Pocahontas Ghost Causes Man to Faint

 

Today, Appalachian Ghost Tours, aided by members of WV Unseen, will return to the Pocahontas Fuel Company's office building in downtown Pocahontas, Virginia for a public investigation. I'm going to wait until after that investigation to publish a blog post on that particular location, but while we're waiting, I thought I'd share one of the town's historic ghost stories I found in the newspaper archives.  The following tale, transcribed below, comes from the Clinch Valley News and Richlands Press out of Bristol, Virginia, and is dated February 8, 1901. I honestly have no idea what the heck is going on in this story. Is it a true account, and if so did the gentleman actually see a ghost, or just a misidentification of a lady in a giant hat? Is it a bit of fanciful fiction, or even some sort of social and/or political commentary? I'll let you decide...

A POCAHONTAS GHOST

On Saturday evening a friend came in about 10 o'clock, just as all were leaving for a stroll down town. "Don't let me detain you," was his remark, "as I will go up stairs and take a sleep." In a short time he heard some noise below, slipped down in his stocking feet to the bottom of the stairs, stopping concluded that he had been dreaming. Started back, when he heard another noise, pushed the room door and standing in the middle of the room was a ghost with a horse collar extending over the forehead, about the size of a small stove pipe. He fainted. Just at time a lady entered the front door, and finding him in this condition, gathered a pitcher of water, the only water on the place, it being a dry day in Pocahontas, dashed it in his face, which revived him. He thought he had fallen in Bluestone. When he revived he found a beautiful young lady dressed in a splendid dotted white dress, with a very fashionable pompadoure hat. Not being satisfied with her looking glass she had come over to consult her young friend as to her make up. My young friend is only seventy years old, and I doubt if he gets another horse collar scare whether he will ask any of the young ladies to marry him or not. The young lady being one of the most beautiful and popular in the town, and her magnificent appearance on this occasion would have made an older man than my young friend faint. 

Clinch Valley News and Richlands Press
08 February 1901

William Campbell Paroled from WV State Penitentiary

WV State Penitentiary 1910
Source: WV History on View

During the early 1900's, it was customary for the governor of West Virginia to grant a Christmas-time pardon to an inmate of the West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville. Usually, this was the oldest prisoner in age and/or the prisoner who at that time, had served the longest sentence and was no longer considered a threat to society. I like to feature these pardons each December, but it's rare to come across a NON-holiday pardon (or in this case, early parole) of an inmate. However, I did stumble upon one such case from 1908.

In 1905, William Campbell, an African American from Summers County, was sentenced to 12 years at the penitentiary for his alleged role in a robbery that took place on a Chesapeake and Ohio train. He, along with several other African American men were accused of robbing three white men of $1.20 in cash, a watch, and a knife. The three white men were forced to exit the train at Hinton, and Campbell was later picked up in nearby Ronceverte. 

Despite the victims not being able to positively identify Campbell, they couldn't say he WASN'T there either, so he was convicted, all the while maintaining his innocence. 

Campbell was described as a model prisoner but was unable to do much of the hard labor usually assigned to inmates as part of their punishment. Instead, he spent at least two years almost exclusively in the infirmary with a terminal case of tuberculosis. In May of 1908, the warden of the penitentiary wrote to Governor Dawson, requesting an early release on behalf of Campbell. Campbell wasn't given long to live, and he had relatives in Washington, D.C. willing to care for him. The request was granted, and Campbell went to spend the rest of his days in our nation's capital. Unfortunately, due to his extremely common name and lack of other details, I was unable to definitively confirm when Campbell did finally succumb to his illness. But, I think it's safe to say that his final breath was NOT taken behind the iron bars of the West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville. 

Want MORE West Virginia State Penitentiary articles? CLICK HERE!

The Daily Telegram
Clarksburg, WV
22 May 1908

 

An UnHappy Mother's Day Ghost

Happy Mother's Day from Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State! On a previous Mother's Day blog, I wrote about the strong bond between mother and child, and how that bond could not be broken, even in death. Usually, this bond is a beautiful and loving phenomenon, as illustrated in the case of the Greenbrier Ghost. Mary Heaster was so convinced that her daughter, Zona reached out to her from beyond the grave to seek help in bringing her murderer to justice, that she publicly testified this information, leading to the conviction of Zona's husband. But, today's story is a little different. When this mother passed away, her spirit reached out to them...not in a protective or loving way....but in a pretty scary way. It almost sounds like she was desperately trying to take one child WITH her. 

Did this 'ghost mother' have ill intentions toward her son, or was the ball of fire that landed on his chest, making him sick, and then her apparition carrying him towards the door before flinging him down just her way of trying to warn the family of something? Maybe she WAS being protective of the young boy, and trying to get him to the doctor! This story appeared in the July 6, 1888 edition of the (Wheeling) Daily Register, but occurs just across the river into Belmont County, OH. 

Daily Register (Wheeling, WV)
06 July 1888

Preston County Wild Man

Newburg ca 1910
Source

I wasn't planning on sharing another Wild Man story so soon, but as I was going through some old newspaper articles I had saved, I came across this story from the September 27, 1879 edition of the West Virginia Argus. It discusses a wild man located near 'Newfield.' Now, I couldn't find any confirmation of a Newfield anywhere in or near West Virginia, but the Argus is based in Preston County. There IS a town in Preston County named Newburg, which was incorporated in 1868 as a railroad town. If I had to guess, these events actually took place in Newburg.

Anyway, this is another story where the entity in question is not really a Bigfoot-type wild man but is obviously a human. However, similar to my recent story about the wild man seen around Berkeley Castle (see article HERE), this particular wild man has attributes that seem almost supernatural in nature. He is able to move with superhuman stealth and swiftness, and according to the article, glides almost snake-like, avoiding blows that should have easily hit their mark. 

