The Bleeding Tombstone of Union Cemetery

     A small cemetery in Centre county Pennsylvania has been getting a lot of attention in the paranormal community for many years. There is a bizarre story that one of the tombstones in the cemetery bleeds. I have heard stories and read various articles about this gravestone and just had to visit it my self.

     The Union Cemetery just west of Milheim along Route 45 is home to the reports of a bleeding tombstone. The interment in question is William Musser. Besides being the larges stone in the cemetery, his gravestone is said to bleed from time to time. Since his death, people have reported a reddish brown stain appearing around the lettering of his tombstone. The family of Musser have tried washing the stain away, replacing the stone, and evening placing a plaque over the lettering but the bloodstain seems to reappear.

     No one is certain why something like this would happen to William Musser. Many thought he was a serial killer but that was only local speculation. William Musser was just a small town businessman and no one can figure out why this supernatural occurrence would happen to his tombstone. The tombstone now has not bled in years but older residents of the area can still remember the stains from their younger years.

Please be respectful if you choose to visit this location and parking is limited.

The Bleeding Tombstone

The Grey Spector of Ridge Road

Outside of the small town of Williamsburg Pennsylvania, there is a place known as Oremenia. Oremenia was once a small village that housed the workers that mined in the local hills. Today, Oremenia is classified as a ghost town and only a few people still live in the area. One way to reach Oremenia from Williamsburg is to travel along an old logging road known as Ridge Road.

If you search hard enough, almost every town big or small has it’s own ghost stories and folklore. In my hometown there always seemed to be plenty of them. One story is about a phantom being that haunts Ridge Road. Part of this road is paved now but the last mile through the woods is still gravel and not maintained well. The “Grey Spector”, as it’s known by, is said to lurk on the Ridge Road and has been seen leaning against trees or crossing the road. People describe the Grey Specter looking like a man in a trench coat and hat. Others have seen a disfigured human/demon being slouched over with long limbs and a gray scaly body. Rumors have circulated of the Specter terrorizing local teenagers on ATV’s and ones having parties along the Ridge Road.

I have never seen the Grey Spector on my trips along Ridge Road but many have claimed to. It’s hard to say if this is just another urban legend handed down generations or if there is some merit to the story. 

Driving down Ridge Road

The Coburn Tunnel aka Beaver Dam Tunnel

Western Portal

     In a scenic area of Centre County, I happened to stumble across an old tunnel on my way to Poe Paddy State Park. The tunnel is just outside the town of Coburn and aptly named the Coburn tunnel. As I approached the western entrance, people were fishing and informed me it was an old railroad tunnel and used to be called the Beaver Dam Tunnel.

     Once I was home, I researched the tunnel and found out that a few other tunnels are in the area and will need to be investigated at a later date. The Beaver Dam Tunnel I accidentally found was constructed in 1877 and approximately 260 feet long. The tunnel was first used by the Lewisburg, Centre, and Spruce Creek RR (LC&SC). Later the ownership switched to the Lewisburg/Tyrone RR in 1879 and then again to the PA RR in 1915. In the 1960s the tunnel was abandoned but locals still use the area round the tunnel to fish, hike and party judging by the broken class and cans in the area. There has been talk to connect a few of the tunnels and old railroad beds in the area to make a Rails-to-Trails for hiking and biking, but nothing has been settled yet with property owners and financiers.

      You can’t have an old abandon tunnel without some sort of folklore surrounding it. There is a story of a man being hung at the entrance of the tunnel sometime before it was closed down in the 1960s. The story does say if someone else hanged the man or if it was a suicide. Since then, at night if you drive an ATV or motorcycle through the tunnel it will shut off halfway.

Baughman's Cemetery

Flag and Tree in the Cemetery Center

      I would first like to say, for such a small cemetery this place has acquired a huge reputation. From research I have heard this site even called one of the 'top haunted cemeteries in the United States'. I believe reputation and word of mouth has made this location more of a tall tale; however some truth may lie in the claims.

