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| Stock Photo of a Cabin with Flag Stone Chimney |
I love a good 'debunking' story! In today's blog post, I'd like to share with you a ghost story from 1870 that wasn't exactly what it seemed. When two reverends took shelter in an abandoned house, they experienced horrific noises...and an even worse smell. After fleeing in fear, a brave (reckless?) neighbor decided to investigate. Personally, I think what he found was worse than a ghost! Here's a transcription of the article from The Weston Democrat, dated June 27, 1870:
A correspondent of the Kanawha Journal relates the following:
A few days after a Sunday snowstorm, during the past winter, the Rev. Daniel Schoonover and the Rev. George Arbegast, were ascending Elk River in one of those celebrated packets familiarly known as "canoes." Late in the afternoon they cast anchor at the mouth of Peter's Creek, in Clay County, where they took immediate possession of an unoccupied house, known as the "Whaggy House." The evening being quite cool, they provided an abundance of fuel, started a roaring fire, and began to prepare supper and congratulate each other with the comfort they were about to enjoy, when lo! an unearthly sound grated discordantly on their ears; supposing the noise in the rear of the chimney to be only a resident varmint, they mustered their limited courage, sallied forth to discover if possible, from whence the frightful sounds proceeded; arriving at the rear of the chimney aforesaid, pausing for a moment to suppress, if possible, the audible working of their hearts, they heard the same unnatural sounds in the house. They hastily returned; when a horrible stench presented itself to their olfactory nerves, which one averred smelled like an old barrel of sour kraut, and the other said was sulphur, so hastily seizing their cooking utensils they immediately decamped, and boarding their craft and weighing anchor, rowing at the rate of about 40 knots an hour, they soon arrived at Brother Ralph Smyth's where they entered in a very unmilitary style, overcome with fear and great trembling, with eyes dilated to about the size of ordinary dog-wood blossoms. The dismal tale they related about the haunted house and their hairbreadth escape. The news soon spread over the neighborhood, when D. Brown who is celebrated for his reckless daring, heard the news of a haunted house in the neighborhood; he instituted a voyage of discovery, and after carefully examining the premises he found out the cause of all the fright, which he gives us as follows:
The side walls of the fire place having been made of flag stone, there was a cavity between the outside wall, and a flag having previously fallen out, the rats had taken possession, and the aforesaid gentlemen's fire cut off their outside communications, they were literally roasted to death, and their dying groans produced the horrid noise they heard, and their parched tails the infernal smell.
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| The Weston Democrat 27 June 1870 |
Unearthing an authentic 1870 newspaper account gives this Clay County encounter such incredible historical atmosphere! Sifting through 19th-century regional archives and separating period folklore from recorded testimonies takes plenty of patience and research. In the evening, when I step away from reading spooky Appalachian history and want to clear my head, taking a quick mental breather on https://kaasinos.co.nl helps me decompress and reset. Appreciate Theresa documenting these rare Tri-State haunting accounts!
ReplyDeleteStories about ghosts have long been part of local folklore, often passed from one generation to another. A tale set in Clay County in 1870 offers a glimpse into the way people once used mysterious events and unexplained experiences to create memorable stories.
ReplyDeleteSuch a ghost story can be more than a frightening tale. It can also reflect the atmosphere of the time, the places where people lived and the beliefs that shaped their understanding of unusual events.
The appeal of historical ghost stories lies partly in their uncertainty. Whether readers see them as folklore, entertainment or something more mysterious, these stories continue to capture the imagination. More stories and interesting topics can be discovered at casoola casino.
A Clay County ghost story from 1870 therefore remains interesting not only because it is mysterious, but also because it connects local history with the enduring fascination surrounding the unknown.
I love how this story starts like a genuinely creepy haunting and then turns into something both grim and oddly funny. The image of two reverends fleeing a house because of mysterious groans and a sulphur-like smell is almost cinematic, but the explanation involving trapped rats is wonderfully mundane. Their “ghost” was basically a chimney full of unfortunate rodents. Old newspaper stories like this are fascinating because they show how easily fear could turn an ordinary mystery into local folklore, and this one would make a fun read alongside https://q-bet.eu.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderfully spooky piece of local history! There is nothing quite like 19th-century lore to set a eerie mood, especially with all the rich historical detail you manage to uncover for each story. In my free time, after reading through your latest post and spending a few minutes on giga spinz to decompress, I always love diving into these forgotten regional tales. Excellent write-up as always
ReplyDeleteVerhalen over vermeende geesten die achteraf totaal anders blijken te zitten dan gedacht, blijven altijd fascinerend om te lezen. Het idee dat je de stuipen op het lijf wordt gejaagd door onbekende herrie en een walgelijk lijkende geur, om er vervolgens achter te komen dat de werkelijkheid minstens zo bizar is, levert heerlijk leesvoer op.
