Hinton's Flying Saucer...Debunked??

Hinton, WV (ca 1940)
Source: WV History on View

Back in July 1947, when the world was abuzz with news that a flying saucer...or was it a weather balloon?...had crashed near Roswell, New Mexico, a woman in Hinton, WV was also claiming to have seen visitors from outer space. The local papers reported that Mrs. Lee Ramsey of 419 Summers Street was on her front porch one Saturday afternoon when she noticed a series of flying saucers about the size of a small plate, coming up over Cemetery Hill directly following a flyover from an airplane. She called for her husband, but by the time he came out to look, they were gone. 

About six saucers were observed in total, and they were standing up on edge. 

I shared this story here on Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State in August of 2022...but it seems as if I may have jumped the gun and failed to do my due diligence. After nearly four years, while doing some unrelated research, I came across ANOTHER article with two more witnesses to that incident. Unfortunately, the two additional witnesses, while corroborating that an event did take place, both claimed that it wasn't actually a flying saucer or UFO. 

Mrs. Fannie Johnson of 615 Ballengee St. was on HER porch a short distance away at the same time as Mrs. Ramsey. However, she got a somewhat better look. She noticed that after a plane flew over from Cemetery Hill, it was followed by something black, and then more of them. She does note that she felt the items were paper. 

Mrs. H.C. Porter of Greenbrier Drive agreed. She and her neighbor, Mrs. Lough, also saw items falling from the sky and chalked it up to being a plane throwing out handbills. 

The consensus agreed that a plane was throwing out some type of advertising leaflet or handbills, a conclusion that was printed in the 09 July 1947 edition of the Hinton Daily News. It certainly does sound like Mrs. Ramsey's description of what she saw was nothing more than pieces of paper. The size fits, and the description of them standing on edge, cutting through the air also makes sense. 

What doesn't make sense to me is why would only so few leaflets be dropped? And if they were actually part of an advertising campaign, why didn't any of the ladies who witnessed the drop actually RECEIVE a leaflet? I've spent a little time poking around and couldn't find any additional information about anyone coming forward to say that they had picked up one of the flyers, or any businesses coming forward to say that they were the ones dropping them. 

The answer to that may have come a few weeks later. The Beckley Post-Herald, a newspaper from nearby Beckley, WV, warned citizens that the city was about to be inundated with 'flying saucers' about the size of a dinner plate. The 'flying saucers' were to bear the insignia of the Civilian Air Patrol and be dropped from a CAP plane. 

Mrs. Ramsey may have been influenced by the news of the Roswell incident and misidentified a normal event, or maybe there is more to the story. While this was cited as being Hinton's first UFO/Flying Saucer report, it certainly would NOT be its last. UFOs continued to be seen over the city and surrounding areas, with notable events in 1948, 1950, and 1952. You can read all about those sightings right here on the blog. But, whether or not any were of actual visitors from outer space, it's important to keep your eyes to the skies. You never know what's going to fall from it. 

Sources and Further Reading:

Lee Ramsey Blog Post (Original Story)

Hinton Furniture Store Uses Flying Saucer Story in Ad

1948 Monroe County Report

April 1950 UFO Report

July 1952 UFO Flap Comes to Hinton

1958 Talcott Report

09 July 1947
Hinton Daily News

10 July 1947
The Leader

31 July 1947
Beckley Post-Herald

Silver Gap Railroad Ghost

Virginian 737 (Close enough, maybe?)
Source: Locomotive Fandom

Today's blog post is inspired by a true paranormal experience submitted to the WV Ghosts website by Clara Beverage and published on August 6, 2021. 

One night, the author and her friends found themselves out way past dark, walking the desolate railway tracks between Oak Hill and Dothan, WV (Fayette County). Although it was dark---VERY dark---there was enough light that they could still see the path along the tracks well enough to make it back home to the Oak Hill side. 

About midway between Dothan and Oak Hill is a small valley known as Silver Gap. It is in this area that the group had a shocking encounter. Up the hill from them, overlooking the tracks, was a wispy, gray form, about the same height as a human. The form remained motionless for some time, but as the group got the courage to hurry past it, it descended the embankment and took position on the tracks. 

Again, the form stood motionless for some time, as it seemingly watched them. Then, it began moving away from them, down the track, slowly fading until it disappeared completely in the darkness. At that point, the unearthly scream of a terrorized man echoed out over the valley. 

Understandably, the group fled and didn't slow down until they saw the lights of Round Hill Road. 

Curious as to who this ghostly specter may have been, I did some cursory research. Unfortunately, I didn't uncover a whole lot. The railroad tracks between Dothan and Oak Hill were part of a new line of the Virginia Railway that opened in 1907 as a way to connect to points along the already established Norfolk and Western Line. Over the years, the area was no stranger to train wrecks, some fatal and some not, but I only found one that specifically mentioned the Silver Gap area. 

