Life is what happens when you are making other plans~ John Lennon
An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind~Gandhi
The time is always right to do what is right~ Martin Luther King Jr.


Sunday, March 29, 2020

Haunted Ohio pt. II

Everyone loves to read about haunted locations I'm sure. It's almost guaranteed that people love to read about haunted locations, especially if those haunted locations are within driving or easy travel distance of their homes. Let me tell you about some of the cool haunted locations around where I live, right here in Cincinnati, OH!! Not only that, there are locations in Kentucky as well.

But first, let me tell you about some great books that I pulled some of these locations from.

Cincinnati Ghosts
-Karen Lavin

Cincinnati Haunted Handbook
-Jeff Morris

National Geographic Guide to the World's Most Supernatural Places
-Sarah Bartlett
-This is for those who love reading about haunted locations all over the world. Great book!!!! Tons of fascinating locations!!!!

https://paranormal.lovetoknow.com/Haunted_Places_in_Ohio
https://www.ohioexploration.com/paranormal/hauntings/hamiltoncounty/
https://www.ohioexploration.com/paranormal/hauntings/butlercounty/#maudhughes
https://www.moonvilletunnel.net/
https://www.ohioexploration.com/paranormal/hauntings/preblecounty/#fudgeroad
https://www.ohioexploration.com/paranormal/hauntings/clermontcounty/
Now, here are the local locales for ghostly activity. I'll tell you the location, in general, where they are, like city or neighborhood specifically.

Fudge Road
-Gratis, Ohio
-History: There have been several fatalities in this area over the years. Two men died during a drug bust. A baby was thrown off the side of a bridge by its mother in the 1800s. A woman hanged herself after her baby died. A truck driver who drove his rig off the side of the bridge.
-Haunting: The two men who died during the drug bust haunt the road here. The bridge is known as Crybaby Bridge because of the aforementioned woman throwing her baby over the side in addition to the woman hanging herself. This bridge is also haunted by the truck driver. If you park there, shut off your car, roll down the windows and say "mama" three times, you'll hear a baby cry. Local police have shooed off people doing this in addition to there being several No Trespassing signs and local homeowners are mostly if not all licensed to carry guns and operate guns. They have fired warning shots in the past and will not hesitate to do it again
Tealtown Road
-Eastgate, Ohio
-History: Two friends who committed a murder-suicide pact died here
-Haunting: Two apparitions who appear to be arguing are seen near this road with the sound of gunshots following.
- I could not find an image

Marret Road
-Felicity, Ohio
-History: This location is very close in proximity to another haunted location in Felicity, Smyrna Cemetery. This road is home to a cult of devil worshippers. They have been known to sacrifice goats and a few humans as well.
Haunting: It's said that you can see ghostly shapes thought to be the devil worshippers
-I could not find an image

Ashtabula Bridge Disaster Site
-Ashtabula, Ohio
-History: In 1876, there was a railroad bridge that ran over a small creek here. That year, a large train packed full of people crashed into the creek when the weight of the locomotive and the cars following it destroyed the bridge. Months prior to the disaster, engineers travelling over it reported hearing suspicious and ominous popping noises when the trains travelled over the bridge, but inspectors seen nothing suspicious. Because of the design of the structure, it was a timebomb waiting to detonate. And it detonated on a cold December night in 1876. The bridge surrendered to the flawed construction and deposited the passenger cars into the frigid creek below. Many of these passengers died from hypothermia. Those who survived the initial crash were then slowly burned alive when the coal-fired stoves and oil lamps used to illuminate the trains set the heavily varnished trains ablaze
-Haunting: Most of the ghostly activity happens at the nearby Creek and Chestnut Grove Cemetery. Screams are heard, in addition to whimpers and cries. This is often more pronounced in the winter, since the disaster occurred in December. Since many of the victims were burned beyond recognition, they were buried in mass graves marked only by a granite obelisk. Spirits in Victorian-era clothing appear near this obelisk carrying picnic baskets.
Brooke Court
-Fairfield, Ohio
-History: There is not much to suggest as to why there is ghostly activity here
-Haunting: It's said that a fire hydrant down the street from the court house will take the form of a person holding a knife on a clear night if you look
-No images found

Moonville Train Tunnel
-Moonville, Ohio
-History: This was just another one of those small mining towns in Southeastern Ohio that popped up from the coal mining boom. The town only had around 100 people or so living in it. And even the road leading to it had a rugged country feel, in the sense it was only wide enough farm wagons to make it the mill owned by Samuel Coe on the east side of Raccoon Creek or a farm owned by a family with the name Ferguson on the west side of the town, where a tunnel was to be built through the Appalachian Mountains. By the time the 1950s rolled around, virtually everyone had moved out, save for a few abandoned houses and maybe a few spirits...It's very strange to see and hear about ghostly activity here since there seems to be no record of violent or sinister activity here. The only activity noted is that an engineer named Theodore Lawhead was passing through Moonville, a city all engineers of trains hated passing through because the trees hugged the rails so closely it was like passing from one man made tunnel to a nature made tunnel, making it seem like one endless tunnel. On November 4, 1880, Lawhead was driving by, staring at the infinite blackness, when out of nowhere, a strange light came. That "strange light" turned out to be a second train coming right at him. The train dispatcher failed to note that a second train had been coming down the rails. Both the engineer and on board fireman died in the crash
-Haunting: Because of the crash, the ghostly form of the fireman and engineer were seen along the tracks, frightening engineers. They would see something shining in the distance and a white form would appear and disappear just as quickly. Strange lights that resemble lanterns have been seen, cold spots have been felt, foggy mists have been seen, apparitions of a man wearing a train engineer's uniform
Mansfield Reformatory
-Mansfield, Ohio
-History: Also known as the Ohio State Reformatory, this was a reformatory school that opened in 1910 and closed in 1990. The architecture and style of construction led to it being dubbed "Dracula's Castle" in addition to the horrible conditions people suffered there. This place was innovative in the sense that in the beginning, they would take inmates, most of the time young juvenile offenders, and the location would "reform" them, try and make them better, through education and hard work.
-Haunting: Visitors say they feel scratches on their back, their hair gets pulled, ghostly voices, shadow figures, misty apparitions. The most haunted locations within the Mansfield Reformatory are said to be "Old Sparky", the electric chair, the prison solitary confinement area
-Boston Mills, Ohio.
-This was cleared to make way for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which tells you it's in Cleveland or near there
-History: Said to be one of the oldest standing villages in Summit County, it was a small town until the Ohio & Erie Canal was built. This made the population surge. In the early 1820s, a mill was built and several years later, more were built. One of the noted mills was a paper mill. Even railroad tracks and a station were built, to bring in people. The station was named after the paper mill, Boston Mills. Of course, in the 1960s, with the advent of Earth Day and Arbor Day and more dedication to preserving forests and nature, President Ford signed a legislature in 1974 saying that the National Parks Services could purchase this land to make it into national parks. Many of the area homeowners didn't realize that when this bill was passed, they were forced to relocate to make way for the parks. Soon the Cuyahoga Valley National Park was there, in place of homes.
-If the government bought a house, it had the red, white and blue US PROPERTY NO TRESPASSING sign posted to it. Some of the houses were intentionally burned as a training exercise for new firefighters. With all these houses being bought up in one fell swoop, the government fell behind in schedule tearing them down. It quickly became a common sight to drive down one street to find boarded up houses next to burned up ones. It would look like, to a motorist passing through, like one of those post apocalyptic movies, where the entire town seems to have vanished into thin air
-Haunting: There are so many stories here, that are both rumor and fact.

