Ohio's Human-Faced Horror

 

Village of College Corner
Source: FaceBook

Established in 1811, the village of College Corner straddles the Ohio and Indiana state line. Named for its proximity to the present-day Miami University, which was founded two years prior, College Corner has been a pretty sleepy little town, for the most part. However, in the summer of 1892, it would be home to one really weird cryptid. 

There was no official name ever given to the beast, most likely because those who were unfortunate enough to witness it were left flabbergasted. Some called it a devil, while others didn't even attempt to classify it. Those who managed to eke out some sort of description had this to say:

The creature was 4-5 feet tall, white and winged, with an estimated wingspan of 6 feet across. It had a HUMAN face, framed by long, white hair which covered its head. The strangest detail was the appearance of tusks protruding from the human face. 

Harpy Eagle
Source

One gentleman who saw the creature claimed that as he was walking one night, the beast seemed to appear up from the roadbed. He got a good look at its tusks, glimmering in the moonlight. As the man reached for the revolver in his pocket, intending on firing upon it, the creature grinned at him in such a way that the flight mechanism in fight or flight took over and he booked it down the road. Stopping to catch his breath, he turned and saw the creature had vanished. 

If we assume that there is more to this story than just a hoax, then I can't even begin to theorize what these people were seeing. The closest thing in nature I could find would be the harpy eagle. Harpy eagles are NOT native to southwestern Ohio but could have found itself there in a variety of ways. 

Harpy eagles are SPOOKY to look at because they do have very human-like faces. They're also pretty big birds. One could easily stand an estimated 4 feet tall with a 6 ft wingspan. And younger harpy eagles are mostly white in color. From the right angle, even the adults may appear mostly white, as their bellies and underside of their wings is white. They don't, however, have any features that resemble tusks, but this may be explained if the bird was carrying something in its beak that was mistaken for tusks. 

Re-creation of Piasa mural in Alton, Illinois
Source: Wikipedia (Burfalcy)

From a folkloric perspective, the most common human-faced bird in local mythology would be the Piasa Bird. The origin and etymology of the Piasa Bird is a whole other rabbit hole, which I won't include in this blog entry, but check out the image above. This is the recreation of a cliffside mural found in Alton, Illinois (just one state over). The Piasa absolutely has a head with a human face and what appear to be tusks!

Was the College Corner monster just a story inspired by the established folklore of the nearby Piasa Bird, or could there have actually been more than one of these creatures physically existing in the Midwest? Was it a misidentification of a known animal, or was the whole thing one big hoax? 

30 June 1892
The Journal News (Hamilton, OH)

Christmas In July! The Christmas Pardon of John Clayter and the Paint Creek Miners

Cellblock ca 1914
Source: WV History on View

The concept of Christmas in July celebrations have seemingly fallen out of favor and replaced with Summerween. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Halloween and celebrate it all year long. But, I'd also like to keep the Christmas in July tradition alive by sharing another tradition with you: The annual Christmas pardon at the WV State Penitentiary.

During a time when the life expectancy wasn't all that great, especially for inmates, and over-crowding at such facilities was a huge problem, it wasn't uncommon for the Governor of West Virginia to issue a pardon to either the oldest or longest serving inmate at the state penitentiary in Moundsville. 

In 1912, that honor was bestowed upon a man named John Clayter. Clayter had been at the penitentiary for 16 years, 11 months, and 8 days. On January 17, 1896, he had been sentenced in Fayette County for the murder of mine guard, J.W. Larkin several months before. 

John was 55 years old at the time of his release and was said to be in peak mental and physical health. It would seem that the last 16 years hadn't done much to weaken him in any way. And although he had no black marks on his records, the newspapers noted that the penitentiary staff were not convinced that he should receive that year's pardon. 

Striking Miners
Source: WV History on View

An additional seven pardons would be issued that year, all of which were inarguably deserved. In April of 1912, a major labor dispute, known as the Paint Creek/Cabin Creek Strike began. The strike, which would turn violent at times, led to numerous deaths and arrests as martial law was declared. In 1912, seven men who were arrested under martial law were pardoned that Christmas. Thirteen individuals involved were not. The photo above is a collection of mugshots from striking miners. This clash would set off a series of Mine Wars, leading to more infamous incidents such as the Battle of Blair Mountain. Check out this Wikipedia article for more information: (Paint Creek-Cabin Creek Strike 1912)

Those pardoned were: W.Y. Tucker, Robert Hartigan, James T. Akers, E.M. Osborne, L.A. Mays, Charles Williams, and Bud Clendenning. All had been given a sentence of 1-5 years for their involvement in the strike. And, because of WV Governor Glasscock, they'd be home for Christmas.

Merry Christmas in July, everyone! And if you're interested in MORE articles about the West Virginia State Penitentiary and its haunted history, check out my WV STATE PENITENTIARY PAGE. 

25 December 1912
The Wheeling Intelligencer

24 December 1912
The Wheeling Intelligencer

24 December 1912
The Fairmont West Virginian 

Huntington's Mischievous Monkey

 

In the Autmn of 1915, a little monkey named Mary Jane wreaked havoc in the streets of Huntington, WV. 