On November 9, 1948, at about 11:15 pm, Engine No. 734, a U.S. Mallet type, was carrying 10 loaded cars, 11 unloaded cars, and a caboose. It was traveling between Elmore and Page, working several mines along the way when it derailed. The engine overturned against an embankment at a 45-degree angle, leaving Engineer Bert Kelly and Fireman J. Howard Griffith shaken up, but uninjured. It took about 18 hours for crews to get things moving again, but business resumed as usual. It was believed that the 'pony truck' (a set of small lead wheels behind the cowcatcher) derailed, causing the accident. 

We understand that a haunting doesn't always need to be associated with a death. Sometimes, an event can be so steeped in emotion (good or bad) that it can leave its imprint on an environment. Perhaps the screaming the group heard that night was an echo caught in time of Kelly or Griffith, shouting for his life, assuming he was about to meet his maker. Perhaps the ghostly figure was a small piece of one of the men that was left at the site to bear witness to the area where a tragedy almost occurred...and warn others away from the same. 

Or maybe there is a death associated with the Silver Gap section of the railroad. Any number of train derailments, trains hitting a pedestrian, or other deaths in the area and being lost to history is entirely possible. I'll keep looking for more information, but until then, if you're passing through the Silver Gap between Dothan and Oak Hill on a dark night, watch out for a human-sized column of fog!

Sources and Further Reading:

Silver Gap Ghost Near Oak Hill, by Clara Beverage (WVGhosts.com)

Topographic Map of Silver Gap

11 November 1948
Beckley Post-Herald

10 November 1948
The Raleigh Register

15 July 1907
Hinton Daily News

Disappearing Jesus

 

Disappearing Jesus
July 2026

It's not often that a city will have TWO major cemetery urban legends, but Ashland, Kentucky is a spooky, history-filled river town that is no stranger to the unknown. A few weeks ago I brought you the story of the Weeping Woman of Ashland Cemetery, a funerary statue known to come to life and sob uncontrollably in grief. Today, we'll be discussing the Disappearing Jesus of East Ashland Memorial Gardens!

Near the entrance to East Ashland Memorial Gardens is an Italianate marble statue of Jesus Christ. Known as a Christus Memorial, the statue is modeled after the original 11-foot marble statue of Christ sculpted in 1833 by Bertel Thorvaldsen. These were popular additions to memorial garden cemeteries around the time that the East Ashland Cemetery began its modern expansion from the old Williams Cemetery (which dated back to the late 1800s) to its modern inception in 1955. 

Shortly after the statue was in place, those traveling along the main road in front of the cemetery noticed something rather odd. Sometimes Jesus was there, on his pedestal in all his glory. And, sometimes when they looked again, he had disappeared!

The story of a Disappearing Jesus statue was so widespread that it earned a lengthy article and photo in the July 21, 1968 edition of the Ironton Tribune. Written by staff writer, Leigh Ferguson, the article goes on to interview Edward H. Scott, who was President of Golden Oaks and East Ashland Memorial Gardens, Inc. (Golden Oaks is an adjoining cemetery property, which has a similar statue, lacking a haunted reputation)

Scott fully admits that the statue in question has a quirky disposition for disappearing, but there's a perfectly natural explanation for it. It is simply an optical illusion caused by the color of the statue blending in against the horizon. It all depends on angle and timing. The phenomenon only works after dark. 

Back of Statue
July 2026

As the cemetery is closed to visitors after dark, the phenomenon is mainly observed by those driving by after sunset. Keep a steady gaze on the statue as you go by, and watch it simply disappear from view! For decades, carloads of teens and other curious onlookers drove by in hopes of seeing it for themselves. I thought it was interesting that Scott noted the urban legend had not attracted vandals to the cemetery. For the most part, everyone remained respectful of the sacred space. The only thing they'd notice is paper cups littering the area around the entrance.

Obviously, I wanted to test this out for myself, but I only had the opportunity to be in town during daylight hours. It was daylight, but it was a rainy, overcast day so I thought that may work to my advantage. The sky WAS very similar in color to the statue, after all. I entered the cemetery coming from the Golden Oaks side and immediately saw the statue to my right, facing away. I drove around the interior of the cemetery, which is BEAUTIFUL, by the way, but I could never get an angle where the statue disappeared. I stopped to take a few photos from different angles, but I could not make the statue seemingly disappear...until I was ready to leave.

I turned left out of the cemetery onto 55th Street, which is the opposite of the way I came in. As I was driving away, I glanced in my passenger side mirror back at the cemetery and was absolutely shocked. Where I was almost 100% sure the statue should have been was an empty pedestal! I slammed on my brakes, turned around and looked and made the realization. I wasn't looking where the statue was located. At the angle I was at, I was seeing the pillars at the entrance of the cemetery, which obviously do not have Jesus atop. 

Hopefully, I'll make it back that way soon after dark and can test out the legend more fully. I'll drive by going both directions, something I also failed to do during my first trip and maybe instead of mistaking a different pillar, I'll actually witness the optical illusion for myself!

