The Haunted Hatfield Cemetery

Levisa Hatfield, wife of Devil Anse

Even those far removed from the tri-state area are familiar with one of the most famous feuds in history: The Hatfields vs. McCoys. With such a long and violent history, there has to be more than a few ghost stories associated with these two warring families, and one such story in particular involves the final resting place of much of the Hatfield clan.

Located in the Sarah Ann area of Logan County, the Hatfield family cemetery sits high up on a hill. Overlooking generations of Hatfields stands an imposing statue of William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield, the family patriarch. The statue faces Island Creek and is oriented with his back "forever turned upon the Tug Fork Country and the McCoys".

"Devil Anse" was born on September 9, 1839. The reason for his colorful nickname is unknown, but plenty of theories have been put forth, including it being a testament to his bravery during his service to the Confederate Army during the Civil War. As part of his allegiance to the cause, Devil Anse helped found a group of Home Guards, known as the Logan Wildcats, to protect the Tug Fork area. This group was responsible for the murder of a member of the McCoy family, home on medical leave from the Union. Although relations between the two families were already rocky, this act of violence further fueled the feud.

Hatfield Family Cemetery ca 1925
Source: WV History on View

After the war, Devil Anse bought up some land in the area, and became prominent in the timber business...as well as in the illegal moonshining business. Meanwhile, the feud between the families raged on, resulting in his being complicit in several additional murders of McCoys.  On September 23, 1911 he publicly tried to turn his image around and was baptized by the famous mountain preacher, William Garrett in nearby Island Creek. 

On January 6, 1921, Devil Anse succumbed to pneumonia in his Sarah Ann home. But, even the grave couldn't keep ol' Devil Anse down. 

It is said that on dark and foggy nights, the spirit of Devil Anse steps down off his tombstone pedestal and rallies his men, mainly his nine sons, and makes his way down the hillside. Drivers going past the cemetery have seen a group of men congregating by the small bridge near the cemetery sign. Here, the spirits await William Garrett to also arise from his grave, where he baptizes them in the small creek. Upon their posthumous baptism, washing away their sins, the spirits disappear, only to repeat the process over and over through time.

Sources and Further Reading:

Devil Anse Hatfield Wikipedia

WV Ghosts and Legends

Find-a-Grave: Hatfield Family Cemetery

West Virginia's Monkey Cemetery

Great (or Big) Bend Tunnel
Near Hinton, WV

Last year, Luke and JR accompanied me on a quest to find as many Legends and Lore roadside markers as we could. The Legends and Lore markers are part of the William G. Pomeroy Foundation and provide information for travelers on places of interest regarding folklore, traditions, superstitions, and even supernatural occurrences! So far, we have visited quite a few in West Virginia, but the one that eluded us was the one I was most intrigued by: The Monkey Cemetery in Ronceverte.

We drove around that area for literally an HOUR. Unfortunately, at the place of the given address and coordinates, there was nothing. NOTHING! My disappointment was immeasurable and my day was ruined (bonus points to anyone who gets that reference, lol). But seriously, I was really saddened that we couldn't find the marker for what the website listed as the final burial place of 300 dead monkeys.

Yeah. 300 dead monkeys. As the legend was told, a circus train for the Sells and Downs Circus had just played a show in Charleston, WV and was heading to their next venue in Ronceverte. While passing through the Big Bend Tunnel near Hinton on Sunday, August 5th, 1906 (the same Big Bend tunnel made famous by John Henry), the train stalled. The tunnel, being just a little less than a mile and a half long, already wasn't known for its great air quality, but the actions of the steam engine trying to get started again further complicated matters by filling the tunnel with steam and gases. It wasn't pleasant for the people...but it was deadly for the circus' monkey collection.

When the train finally got going again and reached its destination, the deceased primates were buried in a large trench, where the Virginia Electric and Power Co. would later be built. 

As of right now, the website has been updated to note that this particular roadside marker is no longer available, and it really made me wonder why it was so short-lived. So...I did some digging into old newspaper articles, both from the time of the accident, and from 1956 when several newspapers ran an article by Fred McCoy telling the tale. According to an online article from the Mountain Messenger, it appears that the information for this tale came from a piece in the Greenbrier Independent from June 8, 1950 that features former circus employee, W.F. Beard, reminiscing about the tragic event. Beard, who worked with the circus at that time, quit after the incident and settled in the Ronceverte area. 

But, as often seen in legends of this caliber, the story told didn't exactly match up with historical documentation. To further complicate matters, even contemporary news articles couldn't quite get the story straight...

I've included the relevant news articles, as well as some other online resources below, so you can follow along with the jumble of misinformation. There are, however a few things that the 1906 articles tend to agree on that dispute Beard's recollections. For example, the articles all claim that it wasn't the Sells circus, but the John Robinson circus show, which did just wrap up in Charleston on August 4th. On August 5th, the train did stall in the Big Bend tunnel, and animal lives were lost.  However, the number of lives varies GREATLY from article to article. One article claims it was 100 monkeys. Another states only 25. Still, another states only 16 monkey deaths. Some claimed this was the entire monkey population of the circus, while others claim that it was only half. (I found some articles not included that support the idea that the circus did have surviving monkeys. In fact, an ape was born several weeks later!) All of these are a far cry from 300. 

Big Bend Tunnel

What happened with the bodies is also up for debate. As the more modern articles claim, the monkeys were buried in a trench where the power company would later be built. However, the 1906 articles all agree that the monkeys were cremated, and the urn containing their ashes was buried on Fort Hill. This urn, which may have been silver, may also have been transcribed with a quote from Darwin. It is also believed that M.E. preacher, W.H. Sheak who traveled with the circus, presided over the funeral and gave an eulogy. 

Among the dead were claimed to be a talking baboon named Jocko, a large mandril ape with the strength of multiple men, and a black-maned lion named Robert E. Lee who succumbed later and was donated to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. 

I don't have a good explanation as to why there are so many conflicting details in the story of West Virginia's Monkey Cemetery. I honestly thought (and am still not entirely convinced either way) that the articles from the 1950's were a type of thinly-veiled racist commentary on the many African-American railroad workers that gave their lives building the Big Bend tunnel, and others throughout West Virginia after the Civil War. We all know the story of John Henry, but there were countless others who passed away from silicosis, accidents, etc. that aren't named, and never received a proper burial. But, there does seem to be some historical documentation that there's a least a kernel of truth about circus monkeys meeting their demise in a tragic accident among the West Virginia hills. Perhaps it was just a poor recollection from an aging circus employee many years after the incident, maybe it was just poor journalism, and maybe it's just a really strange story that we'll never truly know about for sure.

