Spirits at St. Mark's (St. Albans)

St. Mark's Episcopal Church
St. Albans, WV
Source: WV History on View

I've mentioned the paranormal activity concerning the St. Mark's Episcopal Church on my blog before (see Civil War History with the St. Albans History and Mystery Tour). However, after hearing local historian Denise Cyrus discuss the haunted history of St. Albans at September's St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group, I was inspired to give this fascinating location its own post! If you'd like to learn more about Denise and her upcoming St. Albans History and Mystery Tours, please check out the link provided. 

Back in 1825, an early settler to the Coalsmouth area named Morris Hudson built a small church on his property. Located along today's Kanawha Terrace, this church was called Bangor Parish Church. Services were presided over by a preacher from Fort Lee in Charleston and the church lasted until it was destroyed by fire in 1845. Luckily, the bell was saved and became a focal point for the newly rebuilt church.

The newly rebuilt church was moved to the property of Phillip Thompson, on what is today 405 B Street, St. Albans. Completed between 1846 and 1847, the church was officially consecrated by Bishop Meade in 1847. The name was changed to St. Mark's in honor of Thompson's former church in his native Culpeper County, Va. The church grew and thrived in its new location...until the Civil War came to the area. By 1863, Union troops had commandeered the church. Unfortunately, St. Mark's, like so many other churches of this era, suffered severe damage under the soldiers, as they ripped the floors up, tore out a back wall, and used the beautiful brick building as a stable for their horses. 

Upon the close of the war, the congregation began to come back and tried to fix as much damage as possible, holding makeshift services on the grounds. Between 1874 and 1878 the church building was deemed unsafe and closed off until adequate repairs could be made. Vast improvements on the old building wouldn't occur, however, until 1913 when Rev. Herbert Jukes would come to the church. Before joining the ministry, Jukes had been an architect and aided by the $2,400 in Federal Restitution money received in 1915, was able to make vast improvements, which are still seen today.

St. Mark's 2022
History and Mystery Tour

The church would continue to grow and change. In 1955 an educational wing was added, and in 1969 a new, larger sanctuary was added, giving the modern structure a U-shape. Services continue to be held, and the church offers a variety of community outreach programs to the citizens of St. Albans. The church may also still harbor some citizens from the past.

In addition to a basement that gives many people an uneasy feeling, there has been a sighting of two full-bodied apparitions. A friend of Denise was alone in the church, practicing the organ, and had taken a break to go to her car. The parking lot is located behind the church and beyond the parking lot is a playground area. The witness reported walking out and seeing two men in the playground area. These two men were dressed as Civil War era soldiers! She went to grab her phone to take a photo, but by the time she was ready to snap a picture, the two men had vanished. 

It is believed that these were possibly the spirits of the Union soldiers who camped on the property during the war, still on duty after over 150 years. More likely, however, this isn't a sentient, intelligent haunting. Rather, it seems like the witness caught a glimpse of a residual haunting---a moment stuck in time, playing over and over again under the right conditions, much like a movie on repeat.  To be fair, the idea that it wasn't a ghost of all has to be considered. Ironically, when I went on the History and Mystery Tour several years ago, we were stopped at the church, hearing the stories, when we noticed an unhoused gentleman who was napping under a nearby bush. He looked a little rough, but I wouldn't say he looked like a soldier from the 1860s! 

Parking Lot/Playground where soldiers were seen (2022)

Either way, St. Mark's Episcopal Church has a long and interesting history. It has seen people come and go, it has seen the area change dramatically with time, and it has even witnessed the town changing names a few times. It is very plausible that those who are lucky enough can and will catch a peek into the past---a past that shaped the Kanawha Valley into what it is today. 

If you've had a paranormal experience associated with St. Mark's, I'd love to hear from you! Please feel free to comment down below or find me on Facebook at Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State. Stay Spooky! 