ReplyDeleteWie na het lezen van dit soort griezelige of vermakelijke historische anekdotes even wil ontspannen en de gedachten wil verzetten, kan trouwens een kijkje nemen op winhero casino.
Houden jullie er ook zo van dit soort oude 'spookverhalen' en ontmaskeringen te ontdekken, of worden jullie liever zelf echt aan het schrikken gemaakt?
I love stories like this where something that seems supernatural turns out to have a surprisingly ordinary explanation. The old newspaper details make the whole scene feel even more atmospheric, and I’m curious to see what was really behind those noises. chickenroad
ReplyDeleteThe 1870 ghost legend of Clay County captures all the classic hallmarks of 19th-century gothic mystery preserved in local folklore. From phantom wagon wheels echoing down deserted country lanes to shadowy apparitions sighted near weathered cemeteries at dusk, the narrative reflects how early settlers processed the unknown and the uncanny. Exploring these archived newspaper clippings and fireside tales provides a window into the rich cultural storytelling that defined frontier life long before modern technology chased away the shadows. If you are looking for a moment to unwind and enjoy light online entertainment after exploring historical haunting legends, https://spin-granny-casino.org is a pleasant option.
ReplyDeleteLocal ghost stories from the 1870s are fascinating because they sit at the intersection of folklore, history, and whatever anxieties the community was carrying at the time. The specifics usually matter less than the pattern — stories from that era often involve unresolved deaths, strangers who were never fully accepted, or events that the community needed to explain somehow. What I find interesting is how these narratives evolve as they're retold across generations, with details shifting to fit the concerns of each era. The original 1870 version would have meant something different to its audience than the version we read today. There's a discussion on lukki about how stories shape our understanding of the past and the way communities process difficult events — the point about narratives being adapted rather than preserved unchanged was well-made. What's the most striking detail in the story?
ReplyDeleteFew things make an old ghost story more intriguing than discovering that the supposed haunting had a perfectly ordinary explanation. One such tale appeared in The Weston Democrat on June 27, 1870, describing a frightening experience involving two visiting reverends in Clay County, West Virginia.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the account, Rev. Daniel Schoonover and Rev. George Arbegast took shelter in an abandoned house known as the “Whaggy House” after traveling along the Elk River. As they settled in for the evening, strange noises began coming from around the fireplace. The sounds were accompanied by a terrible smell, convincing the men that something supernatural was happening.
The frightened travelers quickly left the house and told others about their encounter. Eventually, a local man named D. Brown decided to investigate. His discovery turned the ghost story into something considerably more unusual: rats had taken shelter inside a cavity in the fireplace wall. When the fire was lit, the animals were trapped and apparently died from the heat, producing the mysterious noises and unpleasant smell.
The story is a wonderful example of how easily unfamiliar sounds and circumstances can become supernatural legends. In an isolated nineteenth-century house, with darkness outside and no obvious explanation for strange noises, it would have been easy to imagine something far more frightening than what was actually hiding behind the fireplace. More historical and mysterious stories can also be explored naturally through casoola casino.
Unearthing chilling local legends and eerie folklore through historical tales like A Clay County Ghost Story (1870) offers ghost story enthusiasts and regional historians a captivating glimpse into nineteenth-century supernatural lore. Whether passing down reports of mysterious apparitions haunting old homesteads, forgotten pioneer tragedies, or unexplained midnight disturbances in rural settlements, these period ghost stories capture the vivid imagination and fears of early American settlers. Folklore blogs and historical archiving forums frequently share these nineteenth-century accounts to preserve regional oral traditions and investigate the historical roots behind local hauntings. When you want to treat yourself to a relaxing break after reading spooky historical archives, exploring ghost story anthologies, and researching local folklore, visit https://staycasino-aussies.com/.
ReplyDeleteA great little debunking piece. The reverends flee a haunted house, and the culprit turns out to be rats roasted alive in a cavity behind the fireplace. The 1870 newspaper prose is half the fun. The comment section here is now almost entirely casino spam, so the discussion is dead. More at https://spinanias1.es
ReplyDeleteSolche alten Geistergeschichten haben einen ganz besonderen Reiz, gerade wenn historische Fakten und lokale Überlieferungen miteinander verbunden werden. Die Geschichte aus Clay County von 1870 zeigt schön, wie Erzählungen über Generationen weiterleben und dadurch fast zu einem Teil der regionalen Identität werden.
ReplyDeleteNach solchen düsteren Geschichten brauche ich meistens etwas völlig anderes zur Ablenkung und schaue zum Beispiel bei https://baxterbet.at vorbei. Spannender Beitrag – besonders die Verbindung zwischen dokumentierter Geschichte und Folklore gefällt mir.
What a great example of how a supposedly supernatural mystery can have a surprisingly ordinary explanation. The detail about the trapped rats and the smoke from the fire makes the whole story both creepy and oddly amusing, especially after the dramatic escape. I enjoy coming across these unexpected twists while browsing juegochickenroad and other corners of the internet.
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