in comparison to other forms. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and remember to keep your eyes to the skies! 

Ghost Is a Crazy Man

I don't often share too many old articles about ghost sightings outside of West Virginia, but I came across this interesting piece from Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania in the May 16, 1915 edition of the Sunday Telegram (Clarksburg, WV) and just had to share it. It is one of the most absurd things I've read in quite awhile...and I read some weird stuff.

So, apparently, a musician/hypnotist named Joseph Androlavage suffered some type of mental breakdown. As a result, he donned a white sheet and terrorized Georgetown citizens with a gun. Yeah. A GUN. This 'ghost' was armed with a pistol. 

In one incident, Androlavage stalked a man named John Daley, and gave him a letter about how his time was soon to come. The letter was signed 'Black Hand.' Four shots of a pistol into the ground were part of this exchange between Androlavage and Daley, and smartly, Daley got the heck out of there. Luckily, some young men from the area were able to safely apprehend Androlavage. 

But, was Androlavage really the "ghost??" 

Although it didn't make it into this West Virginia newspaper until May, the incident with Mr. John Daley actually occurred back in March of 1915 and was written about in the local papers. But, a follow-up story appeared in the March 31, 1915 edition of the Times Leader (Wilkesbarre, PA).  This article, found below, states that Mr. Androlavage claims that he was NOT the ghost, nor did he even own a gun. His friends attested to his character, and believe that the false claims against him were the work of practical jokers. The author of the article seemed to agree that Mr. Androlavage was too sensible for such behavior, and since no other follow-ups can be found at this time, I guess the mystery of Black Hand remains just that: a mystery. 

Spook Hollow Farm

West Virginia folklore is FULL of ghost stories involving murdered peddlers, killed for the money they carried on them as they traveled the state, selling their wares to every holler and village they came across. Ruth Ann Musick, popular folklorist and author, collected tons of these tales, which she published in books such as The Tale-Tell Lilac Bush and Coffin Hollow. But, in most cases the hauntings associated with these violent crimes involves people seeing the ghost of the murdered peddler himself. I recently came across a story where the peddler surprisingly seems to be resting in peace---and those accused of the murder are the ones haunting the area!

On February 11, 1975, The Charleston Daily Mail ran an interesting piece by columnist, Adrian Gwin. The title of the piece was "Farming's Good, But...It's SPOOOOOKY at Spook Hollow!"

That winter, Mr. Gwin visited the W.D. Brannan family at their farm, located on Pigeon Run in Amma, WV. Mr. Brannan, along with his wife Deloris and 13 year old son, Jerry, welcomed Mr. Gwin to the modern, working farm known as Spook Hollow Farm. According to the article, W.D. Brannan spent 35 years working at Columbia Gas in Charleston, WV. Around 1955, he bought the farm in Amma and when he retired, made it his family's home base. While traveling extensively in their RV, the Brannans always returned to Spook Hollow where they worked diligently, growing and canning produce and raising Angus cattle. 

The family claims that they've had no run-ins with ghosts, spooks, or haints at the farm, so just how exactly did Spook Hollow become Spook Hollow??

According to legend, back in the days of the early pioneers to the area, a French peddler was robbed and murdered. Although it was later revealed that two white guys were the culprits, that didn't stop the residents from accusing two young Native Americans. They caught the two, and brought them to an old white oak tree to be hanged.  As the ghost story goes, when the rain falls gently, and the wind blows through the trees, you can stand beside the stump of that former grand oak tree and hear the two hanged Native Americas moaning, "Don't doooo it!"

Interestingly, although the family has never encountered the ghosts of the murdered Indians, upon leaving the family for the evening and stopping to get a closer look at the stump in the gentle rain, got quite the shock! Feeling a noose slide around his neck, he panicked...but only for a moment. It was then he realized it was nothing more than an errant tree branch that had gotten caught under his chin. A simple enough explanation...but perhaps a friendly little reminder from the spirits to remember their story. 

Local Haunts with the St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group

L to R: Barry, Theresa, Kaysee and Dan

Next month will be the one-year anniversary of the St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group! This awesome collection of paranormal enthusiasts was brought together by Angie Breeden and a young man named Barry who had a passion for the paranormal. Meeting every month on the last Wednesday of the month, it's been nearly a year of awesome speakers covering a variety of paranormal topics, from ghosts to Bigfoot, to UFOlogy, and everything in between. I was extremely fortunate to be the first speaker last March, covering the topic of WV Cemetery Legends and Hauntings. Brian joined me and we were able to also discuss a little about Spectral Research and Investigations (SRI) and some of our experiences.

It was an awesome time, and I continued to go to the monthly meetings as often as my schedule allowed me to! After taking a brief hiatus for the holiday season, the group started back up in January with an awesome discussion on Fairies, led by Krista Antis. It continued this month, and once again, I was fortunate enough to get to lead the discussion!

The topic of the talk this month was Local Hauntings, and you all know that I LOVE talking about the haunted hot spots throughout West Virginia and beyond, as well as all the ghost stories and historical research that go with them. I've collected quite a few haunted locations for my Haunted WV page here on the blog, but there are so, so many more places that I haven't yet found the time to add. I picked a handful of these locations close to the St. Albans area that I thought were both interesting, but also accessible to people to visit. A few of the spots mentioned were the Scary Creek Battlefield in Scott Depot, the Dunbar Wine Cellars, and Fairview Grade School in St. Albans. 

