Mothman in Charleston 2: A Monkey-Faced Bird

 

The Charleston Daily Mail
21 November 1966

Well, it seems as if I've jumped the gun! I should consult my own research a little better before publishing new blog posts. Yesterday, I posted about Mothman being seen in Charleston, WV. That post dealt mostly with the creature being seen by Richard West, sitting atop his neighbor's roof on Lee Street. However, I also included another blurb from about a week earlier, in which a couple saw what they described as a large bird with a huge wingspan in the Ferry Branch area.

But, it appears, as if before either of these sightings, there was another odd sighting of what many believe to be Mothman here in the capital city!

On November 19, 1966 Lyle Atkins saw a rather peculiar sight. He told police that while on Homewood Drive, he had witnessed a monkey-faced bird with a wingspan of six to seven feet. Detective R.K. Gordon believes the description resembled a big owl with an overly big wingspan, but with further similar sightings appearing the next day and a week later, one has to wonder if this wasn't the infamous Mothman.  I do find the description REALLY weird, though. This is possibly the only article I've come across describing a monkey-faced bird. I can see where an owl might fit that description, but still...It's also interesting to note that the Ferry Branch sighting, which came a day later, is located VERY close to  Homewood Drive, AND the descriptions are fairly similar; at least, they're much more similar to each other than Richard West's "Batman on my neighbor's roof" encounter. 

Anyway, be sure to check out yesterday's blog, Mothman in Charleston: Richard West Encounter!

Ferry Branch Mothman Sighting
Unknown Source, dated 21 November 1966

Mothman in Charleston: Richard West Encounter

1588 Lee St. Charleston, WV

During the height of the 1966-67 Mothman flap in Point Pleasant, West Virginia's favorite winged humanoid really got around! While seemingly based in Mason County, reports came in from around West Virginia and Ohio, mainly concentrated in towns along or close to the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers. The capital city of Charleston, WV was no exception.  While on a recent trip to the Gray Barker UFO Files in Clarksburg, I found an article dated 29 November 1966. Unfortunately, it was just a clipping with the name of the newspaper omitted. I'll add a photo of the clipping, but below is a transcription, followed by some further commentary from yours truly!

MOTHMAN (BATMAN?) MAKES VISIT TO THE CITY

Batman, or Mothman, it depends on who is seeing him, made his first appearance in the city of Charleston Monday. 

Richard West of 1588 Lee St. called the Charleston Police Department at 10:15 p.m. to complain about the creature staring into his apartment window.

West talked to Patrolman D.L. Tucker, who said the conversation went something like this:

West---"You're going to think this is silly but I've seen Batman."

Tucker--"Really? Where?"

West--"He's on the roof next door. Just sitting there looking at me."

Tucker--"Describe him for me."

West-- :Well, aren't you going to get excited. I see Batman! I see Batman!"

Tucker--"I have to get this information, that's why I'm so calm."

West--" It looks just like a man. It's about six feet tall and has a wingspread of six or eight feet. It has great big red eyes."

Tucker--"Did it fly?"

West--"Straight up, just like a helicopter."

Tucker--"Can you see him now? Is he still there."

West--"No, I pulled the drapes."

There have been many sightings of a creature such as the one described by West. They originated in Mason County near Point Pleasant and the creature has been commonly referred to as Mothman or the Mason County Monster. 

29 November 1966

It's interesting that West never refers to the creature as Mothman...only as Batman. It's possible that West wasn't familiar with what was going on in Point Pleasant at the time, or didn't make the connection that the 'big bird' (as many articles were referring to it) that was being seen over an hour away could have anything to do with the winged MAN he was seeing on his neighbor's roof. However, it's important to note that in September of that year, paperboys in Charleston were being harassed in the early morning hours by some weirdo reported as being dressed up like Batman. West was probably a little more familiar with this story, as it was something of a local sensation of the time. (See my article, Batman in Charleston)