-One legend states that the government spilled deadly chemicals here said to have caused strange, bizarre mutations to area residents and their children. The actual truth is that there is an area called Butane Town, Mutane Town, Mutant Town. The first two refer to the chemical spilled there and the last referring to the effects of the supposed spill.
-Another legend claims that the local cemetery is haunted. The truth? It's true. There is a ghost who sits on a bench here who stares into oblivion. Another legend claims that the cemetery contains graves of children killed in a massive bus accident. Truth- There are children's graves here, but they didn't die from a bus accident.
-Another legend claims there is an old house in the woods with one light always appearing in the window. Truth-There is actually a house in Boston Township with a light in the window on at all hours. It's a hostel, a type of lodging where travelers can stay. The light stays on constantly as a reminder of its 24 hours a day policy. It's not in the woods, just some distance back from the road and there are several signs alerting travelers that they are nearing the hostel.
-Another legend claims that there is a road there that evil will await those who drive this particular road. The truth is that the road in question, Stanford Road, is steep and twisty. At the top of the road, there is a steep drop down to the other side. Motorists looking for quick thrills starting taking this road at high speeds and when they reached the top, they felt like they were driving off a cliff, thus the whole "end of the world" concept. Because of the steepness of the road, it's not shocking to find out there were several fatalities over the years.
-Another legend claims that there is a slaughterhouse here where faces will look back at you from the windows. The truth is that there was never a slaughterhouse here. It was mostly if not all a mill town, with one large paper mill. The building thought to be the slaughterhouse is old housing from the days of the mills for its workers.
-Another legend claims that local authorities will give you warnings about devil worship activity in the area. The actual truth is that the Summit County Sheriff's Office has been asked by Boston Township to tell motorists to "move on" to curb the vandalism and trespassing that often occurs here

Lucy Run Cemetery
-Batavia, Ohio
-History: You'd almost expect a cemetery to be haunted. Think about what resides there. This one is certainly no different. The story behind this is that before the cemetery was initiated here, it was beautiful rolling farmland with a sizeable creek running through it. A man named Charles Robinson had moved his family here from Maryland and settled the family home on this land. One day, his niece or daughter Lucy Robinson, had been swept off her worldly feet by a local man. They fell in love and announced their engagement. One night, during a terrible thunderstorm, the man raced to the Robinson household. Upon reaching said home, he found Lucy answered the door. He quickly spit out the words he needed to say. That he no longer wished to marry her because he had found love with another. He raced off, leaving Lucy confused. She bounded to the man's home during the height of the storm. It's not known how she came to be thrown into the creek, whether the horse she rode lost its footing and tossed her in the creek or she and the horse missed the bridge completely. But the end result was still the same. She landed in the creek and drowned.
Haunting: Nowadays, you can sometimes see a white misty form running across the road. Locals say it's Lucy racing to find her lover
Buell Road
-Colerain Township, Ohio
-History: This one can be FATAL for multiple reasons. For locals in the area, they know that this is a twisty, curvy road, with a lot of sharp, blind turns. People from time to time like to zip along this road at high speeds and the result is probably obvious and inevitable-car crash turns to fatality. One day four students from Northwest High School in Colerain Township were going home, zipping along the road at high speeds, as most teens seemingly do. They wrecked. No one survived.
-Haunting: It's said that there is a straight stretch of the road where if you flash your lights three times, a phantom bicyclist is supposed to start pedaling down the road. If you don't turn your lights back on by the time he reaches your car, you will die seven days later. Sounds strange right? Don't doubt it! If the ghost doesn't kill you seven days later, there are plenty of cars racing along that road at high speeds that will happily remove you from the living plane and they won't take seven days to do it.
Hamilton County Dead Man's Curve
-Between the towns of Bethel, Ohio and Amelia, Ohio. State Route 125 meeting State Route 222
-History: Originally, this road was deemed the most dangerous road in Ohio, at least that's what some think. The road was ridiculously designed in that it turned sharply right approaching a steep hill. Anyone who knows about the idiotic driving patterns Ohio has knows that Ohio is said to be one of the top states with the worst drivers. This road certainly proved it in the beginning. People would take the turn too fast and go rolling over the hill to their death, even during the days of horse-drawn carriages. In 1969, it was straightened out, hoping to end its reign as the deadliest road in Ohio. Not for long. One fall afternoon, a 1969 Chevy Impala carrying five teens was cruising along the road when suddenly a 1969 Dodge Roadrunner, flying at speeds of over 100 mph, collided with the Impala, killing all five on contact
-Haunting: It's said that between 1:20 am and 1:40 am, the dead of morning, there is a black silhouette of a hitchhiker. It's said that when you approach him, there's nothing ominous or suspicious about him, until you near him and see that he has no face. He's known as the faceless hitchhiker of Dead Man's Curve. It's said he will pelt passing cars with rocks or jump out in front of the cars to be "hit" and then race after the car. Along the side of the road, you will see cars, such as the Impala and Roadrunner, looking as pristine as if they were driven off the lot, not smashed like the end result of the car crash. You'll also see ambulances and most creepy, a hearse. This hearse will follow people with no benefit of a driver. But beware, you're taking a risk with fate here if you decide to investigate this road. It's pitch black at night, no lights whatsoever