I also tried to give a brief overview of what actually constitutes a 'haunting' and the different types of hauntings one may encounter. But, the fun part was when the group started sharing THEIR favorite haunted locations, and their experiences at the places I brought up and elsewhere. It was a great discussion, and we didn't wrap it up until about 8pm! 

As always, it's so much fun getting together with others who share my passion for all things spooky! AS a special treat, Kaysee and Dan from SRI came out to support me and attend their first meeting with the St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group! Also, in addition to some of our regulars, including the WV Unseen investigation group, we had some new people from Charleston join us, which was awesome. The St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group is a safe place where everyone is welcome to come and share their own stories and experiences, and ask questions without fear of being judged. I can't say enough how happy I am to have this resource so close to home. I encourage everyone in the area to come check it out if they can. Again, we meet  at 6pm on the last Wednesday of the month in the St. Albans Historical Society building. Please follow the St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group's Facebook Page for info on upcoming meetings and speakers. Hope to see ya there! 

Public Art: Mothman in Charleston

In addition to my passion for all things paranormal, I'm also a huge fan of local art and artists...especially when their subject matter is ABOUT the paranormal! Luckily, I live in the Charleston area, which is a wonderful location to see a variety of public art installations from a variety of different artists. 

One such place to take in the colorful paintings from around the area is right under the Interstate 64 bridge, between downtown Charleston and the West Side. Thanks to an awesome project now known as Gallery 64 (formerly Peer to Pier), the otherwise mundane concrete pillars supporting the interstate have been transformed into works of art! Driving under the bridge, there's a ton of really cool murals gracing many of the pillars, but one in particular is MY absolute favorite!

In 2016, another phase of the project kicked off, and among the murals added was The Mothman by Kelly Bryant! Featuring WV's famous red-eyed monster flying over the Silver Bridge through a gray sky, this pillar is hands-down the coolest one of the bunch (okay, they're ALL really, really awesome, but come on...MOTHMAN). 

Anyway, I've driven past this so many times, but until I decided to feature it here on Theresa's Haunted History, I wasn't sure who the artist was. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was actually somewhat familiar with the artist and her work! Kelly Bryant was born in Gallipolis, OH and grew up in the Pliny area of Putnam County, WV, so she was right in the heart of Mothman Country. As a result, much of her artwork is inspired by West Virginia folklore, especially Appalachian music and of course, Appalachian ghost and monster tales. 

She is a staple at the annual Mothman Festival and related events, where she sells her art. I actually own THREE of her spooky stained glass pieces, and will hopefully be adding a print or two of some of her pastel or acrylic pieces. She's an awesome artist who deals in different mediums as well as different subject matter. I'm still partial to her spooky pieces, though! 

If you see her out and about at different festivals, definitely check out her booth. Her prices are extremely reasonable, and if you can't make it to her in person, please see her ETSY SHOP.  And, if you're in the Charleston area, take a drive under the interstate and check out The Mothman, located on the corner of Lee Street West and Pennsylvania Avenue. 

Learn More About Gallery 64

Article About Kelly Bryant from In Focus

'Get Away' From This Haunted House!

The Baltimore Sun
12 September 1915

I applaud this un-named gentleman and his bravery! Back in September of 1915, there was an old house located in Lawrence County, Ohio that had developed a reputation for being haunted. Located just outside the small town of Getaway, the home was formerly owned by Reverend Elisha Thacker, a Baptist minister who had passed away back in 1910. 

In the five years since the Reverend's passing only one family had rented the vacant home, but was so spooked they had to leave after just one night. After that, no one dared set foot in the home, either in daylight nor at night. They did, however, find the courage to throw a countless number of rocks through the window at the alleged goblins. 

But that all changed that September when finally, one guy decided to enter the house. He reported that he found no signs of ghosts or goblins in the former Thacker residence...just lots and lots and lots of rocks. 

I'm pretty sure the old 'haunted' house is gone, but you can still visit the Thackers in their final resting place at the Harmony Baptist Cemetery. Reverend Thacker, who was born in 1828, served during the Civil War as a chaplain with the Union Army. He and his first wife, Melcina/Melceda lived in Wayne County, WV before settling in Lawrence County, Ohio and establishing a church there. When Melcina died, she became the first person buried in the Harmony Baptist Cemetery. Reverend Thacker would follow on August 20, 1910, and his 2nd wife, Josephine, would be laid to rest in 1931. 

There's a funny story related to Elisha Thacker and the naming of the town of Getaway. The little town was previously known as Unionville, or even Russell's Place until one day in 1870 when a surly stranger stopped by the Thacker property to chat with the reverend, who happened to be building a fence along the road. The stranger didn't seem too impressed with the area, and when he asked the name of the location, a frustrated Thacker replied with 'Get Away!' The stranger noted that it was a fitting name for such a town, and thus, the legend of how Getaway got its name was born!

It's too bad that this haunting was 'debunked'---I have my reservations based on lack of information in the article, lol. Just because one dude says it isn't haunted doesn't PROVE anything, just the same as you can't prove that it IS haunted. Anyway, I rather enjoy the possibility of a haunted house with the ghost of an old Reverend just yelling "Get Away!!!" at passersby!

Further Reading:

The Lawrence Register

Find-a-Grave

Bluefield Wild Man

 

Happy Wild Men Wednesday! I thought today I'd bring you the article that actually inspired this series of post about wild men running amok in West Virginia. Back at the beginning of the year, the West Virginia High Strangeness Collective posted that they had been chosen as Bigfoot Research Group of the Year by The Bigfoot Forums. That awesome accolade led me over to the forums myself to poke around. 