This wild man was also pretty darn bold. Most of the wild man stories I post tend to feature those who are very shy in nature, trying to avoid contact with the civilized world as much as possible. This wild man, however, not only walked right into a guy's house as he was playing euchre with friends and hopped in his bed, but then SHOT HIM, hitting him in his hair, the next day. 

I've transcribed the article below with paragraph breaks to make it a little easier to read, and also included the original. In addition to the name of the town being a little off, there are some other minor errors, which I tried to leave in for the sake of posterity. 

A Wild Man

Newfield has come to the front with a hairy wild man, so awful mysterious, and formidable that he opens up a new field for thought and investigation. He has been seen by some of the most unimpeachable residents of, and visitors to, South Section. He is described as over six feet tall, clad in rough and scanty attire, and wearing a grizzly beard that reaches almost to his knees. 

Although he has chased several fishermen who have invaded his secluded domain in quest of brook trout, and shot a peaceable farmer near Newfield station, no active steps have been made toward his capture, and yet he roams at large. His latest and most daring exploit occurred about a week ago, when he left the gloom of the forest and actually entered an unoccupied dwelling in the broad light of day.

Large and heavy as the wild man is, he glides so swiftly and silently that he frequently is at hand before his coming has been observed. In this silent, ghost-like manner he is said to have floated into the house of a farmer named Payne. The farmer and three companions were engaged in an interesting game of euchre and were not aware of the wild untilan's company. Payne felt something bushy touching the back part of his head, when, looking up, he found it to be the great beard of the strange hermit. Payne jumped to his feet, and would have struck the silent visitor with a chair, but he avoided the blow, and with mysterious steps made his way to an adjoining room and stretched himself upon a bed.

Payne followed him and again raised the chair to strike him, but again he seemed to glide from beneath it, and this time he made his exit through the window by a gliding, snake-like motion, but as silently as a wreath of smoke ascends to the blue ether. The farmer watched him and saw him leave his premises and enter a patch of woods near by, and supposed he had disappeared for good, but during the evening of that same day he returned and was seen standing under a tree near the house as though deliberating whether to enter the house. After standing there a short time, he turned around suddenly and ran rapidly back to the woods. 

Next day one of the farmer's cows strayed away and he started off to look for it. Shortly after he left the house his family heard the sharp report of a rifle, and in a few minutes back came Payne, pale and breathless, and well-nigh done for. As soon as he could set the machinery of speech in motion he described in graphic language the cause of his excitement. It was an encounter with the wild man. He said he was walking through a small clearing, calling "ko boss, ko boss," when without warning he heard a rifle discharged close by and felt the wind of a bullet as it whistled over his forehead through the rim of his felt hat and through his erect hair. He fell flat upon the ground, partially stunned, and it was well he did, for the wild man, thinking his first shot had proved fatal, shouldered his piece and strode off into the underbrush. This strange episode is at present the theme uppermost all through South Section, and it is said that a posse of hunters are preparing to track the wild man, and if possible effect his capture alive or dead. 

West Virginia Argus
27 September 1879

TALA Tales: Dean Metheny

Find-a-Grave
Photo by Elaine Everitt

Whether there for an overnight investigation, or just a paranormal tour, visitors to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, WV are inundated with tragic tales of the patients who once called the old hospital home. Many believe that quite a few of those patients remain there to this day, and guides share their stories, as well as possible interactions with them in the spirit realm. One particular haunting that leaves an impression on all who hear of it, is the ghost of Dean Metheny and his tormentors. 

Dean Metheny was born October 20, 1937 to parents Pauletta and Lewis Metheny. Unfortunately, Dean would suffer developmental delays. Those who knew him described him as very sweet and child-like. For the most part, he was a docile, happy guy...until he wasn't. Dean was prone to violent outbursts, most likely an expression of frustration brought on by not being able to clearly communicate his needs and wants to those around him. 

As a grown man, it would have been increasingly difficult for aging parents to not only control these violent outbursts, but provide adequate treatment and care for his condition. It was decided that the best place for him to be was in a state institution, which in this case was the Weston State Hospital. 

In September of 1987, Dean was just a month away from celebrating his 50th birthday. Due to his violent outbursts, he was assigned to Ward F, along with some of the more violent patients at the hospital. It is said that on the day in question, Dean spent time coloring with a nurse, before being sent to a seclusion dorm. Secluded, it was not, however. In the room with him were David Michael Mason (25 years old) and James Woods (30 years old). Annoyed by Dean's child-like demeanor, the two men decided to make him be quiet. They wrapped a bedsheet around his neck and strung him up over a pipe in the room. There they kept him until he lost consciousness. Then, they took him down, let him regain consciousness....and then they did it again. This went on for several sessions before the two men either got bored, tired, or scared they were going to get in trouble. 

To put an end to their games, one of them held Dean's head down and positioned one of the legs of the metal-framed bed over his head. The other man then jumped up and down on the bed, piercing Dean's skull and killing him. On one of my visits to the asylum, a tour guide said that when asked why they had killed him, Mason and Woods claimed that they didn't kill him---a ghost did. I'm not sure if this was actually the case, because I can't currently find any other mention of that story. It may be something confused with an 1877 murder at the asylum where a patient killed his roommate and then claimed that God had made him do it (see article HERE). 