Driving into Baughman's Cemetery

      Heading north from Tyrone, Pennsylvania on Old Route 220, I made a left turn onto Van Scoyoc Road. Approximately a quarter-mile ahead I kept left onto Baughman Cemetery Rd. I was now driving down an old gravel lane leading up the hill to the cemetery. The site is laid out in a circular fashion with a huge evergreen tree in the center. A small grounds-keeper shed sits in one of the far corners of the old plots.

Old Maintenance Shed

      So why is this place supposedly one of the most haunted locations in the U.S? Frist, there is a story of a person who hung him self in the treeline left of the entrance. The person's spirit is said to be seen hanging when the moon is out to light the woods. A phantom horse is also seen running briskly through the grave yard. Another claim is of ghost children playing and placing their hand prints on curious people's dirty or snow covered vehicles. The childlike spirits have also been known to play a game of Hide and Seek with willing ghost hunters at night.

Trees where spirits play games

      Having been to this area dozens of times in daylight and moonlight, I have had very few and unexplained occurrences happen to me. At night the cemetery does give you an eerie feeling, more so than other cemeteries I have visited at night. Even with very little evidence of a haunting, the stories in the community and internet continue to feed the eager ears of believers who want to get a glimpse of this 'famous' location.

The Old Torrance State Hospital

Graff Building

     A few of my favorite places to investigate are the old sanatoriums and state hospitals in Pennsylvania. My first ghost hunt actually took place at on of the hospitals known the Torrance State Hospital. The hospital was originally built-in the early 1900’s due to the increase need for care of the mentally ill. Torrance Hospital started with a few patients that were transferred from the Danville Hospital and patient census continued to grow to over 3000 by the 1960s. After understanding and treatment for mental illness improved, deinstitutionalization came into effect in the late 1960’s and early 1970s. The move was to provide quick stabilization of mental illness and offer community and outpatient care. Now only a few hundred patients are currently admitted to Torrance State Hospital. Over the years some of the older builds had been torn down or abandon and a new hospital was built. Some of the old buildings remained used but primarily for storage.

First Floor

     As for the hauntings associated with the Old Torrance Hospital, they mainly circulate around the Graff Building/Cottage. The Graff building provided a place for staff to reside, did some patient intake, and housed the print shop. The Graff building is often referred to as the staff quarters and is where many people go to get a glimpse of the afterlife. This site is directly across from the Army Reserves station in Torrance and a short distance down the road from the current Torrance Hospital campus. The Graff Building has been privately owned for years. Years ago the past owner allowed WW2 reenactments to take place on the property and was lenient with people who investigated the building. However, for the past several years the current owner has taken a stand against people trespassing. The grounds have been cleaned up and many of the tress have been removed that people used as cover to get into the building. The owner has now installed a waist-high fence and reportedly motion sensors.

Basement Hallway

     The Graff building has many claims of haunts. Some believe the souls of people are restless because of the primitive therapies used on them that included Electroshock therapy, Hydrotherapy, and even Lobotomies. Some reports that people were even placed in locked rooms without windows or lights, or restrained for long periods of time. Wittiness of the paranormal activity report seeing lights in windows, mist figures and shadow apparitions. Noises of disembodied voices, crying, and doors slammed have been heard. People have also reportedly been hit by gurneys, feeling cold and warm spots, getting grabbed at the ankle, and feeling suddenly weak and unable to move their arms or legs. The epicenter of the activity seems to take place in the basement in the boiler room. The first floor and basement are easily navigated. The 2^nd floor of the Graff Building is falling apart with the ceiling caving in at areas.

Boiler

     Besides the Graff Building, other areas of the Hospital have claims of a haunting as well. Former residents have been seen roaming the halls and property. Elevators have been known to open and close by themselves. An old woman is said to haunt one of the private rooms. The old tunnels that once connected the buildings are also claimed to be haunted.

   
    The Old Torrance State Hospital is still in operation and cares for patients while the Graff building is on private property. Neither of these locations should be visited without proper authority and permission. To get to this location, from Blairsville, PA take 217 south and make a left hand turn at the abandon gas station onto Torrance Road. Approximately after one mile the old Graff building will be on the right-hand side and the Torrance Hospital Campus will be on the left-hand side a short distance up the road.

