Ghostly Tales from the Ohio Valley Electric Railway

Winchester Avenue
Ashland, KY

The Ohio Valley Electric Railway was an interconnected streetcar system connecting Ashland, KY, Huntington, WV, and Ironton, Ohio. Incorporated in 1899, it lasted until 1937, being known as the Camden Interstate Railway Company between 1900 and 1908 (Huntington's haunted Camden Park was established in 1903 as a picnic area for railway patrons!).  This 'modern' convenience opened up another affordable option for travel around the tri-state, but for whatever reason, it also became a mobile haunted house, showcasing the area's paranormal activity. In a newspaper article from 1923, THREE separate spooky experiences were documented. One such incident occurred on Winchester Avenue in Ashland, KY, with prior incidents occurring near the Big Sandy Bridge and Kenova Station. 

The Winchester incident occurred in May of 1923. Passengers were minding their own business as the car traveled down Winchester Avenue. Suddenly, a PHANTOM COAT floated in through a rear window, and drifted up the aisle before vanishing before shocked eyes. The car was stopped and the motorman, along with several passengers, got out to investigate. No sign of the coat or anything that could be mistaken as a phantom coat was ever found. The article made sure to mention that none of the witnesses had been drinking, and it appeared as if only one or two people of color, were frightened by the unexplained incident.

The article then goes on to state that several years prior, a different motorman and passengers were traveling over the Big Sandy bridge and had to stop to avoid a collision with a phantom car. As soon as they stopped, the car vanished.

One final story is mentioned as being witnessed by the writer of the article himself. He and a number of others were at Kenova Station (in West Virginia). They looked through a window of a passenger car stopped on the bridge and claim to have been able to see Ashland, Kentucky as plain as day, almost as if they were observing from atop a hill or Ferris Wheel. This particular mirage did shake up the witnesses pretty bad, and several believed it was an omen that something bad was going to happen along the journey. Luckily, everyone made it safely to their destinations. Theresa's note: I'm not entirely sure this last incident was related to the Ohio Valley Electric Railway or not. As its written, it seems like it may involve a regular train, but was included in the article as a means to emphasize the point that some pretty strange stuff had been happening in the tri-state in the past few years! 

The Independent Herald
(Hinton, WV)
17 May 1923

The Brown Hotel's Resident Ghost

Brown Hotel Entrance
August 2024

Last summer, a small faction of SRI members embarked on a trip to Louisville, Kentucky for an investigation of the infamous Waverly Hills Sanitorium. We decided to make the most out of our time and cram in as much spooky fun as we could, including taking a ghost tour of downtown with Mr. Robert Parker of Louisville Ghost Walks. 

Our tour met in front of the opulent old Brown Hotel. After brief introductions and an overview of Louisville in general, our spooky stories kicked off with the hotel itself. The Brown Hotel opened for business on October 25, 1923. It's owner, businessman John Graham Brown, had sunk over $4 million into making the 16 story hotel a showplace of elegance and refinement. But, with many businesses, the good times would come and go over the years. 

After several years of prosperity, the Great Depression (along with Prohibition) hit the hotel hard, and it stayed afloat thanks to staff members willing to forego their wages. The 1940's and 1950's were a bit easier, as the hotel hosted quite a few servicemen during the war, and became THE place for traveling celebrities and dignitaries to stay during the Kentucky Derby. However, the city as a whole began to decline in the 1960's and 1970's. 

Brown Hotel
August 2024

Throughout this whole time, John Graham Brown continued to live on the 15th floor penthouse suite of his beloved hotel. He frequented the on-site restaurant, where the famous Hot Brown sandwich was invented in 1926, and enjoyed gazing down on the 2-story lobby from the mezzanine, sometimes with binoculars. Always by his side was his little dog, Woozem, who he saved from a traveling circus that wished to get rid of him. 

Brown passed away on March 20, 1969, and the hotel closed two years later. For several years, it was owned by the public school board, and housed offices. That wouldn't be the end of the Brown Hotel forever, though. In the early 1980's, a downtown restoration project was underway, and the old hotel was renovated and reopened as a Hilton Hotel. In 1993, the hotel was sold again and further renovations restored it to (almost) its former glory, and since at least 2006 has once again been known as the Brown Hotel. 

As those of us in the paranormal community are all too familiar, renovations tend to stir up paranormal activity, and it seems as if Mr. Brown was definitely stirred up at the idea of his beloved hotel coming back to life. Of all the ghost sightings and reports of paranormal activity from this location, all seem to be caused directly by Mr. Brown (sometimes accompanied by Woozem) himself. It started with his old penthouse suite...

"Mr. Ghost Walker" Robert Parker

Employees noticed that the elevators would mysteriously tend to open up on the unoccupied 15th floor where Mr. Brown lived for so many years. Further, even though the room was not open to the public, footsteps would be observed tracking through the dust, even appearing when it was confirmed no one had been in the area but the witness! In addition, people on the floor below would complain that someone above them was either moving furniture or walking noisily throughout the empty suite.

Phantom cigar smoke is often smelled, especially in the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby. But, most shockingly, Mr. Brown has been seen by multiple witnesses at multiple times throughout the hotel and grounds. He tends to favor the mezzanine, where he can still keep an eye out on his hotel, but he's also been seen in and around the hotel restaurant where he'd take his daily meals, as well as other locations. Mr. Brown has a rather distinct appearance, so to those seeing him, there's no mistaking him, especially when the ghost of his little dog accompanies him. 

Mr. Brown and Woozem

So, the next time you're in downtown Louisville, stop in at the haunted and historic Brown Hotel. Have a Hot Brown sandwich, lounge for a bit in the massive lobby, and most importantly, keep your eyes open for a short, stout man accompanied by a little dog. You might just be one of the lucky visitors to meet the hotel's owner for yourself!

Sources and Further Reading:

Haunted Louisville and Haunted Louisville 2 by Robert Parker

Wikipedia: Brown Hotel

Louisville Ghost Walks, Hosted by Robert Parker

*The Brown Hotel isn't the only haunted hotel in downtown Louisville! Check out Theresa's blog on the Seelbach Hotel, haunted by a beautiful lady in blue.*

Theresa Travels: To Louisville, Kentucky!

