Weird Kentucky by Jeffrey Scott Holland

Part of the Weird US series by Mark Scuerman and Mark Moran, this book highlights all of the weird, quirky and wonderful people, places and things about the Bluegrass State, Kentucky.

It's broken down into sections. Ancient Mysteries, Fabled People and Legendary Places, Unexplained Phenomena, Bizarre Beasts, Local Heroes and Villains, Personalized Properties, Roadside Distractions, Roads Less Travelled, Ghosts of Kentucky, Cemetery Safari, Abandoned in Kentucky

Some of the items mentioned in this book include:

The Louisville Slugger Museum

This museum in Louisville is attached to the museum making the famed baseball bats known as "Louisville Sluggers". There is a massive model of its famed product leaning against the building housing the museum, dedicated to the history of the famed Louisville Slugger baseball bat.

Donald Harvey, The Angel of Death

He was a resident of Kentucky who became known as the Angel of Death, for the high number of deaths that occurred on his watch. He worked at several hospitals in the area, including the VA (Veterans Affairs) Medical Center right here in Cincinnati

Maxey Flats

A toxic government area that is more or less a radioactive waste dump. It's where dangerous radioactive material is simply left to rot in metal canisters and cardboard boxes, where, eventually, the chemicals eat through the metal and cardboard and leech into the local water supply and ground. This is not a tourist destination; it's under heavy surveillance and protection of the government. These radioactive materials have to be monitored frequently to ensure that too much radiation doesn't taint the local water supply. This is what happens when you don't know how to properly dispose of radioactive material and toxic chemicals. You do a dump and run (dump something dangerous and just run away, forgetting the whole thing). This place is what happens when the government doesn't know how to properly dispose of radioactive material.

The Gates of Hell

This area, called the Gates of Hell, goes through Kasey Cemetery and, because of the spooky nature of the area surrounding the cemetery and road, lead to you wondering if you've entered the unholy underworld. Located in Elizabethtown, this area is often heavily visited by figures in black cloaks, practicing black magic and devil worship. If you visit this road, and get out to explore, be prepared to meet figures in black who exude an overwhelming sense of uneasy malevolence.

The Wildwood Inn

Located in Erlanger, this "interesting" hotel is known for it's large glassed-in heated indoor pool, giving you the feeling of swimming in a large hothouse more appropriate for plants and its 31 themed rooms. This is for couples who want to reinvigorate their love lives and spice things up. There's the Raceway Suite, including two regulation-size NASCAR cars and black and white checkered flag bed linens. Then there's the Central Park suite, complete with park benches and murals of New York's famous Central park.

Butchertown

This was an area of Louisville that once had tons of slaughterhouses and other meat processing plants. There is a park overlooking one of these plants that is said to be the most unpleasant park you can imaging. Aside from the heavily hot dog-scented air and view of a meat processing plant, there is strong paranormal activity here. Feelings of being watched, feelings of nausea almost to the point of vomiting. It's just an overall uneasy feeling here.

Colonel Harland Sanders

The man behind Kentucky Fried Chicken, he wore many hats before becoming known as the man behind Kentucky Fried Chicken. His odd jobs included fireman and a stint in the military. His large empire started out as nothing more than a modest side job at the gas station he owned in Corbin, Kentucky. He would sell fried chicken at the gas station, made from the kitchen of the house he owned right behind the gas station. It was good and attracted more and more people. One day, he noticed he was selling more chicken than gas and realized he might be one to something. He thought about making this a regular thing and started his own fried chicken company. Today, this company has dozens of locations in the US and even worldwide. Most little kids don't know the man from the KFC commercials was a real person

Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Located in Louisville, this is an old tuberculosis hospital that opened up with tuberculosis, known as the dreaded consumption or "white plague" was still ravaging the areas of Kentucky and beyond. The doctors and nurses at this hospital may not have been successful in finding a cure, but they were friendly and caring. They believed fresh air and sunlight would help the patients. It may not cure them, but it will keep their spirits high. Unfortunately, due to the high number of daily deaths from tuberculosis, the long tunnel on the facility, used to ferry supplies into the hospital, was repurposed for a more grim reason. It was renamed, by locals and even some of the staff, as The Body Chute. It was used to remove the bodies of those who perished, secretly, so the patients wouldn't see how many people were dying a day. Luckily, there were were patients who were here who were cured enough to be freed back into society. You can often take tours of this old TB hospital, daytime and nighttime tours.