Dean's body was taken home to his family, and he was buried in the Shady Grove Cemetery in Bruceton Mills. His killers, already institutionalized for violent crimes, didn't really suffer any consequences for taking a life. In fact, Mason would go on to be involved in the death of ANOTHER patient several years later. In 1992, Mason beat up George Bodie, who died shortly after. It was ruled that even though he died of a heart attack, it was a result of the interaction with Mason. (See article HERE)

TALA 2017

Today, ghost hunters have claimed that the quiet, shy ghost of Dean likes to interact them in the area of his death, which was ironically fairly close to the nurse's station. Dean, who was believed to be mute (possibly deaf/mute) enjoys communicating in ways he wasn't able to in life, by using devices such as flashlights and the Ovilus. Some visitors have even felt a gentle hug in what is known as 'Dean's Room.' But witnesses have often reported that not long after making contact with Dean, at least one (and sometimes two) shadowy male figures will show up. These shadow beings produce a feeling of nausea and uneasiness to many who witness them, and it is reported that there is a considerable mood shift. This is when Dean tends to quiet down and disappear, prompting many to believe that the shadows, which didn't show up until AFTER Mason's death off-site, are the spirits of his tormentors. 

Theresa's Note: For years, I've put off sharing this particular story out of respect for both living family members/parties involved, and because I never actually LIKE to share tragedies. As a paranormal researcher/investigator, I have a lot of conflicting feelings about sharing stories like this. On one hand, I don't want to exploit the tragic nature of death and suffering for the sake of a good ghost story. But on the other hand, since these stories ARE a part of history and ARE a piece of the puzzle when it comes to understanding why locations are haunted, I feel like it's important to share them as accurately as possible, giving a voice to those who can no longer speak for themselves. 

Interestingly, the sources that I remember being available on this specific case are almost impossible for me to find now. I can't even find any relevant newspaper articles on my archive services of choice. Sometime in the near future, I plan on going to check out the microfiche collection at the library, so if I find anything of note, I'll update then. And, if you do get the opportunity to investigate this fascinating location, maybe take along some crayons and paper and take a few minutes to color with Dean. Speak gently to him and listen for him to communicate back in his unique way. Hopefully, he'll one day finally find the peace and safety he deserved, but was so tragically denied. 

Want MORE TALA Tales?

The Wild Man of Berkeley Castle

 

The Hills Behind Berkeley Castle

Wild man stories, as found in old newspaper articles, can be broadly categorized in one of two ways: 1. potential Bigfoot-type creatures, or 2. Real humans, often those suffering from mental illness. The wild man of Berkeley Springs seems to fit into the category of being human---but maybe not your average crazy guy.

In the spring of 1902, the citizens of Berkeley Springs were trying to capture a 'wild man.' This fellow, clad in a blue coat and trousers, was apparently living in the area. At the time, the Samuel Taylor Suit castle was unoccupied. Several witnesses claimed that the man was sleeping at night in the castle. Around dawn, he'd shimmy down the stone columns of the castle, and retreat into the wilderness behind the estate. He was said to have been as swift as a deer, and able to easily navigate the rocky, craggy hillside. He also had a keen eye, and was able to detect any would-be captors. 

But who was this not-so-wild wild man? By the color of his clothing, it may suggest that he was a veteran of the Union Army. Certainly, the Eastern Panhandle saw quite a bit of action during the Civil War, but by 1902, this man should have been about 60 years old or older. Could a man of that age really move around the rough terrain that easily? But...what if he was not a LIVING man, but a ghost?

Berkeley Castle was built by Samuel Taylor Suit in the 1880's as a way to woo his young wife, Rosa Pelham. Suit died after a brief illness in 1888, never seeing the castle's construction fully complete. Rosa finished the castle, but blew through her inheritance by hosting lavish parties at the castle. It is rumored that her husband may or may not have died of natural causes, a claim which gained further suspicion as two of Rosa's lovers also died in the castle. 

Was the man in blue simply a squatter, taking refuge in an empty castle at night...or was he the ghost of one of Rosa's lovers? Could he be the ghost of a Union soldier who died in the area during the Civil War? I'll let you decide!   

Check out my previous blog post on the Ghosts of Berkeley Castle!

Martinsburg Herald
19 April 1902

The Devil Steals a Body

Obviously, I come across some really weird stuff in my research, but this incident from Arkansas in 1913 is probably one of the weirder things I've seen in a LONG time. According to an article that appeared in the Fairmont West Virginian on June 21, 1913, a group of mourners were sitting up with the corpse of farmer near Waldron, Arkansas. To everyone's shock, a creature, complete with horns and a red-painted face entered the home, wrapped in chains. The red-furred creature was also clad in white robes, and apparently did not utter a word as he entered. Understandably, the witnesses fled, and upon returning, found the coffin of the farmer completely empty. Was this some cruel prank, or did the Devil himself come to collect one of his own?

The Fairmont West Virginian
21 June 1913

'Cursed' Horse Loses 1987 Kentucky Derby

Demons Begone #6
by
Anne Eberhardt: Source

Back in 1987, a three year old colt by the name of Demons Begone won the Arkansas Derby. The horse with the interesting name, owned by John Ed Anthony and trained by Phil Hauswald, had won all three of his previous races and was the clear favorite for winning the upcoming Kentucky Derby.  Unfortunately, fate would step in and rob the horse of its predicted victory.

Before the race was halfway through, it was apparent there was a major problem with Demons Begone. Walked off the track by jockey Pat Day, and inspected by veterinarian Gary Lavin, it was discovered that Demons Begone had begun bleeding from the nostrils. Another horse ended up in the winner's circle of the Kentucky Derby, but that didn't mean Demons Begone was out of the spotlight just yet.

The whole incident had caught the attention of C. Mitchell Bedford. Bedford was a self-proclaimed horse psychic and equine exorcist. He owned a horse farm just outside of Winchester, KY called the Rising Star Horse and Health Farm where he spiritually treated horses with the help of psychic healing, facilitated by former vets who were now in the spiritual realm themselves. And, by spiritually treating horses, I mean he was on record for having treated two horses, Sam and Rocky. 