As of this writing, you won't find a roadside marker for the Monkey Cemetery, but you can visit the Big Bend Tunnel. See the statue of John Henry. Learn about the history from the interpretive signage posted throughout the park. And of course, listen REALLY closely. You might hear the swing of John Henry's hammer striking railroad ties...or you might hear the hoots and hollers of 16 to 300 circus monkeys who took their last breath over 100 years ago.  

Sources and Further Reading: 

Ronceverte's Famed Monkey Cemetery Has Roots in Traveling Circus, by Doug Hylton. 31 May 2017 Mountain Messenger. 

Pomeroy Foundation: Monkey Cemetery

WV Folklife: Legends and Lore Historial Markers

Southern Spirit Guide: "A Haunt with a Hammer in His Hand" by Lewis Powell IV

The Covington Virginian
08 August 1956

Hinton Daily News
06 August 1906

Chanute Tribune (Kansas)
10 August 1906

Highland Recorder
24 August 1906

The Portsmouth Star
13 September 1906

Chilton House's Demon-Possessed Mirror

For years it has been a fancy restaurant, located on the banks of St. Albans' Coal River. But, is there a darker past hidden behind the brick and gables of Angela's On the River, formerly known as the Chilton House?  Maybe...

The historic Chilton House was built around 1857 by businessman Allen Smith, who had purchased the property a year earlier.  It was originally built about 200 yards away from its current location (right about where the post office sits now) and was right in the hub of the St. Albans business district.  It's a beautiful brick home,  built in the Gothic Revival style and sporting seven steep gables.  It wasn't until 1883, well after the Civil War, that the illustrious Chilton Family took ownership of the house.  Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Wilson Chilton, wife of William Chilton, Sr. bought the home from Smith's daughter and son in law.  It's noted that the house was expanded in 1883 when the Chilton's moved in, but you could hardly tell because the bricklayer was able to match up the original bricks so well!

Mary and William apparently needed the extra space because they had two daughters and five sons, all who became prominent citizens in St. Albans and throughout the Kanawha Valley.  One son, Samuel Blackwell, was a physician who died of typhoid fever in the home in March, 1893. Another son, William E. Chilton, II would go on to be a prominent lawyer and politician, serving as a WV Senator for several years.  The youngest son, John Savary, took over ownership of the home in 1915, but would go on to sell the property outside the family later on.

By the mid-1970's, the historic home was in danger of demolition as the 'Loop' was being built in St. Albans.  Local citizens were able to get the process started to get the home listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and by the end of 1974, the process of moving the home to its current location was underway.  It wouldn't become a permanent fixture until a cinder block foundation was finished in 1976, and would finally be formally added to the NRHP by 1977.  

It would later become the Chilton House Restaurant, and is still to this day a restaurant.  Angela Samples opened Angela's on the River in 2010 and its under this current ownership where a strange story unfolds.  This story came to my attention during the 2019 St. Albans' History and Mystery Tour, in which a costumed interpreter, portraying a member of the Chilton family, told the history of the home.  When asked about the 'ghosts' mentioned on the tour flyer, the interpreter mentioned that the restaurant was once home to a demon in a mirror!  

Wait, what?!?  A demoniacally possessed mirror?  I had to know more.  Luckily, a gentleman nearby was able to fill in some of the details with first-hand knowledge.  Here's the story as it was told to me:

As part of the period furnishings in the restaurant, there was included a large, antique mirror.  Being an antique mirror, its appearance was understandably a lil' spotty and grubby looking.  However, no matter how much effort Angela or her staff put into trying to clean the mirror, it would never come clean.  But the mirror wasn't just dusty and spotted with the normal gunk and grime acquired over the years...people would actually SEE something, something potentially evil, reflected in the mirror!  It was decided that it would be in everyone's best interest if the mirror was just removed and disposed of as quickly as possible.  So, it was taken out to the dumpster.

Chilton House 1950's

However, it was quickly brought to Angela's attention by someone familiar with what was going on that if that mirror happened to break, surely the demonic entity trapped therein would be set free and be unleashed into the community!  So, the mirror was quickly dug out of the trash and gently sat nearby, apparently in full view of travelers driving down St. Albans' Loop. I say 'apparently in full view' because the mirror wasn't out of the trash for more than a few minutes when someone drove by and saw it being discarded.  This person asked if they were offering it for free.  The staff in charge of disposing the mirror replied that yes, it was in fact free...but there was a demon in it!

The person didn't stick around for clarification and pealed out without saying a word.  The mirror would soon find a new home, however, when another driver stopped by shortly after and loaded it up.  

It would be interesting to know whatever happened to that mirror and if the new owners experienced anything spooky associated with it.  So, if you live in the St. Albans area and know what happened to the mirror...perhaps its hanging in YOUR dining room?...please let me know!  I'd love to check it out and bring some closure to this story.  And...if you're wanting to get rid of it, I'm guessing there's a guy out in Las Vegas by the name of Zak who'd be willing to give you a fair price! 

Bonus Fright:  I heard another rumor from a tour patron that there were still slave shackles visible  in the basement, left over from the home's pre-Civil War days.  I don't *think* this would be true, at least not at the modern location, because when the house was moved in the 1970's, it was put on a cinder block foundation.  Any old basement/cellar/etc. would not have been included...right? 

On The Job Ghosts

I wouldn't necessarily say I'm the type of person that has ghosts follow her wherever I go...but over the years, I've worked at numerous locations that have had a reputation for being haunted!

In my late teens and early 20's, I had a bit of wanderlust, and never wanted to stay in one location very long.  Therefore, that led me to try various career fields and job titles over the years.  Maybe its just the sheer number of jobs I've held  giving me a statistical advantage for 'haunted' workplaces, because it certainly cannot be the locations themselves!  I haven't worked in any old, historical mansions, creepy cemeteries, or even hospitals.  In fact, most of the locations I'll be discussing are fairly modern retail/food service establishments!