Additional Reading/Sources:

St. Mark's Website--History by Betty Evans, Archivist

National Register of Historic Places Nomination Application

St. Albans Historical Society

Society of Architectural Historians

Denise Cyrus, President of St. Albans Historical Society

Civil War History with the St. Albans History and Mystery Tour 2022!

Tour Guide, Denise Cyrus

One of the things I love almost as much as the paranormal is learning about local history. As a native West Virginian, I'm fascinated by my state's rich and unique background, and the stories of those who have called these hills home over the years. And obviously, whenever, I see an opportunity to experience the SPOOKY and unusual history of the Mountain State, I jump at the chance! Last week I did just that with a guided walking tour of St. Albans!

Led by local historian Denise Cyrus, this month's St. Albans History and Mystery Tours are focused on the Civil War era and the impact of the war on the citizens of a small, but bustling town known then as Coalsmouth. Like many towns in what is now West Virginia, this area truly embraced the old 'brother against brother' saying, as families, friends, and neighbors were split as to whether their sympathies were with the Confederacy or with the Union...and interestingly enough, some citizens' sympathies seemed to align with whichever side was in control of the village at the time! Still, other families just left the area entirely. But, those who stayed left quite a treasure trove of stories to be passed down for us today.

St. Mark's Episcopal Church

Our group met at The Loop, and after an introduction to the history of the town, proceeded to our first stop, which was St. Mark's Episcopal Church on 'B' Street. Originally organized as the Bangor Parish on the other side of town, St. Mark's was built on this site around 1847 after the previous church burned down. During the Civil War, Union troops camped on the site and used the church to stable their horses. In fact, our first spooky story is connected to this Union occupation of the grounds. A lady was out back behind the church and witnessed a man dressed as a Civil War era soldier. This gentleman was so clearly seen that she just assumed that he was some sort of re-enactor...but no re-enactors were present.  In a weird twist of fate, as we walked back to the area where the presumed spirit was seen, the group noticed that there was a man lying down near the corner of the property! I can't help but wonder if it was just a homeless guy taking a rest in a relatively safe and comfy spot...or if we collectively caught a glimpse through time and observed one of those Union soldiers, still camping out there behind the church. 

Anyway, while we were back there, we discussed the nearby Hansford House on Riverside Drive. The Hansford Family were prominent citizens in the area, and Victoria Hansford was a figure whose name came up in multiple stories throughout the evening. I don't want to give too much away, because I encourage you to take the tour for yourself, but let's just say she was quite a brave young woman! The house she called home, however, was the site of at least two tragic deaths. After the Battle of Scary Creek, it is said that a wounded soldier who knew the family made his way to Hansford House in search of help. Unfortunately, he passed away from his injuries, right at the entry to the house. After the Civil War, 78 year John Hansford was going out to vote and was walking along the train bridge when he was struck by a passing train and knocked off the bridge. He was dragged home from the river's edge, still alive, by his daughter Victoria and a servant, but unfortunately passed----in the SAME EXACT SPOT the soldier had died in. 

Behind St. Mark's where the ghostly soldier was seen

Moving on, we stopped at the new, modern post office building and talked a little about postal service in Coalsmouth during the time before, during, and shortly after the Civil War, which was really quite interesting. But, more importantly, the current site of the post office is actually the original site of the the Chilton House, before it was moved in the 1970's. Now known as Angela's On the River, the old Chilton House is a beautiful, upscale (yet fairly priced!) restaurant. 

The Chilton House was built around 1857 by Allen Smith, and didn't become known as the Chilton House until well after the Civil War, when the house was purchased by Mary Elizabeth Wilson Chilton and William Chilton I. And, it has a reputation for being haunted. Or rather, it DID have a reputation for being haunted. I had actually written a blog post about the hauntings of the Chilton House after speaking with an employee during the St. Albans History and Mystery Tour of 2019! I know have some updated information to add to that blog! You can read my original post HERE, but in short, when the current owner took over the building, she had bought an antique mirror which had come from England. Apparently, fingerprints were noticed on the mirror, and no amount of Windex could scrub these things away. Things progressed, and what were just fingerprints on apparently the inside of the mirror, became the vision of an entire HAND, which culminated in an image of a terrifying FACE peering back out from the mirror! Strange knockings and other disturbances seemed attacked to the mirror as well, so it was decided that the thing had to be gotten rid of...and was put out on the curb where some lucky passerby snagged  him or herself a FREE possessed mirror! 