Clermont County Dead Man's Curve
-Cleves, Ohio
-History: Before the creation of the Interstate Highway System, Harrison Avenue, running through Cleves, was the main carrier of traffic. There was once a post office on the corner and one day, a long haul trucker carrying molasses in one of those large steel carriers you usually see transporting gasoline, was flying down this road at high speeds. He didn't make the turn and ended up crashing into the post office. Good hearted citizens helped him out, but the truck starting heating up and it exploded, killing not only the trucker but the good citizens who tried to help the truck driver.
-Haunting: It's said that anywhere on this road you will see what looks like a hitchhiker. As you come closer, you become overwhelmed with fear and dread because if you stop to pick this "man" up, you'll see his skin is hanging off his body, like he'd been in a fire. Most if not all drivers simply drive past him, afraid to pick him up.
Smyrna Cemetery
-Felicity, Ohio
-History: Originally, this was a Shawnee settlement and the tribe was led by a sorceress named Sweet Lips. One day, a man named Peter Hastings had come with settlers to claim the land. Sweet Lips made him a promise-if he would come back to see her, he could have some land. A few years later, he came back to claim his land. Her tribe knew nothing of this and was already agitated at having to give up what little they already had due to the signing of the Greenville Treaty. It's unknown how she died, but she ended up bearing the wrath of her tribe.
-Haunting: When the Methodists eventually took over the land, they built a church and initiated a cemetery there. It's said that one headstone glows brighter than the others. It's said to be the one Sweet Lips is buried beneath. It's also said that a woman in Native American garb will be seen traversing the cemetery late at night.
Reily Cemetery
-Reily, Ohio
-History: This place, this whole entire town, is 100 shades of creepy! The towns' planners were Satanists and organized the layout of various business and locations according to the shape of a pentagram. The business in the direct middle is a hole in the wall pizza joint called Reily Pizza. There are a large number of cemeteries in the small area as well. The one in particular that seems to evoke energy is Reily Cemetery. It's said that the whole cemetery seems to be covered in a thick atmosphere of evil, there is a large malevolent vibe that has overtaken the area. One area in particular that seems to evoke the most malevolent energy is an angel statue whose arms have been removed. This monument seems to send evil energy off the charts because of rumors of possession by a demonic entity.
-Haunting: As mentioned up above, this whole area seems to be bathed in malevolent energy. Not surprisingly, shadows are seen, feelings of being watched by unseen entities, strong feelings of evil reside here.
Bobby Mackey's Music World
-Wilder, Kentucky
-History: There is a lot of history here. Originally the site was a slaughterhouse, with a well in the basement to dispose of the creatures, which linked to a drain system that ran straight out to the Licking River. The most famous occurrence here was the murder of Pearl Bryan. She was a southern Indiana socialite who fell in love with a dental school student named Scott Jackson. She inevitably ended up pregnant by him. Unsure how to get rid of it, he consulted friend and fellow student Alonzo Walling to help him perform an abortion. It ended badly. They decided to murder Pearl by beheading her. The kicker is that she was five months pregnant at the time of her death. Her head was tossed in the famous basement well and her body disposed of elsewhere. It's said that Jackson and Walling were devil worshippers and used Pearl's head as a sacrifice to Satan himself. It's said that there is a completely ceiling to floor brick room in the basement where mentally challenged children were held for satanic rituals because it was though that mentally handicapped children responded better to the Devil.