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to tell you about a few of my haunted job experiences!

1. Private Nursing Home Facility---Buffalo, WV:  When I was in high school, my slightly older boyfriend got a job working the night shift at a local nursing home facility.  This was simply a large, modern house in a residential neighborhood where about a dozen elderly patients, most with dementia, resided. I volunteered at the home a few hours every week, and by the time I graduated, I had been offered a job, also on night shift.  The work was fairly easy; since I wasn't a nurse or CNA, my main responsibilities were cooking, cleaning, and just making sure everyone was safe and as comfortable as possible.  Before I even started volunteering there, my boyfriend had told me that he and a few others had witnessed an apparition in the sitting room!  There was a certain blue recliner where, when caught out of the corner of one's eye, it appeared as if a man was sitting there.  However, when you looked at the chair straight on, there would be nothing there.  Over the few months that I worked/volunteered there, I did experience this two or three times, but the eeriest thing I experienced was the shadow figure.  The office for the facility was added on after the original home was built and was connected to the main house via a short, narrow hall, which stepped down into the office.  Often at night when I was in the office filling out my paperwork, I could hear footsteps.  Thinking that it was one of our more mobile residents coming to find me, I'd turn around...only to see an inky black figure walking towards me.  As soon as this figure, which had the shape of a huge, imposing man, would cross the line between the original house and the addition, it would vanish without a trace.  Sometimes this would happen more than once a night, and I'd have to call my boyfriend, who lived close by, and have him come sit with me until I was calm enough to finish my duties.

2. Former Chevron Gas Station---Winfield, WV: When I was a freshman in college, I began working at Subway.  This Subway was located within the former Chevron gas station in Winfield, which is now a pizza restaurant.  I started noticing small stuff happening at first.  When I was back in the cooler area, I'd feel as if someone had tugged my ponytail or brushed up against me.  At first, I'd think it was a gas station employee, but when I would look, no one would ever be there.  So, I thought maybe it was a temperature thing since I was walking into the cooler.  I tried to use that as an excuse until I started actually SEEING the figure of a person walking around the office/prep areas.  Again, I'd immediately think it was the gas station employee on duty, but as I would walk out, I'd see them behind the counter, helping a customer or doing some other task.  Some of the weirder things that happened were one time I was at the sink washing dishes when I felt someone come up behind me.  I could feel their breath on my neck, their chest pushing into my back, and I even saw hands come around me and rest on the sink on either side of me.  I thought it was one gas station employee in particular being flirty, so I turned around quickly to playfully swat at them...and swatted at air.  Another weird thing that happened frequently affected my car, parked outside.  Even though it was locked and I had the only key, often I'd come out after my shift to find my radio turned to a country station that I would never have listened to, and my seat pushed all the way back.  The car itself had some weird activity, but that's for another blog!  Anyway, I finally asked some of the gas station employees if they had ever had anything happen to THEM, and was pleased to know that I wasn't alone.  They reported that gas pumps would 'ding' as if alerting them to authorize them for a customer, but no one would be there.  A few had even seen the figure flitting around the office area.  We were never sure if the suspected ghost was connected with the land, or even possibly related to one of the fatal accidents that occurred over the years at the intersection where the building stands. Here's my original blog on my experiences:  Haunted Chevron Station

Source

3. Former Dollar Tree---Teays Valley, WV:  Nothing really too significant happened during my time as a third key holder at the former Dollar Tree in Teays Valley, but there were a few things of note.  In this particular store, the aisles weren't really aisles, per se.  There were only a few actual shelves, with most aisles being separated by wire basket-type units.  Therefore, you could see through them and see who or what was in the aisle next to you.  And, of course, my luck---I would often see a man walking in a white T-shirt walking down the aisle next to me as I was cleaning up toward the end of the night shift.  Merchandise would also just 'jump' off the shelves/hooks/baskets in front of me as I was walking down an aisle and a few times, the vacuum would come unplugged from the wall, even though there was plenty of cord left to prevent it from pulling.  There was really only one other employee who was experiencing similar things, one of my managers who had recently lost her husband.  The strange thing was, her husband was my dad's cousin!  I had never met her before, but we figured out quickly how we were related since we both had a fairly uncommon last name.  She believed that it was her husband that was 'haunting' her at work, and we surmised that since I was family, maybe that's why I was experiencing things as well.

4. Walmart---Hurricane, WV: This is another location that I didn't experience a TON of activity, but enough to take note!  I was hired on at the new Hurricane Walmart before the store was even finished being built, so my first few weeks on the job actually included such tasks as stocking the shelves and putting together the checkout lanes.  During this time, there was a lot of controversy with the building of the Walmart and one local resident in particular, and at times things got pretty ugly.  There were also some weird plumbing issues and other problems that kept pushing the opening date back further and further.  With all this stuff going on, I remember jokingly saying that this building must be cursed.  But, we eventually opened, and I learned to hate my job as a CSS, lol.  So, eventually I moved to the overnight shift, and that's when things got weird. Just like at Dollar Tree, I'd see customers come in that would mysteriously vanish.  Weird electrical disturbances were commonplace, with one night in particular, my manager and I spending over an hour trying to figure out why the security shoplifting alarm was going off every 10 minutes or so with no one near it. It is interesting to note that at least one small cemetery had to be removed when the Walmart was put in, but whether a real-life Poltergeist scenario was in play or not is unknown.

Well, that's a sampling of my haunted resume...but I want to hear from YOU!  Have you ever worked somewhere that was haunted?  How did you deal with the activity? Were your employees open about the location's haunted reputation?  Let me know in the comments below, and if you're itching for some more haunted retail locations, check out my blogs on the haunted Toys 'R Us in Sunnyvale California or the haunted cash register located in a KMart in Idaho.  Happy Haunting!

Hauntings at the Homer Laughlin China Factory

If you're from West Virginia or surrounding areas, there's a good chance you've got a least one piece of Fiesta in your kitchen.  The iconic colorful dinnerware has been a favorite American classic since the 1930's, but the company that makes them (Homer Laughlin China Company) has been cranking out beautiful pieces in Newell, WV for 112 years!  With that kind of history, you might expect a ghost...or two.