Sources and Further Reading:

Find-A-Grave East Ashland/Golden Oaks

East Ashland Memorial Gardens Website

Christus Memorial-Wikipedia

21 July 1968
Ironton Tribune (Ironton, OH)

Please Don't Trespass

Photo from Alamy.com

Paranormal investigation can be a dangerous hobby. As investigators, we put ourselves in a position where we're exposed to a wide array of safety concerns. We traipse around old buildings with steep stairs, structural damage, BATS...and we're doing so, walking around in the dark, loaded down with equipment. I could go on and on with all the dangers we face in this field. There's a lot of factors we can try to minimize and control, but inherently, there will always be risks.

One way we can minimize quite a few risks is simple. Don't trespass on private property. Don't be where you don't have permission. Often, access to a location is denied/restricted based on liability issues---abandoned properties are fun to explore, but they aren't safe. Other times, a location isn't deemed dangerous because its abandoned....it is dangerous because it is NOT. 

Such was the case of University of Cincinnati freshman, Jack W. Langhorst. Jack, 18 years old, and two of his buddies were at a drive-in restaurant when they met up with some girls. The conversation turned spooky, as the girls began sharing stories of 'haunted houses' they knew about in the area. 

The group decided that a little ghost hunting was more fun than hanging out at the drive-in, so the entire group of nine piled into their cars and drove to one of the houses. The house chosen was a 150 year old farmhouse near Ross, Ohio. They parked in the front yard, and Jack got out. Showing his bravery in front of the girls and his guy pals, he boldly walked up to the house and entered. Seconds later, two shotgun blasts rang out. 

Jack staggered out of the house and collapsed. He had been shot in both the neck and the back and passed away from his injuries. The shooter was 82 year old Harry Demoret, who owned the home. Demoret claimed a group of kids had broken into his property just a few days ago, and believed the group was there to rob him. No charges were filed and this incident became just another example of a tragic accident that could have been prevented. Jack is buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Cincinnati. 

Before you head out in search of ghosts or just a spooky good time, please remember to make smart choices. Obtain permission, scout out the location in daylight hours, and never go alone. You can check out my article below for more info on the dangers of trespassing. Stay spooky, ya'll. 

SAFETY: GETTING PERMISSION TO INVESTIGATE

 

15 January 1962
The Ironton Tribune (Ironton, OH)

Uploaded to Find-a-Grave by
user, AmericanMacabre

2026 Spooky Reading Part 1

Ya'll know I love a good ghost story or a book full of strange and unusual tales! For 2026, my spooky reading has taken somewhat of a backseat when it comes to my general reading selections. I've been focusing a lot more on certain social issues that are important to me, as well as books for my work teaching middle school. But, I've managed to squeeze in a few paranormal non-fiction titles that I wanted to share. Here's what I've read between January 1st and June 30th:

1. Hauntings and Apparitions, by Andrew MacKenzie (1983)

Although this is an older title, it's a Society for Psychical Research publication, and I found it to be an awesome little collection. Part of the book dealt with the history of the SPR and its methodology and evolving belief systems. The other part was a deep-dive into some of SPR's case files. Some of the stories I had come across before in other SPR works, but for the most part, it was an enjoyable read, both entertaining and educational. 

2. The Wisconsin Road Guide to Mysterious Creatures, by Chad Lewis (2011)

I always enjoy Chad Lewis' work, and even though I'm not super familiar with the Wisconsin area, I was really excited to read about some of the state's strangest monsters and other unexplained phenomena. I'm a long ways away from Wisconsin, but I really appreciate the format of these books, which make it easy to find locations accessible to the public. Who knows? One day I might go monster hunting out that way! 

3. Phantom Phenomena, by Darkness Prevails (2024)

I'm not gonna lie. I bought this book at Five Below on a whim, and was really disappointed. I'm pretty sure its AI-generated slop. If not, I sincerely apologize to whatever minimum wage intern was forced to churn out these stories.  It was a quick read and may be really fun for someone young just getting into the paranormal. That's all I say about it. 

4. Haunted Shores: True Ghost Stories of Newfoundland and Labrador, by Dale Jarvis (2004)

I don't live anywhere near this area, nor have I ever visited it. But, for whatever reason, I picked this book up and I'm glad I did. Although it seemed a little disjointed at times when it came to how the stories were organized, the stories were fun. It was a nice mix of historical background and storytelling. 

5. What Happens After Death--Scientific and Personal Evidence for Survival, by Migene Gonzalez-Wippler (1997)

Okay, so this one started off fantastic. I was scribbling notes and formulating ideas for topics to study more in-depth. And then, it went off the rails. The first half of this book is the 'scientific' part. It is a thorough and engaging look at the history of afterlife studies. The second half is a weird narrative of the author's communication with her guides...who aren't exactly what you may think they are. She goes on about past lives on other planets, time not being linear, and all sorts of strange and fascinating ideas. I was intrigued and read this section more like science fiction than fact. I can't quite wrap my head around it, but I'm trying to keep an open mind. 

6. Searching for Ghosts and Poltergeists, by Bill Breman (2011)

Although this book was meant for younger readers, there were some little hidden gems in here. Unfortunately, there wasn't anything I wasn't already familiar with. I found this book available to read for free on the Internet Archive and didn't realize exactly what it was at first. But, I can't resist a ghost book, even one for kids, so I finished it and added it to the list! 