There was an entire section, much to my delight, called Tirademan's Historical Newspaper Archives. According to the description on the site, this is a historical archive of newspaper clippings compiled by member, Tirademan---or Scott McClean. Unfortunately, Scott passed away, but before he did, he donated this collection of old newspaper clippings to the website. 

Broken down by state, West Virginia had two entries. One article was about the Braxton County Monster sighting of 1961, involving a Bigfoot-type creature (not to be confused with the 1952 Flatwoods Monster incident), which I've already blogged about pretty extensively. You can find out more about that from my post, The Braxton County Monster Wrap-Up. However, the other entry was one with which I wasn't familiar and was about a wild man spotted by hunters in Bluefield, back in 1895. This particular article came from the Newark Daily Advocate, an Ohio newspaper, and is dated November 9th, 1895. 

If you're interested in the Bigfoot phenomena, definitely go check out the Bigfoot Forums, linked above. There's a ton of great information, and a ton of knowledgeable individuals on there sharing their research. And, of course, there's a great collection of historic newspaper articles! 

The West Virginia Bigfoot Museum in Sutton

After my recent trip to Sutton, I realized I have never dedicated an entire blog post to the WV Bigfoot Museum! Sure, I've shared photos on my social media platforms and mentioned going there a few times, but I never gave this awesome spot the attention it deserves. So, today I'll hopefully remedy that.

In regards to the other popular museums throughout WV dedicated to the fringe sciences (The Mothman Museum, The Archive of the Afterlife, and the Flatwoods Monster Museum), The West Virginia Bigfoot Museum is fairly new to the scene. However, it's been awesome seeing how quickly they've grown and become another great resource for those interested in exploring and learning about WV's unique (and sometimes spooky!) history.

Back in 2019, Louis and Laurel Petolicchio opened up the Mountain Laurel Country Store, located at 400 4th St. in downtown Sutton. The building dates back to 1900 and was built by William Hampton (W.H.) Lee and was used as the home of the W.H. Lee Wholesale and Retail Hardware and Furniture Company. The shop is a cozy, welcoming space filled with one of a kind, handmade gifts and crafts from local artisans. There's jewelry, toys, books, home goods, indoor and outdoor decor, soaps and munchies, and so, so much more. Recently, they've also added a little on-site cafe, Main Street Coffee, serving up coffee, sandwiches, and lots of different goodies. It's an ideal spot for picking up unique gift items and supporting local business/local artisans, as well as just being a wonderful addition to Sutton's growing revitalized downtown.  But, within two years, it would become so much more. 

A local woodcarver who sold pieces through consignment at the shop brought in a HUGE 6 foot, 300lb carving made from a solid block of hemlock. The carving was of a Bigfoot. The Stone Man, the Yahoo, Sasquatch---he goes by many names, but the hairy man of the woods has long been sighted throughout West Virginia, with plenty of reports coming from right in the area around Sutton! Locals and visitors alike visiting the store would see this beautiful wood carving of a Bigfoot, and it would spark their own stories and sightings. Now, not only was the Mountain Laurel Country Store a gift shop, but it was quickly becoming a repository for Bigfoot reports! 

That seemed to suit Louis and his son, David, just fine, as both had an interest in the phenomenon. Around the same time, researcher and investigator, Les O'Dell of WV Cryptids and Strange Encounters was needing a spot to showcase his personal collection of plaster casts of Bigfoot tracks found in the state, as well as his massive collection of reports, spanning back decades. At the same time, more and more reports, including RECENT reports, of Bigfoot activity from the Sutton area were coming to light...and thus, the idea for the West Virginia Bigfoot Museum was born.

Opening officially in May of 2021, the West Virginia Bigfoot Museum's GRAND OPENING would wait until July to coincide with the First Annual  WV Bigfoot Festival! The event was a huge success, and has become an annual event, featuring awesome speakers and vendors showcasing all sorts of Squatchy goodness. But, you don't have to wait for the festival or any of the other Bigfoot-related events happening in Sutton---the museum is open year round! 

And, it's definitely a cool spot to check out, whether you're a complete skeptic or whether you relish in the idea of an unknown primate lurking about. The collection focuses on West Virginia sightings, reports, and evidence, but a general overview of the Bigfoot phenomenon is displayed. You'll find information on famous cases, such as the Patterson-Gimlin footage, as well as information on Bigfoot's cold weather cousin, the Yeti. It's a neat space filled with Bigfoot artwork (including some new wall murals featuring hidden Bigfoots), plaster casts, and photographs. There's also a HUGE gift shop featuring books, T-shirts, jewelry, home decor, and every manner of Bigfoot novelty you can think of. 

Unfortunately, Louis passed away in 2022, but through the rest of the family and support from the community, the WV Bigfoot Museum is still going strong with plans for new exhibits and upcoming events. I cannot recommend this little gem of a museum enough, and even though I've been there a handful of times now, the warm, welcoming atmosphere and hospitality from the owners never changes. They truly want to make sure you enjoy yourself and feel right at home. And, I always happen to see or notice something new, whether in the museum itself, or the gift shop. Definitely add it to your itinerary if you're coming through the area! 

Know Before You Go:

This museum is completely FREE to visit and is family-friendly! If you'd like to help support their continued work in the preservation of Bigfoot memorabilia and the education of this fascinating subject, they do accept donations. There is also an extensive gift shop with really cool souvenirs in all price-ranges.