Hayswood Hospital

Unlike the Waverly Hills Sanatorium that you can take tours of, this one you cannot. It's unstable, the floors can break through without warning, there is vermin running about and, in addition to the asbestos in the air, there is the unmistakable aroma of paranormal activity here. This hospital is located on a hill atop Fourth Street, overlooking the Simon Kenton Bridge and the Licking River in Maysville. Originally starting out as the Hayswood Seminary, a place where men go to study the theological world and become priests, this building closed. A local named May Peale Wilson came and turned the building into the Wilson Infirmary, which she ran until she died in 1901. Then the building was razed to make room for a new hospital, which would be called Hayswood Hospital, in honor of the old seminary that once stood here.

The hospital was considered not just the gold standard, but the platinum standard for medical care. People came here from six counties and beyond for their treatments. People were born here, lives were saved here, people died here. The hospital closed in 1983 in conjunction with the opening of the new Meadowview Regional Medical Center. Hayswood then lay abandoned since then. Supplies are still in cabinets, never to be used once more. Gurneys wait in the halls for patients who will not be be admitted. Paranormal activity is running over overload. People living near the hospital state they see lights on in rooms occasionally, which is odd given the building no longer has electric. Hospital equipment will be seen in the windows. Phantom nurses and doctors see standing in the windows. The phantom clacking of heels, such as from a doctor running down the hall in response to a Code Blue (high priority emergency in medical lingo).

Pete Gross aka Buckhorn

Known as Buckhorn in the Richmond, Kentucky area, this kooky character was a bit strange, but beloved by those in the Richmond area. He worked odd jobs, such as a custodian and worked at the local WEKY radio station, known for his ear shattering, off tune cover of "Happy Birthday to You". He was known to the town drunks, college students and citizens as a rough, grizzled-looking guy with an almost child-like laugh. He would zip around town on his motorcycle, ignoring traffic laws. The ironic thing is that he couldn't write or read, but if it came to radios, he would fix them easily and make them good as new, if not better. He would receive broken radios and with the "Buckhorn" touch, they would work anew.

James Herndon aka Sweet Evening Breeze

Imagine being a black man living in Louisville, Kentucky during the 1930s-1970s? Then add on to that being not only a black man, but an openly gay, cross dressing black man in the 1930s-1970s in Louisville. You can imagine that would stir up some trouble in the racially charged, Bible Belt of the South. A local character named James Herndon, better known by their drag name of Sweet Evening Breeze, is the subject of this eye catching story. She was an openly gay, cross dressing black man known by the drag name of Sweet Evening Breeze. Because of their kind personality and massive charisma, no one gave them any issue. This interesting local had friends all over, from their fellow church goers at the Pleasant Green Baptist Church to the fellow doctors and nurses at Good Samaritan Hospital, where Miss Sweets, as she was also known as, would work, and play the role of cheerleader during staff football games and also worked as a nurse. They lived in the old black neighborhood on Prall Street. Their house is still there. This world lost this louder than life personality in 1983.

A mural on the side of the building

The actual Sweet Evening Breeze

Charles Manson

Before he became known for "Helter Skelter", he was born in Ashland, Kentucky. He was in and out of jails, reformatories and other behavior-correcting facilities as a child. As he grew up, he wanted nothing more than to be a musician. The Beatles and The Beach Boys being his inspiration. During the 1960s, he and a group of people became known as the Manson Family and murdered Valley of the Dolls actress Sharon Tate while she was pregnant. Charles Manson is, to this day, still in prison. Never to be released.

Weird Ohio by Loren Coleman, Andy Henderson, James A. Willis

Part of the Weird US series by Mark Scuerman and Mark Moran, this book highlights all of the weird, quirky and wonderful people, places and things about the Buckeye State, Ohio.

It's broken down into sections. Ancient Mysteries, Fabled People and Legendary Places, Unexplained Phenomena, Bizarre Beasts, Local Heroes and Villains, Personalized Properties, Roadside Distractions, Roads Less Travelled, Ghosts of Ohio, Cemetery Safari, Abandoned in Ohio

Some of the items mentioned in this book include:

Gates of Hell / Blood Bowl

Located in the underground storm drains running under High Street in Columbus, this heavily graffitti-infested series of storm drains are a skateboarder or BMX rider's paradise. It's called the Gates of Hell because supposedly there is a portion of these tunnels that is an opening to the underworld. It's called the Blood Bowl because some kid was dared to ride in the pitch darkness on his skateboard and the outcome was grim

Thomas Lee Dillion, the "Unsportsman-Like Sniper"

-Thomas Lee Dillon was a gun enthusiast who often hunted both animals and humans. When the number of murders began to rise around the Canton area, where Dillion is from, the FBI were brought in. They compiled a psychological profile of the suspected gunman, or "unsub" in FBI lingo. It included that the person was a gun enthusiast, preferred to solve issues in a cowardly way, that they were isolated or a loner, etc. One former classmate heard about this profile and realized, with horror, it fit his former classmate perfectly.