7. A Ghost Hunter's Guide to the Most Haunted Places in America, by Terrance Zepke (2012)

This book got a little over-repetitive in its telling of each haunted location, but overall, I found it a light, fun read. I always enjoy hearing what haunted locations make the "Best of" lists for other people, and this was a fair sampling of some places with both the history and the haunted reputation to earn them a top spot. 

8. The Haunting of Bishop Pike: A Christian View of the Other Side, by Merrill F. Unger (1971)

Last year, I read Bishop Pike's book about the death of his son, the strange communications he began receiving after, and his quest to finding the answers to the question of what happens when we die. That book was extremely controversial, as was its author. This follow-up offers a Christian rebuttal to Bishop Pike's rather radical ideas. I was surprised that Unger wasn't more preachy about the topic, but this book still kinda gave me the ick. It was interesting, though, to read about the events that happened from another perspective. 

9. Humanoid Encounters 1 A.D.-1899: The Others Amongst Us, by Albert Rosales (2017)

I bought the first two books in this Humanoid Encounters series for a very specific research project a few years ago. I'm just now finishing up this chunkster. It is FILLED with strange, unexplained encounters with humanoid creatures, ranging from fae-type beings, aliens, mermaid, to who knows what else. This was definitely a fun read and I found a few more rabbit holes to go down in addition to my original project!

10. Freaky Stories About the Paranormal, by M.H. Seeley (2016)

This was another one of those books for kids that caught my attention while perusing the Internet Archive. I was actually really impressed with it. There was a wide range of strange and unusual topics covered in this book, and while the info was short and sweet, it was accurate and not dumbed-down for a younger audience. 

11. Haunted French Quarter Hotels, by Nicole Beauchamp (2025)

My sister always brings me back ghost books from her vacations, and this year's trip to New Orleans resulted in Haunted French Quarter Hotels! I can't say enough good things about this book. I loved the writing style. I loved the blend of historical research, personal experiences, and popular legend. And, of course, I love all things having to do with the French Quarter. My only complaint is that there could have been so many more stories and so many more places added to this book. 

Raining Frogs in Texas

 

07 October 1915
The Daily Telegram (Clarksburg, WV)

One thing Charles Fort, the infamous archivist of all things strange, loved to report on was a good rainfall of things other than your normal precipitation! And back in 1915, one of these rains (now sometimes called 'Fortean Falls') happened over McKinney Texas. 

In October of 1915, newspaper readers in Clarksburg, WV would have been treated to the article above, claiming that during a recent downpour in McKinney, millions of tiny frogs, no bigger than the head of a match, dropped from the sky. The tiny amphibians covered the streets, sidewalks, and porches and seemed physically stunned by their trip through the clouds. Most were trampled as they could not or would not move from underfoot. 

Interestingly, those who said they actually saw the frogs fall from the sky refused to go on record with their observations. However, today we know that it IS possible for small creatures such as frogs or tiny fish to get sucked up in waterspouts and transported to where they 'rain' down from the sky. And, it has happened in West Virginia a number of times, too!  You can find my collection of Mountain State Fortean Falls AT THIS LINK. Keep your eyes to the skies..you never know what you'll see around here!

Cujo in Huntington

 

Ritter Park in Huntington, WV
Photo: WV History on View

Most of us are familiar with Stephen King's Cujo, a tale about a rabid St. Bernard who goes on a violent killing spree. Although inspired by real events, Cujo was a work of fiction, straight from the mind of one of the most popular and prolific horror writers of our generation. But, did you know that Huntington, WV once had its own Cujo?

That may be a little harsh, since there are no deaths associated with the incidents that occurred in the summer of 1915. However, the reign of terror by a cur dog named Whitie who stalked the area around Ritter Park definitely left its mark. 

In a span of two months, Whitie had bitten over 100 people and caused multiple accidents by attacking bicyclists and motorcyclists by pulling them off their vehicles. Patrolmen had shot their revolvers at Whitie multiple times, but they never seemed to hit their mark. Stories spread about Whitie living a 'charmed life'. Could he really not be killed? Was this more than a normal flesh and blood dog?

As it turns out, no. Whitie was as mortal as any of us. When multiple complaints flooded the police station about this vicious creature Sgt. Joe Messenger ordered a police wagon to go hunt down Whitie and take care of him once and for all. After a chase through Ritter Park, Patrol Driver Lon Whitten finally took out Whitie with a shotgun. Huntington's own Cujo had been neutralized at last. 

Today, Ritter Park is still a popular recreational spot in the city, used by many to exercise, play, or simply enjoy the rose gardens. It also has a reputation for being haunted. I haven't personally heard of any stories of a ghost dog in Ritter Park, but the next time you visit, keep an eye out for any unleashed cur dogs roaming the grounds. The spirit of the once-charmed Whitie may still be out there hunting for his next victim. 