C. Mitchell Bedford at Rising Star Farm
Lexington Herald-Leader
06 May 1987

Bedford was convinced that Demons Begone was, by some measure, possessed by actual demons. You see, his very name was a personal affront to the demon world. Demons be gone? Well, those demons would show humanity just how 'gone' they were by....well, I guess...causing a horse to lose the Kentucky Derby. 

Bedford offered to exorcise Demons Begone to really make the demons be gone, a process by which he apparently just sternly but politely asked them to leave. He stated in the local paper that the owners of the horse had nothing to lose and everything to gain by letting him have a shot at cleansing the equine's demons. However, it doesn't appear as if Anthony ever took him up on the offer. 

Luckily, Demons Begone was able to recover from his health problems. He lived to race again, but never quite achieved his former glory. In 1989, he was put out to stud at the Claiborne Farm near Paris, KY. In 1997 he was moved to El Dorado Farms in Washington state, where he spent his final days. He passes away on July 4, 2001 due to a ruptured aorta. 

It is unclear whether Demons Begone really ever bid his demons be gone. 

Sources and Further Reading:

Washington Stallion Demons Begone Dead. Blood Horse July 8, 2001

Demons Begone Wins Southwest Stakes. Blood Horse February 21, 2019

Ventura County Star
03 May 1987

Lexington Herald-Leader
06 May 1987

The Alderson Lion

Summer 2023
Lion statue and Historical Sign

Straddling Monroe and Greenbrier Counties is the little town of Alderson, WV. Perhaps more well-known for being the site of the first federal prison for women (where Martha Stewart did her stint for insider trading), students of the strange and unusual know Alderson has another claim to fame: The Alderson Lion.

In 1890, French and Company's Great Railroad Show, a small circus and menagerie, made a stop in the area. During their stay, the lioness gave birth to a litter of cubs. According to sources, there were anywhere from 3 to 5 cubs born during this time. Unfortunately, the circus wasn't prepared to allow one of their star attractions time off to care for her new family...and there certainly wasn't enough extra staff to offer the care needed to raise the cubs by hand. So, the order was given for an employee to take the cubs down to the river to drown them. Some sources say that two of the cubs had already died by this point, leaving three to face a watery grave. 

Luckily, the wife of the local blacksmith happened to see what was going on. Mrs. Susan Beabout (there's about 50 different spellings given for her last name and I'm not sure which is correct) couldn't stand to see the cubs drowned and offered to take them herself. Despite her best efforts, only one cub would survive, a male which went by the name of 'French,' or in some cases, 'Leo.'

French was a tame and docile animal. He was raised with Tabby the cat and would often gently carry his little friend around in his mouth. The young lion was largely allowed to roam the town by himself, and often followed his owner wherever she went. French was a curious creature, and loved interacting with the townsfolk, who at first were okay with the idea of their local lion. But, French was growing up...

The Bridge the Traveling Salesman
Jumped Off to Avoid French

The townsfolk began to express concerns when French started transitioning from a cute, little cub into a full-sized male lion. To further complicate things, one evening a traveling salesman was crossing the bridge from the southside to the northside. He heard something walking behind him, and as he turned to investigate, found himself face to face with a LION. Terrified by seeing the King of the Jungle in little Alderson, WV, the salesman took off running, and leapt off the bridge into the Greenbrier River, where he swam for shore. He made it to the northside, and to the home of a local doctor, where he promptly fainted dead away. 

In another tale, another traveler who had made a stop while riding the train from Richmond to Cincinnati, had a run-in with French. Perhaps having imbibed a little too much, this gentleman was also pretty freaked out about running head-first into a LION downtown. 

Due to incidents such as these, and growing concerns from citizens, the town passed a law stating that all lions must be leashed. That law is still technically on the books to this day. At first, Mrs. Beabout fenced in her yard and kept French leashed when out, but again, there were concerns as the gentle giant began to outgrow the small property. 

In the fall of 1891, the 11-month old lion was donated to the Rock Creek Park Zoo in Washington, D.C. Zoo superintendent, W.H. Blackburn, remarked that French was one of the finest specimens he'd ever seen, and the lion soon became a star attraction. According to some sources, French would not stay at the zoo, however. He was possibly later sold to Barnum and Bailey circus in 1894, or perhaps died in 1894. Whatever French's fate, he left a lasting impression on a small town. In addition to the strange leash law still on the books, the town boasts subtle nods to French in the form of statues, artworks, and even a festival called Lion Days. 

Further Reading and Sources:

William G. Pomeroy Foundation Historical Marker Article

WV Encyclopedia: Alderson Lion

West Virgina Argus
01 October 1891

The Independent Herald (Hinton, WV)
23 February 1938

Hinton Daily News
06 January 1960

Beckley Post-Herald
08 November 1965

French's Advertisement
The Valley Virginian
02 October 1890

The Glowing Tombstone of Pittsburgh

Tombstone of Giovanna Cecere
Photo by Find-a-Grave user, Roseanne Kocinski-Fowler

Giovanna Cecere was born on June 23, 1929 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to parents Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cecere. She was one of at least seven children. Unfortunately, a heart condition would end her life far too soon. She passed away on October 27, 1948 at the age of 19 and was buried in St. Michael's Cemetery. But, she would not rest in peace for long.

On Friday, July 31, 1953, hundreds of curiosity seekers flocked to the cemetery to catch a glimpse of a spectacular sight. A few days before, Mrs. Germaine Woods of 117 St. Paul Street, noticed something strange. It was an eerie yellow-green glow, coming from a tombstone in St. Michael's. That tombstone would, obviously, turn out to be that of Giovanna Cecere. As word spread about the strange phenomena, a throng of onlookers began arriving, and police were called in to help control the situation. That night, Police Inspector Paul Mozuch showed up to control the crowds, as well as try to figure out just why the tombstone was glowing. According to his observations, the tombstone itself was made of a highly polished red marble. No paint or powders were present that would explain the glow. Further, it didn't seem that the stone was reflecting any nearby lights.