Colorful Fiesta Dinnerware

The Homer Laughlin Company is actually a bit older, but the current building, known as Plant #4 is what is currently in operation...and currently what is haunted.  Built between 1905 and 1906, the plant was then known as the largest pottery plant ever built!

Homer Laughlin China Company Plant #4

It's evident that Homer Laughlin China is proud of their rich history, spanning from East Liverpool Ohio to Newell, West Virginia, but surprisingly, they seem quite proud of their HAUNTED history as well!  I always love it when businesses and organizations acknowledge their haunted history and are willing to be open about the spooky goings-on within their walls.

And, it looks like there's a lot of those spooky goings-on within the walls of the Homer Laughlin plant!

According to an article posted on the Fiesta Blog, "many workers in the factory have reported hearing footsteps when no one was around, garbage cans being moved, and even experiencing their hair being pulled when they were alone. Other employees have sworn that they’ve seen white figures darting around the showroom. Some have pictures of footprints in the factory that start and stop out of nowhere. Once, a worker even witnessed a clay mold being thrown across a room while completely alone." 

Showroom, where white figures have been spotted

The same blog surmises that the activity may be due to Homer Laughlin himself.  Homer, along with his brother, Shakespeare, began Laughlin China in 1871. Shakespeare left the company in 1879, and ten years later, Homer joined forces with William Edwin Wells.  Seven years after that, the two incorporated the company, and not long after THAT, Homer sold his share of the company out to Wells.  Homer Laughlin died in 1913 while in California.  Therefore, it doesn't seem like he was a part of the company that bears his name when the new factory was built...was he still watching over his namesake, regretting his decisions? 

Whoever the ghost(s) is/are is a moot point.  What is fascinating is that this reputable, historic factory, which makes beautiful, sought-after pieces of dinnerware known world over, MIGHT just have a few extra employees who aren't on the payroll!  

The Homer Laughlin China Company offers tours of its factory, providing you with an opportunity to stock up on pieces missing from your collection, view the history of this wonderful company, and maybe even catch a glimpse of a ghost! 

Sources:

Homer Laughlin China Company Wikipedia

10 Things You Didn't Know About the HLC Factory

The Haunting of Haymond House (Sutton, WV)

Theresa's Note:  Today's blog is a wonderful Guest Blog Submission from Carrie Holcomb-Snuffer about the historic William Edgar Haymond House of Sutton, WV.  The Haymond House is a gorgeous home, which has recently opened up for public and private paranormal investigations, metaphysical and psychic fairs, and much more!  I'm thrilled to be able to bring you information about this location...albeit a bit late, lol.  I meant to run this story weeks ago, but just didn't have the time since I was busy running back and forth between Teays Valley and Grafton every few days.  So, a big apology to Carrie (and you all) for being late!  But, better late than never, and I if you're in the Sutton area, I highly encourage you to check out the historic and haunted Haymond House, located just a short drive from the Braxton County Monster Museum. 

The William Edgar Haymond House is a Queen Ann style home built in 1894. It still has it's original floors and staircase, both of which are beautiful and without any creaking you would expect to find in a home that is over 100 years old. It sits on a sandstone foundation as well.

The home was built by prominent lawyer, William Edgar Haymond, and was home to two of his wives; Emma Catherine (mother of his two children) (1864-1907) and Ethel Rhodes (1871-1932).  His grandchild, who died at the age of 8, was listed as living in the home at the time of death.

During our investigation weekend we recorded a woman’s voice that was in total shock while we were discussing removing a couple of things from the home (original items). 

Us: “a man told us that these could be removed and sold for a certain amount of money.” 

Woman’s voice: “THOSE???” 

Us: “I think they should stay even if they do not work”

Woman’s voice whisper: “yes” 

On the second floor I had someone or something grab the back of my arm in an innocent way, like it was leading me away from the servant stairs. The next morning (around 5:30am) we captured a voice saying a team member's name.  According to recorders, that member woke up a few minutes later for no reason. We also caught footsteps coming down the steps, along with what sounded like the front door lock unlocking. There were sounds of doors opening and closing all night. We shut the blinds early that evening and left to get dinner. Two were opened when we returned. 

We had a psychic come in, at his request, and said he could feel the energy of a mentally challenged spirit. And also felt that a death occurred in the servant stairwell, either by strangulation or by a hanging. He confirmed that the home holds many spirits but none of them wished any harm to anyone. I have spent two nights in the home and always felt at ease there. 

On a separate weekend stay I had two of our Jr Investigators come along. We caught the sound of a bell ringing on our recorder and having one go outside to the yard where there is a bell still standing and ring it while I recorded it, we got the same sound. On the second floor in the “Pink Room” one of our Jr Investigators became overwhelmed with a panic feeling in her chest. We walked out to the hallway and she felt fine. We reentered the room and she became overwhelmed again, and the ghost box said, “OUT.” Back in the hall we still had the ghost box going. The next three words were 'lifetime', 'exit', and 'terrible.' We feel as though this may be the spirit of the one who died in the house by strangulation or by hanging.

Other reports include the same sounds we caught, along with seeing a woman in white on the stairwell landing between 1st and 2nd floor. The woman in white is also seen going in to the bedroom on the 2nd floor. Reports of a child being seen playing in the basement are recorded as well.

Please go give the William Edgar Haymond House a LIKE on Facebook for updates on future events and information on how you can book an investigation at this hot new haunted location here in the Mountain State, which has already been investigated by prominent local investigators including Dave Spinks and Les O'Dell from WV C.A.S.E.! This sounds like a fascinating location, full of history and spooky (yet benevolent) activity and I cannot wait to visit for myself. 

Personal Experience at Cabell Huntington Hospital

If you follow me on Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State Facebook page, you may remember seeing a post from way back on July 28, 2018 asking for any information on potential hauntings or personal experiences from the Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, WV.

Cabell Huntington (Source)

In the comment section, I did share WHY I was asking, but I wanted to go ahead and share it again here, just so that hopefully my story will reach more people and hopefully someone else will come forward with more information!  Anyway, here's what happened to me...