-Then it was turned into a nightclub, ran by the mob, called Primrose. That closed after several murders on the site. Then yet another nightclub opened and more murders occurred. Then yet another nightclub opened, called The Latin Quarter. A singer here, named Johanna, fell in love with one of the musicians. She ended up pregnant by him. When her father found out, he ordered the musician killed. When she found out, she committed suicide. After that, the site remained empty for a short time until the Hard Rock Café chain bought it and turned it into a nightclub until several fatalities on site caused its demise. Finally, local musician Bobby Mackey and his wife Janet bought the site and turned it into Bobby Mackey's Music World, the area's leading honky tonk country bar. Here at this bar, every Friday night, Bobby Mackey and his Big Mac Band will take the stage and rock out to old school country and even new school country
-Haunting: With all the places that have been here, it's inevitable that ghosts will appear. One thing stands out-women who are pregnant, whether it be newly pregnant or almost full term, are not welcome. During a tour one time, Janet Mackey, who was five months pregnant with her child, was pushed down the stairs and both her and Bobby nearly lost their unborn child. Other occurrences on site include a sight of a man in black with a handlebar moustache, thought to be either Scott Jackson or Alonzo Walling. The scent of rose perfume will make it itself known, letting you know Johanna is there, because she often wore rose perfume. The jukebox, despite not being on, will kick on, playing "The Anniversary Waltz". Pregnant women will especially be the victims of supernatural attention. They will feel pushed, hit, kicked and other things. There is even a sign at the front of the building, put there by Mackey's business attorney, stating something to the effect that the site is purported to be haunted and that management is not responsible for the actions of ghosts/haunted activity while on site.
The Screaming Bridge
-Maud Hughes Road, Liberty Township, Ohio
-History: This location got its unique name from the fact that when it was first built, it was steel decking on a steel frame, which made a sound like human screaming when you passed over it. Rumor has it that it has been the site of numerous suicides and even a suicide by a recent bride who gave birth out of wedlock. She threw her baby over the side to its death below before hanging herself
-Haunting: Nowadays, the history of this bridge attracts those who are interested in its ghostly history. Heads up, with the graffiti lining the walls underneath the overpass, it gives you feelings that unsavory people might hang out here in addition to the train tracks running underneath are still being used to this day. Watch out for trains. If you want to go here to investigate, your best bet is to have someone drop you off and come pick you up. There is nowhere to stop here because there are a lot of trees here and sharp turns that hide oncoming vehicles travelling at high speeds. There is a police department nearby. You can always ask permission from them to use their lot, but who's to say how accommodating they will be when night falls. The ghostly history here is that if you go underneath the bridge and look up, you'll see feet swing over the side, as if someone has just committed suicide. When you go up top, you see nothing
Hayswood Hospital
-Maysville, Kentucky
-History: This was the first major hospital to treat those from a six county area. This facility was state of the art, treating everything from small injuries to life threatening issues. Babies were born here and people died here. It started out as the Wilson Infirmary because of a nurse named May Peale Wilson. Then it became Hayswood Hospital. This facility, with later additions, turned into an 87 bed hospital. It bit the dust in 1987 when the new Meadowview Regional Medical Center was opened, putting Hayswood out of operation.
-Haunting: Phantom doctors and nurses are seen in the halls and windows. Reports of babies crying, the electricity and water being off, but producing the beep beep beep sound of a heart monitor and the elevator doors opening by themselves. Eyes peering at you from the pitch black, sound of high heels or heels of shoes running toward you and no one is actually there.
Phillips' Folly
-Maysville, Kentucky
-History: This historic three-story plantation-style home sits right on the cobblestone streets of Maysville, Kentucky. Back in the days of slavery, William Phillips was a slave owner. The mansion got its name from the fact that Mr. Phillips disappeared during construction, leading some to wonder if he ran out of funds. He returned and finished construction. Since he was a slave owner, he constructed jail cells in his basements for his slaves.
-Haunting: The main ghostly activity is said to be of Mr. Phillips and his dog, playing on the second floor. A ghostly black lady is said to haunt the kitchen area. She is not a malevolent spirt; if anything, when you start suddenly feeling jolly and joyous, in a very happy mood, that's how you know this kindly little lady is here. There are strange purple mists in the basement jail cells where the slaves were kept. There are feelings of dread and almost fear there as well as incredible sadness. A woman once ran her candle business here and encountered the aforementioned woman. Because of this jolly little lady's appearance, the woman was suddenly inspired to discover music from slavery times
The Washington Opera House
-12 W. 2nd Street, Maysville, Kentucky
-History: Originally starting out as an opera house, it gained its name from going up in flames soon after it was built on January 30, 1898 and the Washington Fire Company paid $24,000, funding its reconstruction. This was the main location for staged productions, ballet performances and more. It's the fifth oldest theatre in the US and is still in operation to this day. It still hosts staged productions, films and is a meeting spot for community matters and various other activities.
-Haunting: Many have performed in this historic theatre over the years. One of the main entities thought to still be lingering here is that of famed local ballet dancer Loretta Stambo. There is a picture of her hanging in the lobby. This was her ultimate favorite place to dance. She had come here with her dance troupe and was doing her thing one night when she fell ill with pneumonia. Ever the dedicated dancer, she forged on and finished her performance before collapsing. She was taken to her hotel on Market Street, where she died. Her last request was to be buried at the theatre, the place she loved most and she was indeed buried there. Local ghost hunters who have investigated here will all tell you one thing-Loretta DEMANDS respect. When glass bottles were the way of drinking soda, an ignorant actor placed a Coke bottle on her grave, only for it to shatter. For the aforementioned picture of her, it was painted over several times, only for it to come through again. Each time that someone tried to paint over the picture, it would come through again, with the eyes and her face taking on an angrier and angrier expression. People say that the eyes connect with passersby, making them feel uneasy. But despite that, she is said to be helpful to those who are dedicated to theatre arts. In addition to the ghostly dancer, people have heard high heels walking across the stage, heard local legend Rosemary Clooney's singing play out of nowhere, cold spots felt, spooky voices calling their name.