The Ohio Grassman

This is the Ohio equivalent to the famed creature known elsewhere as Bigfoot

Clermont County Dead Man's Curve

With a name like that, you're sure to get someone's attention. There are actually two Dead Man's Curves in Ohio and they have to be referred by either the county they're in or the road they include as part of them to differentiate them. There's the Clermont County Dead Man's Curve and the Harrison Ave Dead Man's Curve. The Clermont County one runs through the small village of Bantam, Ohio, where State Routes 125 and 222 meet. This intersection is PITCH BLACK DARK at night. It has no streetlights. Originally, it was part of the Ohio Turnpike. Back then, it was a dangerous stretch of road. It turned sharply right atop a steel hill. It's since been leveled out and hopefully made safer. Not so much. In the fall season of 1969, A horrible car crash between a 1969 Dodge Roadrunner and a 1969 Chevy Impala occurred, killing all five occupants of one car. It was said that the Dodge Roadrunner had hit the Impala at speeds over 100 mph. Now, there's a spooky spirit who hangs here. He's known as the faceless hitchhiker and is seen between 1:20-1:40 in the dead of morning. He will attack cars passing by. He will jump out in front of drivers only to be "hit" and then leap up and race after the car. It's wise to avoid this stretch of road between the hours of 1:20-1:40 am in the DEAD OF MORNING otherwise you are doing this at your peril.

The Lake Drive-In

There was once a multitude of drive-ins in Ohio. Most closed down with the advent of the multiplex theaters and/or lack of business. The Lake Drive-In in Mt. Orab was one of the last to close. In fact, during a re-release of Gone with the Wind, ironically, a tornado came in. People knew trouble was brewing earlier in the day when the skies took on an eerie greenish tinge, a usual indicator of tornado activity. Sure enough, not too long afterwards, a tornado came in when the theater was showing Gone with the Wind. The big screen was destroyed in the high winds, but no one was hurt or killed. Now the theatre is abandoned.

The "Stain" at the Ridges Asylum

Before becoming known as The Ridges, it was originally the Athens State Hospital. It was a mental health facility taking care of those with mental health issues. When the hospital was evacuating patients, it was said that a deaf mute patient named Margaret Schilling hid from staff in her room. When she was unable to call out for help, she simply took her clothes off and lay right on the floor to die of hypothermia. Because of the sunshine from her window shining in, the sunshine caused some sort of chemical reaction to result in a ghostly outline or "stain" of her body.

Hell Town

Located in the Cuyahoga Valley in and around Cleveland, in an area known as Boston Township, Hell Town is a town worthy of its name. From chemical spills to incredibly dangerous Satanists lurking in the premises, it's wise to avoid this town at all costs. There are several churches in the area, incredibly beautiful to look at. But what's not so beautiful about them is the lurid activity which occurs within. Local devil worshippers summon The Dark One and practice black magic within these hallowed halls. Not only that, but a chemical spill years ago was said to cause all sorts of strange mutations on the local wildlife. This town closed down to the public in the 1960s when legislation was written to create more green space, and thus, more parks. The legislation written was for the National Park Service to buy up land to transform into national parks, in a process known as eminent domain. Which is where you can come in and buy up land with no problems. One house here even had the statement put on it "Now we know how the Native Americans felt". That's how the Cuyahoga Valley Park was born.

There are two roads in this town, both claiming to be dead ends, but you can see it continuing for miles. One is called End of the World. It's at a very high hill so that when you look down, it looks as though you're driving off of a cliff. It's also been said that the devil worshipping being done here is extremely high and that these worshippers are extremely dangerous. The local worshippers will ensure you meet a gruesome end to protect their secret rituals. The police here are constantly running off thrill seekers and warning them about the extreme danger of these local devil worshippers

The Screaming Bridge

Located on Maud Hughes Road in the affluent neighborhood of Liberty Township, this bridge got its unique moniker from when it was first built. Originally, it was steel rails on steel decking. When cars would sail over it, it would sound like screaming, thus the unique moniker was born. There was also an occurrence or two that would cause human screaming. A woman had a child born out of wedlock and in those days, that earned the woman plenty of shame from others. She took the baby and herself to the screaming bridge and threw the child off the bridge and then hung herself not long afterwards.