 

In Early October, Mary Jane, who was owned by the Huntington Police Department, escaped her cage at headquarters and went on a month-long mischief-making romp throughout the city. At first, Mary Jane stayed fairly close by to the police department, jumping from rooftop to rooftop and scurrying overtop streets via telephone lines. No real effort was made to capture Mary Jane until the mischievous little monkey turned to a life of breaking and entering and petty theft. 

Mary Jane wasn't content just to play cat-and-mouse with her former owners. She was heading towards a life of crime. She terrorized the local citizens when she started entering their houses. Once she had found entry into a home, she would go through the residents' drawers, pull pictures off the walls, and even steal purses and other small items. Sometimes all it took was her to show up unannounced in some poor, unsuspecting woman's boudoir.  

The crime spree would not last long. Chief Davis ordered Mary Jane be captured. Shortly after, she was found in the pantry of a local home by City Turnkey, Jack Cole. Mary Jane was busy smearing jam all over her face at the time of the apprehension and apparently returned to her 'prison' without further incident. 

I've yet to find any information on how Mary Jane became a permanent resident of the Huntington Police Department, but ironically, a similar situation was playing out about an hour away in Charleston. The Charleston Daily Mail ran an article on December 18th pleading for someone to come get Jim and give him a home. 

Jim was the pet monkey of Hubert Kelly, fireman with the central fire department in Charleston. He had bought the little monkey and had quickly come to the conclusion that it was too much to handle and was causing too much mischief. The animal was being held at the fire department after Jim's admittance that his attempt of pet ownership was a failure. 

PSA Time: All pets, especially exotic ones with special needs, are a lifelong commitment. Please make sure you are able to provide for the needs of your specific animal before adopting---including safe and adequate housing, exercise, and mental stimulation. There have been a lot of 'cryptid' sightings over the years that can probably be explained by exotic animals that either escaped captivity or were dumped by their owners when it became too difficult to care for them. I hope Mary Jane and Jim lived out the rest of their lives in loving environments suited to their unique needs. They wouldn't be the only monkeys to make the news, though. I'll be sharing some similar stories in the near future, so keep an eye on Theresa's Haunted History! 

12 November 1915
Charleston Daily Mail

13 November 1915
The West Virginian

18 December 1915
Charleston Daily Mail

Blue Orbs at the Bluegrass Inn Motel

Bluegrass Inn (Google Street View)

Today's blog post is more of a Fright Bite, a little snippet of spooky, if you will. I just could not find out a whole lot about either the history or the hauntings of a little roadside motel known as the Bluegrass Inn of Ashland, Kentucky. But, here's what I've got!

I learned about this location's ghostly reputation while browsing the Haunted Places website. A submitter by the name of Jason B. reported that while staying at the Bluegrass Inn, in rooms 129 and 127, a series of odd events occurred. There was a feeling of dread, which caused the hair on the arms to stand. Softball-sized light blue orbs were observed. The witness even reported receiving three fingernail scratches down his back, which weren't deep, but burned. 

This little tidbit has been shared on a couple of different sites that curate paranormal phenomenon, including a page called Kentucky Haunted Houses. On that entry, an anonymous comment was left in March 2021 by another witness to the weirdness at the Bluegrass Inn. 

Airline Recruitment Ad
18 April 1984
The Big Sandy News

This second witness reported that room 205 may also have paranormal activity. When staying there, unexplained noises and feelings of not being alone were common. The witness admits that both of these examples could be explained away by the setting being a busy motel with people constantly coming and going---but it couldn't explain the weirdest thing. The witness reported their pillow being aggressively tugged away from them at night.  

The Bluegrass Inn Motel is located at 1835 Winchester Avenue and is within walking distance to the historic downtown Ashland. It's situated between the river and the historic Central Park area, making it an ideal location for anyone staying in the area short term or long term and worried about transportation and access. 

I didn't have much luck with Kentucky property records, but the inn has been there AT LEAST since 1968. I suspect it's older, but that's the earliest mention of it I could find. Throughout the 1970s it was known as the Henry Clay Motel. In the 1980s, it was known as the Colonial Inn Motel. For over 50 years, the motel has been a happening location. The patio hosted a bar/restaurant called Carl's, where a lot of civic meetings took place. I found newspaper snippets of campaign rallies, a seminar/recruitment event for an airline, and even a trucking school, all listing the motel as base of operations. 

Congressman Hubbard Announces Bid for KY Governor
10 December 1978
The Courier-Journal 

I also found a lot of private individuals listing the motel as their home address. With that information came several obituaries and several arrest records. Most of the arrest records and even recent complaints have been for drugs or petty theft. However, in March of 2025 and argument between two men in the parking lot left one man dead. After an argument around 6:15 am on March 12, Christopher Hammond shot and killed Barry "Justin" Burton in the parking lot of the motel. 

Today, the motel is still apparently known to deal more with longer term rentals on a weekly/monthly basis, as opposed to catering to tourists. These longer term rentals offer a place to stay for out of town workers, those who cannot afford or qualify for traditional housing, and those being helped by local churches and charity groups after experiencing being unhoused. 

When you have such a high turnover rate of people in and out of a location, many of whom are most likely going through negative emotions, it's natural to think that some of that energy lingers on and may manifest in different ways. I'd love to hear if anyone has additional stories from the Bluegrass Inn. Despite the frustration of researching and investigating hotels/motels, I still love a good ghost story from these places and would love to hear if anyone else has had any experiences. You can comment below or find me over on Facebook at Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State! 

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