I also find it hilarious that he simply pulled the drapes after observing this creature fly straight up and presumably away. It's like he said to himself, "Not today, Batman!" I do wish I had a little more information about what neighbor was lucky enough to have the monster perch upon their roof. As you can see from the picture above, today, there is only the brick house, but there is an empty lot on the other side, which may not have been empty at the time. The apartment at 1588 itself has been renovated over the years, so it's not a great representation of what the area looked like in 1966. As a side note: I didn't realize it at the time, but this address is literally less than two blocks away from my apartment! So, it's possible that many decades ago, Mothman flapped his way across the moonlight directly over where I live today. That's kind of fun to think about! What's not so fun was trying to get a photo of the address where this went down. I swear, every time I went by to take a photo, there was someone sitting on the front porch or out on the sidewalk in front of the apartment. I finally found a stealthy moment to snap a quick picture out my car window, with hopes that no one thought I was some weirdo, or worse, become part of a new legend myself....

Anyway, this wasn't the only time Mothman was sighted in Charleston. A week before the article above was released, another article from an unnamed paper (found also in the Gray Barker archives) dated November 21, 1966 mentioned that Charleston city patrolman, Carl L. Bender received a report from a couple driving a truck near Ferry Branch who spotted a "huge bird with a wingspread wider than the truck" which swooped at them, then landed briefly in a tree before flying off up Ferry Branch Hollow.

This occurred on the Sunday before the article was published, which would have been on November 20th. That same day, a large bird was also seen in Nicholas County. 

UPDATE: I've found a third sighting of the mysterious Mothman in the Charleston area! On November 19, 1966, Lyle Atkins reported seeing a 'monkey-faced' bird with wingspan of 6-7 feet on Homewood Drive! This is a day before the Ferry Branch encounter, happened within just a few miles of it, and is eerily similar in description---well, much more similar than Batman flying straight up off a neighbor's roof! You can read about the Monkey-Faced Mothman in my newest blog: Mothman in Charleston Part 2! 

The Charleston Daily Mail
21 November 1966

The Pope Lick Monster

 WARNING! IT IS BOTH ILLEGAL AND VERY DANGEROUS TO TRESPASS ONTO RAILROAD TRACKS. THE POPE LICK TRESTLE IS PRIVATE PROPERTY. IT IS AN ACTIVE RAILROAD BRIDGE. THERE ARE NO PLATFORMS, WALKWAYS, OR EVEN A SECOND RAIL LINE. YOU CANNOT OUTRUN A TRAIN.

Pope Lick Trestle August 2024
Photo by Theresa

On a recent trip to Louisville to investigate Waverly Hills Sanatorium, I took a short side quest on the way home to visit another iconic area legend: The Pope Lick Monster. An unholy mix of human, goat, and perhaps even sheep, the Pope Lick Monster (also known as the Kentucky Goat Man) has been terrorizing local citizens since at least the 1950's. And although many are quick to point out that very few (if any) people actually SEE the Goat Man, the Pope Lick Trestle has a staggering death toll. 

The Pope Lick trestle was completed in 1888 (although I did find an article stating that the current trestle, replacing the older incarnation, was built in 1929) and today is still an active and busy line, owned by Norfolk Southern. From its completion up through the first half of the 20th century, the history of the trestle was largely unremarkable. In 1909, however, there was a minor derailment on the trestle, which luckily resulted in no deaths or major injuries, but did destroy a boxcar's worth of Christmas toys, valued at thousands of dollars. 

Nevertheless, somewhere along the line, a legend emerged. One story I heard was that the first sighting of the Goat Man was by a young man in the 1950's named Robert Hill. Hill and a friend were crossing the trestle when they saw what they initially thought was a man coming toward them. That 'man' would soon come close enough for Hill to see that he had the lower body of a goat, covered in dark hair. His upper half was that of a man, but the skin was scaly, like a reptile. Two large horns sat atop his head. Needless to say, they got the heck out of there in a hurry, and didn't share the tale for many years. But, by the 1960's, most of the local kids had heard of some version of a Goat Man legend that haunted the train trestle. 

Pope Lick Trestle
August 2024

In some versions of the story, the Goat Man was a deformed circus performer who had escaped confinement when the circus train carrying him crashed near or on the Pope Lick trestle. In another version, the Goat Man is a local farmer who made a deal with the Devil, and who was known to sacrifice goats in honor of his Dark Lord. In both versions, Goat Man is vengeful and bloodthirsty. 