In the 1970s, two trains crashed here. A northbound train and southbound train were heading towards each other on opposite sets of tracks here, since there are two sets of rails running parallel to each other here. One set of trains was carrying iron rebar, the kind used in concrete work to set the frame in which the concrete is be poured around. Somehow they became dislodged and now were pointing out like a jouster's lance. They pierced the conductor of the opposite train, causing a crash. That conductor died on impact while the conductor of the other train died a slow, agonizing death from the boiler, which opened and scalded him to death from boiling water. Now it's said that a ghostly conductor waving a lantern traverses these tracks in addition to seeing a ghostly figure on the bridge, appearing to commit suicide. Because of the profane graffiti lining the walls under the bridge, that more than suggests some unsavory characters hang out here. It would be wise not to go investigating here. Not only that, but those tracks are still in use by various train companies. Watch out for trains.

James Ruppert Easter Sunday Massacre

This occurred on Easter Sunday in 1975 in the neighborhood of Hamilton. James Ruppert, an all around perfectly normal man, came down from his room at 635 Minor Ave and calmly shot each and every one of his relatives. He would shoot them twice, first shot being a disarming shot and then second shot being a kill shot either directly into the brain or heart. To this day, this house exudes an uneasy, almost malevolent vibe. This house is now known to all Hamilton locals and beyond as "the murder house".

Hitler Road

This is sure to get your attention. There are three roads in Circleville, Ohio named Hitler Road 1, 2, 3. They are named after residents in the area whose family name is Hitler (no relation, thankfully, to the evil Nazi Party leader, whose name was actually misspelled from Hiedler, his maternal grandmother's married name). The residents with the last name Hitler here are a farming family who have suffered agonizing demonization from people. One person with this last name was even asked to change his last name by his own employer

Jeffrey Dahmer

What a lot of people don't know about the famous "Milwaukee Cannibal" is that he was not born and raised in Milwaukee. He was actually born in Bath, a village in Summit County, Ohio. He was labelled "a weird kid" by most of his classmates. He had moved to Milwaukee later on and that's where his crime spree escalated. He was known for murdering Hispanic, black and Asian gay men and sometimes eating them after they were dead. He was also accused of committing necrophilia (sexual intercourse post mortem or after death). A lot of people believe that the only reason his crime spree continued in Milwaukee was because the police were homophobic and racist, because the victims were gay and also minorities.

Solid Rock Church, home of the "Touchdown Jesus"

Most Ohio residents don't know the actual name of the church in Monroe that holds this unique figure. They only know the church as "Touchdown Jesus". It earned its interesting moniker from the fact that the hands on the statue of Jesus standing there have his hands raised to the heavens, as if cheering for a touchdown. On the nearby highway Interstate I-75, people would clog the roads taking pictures of the statue, since it was very clearly visible from the highway. I-75 even suffered tons of car wrecks and deaths from people wanting to stop and take pictures of the so-called "Touchdown Jesus". It was evenly split between those who thought of it as an eyesore and those who called it "Touchdown Jesus". Unfortunately, lightning struck the statue and it burned to the ground. It was not made of concrete, but of some sort of material that was not weather-resistant and easy to catch fire. A new statue was rebuilt, this one made of sturdy concrete and now his hands are in a more reverent pose, outstretched with palms up, as if asking for alms for the poor. Locals still refer to this church, whose proper name is Solid Rock Church, as "Touchdown Jesus". When they refer to it this way, it's never offensively; it's always with the most reverent joy and respect and always a smile.

The so-called "Touchdown Jesus"

The Road of Ester Hale

Located in East Liverpool, Ohio, this lonely stretch of road has an old house that belonged to a local woman named Ester Hale. When she was alive, she was planning her wedding, while her future husband was planning his escape. She spent all day on the day she was to enter wedded bliss in her wedding dress, but her future spouse never showed. When it was clear he wasn't coming, she simply became a recluse. When friends and loved ones and even the police had to find out why she seemingly dropped off of the face of the earth, they went to her house to find now yellowed wedding decorations and her dead in her wedding dress. It's said that if you go along this road, around the date of her supposed wedding, you'll see a woman in a wedding dress. WARNING. There's a legend attached to this that will keep you from wanting to pick up this frightening bride. If you allow her to touch you, she will become young and beautiful again and you will grow old instantly and die instantly.