Angela's On The River,
formerly the Chilton House

Walking down the river's edge a short ways, we stopped to discuss the importance of the old covered bridge that once stood over the Coal River and how as Confederate troops left town, they burned the bridge in attempt to stop the Union troops from following them. Hilariously, I guess it had been a particularly dry season, because the Coal River was low enough for them to just walk across without the aid of the bridge, so that piece of history was lost in an instant for nothing.  And, while we were still in sight of the Coal River, Denise told us the ironic tale of a former preacher who gave up the pulpit for the whiskey selling business, but drank away all his profits and ended up killing his wife and 'hiding' her body in the river. His subsequent trial and hanging were a big deal and featured in newspapers well beyond the borders of then-Virginia! 

The next location was St. Paul's Baptist Church, where there is some beautiful artwork on the doors to the church, and then a short uphill hike to everyone's favorite house in St. Albans---The Mohler House. Now, technically, the Mohler House isn't really Civil War related as it wasn't built until the early 1900's, but Denise found a couple of ways to tie it in, including the fact that where the house sits was once part of the large Muckamore estate, and was probably where the enslaved members of the estate lived. The Mohler House has an absolutely fascinating history, including being used to house nearly 100 young women known as 'Rosies' during WW2 who worked at the Naval Ordnance Plant in South Charleston. It's also thought to be haunted, of course! Activity isn't really specific, but the area around the staircase and in the basement tends to give people a very, very bad feeling. 

Mohler House

More stories were told as we got to take a little sit-down break on Old Main, and even more stories wrapped up the evening back at the parking lot.  Along the way, the sun had set and a bright, fat moon peeked eerily out from behind the clouds. It was a perfect evening...despite the earlier wind and clouds, it never got too terribly chilly, and it never rained. Just a wonderful night for a lot of history and a lot of mystery!  I absolutely had a fabulous time and learned a lot about the history of St. Albans. Denise was a great story-teller, and a wealth of information about anything and everything having to do with the history of the area formerly known as Coalsmouth. I can't imagine the dedication and hours of research that went into making these different tours, but it shows in her passion for sharing this knowledge with her tour guests. Each guest went home with a really cool photo postcard of the old covered bridge, a walking tour pamphlet of historic locations around St. Albans, and hopefully a greater appreciation for the history and mysteries of our little neck of the woods!

Know Before You Go:  

Make sure you're following St. Albans History and Mystery Tour on Facebook for updates on tour schedules and much more. See schedule below as well!

The October tours meet at the Loop in front of Family Care, across from the bridge.

The cost is $10 for adults/$5 for kids.

Tours generally run about 90 minutes.

Estimated length is 1.5 miles.

(It's a fairly easy walk, with only one fairly small hill. Even with my bad back, I managed to do just fine!)

The Singing Spirit Wife of Kanawha County

Source

I've got another historic newspaper article to share with you today! Although this clipping can be found in the November 8, 1886 edition of the The Mail--a newspaper out of Stockton, California, the tale told is actually from deep within the mountains of West Virginia. Cannelton, WV is now located in present-day Fayette County, with Cannelton Mountain at the boundary of Kanawha County. 

This is a really interesting story of a preacher and his wife, both of whom seemed to have some rather spooky characteristics about them. When the wife passes away, she leaves a rather bizarre request for her husband to follow, which he does, much to the horror of those living in the surrounding communities. But, things get even worse for him when he decides to go back on that request and bring a new wife to his home. I hope you enjoy this strange little tale and share it with others so that together we can keep the rich, and sometimes weird, folklore of West Virginia alive. 