The WV Bigfoot Museum is open year-round. Their current hours are:

Wednesday-Friday: 10am to 6pm

Saturday: 10am to 4pm

(Closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday)

WV Bigfoot Museum Website

WV Bigfoot Museum FaceBook

WV Bigfoot Festival FaceBook (June 23-24, 2023)

Flying Saucers Over Follansbee

This news clipping above comes from The Weirton Daily Times and is dated Thursday, 09 February 1967. Two days earlier, on Tuesday February 7, 1967  John Casale of Hoover Heights (located just outside Follansbee, WV in Brooke County) spotted a UFO flying over his home on 2nd Street. The craft was described as being yellowish in color and round, flying from the direction of Steubenville, OH towards nearby Mingo Junction around 8pm that evening.

Among the other witnesses were John's wife, and his children, Mary Ann and Peggy. A handful of others witnessed the flying saucer as well. They were reported as being Louis Casini, Larry Kofur?, Dan Buffington, Richard Banfi?, and Lenny Baldauf. 

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any additional details about this particular sighting, but a quick search led to a handful of other UFO reports coming in from Follansbee between 1989 and 2017! In addition to this 2007 highly detailed account of a black, arrow-shaped anomaly with red lights seen over Rt. 2 submitted to UFO Net (read report HERE), incident reports from NUFORC can be found for 1989,  1999, 2001, 2005, 2007 (which closely resembles the other 2007 report from UFO Net, but happened a few days before), and 2017.  With the exception of the 2007 incidents, all of these craft seem pretty different in their descriptions, and not once did the round, yellow saucer of 1967 seemingly return. 

There is no shortage of UFO sightings from the Mountain State and I'll continue to share and document as many as I come across. Keep your eyes to the skies, and feel free to contact me with your own sightings of strange aerial anomalies! 

Elkins Inn and Suites

Memorial General Hospital in Elkins, WV
Source: WV History on View 

If you read yesterday's blog about my adventures in Sutton, WV, you may remember that I recently made a trip to Elkins with my husband. Being the spooky nerd that I am, any time I travel, I have to look up what haunted locations may be close to me, whether I have time to actually stop there or not. 

The whole area around Elkins is full of Civil War history, and there are a few really cool haunted places of note, such as Graceland and Halliehurst on the campus of Davis and Elkins College and Rich Mountain Battlefield, but I happened across a new-to-me location that we drove right past: The Elkins Inn and Suites.

Since it is a college town in close proximity to several big tourist destinations and state parks (as well as the state prison at Huttonsville), there are a LOT of hotels/motels around Elkins. There's one in particular, though that you pass right on the main drag through town that at first glance doesn't really look like a hotel. There's a reason for that---it used to be a hospital! 

I haven't been able to find out a whole lot about the history, but the earliest references I can find to the old Memorial General Hospital are from the 1950's, which looks about right from the photos of the building. As with any hospital, you're going to have a location with a lot of baggage, both good and bad. I'm sure the hospital saw happy times with babies being brought into the world, deathly ill people being brought back from the brink of death, and dedicated staff who gave their all to their work. But then you also have the negative events and emotions. Sick and injured people were brought here and many never made it home alive. Death, pain, and confusion were normal, everyday things. Loved ones left behind experienced anger, grief, despair, and sadness. All these factors are believed to be ideal for creating a haunting, and the old Memorial General Hospital is no exception.

I'm not sure when the hospital closed down, but it eventually did and was converted into use as a hotel. Originally branded under the Days Inn name, the earliest TripAdvisor reviews I could find date back to 2004. At some point, they dropped the Days Inn, and renamed the hotel as the Elkins Inn and Suites. According to their website information, the hotel boasts 46 pet-friendly guest rooms, free wifi, and an on-site restaurant (which early reviewers noted was downstairs in the basement morgue). There's also conference room space available, and apparently businesses can also rent out office space. Rooms come with TV, fridge, microwave...and maybe a ghost.

Today's Elkins Inn and Suites
Photo from FaceBook

Okay, so to start off, a LOT of the reviews I read for this location weren't favorable and a lot of that had to do directly or indirectly with the hotel's former life as a hospital. The guest room bathrooms were hospital room bathrooms, with very basic shower and toilet only. Thermostat controls weren't always available in rooms. The old elevator to the third floor where either all or the majority of guest rooms are located was out of order for awhile, and when it does work, seems to be rather noisy. Some reviewers also pointed out that there were windows in their rooms looking out into the hallway (like, in a hospital, lol). But, the biggest hospital-themed complaint seemed to be simply that it was pretty weird and creepy!

In July of 2014, that simple creepiness factor would evolve into claims of actual paranormal activity reported by one couple staying at the hotel. According to a review on TripAdvisor, user yakfit had this to say about their stay:

"We stayed one night last week. I did not read any reviews as we were last minute needing a room. I told my husband "this is a hospital!' As the elevator door was closing to go to floor 3, a man walked by and said "this is not a hospital!"I looked at my husband and just thought, that was strange that he would say that to me. After midnight, My husband woke me up as I was screaming because there was a woman in a hospital gown tying to push herself into bed with us.I went back to sleep and then he woke me up again as I was screaming because there was a babydoll head next to my husband's head n the bed!" I took a photo of the bathroom and the entrance door to our room and there are 2 orbs in the door photo.The lobby clerk told us that it was a former hospital. I think it is haunted."

Photo of 2 alleged orbs
Photo by TripAdvisor user yakfit

Although there was another review with the assertion that Ghost Hunters should come check this place out, it, nor any other reviews I could find mentioned any additional evidence or personal experiences with the alleged ghosts of the old hospital-turned-hotel. I'd love to know YOUR opinion; I think it definitely has the potential to be haunted, but I'd love for some more stories to come out. If you, or someone you know has stayed here and experienced something spooky, I'd love to hear your report. Feel free to comment down below, shoot me over an email, or find me over on Theresa's Haunted History FaceBook to share your story. 