Waverly Hills
August 10, 2024

This past weekend, I traveled from Charleston, WV to Louisville, KY for a bucket-list level visit to Waverly Hills Sanatorium. I was joined by SRI founder/president, Brian Clary, and my spooky buddy Angie for an intense, six hour investigation of the old tuberculosis hospital. That was the main focus for our trip, and it certainly was the highlight.  Waverly Hills is one of those top haunted locations in the world, but even though its less than four hours away, I had never had the opportunity to tour it. But, even though we came for Waverly, we couldn't come to town without cramming in as much spooky fun as we could. We were only there for a short amount of time, but we filled nearly every minute with what Louisville's paranormal scene had to offer. Join me on my trip to haunted, historic Louisville!

Angie and I drove down together from Charleston, while Brian left from Huntington. We left around 10am and had a nice, easy drive down I-64, stopping briefly for lunch at CookOut. The trip was uneventful, but we spent the 3.5 hours chatting about the ghosts of Waverly Hills...and laughing more than necessary at topics that bear no repeating here! It was fun, and we were in great spirits as we pulled into town and met Brian in Old Louisville. Since we still had about an hour before we could check into our AirBnB, we decided to officially start our trip with a little side trip.

The Witches' Tree, located on the corner of S. 6th St. and Park Avenue, is like something out of a fairy tale. The large, knotted, gnarled tree dominates the landscape, covered in offerings of beads, coins, crafts, toys, and much more. It stands as a stark reminder not to mess with the local witches! As the tale goes, during the late 19th century, a coven of witches gathered at this particular tree, which was located just outside of town. Despite being an integral part of the witches' ceremonies, the town decided the large maple would make an excellent Maypole for their annual celebration. Amid warnings from the witches, the town went ahead and cut the tree down, an act that would result in a curse. 

The curse would finally take hold 11 months later on March 27, 1890. Around 8:30pm, a massive tornado ripped through the area. It lasted only five minutes, but resulted in the death of 100 people, dozens more injured, and extensive property damage. Amid the rubble, a new tree began growing from the stump of the Witches' Tree. It grew into the twisted, writhing, knotted giant that is there today. Of course, we had to get plenty of pictures, and leave a few offerings of our own. 

Next, it was time to head to our AirBnB! Brian had suggested a Halloween/Horror themed house about 15 minutes from Waverly Hills known as The Haunted Hideaway at The Black House. Decked out in spooky decor, including a 12 foot skeleton in the backyard, the house was the perfect place to crash for a few hours before and after our investigation. It was clean and comfortable, with a twin bed, a Queen, a futon, and a GIANT couch. It's also pet-friendly if you need to take your furbabies with you. I highly recommend it to anyone staying in the area, even though we didn't really get to spend that much time there, as we were so busy. My only complaint would be that there is only ONE BATHROOM. That made things a little difficult with three people trying to rush to shower and get ready before check-out. 

The Haunted Hideaway AirBnB

Anyway, we got in a quick power nap before we had to leave to start the first part of our evening. Now, I had my heart set on finding a haunted restaurant for dinner, but Brian, who visits Louisville fairly regularly, suggested an awesome little Irish pub, called the Irish Rover. I am so glad we took his suggestion, because it was fantastic. It was a cozy little diner located in a historic building with a menu filled with authentic Irish cuisine and even quite a few vegetarian options. The prices were extremely fair, the service was great, and the food was served really quickly.  I REALLY wanted to be adventurous and try the Cottage Pie, but a heavy bread bowl with mashed potatoes and smothered with cheese probably would have killed me after walking around so much later on. Instead, I had a safe grilled chicken sandwich and fries, which was delicious. We shared some Cordon Bleu Fritters, which were to die for---a mix of cheese, chicken and ham in a deep-fried fritter.

Dinner was followed by a trip to downtown Louisville where we met up in front of the Brown Hotel with Robert 'Ghost Walker' Parker of Louisville Ghost Walks! I was a little nervous about taking a walking tour right before an all-nighter at the gigantic Waverly Hills...but it wasn't bad at all. Our tour lasted a little under two hours, and it was just our little group, so it was like a private tour. The walk was completely flat, nice and easy, and there were plenty of long stops, several with places to comfortably sit while we listened to the haunted history of Louisville. Robert is an awesome story teller, and was extremely knowledgeable about the city and its spooky past. We got some great information about the Brown Hotel, the Brennan House, the Palace Theater, and many other spots. Robert even gave us some information about Waverly Hills. 

Tickets for Louisville Ghost Walks run $25 and tours are held on both Friday and Saturday evenings starting in August. There are several different tour companies throughout Louisville, but I definitely recommend a tour with Robert if you're in the downtown area. Parking is available close by, but a word of caution---Louisville had a much larger and much more visible population of unhoused individuals than I realized. For the most part, we were in well-populated areas and still had plenty of sunlight throughout the tour. Only once did an individual approach our group, but quickly left when asked. I felt completely safe the entire time. Still, there were a couple of places where you just needed to uh, watch your step. 

With our Louisville Ghost Walk 
tour guide, Robert

Being downtown, we stopped in for a quick drink/snack break at Sicilian's Pizza before heading back to the AirBnB to rest up for the big event!

We only had about an hour and a half before we had to leave for Waverly, so I got in another quick power nap and changed into my SRI t-shirt. We loaded up all the equipment that we had left charging at the house, and made the 15 minute drive to Waverly Hills. 

There are two addresses listed for Waverly Hills, but only one will take you to the gate you need to go to. The problem was, my GPS kept trying to re-reroute us to the wrong gate, no matter what we did. So, it was a little harrowing as we finally just had to trust that we could find the correct road without electronic help, which we successfully did. Eventually. Security is everything that people tell you it is. We had to go through two different checkpoints before arriving at the parking area. We pulled up about 20 minutes before our midnight start time, and there were already about a dozen people outside, milling around, taking pictures, and gasping about how spooky and massive the structure was. 

We were quickly allowed inside to the gift shop where we had to officially sign in and were allowed to make any purchases while we waited. I was a little disappointed in the selection; I had my heart set on some new books, but they didn't have any. T-shirt and hoodie designs/sizes were extremely limited, but the prices weren't too bad. I bought a t-shirt. Drinks, snacks, batteries, OTC meds, and small equipment pieces were also available. We had a few minutes to use the restroom while we waited for the 8pm paranormal tour finished up, and that's when Angie had HER first paranormal experience of the evening! She actually got locked into a stall and ended up having to crawl under the door to get out!

