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

The Ouija Board and the Frat Pin

 

During the autumn of 1920, Miss Fannie Levings was distraught. She had lost a valuable frat pin and after searching everywhere and asking all her friends if they had seen it, the pin seemed gone forever.  Life had to go on, and Miss Levings left her home in West Virginia's northern panhandle to travel to Parkersburg for a meeting of the State Educational Association. On the way there, she stopped in Clarksburg to visit with friends.

Fueled by a rise in Spiritualism following World War One, the Ouija Board dominated the 1920s as a fun parlor game, used to connect with the other side for the purpose of asking groundbreaking questions such as "who will I marry?"

Miss Levings and her friends decided to ask the board the whereabouts of the missing frat pin. The response was prompt and concise: "In Fannie's bed."  Miss Levings wrote a letter home to her mother, asking her to thoroughly inspect the bed for the missing pin. Much to everyone's surprise and delight, the pin WAS found in Fannie's bed! 

Perhaps the spirits were feeling especially helpful that fateful day and led Fannie in the right direction. Or, is there a more logical explanation? I'll let you decide. Stay spooky! 

18 November 1920
Shepherdstown Register

Bleeding Corpses

Painting titled 'Bier Right' (1879) by Jeno Gyarfa

Today's blog post is a quick little fright bite on some interesting folklore I read about awhile back!

Cruentation (or bier-right) was a ritual in which a suspected murderer was made to touch the corpse of his alleged victim. If the corpse began to bleed, froth at the mouth, or otherwise show unusual signs, it was determined that the accused was guilty. The idea was that the corpse retained the ability to hear and see for some time after death and could identify their murderer.

 
This practice was most widespread in England and surrounding countries from the 1100s up until the 1800s and was brought to Appalachia by early settlers. And although in most places, cruentation couldn't be used to legally convict a murderer after the early 1700s, there were still cases reported of its use in the United States up through 1869. Here, in the isolated mountain communities of Appalachia, the practice was used as least through the Civil War, and is discussed further in such publications as Laura Wright's Appalachian Curiosities.

With Appalachia being such an isolated area, as well as one of great superstition, it just made sense that justice was sometimes meted out without the aid of formal law enforcement, who may take days (if not longer) to actually come investigate. And in the place of any living witnesses, who better to identify an assailant than the victim, living OR dead?

There is actually some science behind cruentation. It is believed that the 'bleeding' was actually the release of purge fluid, which looks like blood. This is the by-product of the putrefaction process and drains from the body's orifices, including nose and mouth

I can't think of a more disturbing image than a bleeding corpse somehow having the sentience to identify his or her killer, but the trope of a ghost (or otherwise deceased person) playing an integral role in bringing their murderer to justice is a common one in folklore. Whether or not this practice was actually effective or as widespread as we'd been led to believe is a moot point. What's important is that it makes for one heck of a scary ghost story and a warning to would-be murderers that what is done in darkness will eventually come to light, one way or another. 

The Importance of the Title Search

As a paranormal historian and researcher, one of my favorite aspects of the investigation process is conducting a deep dive into the background of every location in my case file. This deep dive includes studying a multitude of primary source documents, not just concerning the people involved, but the land itself as well!

One such primary source document that is a staple in my research process is the title/deed search. Although it won't give you everything you need (for example, the title will just tell you who OWNED the property, not necessarily who lived/worked there), it is an invaluable source of information. The title deed gives you a run-down of who has owned the land through written record. It can often tell you how that land was acquired from person to person---was it sold or passed down through a will to a family member. It will give you property boundaries and physical descriptions, allowing you to see just how extensive the property is/was and if it was ever part of a larger land tract. Sometimes, if you're lucky, it might even give you a reason for why that property is haunted.

Quite a few years ago now, my investigation team was called into an apartment building in Huntington, WV. Our clients were a young couple who were experiencing some strange paranormal activity. Well, that's not entirely true. The young man was the one experiencing paranormal activity. He was plagued by shadow figures darting around the apartment. Unexplained noises and voices were heard that could not be blamed on the neighbors. Objects would disappear, only to be found much later, and only by his girlfriend. At night, he experienced horrible dreams and interrupted sleep. 

This poor guy was being terrorized by something he couldn't explain. The worst part, however, was that he and his partner were seriously starting to doubt his sanity. Why was his sanity being questioned? Because these things were happening to him and only to him. The young lady wasn't experiencing anything out the ordinary. She'd come home to her partner telling her something had gone missing, and she'd find it right where it was supposed to be. Aside from the nightmares, all other activity, including the shadow figures and voices, tended to only happen when the guy was home alone. 

We spent the night at the apartment with all of our gear. Unfortunately, we didn't experience anything ourselves that night. After reviewing hours of audio and video, we still couldn't find anything that would make us believe there was paranormal activity going on in that apartment. In a way, it was really disappointing, because I know I personally felt that we had let this couple down. 

