Charleston's Clicking Ghost

Charleston, WV ca 1920
Source: WV History on View

I love a good, local ghost story! Today's tale comes from the September 5, 1920 edition of the Charleston Daily Mail, and shares the experiences of one family living in a two-story home in the city. Unfortunately, there are no names, addresses, or any other clues to help figure out WHICH house is being discussed. All we know is that in addition to the family, the home contained a 'clicking' ghost.

The family had moved into the home several years prior, and weren't there very long before they noticed a strange phenomenon. Day or night, whatever the season, they'd hear strange noises coming from various points throughout the house, including the living room, dining room, upstairs and downstairs halls, and even the bedrooms. But, this noise was unlike the normal noises made by settling homes, experiencing shifts in temperature and humidity. This noise was a very distinct 'click,' not unlike someone snapping their fingers. 

While the family quietly engaged in reading or other activities, out of nowhere would come the clicking sound, arousing everyone's attention. However, this was always just one, lone, solitary click, and as much as the family strained to hear another, the next click never came sooner than 1-2 hours later, and always from a different part of the house. 

In terms of paranormal activity, these clicks were pretty mundane, and the family just accepted that they had a ghost, even commenting jovially on the subject. But, activity would take a slight upward turn during the summer of 1920. It was then that the family began using a previously unoccupied bedchamber. Apparently, this room wasn't exactly unoccupied, for it would seem that it was actually the personal space of the clicking ghost!

After moving into this room, the family noticed that while the clicks in the rest of the house were sometimes rather faint, the clicks coming from this room were consistently clear, sharp and crisp. They also tended to come more frequently, and occurred rather close to wherever the person was at in the room at the time. If they were in bed, the noise would come from around the headboard. If they were by the dresser, that's where the click was heard. 

The family insisted that these noises were not emanating from the walls, floors, or even ceiling. Rather, they seemed to be coming from right in the middle of the room, floating about 5 to 6 feet above the floor, further convincing them that the clicks were the work of a phantom guest snapping his fingers.

By the end of the newspaper column, the father of the family notes that the ghost, along as it keeps to just the snapping, is welcome to stay. However, if it starts pulling the bedclothes off, it better watch out!

My first thoughts in reading this were that the clicking noises sound a lot like poltergeist activity, but poltergeists tend to not stick around for very long and many times, the activity quickly intensifies until it reaches a head. This ghost just seemed most content to click or snap every now and again reside peacefully among this Charleston family, who fortunately, was more than willing to also coexist peacefully with their ghost! 

Charleston Daily Mail
5 September 1920