25 July 1915
The Sunday Telegram (Clarksburg, WV)

The Cutest Sea Monster in the Ohio River

Camden Park
Huntington, WV

Back in May of 1962, Camden Park in Huntington, WV had just received a shipment from the West Coast. For the price of $100 plus an addition $125 in shipping and handling costs, the popular park would now be in possession of George, a male sea lion. George was the intended mate and companion for a female sea lion already at the park named Jenny. He was added to the sea lion pool, but only after 10 days in West Virginia, George was sick of Jenny and longed for home. 

On Friday, May 25th, George flopped over the 4 foot high fence surrounding the pool, and made a beeline to Twelvepole Creek. Quickly swimming down the creek, he made it to the Ohio River and was off on his quest for freedom. 

By that evening, he had made it 20 miles downstream. He was spotted at the Greenup Lock and Dam and Camden Park officials began formulating a plan to go capture him. Apparently, they didn't think George would figure out how to actually get through the dam, but he did. He was spotted by a pipeline crew at 10 am the next morning having a fish breakfast on the downriver side of the dam. After a bit of a frolic, George started booking it toward the sea. 

Later that day he was in the Cincinnati area. A motorist called the Cincinnati Zoo with reports of a three foot long MONSTER in the Ohio River, swimming near Lock 27 at Ferbank. A Mr. and Mrs. Balzheiser were out on the river in their boat near Dayton, Ky and thought a dog was caught in the river. They approached it, hoping to rescue it, and realized the dog had FINS. 

Around this time, George also apparently tried to hitchhike back home. He jumped into a towboat piloted by Captain R.F. Rogers. The crew tried to feed George sardines, but he got scared and jumped back into the water. He later would briefly jump into one of the barges being towed by the boat, but ultimately decided that he didn't need the ride after all. Captain Rogers called his daughter to tell her about the weird thing that happened to him. She just happened to live in Huntington, and was able to make the connection that this was probably the missing George. 

After being spotted Sunday morning by Lewis Kelly, the lockmaster at Dam No. 38 near Rising Sun, Indiana, George once again approached a tugboat. The Claire E. Beatty was stopped near Carrollton, Kentucky when the crew spotted George. The boat's cook prepared some salmon for George, and after awhile of being outwitted by the sea lion, the crew managed to pull him in. They locked him in a cabin and fed him salmon, milk, and even hamburger, while Captain Leland (Lee) Roberts contacted the Cincinnati Zoo. 

Representatives from the Cincinnati Zoo came to collect George until the staff at Camden Park could make arrangements to get him back to West Virginia. But, there was a slight problem....when it seemed as if George was never coming back, Camden Park manager W.H. Nudd put in another order to the West Coast. George II was already on his way....

The weirdness surrounding Camden Park doesn't end with George. The park has long had a reputation of being haunted. From its Adena burial mound to the ghostly woman on the Big Dipper, Camden Park has had its fair share of strange history, which you can read about here!:  (Camden Park Creepiness)

27 May 1962
Beckley Post Herald

28 May 1962
Beckley Post Herald

28 May 1962
Beckley Post Herald 

29 May 1962
Raleigh Register

The 1897 Airship Cow Abduction

 

Back in the spring of 1897 the United States was obsessed with phantom airships. Tales came from across the nation involving unidentified flying machines, often piloted by strange individuals doing some strange stuff. In one tale out of Kansas, that strange stuff involved what some claim is the first modern connection between UFOs and cattle mutilations!

We've all seen the images of UFOs abducting cows, like the one shown above. While a popular trope in pop culture, the idea dates back to at least the strange case of Alexander Hamiliton from Kansas and his poor, unfortunate cow. 

On the night of April 17th, 1897, Alex Hamilton, a farmer in Woodson County, Kansas was awakened around 10:30pm by his cows making noise. Thinking it was a dog messing with them, he got up to check and was astounded to see an airship hovering over his field. The cigar-shaped craft was an estimated 300 feet in length with a glass paneled carriage hanging below it. It was a deep reddish color, and had three lights, including a red one, a green one, and a very bright white light that acted like a search beam. 

Hamilton went to get his son, Wall, and his hired hand Gid Heslip, and the three men grabbed axes from the barn and started to approach the craft, which was now hovering about 30 feet above the field. As they got closer, they noticed the inside area was well-lit. They could see six passengers, including two men, a woman, and three children, all speaking in an unintelligible jibberish. The men were able to get within 50 yards of the craft before a large turbine wheel, 30 feet in diameter started whirring and making noise.

The men noticed a 2-3 year old heifer was under the craft, and making quite a fuss, trying to jump over a barbed wire fence. They noticed that around the cow's neck was a thick chain, made from the same reddish material as the ship. They tried to cut it off, but when they couldn't, they instead cut the wire fence that the cow had become entangled in. Freed from the wire fence, the cow was now able to easily be carried off the airship into the great unknown.

The next morning, Link Thomas, a farmer in neighboring Coffey County found the hide, legs and head of a cow in his field. Thinking the cow had been poached and dumped, he contacted local authorities. Hamilton's brand was still visible on the hide. The remains found in Thomas' field were indeed the abducted heifer from the night before. 