Base Camp

Shortly after, we were taken upstairs to the second floor base camp area. There were about 50 guests that night, and we were divided into two groups for a quick tour and safety briefing. The tour lasted around a half hour and took us to all five floors of the old hospital. It was suggested to leave flashlights turned off and let our eyes adjust to the dark. Unfortunately, that meant that we really didn't get a good look at much of the hospital. Our guide would be telling us stories and locations, and we just couldn't see anything. People were also stumbling around and bumping into things, which didn't seem like that good of an idea. Overall, my one disappointment for the evening was that you couldn't really see a lot. There were no daytime history tours of the hospital being held that day, and the 8pm-12am paranormal tour was completely sold out. With security so strict, we couldn't get anywhere near the building within daylight hours to really take some decent pictures or just appreciate the building in the light.

I'll be sharing more about our investigation in an upcoming blog post, but we had a blast. After the tour, we were allowed to free-roam pretty much the entire the building, including the roof. Although there were a lot of people walking around without lights and sound traveled pretty easily, we actually had a few experiences that we couldn't necessarily blame on the uncontrolled environment. We absolutely sat and played peek-a-boo with multiple humanoid shadows on the fifth floor after we knew for a fact that we were alone up there. Later, we heard and felt some crazy stuff in the Death Tunnel, including what sounded like the clatter of a plastic bowl or cup being thrown at us. For it to have been another person, they would have had to silently and swiftly got the hell out of there without responding to us asking who was there. 

Death Tunnel

The investigation lasted until 6am, but those wanting to bow out early had the option at 2am or 4am. We stuck it out to the last minute. I was really proud of myself for doing as well as I did. I had to take some pain medication, which helped a lot with my back issues, but caused me to have some brief bouts of heavy nausea. Still, I powered through with the help and understanding of Brian and Angie. We got to see and investigate every area of the hospital, which after awhile, I found was a little less intimidating in regards to its size. I thought for sure I'd get lost, but once you knew the basic layout, it was easy to navigate. The second, third, and fourth floors are nearly identical, and the staircases/EXIT signs are the one thing that ARE well-lit. 

We were sad to leave, but worn out and ready to head back to the house to get as much sleep as we could. We all walked away with a desire to return to Waverly Hills, potentially for a private investigation in the future. But first, sleep. I crawled into my bed as soon as we got in and must have fallen asleep almost immediately. I woke up just in time to get a quick shower before having to lock up and say goodbye to spooky AirBnB. Brian left a little early, but Angie and I rolled out right before 11, still tired but ready for one last adventure.

You can't go to Louisville without making a stop at the nearby Pope Lick Train Trestle for a visit with the Pope Lick Monster! The Pope Lick Monster is a man-goat-sheep monstrosity that haunts a train trestle outside Louisville. Depending on who's telling the legend, he was a circus freak that escaped, or a farmer that sold his soul. Sometimes he's said to jump down at cars driving under the bridge, sometimes he's seen with an axe, and sometimes it is said he is summoned by crossing the trestle. Unfortunately, several people have been killed while hunting for the Pope Lick Monster, as the train trestle is still an active rail line. There are plenty of fences and No Trespassing signs in the area, but that still isn't a huge deterrent for some. However, there is a walking/bike path that runs directly under the trestle, so it's easy to visit the area SAFELY. We stopped and got a few pictures, but didn't have high hopes of running into the monster at noon on a sunny, summer afternoon with so many people out. 

I'm planning on dedicating a blog post to the Pope Lick Monster legend, but I will say that I'm really glad we took the few extra minutes to stop. I don't know when I'll be back in Louisville, and I would have regretted not stopping by to pay my respects. It was a nice little end to a fun-filled paranormal adventure in Louisville, Kentucky.  Louisville is a town full of history and hauntings, and there was no shortage of spooky adventures to be had. There were so many more places we could have visited, but I'm happy. It was a great weekend with great friends, and I think we really made the most out of the short amount of time we had there. I can't wait to go back!

Pope Lick Trestle

For more pictures of our adventures, please see Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State on Facebook! 

A Tale of Two Sisters: Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Lois Higgs at 
Waverly Hills Sanatorium c. 1950's

Between 1926 and 1961, countless patients suffering from tuberculosis called Louisville's Waverly Hills Sanatorium home. Unfortunately, it would become a permanent home for many, as their only escape from the massive brick structure would be through death. Today, two of the facility's most well-known and well-loved patients are a pair of sisters who were both in and out of the hospital several times as young women. However, the outcome for these two ladies would be very different...

Audrey Mae and Lois Lindsey were just two of at least nine children born to William Roscoe Lindsey and Unia Myrtle "Minnie" White Lindsey. Audrey was the older of the two, being born on February 27, 1921, while lil' sis Lois was born on May 15, 1928. In the 1930 census, the family is living in Edmonson County Kentucky, and their father's occupation is listed as 'farmer.' 

At some point in the girls' lives, they contracted the dreaded 'White Plague.' According to various sources, both girls were in and out of Waverly Hills. At some point early on, Audrey gave birth to two boys, Bill and Roger Goode (according to a newspaper article, Roger was 13 in 1959). As of this writing, I couldn't determine if Audrey was divorced, never married, or simply just kept her last name, but she was still known as Audrey Lindsey during her hospital stays. 

The Courier-Journal
19 August 1956

Lois, on the other hand, was definitely married. She and her husband, Charlie Higgs, had three boys. The first, Ronnie, was born in 1947 and died in infancy. Charles Von/Vaughn would come next around 1949, and finally Larry would be born around 1952. Sadly, it is told to Waverly Hills tour patrons that (presumably) Larry was conceived on a rare sabbatical when Lois was well enough to leave the hospital and visit home. But, to protect the infant from catching TB, he was taken away from her right after birth. She watched him grow up from the solarium outside of her hospital room, while family members in the parking lot below would hold him up for her to see and to wave to. 

Although I haven't been able to pinpoint exactly when the two sisters were at Waverly Hills, they both are listed as being patients there on the 1950 census. In fact, Audrey and Lois shared a room: Room 220. And sadly, we also know that Lois was a patient at Waverly Hills in 1956 because that is where she passed away on August 18 at 4:30am. Her funeral was held at Sweeden Baptist Church, and she was buried in the church's graveyard. 