The Sorg Opera House
-63 S. Main Street, Middletown, Ohio
-History: This is one of the older opera houses in Middletown, Ohio. Built and operated by Paul J. Sorg, this location is haunted by several ghosts. There was originally a third floor, which was a segregated area, where black patrons were forced to sit during performances. They had their own exit and entrance, clearly marked.
-Haunting: It's definitely been said that two ghosts reside there, an older black gentleman and a young black boy, both of whom seem to be sort of angry spirits, but then again, can you blame them for their anger? They were shown nothing but hatred in life. There is also a woman who appears in a ballgown, varying from red, blue to white. You'll know the lady is there by the sweet-smelling perfume you smell. It's also said that Mr. Sorg himself haunts the place. He is most often seen on the stage, where his office was once or seen sitting in the front row. There's also said to be a bartender there. He is said to haunt the bar of the ballroom and he is known to be there when you feel intense cold spots. You can also occasionally find peanuts up there, since most of the black patrons often ate peanuts in their segregated section
Lick Road
-Just off Kemper Road, in Tri-County (Springdale), Ohio
-History: A lot of mysterious occurrences happened here. A 15 year old hitchhiker named Linda Dyer was raped and murdered here. This road ends at the Richardson Forest Preserve, which is under the protection of the Hamilton County Parks District. There are two paths here. One goes to the right, through a field. The other goes left, into the woods, over a small creek where there is a wooden bridge. There is a sign warning of a curve in the path. The name "Amy" is written on it. There were no records of someone named "Amy" getting murdered here, so that is no help to explain the ghostly activity. Most likely, the ghostly activity is coming from 15 year old Linda Dyer
-Haunting: If you allow your car to steam up, you'll see the words "Help Me" will appear in the steam. There have also been ghostly screams heard or if you flash your lights three times, a ghostly orb will come towards you. Heads up, police patrol this area VERY frequently because teens hold drinking parties here
The McClung House
-Mason, Ohio
-History: In Masion, there is a large house sitting prominently on the corner locals call The McClung House. Today, it's home to the Tea Roses Tea Room, owned and operated by Sally Gasior. But back then, it was known as the McClung house because of the owners, John and Rebecca McClung. One day, John had kept Rebecca a prisoner in her own home because he was incredibly possessive. One day, he simply killed Rebecca. He beat her to death with the logs from the fireplace she so often sat beside. He pulverized every bone in her face and people heard three blood chilling screams with his hurried footsteps coming down the stairs. He was able to get away with her murder on an insanity plea. She was 60 years old at the time of her death while he was 75. They were both buried next to each other in the McClung family plot at the nearby Rose Hill Burial Park
-Haunting: Rebecca is most often seen in the second floor windows, looking down at the world as she did in life. She was almost always seen wearing black and it's said that to this day, the bloodstain where she was murdered still remains, no matter the effort to try and remove it
Satan's Hollow
-Blue Ash, Ohio
-History: This was originally part of the Blue Ash sewer system. A system of drainage tunnels to handle overflow of storm water and sewage. It is still up and running. Local history dictates that Satanists used the vast bowels of the tunnel network to perform their rituals. In one room there is a stone slab that looks like an altar of some sort, leading it to be dubbed "The Altar Room". It's said that here those same devil worshippers had successfully brought a demon into the world as well as opened a portal to Hell itself
-Haunting: Female screams can be heard. Floating skulls can be seen. A scary entity known as the Shadow Man is said to lurk in these tunnels as well as that scary demon that was brought into the world. Scary apparitions are also seen here.
Butler County Fairgrounds
-1715 Fairgrounds Ave, Hamilton, Ohio
-History: This is one of those large outdoor areas where various festivals and events are held. Most notably, the Butler County Fair is held here. It's a large country-type fair with rides, games, live animals, you name it. When it was first built, there was a racetrack with concrete grandstands, making it the first racetrack with that type of setup. There was a man who went into the bathrooms and committed suicide by gunshot to the head.
-Haunting: The activity here is that of the gunshot victim. He's seen walking around while the fair is in operation, even at night. He's seen while the fair is in operation during the day. He'll appear as, not surprisingly, a man with a large hole in his head.
Biggs at Skytop Pavilion
-Mt. Washington, Ohio
-History: This one is both cool and creepy. Originally the site was used for a famous local hotel called the El Rancho Rankin. Despite who you ask, the locals will describe it as a great place to get a drink and sleep the night or an eyesore. It all depends on who you ask. The place was a great hotel to get a drink in the onsite bar and sleep the night, despite the menagerie of fiberglass animals that dotted the place. The owner, William Rankin, was eccentric, after all. After a while, the place went downhill, turning into a place for the poor to go and eventually morphing into a dangerous place to go. The area's poor used it as a living quarters. There were numerous arrests for prostitution and even a couple of shootings on site. The Mt. Washington fire chief declared it a firetrap, saying that he would rather take the heat of closing it than run in and risk his life or the lives of his firefighters dragging bodies out should it catch fire. The building was destroyed in the 1990s and a series of stores were built there, namely the new Biggs at Skytop Pavilion.
-Haunting: It's said the people in 1950s-era clothing haunt this place. Aisles perfectly clean will turn to messy in no time. It's said that the mess comes from the ghosts doing their weekly shopping. It can probably be said that only in Cincinnati would you find the world's first haunted grocery store. Like most haunted sites, this one does have a close time, 11:00 pm. Bigg's, now Remke's, does not count on just ghosts alone to bring in revenue. You can look around for ghosts all you want, just remember to be out before 11:00 pm. And if you get hungry, what better place to get food than a grocery store?
 