The glow seemed to come from an area around the porcelain portrait of Giovanna which was on the tombstone. Weirdly, the glow wasn't observed to those standing in front of the tombstone, or anywhere IN the cemetery for that matter. The glow was only observed from a spot on St. Paul Street, about half a mile away.

Also called in that night, was George Cecere, the brother of Giovanna, who lived nearby, as well as the parish priest. The priest covered the tombstone, which extinguished the glow, then blessed the grave with holy water, leaving it covered.  George and Mozuch stayed until 3 am that night, keeping watch over the grave.  However, that was merely the beginning of a weekend full of onlookers.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
03 August 1953

Each night, the gates to the cemetery were locked, and the tombstone was covered up. That didn't stop people from showing up, though. Worse yet, it didn't detract treasure hunters from trying to chip away at Giovanna's stone, especially her portrait. Chicken wire was put up around the gravesite and padlocks (which were broken off) locked up the gates. Patrolman Michael O'Toole and Acting Lt. John Perich were on site Sunday to direct traffic and replace the covering that kept being removed. 

The church's official stance was that this whole thing was the result of crazy rumors, and was not supernatural, nor miraculous in nature. Inspector Mozuch personally believed that the tombstone's glow was a result of the stone absorbing the sun's rays all day long. Norgal Hoger, a chemist who had not observed the stone in person, gave the explanation of 'fox-fire' as it was a common phenomenon in cemeteries. Whatever, the cause, the mania would eventually die down. Today, Giovanna once again lies in rest. She is joined by her sister, Mary Jo, who shares the tombstone. What is conspicuously missing, however, is the porcelain portrait that once graced the tomb and was said to be the center of the mysterious glow. Was it removed by the family to put the rumors to rest...or did one of those treasure hunters actually walk away with a prize?

"The glowing tombstone" is a popular trope in paranormal research, and with the glow centering on the tombstone portrait, I can't help but think about West Virginia's 'Devil Baby of Ravenswood,' in which a similar portrait was the root of a spooky legend. Feel free to go check out that blog post as well, and if you visit Giovanna or little George (The Devil Baby of Ravenswood), please remember that these were real people...not just ghost stories. Treat them with the respect they deserve. And as always, happy haunting. 

Giovanna's Obituary
Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph
28 October 1948

The Pittsburgh Press
01 August 1953

The Star Press (Muncie, Indiana)
02 August 1953

Marsh Fork Monster: Big Cat or Hoax?

Beckley Post-Herald 
20 October 1968

Earlier this week, there was an inquiry made in The Wild and Weird West Virginia Facebook group concerning a potential 'monster' from Naoma, WV, which terrorized a man named Wiley in the 1960's. According to the poster, it was later revealed that the whole thing was a hoax, but not before a newspaper article was published on the phenomenon. I've transcribed the article I found on the incident below, and will follow with some of my own thoughts. Enjoy!  

From the Beckley Post-Herald (20 October 1968): 

A mysterious wild animal that rips dogs to nearly unrecognizable shreds, climbs trees to devour roosting chickens, and emits blood-curdling screams, is terrorizing residents of Marsh Fork District in Raleigh County.

Believed to be a large member of the cat family, the animal has left traces of its wide swath of destruction in the Naoma, Dry Creek, and Horse Creek areas. Meanwhile, clusters of citizens who congregate at local post offices and general stores repeat rumors that the 'varmint' has made its presence known as far north as Whitesville in Boone County.

"It sounds to me like a big elephant, the way it hollers," said Cuba Wiley of Naoma, who has lost 12 chickens to the beast since September 1. According to Wiley, the cat or whatever, comes down a mountain near his home on the average of three to four nights a week. As it lumbers down, Wiley says that he can hear limbs breaking under its feet. Only when it reaches the bottom, in Wiley's driveway, does the cat give its vicious yell. "Then it sounds like it goes up a tree like a gray squirrel," notes Wiley.

Although Wiley has never caught a glimpse of the cat in the darkness, he believes it is accompanied by two young cubs. He has found both large and small footprints, the largest he estimates at four inches long and four inches wide, leading to the belief that the animal weighs between three hundred and four hundred pounds.

Wiley's home is one of several where members of the communities stand vigil with high-powered rifles in hopes of destroying the animal. So far, one bullet has grazed one of the small cubs, knocking out tufts of red hair, tipped in gray. 

According to Horse Creek residents, where the cat has attacked several dogs including eight pups, the Department of Natural Resources has identified a track made there as that of a jaguar, an animal of brownish-yellow color with black spots. But most of the townspeople are skeptical of that identification. Some have termed it a "monster," refusing to believe that even an animal could put up such a mournful wail. 

Said Wiley, "People think I've been telling it to keep squirrel hunters away, but this thing is a smart one and is going to be hard to catch. A lot of people are afraid---we won't tangle with him."

Theresa's Thoughts:  It's interesting that the DNR identified the tracks as being from a jaguar. Jaguars aren't native to West Virginia and have never had a population here. Given the time period, it is possible that a jaguar could have escaped from a zoo or traveling circus...or even have been someone's personal pet that got loose. But, the idea that there was a very large creature accompanied by at least two cubs suggests a breeding pair at the least, making the escapee theory just a LITTLE less likely.