But, life moves on. Charles would remarry and have several more children, one whom he named Lois after his first wife. Audrey would go on to recover from tuberculosis. She got married to a man with the last name Wright, and had a daughter. Audrey passed away in Louisville on November 18, 1996. She had finally joined her sister in the afterlife. Whether or not either one actually moved on is up for debate...

The Courier-Journal
19 November 1996

Audrey and Lois were extremely close in life. Lois, who seemingly spent much more time at Waverly Hills, struggled with loneliness and isolation away from her family. I'm sure it was a huge comfort to have her older sister literally right by her side during this struggle towards health. As a result of this closeness, many believe the two girls are still in Room 220, eager to interact with visitors to the hospital. The girls loved the music of Elvis Presley, so ghost hunters eagerly play favorite songs and leave gifts, especially flowers. They are often rewarded with seeing things like mists and other light anomalies, or catching EVPs in the room. Several people have caught EVPs or heard messages through various ghost boxes calling for Audrey, asking for cigarettes, etc.  While SRI was visiting in August 2024, it sounded like 'Audrey' came over the SB-7, but I couldn't be sure. 

If you're planning a visit to Waverly Hills, make sure to stop by the second floor patient room where Lois took her last breath. You'll know it's the right room because it's the only one set up with a bed and a small table. If so inclined, leave a small gift for the girls. Play some Elvis for them. And most importantly, remember that each of the thousands of patients who called Waverly Hills home have their own story to tell, and if you listen closely, you might just hear it. 

1950 Census

Photos from SRI's Investigation on 10 August 2024

The Waverly Hills Orderly Murder

Waverly Hills Sanitarium

Waverly Hills Sanitarium is one of those dichotomous locations, so often found in paranormal research. While it was designed to be a state-of-the-art treatment facility and a beacon of hope for those suffering from the 'White Plague,' it was also a location filled with sickness and death. While many patients' health improved among morale-building activities and 'modern' medicine, countless others died painful deaths, and/or watched friends and loved ones succumb to the dreaded tuberculosis. But, tuberculosis (and the sometimes horrendous treatment methods) wasn't the only threat to be found within the halls. 

On January 29, 1954, 24 year old John Louis Griggs began a career as an orderly at the Waverly Hills Sanitarium, Kentucky's main tuberculosis treatment center. Griggs was a parolee from the LaGrange Reformatory, where he had been incarcerated since October 1952 for unlawfully detaining a woman while he was a soldier at Fort Knox. Arguably, he had been trying to turn his life around, when tragedy struck. 

Griggs, along with another orderly, 52 year old Edwin Albert Bareis were off-duty and in the orderlies' recreation room. According to Griggs, Bareis was intoxicated and began cursing at him, and threatening to kill him with a knife. Griggs claimed that he told Bareis that he was trying to live a "Christian life" and didn't want to fight him. Bareis apparently left, but then came back and started in on Griggs again, calling him a convict and going as far as to slap him. 

Being the bigger man, Griggs allegedly went to his bedroom, but was followed by Bareis and Peter J. Simon, a 40 year old telephone operator at the sanitarium. Griggs claimed the two started beating him, and Bareis had pulled a knife. So, Griggs grabbed him and threw him into the hallway, where Bareis hit his head on a wall. Griggs followed up with a punch to Bareis' jaw, after which Bareis fell and didn't get back up.

However, Simon told a different story. Simon claimed that Griggs and Bareis never left the recreation room. Griggs punched Bareis in the face, then proceeded to jump and stomp on his face and chest. Joseph Knott, a hospital maintenance man, also witnessed the event, and testified that Griggs was kicking and stomping Bareis, telling him he was "tired of you running over me."

No knife was ever found, and an autopsy revealed that Bareis suffered from major head trauma, broken ribs, and a ruptured spleen. However, despite the extent of injuries AND the statements of both Simon and Knott, Griggs was acquitted of murder. 

If I were a patient at Waverly Hills during this time, I'm not sure how I'd feel about the hospital hiring a parolee for direct patient care. But, from other articles I've read, it was difficult finding help, as the threat of contracting the disease or bringing it home to loved ones was a very real possibility. I'm usually all for giving second chances and providing employment for the previously incarcerated, but it seems like it was a big point of contention with other staff members...and a decision that would end with violence. 

The Courier-Journal
2 March 1954

The Courier-Journal
22 April 1954

The Ghostly Nun of St. Frances of Rome

Source

Being that this blog is called Theresa's Haunted History of the TRI-STATE, it has always been my intention to fully integrate Ohio and Kentucky into my work...but I just can't help always coming back to my home state of West Virginia! Here in the Mountain State, we're wild, we're weird, we're just plain spooky! However, there are plenty of wonderful stories out there from other locations as well, and today, I'm finally gonna dive into one of those places I came across while reading an article on hauntings in Louisville.  There's actually a West Virginia connection...but the actual haunted location IS in Kentucky!

That place is the St. Frances of Rome Catholic Church, located at 2119 Payne Street in Louisville, KY. More specifically, the haunting itself seems to take place in the part of the church used as a school, as the ghostly apparition seen is none other than a former teacher. 

When Steve Wiser was doing some research for an upcoming book on the history of the church, he interviewed quite a few parishioners of St. Frances, many of them having a similar story to tell. It seems as if the apparition of a ghostly nun, pushing a broom around the inside of the school area had been frequently seen. It was believed that she could possible be none other than St. Frances herself. 

Steve, though, had another theory. He believed that the ghost was actually that of former nun/school teacher, Sister Frances Eccles. 

Unfortunately, I couldn't find out much about Sister Frances, but I believe she was the daughter of George and Christina Eccles. She had a sister, Mary, and three brothers: George, Gerald, and John. According to the Find-a-Grave listing for her burial, she was born on January 20, 1935 in England. At some point, she joined the Sisters of Charity in Nazareth, KY.

Sadly, her life ended too soon when she boarded a Piedmont Airlines flight on August 10, 1968. The Fairchild-Hiller 227 had left Louisville that morning, en route to Roanoke, Virginia. It had already stopped in Cincinnati, with another scheduled stop in Charleston, WV at the Kanawha Airport (now Yeager). But, at 8:56am, the plane, hindered by fog, came up short of the mountainous runway, clipped some trees, and burst into flames. 35 of the 37 people on board perished, including Sister Frances, or Sister Francesca as she was listed on the passenger manifest.  She was brought home and buried in the Sisters of Charity Nazareth Cemetery.