Chippewa Lake Amusement Park

Located in Medina County, Chippewa Lake Amusement Park was the place to go for cheap, family entertainment. It closed in 1978 because Cedar Point, in nearby Sandusky, was proving to be too much competition for this small time park. The remnants of the rides are still out in those woods, rusting, left to the elements. Trees are growing up in and around the rusted hulks of these former rides.

50 of the most haunted places in the world Pt. 2

Everyone loves a good ghost story. Some have a rather touching sentiment about them, meaning that the resident ghost is a benevolent spirit, meaning no harm, but being rather protective or even curious. Others lean towards the opposite end-malevolent, bent on destruction, chaos and violence. Here are 50 of the world's most haunted places, according to Explore.com.

25. Ledge Lighthouse-New London, Connecticut

-Now manned by the Coast Guard, at one point there were people who lived and worked here, and one didn't want to leave. The first person to look after this structure was a man named Ernie. He still makes his presence known to this day. Visitors have reported activity such as doors opening / closing on their own, TVs suddenly turning on. Some have even witnessed a bearded man walking throughout the building. This lighthouse offers tours during the summer

-Read more about it in Weird Encounters: True Tales of Haunted Places by Mark Sceurman and Mark Moran

26. Villisca Axe Murder House-Villisca, Iowa

-With a name like this, it's almost guaranteed to be haunted. On the night of June 12, 1912, Josiah B. Moore and his family settled in for the night. They never woke up. They were murdered in their beds. No one was ever arrested and convicted of their murder. Visitors claim to see the spirit of a man with an axe in his hands and hearing children crying. The house was even renovated back to its original condition when it was built, meaning no plumbing or electricity

27. Anderson Triple Axe Murder Site-Waynesville, Ohio

-Located in the large, peaceful city of Waynesville, originally on the site was a two story home close to the road. Willie Evert Anderson, his mother, aunt and cousin lived in that two story home. On Sept. 4, 1879, he put on a homemade mask, tied with string around his head and brutally murdered these individuals. It was not until about a week later that these individuals were discovered. The smell of death seeped through the walls and doors and let individuals outside know that something was not quite right inside that home. Local law enforcement entered the home to find the three women slaughtered, at the hands of their relative, with an axe. When police interrogated Willie, he didn't say anything about who his accomplice was or if there was an accomplice. He found murder endlessly fascinating and wanted to traverse the dark, sinister path to becoming a murderer. Now on the site sits a one story ranch house with stenciled green shutters and a constantly there FOR RENT sign. No one wants to live in the house because of all of the paranormal activity. From strange sounds of things hitting the floor, said to be the axe hitting the floor, to bloodstains appearing in the floor that, no amount of scrubbing or sanding, will remove

-Read more about it in Cincinnati Ghosts by Karen Laven

28. Gettysburg Battlefield-Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

-Considered one of THE MOST HISTORIC sites in the US, it's fame came from gruesome reasons. It was a location during the Civil War. It's where some of the bloodiest battles during the Civil War were waged. The people who died here are said to still haunt the place. Visitors have reported seeing misty forms of soldiers, hearing cannons fired, hearing gun shots and the screams of those wounded. The most commonly reported area to see and here this activity is The Devil's Den, a location where bodies and limbs were found after the war

29. Moundsville Penitentiary-Moundsville, West Virginia

-This castle-like structure housed more than 1,000 inmates while in operation. 94 of those inmates were executed. Those who didn't die by execution were subjected to tragic deaths. A maintenance worker was stabbed to death by inmates. Visitors report seeing spirits of former inmates lurking around. Book a sunset tour to give yourself the maximum chance of seeing a spirit

-Read more about it in Weird Encounters: True Tales of Haunted Places by Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman 

30. Amityville Horror House-Long Island, New York

-This Dutch Colonial house on Long Island has long been known as a paranormal hotspot. Books and even films were created to tell this sinister tale. It started when the DeMeo family was murdered here in 1974. A year later, a family with the last name Lutz moved in. Soon, the horrifying paranormal activity started. One occurrence involved liquid oozing down the walls. Flies would frequently appear in the house. Beds levitated. Doors slammed shut. Knives flew through the air. As it is not surprising, the family only lasted 28 days in the home before selling it

31. Toowoomba, Australia

-It's rare when you hear about a whole town that is haunted. An old home that's haunted? Sure, perfectly normal. A whole town? Not likely. But that is the story of Toowoomba, Australia. It's known as the paranormal capital of Australia. A house owned by the De Molay family was home to several girls who committed suicide. A local railway station is home to the spirit of a woman killed there in the 1930s. A local movie theater is haunted by a woman who became sick and died. The ghost of a woman named Maggie Hume haunts Ascot House after dying from taking poison. Despite it's macabre haunted history, it's a bustling town

32. Akershus Fortress-Oslo, Norway

-With its grim history, no wonder it's a paranormal hotspot. During the 18th and 19th centuries, prisoners of war were kept here and many never left. During WWII, the Nazis took over this fortress and executed people here. The spirit seen most often is that of a dog. A puppy used to guard the fortress and was buried at Maid Towers. Now, as legend suggests, if you encounter the spirit of this dog, you will die within three months. If you decide to pay a visit, tread very carefully

33. Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum- Cincinnati, Ohio

-This beautiful cemetery and park was built out of horribly morbid necessity. The cholera epidemic was sweeping the Ohio Valley and taking many lives. Many other graveyards were becoming full quickly. This plot of land was the answer to the future. It's large enough to accommodate the dead while also providing natural beauty like that of a park. There are several spots in this locale that can really turn heads and provide goosebumps. Speaking of turning heads, in Lot 100 is said to contain the bust of a man who will actually turn his head to watch passersby. The bust is of C.C. Breuer, an optometrist who loved his job more than anything. His final wish was to have a bust with his eyes inside. Of course that is impossible; the eyes would have already rotted out. Instead, his eyes are made of the most realistic-looking glass you've ever seen. It's said that the bust will turn its head to keep its eyes on those who pass by. Another spooky spot is the Dexter Memorial. This looming Gothic structure is hard to miss; you pass right by it upon entering. It's said that if you stand on one of the porches overlooking the grounds, you'll see two brilliantly white, shining dogs. They are said to be harbingers of bad luck and the hapless victim who sees them will be forever plagued with bad luck

-Read more about it in Cincinnati Ghosts by Karen Laven, Weird Ohio by Mark Sceurman and Mark Moran and Cincinnati Haunted Handbook by Jeff and Michael Morris

The Dexter Memorial

This bust, of optometrist C.C. Breuer, is said to rotate its head to keep its realistic-looking eyes on passersby

34. Highgate Cemetery, London, England

-This beautiful Victorian cemetery is both hauntingly beautiful and haunted. It's home to over 50,000 gravesites, including some notables like Karl Marx, George Eliot and Douglas Adams. The paranormal activity here began in the 1960s, when the spirit of a tall man with glowing eyes and a top hat would be seen around the graveyard. He was dubbed the "Highgate Vampire" and lured vampire hunters from all over to see if they could find him

-Read more about it in National Geographic Supernatural Places by Sarah Bartlett

35. Sloss Furnace, Birmingham, Alabama

-Death was just another part of business here at this pig iron production facility. Workers fell into molten steel. Workers were caught and dragged into the machinery to be crushed to death. Others fell from catwalks after becoming disoriented from the methane emissions or died from being scalded by hot steam. One cruel manager, named James "Slag" Wormwood, was particularly cruel. He often uttered "Push some steel!" or "Get back to work!" No pity. No mercy. No breaks. No holidays. Those were his rules. One day he fell from a catwalk and fell right into "Big Alice", the largest blast furnace on the property. It's unclear if he was pushed or became disoriented from the methane emissions. This location is HIGHLY HAUNTED. Steam whistles blow on their own. Footsteps and screams are heard. Shadowy figures, orbs, mists have been seen. And on top of all that, a highly aggressive menacing presence haunts this location, thought to be old Wormwood himself. He's thought to burn people or yell at visitors "Push some steel!" or "Get back to work!" One security guard who was working here was found in a closet with third degree burns over 80% of his body. He was taken to the local hospital, where he died from his injuries

-Read more about it in Weird Encounters: True Tales of Haunted Places by Mark Sceurman and Mark Moran

36. Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary-San Francisco, California

-Known as "The Rock", this island prison in San Francisco Bay is almost literally unescapable. This location housed some of the most notorious criminals during its operation. One story here involves inmates named Croy, Cretzer and Hubbard, who were shot while trying to escape. Guards reported hearing loud clanking sounds in the location of their death. Cell 14D, a solitary confinement room, is a particular hotspot where a prisoner was found strangled after screaming all night. Cell Block C is where "The Butcher", a former mob hitman, was found murdered. Famous Chicago gangster Al Capone called this place home for a while. In his cell, he would play the banjo. After a while, guards heard screaming coming from his cell. When they got to his cell, they found old "Scarface" Capone huddled in the corner, a look of fear on his eyes. He claimed the spirit of a victim of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre started appearing to him, causing him to slip slowly into insanity. You can hear banjo music playing around his old cell

37. Pond Run Road-New Richmond, Ohio

-This long, windy road running alongside the Mitchell Memorial Forest in New Richmond has ghost stories galore. With its massive woods, it feels suffocating at times, as if the forest is closing in on you. This road is said to be haunted by a "Hook Man". I'm sure you're familiar with this urban legend. The story for Ohio's own Hook Man is this. A doctor and his wife lived along Pond Run Road with their child, who exhibited bizarre behavior. His behavior was impulsive and even violent on occasions. Because people trusted him for his medical prowess, it looked bad on him to have a son exhibiting strange behavior, especially in times when mental illnesses were not fully understood by the medical communities. The parents kept him chained in the basement to prevent him from causing trouble. One night, during a particularly violent thunderstorm, lightning struck the house and ignited it. Smoke took the lives of the doctor and his wife. Still chained in the basement, the boy, now mostly likely a man, saw his own death flickering closer. Through some sort of miracle, probably adrenaline, he was able to escape, only with the expense of leaving his hand behind. He is said to stalk the lover's lanes here. Some of the paranormal activity here includes mists, orbs and the sounds of something walking through the woods. People living near the woods claim there is evidence that someone is living in the woods, from various food containers all around to stone rings where fires are contained, but no humans are ever glimpsed at these sites

-Read more about it in Cincinnati Ghosts by Karen Laven

38. Rose Hall Plantation-Montego Bay, Jamaica

-The ghost residing here is so well known that legendary musician Johnny Cash even wrote a song about her called "The Ballad of Annie Palmer". This house is haunted by the spirit of a woman named Annie Palmer, also known as the "White Witch of Rose Hall". Legend has it that after her parents died, her nanny started taking care of young Annie. She taught Annie witchcraft and voodoo. Later on, Annie killed three of her husbands and several of her slaves before a slave killed her. This house offers nightly ghost tours, where you're bound to see at least one spirit

-Read more about it in National Geographic Supernatural Places by Sarah Bartlett

39. The Fairmont Empress-Victoria, British Columbia

-This beautiful hotel on the bay in British Columbia has strange activity occurring here. In the 1920s, a turret without a door was built here. One day, out of nowhere, a pillow and blanket appeared in that room. On the sixth floor is the spirit of an old woman looking for her room. A long deceased maid is on that same floor, doing her duties. And in no particular spot of the hotel is the spirit of a little girl who appears all over the hotel. There's even the spirit of Francis Rattenbury, the architect of the hotel, who is said to be wandering around with a cane

40. Strater Hotel-Durango, Colorado

-Built in 1893, this red brick hotel is right on the main street of Durango; it's hard to miss. One of the most common sightings here is that of a woman white and a railway engineer hanging out in the lobby. Other occurrences include orbs

41. Union Cemetery-Easton, Connecticut

-This 400 year old New England cemetery has been visited by every paranormal investigator known to this day, including famed investigating couple Ed and Lorraine Warren. They even wrote about it in their book Graveyard: True Hauntings From An Old New England Cemetery. Out of the tons of paranormal activity here, the most common sighting is a woman in white, either a wedding dress or nightgown who appears in the middle of Route 59 and is hit by a car. When the driver gets out to help, she disappears

42. Fort Delaware-Delaware City, Delaware

-Said to be one of the more haunted spots in the state, this location features tons of ghosts. Visitors claim the dungeons are haunted while some also say the kitchen is haunted. The main type of spirit seen here are the Confederate soldiers who were once imprisoned here. They create cold spots, make noises. The investigators from television show Ghost Hunters managed to capture a thermal image of a mysterious figure lurking around

43. Old Idaho State Penitentiary-Boise, Idaho

-Known as "Old Pen", this building operated as a prison from 1872-1973. It's home to inmates who never left, even in death. One particular spirit here is said to be Raymond Allen Snowden, who was the Idaho answer to Jack the Ripper. He was hung for his crimes here and since then, visitors have felt someone touching them, hearing whispers, seeing lights and feeling an overwhelming sense of despair

44. Waverly Hills Sanitorium-Louisville, Kentucky

-This location has been investigated by every nationally and locally known group. This former tuberculosis hospital opened when the "white plague", known as tuberculosis or consumption, was sweeping the area. Nurses and doctors here believed fresh air would help the patients. The doctors and nurses were sweet and sincere in their care of the patients, even if it wasn't successful. An old delivery tunnel on site, used to deliver groceries, had been changed into a more macabre use-taking out bodies of those who perished from the disease. This was to keep the patients from seeing how many bodies were being taken out. When the hospital closed in 1962, a nursing home opened up there not long afterwards. Unlike the sincere, considerate nursing that was done during the days of the hospital, the nursing home had rampant patient abuse and soon closed. Lights flicker here, shadowy figures are seen. And on the fifth floor, outside room 502, is the spirit of a nurse who became pregnant and committed suicide

-Read about it more in Weird Kentucky by Mark Sceurman, Mark Moran and Jeffrey Scott Holland and Weird Encounters: True Tales of Haunted Places by Mark Sceurman and Mark Moran

45. Big Bone Lick State Park-Union, Kentucky

-This beautiful, wooded expansive state park is the last place you'd expect to be haunted. But the thing is, hauntings can happen anywhere. The most haunted location here is the old Methodist Church. The organ is said to play by itself. During the annual Salt Festival, Native Americans camping in the park state they rise early in the morning to see other Native Americans traversing in old style Native American clothing. Balls of light will move to and from various places.

-Read more about it in Cincinnati Ghosts by Karen Laven

46. Deserted Village-Achill Island, Ireland

-80 cottages, at least 800 years old, remain on Achill Island in Ireland. The last time anyone lived there was the early 20th century. Shadowy figures, said to be former residents, haunt there. It used to be a formerly popular camping destination, but locals have warned people to stay away from there at night. Because creepy activity happens there

47. Lake Ronkonkama-Long Island, New York

-This mile-long lake on Long Island in New York has a dark history. In the 1600s, a local Native American tribe settled there. A young woman named Tuskawanta saw a handsome, young, blonde woodcutter across the water. She immediately fell in love. Her father forbade her from seeing the young man. She sent him letters on bark to float across the lake. After not getting a response, she stabs herself in the heart. Every year since then, the "Lady of the Lake" has taken at least one male soul to their grave, in order to replace her love. Out of the at least 160 drownings there between the 1800s and 1970s, only three drownings were women

48. Hull House, Chicago, Illinois

-This unique house in Chicago was built by a wealthy landowner and developer named Charles Hull. His wife, Millicent, died in the house in 1860 from an unknown illness. Another death on site was Irene Donner, a young woman shot outside by her former fiancee. The most popular legend about this house is that of the Devil Baby. A young immigrant woman had a picture of the Virgin Mary in her house. She prayed to it piously. Her husband, unhappy with the picture, declared he would rather have the Devil in his house than the Virgin Mary. He certainly got his wish because when his pregnant wife gave birth, the baby was born with horns, cloven hooves and a forked tail. Unfortunately, the baby died not long after birth. But some people believe the baby was done away with to prevent him from exerting his diabolical influence on the planet. Today, if you ask to investigate the Hull House for the supposed "Devil Baby", simply ask permission because Hull House staff are so used to questions from paranormal investigators. It's said that if you hear a gurgling noise, it's the Devil Baby. If you hear crying as well, it's also the Devil Baby. It's said that if you hear gurgling or a baby crying, you'll be plagued with bad luck

49. Trenton Psychiatric Hospital-Trenton, New Jersey

-Unlike most haunted hospitals that close, this one is still open and taking new patients. The spirits haunting here are former patients. Dr. Henry Cotton became the medical director here in 1907 and he employed harsh methods of treating mental illnesses. These included surgery without anesthesia, even removing organs. In the halls, screaming can be heard from these long dead patients

50. Hotel Alex Johnson-Rapid City, South Dakota

-Rooms 802 or 812 are said to be the most active locations here. People still claim to see the spirit of the owner, Alex Johnson, hanging around. He died in the hotel in 1938 and is known, in terrifying ways, to make his presence known. Visitors have noted such activity as hearing music, windows opening, the feeling of being choked or the words "help me" on a fogged mirror