Theresa's Travels: Sutton, WV 2023

On Wednesday, February 15th, my husband and I had to make a trip to Elkins for family business. It's been a hot minute since I've found myself headed north up Interstate 79, so I insisted that we make a quick stop in one of my favorite unique, spooky lil' WV towns---Sutton!

Located in Braxton County, right in the center of the state, Sutton is quickly becoming the paranormal heart of the Mountain State. It's home to one of SRI's top haunted locations (The Haunted Haymond House), as well as the haunted Elk Hostel, which I hope we'll get to explore one day soon. It's also home to not one, but TWO really cool museums featuring the paranormal: The Flatwoods Monsters Museum and the West Virginia Bigfoot Museum. These two museums were the focus of our little impromptu stop. 

Up first was the Flatwoods Monster Museum to browse around and check out any new acquisitions. As many times as I've been there, it seems like there's always something new and interesting to see and discover. I think my favorite exhibit is still the original mold and information on the creation of the Flatwoods Monster lanterns. There's a great little documentary about the lanterns which you can watch HERE, as well as a little How It's Made clip on the actual process. The How It's Made clip was actually playing on the museum's television while we were there, much to my husband's delight. He's a sucker for that kinda thing. Luckily, I already own a lantern, or else I think we would have been walking out of there with another one that day. This visit was actually only my husband's second visit to the museum. Although he supports my weirdness, he's just not as in to the spooky stuff as I am, so I'm thrilled whenever he finds something (like the lantern making process) that he finds especially interesting and can enjoy.

I also love seeing the reactions of other visitors, especially those who have never been there before, as they experience the story of the Flatwoods Monster for themselves through an awesome collection of memorabilia related to the sighting, as well as depictions of the creature in art and in pop culture. Even on a Wednesday afternoon, there were a good number of visitors there that day, which warms my heart!

It was also a pleasure getting to chat with the curator of the museum, Andrew Smith, who has worked tirelessly and has done so much in promoting and sharing the story of the Flatwoods Monster, as well as the history of the area as a whole. If you're new to the area or unfamiliar with the Flatwoods Monster incident of 1952, Andrew is your go-to guy. He's a wealth of information, and has always been super accommodating to the countless bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, etc. that are eager to showcase Braxxie and the Flatwoods Monster Museum. 

Including all the wonderful displays, articles/print media, videos, and chatting, you could easily spend a couple hours just in the Flatwoods Monster Museum alone. Unfortunately, we did have to be in Elkins at a certain time, and had another stop we wanted to make. But, I couldn't leave without adding a new Braxxie t-shirt to my wardrobe and picking up some postcards. 

Upon leaving the Flatwoods Monster Museum, it was a beautifully warm and sunny day, so we made the short walk a block or so down to the Mountain Laurel Country Store, home to the West Virginia Bigfoot Museum.  The store itself is a cute little shop full of handmade and unique gift items, jewelry, books, primitives, home goods, and more. They've also recently added a little cafe-type area, called Main Street Coffee, serving coffee, sandwiches, and other goodies. We looked around a bit, and I got a bit sad, thinking about how much my mom would have loved this shop, but never got the chance to visit. 

Anyway, the shop is great, but I was ready for the main attraction: The WV Bigfoot Museum! The Flatwoods/Sutton area has a long history of Bigfoot sightings, beginning as early as 1919 and continuing to this day, largely around Sutton Lake. So, this is the perfect spot for a museum dedicated to our Appalachian hairy man. 

The museum showcases an impressive collection of plaster casts made throughout WV and beyond, information on sightings around the state (largely collected and researched by the awesome Les O'Dell of WV Cryptids and Strange Encounters), and a general overview of the Bigfoot phenomenon, with some Yeti information as well. There's also wood carvings, wall murals featuring hidden Bigfoots, and an EXTENSIVE gift shop, where you can pick up books, toys, novelties, clothing/accessories, and seriously...anything you can think of Bigfoot-related. Again, I couldn't leave without adding a new book by Doug Waller to my library and a few Bigfoot stickers. 

As with the Flatwoods Monster Museum, it was a pleasure having a nice lil' chat with the owner. Every time I've visited, she has been so sweet and welcoming, making sure that everyone who steps foot through the door feels at home and enjoys the museum experience. This was my husband's first visit to the Bigfoot Museum, and again, even though he's not super into the strange and unusual side of history, he really enjoyed the novelty of the experience. I also think he was a little shocked that in one little West Virginia town, we had stopped at a museum dedicated to arguably the weirdest and wildest UFO/monster cases in the WORLD, then made a two minute walk to another museum, this one dedicated to arguably the most famous cryptid in the world. 

I'd bet a lot of people feel that way, but I'm thrilled! As a whole, West Virginia is such a cool place to explore, especially for anyone interested in the paranormal, be it ghosts/hauntings, UFOs, or cryptozoology. As more and more locations around the state open up, catering to WV's weird history, it's wonderful to see downtown Sutton becoming a premier mecca for those wanting a truly unique tourist experience. I could have stayed in the area a week or more, checking out all the cool stuff to see and do, but alas, we had to get back on the road. But, not before grabbing a late lunch!

Normally a trip to the Sutton/Flatwoods area means a trip to The Spot, a cute little restaurant in Flatwoods, located close to the original 1952 sighting of the Flatwoods Monster. You can grab a sandwich, chicken strips, calzone, hot dog, ice cream, etc, many with fun, monster-themed names. You can also pick up some souvenirs, take advantage of some neat photo ops, and of course, visit one of the five monster chairs located just across the road from the restaurant. I highly recommend adding a stop at The Spot to your Sutton/Flatwoods itinerary. But, as we were walking back to the car, discussing exactly what to do about food, we passed by a new-to-me business and noticed it was open. A split decision later, and we were seated at a table in the Bad Axe Bistro!

The Bad Axe Bistro is open for lunch and dinner, serving up a variety of sandwiches and appetizers during the lunch hour, and a more extensive menu for dinner. They also offer lanes for axe throwing, which we didn't take advantage of on this trip, but definitely next time!

My husband and I both had a grilled chicken sandwich and fries, and ordered the Bad Axe spiral loaded potato for an appetizer. The restaurant was clean, the service was great, and the food came out quickly. I really enjoyed my chicken sandwich, but my favorite was absolutely the appetizer. It was a spiral-cut potato on a stick, smothered in cheese and bacon and served on a wooden skewer. I love an opportunity to support small, local businesses and am happy to have another restaurant, located right in town, to add to my food options for when I'm in town. 

By the time we paid the check, we really did have to get back on the road, so I had to say goodbye to Sutton. Fortunately, I'll be back again! SRI is planning an event at the Haunted Haymond House for April, so make sure you follow our page for information on that as it comes available. I'll also be sure to visit for two upcoming festivals, showcasing the area's strange history!  The West Virginia Bigfoot Festival will be held in Sutton June 23-24, 2023 and the Flatwoods Monster Convention will be held in Flatwoods on September 9th, 2023. 

I hope you get the chance to visit the Flatwoods Monster Museum and/or WV Bigfoot Museum soon! If you do, tell 'em that Theresa's Haunted History sent ya! And until then, follow me over on Facebook for MORE pictures of my trip to Sutton, as well as my other paranormal adventures around West Virginia and beyond. Stay spooky, ya'll. 

New Jersey's Official State Demon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What the Fetch? What IS a Fetch?

How They Met Themselves
by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1864)
Source: WikiPedia

What the fetch?? How's that for a throwback? The catch-phrase uttered by OG TAPS member and star of the original Ghost Hunters television show, Grant Wilson, was presumably a family-friendly (ratings friendly) way to say something a little more colorful. But, what if the meaning behind the phrase was actually paranormal in nature?

According to the Encyclopedia of Occultism & Parapsychology, edited by Leslie A. Shepard, in Irish folklore, a fetch is an apparition of a living person. Very much like a doppelganger, the fetch is generally regarded as a bad omen for the person who it represents.  Although occasionally it will appear exactly like the person in question, other times it will appear shadowy and ethereal in appearance...like a ghost. But, unlike the doppelganger, the time of day the fetch is seen COULD mean the difference between life and death. If the fetch is seen in the morning, that's actually a GOOD sign, meaning a long-life for the living counterpart. However, if the fetch is seen in the evening, a death is surely imminent. 

Etymologists aren't 100% sure of the origins of the term fetch, but one possible explanation may come from Richard Stanyhurst's 1583 translation of the Aeneid. The book mentions psychopomps, which are entities (creatures, spirits, angels, demons, etc.) that act as guides, escorting the living to the world of the dead.  In other words, psychopomps FETCH the souls of the dying. Since the fetch is seen as a harbinger of death, I guess it has been interpreted that it could be seen as a type of psychopomp, come to 'fetch' the soul of the living. 

Like many here in West Virginia and elsewhere throughout Appalachia, I've got quite a fair amount of Scots-Irish ancestry, and growing up I was both fascinated and horrified by some of the spooky tales told by older generations of my family. I don't remember all of their stories, traditions, and superstitions, but one belief that always stuck with me was the idea that seeing the ghost of a living person, especially if it was of YOURSELF, was a very, very bad omen, most often resulting in the death of that person. As I got older and started studying paranormal phenomena, I just tended to lump these types of stories and experiences under the term of doppelganger, but now I know that fetch is probably a little more culturally accurate! 

Luckily, I've never had a personal experience with a fetch and/or a doppelganger, but I HAVE had plenty of run-ins with another member of the doubles family---a strange thing known as a Vardoger. You can read about those experiences HERE. If you've had any experiences, good or bad, with any member of the doubles family of apparitions, I'd love to here them. You can comment down below, or find me over on Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State FaceBook page. Stay spooky, ya'll! 

Wardensville Wildman

 

27 November 1873
The Weekly Register (Point Pleasant, WV)
Source: Chronicling America

Yes! This is the kind of of Wild Man story I love to find and share for Wild Men Wednesdays! Wardensville is located in Hardy County, West Virginia, and in 1873 was home to a wild man who wasn't obviously a regular human man. This creature was entirely naked, but covered in coarse yellow hair. He had the appearance of a very high forehead, and was quite large. There's still a possibility that this was a misidentification of a feral human, but I think it's also a good contestant for actually being something non-human. 

Happy Valentine's Day 2023

Photo from VectorStock

Happy Valentine's Day from Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State! Today is a day to celebrate LOVE, but it's also a day to remember that love can be a scary, scary thing! Ghost-lore is full of tales of star-crossed lovers, jilted lovers, and unrequited love. People die for love---and they kill for it, too.     

Love is a strong emotion that tends to survive bodily death, and in addition to the more tragic hauntings involving the negative side of love, there are plenty of touching tales where the dead have returned to offer comfort and aid to their loved ones still on this side. 

Below, you'll find just a few of my favorite ghost stories and hauntings involving LOVE. But, feel free to share your own spooky stories of paranormal valentines in the comments below, or find me over on Theresa's Haunted History Facebook. 

Have a beautiful and happy Valentine's Day and take a moment to let the ones you love know how much they mean to you. And on that note, I want to make sure you know that I love you, too! Seriously, I appreciate the love and support shown to this blog every day and I couldn't keep it up without you. Stay spooky, ya'll. 

Star-Crossed Lovers of Carter Caves

Lover's Leap of Hawk's Nest State Park

The Ghosts of Berkeley Castle

 

East Wheeling Babies Bewitched

East Wheeling
Source: WikiPedia

In October of 1874, tragedy struck the East Wheeling, WV neighborhood along Alley 16. Seven babies from seven different families took ill with an unknown malady, resulting in the death of one of them. It was feared that the remaining six would also not survive, but instead of calling in a medical doctor to treat the children, the superstitious families turned to a different route.

Believing the babies were bewitched, a woman "known to possess much influence with superstitious persons" was called in to drive out the evil spirits that were making the babies sick. Among the 'treatment' was turning the children's left stocking inside out, and advising the families to keep their doors locked, their keyholes blocked, and to avoid loaning anything to each other for fear that it could contain an attached evil spirit. 

The author of the article, which appeared in the 30 October 1874 edition of the Wheeling Daily Intelligencer  did not hold back, saying how absurd and humiliating this belief in witchcraft is, and that these poor babies are surely to suffer because of their parents' ignorance.  To add further insult to injury, in the month following, this story got picked up by newspapers around the country, all of which were eager to share how ignorant and superstitious those West Virginia mountain-folk are. 

30 October 1874
Wheeling Daily Intelligencer

The Rotary Park Mothman

Crotty St. Highlighted in Blue with
Rotary Park off to the Left
Source: Google Maps

Recently, I've been perusing some of the older books on my bookshelf, and I came across an interesting story from Jeff Wamsley's, Mothman: Behind the Red Eyes,  that I wanted to share. We all know that Point Pleasant, West Virginia is the indisputable home territory for the Mountain State's favorite red-eyed monster. But, before Mothman was flapping around Mason County, he may have been hiding out about an hour away in a secluded area of Huntington.

Author, researcher, and owner of the Mothman Museum, Jeff Wamsley, was able to interview a lady named Shirley Hensley who grew up on Crotty Street (referred to by locals sometimes as 31st Street Hill). Right up the hill from her backyard was Rotary Park, a large, wooded, secluded piece of land on the outskirts of town. Starting about 1961 and lasting through 1964 when the family moved away, they were plagued by SOMETHING lurking around their property. 

It started out as weird sounds, always after dark. The family would hear a loud gargling sound, which would morph into a loud scream unlike anything they'd ever heard before, despite being familiar with various types of wildlife found throughout the state. Other times, they'd hear a large creature actually bumping up against their home, making a grunting sound as it did so. 

The first time Shirley heard the mysterious creature was when she and a boyfriend were parked out in the yard in the boyfriend's truck one evening and heard it actually bump underneath them and let out a grunt. At first Shirley thought it may have been the neighbor's pig on the loose...but the neighbor didn't have a pig. The first time her mother heard it was not long after. She had gone out to the well after dark. It was quickly decided by the family that all needed well water was to be fetched before sundown and no one was to leave the home after dark. 

Historic Rotary Park Bridge
Source: WikiCommons

These encounters would happen somewhat intermittently. The creature would be heard every few days for a few weeks, then they'd have a brief respite of quiet before it would return. Again, the strange sounds and the bumps against the home were the main interactions. But that would all change one fall evening about 6pm.

That was when Shirley's dad would actually SEE the creature. He reported something big, at least 7 feet tall with large red eyes that resembled red bicycle reflectors, staring back at him from behind the coal pile behind the house. He ran and got his .22 and took a shot at the thing. Despite being warned to stay in the house, Shirley's sister Mary followed her dad outside and caught a glimpse at the creature. She described it as a 'big, tall shiny thing with big red eyes." Whether it was hit or not is unknown, but the creature apparently scrambled up the hillside toward Rotary Park. 

Although Shirley would marry and move away, and the rest of the family didn't stay long after, they still talk to their former neighbors about the red-eyed monster that lurked around Crotty Street. And, when the news broke from Point Pleasant of multiple sightings of a large, red-eyed creature menacing the town just two years after Shirley's family's moved away, she couldn't help but wonder: Was the strange creature HER family saw outside of Huntington related to the Mothman of Point Pleasant? 

For me personally, I think the connection to Rotary Park is an interesting one. Not only is Rotary Park located VERY close to the confluence of the Guyandotte and Ohio Rivers, but it's only about an hour away from Pt. Pleasant. Even today, the park itself is still a heavily wooded area with plenty of dark, secluded spots that don't see a ton of regular traffic. In the early 1960's, I imagine that the area was even more rural, especially along Crotty Street. But perhaps what's most intriguing is the violent history of the park itself.

Over the years, I've heard unconfirmed, and not very detailed reports of Rotary Park being haunted (read my blog, Rotary Park---Haunted Or Not?). Although actual stories of paranormal activity haven't really been available, the park has seen it's fair share of tragedy. In July of 1963, Elbert Wooten and Jimmy Pelfrey were killed when a car they were riding in struck a tree within Rotary Park. In 1958, Mrs. Inez Booth was taken to the park where she was raped and stabbed by Larry Fudge. Mrs. Booth managed to crawl to a nearby housing development for help and was able to to name her attacker. Unfortunately, she passed away and Fudge was executed at the WV State Penitentiary at Moundsville. Other unsavory incidents have occurred at the park over the years, making it a place to avoid after dark. 