I'm pretty sure it was Thursday evening.  My son, Luke (8 years old at the time) had gone to the local library earlier that day to watch a program about wolves.  We were now sitting around the house waiting to go to a birthday party for a family friend when Luke started complaining that he was having some pain in the boy parts.  It wasn't real bad, so I suggested he take a nice warm bath before the party to see if that helped.  By the time he got out, the pain was worse and he decided he felt too bad to go to the party.  Luke has a pretty high tolerance for pain, so I knew if he was willing to miss a party, he was feeling bad.  And, even though I still didn't think there was anything really wrong, I decided to throw him in the car and run him down to the local MedExpress before they closed...just to be sure.  We were leaving on Saturday for the beach, and if he needed any prescriptions or anything I wanted to have plenty of time to fill them.

As we pull up to the MedExpress, Luke is now in so much pain that he can't sit down.  They take him right back, and at this point, I'm still thinking its nothing too bad.  My first thought was that he had a UTI, and that the doctor was going to tell Luke to stop using bubble bath. However, the doctor pushed on his left testicle and this kid let out a yelp of pain that I had never heard before.  THAT is when things got serious.  Luke was tentatively diagnosed with testicular torsion, but needed an ultrasound to confirm it.  The doctor told us we had a choice of hospitals:  Women's and Children's in Charleston, or Cabell Huntington in Huntington.  These were the only two options because she said if he needed emergency surgery, these would be the best two places to be.  We thought we could make it to CHH quicker, so we were sent on our way, with instructions to go straight there, without stopping.

Our doctor had called ahead, so when we checked into the emergency room at Cabell Huntington, we didn't have to wait too long until we were called back into the ultrasound waiting room.  And, this is where my experience happened!

There were a group of us who were called back to the ultrasound waiting room together.  There was a middle aged man by himself, a man in his 50s or 60s there with his wife, and Luke, along with my mom and I.  The six of us were shown into a fairly good sized waiting room to await our individual turns back to the ultrasound room.  This room was rectangular, running parallel to the hallway.  The side of the waiting room against the hallway was all glass.  The younger man sat near the door on the short wall; the older couple sat under the windows about 3/4 of the way from the waiting room door, and Luke, my mom and I sat in the corner furthest from the door.  Luke and I sat in the last two chairs facing the windows, and my mom sat in the adjoining chair on the short wall.

The only other person we saw the whole time in that area of the hospital was the nurse who came to take us from the waiting room to the ultrasound room.  It was shortly after the younger man had been taken back, that I noticed movement coming down the hall.  I looked up briefly and saw a young boy.  I couldn't get a great look at him, but he had dark hair, not quite a bowl cut, but similar.  From his height and size, I would guess him to be anywhere from 6-10 years old. I can't recall what he was wearing, but it wasn't a hospital gown.  It wasn't anything that would stand out, like old-fashioned clothing, either.  He just looked like a normal kid...mostly.

I have no idea what it was about him, but something just FELT off. I thought it was weird that this kid was being allowed to walk in this section of the hospital by himself, so I was focusing less on HIM, and watching the hallway behind him to see if he was accompanied by anyone.  No one else ever came down the hall.  While all this was going on, the kid was still walking down the hall, and he was passing behind where the older couple was sitting.  These people weren't huge, but they were bigger people.  They were tall and broad shouldered, so they took up quite a bit of viewing area.  However, I could still see the top of the kid's head moving behind them.  But, what was weird...he never passed by them.  There was still a good bit of unblocked window space between the couple and the wall and this kid just never showed up in that space.  I even got up out of my seat to look for a door or hall he could have gone through, but there was nothing but blank wall there.  It left me feeling a little eerie, but I kind of just chalked up the whole thing to the stress of the situation.

Luckily, whatever was wrong with my son corrected itself.  His ultrasound came back clear and he felt fine the next day. He has since had no more problems.  Although the ultrasound didn't indicate it, his doctor felt that perhaps he DID have a slight case of testicular torsion, but that the twisty bits had un-twisted themselves so quickly after that it didn't do any damage.  That still leaves the question of what I saw that evening in the ultrasound waiting room, around 9 p.m.  When I asked on my Facebook page, no one came forth with any similar experiences...but that's where things took an even weirder turn, lol.

So, last month I saw a new story pop up on one of my favorite websites, WV Ghosts.  It was from Cabell Huntington Hospital!  I'm reading this story, and with a few altered details, it is the same story that I had told back in July!  I thought that it was really, really weird...but hey, maybe someone had an eerily similar experience as me and this would be a great confirmation!  I contacted the owner of the site, and found out the story was submitted the same day that I made my post.  When we looked at it, there were even some of the same words used that I had used in my post...That post is still available, and can be found HERE.

I'm still curious, though.  If you have a similar experience, or ANY experience from Cabell Huntington please let me know!  You can drop me a comment here, or catch me over at Theresa's Haunted History Facebook page.  Stay spooky, ya'll!

West Virginia's Creepy County Courthouses

Over the years, my research into the haunted history of West Virginia has allowed me to collect ghost stories, strange encounters, and other bits of weirdness from all over the state.  I've looked into haunted hospitals, phantom-filled restaurants, spooky cemeteries, and so much more.  And, I've come to realize something...West Virginia has a LOT of creepy county courthouses!  Out of WV's 55 counties, I've collected at least five courthouses with an established haunted reputation, but I'm sure there are more out there!  Please take a second to click through the links for more information on each of these haunted government buildings, and let me know if you have any stories from any of West Virginia's other 50 county courthouses!  

Mercer County Courthouse

1. Mercer County Courthouse:  Located in Princeton, construction of the Mercer County Courthouse began in 1930, with the building officially opening the following year. Activity includes shadow beings, phantom voices, unexplained noises, and even full-bodied apparitions that disappear right in front of one's eyes!  The staircase connecting the upper and lower levels of the former on-site jail seems to be the most haunted area of the courthouse, but spooky experiences have been reported from all areas. 

Wyoming County Courthouse

2. Wyoming County Courthouse:  The Wyoming County Courthouse is located in Pineville and was built in 1916. On January 18, 1935, Virgil A. Cook, the County Clerk for Wyoming County, was working late in his office one evening when he died a tragic death from drinking carbolic acid.  It is unknown whether the death was a suicide, a murder, or simply an accident, but it is believed that Cook's ghost is still haunting the courthouse. 

Greenbrier County Courthouse

3. Greenbrier County Courthouse: The Greenbrier County Courthouse, located in historic Lewisburg, is the oldest courthouse on the list.  Although its been renovated and added onto, the main section of the building dates back to 1837. In addition to it being the oldest courthouse on the list, it also can claim the weirdest ghost story!  Like many courthouses throughout West Virginia, at least at one time the building held the county jail.  For years, people have believed that former criminals have haunted the building, but two teenagers actually SAW something that may back up those claims.  They report seeing a misty apparition of a man, holding a knife, who chased them around the building!

Raleigh County Courthouse

4. Raleigh County Courthouse: Located in Beckley, the Raleigh County Courthouse was built in the late 1930s around the older courthouse, which dates back to 1894.  The jury room is said to house the ghost of a woman who wears a red dress.  Who she is, no one knows for sure, but it is believed that she is either a former employee or a family member of someone whose life was changed by a conviction received here in the courtrooms.

Monroe County Courthouse

5. Monroe County Courthouse: Located in Union, the Monroe County Courthouse has a host of ghosts!  The disembodied voice of a man is heard mumbling in the basement, where the old jail was located. Perhaps this old man is the same entity that has a penchant for Halloween candy!  One October, several witnesses saw a bucket of Halloween candy slide across a counter and fall to the floor. Security cameras have supposedly caught apparitions in the courtroom, and at least one helpful ghost has been known to help reset the clocks for Daylight Savings Time!  The current building was completed around 1882.

The 666 Bible of Morris Memorial Hospital

Not everyone realizes that in Moundsville, WV there is a paranormal museum that rivals even the most well known of its kind.  Alongside of the Warrens' Occult Museum and Zak Bagan's Haunted Museum is the Mountain state's very own Archive of the Afterlife!

Photo from the Archive of the Afterlife Facebook Page

I have visited the Archive of the Afterlife twice now, and each time I've been blown away the sheer quality and quantity of exhibits.  Haunted objects, funerary history, military history, and a host of memorabilia from haunted locations are just a sampling of what you'll find here.  There are several exhibits that I have felt a really strong fascination for, and one of those is the infamous 666 Bible.

According to the museum's website, this mysterious artifact was donated by an anonymous urban explorer from Glen Dale, WV.  This person and his friend were visiting the abandoned Morris Memorial Hospital for Crippled Children in Milton, WV.  The current Morris Memorial building was originally built between 1935 and 1936 and treated over 10,000 children, most of who were suffering from polio, up until the hospital closed in 1960.  With advances in medicine, including a polio vaccine, the great need for a hospital of this type was no longer needed, and the next year, Morris Memorial became a nursing home under the direction of John and Rose Greene.  It operated as a nursing home until it was completely turned over to the city and used as storage about ten years ago.

At first, security wasn't exactly tight at this location, and many amateur ghost hunters, urban explorers, and just plain curious folks ventured onto the property. Even the grounds gave off a spooky feel and peering into windows, one could easily see a mixture of old nursing home furniture and the city's Christmas decorations.  Unfortunately, vandalism was a big issue, with some people going as far as to breaking windows and doors and tearing apart the inside of the old hospital.  At any given time, access to the hospital was easily obtained through one of these busted windows or doors.

With a change in local government came a change in how the property was maintained.  No Trespassing signs flooded the property, and security cameras were installed.  Those caught breaking in were punished, and the vandalism began to curb.  Today, there are plans being implemented to turn the former hospital into a high-end hotel and resort facility.  All that's quite fascinating...but what about this Bible?

The person who donated the Bible to the museum noted that it was found in an otherwise empty room.  The rather large book was opened up to pages 666-667, and the pages were being held in place by a small angel figurine.  Even creepier, the top of page 667 appeared to have been scorched!  As a souvenir, our donor took the Bible home, and his friend took the angel.

In my investigation group, we didn't have too many rules, but one thing that was highly encouraged was leaving things alone.  Ghost lore is filled with many tales illustrating the idea that taking an object from a haunted location is never a good idea.  Unfortunately for this urban explorer, he would find that out the hard way.

Upon returning home, he put the Bible on his fireplace mantle.  Within three days, the family cat died.  His mother and pet dog became gravely ill.  He heard his name being whispered, only to find no living person anywhere in ear shot.  Things reached a spooky crescendo when three full-bodied shadow people were observed in the back yard.

Presumably, the streak of bad luck and paranormal activity ended when the Bible was donated to the museum.  And if you're brave enough, YOU can visit this seemingly cursed holy book for yourself!  The museum, which has recently expanded, can be found in Moundsville's Sanford Community Center, just a short drive from the WV State Penitentiary at Moundsville!  The museum is a great deal at $3 per person, or $5 per couple and you could spend hours browsing just the collection itself.  But, if you're a little more eager, there are investigation opportunities and paranormal conventions/events held throughout the year.  Now...I wonder if anything similar ever happened with that angel figurine!

More Reading:
Archive of the Afterlife Website
Archive of the Afterlife Facebook
Excellent article by James E. Casto in the Herald Dispatch about the history of Morris Memorial
Theresa's Visit to the Archive of the Afterlife

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.

2016 Keenan House Ghost Photo

Photo by Kim Miller

Hey, everyone!  I apologize---I need to start this blog off with a bit of bad news.  As many of you already know, my paranormal investigation group, HPIR, has spent the past 10+ years giving FREE ghost tours of downtown Guyandotte, WV.  Unfortunately, there will be no Haunted and Historic Guyandotte Walking Tours for the 2018 season for either Halloween or Guyandotte Civil War Days.

We have absolutely loved sharing the history of this community in a fun and spooky way, and have met so many great people along the way.  This is not a permanent end, but just a break to reassess how we can best serve a changing community.  For now, I encourage you to hop on over to the Haunted and Historic Guyandotte Tours Facebook page where our President and Founder, Melissa, is busy sharing plenty of stories, articles, and pictures in the interim.

And, for today's blog, I wanted to share with you ANOTHER spooky photo taken by one of our tour guests!  This photo was shared with us by Kim Miller.  The photo was taken during our 2016 tour season during one of our Civil War Days tours.  The home in question is the historic Keenan House, built in the early 1800s.  Over the years, the Keenan House has served as a home for several prominent citizens, acted as a historical society headquarters, and suffered a devastating fire that destroyed much of the interior.  It's biggest claim to fame, however, is the purpose it served over the course of November 10 through 11, 1861.

Close-up 

That year, a small Union recruitment camp and training center was set up in the then-bustling town of Guyandotte, Va., much to the chagrin of the local citizens who were largely made up of Confederate sympathizers. Late Sunday evening, on November 10th, the camp was raided by Confederate troops under the leadership of Captain (later General) Albert G. Jenkins. Surviving Union recruits and Union sympathizers throughout town were rounded up, tied together two-by-two, and held overnight at the Keenan House.  The next morning, those surviving the night were marched to Richmond to be imprisoned.

With 200+ years of life and death, combined with a good deal of suffering contained within its walls, could there be spirits still present at the Keenan House...and if so, could this photo show some of that energy?

One of the biggest things I'll miss about tours this year is the infectious excitement of our tour guests when they have an experience they cannot explain or capture a photograph they can't debunk. It's so fun to share that excitement with them and give them the opportunity to explore the haunted history of their own community...or even to introduce them to the haunted history of a new location for them!  We've actually had guests come from as far away as Israel enjoy our tours!  Keep an eye on our Facebook page, linked above.  I think we'll be back before you know it, stronger than ever!  Happy Haunting, ya'll!

On The Road to Dixie: Chasing Down a WV Cemetery Legend

Lambert/Spry Cemetery

About a week ago, my family and I decided on a spur of the moment country drive which led us to the Lincoln/Logan County line near Harts, WV in search of a local cemetery legend.  We were trying to track down the final resting place of Dixie V. Counts and her son, Charlie.

The legend of Dixie V. Counts and her child is a sad one.  I first learned of the legend several years ago from the popular website, The Shadowlands.  In this particular entry, it is reported that Charlie was born stillborn and that he and his mother died while she was giving birth to him.  Every full moon, Dixie and Charlie can be seen wearing white and appearing to glow in the moonlight. Dixie rocks her small son in her arms, as they both weep mournfully.  The date of death on their tombstones also seems to glow with the same intensity as the pair on the anniversary of their tragic deaths. 

Like many good cemetery legends, this one has some roots based in fact.  Dixie DID give birth to a premature baby, a girl named Nora, back in 1932.  Charlie, however, was born in good health in December of 1938.  Unfortunately, he would not live to see adulthood.  On September 26, 1939, Dixie passed away from tuberculosis.  Little Charlie also had the dreaded consumption, but would hang on another three months, passing away in December of that year.

Dixie's Grave. Some say the date of death glows under the full moon.

I've posted about the Dixie V. Counts legend here on Theresa's Haunted History before, but I had never actually visited the tombstones for myself.  Therefore, when we couldn't find the Lambert Cemetery (where Dixie is buried) on our first attempt, I was pretty disappointed. We were going in the middle of the afternoon, so I wasn't betting on having a paranormal experience, but I at least wanted to say I had been there because....

...Dixie will be featured in my upcoming book on West Virginia cemetery legends!

Luckily, a couple of days later, my in-laws took my son out fishing, giving me a whole day to try again.  This time I was prepared. In our impromptu trip, I didn't count on the fact that I got absolutely no internet/phone service AT ALL. And, since the trip was unplanned, I didn't look up the information I needed to get us to the right cemetery beforehand.  That trip wasn't a complete waste, as we did get to visit another area cemetery, The Brumfield Cemetery, which was packed with history, but it wasn't the same.  So, I studied the maps carefully, and felt pretty confident as I set out on my own to find Lambert Cemetery.

Charlie Counts

The cemetery is noted as being in Ranger, WV...and that's true, although somewhat confusing, since the road its on (Dry Branch) is actually a good ways past the 'official' road signs for the town of Ranger.  However, the road was fairly easy to find.  As soon as I pulled off the main road onto it, though, I instantly thought I had made a terrible mistake.

I drive a 2008 Nissan Sentra and Dry Branch Rd. is not exactly the type of road for a low vehicle. It wasn't a bad drive, but the road, which was dirt/gravel/grass throughout most of the trip was very narrow and reminded me more of a private driveway than an actual route. Added to that, there was road work going on when I visited! Well, there were several Asplundh trucks in the area, working on the trees.

I searched for the actual cemetery, but didn't see it at first.  After just a short trip, the road did dead end, just in someone's driveway.  I was a little apprehensive, especially since their dog was out, but I made the turn-around with no problems.  Coming back out towards the main road, I got a slightly different view of the surrounding hillside...and managed to see the cemetery!  Thankfully, there was a house below it on the back side, so the vegetation was trimmed back.  Now, I just had to find the road to reach it...and again, I cannot stress enough how much the road really wasn't a road, lol.  I did find the path, which was a well-maintained, yet still kinda scary dirt/gravel road uphill. 

At this point, I had a huge decision to make.  I had driven over an hour to get here.  The cemetery was IN SIGHT, and the road didn't look too bad.  However, I was completely alone with no cell service and a tiny, low-sitting car with a loose muffler.  I figured that since there were plenty of Asplundh employees within walking distance, if I did get stuck, someone would be around to help me get unstuck or call for help, so I went for it.

Nora Counts

My car did scrape the ground near the top of the path, but it wasn't too bad and after I stopped swearing, I found myself at the entrance to the small,  yet nicely maintained Lambert Cemetery.  The graves of Dixie and her two children were easy to spot, and I quickly managed to get in a few photographs.  I had a long drive back, so I didn't stay nearly as long as I should have, but I paid my respects to Dixie and the others and headed back.  On the drive home, I mulled the whole haunted tombstone legend over in my head.  How in the world did this legend get started in the first place??

Due to the location of the cemetery, my guess would be that the original submitter of this story was either a member of Lambert/Spry family, lived on Dry Branch, or was somehow otherwise connected to the cemetery. I felt that way for two reasons.  Firstly, there were some elements of truth to this tale.  Dixie did have a stillborn infant, but it was Nora, not Charlie.  Charlie and Dixie DID die in the same year...although Charlie was nearly a year old and their actual dates of death were 3 months apart. That information, which is based in fact but not accurate, sounds like information that has been passed down by oral tradition and story telling.  Secondly, this cemetery just didn't seem like the type that one stumbles upon. I didn't have any negative experiences, but I just kinda felt like this was private property (the cemetery AND the whole Dry Branch Rd) and that I was an intruder.  It didn't seem like it would be a popular place for even local kids to go legend tripping.  It just seemed like a serene, little spot of land where members of the Spry and Lambert families were laid to rest. 