According to legends, he has been known to jump down from the trestle onto or in front of cars, wielding a bloody axe. In more popular versions of the tale, Goat Man uses the train trestle itself to take the lives of his victims. He will use his powers of hypnotism and/or his ability to mimic the voices of a victim's friends, or even a baby/animal in distress, to lure victims onto the tracks. Once on the tracks, he can again use his hypnotism to cause the person to want to jump to their death below, or even just show himself, scaring the person into a similar fate. In reality, what has happened time and time again, is that the person finds himself on the narrow trestle as a train approaches. With nowhere to go, and no way to outrun the train, the person's only hope is to hang below the trestle until the train passes. Unfortunately, only a few people have survived that scenario. Many others have been hit by a train or fallen up to 90 feet trying to avoid getting hit. 

Some believe that successfully crossing the railroad trestle is the only way to summon the Pope Lick Monster, which is why few have actually seen the creature. Interestingly, this act of 'bravery' dates back before the legends of Goat Man. According to one elderly citizen in the area, as far back as the 1930's, it was seen as a rite of passage (especially with young men) to cross the long, narrow, towering train bridge. Those brave enough to face this daunting task, even without the added risk/reward of the Goat Man, were given much-craved respect from their peers, and in their minds, ascended into adulthood. 

In an ironic twist, however, it is believed that the legend of the Goat Man sprang up as a way to put a stop to this dangerous practice. Parents would warn their children to stay away from the Pope Lick Trestle or the Goat Man would get them. As an added layer to the legend, there is reason to believe that the Goat Man mythos does stem from an actual 'goat man.' Between the decades of the 1930's through the 1980's, a traveling preacher by the name of Charles 'Chez' McCartney traveled throughout the continental United States spreading his message. He was pulled in a cart by a team of goats, and often wore goatskin clothing. Further, he was known as the 'Goat Man.'

Charles McCartney

McCartney would camp in open fields and on farm land, and it is believed that during a stop near Louisville, he stayed in the area of the Pope Lick trestle. The smell was...not great...and it is reported that wherever McCartney wandered, he was met with an odd combination of fear and interest from local citizens. Of further interest to the Goat Man legend is the fact that McCartney did have a badly mangled arm from an industrial accident. As a young man, he did marry a Spanish knife-thrower and became a living target in her act, traveling with her in her performance group. He also tried his hand at farming. So, its a stretch, but not a big one, that McCartney became a scapegoat (see what I did there?) and basis for the Pope Lick Monster. He was something like a circus performer, a farmer, and had a thing for goats. He was met with suspicion and caution wherever he roamed, and I'm sure plenty of mamas in the area told their curious kiddos to stay away from where he was camping. 

Interest in the Goat Man legend, while always present among the area youth, was significantly revived in 1988 when a short film by Ron Schildknecht called The Legend of the Pope Lick Monster premiered in December. Shot largely on-site, production on the 16 minute film would take two years. During that span, the Pope Lick Trestle would gain two additional victims. The railroad was not happy with the release of the film and made a statement encouraging people to stay off the bridge, which was not only private property, but extremely dangerous. However, it is safe to say that film or no film, the lure of the Pope Lick Monster legend would have prevailed. 

As of this writing, the latest victim of the Pope Lick Trestle was a 15 year old girl in 2019. But, many would come before her, including an incident in 2016 where a young woman was killed when specifically seeking out the Goat Man. Over the years, a battle would ensue with Norfolk Southern, who despite the fences, plenty of warning signs, and even prosecutions, continually comes under pressure for not doing enough to keep curiosity seekers safe. Many believe it was a bad idea to remove the former platform and walkways that once were a part of the trestle, as they would offer protection to anyone caught on the tracks. However, the counter-argument is that such a feature would make trespassing on the tracks, dangerous in any situation, seem more attractive to those wanting to experience the legend. 

If you choose to pay a visit to the Pope Lick Trestle in search of the Goat Man, please stay off the tracks. Luckily, there is a wonderful little park nearby, with a biking/walking path that leads directly under the trestle with some nice photo spots. There is also a road that runs beside the path, so you can drive your car under and see if the legends of the monster jumping down in front of you with an axe are true. It's a beautiful area and one that should be seen...just safely, from below. Experience the legend, but don't become a part of it. 