Newspaper articles at the time made note that Hamilton was a very trustworthy, upstanding citizen. There was even a signed affidavit attesting to his character. And, for decades, this story remained a mystery. However, the 1960s and 1970s saw the beginning of a wave of modern cattle mutilation cases being tied to UFOs and this story was rediscovered by researchers. That's when the story started falling apart. 

A woman had come forward and claimed that she had heard Hamilton bragging to his wife about this made-up tale he had concocted and was going to report to newspapers. Then, a newspaper editor from Buffalo, Kansas uncovered the fact that Hamilton was a member of the Yuma Township's Liar's Club! As with other such clubs, the idea was for members to come up with the biggest, craziest stories they could. What's crazier than a phantom airship (which had a level of credibility as these things were being reported all over) abducting your cow? I mean, he had an affidavit signed by other trustworthy, prominent local citizens (whom I'm guessing were also in on the joke). 

Apparently, the club disbanded not long after, and honestly, I can't blame them. Tricking a nation into believing your cow had been abducted by people from Mars or Mercury certainly can't be beat. 

Sources and Further Reading:

Le Roy Cow Abduction: Spooky Valley Website

1897 Cow Abduction Hoax: How Stuff Works

30 April 1897
The Neosho Falls Post

The Ghost of Judge Lane

Mt. Vernon, Ohio (ca 1880)

On the evening of February 19, 1881, a "prominent and truthful" citizen of Mt. Vernon, Ohio was on his way home when he heard what sounded like the loud shriek of a woman coming from the direction of a recently unoccupied house. The home in question, sometimes described as a 'shanty,' had been the residence of Samuel "Judge" Lane. 

Judge Lane was an interesting character around town. A formerly enslaved man of African descent, his fellow Black citizens saw him as a prophet, and bestowed upon him the name of "Judge." The man was of a very advanced age, although no one was really sure just how old he was. He claimed to have been the personal manservant of General Mercer during the Revolutionary War. As General Mercer was killed in 1777 during the Battle of Princeton, this would have made Lane well over 100 years old at the time of his death. In fact, he claimed to be about 123 years old....if not older. 

However old he actually was, he couldn't live forever. In early February, he was found lying on the floor of his shanty in terrible shape. His lower limbs were completely frozen. Lane died shortly after and was buried in an unmarked grave at Mound View Cemetery in Mt. Vernon. It would seem that his spirit wasn't quite ready to go yet. 

A few days after Lane's death, that prominent citizen was walking nearby and heard an ungodly shriek coming from the shanty. The man, who claimed to be as brave as any sane man, believed tramps had broken into the property, and decided to investigate. What he found was definitely not squatters taking shelter from the cold. 

As he approached the shack, he noticed it was brightly lit from within, and the door was standing wide open. Accompanied by another unknown noise, the man observed the image of old Judge illuminated in the doorway. He was supporting himself on crutches and had both legs amputated at the knees. Understandably, the man fled in terror at the sight. Apparently, 123 years on this earth was simply not long enough for Samuel 'Judge' Lane. 

Mark Sebastian Jordan has published a wonderful deep-dive into Samuel 'Judge' Lane's possible history, which can be found at the Knox Pages website, listed below. 

Sources and Further Reading:

"The adventures of Mount Vernon’s ‘Judge’ Lane, who died at the age of 200… or 123 … or maybe just 90." By Mark Sebastian Jordan.  03 May 2025. Knox Pages Website

Find-a-Grave Entry for Samuel Lane

03 March 1881
Evansville Courier and Press

10 February 1881
Northwest-Signal

16 February 1881
West Unity Reporter

The Weeping Woman of Ashland Cemetery

Photo by Theresa
June 2026

I recently made the short trip to Ashland, Ky to attend an awesome presentation at the Boyd County Library. Certified Cryptozoologist, Lacey Williams, gave a wonderful talk titled Bluegrass Beasts, covering a variety of interesting Kentucky creatures. But, before the presentation, I decided to get to town early...

Although I'm less than an hour away from the Ashland area, I don't get down to that area too often. So, when I decided to head that way for Lacey's talk, I wanted to optimize my trip time by visiting at least one spooky local legend. I chose to visit the Ashland Cemetery and seek out the legend of the Weeping Woman. 

Ashland Cemetery is located along Belmont Street. Dedicated back in 1870, this massive cemetery is still receiving burials today. Spanning over 106 acres, Ashland Cemetery stands as an impressive symbol of the city's history, and with the plethora of statues and intricate tombstones, it's also a wonderful collection of art and culture. One such piece of funerary art that gets a lot of attention is the Weeping Woman. 

Also known as the Iron Lady or the Weeping Widow, the Weeping Woman of Ashland Cemetery is a large, seated sculpture of a woman in obvious mourning. Clutching her chest with one hand, and holding a mourning wreath with the other, she appears to be in great distress, lamenting the loss of the couple she watches over. 