L to R: Charlie, Dixie, Nora

As you can see from the photos of the tombstones, they are fairly new and in good shape.  New flowers had recently been placed upon the graves.  Someone was doing a good job of keeping the grass cut, and a burial as recent as earlier this year had taken place.

Maybe one day I'll go back up there on a full moon and see if I can see Dixie and her baby, or their glowing tombstones.  But for now, I'm content to have visited the site and shared Dixie's story---both the legends AND the history.  I hope she and her little ones have found peace. And I hope that you have enjoyed this trip with me in search of a West Virginia cemetery legend.  More information on Dixie's story will be available in my upcoming book, so keep an eye on Theresa's Haunted History Facebook for more updates!  Stay spooky, ya'll.

White Gate Cemetery

Photo by Beth--Grave Addiction

Travelers driving down Tom's Run Road in Moundsville, WV will notice a quaint, white gate with no fence, just on the other side of a small creek. Above the gate is a sign reading "White Gate Cemetery."  Beyond that gate are rows and rows of small metal signs, each marking the final resting place of a former inmate of the West Virginia State Penitentiary. 

The West Virginia Penitentiary, located in Moundsville, officially opened in 1876. Deceased prisoners whose bodies were not claimed by friends or family were first buried along a narrow strip of land on the south side of the penitentiary wall. However, drainage issues resulted in the need to remove the bodies and place them in a 5 acre area just outside the prison set aside for a cemetery.  This arrangement lasted until 1897. Around that time, Moundsville citizens had started complaining about convicts being buried within cemetery limits.  Therefore, during the 1897 Legislative Session, House of Delegates member John J. Leach proposed House Bill 255. The bill was "to prohibit the burial in the cemetery at Moundsville of the bodies of convicts who may die in the penitentiary." The bill passed, spurring the prison on a search for a proper burial site outside of city limits.

Wheeling Daily Intelligencer February 9, 1897

In November of that year, they would find a suitable location. Prison officials purchased 10 acres of land from David Levi along Tom's Run Road.  The location chosen was about 3-4 miles from the prison, fell outside of city limits, and cost the state $600. 

Wheeling Daily Intelligencer November 24, 1897

For half a century, the cemetery didn't really have a name. On death certificates, it was usually listed as 'prison cemetery' or Tom's Run. It wasn't until the 1950s that it came to be called White Gate Cemetery when the wife of a warden (I haven't confirmed it, but I think its Rilla Skeen, wife of Orel J. Skeen, 1947-1955) took interest in improving the cemetery and had the gate and sign installed. 

There are close to 300 known burials at White Gate, most of which are marked with a simple metal sign made at the prison. The majority of burials are the result of natural causes and many come from the era of the Great Depression when families simply didn't have the money to have their convict kin shipped home and buried.  

Photo by Beth--Grave Addiction

Unfortunately for many of those buried on this little plot of land, their stories are lost to history. In some cases, their names are lost to history---a blank sign being the only tangible proof of their existence. Others buried at White Gate are a little more notorious...

It is said that Edward Trout Shue, the infamous "Man Who Wanted Seven Wives" is buried at the prison cemetery. You might know him better as the man who took the life of Zona Heaster Shue, the Greenbrier Ghost. Also among the burials are Herman Drenth, better known as Harry F. Powers. Powers is responsible for at LEAST 5 murders in the Quiet Dell area of WV. This "Bluebeard of Quiet Dell" is believed to be West Virginia's first serial killer.  He was executed by hanging on March 18, 1932. Then, there's William Holly Griffith, the "Bestial Murderer" who kept escaping! He died July 10, 1971 from prostrate cancer. 

In the paranormal world, there's a debate as to whether or not cemeteries are likely to be haunted. The theory is that a ghost would more likely haunt the place where he/she died, or where he/she had spent the most time while living, as opposed to just the location where the earthly body lies.  I'll save that debate for another blog, but I wanted to touch upon the haunted history of the White Gate Cemetery.  Surprisingly, there really isn't much of one! Those who have investigated the cemetery haven't really collected any data to show that it might be haunted, and there really aren't any stories about its ghosts, either, that I could find.  I did find one thing, though. Visitors to the cemetery don't find the little spit of wooded land peaceful. Rather, the whole area seems to give off a very heavy, even negative feeling. 

Last January, my friend Bree and I set up a vendor's table at the Grave City Haunted Relic Expo, held at the old Sanford School. We arrived in town a little early to explore and the number one spot we wanted to see was White Gate Cemetery. We found it easily enough. It's just a short drive from the prison and my GPS took us right to it.  The problem was, we couldn't get to it! There had been recent snowstorms throughout West Virginia earlier that week, and Tom's Run Road wasn't entirely free from snow and ice just yet. The parking area was covered in snow, and since I wasn't sure what was under it (I was thinking lots and lots of mud), and didn't want to get my car stuck, we chose not to stop.  That wasn't the only issue though; even if we had parked, there was NO bridge over the creek to the cemetery. And, since the snow was starting to melt, the creek was running pretty high. You can watch the video I took of me panicking about where to stop below, but it begs the question: why is this cemetery so isolated?

A really sweet lady named Tammylynn whom we met at the Expo shared some insight.  She said the cemetery was built across the water to keep negative energies at bay! It is a popular belief in folklore that a ghost cannot cross running water (for example, the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow), so it makes sense. And, if that negative energy is all trapped in that small, little space, that could explain why so many people can pick up on it so strongly.  She also let us know that the cemetery grounds aren't regularly mowed, and there's an issue with snakes, so be careful if you plan on visiting! 

If you have any additional information on this cemetery, or have had your own personal paranormal experience there, I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to comment below, join me at Theresa's Haunted History Facebook, or email me at theresarhps@yahoo.com.  Stay spooky, ya'll!

For a list of burials, check out Find-a-Grave

For more photos and info, visit Grave Addiction

You can find a little bit of info on early burials at the WV Pen on its National Register application

Here's the video of me panicking, trying to figure out how to get over to the cemetery without A. Getting my car stuck, and B. Drowning while trying to cross the creek on foot. We will be returning in the Spring! You can also watch it on YouTube.