*This is most likely not a complete list of deaths/injuries/accidents associated with Pope Lick Trestle, but here are a few of the victims associated with this legend. If visiting the area, please remain respectful, and keep these people in mind.*

Savannah Bright: 15 year old Savannah Bright was killed on May 26, 2019 when she and a friend were on the trestle and were hit by a train. The friend, later identified as Kaylee Keeling (16), survived. Today, a memorial for Savannah exists on the walking trail below the trestle. 

Roquel Bain: Roquel Bain (26) was visiting Louisville with her boyfriend, David Knee (41) from Dayton, OH. The two had tickets for a tour of Waverly Hills on April  23, 2016. To pass some time before the tour, they visited the Pope Lick Train Trestle in search of the Pope Lick Monster. As a train approached, David was able to drop down and hang underneath. Roquel was hit and fell 80 feet to the ground, dying instantly. David was later charged with trespassing. 

Nicholas Jewell: Jewell, a 19 year old University of Louisville student, died on November 6, 2000 after falling off the train trestle around 12:30 am. When the train approached, he had tried to support himself by hanging from the supports underneath, but the vibrations caused him to lose his grip. He was with four friends, all of who were uninjured.

October 22, 1994: Fourteen year old Michael Wells miraculously survived, along with his cousin Nathan Wells, also 14, when they were caught by an approaching train. The two were walking home with Michael's 22 year old brother in law, Stephen Britton. The younger boys begged Britton to take them to the trestle, which he reluctantly agreed to. They were both out on the trestle when the train approached. Nathan was able to run to safety, but Michael tripped. Luckily, he was able to drop down and hang below, and the train was able to stop, but not before several cars had already passed over him. All three were arrested for trespassing.

James Ratterman: Ratterman (34) was riding his ATV across the trestle around 11pm on April 18, 1994, when it overturned, trapping him. He was struck and killed by a train about 30 feet out onto the bridge.

December 1993: David Paul Smith (21), Christina Butts (19), Robert Travis Grey (20), and an unnamed juvenile were caught on the tracks when a train approached. All of them miraculously survived by hanging below the tracks. They were rescued by the local firefighters, whose ladder almost wasn't long enough to safely reach them. The train conductor, Kevin Hines, later sued the group for mental distress caused by the incident. 

Kevin Grady: Grady was a 19 year old Miami University student from Oxford, OH. On October 29, 1992 he fell 100 feet off the train trestle at Pope Lick, but miraculously survived with only relatively minor injuries. The accident happened around 1:45am, when a train caught Grady on the tracks. He initially managed to hang on the supports underneath, but lost his grip. 

Charles Jack Bahm II: The 17 year old student was killed on February 18, 1988 when he and two friends, Kevin Schnickel and Christopher Keisker, got bored while driving around and decided to attempt the train trestle. Keisker was unhurt, and Schnickel received a laceration to the chin when he fell, but Bahm unfortunately passed away after being struck by a train. 

David Wayne Bryant: Bryant was walking on the Pope Lick trestle on April 25, 1986 when an on-coming train forced him to jump from the bridge. He fell 110 feet, initially surviving his fall. Unfortunately, he would pass away from his injuries on May 15, 1986. His mother would file a lawsuit against the railroad. 

John Kenneth List: List was killed on June 1, 1985. He and a friend, Randall Graves, were on the trestle shooting crows. Graves was able to hang below the tracks, but List was hit by the train less than 30 feet from the end of the trestle. 

Samuel Fleischman: Fleischman was walking home from a Redbirds game with four other friends, including Scott Cole, on the night of May 13, 1984. 20 year old Fleischman was home from college for the summer, when the group got bored and decided to cross the old trestle. Fleischman fell 70 feet, but luckily, he survived his injuries. 

 

Theresa Travels: To Louisville, Kentucky!

Waverly Hills
August 10, 2024

This past weekend, I traveled from Charleston, WV to Louisville, KY for a bucket-list level visit to Waverly Hills Sanatorium. I was joined by SRI founder/president, Brian Clary, and my spooky buddy Angie for an intense, six hour investigation of the old tuberculosis hospital. That was the main focus for our trip, and it certainly was the highlight.  Waverly Hills is one of those top haunted locations in the world, but even though its less than four hours away, I had never had the opportunity to tour it. But, even though we came for Waverly, we couldn't come to town without cramming in as much spooky fun as we could. We were only there for a short amount of time, but we filled nearly every minute with what Louisville's paranormal scene had to offer. Join me on my trip to haunted, historic Louisville!

Angie and I drove down together from Charleston, while Brian left from Huntington. We left around 10am and had a nice, easy drive down I-64, stopping briefly for lunch at CookOut. The trip was uneventful, but we spent the 3.5 hours chatting about the ghosts of Waverly Hills...and laughing more than necessary at topics that bear no repeating here! It was fun, and we were in great spirits as we pulled into town and met Brian in Old Louisville. Since we still had about an hour before we could check into our AirBnB, we decided to officially start our trip with a little side trip.

The Witches' Tree, located on the corner of S. 6th St. and Park Avenue, is like something out of a fairy tale. The large, knotted, gnarled tree dominates the landscape, covered in offerings of beads, coins, crafts, toys, and much more. It stands as a stark reminder not to mess with the local witches! As the tale goes, during the late 19th century, a coven of witches gathered at this particular tree, which was located just outside of town. Despite being an integral part of the witches' ceremonies, the town decided the large maple would make an excellent Maypole for their annual celebration. Amid warnings from the witches, the town went ahead and cut the tree down, an act that would result in a curse. 

The curse would finally take hold 11 months later on March 27, 1890. Around 8:30pm, a massive tornado ripped through the area. It lasted only five minutes, but resulted in the death of 100 people, dozens more injured, and extensive property damage. Amid the rubble, a new tree began growing from the stump of the Witches' Tree. It grew into the twisted, writhing, knotted giant that is there today. Of course, we had to get plenty of pictures, and leave a few offerings of our own. 

Next, it was time to head to our AirBnB! Brian had suggested a Halloween/Horror themed house about 15 minutes from Waverly Hills known as The Haunted Hideaway at The Black House. Decked out in spooky decor, including a 12 foot skeleton in the backyard, the house was the perfect place to crash for a few hours before and after our investigation. It was clean and comfortable, with a twin bed, a Queen, a futon, and a GIANT couch. It's also pet-friendly if you need to take your furbabies with you. I highly recommend it to anyone staying in the area, even though we didn't really get to spend that much time there, as we were so busy. My only complaint would be that there is only ONE BATHROOM. That made things a little difficult with three people trying to rush to shower and get ready before check-out. 

The Haunted Hideaway AirBnB

Anyway, we got in a quick power nap before we had to leave to start the first part of our evening. Now, I had my heart set on finding a haunted restaurant for dinner, but Brian, who visits Louisville fairly regularly, suggested an awesome little Irish pub, called the Irish Rover. I am so glad we took his suggestion, because it was fantastic. It was a cozy little diner located in a historic building with a menu filled with authentic Irish cuisine and even quite a few vegetarian options. The prices were extremely fair, the service was great, and the food was served really quickly.  I REALLY wanted to be adventurous and try the Cottage Pie, but a heavy bread bowl with mashed potatoes and smothered with cheese probably would have killed me after walking around so much later on. Instead, I had a safe grilled chicken sandwich and fries, which was delicious. We shared some Cordon Bleu Fritters, which were to die for---a mix of cheese, chicken and ham in a deep-fried fritter.

Dinner was followed by a trip to downtown Louisville where we met up in front of the Brown Hotel with Robert 'Ghost Walker' Parker of Louisville Ghost Walks! I was a little nervous about taking a walking tour right before an all-nighter at the gigantic Waverly Hills...but it wasn't bad at all. Our tour lasted a little under two hours, and it was just our little group, so it was like a private tour. The walk was completely flat, nice and easy, and there were plenty of long stops, several with places to comfortably sit while we listened to the haunted history of Louisville. Robert is an awesome story teller, and was extremely knowledgeable about the city and its spooky past. We got some great information about the Brown Hotel, the Brennan House, the Palace Theater, and many other spots. Robert even gave us some information about Waverly Hills. 