Photo by Theresa
June 2026

From what I can gather, the artwork is by the famous Hans K. Schuler, a German-American sculptor and monument maker known for his work around Baltimore and Washington, D.C. and was commissioned to stand over the graves of Ferdinand Carl Fischer and his wife, Elizabeth Ringo Fischer. 

Sarah Elizabeth Ringo was born on December 22 1877 in Clinton, Kentucky to parents Willis Lunsford Ringo and Sarah/Sallie Cresap. Willis was a former Secretary of State for Kentucky and a prominent citizen throughout his life, with interests in the railroad and local improvement councils. He was also a Confederate veteran. Willis, his wife,  and many other members of the Ringo family are also buried in the Ashland Cemetery nearby the Weeping Woman. 

Ferdinand Carl (F.C.) Fischer was born in Cincinnati on July 2, 1857, making him twenty years older than Elizabeth. The two married on June 30, 1896 in Ashland, Kentucky and were blessed with a couple of children. Unfortunately, F.C. would not be long for this world. He passed away September 10, 1906 at the age of 49, leaving his 29 year old wife a widow to raise two small children. According to an article on the Kentucky Kindred Genealogy website about the Willis Ringo family, Elizabeth did remarry. On June 27, 1908, she married Alexander Blucher D. Gordon III, who would go on to outlive her by seven years. 

I'm not sure what her relationship with Alexander was like, but the two did have an additional son together. However, when Elizabeth died on March 20, 1952 in Pennsylvania, she was brought home to be buried by F.C. in her family plot at the Ashland Cemetery. Today, Elizabeth and F.C. lie side by side under matching stones, with the Weeping Woman keeping watch above. 

And, for many years, stories have spread that the Weeping Woman statue may be more than just a statue. Across multiple Face Book and Reddit posts, blogs, and even Instagram stories, nearby residents and visitors to Ashland Cemetery are sharing very similar experiences with hearing the unmistakable wails of a woman in mourning.  

Some individual accounts have been curated at two awesome blogs, The Southern Spirit Guide and Black Flag Horror.  One of my favorite accounts involves a man named Ronald Hinton who was visiting the grave of a loved one in autumn when he heard a woman sobbing. Following the sound, he found a woman seated nearby several graves with her head down, wailing in mourning. As he approached her, she lifted her head and reached out a hand towards him. He could see the tears streaming down her cheeks from her closed eyes, and even drool pooling at the corners of her mouth. But, as she opened her eyelids, he immediately saw that she had no eyeballs! 

Photo by Theresa
July 2026

Taken aback by this, but still wanting to help, he went to get several other visitors who were at the cemetery that day to help him with the strange wailing woman. As the group arrived back, the once-living woman was now simply a statue---The Weeping Lady Statue. 

Although she is mostly heard, Ronald isn't the only one to have seen the woman appear as a living person. Legend tells that on the full moon she arises and walks the cemetery, crying out in grief. But who is she wailing for? The obvious reason might be the Fischer family, particularly F.C., as the statue is of a grieving woman and Mrs. Fischer did lose who husband at a young age. Or, there may be another reason.

The Ashland Cemetery is the final resting place for Emma Carico/Thomas, Robert Gibbons, and Fannie Gibbons. The three young people were murdered on the night of December 23, 1881 by an axe and the house they were staying in was set ablaze to cover it up. Seventeen year old Robert and his 15 year old sister, Fannie, were the only members of the family at home, and were being visited by Fannie's 15 year old friend, Emma. The perpetrator was the Gibbons' own father, who had been suffering from mental illness and suicidal/homicidal tendencies following domestic troubles with his wife. This event became known as the Ashland Tragedy, and rocked the city. Could the wails and cries actually be for these three young people taken so violently as some believe?

You can visit the Ashland Cemetery during daylight hours and see the Weeping Woman for yourself! She sits nestled among some bushes in Section 13...Listen closely and you might hear the unmistakable wails of a woman in mourning. 

Sources and Further Reading:

The Southern Spirit Guide: Moaning and Crying-Ashland Kentucky. January 6, 2020, by Lewis O. Powell IV.

Black Flag Horror Wordpress: The Weeping Lady

Kindred Genealogy: Willis Lunsford Ringo Family

Wikipedia Article on Hans Schuler

Find-a-Grave: Ashland Cemetery 

Find-a-Grave Pages for: (Willis Ringo) (Elizabeth Fischer) (F.C. Fischer)

29 December 1881
Ashland Daily Independent 

How Haunted Hollow Got Its Name

Bluestone Lake
Photo by Brian Powell

In the summer of 1862, Phillip Thurmond, along with help from his brother William, formed a band of Confederate volunteers from largely Fayette, Greenbrier, and Monroe Counties. They would become known as Thurmond's Rangers, a sort of Civil War era home guard unit with the mission of assisting the war effort as scouts, spies, and raiders. 

Unfortunately, although Thurmond had a good reputation, the Rangers were seen by many as nothing more than thieves and bushwhackers. Out of this reputation grew a story of a haunted road, deep in the mountains near what is now Hinton, WV. 

As told by Ernest S. Allen in the 20 February 1946 edition of the Independent-Herald, a Hinton newspaper, the Rangers spent several months camped in the Bluestone area, at the foot of Low Gap Mountain. 