A SINGING SPIRIT-WIFE

The Haunted Glen in the West Virginia Mountains

Corr. Cincinnati Enquirer

There is a wild country in the rear of Cannelton mountain, in the western part of Kanawha county, West Virginia. Strange people, many of whom are nomadic in habit, strange customs and strange habitations may be found for the looking. Here the "sing-diggers," or cave dwellers, thrive in wild luxuriance; here the "Brotherhood of Prayer" and Church of God sects, whose curious rites of humility and penance recall the history of druidical worship. On the southern slope of a mountain about five miles beyond "the settlement"--as these primitive-mannered people still call the villages--Edom Smith, a free-will Baptist, pitched his tent ten years ago. His claims for preferment were speedily recognized and a following obtained. 

A rude hut was his dwelling-place, in a dense wood, never touched by sunshine, and hard by a little stream, spring-fed, and a twinkling waterfall. Here the owls hooted grewsomely in the night time. Deacon Smith was pale, cadaverous and solemn. His wife was of the gypsy type--dark, of stormy mien, alert and active. That she ruled the deacon with no gentle rod no one had reason to doubt. She held herself aloof from "his people," though taking part in the Saturday night services. He never preached save at night, and then only in the light of the moon.

The dark woman was held in veneration by the "sing-diggers," for she sang as none others could, and gave them healing potions and charms against the evil one. Once, it is said, that when Edom Smith spoke of death and the grave in his discourse, she shrieked aloud and rebuked her husband with angry words. It was known that her terror of death amounted to madness, and she had extorted an oath from him never to consign her body to the ground, but to enclose it in an oaken box, to be deposited on a specific stump near the house. For want of sunlight she fell ill of rheumatism one Autumn and died when the leaves were coming out again in the tangle of vines on the tent.

Edom Smith remembered his vow, and respected it. Within sight of the bridle-path that led to the highway a few miles beyond, on the stump that Olga had selected, the rude oak box containing her remains was placed. The people besought him to bury the remains, but he said he durst not break his word, for she had promised to haunt him for this, and always kept her word. Then they made a new path to the river that they might avoid the awful spectacle of that discolored box, where the figure in white came every twilight and wandered to the waterfall. This weird vision was a common sight, it was said, and they persistently prayed the deacon to put the coffin under ground, where the dead belong. Elfish screams were heard in the moonlight hour, it was told, and wild songs, such as Olga used to sing as she sat by the cabin door. 

All knew that strong, strangely sweet voice, and shuddered when they heard its echoes among the trees. But no one complained to the authorities of the horror, and the box remained through that Summer and one Winter undisturbed. It finally disappeared, no one knew why, and were afraid to ask concerning it. But the mystery was explained when he brought a bride to the hut. She had steadily refused to share his lot until the former wife was put away. 

But the songs went on as of old, and the awful cries of the gloaming, till they called it the haunted glen, through which belated travelers hurried to the nearest habitation. It was found that Edom Smith had carried the box to a cavern, almost at the mountain top, on the other side. How he succeeded in reaching the place without assistance was more than anybody could understand, but no one questioned that awful matter.

There on a ledge of rock in the cave may yet be seen the oaken box, over which the mosses grow and the ancient ferns, and where the dolesome nighthawks scream a mournful threnody. The rattlesnakes hiss about the place and fantastic vine drapes the mouth of the tomb with scarlet blossoms. The tale is told that Deacon Smith had never peace in the hut with his new wife, for the ghostly songs of the restless Olga, and that his Bible had bloody fingermarks throughout. So they left the place one night, going no one knew whither, leaving everything as though they would return, but they never did, none hearing from them or the cause of their hegira.

Perhaps they were murdered, say the "song-people." Who can tell? But the furniture disappeared a month later, and then a fire destroyed the house--by what means no one could say. They still say the songs may yet be heard in the twilight and the awful shrieks in the midnight hour. And they will tell this tale to succeeding generations, and warn them of the haunted cave near the mountain top, and the ghost of the lonely glen.