Paranormal Activity at Putnam Aging

Putnam Aging
October 2024

In October of 2018, local news station, WCHS-TV ( article and video), ran a story involving potential paranormal activity caught on security camera. Upon arriving to the Putnam Aging offices, located at 2558 Winfield Road between Winfield and St. Albans, staff found the doors to one of their transport vans wide open. Fearing the work of thieves, security camera footage from around the property was closely inspected. 

No evidence of thieves, trespassers, vandals, or anyone else entering the property was found on the footage. Instead, staff was shocked to see that the doors to the van simply opened all by themselves around 1:19am! No explanation was ever found for why the doors were seemingly jiggled, then pushed open from inside the vehicle, a feat that should have been impossible with the door latch secured. 

Side of Building/Parking Lot
October 2024

While unsettling, this alleged paranormal activity came as no surprise, as spooky stuff had already been happening at the office building. Registered Nurse, Danny George, reports seeing a woman in an 1800's era gown in the main foyer. 

But who or what could be causing a haunting at the main offices of the Putnam County Aging program? The older building, located near the junction of Winfield Rd and old Teays Valley Road at Scary, is situated right on the Kanawha River. On the property is a memorial marker and informational signage for the 1861 Battle of Scary Creek.

Battle of Scary Creek Monument
October 2024

The Battle of Scary Creek took place on the afternoon of July 17th, around 3pm, and lasted for about three hours. In that time, the Confederate Army was able to hold off Union troops. However, a total of 19 soldiers did perish in that fight. Interestingly, there is another ghost story attached to this battle. About three weeks after the fight, neighbors living in the area heard the tell-tale sounds of battle. Rushing out, thinking another skirmish had started, they found nothing. For years, the phantom sounds of a battle replaying itself were heard. (Scary Creek Battlefield Blog)

Based on how the apparition was dressed, it would seem that at least one ghost haunting Putnam Aging is from the Civil War era, but it's anyone's guess as to who the woman actually may be. Perhaps she is a member of the Simms Family, or the Vintroux Family, both of whom have been in the area for many years. Perhaps the activity stems from way before the 1800's (archaeological explorations in 19th century have uncovered evidence of Woodlands-era people living in the immediate area). Or, perhaps the hauntings, especially the more trickster-like pranks of opening the van doors comes from way after the Civil War. For whatever reason, this stretch of road has had quite a history of fatal car crashes, especially throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, with many losing their lives in sight of the Putnam Aging Property. 

Ghost hunters were allowed to come in and check out the potential activity, the results of which can be found at the Mitchell Family Reality Show TV YouTube Channel. 

Map Card of 2558 Winfield Rd.

Property Outlined in Light Blue. Note the Kanawha River to the
right and the Battlefield Grounds to the left.