Boiler Room

The White Lady of Wopsy

Overlooking Altoona on Wopsononock Mountain

     To continue with the last couple blog themes of women in white, I felt it was time to write about the White Lady of Wopsy. This legend comes from the Wopsononock, aka Wopsy, mountain west of Altoona, PA. It was one of the first ghost stories I was made aware of growing up. Chances are most people living near Altoona have heard some variation of the tale also. Stories about the White Lady started around the mid 19^th century and now a few different versions exist. Sometimes she is also referred to as the White Lady of the Buckhorn, named after an adjacent mountain she is often seen on.

     Wopsononck mountain during the turn of the 19^th century was a popular attraction. At the top of the mountain, there once stood a 3 story and 60 room hotel-resort. At the edge of the mountain a 4-story observation tower looked out over the valley of Altoona. The resort also featured its own railroad line that would accommodate picnickers, and sightseers up and down the mountain. In 1903, a forest fire started and took the hotel with other small cottages and vacation homes. A few years after the fire, the railroad and lookout tower were dismantled due to poor funding and lack of interest. Stories of a woman in white really started to spread after the resort was gone. To visit the site of the old resort, follow Wopsy road from Altoona and make a right-hand turn onto Look Out road. The area now is filled with radio and TV towers.

 

     The White Lady of Wopsy is seen as a beautiful young woman wearing a long, white, flowing dress. Sometimes she is seen holding a candle or lantern and always seems to be searching for something. The story goes that her and her newly married husband are traveling the roads on Wopsy mountain by horse and carriage, maybe from the old resort, and are victims of a horrible accident. In a lot of the tales the accident takes place during the colder months. Her husband dies in the wreck and she dies shortly after wandering the mountain due to exposure.

     Other variations explain that their baby was in a carriage with them when they wrecked. Sometimes the baby is said to have been thrown out of the carriage rounding devil's elbow. Devil's elbow is a sharp turn on Wopsononck mountain that has had many accidents throughout the years. Some believe the White Lady died searching for her lost baby in the woods along the Buckhorn and Wopsy mountains and is doomed to keep looking. Yet another story explains the husband was decapitated and the woman died while looking for her husbands head.

     Some speculation is made that the White Lady actually lived on Wopsy mountain. Possibly even an old cottage left from the Resort. Local hunters and thrill seekers have reported finding an old abandon house on the mountain, but no exact location is known. The White Lady is said to haunt the old house as well.

     Many people to this day still claim to see a woman in white roaming the roads along the Buckhorn and Wopsy. People have reported seeing her reflection in their rear-view mirror. Others have admitted to offering a young woman a ride along the mountain roads. She normally smiles and fades away. Reports have taken place at no particular time of the year. The stories are so well known, even a local bar is named “The White Lady Tavern”. So be alert if you are ever traveling the mountains late at night west of Altoona.

A Ghostly Chase at Coles Station

Coles Water Tank Shelter

      Recently I heard a lead about a ghost that used to terrorize locals near the Coles Station of the East Broad Top Railroad (EBT). Living only about an hour away from parts of the EBT, I never really looked into the history of the rail line or its importance. I was pleased to find out some new history and places to explore, but that is for another blog. 

      With a little research online and at the library, I was able to find an account of a haunting near Coles Station. On a late evening in May of 1906 two men, Luther Chilcote and William Elias, were walking back from a social evening with friends. They choose to walk the easiest route over Coles Summit to their homes. At the summit, near Coles Station of the EBT, they saw in the distance a woman in a white dress. The men began to try to get her attention but she didn't respond to them. The men began to realize she was an apparition as she came closer. The men fired their hand guns in fright as the women drew nearer. After the volley of shots, the apparition started to chase them into the valley. The men reached their home and quickly shut the door behind them. In the days that followed, the men actually reported the incident to the local papers. Thankfully they did to preserve this piece of history.

      Coles Station has sadly razed for many years now and can be found as a rectangular foundation being reclaimed by nature. However, the Coles Water Tank shelter has survived due to recent volunteer work and its difficulty to get access to. The Station was just a little west of the water tank shelter. The water tank structure housed a large wood tub that provided water to the steam locomotives of the EBT. Water was pumped by an engine out of a cistern from a nearby spring. The structure you can visit now was built sometime around 1919 and replaced an earlier building. Thankfully this piece of history has been restored and gives a good sign to where the ghostly women in white was seen. Coles Summit lies east of Three Springs in Huntingdon County near Route 994/Old plank road.

Royer Mansion & Cemetery

Royer Mansion

      Many small communities in the early 1800's had an iron furnace in Pennsylvania. The village of Royer was no different. Samuel Royer and his family, by which the town was named, settled a short distance south of Williamsburg PA on what is now Route 866.

      Their original home had accidentally burned down and the second home was built in 1815 which still stands today known as the Royer Mansion. Across the street from the mansion, the Springfield Furnace was built to smelt iron. descendents of the Royer family lived in the home up until the death of Carrie Hartman which was the wife of Samuel Royer's grandson. The house was later sold to the fish and game commission and then purchased by the Blair County Historical Society in 1984. The mansion is occupied by a Tennent in the upstairs who maintains the property. The downstairs of the mansion is like walking back in time with little changes from its original decor. Tours and various events are still held on the property to this day.

Spring House

      Besides being of historical interest, the Royer Mansion has acquired a paranormal interest as well. Stories are told of ghostly children laughing outside the adjacent spring house and apparitions seen in the windows of the mansion. One witnesses story even claims that the spirit of Carrie Hartman gave a tour of the mansion to unsuspecting tourist. They later called the Blair county historical society to praise how well the tour went. However, they found out that the tour guide had taken ill that day and no one from the society was on the property to give the tour they experienced.

      The Mansion is used throughout the year for local gatherings and events namely the Halloween ghost story tellings and haunted tours. To have a tour of the building simply contact the Blair County Historical Society.

      The ghost stories don't end with the mansion, the Royer Cemetery has a few as well. Royer Cemetery sits at the base of Lock Mountain between Williamsburg and Hollidaysburg. Stories have circulated about shadow people and mysterious lights seen through the cemetery. 

Royer Cemetery

Crum Cemetery

Entrance to Crum Cemetery

     Stories and lore tend to accumulate when you have an old cemetery that is out in the middle of nowhere. Crum Cemetery is no different and is host to stories ranging from early pioneer witches to modern-day suicides. The Cemetery was once part of the Village of Crum which was primarily a logging community that was started in the mid 1800s. The Village was later dismantled and residents were bought out of their property to allow for a pipeline to ship better drinking water to the local communities of Windber and Richland. Only a few crumbling foundations and the cemetery remain to this day.

      The most well-known haunting of the cemetery is that of Rebecca Crum. The story behind Rebecca however seems to related or confused with another local haunting at Becky's Grave. Still, the story primarily goes that Rebecca was growing and selling herbal remedies or she was learning spiritual and curative arts from the Native Americans. Either way, Rebecca was soon accused of performing hexes on local towns people in Crum and called a witch. Some believe her family and her were burned in their home. Others say she was buried alive and placed in an unmarked grave outside the limits of Crum Cemetery. Most of the stories agree that to this day, her vengeful spirit still walks the cemetery at night. A not as believable story claims she was burned with the Village of Crum due to a deadly plague she cursed upon it. However, records indicate that no such fire took place and the town was merely bought out and met an economic demise.

      Another story is that of a Man that lived only miles away on the mountain above Crum Cemetery. The story goes that in the 1980s, A man killed his children and wife one evening for no known cause. A short time later the man was apprehended but made bail. While awaiting trial, he killed himself either by hanging or in his vehicle near Crum cemetery. The story has some credibility since the remains of an abandon home on Ogletown Mountain fits the description. As far as records I have yet to find any that fi the story or any residents that recall the murder and suicide. These are only the more credible stories that linger in the near by community.

      Urban legends also abound in the cemetery. One states that if you find and lay on Rebecca's grave she will not let you stand until you were a true believer of her story. Another claim is that if you turn your car off near the cemetery you will have engine trouble or have hand prints on the outside of your vehicle. Lore of a black horse-drawn carriage is also seen passing the cemetery at night or the sound of horses. The last is a story of a so called "dead zone" where the barrier between our world and the spirit world is thin near where the man committed suicide in the 80s.

      Paranormal enthusiasts and professional investigators both tend to be on the fence about this location. Some say that the paranormal activity is merely what you would find at any given old cemetery, and Crum is nothing special. Others say that it has no activity whatsoever and it is just a bunch of urban legends. With all the stories from generation to generation it is hard to dismiss all accounts that have survived for all these years; especially when some are founded on documented history. Having been to this place a few times I have found it a very peaceful retreat in the mountains of Pennsylvania during the day. At night the cemetery tends to give off an eerie feeling, but I have never personally experienced any paranormal activity.

West Mountain Sanatorium

    

Main Gated Entrance

 
     The Lackwanna County Tuberculosis Hospital, formerly the West Mountain Sanatorium, was first established in 1903 facilitated with 20 beds. Through the years the hospital grew and at its peak had about 100 beds available for patients. The hospital was the idea of Dr. J.M Wainwright and was placed high atop the West mountain overlooking Scranton PA. Most of the buildings on the campus are now dilapidated and unsafe to venture into. Ceilings have fallen in  and walls have given out. What little remains is now covered in graffiti and in ruin. At its prime, West Mountain Sanatorium boosted state of the art radiology and laboratory departments with new equipment. It also had its own fields and farm and artesian well to support the patients and staff. The hospital was also noted for its open air treatments. Patients were actually made it sit in screened porches throughout the year, sun or snow, to allow the fresh air cleanse their lungs of Tuberculosis. In 1971, like so many psychiatric and tuberculosis hospitals of the time, it was shut down. With new laws and new concepts of de-instutionalization the campus has sat high above the valley looking down at Scranton for decades quiet.

     Stories have circulated around the old hospital since its closer. Many people believe the old campus to haunted. Also misinformed urban legends have plagued the former hospital as well. The remote location along with the stories have plagued the area. Multiple fires and thrill seekers have destroyed most of the remaining facility. The sanatorium is also a hot spot for paranormal investigators. Those who have investigated the property have claimed to hear haunting voices and captured pictures of ghostly happenings. Besides the paranormal activity the sanatorium also has some little known history. For instance, the song Winter Wonderland was actually written in the sanatorium. Dick Smith wrote the song while he was being treated in the Sanatorium for tuberculosis. Unfortunately Smith died before his song had gained any popularity. 

     Our visit to the West Mountain Sanatorium was during the late summer and at night. We had planned a trip through north-eastern Pennsylvania and the sanitarium was our last stop. The directions we had were hard enough to follow let alone it being dark and never being in the area before. Finally we came across the old front gate and made our way up the main entrance. The first thing we spotted was the old well. There was definitely an eerie feeling as we made our way through the crumbling campus building after building. Old patient beds, lockers, and miscellaneous equipment was still scattered in the old buildings. Many of structures had started to fall in and were not safe to venture into. We didn't experience any strange noises or paranormal activity while we were there. I was able to get a few decent photos on my old camera before we decided to call it a night. Hopefully we will get a chance to see this fading bit of history before it is entirely gone.

Egg Hill Church

    

     There is a church in Potter Township, Centre County that has been a "hot spot" for paranormal investigators and thrill seekers alike. For a good ghost story a perfect setting is needed, and Egg Hill delivers that setting. First, the church is in a remote site. Secondly, it is old; built-in 1860.Thirdly, it looks creepy; made of unfinished pine on a stone foundation. Finally, it hasn't been in regular use since the 1920's. So lets recap, a church in the middle of nowhere that has not been regularly used and is undoubtedly visually eerie, no wonder so many stories have circulated about it being haunted.

    The most well-known story about Egg Hill is of the supposed mass murder that took place their. The story is ever evolving and is not very consistent. That being said, the story I have gathered goes like this. At the turn of the century in the 1800's, the pastor at that time killed his whole congregation and disposed of the bodies in the near by woods. Other stories say that the pastor only killed the children of the parish. He reportedly would kill them one by one under mysterious circumstances and got away with the murders. Then one day fretting that he would be discovered, he hung himself in the church. These are the largest circulated tales but many other versions exist. I could not find any records of any mass deaths in the area at the time when the church was regularly used. Again this little church just seems unfortunately in the right place for urban legends. Stories include: a murder, phantom bell ringing, apparitions hovering in the near by grave yard, and spirits following your car home as you leave. Normally I am an avid believer in paranormal happenings; however, in this instance very little factual evidence could be found to credit the claims made about Egg Hill. If Egg Hill has any supernatural happenings at all, I believe they reside in the cemetery beside the old one-story church.

     My many experiences at Egg Hill have been pretty fruitless. I have been to this location in the day time to get a better idea of the surroundings and at night. I do admit that it does give off a weird vibe even in daylight. Many of the old grave markers are worn and unreadable. The church is locked from the outside and "No Trespassing" signs mark the outside of the building. During my nighttime experiences, there have been eerie noises coming from the church. They could be easily dismissed as the building settling. However, some unexplainable voices have come from the cemetery while taking pictures that I can not explain. Overall if there is any paranormal activity at this location I believe it minor and in no way related to the folklore about Egg Hill.

    The easiest way to get to Egg hill is to take Rt. 144 north from State College and make a Left on Upper Georges Valley Rd. Approximately after 1 mile you take a right on Egg Hill Rd. The church is about a mile up the hill. A warning that he property is Privately owned and Permission is needed to be on the grounds. Although, most of the church and graveyard is visible from the road.

The House on the Hill

The House before the fire

      Outside of the small town of Williamsburg Pennsylvania there sits a farm and the remains of the former house. Mystery about the original owners has surrounded the property for decades along with unexplainable events. Local residents have handed down stories for generations, but shed little light on its dark history. At first sight, the property does not look any different from any other small farm in rural Pennsylvania. However, the property's docile exterior does little to harbor its restless past.

      On a summer's day in the mid to late 1800's, a family of immigrants moved to the rural area outside of Williamsburg, PA. They built a house, farm, and a few outlying buildings. A few years had passed, then one day a neighbor had noticed the property being neglected. The neighbor soon found out that the family had not been to church the following week either. The neighbor along with a few others went to check on the family and noticed the door unlocked. With no response to the knocking, they began to shout into the house. Finally they decided to walk into the house. Turning the corner from the kitchen into the living room, they came across a gruesome sight and foul smell. The Husband and wife along with their children had all been murdered. They described the family as being ripped and torn. The local people gathered up the remains and buried what was left of the bodies in a plot not far from the house. No evidence was found to solve the horrible crime. With no signs of forced entry or even foot prints, the murder remains a mystery to this day.

One of the Murals

      Since the incident, many reports of paranormal activity have circulated. The property has had many owners and families through the years; often only living there for a few months. The property usually remains vacant until an unsuspecting family from out of the area moves in. Reports range from windows and doors being opened and closed to furniture being rearranged. Two murals of Jesus mark the walls of the living room, which some believe to ward off the evil the lingers in the house. One room in the second floor tends to make a person feel squeezed from all directions. Even with all the activity inside the house, some believe the true evil lies outside. A red demon has been seen running out front of the house along the cornfields that border the property. Grim faces have appeared in the windows. Whispers and the sounds of foot steps from behind in gravel have also been witnessed On occasion dark shadows can also be seen running up and down the lane. 

Front Entrance

    The farm and outlying buildings still remain on the property. The house was burned down as a "test" fire for new firefighters to practice on in 2011. Some people believe the claim of a test was just used to get rid of the horrible building. However, even with the building gone, the property is still claimed to be just as restless.

Inside the house bathroom

The Haunt at the Paper Mill Bridge

      I would like to start with a little handed down history of this place. The town of Roaring Spring has had tales of "witch craft" and the occasional haunting for years told by residents. One tale tells of a witch coven that used to meet in the woods off the railroad tracks leading out-of-town. Another tells of a "Devil worshiping pastor" that killed a young woman and buried her body in the yard outside his home near the paper mill. The most well-known story is that of the old paper mill bridge that lies under the railroad tracks and is near the site where the young women was supposedly buried. 
     The legend of this place states a ghost of a man can be seen hanging from the bridge or tress surrounding the area. Another tale tells of a young couple being hit by a train and now they walk eternity together over the bridge. Curious readers beware that the ghosts have also been said to hit and strike at anyone who dares to get to close.
      I could not find any hard evidence for theses claims. However, real or not, every town deserves to have it's mysteries or urban legends.