The next closest candidate may be a mountain lion, or cougar. According to different sources, the last mountain lion in WV was killed in 1887, but continued sightings in various locations lasted many years after that. However, by the 1950's, the mountain lion was declared legally extinct here in the Mountain State. That hasn't stopped citizens throughout West Virginia from reporting mountain lion sightings up to this day. Pretty much every person I know living in even a remotely rural area has seen or heard evidence of mountain lions. So was it a mountain lion that was stealing Wiley's chickens and killing dogs?

It's possible, but that doesn't explain Wiley's estimation of the massive weight of the creature, nor the color of the tuft of fur found. A female mountain lion (presumably it was a female since it had cubs) rarely gets heavier than 120lbs, and males only go up to about 200lbs. Some mountain lions living in warm, humid climates may be more of a reddish color, but they generally tend to be a tawny brown. 

So, was this whole thing one big misidentification? A hoax? Or, is there a small possibility that the area around Naoma, WV was being stalked by a mysterious creature from the depths of cryptozoology? 

Are There Mountain Lions in West Virginia? by Amanda Barber (29 June 2022)

Mountain Lions in West Virginia- AZ Animals
 

Graham House Hauntings

Graham House 2024
Photo by Theresa

Last year, SRI investigated the haunted and historic Campbell Flanagan Murrell House Museum (blog coming soon!) in Hinton, WV. I arrived in town early to check out some of the local museums and explore downtown a bit. I wandered into the Summers County Visitor's Center and had a lovely chat with the girl working. Obviously, the topic of why I was in town came up, and taking full advantage of the resources at hand, asked her about other local places that were haunted. She suggested the nearby Graham House, an 18th century log cabin that had a history of spooky encounters and had even been investigated several times by local ghost hunters.

The following Monday, I sent a message and quickly booked an investigation at this fascinating and new-to-me location!

The Graham House was built between 1770 and 1772 by Colonel James Graham and his wife, Florence. The log cabin boasted two full floors plus an attic, and various outbuildings.  Life on the western frontier wasn't an easy one, but the Graham family made a good living on their 286 acre farm, raising at least nine children there. But, tragedy would strike one spring evening in 1777. 

1777 was a tumultuous year for attacks on white settlers by the Native Americans in the area. In fear of an upcoming attack, the family, joined by several other area settlers, spent a couple of weeks across the river at the fort/home of the Van Bibber family. However, the family needed to return to their own property and prepare the crops for the upcoming season. On the evening of May 16th, the family was asleep, not knowing that their home had been stalked for days, awaiting the right time. 

Colonel Graham had been feeling ill and had actually fallen asleep on a bench in front of the door to the cabin. That move may have saved the lives of those in the cabin, as he was able to quickly block the front door with the bench and a heavy water tub. Unfortunately, through the scuffle, shots were fired through the door. A neighbor man named McDonald, who had accompanied the family to help with the crops, was shot and killed. The remaining men fired their own guns towards the attackers, while the women and some of the younger children were holed up upstairs. With them was the Graham's oldest son, 13 year old William, who had been sleeping in the main house because, like his father, he was also feeling ill. And, again, that was probably what saved HIS life. 

Had William not been ill, he probably would have been bunking with his two middle siblings, 10 year old John, and 8 year old Elizabeth. 

While the majority of the family were busy securing the main house, John and Elizabeth had been sleeping in the second-floor loft area of the kitchen building, located behind the cabin. Also in that building was a young slave boy named Sharpe. Sharpe, realizing what was going on, tried to flee via the chimney, but as the building was invaded, the attackers saw his foot dangling from the chimney and grabbed him. They dragged him outside and killed him. 

Whether because the children began crying, or the Native Americans had reason to suspect there were additional people upstairs, they fired their guns into the loft area. John was hit in the knee and also dragged out. As the boy was deemed too wounded to be kidnapped and marched away, he too was killed. Elizabeth, however, was taken hostage. She would remain with the Natives for eight years, until her father, at an estimated cost of $300 was finally able to negotiate her release at a meeting in what is now Chillicothe, OH, and travel to Maysfield, KY where she had been adopted by an Indian family. It is said that even after she was returned, she had a hard time readjusting and tried to run away at least three times before being married off to Joel Stodgill in 1792. 

After Colonel Graham passed away in 1813, the home remained in the family until right around the time of the Civil War. It was then occupied by the family of Colonel Wilson Lively, followed by the Keslers, who married into the Livelys. Other owners included the Thayer family, the Barickmans, and the Muhlys. The Muhly family, with its six kids, were the last private owners, calling the Graham House home from the mid-1970's to the mid-1980's. Unfortunately, they lost control over the property. Luckily, the home would be saved by the newly formed Graham House Preservation Society, who operates it to this day. 

With over 250 years of history, there are bound to be some ghost stories attached to the property, many of which seem to stem from the horrific tragedy of 1777 that left a stain upon the land. Two settlers and a slave were killed. A young girl was kidnapped.  It is also believed that at least one Native American was fatally injured and taken to nearby Indian Draft. When a skeleton was found there several years later, Colonel Graham claimed the jawbone and used it in the home as a gun rack. The energy of this location is palpable and those who are even the least bit sensitive are likely to pick up on the tension. On one side, you have a family who is fighting with everything they have to protect their home, and what they believe is their right to be there. On the other, you have a group of people fighting to protect THEIR way of life after seeing from prior events that the white settlers as a whole couldn't be trusted.

Aside from a general feeling, there have been plenty of specific incidents. An old Victrola, presumed to be inoperable, was found playing by itself. To date, it has not worked since.  The caretaker's mother witnessed a very life-like woman in white coming down the stairs from the second floor to the main floor, right about where the stairs turn. Two separate witnesses have seen a 'brown man' in the vicinity of the modern kitchen/banquet area that was built in the 1970s. Footsteps are heard coming from downstairs when the witnesses are upstairs, and vacuum cords are known to unplug themselves from the wall. 