But, in comes the historical research. Due to work restraints and the urgency of the case, I didn't get to do a full historical write-up before the actual investigation. So, it was several days later before I made my way to the Cabell County Courthouse to pull the title of the property in hopes of at least giving the clients a thorough report. 

What I found was....interesting. The apartment dated back to the early 1930's and was always used as an apartment building. There was nothing unusual with the boundary descriptions or chain of ownership except for one little clause (or covenant) embedded in the original document. The original deed for the apartment clearly stated that PERSONS OF COLOR should never be sold or rented to.  

This was an important detail because the young man was black. His girlfriend, however, was white. We came to the loose conclusion that he was the target of these paranormal hostilities because a deceased racist former owner did not appreciate that covenant being broken. When presented with this information, the clients also believed there may be something to it. The young man had never experienced paranormal activity in any other location before this. If he was just starting to show signs of mental illness, it's likely that his symptoms would also show up while outside the apartment, which they weren't. Everything started after moving into that apartment, and all the activity was contained therein and concentrated on him alone. 

Since their lease was almost up, the couple decided the best thing to do was just to find a different apartment, one without a racist ghost. We checked in on them a few months later, and things were completely normal. I like to think this case had a happy ending, but while we were able to provide some answers to a client, can it really be a happy ending when things like this happen?

From the 1920's to the 1940's, the United States was seeing a population shift. It was the peak of what we call the Great Migration of Blacks from the south into the bigger cities of the north and midwest to find work. It was pretty common and perfectly legal for individual property owners, as well as whole entire neighborhoods, to include covenants in their title deeds banning different races and religions from taking ownership. 

The first step against this practice was the 1948 U.S. Supreme Court case, Shelley v. Kraemer, which ruled that these covenants couldn't be enforced by state or federal governments. However, they could still be socially enforced and often were.  It took another 20 years before the 1968 Fair Housing Act outlawed them completely. But, even then, there were other ways to socially enforce the original covenants and keep certain people out of certain neighborhoods. 

Amazingly, out of all the title searches I've done over the years, that was the only time I actually found one of these covenants included, and it just happened to be for a case where it was significant. But, I challenge you---If title searches are part of your investigative process, keep an eye out for similar wording. You never know when it might be important. 

Read more about racially restrictive housing covenants over on the History Channel!  (LINK)

Parkersburg Sea Serpent

ChatGPT's interpretation of the
Parkersburg Sea Serpent

When you hear the term 'sea serpent,' I'm guessing the Ohio River doesn't necessarily come to mind, especially since it's an inland river and not a sea. But, the Ohio River is FULL of strange creatures, spanning its entire length.  In 1893, it was the Parkersburg, WV area that would become the focus for some Ohio River weirdness.

In late June/early July, a 'sea serpent' was seen in various places between Neale's/Neal Island (about two miles above Parkersburg) and Blennerhassett Island (about two miles below the city). For a couple of weeks, multiple witnesses, many young people out on social boating outings, described an encounter with a long, snake-like creature, floating on the surface of the water. 

This creature was black in color, and anywhere between 8-15 feet long, with an estimated 10 feet long being the average reported length. The creature had a broad head as big as a barrel and bulging eyes that were almost canine in appearance. Although spotted floating atop the water, when approached by a boat, the creature would then quickly dive, causing dangerous waves. 

Many locals believed the tales, with some citizens reporting that they, too, had seen the serpent almost on a daily basis. It was said that the witnesses were reliable and truthful---a belief that was reiterated over and over in newspaper reports. However, out of state newspapers who covered the story were a little less impressed and accused the witnesses of lying, being drunk, etc. 

Was the Parkersburg Sea Serpent simply a hoax by some bored kids trying to liven up their summer festivities, or was it a simple misidentification? Or, was there really a monster living in the Ohio River in 1893? 

Location of Neal Island and Blennerhassett Island

The Cincinnati Enquirer
02 July 1893

That Time I Left a Blood Sacrifice to Marie Laveau

Way back in 2023, my husband and I joined some colleagues for an epic road trip to Louisiana. Our mission was to help film a project on the Rougarou, but we decided to go down a few days early and spend a few days exploring New Orleans, particularly the French Quarter.

Although the second leg of the trip was largely a bust, I had the best time of my life in New Orleans. My grandmother always said that going to New Orleans felt like she had finally come home and I felt the exact same way. I could spend a lifetime or longer exploring the rich history, fascinating culture, and of course, the many, many ghost stories that make up the atmosphere of the Crescent City. We saw a lot of cool stuff, but there was one location that I had my heart set on: The St. Louis Cemetery #1. 