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Haunted Ohio

Everyone loves to read about haunted locations I'm sure. It's almost guaranteed that people love to read about haunted locations, especially if those haunted locations are within driving or easy travel distance of their homes. Let me tell you about some of the cool haunted locations around where I live, right here in Cincinnati, OH!! Not only that, there are locations in Kentucky as well.

But first, let me tell you about some great books that I pulled some of these locations from.

Cincinnati Ghosts
-Karen Lavin

Cincinnati Haunted Handbook
-Jeff Morris

National Geographic Guide to the World's Most Supernatural Places
-Sarah Bartlett
-This is for those who love reading about haunted locations all over the world. Great book!!!! Tons of fascinating locations!!!!

https://paranormal.lovetoknow.com/Haunted_Places_in_Ohio
https://www.ohioexploration.com/paranormal/hauntings/hamiltoncounty/
https://www.ohioexploration.com/paranormal/hauntings/butlercounty/#maudhughes
https://www.moonvilletunnel.net/
https://www.ohioexploration.com/paranormal/hauntings/preblecounty/#fudgeroad
https://www.ohioexploration.com/paranormal/hauntings/clermontcounty/
Now, here are the local locales for ghostly activity. I'll tell you the location, in general, where they are, like city or neighborhood specifically.

BTW, some of the photos included here may not be the exact photo of that location only because I couldn't find one or because there were none. If I couldn't find one, I'll list that one was unavailable.
 
Utopia
-Utopia, Ohio
-History: This is a VERY SMALL town in Ohio. When the town was founded, it was founded by a man named John Fourier, who was a spiritualist, leading a group of like-minded individuals. They all believed that the world was set to enter a period of peace lasting 35,000 years and the seas would turn to lemonade. As you can imagine, the peace and lemon seas haven't happened. This group was spread in a commune-like setting and had erected a three level dining hall to eat it. They also erected an underground church to practice their rituals in private. Since the seas and peace didn't happen, they moved on. Not long afterwards, a man named Reverend John Wattles, who was a medium, came here and brought his medium-practicing followers. They decided to deconstruct the three level dining hall Fourier's group had built and erect it right beside the Ohio River, when it was at its lowest point. Locals who have lived there for years told this group any number of times that the river levels would and could change drastically. Nothing would change their minds. At least not yet. One night in December, a horribly nasty thunderstorm was pounding the area. The mediums were celebrating their new reconstruction when a loud sound brought them outside. That "loud sound" was the vicious roar of a tsunami coming their way, in the form of the Ohio River. Because of the rain, the river level rose considerably and was barreling toward them. With no time to react, the river came and took the mediums into the depths of the horribly frigid river. Only twelve people survived that night
-Haunting: The ghostly activity here usually happens on dark, stormy nights. The spirits are said to appear soaking wet. Reverend Wattles' house is said to be haunted by a man in black, thought to be Reverend Wattles himself. The surrounding area also includes a teenaged boy and girl and a woman in blue. People felt themselves hit and for that hit to leave them soaking wet.
 