Tickets for Louisville Ghost Walks run $25 and tours are held on both Friday and Saturday evenings starting in August. There are several different tour companies throughout Louisville, but I definitely recommend a tour with Robert if you're in the downtown area. Parking is available close by, but a word of caution---Louisville had a much larger and much more visible population of unhoused individuals than I realized. For the most part, we were in well-populated areas and still had plenty of sunlight throughout the tour. Only once did an individual approach our group, but quickly left when asked. I felt completely safe the entire time. Still, there were a couple of places where you just needed to uh, watch your step. 

With our Louisville Ghost Walk 
tour guide, Robert

Being downtown, we stopped in for a quick drink/snack break at Sicilian's Pizza before heading back to the AirBnB to rest up for the big event!

We only had about an hour and a half before we had to leave for Waverly, so I got in another quick power nap and changed into my SRI t-shirt. We loaded up all the equipment that we had left charging at the house, and made the 15 minute drive to Waverly Hills. 

There are two addresses listed for Waverly Hills, but only one will take you to the gate you need to go to. The problem was, my GPS kept trying to re-reroute us to the wrong gate, no matter what we did. So, it was a little harrowing as we finally just had to trust that we could find the correct road without electronic help, which we successfully did. Eventually. Security is everything that people tell you it is. We had to go through two different checkpoints before arriving at the parking area. We pulled up about 20 minutes before our midnight start time, and there were already about a dozen people outside, milling around, taking pictures, and gasping about how spooky and massive the structure was. 

We were quickly allowed inside to the gift shop where we had to officially sign in and were allowed to make any purchases while we waited. I was a little disappointed in the selection; I had my heart set on some new books, but they didn't have any. T-shirt and hoodie designs/sizes were extremely limited, but the prices weren't too bad. I bought a t-shirt. Drinks, snacks, batteries, OTC meds, and small equipment pieces were also available. We had a few minutes to use the restroom while we waited for the 8pm paranormal tour finished up, and that's when Angie had HER first paranormal experience of the evening! She actually got locked into a stall and ended up having to crawl under the door to get out!

Base Camp

Shortly after, we were taken upstairs to the second floor base camp area. There were about 50 guests that night, and we were divided into two groups for a quick tour and safety briefing. The tour lasted around a half hour and took us to all five floors of the old hospital. It was suggested to leave flashlights turned off and let our eyes adjust to the dark. Unfortunately, that meant that we really didn't get a good look at much of the hospital. Our guide would be telling us stories and locations, and we just couldn't see anything. People were also stumbling around and bumping into things, which didn't seem like that good of an idea. Overall, my one disappointment for the evening was that you couldn't really see a lot. There were no daytime history tours of the hospital being held that day, and the 8pm-12am paranormal tour was completely sold out. With security so strict, we couldn't get anywhere near the building within daylight hours to really take some decent pictures or just appreciate the building in the light.

I'll be sharing more about our investigation in an upcoming blog post, but we had a blast. After the tour, we were allowed to free-roam pretty much the entire the building, including the roof. Although there were a lot of people walking around without lights and sound traveled pretty easily, we actually had a few experiences that we couldn't necessarily blame on the uncontrolled environment. We absolutely sat and played peek-a-boo with multiple humanoid shadows on the fifth floor after we knew for a fact that we were alone up there. Later, we heard and felt some crazy stuff in the Death Tunnel, including what sounded like the clatter of a plastic bowl or cup being thrown at us. For it to have been another person, they would have had to silently and swiftly got the hell out of there without responding to us asking who was there. 

Death Tunnel

The investigation lasted until 6am, but those wanting to bow out early had the option at 2am or 4am. We stuck it out to the last minute. I was really proud of myself for doing as well as I did. I had to take some pain medication, which helped a lot with my back issues, but caused me to have some brief bouts of heavy nausea. Still, I powered through with the help and understanding of Brian and Angie. We got to see and investigate every area of the hospital, which after awhile, I found was a little less intimidating in regards to its size. I thought for sure I'd get lost, but once you knew the basic layout, it was easy to navigate. The second, third, and fourth floors are nearly identical, and the staircases/EXIT signs are the one thing that ARE well-lit. 

We were sad to leave, but worn out and ready to head back to the house to get as much sleep as we could. We all walked away with a desire to return to Waverly Hills, potentially for a private investigation in the future. But first, sleep. I crawled into my bed as soon as we got in and must have fallen asleep almost immediately. I woke up just in time to get a quick shower before having to lock up and say goodbye to spooky AirBnB. Brian left a little early, but Angie and I rolled out right before 11, still tired but ready for one last adventure.

You can't go to Louisville without making a stop at the nearby Pope Lick Train Trestle for a visit with the Pope Lick Monster! The Pope Lick Monster is a man-goat-sheep monstrosity that haunts a train trestle outside Louisville. Depending on who's telling the legend, he was a circus freak that escaped, or a farmer that sold his soul. Sometimes he's said to jump down at cars driving under the bridge, sometimes he's seen with an axe, and sometimes it is said he is summoned by crossing the trestle. Unfortunately, several people have been killed while hunting for the Pope Lick Monster, as the train trestle is still an active rail line. There are plenty of fences and No Trespassing signs in the area, but that still isn't a huge deterrent for some. However, there is a walking/bike path that runs directly under the trestle, so it's easy to visit the area SAFELY. We stopped and got a few pictures, but didn't have high hopes of running into the monster at noon on a sunny, summer afternoon with so many people out. 

I'm planning on dedicating a blog post to the Pope Lick Monster legend, but I will say that I'm really glad we took the few extra minutes to stop. I don't know when I'll be back in Louisville, and I would have regretted not stopping by to pay my respects. It was a nice little end to a fun-filled paranormal adventure in Louisville, Kentucky.  Louisville is a town full of history and hauntings, and there was no shortage of spooky adventures to be had. There were so many more places we could have visited, but I'm happy. It was a great weekend with great friends, and I think we really made the most out of the short amount of time we had there. I can't wait to go back!

Pope Lick Trestle

For more pictures of our adventures, please see Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State on Facebook! 

A Tale of Two Sisters: Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Lois Higgs at 
Waverly Hills Sanatorium c. 1950's

Between 1926 and 1961, countless patients suffering from tuberculosis called Louisville's Waverly Hills Sanatorium home. Unfortunately, it would become a permanent home for many, as their only escape from the massive brick structure would be through death. Today, two of the facility's most well-known and well-loved patients are a pair of sisters who were both in and out of the hospital several times as young women. However, the outcome for these two ladies would be very different...

Audrey Mae and Lois Lindsey were just two of at least nine children born to William Roscoe Lindsey and Unia Myrtle "Minnie" White Lindsey. Audrey was the older of the two, being born on February 27, 1921, while lil' sis Lois was born on May 15, 1928. In the 1930 census, the family is living in Edmonson County Kentucky, and their father's occupation is listed as 'farmer.' 

At some point in the girls' lives, they contracted the dreaded 'White Plague.' According to various sources, both girls were in and out of Waverly Hills. At some point early on, Audrey gave birth to two boys, Bill and Roger Goode (according to a newspaper article, Roger was 13 in 1959). As of this writing, I couldn't determine if Audrey was divorced, never married, or simply just kept her last name, but she was still known as Audrey Lindsey during her hospital stays. 

The Courier-Journal
19 August 1956

Lois, on the other hand, was definitely married. She and her husband, Charlie Higgs, had three boys. The first, Ronnie, was born in 1947 and died in infancy. Charles Von/Vaughn would come next around 1949, and finally Larry would be born around 1952. Sadly, it is told to Waverly Hills tour patrons that (presumably) Larry was conceived on a rare sabbatical when Lois was well enough to leave the hospital and visit home. But, to protect the infant from catching TB, he was taken away from her right after birth. She watched him grow up from the solarium outside of her hospital room, while family members in the parking lot below would hold him up for her to see and to wave to. 

Although I haven't been able to pinpoint exactly when the two sisters were at Waverly Hills, they both are listed as being patients there on the 1950 census. In fact, Audrey and Lois shared a room: Room 220. And sadly, we also know that Lois was a patient at Waverly Hills in 1956 because that is where she passed away on August 18 at 4:30am. Her funeral was held at Sweeden Baptist Church, and she was buried in the church's graveyard. 

But, life moves on. Charles would remarry and have several more children, one whom he named Lois after his first wife. Audrey would go on to recover from tuberculosis. She got married to a man with the last name Wright, and had a daughter. Audrey passed away in Louisville on November 18, 1996. She had finally joined her sister in the afterlife. Whether or not either one actually moved on is up for debate...

The Courier-Journal
19 November 1996

Audrey and Lois were extremely close in life. Lois, who seemingly spent much more time at Waverly Hills, struggled with loneliness and isolation away from her family. I'm sure it was a huge comfort to have her older sister literally right by her side during this struggle towards health. As a result of this closeness, many believe the two girls are still in Room 220, eager to interact with visitors to the hospital. The girls loved the music of Elvis Presley, so ghost hunters eagerly play favorite songs and leave gifts, especially flowers. They are often rewarded with seeing things like mists and other light anomalies, or catching EVPs in the room. Several people have caught EVPs or heard messages through various ghost boxes calling for Audrey, asking for cigarettes, etc.  While SRI was visiting in August 2024, it sounded like 'Audrey' came over the SB-7, but I couldn't be sure. 

If you're planning a visit to Waverly Hills, make sure to stop by the second floor patient room where Lois took her last breath. You'll know it's the right room because it's the only one set up with a bed and a small table. If so inclined, leave a small gift for the girls. Play some Elvis for them. And most importantly, remember that each of the thousands of patients who called Waverly Hills home have their own story to tell, and if you listen closely, you might just hear it. 

1950 Census

Photos from SRI's Investigation on 10 August 2024

The Waverly Hills Orderly Murder

Waverly Hills Sanitarium

Waverly Hills Sanitarium is one of those dichotomous locations, so often found in paranormal research. While it was designed to be a state-of-the-art treatment facility and a beacon of hope for those suffering from the 'White Plague,' it was also a location filled with sickness and death. While many patients' health improved among morale-building activities and 'modern' medicine, countless others died painful deaths, and/or watched friends and loved ones succumb to the dreaded tuberculosis. But, tuberculosis (and the sometimes horrendous treatment methods) wasn't the only threat to be found within the halls. 

On January 29, 1954, 24 year old John Louis Griggs began a career as an orderly at the Waverly Hills Sanitarium, Kentucky's main tuberculosis treatment center. Griggs was a parolee from the LaGrange Reformatory, where he had been incarcerated since October 1952 for unlawfully detaining a woman while he was a soldier at Fort Knox. Arguably, he had been trying to turn his life around, when tragedy struck. 

Griggs, along with another orderly, 52 year old Edwin Albert Bareis were off-duty and in the orderlies' recreation room. According to Griggs, Bareis was intoxicated and began cursing at him, and threatening to kill him with a knife. Griggs claimed that he told Bareis that he was trying to live a "Christian life" and didn't want to fight him. Bareis apparently left, but then came back and started in on Griggs again, calling him a convict and going as far as to slap him. 

Being the bigger man, Griggs allegedly went to his bedroom, but was followed by Bareis and Peter J. Simon, a 40 year old telephone operator at the sanitarium. Griggs claimed the two started beating him, and Bareis had pulled a knife. So, Griggs grabbed him and threw him into the hallway, where Bareis hit his head on a wall. Griggs followed up with a punch to Bareis' jaw, after which Bareis fell and didn't get back up.

However, Simon told a different story. Simon claimed that Griggs and Bareis never left the recreation room. Griggs punched Bareis in the face, then proceeded to jump and stomp on his face and chest. Joseph Knott, a hospital maintenance man, also witnessed the event, and testified that Griggs was kicking and stomping Bareis, telling him he was "tired of you running over me."

No knife was ever found, and an autopsy revealed that Bareis suffered from major head trauma, broken ribs, and a ruptured spleen. However, despite the extent of injuries AND the statements of both Simon and Knott, Griggs was acquitted of murder. 

If I were a patient at Waverly Hills during this time, I'm not sure how I'd feel about the hospital hiring a parolee for direct patient care. But, from other articles I've read, it was difficult finding help, as the threat of contracting the disease or bringing it home to loved ones was a very real possibility. I'm usually all for giving second chances and providing employment for the previously incarcerated, but it seems like it was a big point of contention with other staff members...and a decision that would end with violence. 

The Courier-Journal
2 March 1954

The Courier-Journal
22 April 1954