13 Days of Halloween: #6 Haunted Places and Spaces
/
While a relatively “young” country by worldly standards, the United States has no shortage of haunted places. If you’re a history lover, ghost hunter, or just looking for a spooky Halloween outing, here are a few places to visit in New York, Ohio, and Oregon—and I tossed Pennsylvania in to round it out. Click on the individual links for more haunted excursions in all of those states. Note: these are excerpts from the linked articles—credit goes to the authors of those articles. Happy (ghost) hunting!
Historic Palmyra William Phelps General Store & Historic Palmyra Historical Museum – Finger Lakes Region, New York
About 35 kilometers [22 miles] southeast of Rochester, Palmyra is the birthplace of the Latter-day Saints movement. The town was founded in 1789 – predating the construction of the Erie Canal by nearly 40 years – and retains significant sites, including the Smith Family Farm and Sacred Grove, where Joseph Smith reported his first visions. Where are the ghosts? Pretty much everywhere. Palmyra is known as the most-haunted place in the Finger Lakes Region. Daily ghost hunts and regular paranormal special events are available at the Palmyra History Museum, brimming with antiques in its 23 rooms, and the William Phelps General Store, a retail time capsule built in 1826.
https://www.visittheusa.com/experience/9-spooky-stops-along-haunted-history-trail-new-york-state
Moonville Tunnel in McArthur —-Ohio
This abandoned stretch of railway leading to an old coal mining town attracts paranormal enthusiasts hoping to glimpse unfortunate souls killed by trains over the years. You might also see train lights or find images of Frank Lawhead* on your camera. Those hoping for these ghostly encounters can trek nearby trails, some of which are along portions of the old railroad line.
*According to legend, in 1880 Frank Lawhead was in his train when another train coming caused a head-on collision.
https://ohio.org/travel-inspiration/articles/haunted-ohio-9-must-visit-places
Heceta Head Lighthouse—Oregon Coast
If you’re in a coastal state, there’s always going to be lighthouses. And as long as there are lighthouses, there’s one that’s bound to be haunted. Such is the case with the Heceta Head Lighthouse. It is said that the ghost who goes by the name of “Rue” is not fond of anyone making any alterations to the place she called home. She’s known for mysteriously setting off fire alarms and moving around various objects. The spirit famously known as the “Gray Lady” may be frightening to the staff of the lighthouse (to the point where some of them have refused to visit some parts of the house due to their encounters with her,) but she is mostly harmless to those who visit the place that is now a converted bed-and-breakfast. Come for the peace and quiet, stay for the ghostly welcome.
https://portlandghosts.com/top-10-most-haunted-places-in-oregon/
13 Bends—-Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
The exact location of 13 Bends can’t quite be pinpointed. Variations on the legend put this haunted place in Elizabeth, Harmarville and even Burgettstown. The most popular version, however, maintains that the road harboring 13 Bends is Campbells Run Road in Harmarville, near the long-since-abandoned Harmar Mine. Supposedly, an orphanage burned down on the site, killing 13 children. Now, if you drive up and down the road, you’ll find that you drive around 13 bends going up – but only 12 going down. If the disappearing bend trick isn’t enough for you, you can always dust the hood of your car with flour, where it will collect the tiny handprints of the ghost children.
https://madeinpgh.com/pittsburgh-arts-culture/top-haunted-places-pittsburgh/