After that, the mysterious ghostly image of the sweeping nun was reported at the school and throughout the church. It seems as if even if death, the Sister was not ready to leave her work here on Earth. According to the historical marker database, the school closed in 1975. Hopefully with the students now gone, she has since found peace and has moved on to her greatest reward. 

Sources and Further Reading:

8 Louisville-Area Ghost Stories and Urban Legends That Keep Us Up At Night, by Carolyn Brown

My WV Home: Info and Photos on the Piedmont Crash

George Eccles Obituary

Sister Frances/Francesca Find-a-Grave

Ghost Play Causes Death

 

When it comes to the business of ghosts, you'll often hear the old saying that there is far more to fear from the living than there is from the dead...and sometimes, that fear is simply within our own minds. Today's blog deals with a tragic story that happened back in 1907, near Ashland, Kentucky.

According to the November 16, 1907 edition of the Superior Times (a Wisconsin-based newspaper, which can be found on the Chronicling America website for free), a young girl named Clara Osgood leaped from a second story window of her home, fatally breaking her neck in the fall. Clara and her sister had been arguing about ghosts. Clara claimed that no apparition could frighten HER, and even bet her new silk petticoat that she was right. 

Her older sister, Annie, intent on proving her wrong, dropped the matter for the time being. Then, sometime later, she wrapped herself in a sheet, and entered Clara's room late at night, making weird moaning sounds. Overcome with fright, Clara ran to the bedroom window and leaped to her death. 

What was supposed to be a simple prank between two sisters quickly turned deadly. A fun little joke, proving that her sister wasn't as brave as she boasted, left a young woman deceased, and left a reminder to us all to just be careful when it comes to the ghosty stuff. Be careful who you try to scare, and if you see something scary, try to calm down and look at the situation rationally. More times than not, things are NOT what they seem. 

While this prank had a tragic end, the art of scaring each other silly with the paranormal is nothing new! Here's another newspaper article about a different ghostly prank---when a pair of lovers chose a local cemetery for their romantic meetups, the sexton decided scaring them away would be the best way to stop their behavior!  LOVERS FRIGHTENED AS CORPSE AWOKE. 

1952 Louisville Poltergeist

1952 started out as a heck of a spooky year for the Thackers, a rural family living near Fern Creek, Kentucky (about 16 miles from Louisville).  Henry, his wife, a 16 year old boarder named Walter Brown, and three sisters (Joyce, 11; Frances, 8; and Betty, 7) all made headlines when poltergeist activity broke out at their farmhouse, located at the corner of Thixton Lane and Oak Grove Road.

The activity actually started on Sunday, December 30th when the family noticed a variety of objects being thrown about the air, seemingly all on their own.  A 2 lb photo album, a knife, a conch shell doorstop, various bottles and caps, and assorted pieces of jewelry were just a small sampling of items targeted by the alleged poltergeist.

A neighbor, Mrs. Robert Covington, was hit quite hard in the back by a fingernail file located on a dresser about 15 feet away.  Walter Brown, the 16 year old boarder, claimed to actually SEE with his own eyes Mr. Thacker's spectacles lift off a radio and land in a chair three feet away.  

Despite dozens of neighbors and schoolmates witnessing the activity, there were several skeptics who came to inspect the ghostly goings-on at the Thacker home.  Two such skeptics were local patrolmen, Russell McDaniel and Jack Fisher.  Despite almost being hit in the head with a cardboard box himself, McDaniel still couldn't accept the idea of an otherworldly source for the activity.  He noticed that whenever objects began to move, one person was always nearby:  Joyce Sanders.

On Thursday, he and Fisher asked to speak privately with the girl.  After an hour, the trio emerged with a confession.  Joyce admitted that she was throwing the objects when no one was looking.  She did it for attention.  "It made a lot of people come see me," she is quoted as saying.  Joyce and her sisters had been wards of the Louisville and Jefferson County Children's Home.  They had been staying with the Thackers for about 13 months because their mother was terminally ill with cancer, and their father was not in the picture.  It was deemed that Joyce, a depressed and lonely young girl, made up the whole thing, and therefore, this is where the story ends for many.

But...does it really end there?  Was the whole poltergeist act simply a hoax, perpetrated by an 11 year old to gain attention?  I'm not so sure that's the case.  Here's why:

Mrs. Thacker answering calls about the poltergeist

In newspaper articles from the time period, McDaniel admits that he never actually SAW Joyce pick up an object and throw it.  He just noticed that she was the one who constantly seemed to be nearby when activity occurred.  So, he said to her that all the people who came to witness the poltergeist would be disappointed if they didn't see anything move. "They just won't come back anymore," McDaniel is quoted as saying to the girl, to which she replied, "You mean they'll all go home?"  It was shortly thereafter, a brooch was seen moving. Thinking that his suspicions were confirmed, McDaniel and Fisher took the girl aside privately and assured her that she would not be in any trouble if she confessed to the poltergeist activity.So, we have no witnesses, not even the policemen, coming forward to say they actually saw Joyce faking the activity.  We do, however, have a witness (Walter Brown) saying that he saw an object actually being moving, unaided by any human hands.

We also have some elements of a classic poltergeist case.  Poltergeist activity is characterized by activity seemingly centered on a human agent. This human agent can be anyone, but historically tends to be a child on the cusp of, or going through puberty OR someone who has a lot of bottled up emotions that aren't able to be expressed in their ordinary lives.  Joyce fits both scenarios---she was a young girl, about the age of puberty's onset, and she was most likely very troubled by the situation of her mother being critically ill.

Many modern researchers agree that poltergeist activity is NOT caused by an outside ghost or entity, but is in fact recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis (RSPK) manifested unconsciously by a human agent. That's why she was nearby when these events occurred.

But why would she confess to a hoax she didn't take part in?  In the book, The Poltergeist Experience, by D. Scott Rogo, the author mentions that there are a number of reasons why poltergeist agents tend to confess to a hoax that they had no part in. Some will confess because they realize, either consciously or subconsciously that they ARE responsible for the turmoil and are compelled to take responsibility for it, which will often cause the activity to cease. Others may confess simply because they were pressured into it and are just trying to appease their accusers.

