Of course. Pocahontas County, with its dense forests, Civil War history, and isolated mountain communities, is rich with folklore and ghost stories. Here are 20 tales from the local oral tradition and documented legends of the area.
Civil War Hauntings
The Gray Rider of Droop Mountain: Perhaps the most famous ghost in the county. On the Droop Mountain Battlefield, visitors report seeing a lone Confederate cavalryman on a gray horse, galloping silently across the fields where the battle raged in 1863 before vanishing into the mist.
The Phantom Drummer of Droop Mountain: The faint, steady beat of a snare drum is sometimes heard at dusk near the battlefield's northern edge. The sound is said to be the ghost of a young drummer boy who was one of the first casualties of the battle.
The Moans from the Mass Grave: Near the burial trenches on Droop Mountain, people have reported hearing low moans and whispers on cold, quiet nights, believed to be the restless spirits of the soldiers buried there.
The Headless Soldier of the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike: Along the old turnpike route on Cheat Mountain, travelers have reported seeing a headless figure in a Civil War-era uniform, searching endlessly for his head, which was lost to a cannonball blast.
Railroad and Logging Ghosts
The Phantom Whistle of Cass: Long after the last train has run for the night, the mournful whistle of a Shay steam engine is sometimes heard echoing through the mountains around the town of Cass. It's said to be a spectral "ghost run" carrying the spirits of loggers killed in accidents.
The Ghost of Shay No. 5: The Cass Scenic Railroad's Shay No. 5 engine is said to be haunted by a brakeman who was crushed between two cars in the 1930s. Engineers and crew have reported the smell of his pipe tobacco in the cab and have seen a shadowy figure walking the length of the train.
The Lady in the Company Store: In the massive company store in Cass (now a museum and gift shop), employees have reported seeing the apparition of a woman in early 20th-century dress gazing out the second-story windows, as if waiting for a husband who never returned from the logging camps.
The Lantern Man of the Greenbrier River Trail: This trail follows the old C&O railroad grade. Late-night hikers and bikers have reported seeing a single, swinging lantern in the distance, approaching them. As it gets closer, it reveals no person holding it before abruptly extinguishing.
Hauntings of Towns and Buildings
The Weeping Woman of the Marlinton Opera House: This historic theater is said to be haunted by the spirit of an actress who took her own life after a final, heartbreaking performance. Staff and visitors have heard a woman weeping in the empty auditorium and have seen a fleeting figure in the wings.
The Judge of the Pocahontas County Courthouse: A stern, spectral figure believed to be a former judge is sometimes seen in the old courtroom late at night. Janitors have reported finding books rearranged and hearing the heavy footsteps of someone pacing the halls.
Of course. Delving deeper into the county's folklore, here are more ghost stories and supernatural legends from the mountains and hollows of Pocahontas County.
Ghosts of Lost Communities and Forgotten Places
The Silent Children of Spruce: The ghost town of Spruce, once the highest and coldest town east of the Mississippi, was devastated by the 1918 influenza pandemic. Hikers who visit the town's remote, crumbling foundations have reported seeing the small, transparent figures of children playing silently among the ruins, spirits forever bound to the town that time forgot.
The Phantom Preacher of Minnehaha Springs: Near the site of the old Minnehaha Springs resort, a long-abandoned church is said to house the spirit of a fervent traveling preacher. On nights with a full moon, locals claim you can hear a booming, passionate sermon echoing from the empty chapel, though no living soul is inside.
The Guardian of the Ruckman Cemetery: In a remote pioneer cemetery near Mill Point, the spirit of an early settler, Jacob Ruckman, is said to stand guard. He appears as a tall, imposing figure in buckskin, silently watching over the graves of his family, only materializing when vandals or disrespectful visitors approach.
The Log Driver of the Shavers Fork: The Shavers Fork of the Cheat River was a treacherous waterway for logging. The ghost of a log driver, who was crushed in a jam in the early 1900s, is reportedly seen on foggy mornings. He appears as a drenched figure trying to pry apart phantom logs with a peavey hook before vanishing back into the river's mist.
Spirits of Tragedy and Sorrow
The Wailing Bride of Yew Mountain: Legend tells of a young woman from the 1800s who was set to be married but died of a sudden illness just before her wedding. Her distraught spirit, clad in its wedding dress, is said to wander the ridges of Yew Mountain, her heartbroken sobs carried on the wind.