The Peaceful Valley
-Goshen, Ohio
-History: There is a lot of history here. It's one of the older covered bridges still standing in Ohio. The bridge is covered with security cameras and policemen patrol the area frequently. It's said that devil worshippers used the woods in the area to perform their rituals. Despite the name, it's a very scary place. It's said that these devil worshippers still roam the woods
-Haunting: As for activity, unseen entities will try and reach in to grab you and your car keys. Cars will chase you around for miles around the city, said to be these devil worshippers. It can also be said that the cars chasing you away could also be policemen without their lights on, chasing out trouble makers. If you flash your lights three times inside the bridge, a hanging man will appear and you can't start your car again until he appears. There's also a farmhouse near the bridge that is said to have a number of lights in the window matching the number of occupants in the passing car.
Hamilton New London Road
-Hamilton, Ohio
-History: There was a health-conscious doctor who ran this road repeatedly. It's unclear whether it was early morning or around dusk, but he did it every day in the 1970s, according to locals. He suffered a massive heart attack right there on the road
-Haunting: Drivers who navigate this road constantly see joggers. It's not unusual to see joggers on this road all the time. But drivers will often pass a certain jogger and when they reach the top of the hill, they see the SAME exact jogger they just passed. He will wave and disappear but not before smiling at them
 
-I couldn't find an image here. Once again, I got nothing but real estate pictures

Narrows Road
-Erlanger, Kentucky
-History: This once ran all the way out to Turkeyfoot Road, which is the main road running through Edgewood, Kentucky. It does not anymore. It dead ends. Teens would use this area to do drugs, hold drinking parties and use it as a lover's lane to steam up the windows. Back then, in the 1950s, when it was still in operation going all the way to Turkeyfoot Road, a police officer pulled over a speeder. When he was giving said speeder a ticket, another speeder came along and plowed right into the officer, killing him instantly
-Haunting: The ghostly activity here involves being pulled over by a 1950s-style police car. You'll see lights in your rearview mirror. Instinct tells you to pull over. When the cop comes to your window, he'll disappear. But heads up, the ENTIRE Edgewood and Erlanger Police Departments, since both of these neighborhoods are next door neighbors to each other, both know about the history of this road. And if you do see lights in your rearview mirror, pull over as you would normally. These lights and cops aren't going away. THESE WILL BE REAL POLICE OFFICERS! They know about the history of the road and will not hesitate to ask to search your vehicle for anything suspicious. Just tell them the truth-they'd probably appreciate it!
Shadow Hill Apartments
-Blue Ash, Ohio
-History: Bad luck is hanging over this complex like the Ozone Layer. The rear of the complex seems to harbor most if not all of the bad luck. In one building, a man took his own life after locking himself in his apartment. That apartment is vacant today. In 1981, a double homicide took place and in 1996, a newlywed couple died in a fire caused by careless smoking.
-Haunting: Shadowy figures are seen darting to and fro. Residents report having strange dreams. Satanic activities were performed at the complex and it's believed those involved in them brought dangerous demons into this world that have been kept here and not properly returned. Not surprisingly, it is also said to be built on top of a Native American burial ground
Walton Creek Theatre
-Mariemont, Ohio
-History: Like most ghostly places, this little building, which was once a school house, was built on top of a Native American burial ground. When the school house was no more, the local theatre group, the Mariemont Players, took over the building for use in their plays
-Haunting: The ghostly activity here gives off strong menacing feelings. Employees have heard, on more than one occasion, a ghost telling them to "Get out!" Mostly if not all the ghosts here seem to give off aggressive, menacing vibes.
Hopewell Cemetery
-Oxford, Ohio
-History: This one is rather creepy. It sits on the edge of the Hueston Woods in Oxford, Ohio, home to Miami University. This cemetery was built in need for a series of epidemics that swamped the area in the late 1800s, early 1900s, namely tuberculosis, yellow fever, cholera. A lot of kids are buried here in addition to veterans of several wars.
-Haunting: The ghostly activity here is around the caretaker's building. A motion light will go on with no person nearby. It's said that if you enter the cemetery at night, you'll be plagued by bad luck. If you go in to the cemetery and return to your car, a surprise will be waiting for you. No one has ever mentioned what that "surprise" is, but it must have been bad enough to cause the driver to nearly wreck en route to home.
Buffalo Ridge
-Cleves, Ohio, Miami Township
-History: This one is interesting. It runs along the Mitchell Memorial Forest. There was a schoolbus crash there once and some of the children died. There were houses along this road said to be inhabited by witches and the forest being used by Satanists performing their rituals. There was even said to be a crematorium here, because of torn metal in the hillside. To destroy the crematorium theory, those torn metal shards were actually the first inklings of what was to be Cincinnati's first Planetarium. The building material was leftovers from the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce fire, but funding ran out and so the planetarium never happened. There was small house on the property with a pond. The owner was told by the city that his property was to be purchased to make way for the Mitchell Memorial Forest. He made one deal-he would sell the property and the pond as long as the government didn't sell the land. Another homeowner jumped in and wanted to annex his property, which was right next door, with the pond. Now, the pond is dirty and turbulent, when it was once clear. It's said there seems to be some entity making the pond a dangerous place
-Haunting: glowing eyes are seen, shadowy figures, ghostly little kids, spirits of witches are seen here. It's said that if you let your car steam up, little handprints will appear. Also, white vehicles are said to chase people out. Here's a reason why-the park rangers of the Mitchell Memorial Forest are chasing out trespassers and wrong-doers in their white vehicles.
Pond Run Road
-Cleves, Ohio, Miami Township
-History: This road runs through Cleves and is heavily wooded. It's haunted by the so-called "Hook Man of Pond Run Road". The story goes that a couple, a doctor and his wife, lived in one of the older houses along this road. They had a son who exhibited bizarre, volatile and sometimes dangerous behavior. People trusted him for his medical prowess and they would certainly think less of him if they knew he had a son who exhibited bizarre behavior. To keep him out of trouble, he chained his son in the basement to the wall. One night, a storm blew in and lightning struck the house, igniting it. Smoke inhalation took the lives of the sleeping doctor and his wife. As the boy watched his own death flicker ever closer by the minute, he was able to escape, at the horribly grisly cost of leaving his own bloody hand behind.
-Haunting: This area has been irritated by strange goings on, said to be the hook man. This has been going on ever since the fire that took the aforementioned doctor and his wife. Dogs in the area would become loud and repeatedly bark at something they sense is not right. There would be signs that someone was living in the woods, such as food containers strewn about, a ring of rocks and a sign that a fire was lit but with out the benefit of a human actually being seen at these sites. Ghostly mists would sometimes also form, thought to be the hook man.
Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum
-Spring Grove, Ohio
-History: Not surprisingly, cemeteries are haunted. You don't necessarily have to have a malevolent occurrence to strike up spirit activity
-Haunting: Two white shining dogs are said to be harbingers of bad luck to the one who sees them. A bust of an optometrist named C.C. Breuer is said to rotate his head to watch passersby. Feelings of your legs and feet bring grabbed happens here.
Darby Lee Historic Cemetery
-Delhi Township, Ohio
-History: There is a fantastic history here. When slavery was still up and running, Kentucky was a slave state and Ohio a free state. Only one thing stood between freedom and imprisonment: The Ohio River. It stood as both a physical and symbolic barrier between freedom and slavery. Many slaves traveled under the cover of night to get to what should have been theirs all along. But there needed to be a system worked out that would allow the slaves to know when it was safe to cross the then small, fledgling Ohio River. That's where this man comes in. His name is not known, but what is known is that this man lived along the river, in a house and he would light a green lantern and play fiddle music to let the slaves know when it was safe to cross. Ironically, later on, when the grounds were turned into a cemetery, he was the first to be buried there
-Haunting: Not surprisingly, you'll hear fiddle music here and see strange green lights here, reminiscent of the man helping slaves to freedom
Blome Road Bridge
-Indian Hill, Symmes Township, Ohio
-History: Pronounced bloom for some odd reason, this is a VERY NARROW one lane bridge with stop signs at both ends. Naturally people don't know how to read traffic signs. That means accidents and sometimes fatalities. One night, a car full of people went off the side and crashed and died in the creek below. Another night, a speeder ignored the STOP signs and hit a pregnant woman walking on the bridge. She fell into the creek below and died. A penny fell out of the speeder's car and rolled off the side.
-Haunting: The ghostly activity here involves letting a penny roll off the side of the bridge and when you flash your lights three times, it's supposed to come back and hit your car
Spook Hollow Bridge
-Oregonia, Ohio
-History: First off, Oregonia is a VERY SMALL town in Ohio. Not much in the way of attractions apart from a long zipline course cruising over the trees. This road requires you make a very sharp ninety degree turn before coming to a covered bridge. One night, a group of high school students were zipping along this road at high speeds, as teens usually do, when they thought they could make the turn. They did not. They all plunged into the creek below, with one girl meeting an especially grisly end. She was decapitated. Her head was never found
-Haunting: If you stop on the bridge at midnight, you'll hear something hit your car. It's said to be her missing head or you'll see her headless form haunting the area
 