But, I think what REALLY happened is another scenario that is often seen in poltergeist cases.  I think the original activity was not a hoax.  Objects were moving around on their own, and nobody knew why.  Joyce discovered that her schoolmates were fascinated and would come to witness the activity.  Joyce and her sisters were heaped with attention, as reporters from radio, newspapers, and even television all wanted to hear and share their story.  To a lonely, troubled girl, being in the spotlight, surrounded by people, probably did offer respite from her sad circumstances.  

Either the activity had already started to wind down on its own, or Joyce was scared that it was going to, thanks to McDaniel's statement, prompting her to stage at least one object being thrown, as a way to keep people happy and coming to see her. Poltergeist activity seems to stop as abruptly as it starts and Joyce wasn't ready to let go of the benefits just yet.  To further support this theory, Joyce actually does state in one newspaper interview that she WASN'T responsible for all the objects moving, although she believes that people just imagined those things.

Obviously, it is possible that Joyce DID knowingly trick her friends and neighbors, possibly assisted by her sisters and even Brown.  Perhaps peoples' imaginations ran wild, causing a childhood prank to escalate into a nationally recognized poltergeist case that within a week would come crashing down as a not-so-elaborate childhood hoax. However, the case was long ago written off as trickery and to my knowledge, neither Joyce nor the case has ever been formally studied. I can only hope that the lonely little girl was able to live a happy life, post-poltergeist. 

Sources and Further Reading:

The Poltergeist Experience: Investigations Into Ghostly Phenomena, by D. Scott Rogo

Lonely Girl, 11, Was a "Spook" Just for Fun. The Courier-Journal. 04 January 1952

Objects Floating About Residence. Charleston Daily Mail. 03 January 1952

Haunter of House Fails C-J Reporter, by Phil Harsham. The Courier-Journal 03 January 1952

Book Review for Haunted Journeys: Waverly Hills

Title--Haunted Journeys: Waverly Hills
Authors--Sarah French and Joe Knetter
Published--by CreateSpace (September 2017)
Amazon Purchase Information

Ya'll know I can't resist a book about one of the most haunted locations in the world!  Waverly Hills is one of those iconic, bucket-list locations that every paranormal enthusiast loves to discuss.  So much has already been written about the infamous TB hospital where so many people suffered tremendously before losing their lives, but that hasn't stopped me from collecting everything I can on it!

Therefore, I was pretty thrilled when Aaron sent me a photo of books for sale at a Kentucky flea market and asked if I wanted any.  Of the offerings available, I picked Haunted Journeys: Waverly Hills, by Sarah French and Joe Knetter.

This was an...interesting....book, lol.  Sarah is a horror actress and Joe is a horror writer, and together they enjoy investigating haunted locations and writing about their experiences.  I love reading the experiences of other investigators, especially at iconic locations.  I love to keep up with what techniques and equipment others in the field are using, what their ideologies entail, and what kinds of personal experiences they have.

I also love to read the history of haunted locations, and Waverly Hills is definitely FULL of history.  There was some history covered in the book.  It wasn't an overwhelming amount, but sufficient to set up the atmosphere and background for the investigation aspects of the book.  Sarah and Joe explore some of the most haunted locations throughout Waverly's maze of hallways and floors.  And, they had some pretty awesome experiences, including seeing Waverly's shadow people, having a ball roll away and then return without any noticeable wind, and witnessing some pretty intriguing interaction with a flashlight.

The authors do try to debunk their experiences, and acknowledge a skeptical point of view without compromising what they truly feel is paranormal.  It was fun to read about their experiences, learn a little more about the most common reports of activity from Waverly Hills, and see their photos. The only thing about this book that took a little getting used to was the style in which it was written.  It was written in a very post-investigation/during-investigation conversational viewpoint between the two authors.  That in and of itself was okay, albeit a tad distracting a times, but often they'd go way off-topic, loving to talk about things of a sexual nature.  Throughout my reading, I was stuck between thinking this was at least something new and different than your normal book of this type...and thinking that this was just a non-funny clawing at trying to fill out page count, lol.  But, when it was all said and done, the style of writing doesn't really bother me, and I'd definitely be willing to try one of the other books the authors were plugging during this one.

It was a fun read...but it was a QUICK read.  The font in this book was huge, and there were plenty of pictures to help fill out the space.  If you're planning a trip to Waverly Hills for an investigation, this would be a nice little read to give you some tips on what to expect and where to go, and to set the mood for your experience.  There are even some music recommendations and a recipe to try! I would probably not let anyone under 13 read it, though, lol. 

Craving MORE Waverly Hills blogs from Theresa's Haunted History?  Try:

Mary Lee's Ghost Photo
Faces of Waverly Hills: Slideshow of Historic Photos

Spooky Tunes

The tri-state area of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio is absolutely full of ghost stories and other legends that have found firm roots in our local culture.  Often, these iconic tales become the inspiration and basis for local musicians.  These songs help to preserve and share the stories behind our favorite spooky citizens.  For today's blog, I've compiled a very short list of ghostly-inspired music---three songs from my home state of West Virginia, and one each for Kentucky and Ohio.  Take a few moments to listen...and then hop on over to Theresa's Haunted History Facebook page to let me know any of your suggestions for songs inspired by true events.

1. Behind Red Eyes--A Tribute to Mothman by StellaRising:  West Virginia's favorite cryptid has a number of songs written about and inspired by him, but Behind Red Eyes is probably my favorite.

2. The Being:  The Being, by Argyle Goolsby is an awesome tribute to The Braxton County Monster, which has for years, been lost in the shadows behind Mothman.  However, I think as the local community of Flatwoods and surrounding areas continues to embrace their weird history, we'll be seeing a lot more from this mysterious creature.

3. Johanna:  Bobby Mackey, musician and owner of the super-haunted Bobby Mackey's Music World in Wilder, Kentucky, has written a couple of songs about his bar's resident ghosts.  Johanna is a tribute to a young pregnant woman who worked at the location in the 1930s.  Johanna is believed to have committed suicide after her father had the father of her unborn child killed.

4. The Greenbrier Ghost:  Johanna isn't the only ghostly girl to have a song written to her memory.  The Greenbrier Ghost, by Steve Schroeder tells the story of Zona Heaster Shue and her untimely end at the hands of her husband.

5. Ghosts of the Moonville Tunnel: This song, by Ron Mash, tells of Ohio's Moonville Tunnel and the ghosts that roam the former train tunnel, taken too early by railroad accidents in/near the tunnel.