The Soot-Stained Man of Marlinton: Marlinton suffered a catastrophic fire in the early 20th century that destroyed much of the town. In the alleys behind the current buildings on Main Street, the apparition of a man covered in soot is sometimes seen running, forever trying to escape the flames of the historic blaze.
The Ghost of the Durbin Jail: The small town of Durbin had its own lock-up for unruly railroaders and loggers. It's said the ghost of a man who died in a drunken brawl within its walls still haunts the historic building. The sounds of rattling cell bars and angry shouts are sometimes heard by those passing by late at night.
Modern and Unusual Hauntings
The Radio Phantom of Green Bank: A modern legend born from the unique nature of the Green Bank Observatory. In the National Radio Quiet Zone, where electronic signals are forbidden, scientists have allegedly detected faint, anomalous signals that resemble human whispers. Some staff half-jokingly refer to it as the "Radio Phantom," a spirit whose voice can only be heard on the edge of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The Haint of High Rocks: On the popular hiking trail to High Rocks, a palpable sense of dread is known to overcome some hikers near the cliff edge. This is blamed on a "haint," a classic Appalachian term for a malevolent, often shapeless spirit. It isn't a human ghost but a spirit of the place, said to delight in causing vertigo and fear.
The Watchers of the Seneca Trail: The ancient Seneca Trail (much of which is now Route 219) was a major thoroughfare for Native American tribes. Travelers, especially those driving it alone at night, report an unnerving feeling of being watched by countless unseen eyes from the dark woods that line the road, believed to be the ancestral guardians of the trail.
The Ghost Light of Locust Creek: Along the winding roads near Locust Creek, people have reported seeing a mysterious floating orb of light. It bobs and weaves through the trees, sometimes following cars for a short distance before abruptly vanishing. Its origin is unknown, with theories ranging from a slain Confederate soldier's lantern to a natural but unexplained phenomenon.
The Inmate of the Old Marlinton Jail: The former county jail, now part of the Pocahontas County Historical Museum, is allegedly haunted by a prisoner who died under mysterious circumstances. Visitors sometimes feel an inexplicable cold spot and a sense of being watched in the old cell block.
The Gentle Spirit of the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace: In Hillsboro, the home where the famed author was born is said to have a gentle, protective presence. It's not a malevolent ghost, but rather a residual energy or a spirit of a Sydenstricker family member watching over the historic home.
Spirits of the Wilderness
The Watchman of the Thorny Knob Fire Tower: The ghost of a former fire lookout is said to haunt the old tower in Seneca State Forest. On foggy nights, campers have claimed to see a light moving around in the tower's cab, even though it has been empty for decades.
The Whispers of the Cranberry Glades: This eerie, bog-like area is said to hold ancient spirits. Visitors who wander off the boardwalk have reported hearing indistinct whispers surrounding them, feeling as though they are being warned to turn back.
The Lost Child of Watoga State Park: On the trails around the Ann Bailey Lookout Tower, the faint sound of a crying child is sometimes heard. The legend says it is the ghost of a small child who wandered away from a family picnic generations ago and was never found.
The Cry of Kennison Mountain: Not a human ghost, but a spectral sound. For over a century, hunters and travelers on Kennison Mountain have reported hearing a terrifying scream that sounds like a cross between a woman's shriek and a panther's call. Many believe it's the ghostly cry of the extinct Eastern Cougar.
The Drowning Victim of the Williams River: Anglers along the remote stretches of the Williams River have reported seeing a pale, shimmering figure of a man on the riverbank who silently points to a deep pool of water before fading away. He is thought to be the ghost of a fisherman who drowned there.
Roadside Phantoms
The Vanishing Hitchhiker of the Scenic Highway: On the Highland Scenic Highway (Route 150), a desolate and beautiful road, drivers have reported picking up a young woman in simple, old-fashioned clothing who asks for a ride to a nearby hollow. When the car arrives, the passenger seat is empty.
The Ghost of the Murdered Peddler: Along an old stretch of Route 219 near Slatyfork, a story persists about a traveling peddler who was robbed and murdered in the 19th century. His ghost is said to appear on the roadside, trying to flag down cars, his form appearing distressed and translucent.
The Headlights of Back Mountain Road: Drivers on the winding, unpaved Back Mountain Road have reported seeing a single headlight approaching them from behind at a high rate of speed. Just as it seems a collision is imminent, the light vanishes without a trace.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment