As writer Kevin Paul has brought to readers’ attention, Greene County has a rich paranormal history that ranges from sasquatch sightings, to spirits, flying creatures, and alien encounters. We’ve compiled a list of locations in Greene and surrounding areas for a little bit of paranormal exploration.
Greene County Historical Society Museum, Waynesburg – Recently highlighted in an episode of the Travel Channel’s Destination Fear, the museum was once the county’s almshouse. Before becoming an almshouse, the property was owned by a local family. The county poor and mentally ill were homed in the building and its additions, and for many years were under the care of William Cage. He was known for his cruelty and inhumane treatment of the people for whom he was supposed to care. It is believed that more than a thousand people have died on the property.
Various paranormal phenomena has been reported by visitors, paranormal investigators, and employees of the museum. Footsteps, items moving, sounds, and eerie feelings have been reported If you want to experience the museum for yourself, visit their upcoming Harvest Festival. FMI, greenecountyhistory.org.
Horseshoe Bend, Rices Landing –Along the mighty Monongahela, sits the town of Rices Landing and Pumpkin Run Park. Besides being known for its history and scenery, the area is also notorious for its resident ghost. The legend of Stovepipe has taken many forms over the years, but the basic premise remains the same; a young man loses his head to a grisly accident, leaving his ghostly form to haunt the woods of Rices Landing. There are multiple origin stories for the specter: a boy killed while crossing the railroad tracks at night, a man murdered by a jealous husband, a union activist executed by mine owners, a boy having a bicycle accident, a teenager wrecking his car while driving around Horseshoe Bend. Whatever the story, the ghost is said to be without a head, often with a piece of stovepipe in place of the missing head, and sometimes carrying a light.
Whatever the origin story, there’s only one way to test out the legend. Gather your courage, take a trip out to Horseshoe Bend on one of those very dark and rainy nights and call for him by yelling, “Stovepipe, Stovepipe, Stovepipe! I’ve found your head!” You just might be surprised by what shows up – better keep your head!
Crow Rock, Richhill Township – Because of it’s tragic backstory, Crow Rock is thought be part of Greene County’s haunted history. On May 1, 1791, four of the Crow sisters were walking along the banks of the nearby creek, when they were brutally attacked by a group of Indians and a renegade white man referred to as Spicer. One sister survived the attack and went home for help. Of the other sisters attacked, two died in the attack, and one died three days later. The original location of the large rock said to have hidden the attackers is now under water. The rock with the sister’s names and year engraved was moved to a new location. A memorial plaque sits nearby.
Paranormal activity in the area includes spectral figures of Native Americans, the apparition of a little girl, disembodied screams, and lights or glowing orbs in the trees. Those visiting the site have encountered phantom scratches, hair pulling, and other strange sights and sounds.
Hartley Inn, Carmichaels – The building that would become the Hartley Inn was built in 1847 on the southeast corner of Carmichaels town square. The property was purchased by Noah Minor Hartley in 1901; he then moved his family into town and began running the hotel. After Noah’s death, the Hartley Inn was sold and it passed through multiple hands; during these years, the Inn received extensive remodeling that converted the lower floor into a restaurant, bar, and kitchen. In 1938, the Hartley Inn returned to the Hartley family when Matilda Hartley Clevenger bought the property. The property exchanged hands a few more times, and, in 1999, Karen Romah and her husband Phillip became full owners.
An unknown man has appeared to multiple employees in different areas of the Inn, disembodied voices that are impersonations of Hartley Inn employees, strange puffs of air, and moving objects.
A long part of Carmichaels’ history, the Hartley Inn continues to offer delicious food at reasonable prices to the community. Head over to the always popular Sunday brunch buffet – you never know who may show up to visit! FMI, visit www.facebook.com/hartleyinn.
Nemacolin Castle, Brownsville – Nemacolin Castle is located alongside the Monongahela River in Brownsville. The castle, once known as Bowman’s Castle was built around a trading post near the site of Fort Burd. The trading post was built in the mid-to-later 1780s; in the 1790s, Jacob Bowman began the construction of the castle. Jacob and his wife were the first of three generations of Bowmans to live in the castle. Each generation living there continued to build and make renovations to the castle. Years after the last Bowman descendent died, the castle was purchased by the castle and began operating it as a museum.
The castle is said to be the home to almost a dozen ghosts, both benevolent and malevolent. These ghosts include women, children, an old man, a dog, and something in the basement. Reported activities include apparitions, disembodied footsteps, strange lights, and more. The castle was featured on the Biography Channel’s My Ghost Story in a 2011 episode called “The Phantasmagorical Castle”. The castle offers guided tours, ghost tours and ghost hunts. FMI, visit www.nemacolincastle.net.
Paci’s Lounge & Dining Room, Brownsville – In the 1820s, Paci’s Lounge & Dining Room was a stagecoach stop. The current restaurant sits in what was once the stables and the nearby private home was once an inn. In 1937, Jack Kupp bought the stable and created a dining place called Cuppie’s. Tony Paci purchased the dining spot in 1962. The restaurant has continued to remain in the family and is now in its third-generation of family ownership.
Paci’s Lounge was featured on the Biography Channel’s My Ghost Story in a 2010 episode called “Spirits of a Stage Coach Stop”. Paranormal phenomena experienced by employees and visitors includes a shadow man, uneasy feelings, orbs, and moving objects. The former inn nearby has also had various paranormal activity.
While they don’t offer ghost-specific activities, they do offer a delicious menu with some ghostly specials, including wings, soup, and pastas, made from their unique ghost sauce. FMI, visit www.pacisdiningroom.com.
Friendship Hill, Point Marion — The historic home of Albert Gallatin, built in 1789 and called Friendship Hill, is situated just outside of Point Marion. It is said to be haunted by the ghost of Albert’s wife, Sophie. Less than a year after the couple had moved to their new home in western Pennsylvania, Sophie died; there is no official cause of death, but the stories often said that she died from loneliness or a broken heart due to Albert’s absences. Sophie was buried on the property. Rumor has it that a later homeowner may have relocated her grave, but there is no official record of this. However, the story says that the grave was moved, and during that process some of Sophie’s bones were lost. Sophie’s presence manifests in her former home as disembodied footsteps, pillars of cold air, and a family dog that barked at nothing the eye could see. FMI on Friendship Hill, visit www.nps.gov/frhi/index.htm.
The Gates of Hell, Uniontown – At the start of an old, overgrown driveway branching off Tent Church Road, sits a metal gate painted blue. Behind it, the remnants of an even older wrought -iron gate guard the driveway. This innocuous blue farm gate is said to be the “Gates of Hell.” Long ago, a farmhouse sat at the end of the long driveway. Legend says, a man killed his wife in the house, lit the house on fire, and then killed himself. Before the gates were put into place, strange activity occurred at the remains of the house and barn. Once the gates were installed, activity began to be reported from those that spent time near them. Phenomena includes voices crying or talking, growling sounds, echoing laughter, strange lights, a shadow figure, faces in the fog, and a mysterious black dog.