Kentucky Ghosts: The Ghosts of Portal 31

Coal mines. They've been a huge part of West Virginia and tri-state history since our earliest years...and have provided quite a few ghost stories and legends that persist well after the mines have shut down.  The Portal 31 Mine, located in Harlan County, Kentucky is one such mine where history and mystery intertwine.

Source

Lynch, Kentucky, where the mine is located, was built as a coal mining town. Owned by the U.S. Coal and Coke Company, this particular section of mine opened between 1917 and 1920. The coal that was pulled out of the mine was exclusively for use by U.S. Steel.  During the first half of the 20th century, the community of Lynch was considered a model coal camp town, complete with company health care, schools, churches, etc.  However, Lynch was not immune to the problems facing other coal communities.  Early coal mining practices were inherently dangerous and there were accidents, especially in the earliest mined areas of Portal 31.Of the approximate 250 coal related deaths in Lynch, it is estimated that 150 of those deaths happened at Portal 31. 

Also, the community was no stranger to violence as coal officials did everything in their power to prevent unionization.  Clashes between miners and mine officials earned the area the nickname of Bloody Harlan.  It's interesting to note that the mine history states that at least 38 nationalities were represented among the miners of Portal 31. While doing background research for my team's Whipple Company Store investigation (in Fayette County, WV) I came across information stating that mine owners encouraged great diversity among the miners, not for the noble reason of being all-inclusive of immigrants...but because of the fact that if you had a group of people who spoke different languages and had different backgrounds, religion, and culture, they were less likely to communicate and form bonds; thus, they were less likely to try to unionize.

Source

By 1963, the mine had ceased normal production, but did stay open for awhile in various capacities. Talk eventually turned to the idea of opening the mine to the public as an exhibition coal mine.  It took several years, but the mine opened around 2007-2008 as a tourist attraction.  Visitors to the mine can board a rail car and travel through the depths of Portal 31.  Animatronic miners tell the story of the mine and showcase a history of mining equipment and techniques.

Visitors and staff of Portal 31 aren't just treated to a fun and educational experience when they enter the mine---many are treated to a brush with the other side! 

I recently stumbled upon a great video on Amazon Prime called Ghosts of Portal 31.  The film documents the history of the mine, interviews with staff concerning paranormal experiences, and then features an actual investigation of the paranormal claims by The Crypto Crew.  Activity reported includes a sense of being watched or not being alone and movement in one's peripheral vision.  Moving lights have been reported that seem to evoke a feeling of a miner carrying a lantern or wearing a head lamp walking down the path.  Some of the most common activity, though, seems to be unexplained noises, notably the sounds of a group of men talking/working, machinery running, and a hammer ping on metal.  

I really enjoyed the film.  I think the crew did a good job at sharing the history of the mine and the stories of those who have experienced recent paranormal activity.  I also really enjoyed seeing the investigation portion of the film. The crew did a pretty thorough job, adequately explained the equipment they were using, and even had a few things happen to them that aren't easily explainable.  During the multi-day investigation, at least two investigators felt a tug on their camera straps, and many witnessed a small red light that had no apparent earthly origin. 

If you have an Amazon Prime membership, I'd definitely recommend checking Ghosts of Portal 31 out (it's also available on DVD)...but if you're in the Harlan County, Kentucky area or plan to be, I'd definitely recommend checking out the actual ghosts of Portal 31, lol.  Even if you don't have your own haunted encounter, you'll have hopefully learned some history and experienced a little of what a miner's life was like, deep underground.

Links:
The Crypto Crew
Portal 31 Homepage (Tour Information and History)

The Donkey Tree of Kentucky

Kentucky has a lot of weird trees! Last month, I posted about a tree near Paducah that kept trying to tell passersby that there was treasure buried at its roots. Today, however, is dedicated to the Donkey Tree, a cursed tree near Springfield.

Source

Like all urban legends, the story behind the Donkey Tree changes slightly depending on who is telling it. Along with the background, the consequences of visiting the cursed tree also change from person to person. But, here's the gist:

There was once a farmer who was especially cruel to his donkey, and would often beat the animal severely. One day, the farmer took it too far and beat the animal to death. Atop the site where the donkey died (or was buried) grew what is today known as The Donkey Tree.

Visitors to the spooky tree, which does closely resemble a donkey, believe that the tree is cursed. It is said that anyone who touches the tree will have bad luck. Some believe that touching the tree will result in the person being in an accident, and some even say that its a death sentence. On the flip side, putting an apple in the 'donkey's' mouth is considered good luck. If you do put an apple in its mouth and then leave, you'll find that the apple has mysteriously disappeared by the time you get back.

According to the Donkey Tree Facebook page, in October 2014, people began contacting the admins of the site to report that they were hearing the sounds of a child laughing or crying near the tree between the hours of 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. Even stranger, the Facebook page mentions that an abandoned car was found in front of the Donkey Tree in September of 2015. The car allegedly belonged to a YouTuber from Indiana who was visiting the area to shoot a documentary for his channel. No updates were ever posted, and I couldn't find any additional information on this case.

Having said that, if you're still brave enough to visit the Donkey Tree yourself, it's located on Valley Hill Road in Springfield, KY. Roadside America gives the following directions:

Directions:  From Springfield drive north on Hwy 55/Bloomfield Rd. Just past the nursery on the left, turn left onto Valley Hill Rd. The tree is on the left, just past the little one lane bridge.

*Kentucky has donkey trees...West Virginia has men's faces in rocks.  It's all thanks to the wonders of Pareidolia!  Learn more about pareidolia at the link provided!*

The Not-so-Ghostly Ghost of Mammoth Cave (KY)

Martha Washington's Statue Postcard

Mammoth Cave has sometimes been referred to as America's LARGEST haunted location. Covering 52,830 acres with over 400 miles of mapped passages, there is definitely room for plenty of ghosts! There is also plenty of historical precedent for a spooky past. For example, part of the cave was used as a tuberculosis hospital in the 1800s! Mummified human remains also seem to have a habit of popping up within the interior of the cave. And yes, over the years there have been plenty of personal experiences of ghostly noises and apparitions by both staff and visitors to the cave.

However, the cave's most famous ghost is not really a ghost at all!