Ever since the collapse of the Silver Bridge, and carrying into modern-day sightings, Mothman has gained an association with tragedy. Some believe he is a harbinger of doom, while others believe he is some type of protective spirit. Is he simply attracted to the darker places of human history, or is he simply attracted to places where humans naturally fear to tread? 

The Brownstown Giant

 

05 April 1899
Wheeling Register
Source: Chronicling America

Happy Giant Skeleton Saturday! Today's tale of a giant skeleton unearthed in West Virginia is kind of a puzzler for me, so maybe there's someone out there much more knowledgeable than me who can clear things up!  Anyway...

I found this story about Harry Berry finding a 14 foot skeleton near Brownstown, West Virginia. He was near the wharf landing and recent flood damage had partially unearthed the skeletal remains of an 'evident Indian' with a pipe and a tomahawk by his side. Remarkably, the skeleton was well-preserved. Although I've posted a photo of the article, you can see the article for yourself in the April 5, 1899 edition of the Wheeling Register, available for FREE at Chronicling America. 

The mystery comes in as I was trying to do some additional research. I started by trying to confirm exactly where Brownstown is located. I found a Brownstown, which used to be located in Cabell County along the Ohio River. Today it is part of Huntington. I also found out that Marmet, located in Kanawha County and along the Kanawha River USED to go  by the name of Brownstown and was absolutely still known under that name the article above was published.

But...I found several  sources that REALLY threw me for a loop. Apparently, a near-identical article to this one was published in the April 5, 1933 edition of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette! Among the minor changes in the article's format, the name of the town changes from Brownstown to Browntown (No 'S'). And, several websites that shared this version have noted that Browntown is actually located in Barbour County, WV. There is a Brownton located in Barbour County, and it is located very close to the Tygart River. However, the fact that the article was post-dated 34 years later makes me really wonder if that information is inaccurate as well. 

Allegedly found in the
05 April 1933 edition of the
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Source: Greater Ancestors

Okay, so things get even WEIRDER!!  I've also found several references, including a mention allegedly from the History of the Great Kanawha Valley that in Brownstown, WV, located ten miles from Charleston at Lens Creek (so the Marmet location would be correct) a GIANT skeleton as well as a  deformed DWARF skeleton were unearthed together! (Source: Opera News) However, another source (Anomaly Info) states that this information allegedly came from the book, A History of Fayette County, but was a 2014 hoax posted by the website, the Nephilim Chronicles. So yeah, maybe I should have just left this one alone, but I love a good mystery! 

If you have any information that can help clear up this mystery, I'd love for you to chime in. Let me know in the comments below, or find me over on Theresa's Haunted History Facebook. Thank you and as always, stay spooky! 

Hinton Furniture and UFO Craze of 1947!

It's finally Friday, and this week I've got a Friday Funny coming to you from Hinton, West Virginia! As we talked about before here on Theresa's Haunted History, people from Hinton definitely had a penchant for seeing flying saucers throughout the years, and it all started back during the 1947 UFO wave during July. After the nation was swept up with speculation as to just what exactly crashed outside of Roswell, New Mexico and if it was from another planet or not, people from all over the country began coming forward with their own stories.

One such woman was Lee Ramsey, a housewife living on Summers Street. On July 10, 1947 she witnessed a series of six unidentified flying objects over her Hinton home. The sighting was written up in one of the local newspapers, The Leader. (Read my blog post, Hinton Has Saucers, Too for more info). However, it wouldn't be until the following May (and after another sighting by a Hinton resident) that an enterprising employee working for the Hinton Furniture Company would come up with a clever, tongue-in-cheek way to incorporate the UFO craze into the company's advertising!

The advertisement above was published in the May 21, 1948 edition of the Hinton Daily News. It reads, "Flying Saucers: Those people who saw the flying saucers last year were a little behind the times. An astronomer in Italy saw a flock of flying saucers on November 30, 1880. You will be right up with the times if you purchase your furniture and home appliances from us." 

I'm not sure if it was Hinton Furniture's owner, Ray Walker himself, or another employee who was tasked with advertising, but I have to applaud whoever it was who came up with this ad! If my assumptions are correct, the author evidently was a fan of the OG Fortean Historian---Charles Fort! It was Charles Fort who collected the strange little story about an Italian astronomer's experience and brought it to the public forefront. But, I wouldn't necessarily call what was seen a flock of 'flying saucers.' Rather, it sounds like a flock of flying CREATURES! Here's what was published:

Signer Ricco, of the Observatory of Palermo, writes that, Nov. 30, 1880, at 8:30 o'clock in the morning, he was watching the sun, when he saw, slowly traversing its disk, bodies in two long, parallel lines, and a shorter, parallel line. The bodies looked winged to him. But so large were they that he had to think of large birds. Sig. Ricco's estimate is that these objects … must have been at least five and a half miles high. -Source

I'm not sure if the winged bodies observed by Signer Ricco were humanoid in shape, but even with the description of birds makes me automatically think of West Virginia's own favorite winged creature: Mothman. However, even I have to admit that three parallel lines of Mothmen flying around the sun (the greatest lamp in the solar system) is more than a little frightening! 

The Plumley Building
Later home to Hinton Furniture
Source: WV History on View