When SRI visited last spring, at two different times, we distinctly heard a female's voice. The first time we heard it, Brian and I were upstairs at Leila was outside taking pictures. No one else had shown up yet. The voice sounded like it was coming from outside, so we just assumed it was Leila. When she joined us inside, we asked who she had been talking to. We thought she had either taken a phone call, or another member had shown up. She hadn't said a word. And, to test it out, we sent her BACK out to talk at various points around the building. When on the front porch, we could BARELY hear her, and it was very muffled, not like the loud, clear, crisp voice we had heard earlier. 

Later, as the entire team was on the first floor, we again heard a woman's voice. We ran outside to make sure no one was trespassing but found nothing. However, we realized that we DID catch the voice on audio. It sounds like the same female voice as before, but it cannot be made out exactly what she is saying. 

There were some phantom touches that night, as well as plenty of references to witches and witchcraft coming over the spirit box. I was asked through our resident sensitive if "my daddy was an injun." I can only assume that Colonel Graham and family have some lingering prejudices in the afterlife...

Graham House Preservation Society Website

Graham House Preservation Society Facebook

National Register Application 

A Three-Prong Approach to Paranormal Research

Researching Spooky Stuff at
The Gray Barker Archives

Summary: The process of researching haunted locations can be summed up in three main areas: 1. STORIES AND EXPERIENCES, 2. HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION, and 3. DATA COLLECTION. An investigation usually starts with the reputation of a location for being haunted, and an examination of the stories and witness experiences associated with it. It is then followed up by researching the history of the location and collecting data, such as EMF readings, photographs, EVP recordings, etc. Further, these three 'prongs' are not linear. For example, some will collect data before looking into the history. More often than not, investigators will circle back around as new information is uncovered. In a perfect scenario, all three areas will interconnect, supporting and backing each other up. However, we all know that this trifecta rarely occurs; fortunately, that doesn't mean that a location or an investigation does not have value.

It's no secret that I am fascinated with anything and everything weird and spooky! Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State exists as a way to document and share a gamut of strange and unusual topics. UFOs, cryptids, psychic phenomena, and Fortean events are just some of the subjects that have found a home here on my blog. But, throughout my work in this field, the study of ghosts and hauntings has remained my main focus.

For today's post, I thought I'd do a commentary on what I consider to be the ideal trifecta in regard to the investigation and research of haunted locations. As both a researcher AND a paranormal field investigator, a multitude of allegedly haunted sites come across my radar on a regular basis. I love hearing about potentially haunted places and researching the history behind them. However, what makes a location REALLY pique my interest? What makes me excited to actually do on-site investigation research?

Not all haunted locations are created equal. Aside from investigative logistics, such as accessibility, health/safety concerns, and other external variables, some places just make for a better research subject. I am a believer that any place has the potential for paranormal activity, but as a serious researcher, I need a reason to invest in the study of a particular property. That reason usually starts with the ghost stories and personal experiences reported by various witnesses.

STORIES AND EXPERIENCES:

I'm sure you've had someone tell you about a great haunted location they know of...but when you ask them to describe the activity, they really can't tell you much about what actually goes on there. They might stress the idea that the place is old and creepy, and/or the fact that someone died there. If you get REALLY lucky, they might have mentioned they felt 'something.' I do appreciate getting these types of tips from people. I love when people get excited about the paranormal, and I always love talking about the paranormal with others. It's awesome whenever someone knows what I do and is eager to share their knowledge of haunted locations with me. And to be fair, some of these places have ended up being awesome investigations, especially when they haven't been investigated before by anyone.

However, it's so much easier when a location already has an established history of specific paranormal activity. To maximize the research process, I need to know exactly why the location is believed to be haunted. Are there legends of untimely death, unrequited love, or other acts of violence and tragedy? Do locals tell of apparitions roaming the grounds, unearthly screams piercing the veil, or mysterious disappearances? Are these legends widespread and well-known, dating back a number of years? Have they been previously documented in writing, and where?

I also need to know what people are actually experiencing. Are the owners/visitors/others related to the property seeing anything? Hearing anything? Smelling anything? Do these experiences tend to back up the ghost stories told about the location, or are they unrelated? Can recent witnesses be located and interviewed about their experiences?

The combination of reported stories and personal experiences not only show that a location has a sustained history of activity (as opposed to just a one-off experience), but will show investigators patterns of that activity, such as what time of day activity seems to occur, or whether or not activity seems to happen only to certain people. This data can be used to plan an optimal investigation experience, focused on recreating the specific conditions that seem conducive to activity. It also allows investigators to isolate specific incidents of activity to try to recreate for the purpose of debunking, or finding natural explanations. Further, these tales and experiences can offer clues into who or what is haunting the location, and why. Who is that woman in white who silently ascends the stairs night after night?

This investigation process nearly always starts with stories and experiences (for the exception, please see my article on Ghost Hunting Vs. Paranormal Investigation). It is a jumping off point for the rest of your research, which, based on personal beliefs, may look slightly different from mine, and vary from case to case. But, in general, I tend to head into the realm of historical documentation from here. It's important to note, however, that these three areas are very interdependent. This will be discussed in greater detail later on, but let's first take a look at historical documentation. 

Waverly Hills 
Estes Method

HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION:

Historical research is MY favorite part of paranormal investigation. I love taking a deep dive into the people and events tied to the property. I want to know who lived there, who died there, who worked there, who visited, and why any of them might be sticking around. I want to go further into just their names and dates of deaths; I want to know what they did for a living, what church they went to, what they did in the spare time. Did they have any pets or belong to any organizations? What tragedies touched their lives? 