St. Louis Cemetery #1 is the final resting place of famed 'Voodoo Queen' Marie LaVeau. Generation after generation has visited her grave, leaving offerings and even conducting rituals to gain her favor. The most common way to interact with Marie for years was to leave three red X's on her tomb. However, largely due to this type of vandalism, the cemetery is now closed to the public. You may still visit the cemetery by either special permission from local diocese....or through a licensed tour company, which offers guided tours daily.

We were in New Orleans in late November/early December, which is probably the closest the city has to a slow season. In fact, a ghostly bus tour we had taken was rescheduled due to lack of ticket sales. Therefore, we thought we'd have no problems buying our tickets to tour St. Louis #1 day of. It was the last day we were to be in New Orleans before heading to Natchez and we were going to take the tour on our way out of town. 

I was absolutely devastated when we get to the tour office and were told that all the tours for the entire day were already sold out. We had underestimated the popularity of St. Louis #1 and failed to buy tickets in advance, and since this was our last day in town, I was going to miss my opportunity. The disappointment must have been pretty evident on my face, because the wonderful lady working the sales counter pulled up her records on the computer. Tour groups, which left every 15 minutes, were limited to 20 in size. There were no tours with four slots open, BUT the next four tours leaving had exactly ONE open slot each!

We could take the tour....we just had to do it alone. 

Well, not exactly alone. I went on the first available slot and the rest of my tour group was made up entirely of Detroit Lions fans who were in town for the game. My tour guy was Buddy, a sweet older man who was brought to New Orleans by his wife, who had recently passed. He was super knowledgeable and personable, and I had a blast learning about the legends and the lore associated with the cemetery, in addition to its verified history. We saw Nicolas Cage's future pyramid tomb, learned about the year and a day process of burial, and of course saw the Marie LaVeau tomb.

I had heard that although discouraged, some tour guides would look the other way if visitors wanted to leave a small offering at Marie's tomb, just as long as was respectful, could easily be removed, and didn't damage or impede anything. We saw a few coins and flowers and things of that nature, but I didn't personally bring anything to leave because I wasn't sure how lenient they actually were. Unfortunately, I did end up leaving an offering of sorts.

Throughout the tour, I had stayed near the back of the group so I could take plenty of photos, and at one point, I was still at the back of the group, but walking along the path beside a man whose wife had stayed behind to take some photographs of her own. I wasn't talking to this guy, looking at this guy, or in any way interacting with him; I was just beside him on the path. That was enough to spark something in this woman, though. She ran up and squeezed herself in between me and her husband with enough force that she actually hip-checked me. I had to briefly step off the path to keep my balance and make room for her to grab her man's arm protectively. 

In doing so, I brushed up a spikey bush. I didn't think much of it until a few minutes later when I felt something wet drip down my arm. It was a hot day, but not so hot that'd I'd be dripping with sweat, so I looked down and was horrified to see that the bush was a little spikier than I had realized. I had two puncture wounds in my arm that were now dripping blood all over the cemetery, including right in front of Marie LaVeau's tomb. 

So, although this was a completely unintentional act, it's kind of fun to joke with people and tell them that I traveled to New Orleans to leave a blood sacrifice at the grave of Marie LaVeau. I am not a voodoo practitioner, and many say that neither was Marie for that matter, so this is not something that I share out of disrespect and I certainly don't recommend you doing something similar. What I do recommend is buying your tickets EARLY if you wish to take the tour and enjoy the history of the cemetery. Read up on the real Marie LaVeau and the others whose earthly remains lie within the cemetery walls. 

A Devilish Divorce

Krampus Valentine Card
Not exactly the same, but I thought it was a
 fun visual for this post!

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share a story of love gone wrong...with an occult twist! The following story out of Illinois was found in the September 14, 1909 edition of the Bluefield Evening Reader. 

MAN MAKES WIFE WORSHIP HIM

Chicago, Sept. 14---Dressing in a robe of flaming red, with black trimmings, to represent himself as the Prince of the Region of Brimstone and Sulfur, burning incense and making weird noises to frighten his wife, were acts ascribed to Andrew Blaes in a bill for divorce filed by Mrs. Blaes. The husband owns $150,000 worth of property and lives at the Glenview Golf Club.

While Mrs. Blaes and her husband have lived in the same house nine years, it is asserted that they have occupied separate apartments.

"About eight or nine years ago," says Mrs. Blaes in her bill, "my husband took up the study of hypntism [sic] and occultism, and has conducted many experiments in our home. Frequently he has burned incense, and the odor has permeated my room and has sickened me. The more I complained the more was burned.

"On one occasion recently he dressed up in flaming red with some black trimmings to represent the devil. This was done late at night after we had all gone to bed.

"Then he made weird and uncanny noises in the kitchen. I was ill in bed, but got up to investigate. The sight of my husband dressed in this queer garb frightened me and I ran out of the house clad only in my night robe. He followed me making unearthly noises."

Bluefield (West Virginia) Evening Reader
14 September 1909