According to the book, Scary Stories of Mammoth Cave, the ghostly apparition now commonly referred to as Martha Washington's Statue, was first spotted by tour guide William Garvin in the 1880s. While walking down a cave passage known as 'Broadway,' Garvin saw the glowing apparition of a woman FLOATING above the ground in front of him. He witnessed the apparition for several moments before it blinked out of existence. Bravely approaching the location where the ghostly woman had been seen, Garvin raised his cane with the idea that he might possibly have to defend himself against some spooky entity. He then realized his mistake.

Garvin had assumed he was alone in the cave at the time, but there was actually a tour group nearby. The apparition he had spotted was caused by a Bengal Light (a type of flare used before the cave was rigged for electricity) turned on by the tour group and shining through the rocks.

Over 100 years later, visitors to Mammoth Cave, especially those taking the historic tour, can still spot Martha Washington's Statue and even purchase a 1912 postcard with her glowing image, photographed by Benjamin Hains. If you've been to Mammoth Cave and have a spooky story to share, or a photograph of the famous Martha Washington, I'd love to hear from you! Share below in the comments and as always...stay spooky my friends!

Further Reading:
Mammoth Cave--The World's Largest Haunted Place, by Troy Taylor

Top 10 Tuesday: Ghost Walks

Its that time of year again---Ghost Tour Season! 

Each year, Huntington Paranormal Investigations and Research hosts special walking tours of the downtown Guyandotte, featuring the neighborhood's haunted history. This year, you can join us on Saturday, October 28th for our Cemetery, River and Rail Trail and learn all about some of the town's most famous ghost stories and historic tragedies. And, if you're brave enough to come back, you can join us during the annual Guyandotte Civil War Days on Saturday, November 4th for our Ghostly Encounters of 1861 tour. This tour will feature an extensive walk-through of the town, pointing out all the hauntings and history associated with the 1861 skirmish that occurred here. As always, tours are FREE and open to the public, but this year we will be accepting pre-order online ticket "sales" through EventBrite. Please see below for details!

Cemetery, River and Rail Trail Tours (October 28th)
Ghostly Encounters of 1861 (November 4th)
Facebook page for HPIR's Haunted and Historic Guyandotte Tours

Obviously, I'm a little biased when it comes to ghost tours, lol. Even if I wasn't a tour guide for Haunted and Historic Guyandotte Tours, I'd still highly recommend taking one of these tours. The cost is FREE, yet the research and stories you're presented with are comparable to way more expensive tours around the country. We strive to make sure we share the folklore---but balance it out with plenty of historic fact, often presented by costumed interpreters. You're not going to get a bunch of made-up stories and evidence, but you MAY get a little spooked! Each year, we have visitors to the tours report personal experiences and strange photographs they've captured while joining us. It's a really fun experience and I sincerely hope you'll be able to attend, but if not, I've got a few more suggestions for ya close to the tri-state area!

Fall, especially October, is prime ghost walk season. It gives cities and towns an opportunity to showcase their history...and their haunts! This list of nine additional ghost tours are walking tours only---tours where you are led around town by a guide and that feature many locations, not just a single building. Of course there are plenty of historic homes and other buildings also featuring special tours this time of year, but I thought for this post I'd just focus on walking tours covering a broader area. And while most of the tours listed below are seasonal, some actually operate year-round! So let's get started, shall we?

1. Ghosts, Lofts, and History Tour of Downtown Ashland, KY. (October 14th)  If you're looking for something fun to do in the Ashland, KY area this weekend, check out this tour! It's being hosted by the Ashland Society for Paranormal Study and costs $20.

2. Haunted Parkersburg Ghost Tours with Susan Sheppard. Renowned author, Susan Sheppard, offers these wonderful tours of Parkersburg, WV's haunted history throughout the fall season, and during other times of the year by request. I've been a few times and have always learned something new about such places as the Blennerhassett Hotel and the Riverview Cemetery. Adult tickets costs $12 which is a great value since this season seems pretty darn active! If you follow Susan on Facebook, there's been some really crazy experiences and photos emerging from the tours this year!

3. Haunted History and Legends Tour of Martinsburg, WV. These tours are being offered every Saturday night through October. You'll be taken into both a haunted cemetery AND a haunted house as you're told spooky tales about this historic WV town. There's also an historic Old Town Ghost Walk coming up on Friday, October 13th. At $12 a person, this tour will especially appeal to Civil War history buffs!

Susan Sheppard, Haunted Parkersburg

4. Shepherdstown Ghost Tours, WV. Another tour featuring another one of West Virginia's historic Panhandle towns. These tours are offered at various times throughout the month and beyond, and cost $15. See their Facebook page (linked above) for more information.

5. Ghost Tours of Harpers Ferry, WV.  These ghost tours claim to be the oldest of their kind in the country, and are based off the original ghost walks by Shirley Dougherty. I HIGHLY recommend taking these tours if you're in the area. Harpers Ferry is one of West Virginia's most haunted (and historic!) towns and the ghost stories associated with it are fascinating. This tour company operates year-round, but is its busiest during the Halloween season.

6. Charles Town Ghost Tours, WV. Are you sensing a pattern here? West Virginia's eastern panhandle is extremely haunted...and its citizens know how to capitalize off that reputation, lol! This tour company offers two different tours March through December and the cost is $12 for adults.

7. Woodland Cemetery Ghost Walk (Ironton, Ohio). Each year, the Lawrence County Ohio Museum and Historical Society, along with scores of volunteers, put on an excellent event at the huge historic (and haunted!) Woodland Cemetery. The self-guided walk through the cemetery is FREE and focuses on the history of the city and the lives of its most prominent citizens buried within the cemetery walls. The ghost stories surrounding the haunted graves are definitely a part of the walk, but the main focus is history. Unfortunately, the walk is only held one day a year, usually in late September...so this year has already gone by.

8. Hidden Marietta Ohio. Located across the river from Parkersburg, Marietta is quite the historic and haunted little city, and Hidden Marietta offers a variety of year-round tours showcasing the history, the haunts, and sometimes, just the plain strange. Keep an eye out on their Facebook page to see what events are available and when.

9. Bardstown (KY) Ghost Trek. Ghost hunter Patti Starr offers these tours June through October. Featuring such places as the historic Old Talbott Inn, the tours have been around for 20 years. Visitors are encouraged to bring their ghost hunting equipment in order to help collect evidence of the town's many hauntings.