There are several advantages of conducting historical research before the on-site investigation. Historical research can provide names and details of your suspected ghost. This information can then be used to tailor specific questions for EVP and/or spirit box sessions, or be used in choosing what type of trigger objects a suspected ghost may most likely interact with. Perhaps most importantly, historical research can shed some light on the stories and experiences. Many, MANY times throughout my research, I've found that what is told and accepted as 'fact' for the background of a location is not quite accurate. Not every old house was used as a Civil War hospital, and that 'woman in white' who allegedly took her own life when her betrothed died in the war? Well, her death certificate and obituary both say she died of cancer in her 80s.

It's definitely satisfying being able to shed some truth to the folklore (a major goal of Theresa's Haunted History which I will probably delve deeper into in another post), but nothing feels greater than actually finding primary documentation that supports the claims of activity. I remember high-fiving a colleague and then feeling REALLY guilty about my sheer joy upon finding a newspaper article discussing the tragic death of a toddler that up until that point, hadn't been proven. While I wasn't celebrating the tragedy itself, I was relieved to have that vindication of a widely-told story actually being true.

When the historical documentation backs up the stories, it is certainly a good sign that the site deserves on-site investigation, which brings us to our third and final area: Data collection. 

DATA COLLECTION: 

We have a location with a dark and verifiable history, with stories and experiences to match. That's awesome and will definitely qualify to be featured here on Theresa's Haunted History! And, given that permission can be obtained, most likely we'll want to come investigate that location. As cool as the case already sounds, what would make it PERFECT would be to collect data and potential evidence that can give a glimpse of scientific validity to the claims. Any and all potential evidence collected on site would be awesome---but to have an EVP giving a verified name, or a photo clearly showing the suspected entity is the Holy Grail, and the perfect completion to the perfect trifecta: historical documentation AND physical evidence to back up the legends and lore. 

Unfortunately, data collection, while it should be very scientifically sound and regulated, isn't infallible, especially in regard to paranormal research. An interesting piece of potential evidence or data doesn't necessarily conclude that a location is haunted or that ghosts exist. And data might not necessarily correlate to personal experiences and documented history. Often, we get 'hits' on EVP or the Spirit Box giving 'random' names. These might just be completely random. They might be the product of misinterpretation by investigators (for example, Jane and Shane sound A LOT alike on audio). In some schools of thought, they may be examples of telepathy on the part of those present, as opposed to proof of afterlife communication. Or, it could simply be information that has yet to be discovered.

That's when we have to circle back. More historical research needs to be done, using the new information as clues. As people continue to have experiences and tell stories about the location, that data also needs to be documented and taken into consideration. Very rarely is a case marked 'complete,' because as long as the location still exists, there is the potential for additional stories and experiences. And as long as I'm still researching, I will continue to seek out as much documentation and data as I can. 

With that, I'll wrap up this overly long blog post! Good luck with your own investigations and research, and as always, stay spooky my friends! 

West Virginia Voodoo: Volume I

What do you think of when you hear the word 'Voodoo'? Chances are, your mind is transported to the deep south, around the bayous and swamps of Louisiana. Perhaps your mind goes straight to New Orleans, where even today there seems to be a voodoo shop on every block in the French Quarter. Love spells, curses, sticking pins into dolls, little bags filled with mystical ingredients to aid in protection, wild dancing to the beat of rhythmic drums...all of these things conjure up a stereotypical picture of what we think of the practice of voodoo. 

The mountains of West Virginia, while known for her own flavor of folk magic and practitioners, seems far removed from the mix of African and Caribbean traditions merged with Catholicism. However, as Black Americans began migrating north en masse around the turn of the 20th century, voodoo spread as well. 

After reading a book on New Orleans voodoo last year, I became interested in finding any references to the practice here in West Virginia. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find MUCH of interest (was really hoping for some zombies or some otherwise supernatural tales), but I did find several stories in local newspapers that I wanted to share. The first is from Huntington, WV:

The Daily Advocate (Greenville, OH)
16 March 1933

Mrs. Georgia Burks:

Mrs. Burks was born in Atlanta, GA, but found her way to Huntington, WV sometime prior to 1926. In 1933, the 38 year old Black woman was living with her husband, James. Unfortunately, her health had not been good for some time, and she passed away on February 28, 1933. That wouldn't be the end of her story, however. I'm not sure what prompted it, but about two weeks later, newspapers around the country began running a small article stating that Huntington police had begun an inquest into Burks' death and were awaiting results of an analysis of her stomach contents. Apparently, Mrs. Burks had died shortly after visiting with Robert Fojoe, a Voodoo 'doctor' from New Orleans. Fojoe claims he treated Mrs. Burks' illness with a grapevine tea. 

To further complicate matters, another man, a Mr. Henry Nickle, was also taken into police custody. He was charged with practicing medicine without a license for his role in treating Mrs. Burks. For whatever reason, newspapers felt that was the end of the story---I haven't been able to find any follow-ups. I assume, however, that no foul play was ever found in Mrs. Burks' untimely death. Her death certificate states that she died from pneumonia and was buried in Huntington's Spring Hill Cemetery. 

Obviously, there are a lot of questions left unanswered, beginning with motive. Why did Mrs. Burks seek the advice of a voodoo practitioner to aid in her illness? Had traditional medicine failed her, over and over again...or did she believe there was some supernatural cause to her troubles? Did she feel that someone had cursed her? And who the hell was Henry Nickle and what was his role in this whole situation? My quest for information on this case isn't over, and I will update if I find any additional details. Plus, our quest for voodoo in West Virginia isn't over either! Check back soon for more cases throughout the Mountain State! 

The Portsmouth Times (Ohio)
24 March 1933

Death Certificate for Georgia Jackson Burks