-I couldn't find an image of this

Fairfield Middle School
-History: One day, a boy here had gotten into trouble for something he had done. As most kids usually do. He was afraid to face his parents, so he went into the 200 wing of the very large school near one of the Spanish classes, broke a mirror and committed suicide in one of the nearby bathrooms. The next morning, his remains were found. It's unclear whether he really committed suicide or someone helped him since his body was cut into five pieces.
-Haunting: Screams are heard coming from the bathroom, in addition to the stall where he died being still stained with his blood. Being in the building alone is not recommended since he seems to be an angry spirit, giving off menacing vibes
It's now known as Creekside Middle School
Spooky Hollow Road
-Loveland/Madeira area
-History: A man named Eli Dusky ran a sugar camp here once. Because of the woods surrounding it, it seemed dark and spooky. He went down to check his sugar vats one day and saw goblins dancing around them. This is how Spooky Hollow earned its name
-Haunting: It's said that if you flash your lights three times at the stone pillar with the witch weathervane, a witch is said to beckon you inside. First of all, do not do this. THIS IS A PERSON'S HOME! The witch weathervane has long since been taken down because of this and the homeowners got rightly fed up with lights flashing into their home
 
-I could not find an image of this. All I got were real estate pictures

Eden Park
-Cincinnati, Ohio
-History: This is one of the largest parks in Cincinnati. It has a large fountain called Mirror Lake and is also home to the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park as well as the Krohn Conservatory. Local history says that in Newport, Ky, bootleggers were making their business transporting liquor during Prohibition. No figure was more famous for that than George Remus, a local legend in terms of history. When he was sent to prison for tax evasion, he was put into a cell with a prisoner named Frank Dodge. Dodge was actually an undercover FBI agent who was investigating the warden for corruption. Remus told him all about how he gave his wife Imogene complete power of attorney and control of his assets. Dodge left prison and seduced Imogene. When Remus got out, he was told by Imogene that she was leaving him. On the day they were to be divorced, she wore a black dress to mark the occasion. They went up to Mirror Lake in Eden Park and there Remus shot his wife in the stomach. She later died at Bethesda Hospital.
-Haunting: The main ghostly activity here is around one of the gazeboes overlooking Mirror Lake. A woman in black thought to be Imogene Remus is seen here.
Old Miamiville Train Tracks
-Miamiville, Ohio
-History: During the Civil War, there was a set of train tracks running through this area taking soldiers from the Union to fight the Confederates. A group known as "Morgan's Raiders" placed a blockage on the tracks, causing the train to derail and crash. It killed the conductor, Cornelius Conway.
-Haunting: This area has been transformed into a sort of park, with walking/running trails. You can see an old man wearing a trainman uniform, swinging a lantern to warn of danger ahead. Also, you most likely will be stopped by police. Just tell them the truth-everyone in Miamiville knows about old Cornelius and they love the fact that people are interested in their city's history
Salem Road Cemetery
-Mount Washington, Ohio
-History: The Civil War is one those large events we all learn about in school. It was not just white soldiers fighting for freedom. It was black men who enlisted to fight for freedom. So it's no surprise to learn a good majority of the casualties were of black men.
-Haunting: The ghosts here are said to be black Civil War-era soldiers, just wandering aimlessly.
Shady Circle Apartments
-Colerain, Ohio
-History: It's said that the ghostly activity here is because of an apartment manager who committed suicide here.
-Haunting: toilets will flush by themselves, shadowy figures are seen, glass breaking in their kitchens. Homeowners come home to find their TV turned on to a Christian station, footsteps without the benefit of a human.
It's now known as LaFeuille Apartments since it's at the intersection of Queen City Avenue and LaFeuille Avenue
Sleeper's Hill
-Sedamsville, Ohio
-History: Once there was a terribly cranky hermit named Sleeper. The hill and surrounding woods are named after him. He lived at the top of this hill at the corner of Fairbanks Ave and River Road. He hated anyone coming onto his property. To chase off trespassers, he would chase them with an axe or set his bull loose. It's said that he kidnapped and molested children there, then chopped his victims up with the axe.
-Haunting: There are ghostly screams heard coming from his victims and the house in which he resided still exists. It's said that if you go there at night, he will chase you off with his bull or axe or you can hear the screams of his victims. Heads up, a lot of private homes exist up there now and a lot of those owners have large dogs. Try and avoid going near those homes. You know how sensitive dogs' instincts can be.
Loveland Castle
-Loveland, Ohio
-History: Also known as Chateau LaRoche, this castle was built, by hand, brick by brick, by Sir Harry Andrews. He was a soldier in numerous wars who also served as a medic. He hated the thought of signing death certificates for people he cared about. He thought that battles should be fought more civilly, like with swords instead of guns. Inspired by the castles he'd seen in Europe, he wanted one of his own. He came back and starting building his own version of a 10th century Norman castle, using bricks he made from using old milk cartons. To make them lighter and easier to work with, he stuck empty soda cans in the molds, thus recycling before it was even a word. There is a ballroom, dungeon, hundreds of rooms, one even containing treasures Harry had gotten from his time in the service and another room containing the Andrews family coat of arms in addition to a TV playing constant videos about Sir Harry and his construction of the castle. The wood front door has over 2,300 nails in it and is three layers of wood thick, "to prevent someone from chopping through with an axe", says Sir Harry. This is the main headquarters of the Knights of the Golden Trail. This knightly group follows the Ten Commandments only and is dedicated to trying to save civilization as we know it. Even the local Boy Scout Troop is called the Knights of the Golden Trail
-Haunting: The main ghostly activity here is that of Sir Harry himself. He's a helpful spirit and lets the caretakers know when something is wrong. If someone steals something, they will get a feeling of an electric shock, leaving them to wonder how they've been discovered. If the septic tank is getting full, the doors to the bathrooms will slam repeatedly. There is also a woman seen here too. It's thought she was the spirit of a woman making illegal moonshine in a cave near a small river that runs nearby. She was killed when the boiler exploded
Crow's Nest
-Delhi Township, Ohio
-History: For one thing, this is one of the oldest running bars on the West Side of Cincinnati. The owner, Mike Crowe and his wife, named the bar The Crow's Nest, after himself. It's a predominantly Irish-themed bar, specializing in major scale St. Patrick's Day celebrations.
-Haunting: The main haunting here is that of Mike Crowe and his wife. They are seen as shadow shapes in the upstairs apartment where they lived. In addition to that, things will move around by themselves in the bar, things will get knocked off the shelves and various other typical ghostly activity
Mt. St. Joseph Motherhouse
-Delhi Township, Ohio
-History: This is a very large building on the Mount Saint Joseph university campus. This is where the nuns for the Sisters of Charity reside. When the building was first built, there was a terrible fire. Nuns died in the fire. There have been no incidents since then
-Haunting: It's said that you will find a ghostly nun in old-style habit lingering around. For one thing, you have to belong to the order of nuns to gain access here. The only people with access to this building are nuns in the order of The Sisters of Charity and staff/maintenance workers.
Cincinnati Job Corps
-Cincinnati, Ohio
-History: For those who might not know, the Cincinnati Job Corps is a sort of boarding school for kids to attend so they can prepare themselves for college or university. It's mostly for kids from working class or lower income homes who may not have a chance to attend college. Unfortunately, there's a pretty high percentage of working class to lower income families here in Cincinnati. It's a great concept because I think every child, no matter the household, should get a chance at a great education. Because of this location being on here, yes. They do have ghosts. The history of this places includes it being a convent, a place where nuns lived. It's said a nun once hung herself within the building. Then it was an armory and then a hospital. Because of it being a hospital, many people lived and died here in many traumatic ways
-Haunting: The ghostly activity comes in all shapes and sizes here. They will hear voices and footsteps in the hallway outside their rooms, as if someone is doing a nightly or daily patrol. People will hear someone walk into the bathroom, flush the toilet and look underneath the stalls to see all of them empty. Or the sinks will turn on automatically. The most commonly occurring ghost is that of the nun who killed herself. She will be seen walking the halls and students will feel they are being quieted by an unseen entity. Shadow figures are said to chase students up and down the stairwells at night in addition to other dark happenings.
Westwood Town Hall
-Westwood, Ohio
-History: There was once a caretaker here named Wesley. He loved working here. When the town of Westwood was annexed into Cincinnati, he feared he would lose his job. He went into the attic, placed a noose around his neck and killed himself. The Westwood Town Hall is the home of various community departments and a small jail facility
-Haunting: Any ghostly activity is usually chalked up to Wesley being a prankster and wanting people to know he's still there, looking after the place he loved so dearly in life