One day, a young boy was captured and accused of being an enemy spy. The Rangers tried to scare him into giving them information, but when that didn't work, they resorted to more drastic measures. A group of them took the boy about a mile up the mountain and tied him to a tree. There, they tortured him, but he still wouldn't say a word. It was said that the boy most likely had developmental delays and honestly didn't know anything. At last, they shot him and left his body there, tied to the tree. 

After that, the area became known as Haunted Hollow, as those passing by, especially in the evening hours, truly believed that the spirit of the young boy was still haunting the mountain. His apparition had been seen by some, yet others heard the unmistakable sounds of the marching of phantom soldiers. 

No one can really verify whether this is a factual account or not, but the legend lasted for several generations. As for Thurmond's Rangers, more and more volunteers would join up with them until they were nearly 650 men in strength. Late in 1863, they became the 44th Virginia Cavalry Battalion, making them an official part of the Confederate Army. 

Philip would die in October of 1864 in Winfield, where his body lie unmarked for many years. (Fun fact, I just happened to 'accidentally' be there when archaeologists dug up his remains for reburial). William, however, survived the war and went on to become a prominent citizen in Fayette County and is credited with founding the now infamous ghost town of Thurmond! 

More on Thurmond's Rangers:
McKinney, Tim. "Thurmond's Rangers." e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. 08 February 2024. Web. Accessed: 15 June 2026.

20 February 1946
Independent-Herald (Hinton, WV)

The 'Ghost' of Walnut Hill Cemetery

 

Walnut Hill Cemetery
Photo by Find-a-Grave contributor Zelda

I love a good 'true' ghost story, but sometimes a spooky case of mistaken identity is just as strange, if not more! That's what happened to John Davis, caretaker of the Walnut Hill Cemetery, located just outside Columbus, Ohio in Hamilton Township. 

Strolling through the cemetery one evening, he noticed a spooky figure sitting atop a tombstone. As he approached the figure, he realized that it wasn't a ghost, but just some guy, wearing nothing but a blanket as almost a cape. The man's clothes were in a pile at his feet. When he noticed Davis' approach, the man inquired as to whether the referee was on his way.

Davis wisely told the man he didn't know, but he'd go check. The man then let Davis know that he was eager for a boxing match. Since he couldn't just leave a naked man sitting in his cemetery trying to fight people, Davis brought the stranger to the county jail. His clothing was searched for personal items and enlistment papers for the army were found. 

It was decided to hold him in the jail until a lunacy inquest could be completed, which begs the question as to whether or not he actually was mentally ill. Was this all staged as an attempt to avoid being sent into military service during World War One? Or, was the thought of going to war actually too much to bear, causing the man's mind to fracture. Perhaps he was already a little...off, or perhaps under the influence. Whatever the cause, it was clear he was NOT a spirit of the little cemetery and to me, that is truly disappointing.   Stay spooky, ya'll!

04 January 1918
The Big Sandy News (Louisa, KY)

Sleeping with the Spirits at the WV State Penitentiary

 

Convicts in the prison yard of the WV State Pen (1914)
Source: WV History on View

Over the course of its long history, the West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville has suffered from a multitude of logistical problems, the most common being overcrowding. In late 1922, the prison had once again exceeded its designed capacity and was now home to well over 1600 inmates. Warden Terrell was running out of sheer space to store all these men, so he came up with a brilliant plan!

The Death House, which was a small building annexed off the main prison, had four cells. As these cells were only used to house inmates who had an upcoming date with the gallows, they weren't in full operation. What if some of the overflow was housed there?

The decision was made to select 35 inmates, all African Americans, to bunk down in the Death House. I cannot come up with a reason other than sheer racism why the black prison population was chosen, but they were. However, this wasn't without problems.  

A trope that continually shows up in these old newspaper articles I share is the stereotype that African Americans are extremely superstitious and afraid of ghosts and spirits. Therefore, the article in question notes that it took a while, but 35 men were found who claimed, "no fear of spooks."  Warden Terrell managed to find almost three dozen men that had no qualms in sleeping in the area where a quoted two score of men had spent their last moments, waiting to die at the hands of the state for crimes accused.

I don't like to think of myself as a particularly superstitious person, but even I have to admit a certain ick factor when it comes to using such a dark place for regular inmates. But it worked out. After a thorough cleaning and disinfecting (which included the removal of anything that would remind the prisoners where they were), the men were ready. Each night, they'd move 35 cots into the area, which were set up in and around the annex and cells. It was said that the sleeping arrangements were just as comfortable as anywhere else in the prison, with an added bonus of increased security features, allowing one guard to manage all 35 inmates. It was even said that many of the inmates assigned to the Death House annex had a sense of pride concerning their new quarters.  I wonder, though....did anyone actually ever have a paranormal experience there? Did the spirits of the executed men ever make their presences known to the 35 inmates who temporarily got a taste of death row?

*MORE WV State Penitentiary Articles!*

03 December 1922
Charleston Daily Mail