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| 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!
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