October 7, 2004

ENJOY MYSTERIES AND HISTORY? THEN STORIES OF OHIO’S HAUNTED PLACES ARE SURE TO INTRIGUE

COLUMBUS, OH - Ever hear of the woman who haunts the old mill at Beaver Creek State Park? Catch the story about the dead man who still lingers at the Moonville Tunnel near Lake Hope State Park, his lantern eerily swinging in the night? If you are hoping for a creepy encounter this Halloween, consider a visit to the following state parks, whose spooky tales have lived on for decades:

The ghost of lovesick teenager Ceely Rose, who lived in a white house on the grounds of Malabar Farm State Park in Richland County, is said to still haunt the home. Ceely’s story is sad and tragic. The awkward lonely girl had a crush on Hugh Fleming, a boy who lived nearby. She told all who would listen that they were going to be married. Hugh did not return Ceely’s affection, but to spare her feelings told her they could not marry because her family did not approve of him.

Ceely slowly poisoned her family, and three months later, they were all dead. Hugh left town in fear for his own life. Ceely was later tricked into confessing to the murders and spent the rest of her life in a mental institution. Some say Ceely can still be seen roaming the hallways of the Rose house, pausing at windows, awaiting her love.

A theatrical production about Ceely Rose is showing at Malabar Farm on Friday through Sunday, October 8-10, October 15-17, and October 22-24. All performances start at 6 p.m. and tickets for the show are $15 each, or $30 each for the show and a barbeque dinner. All ticket packages include a wagon tour of the farm. For more information call 419-892-9745.

Down the road, the ghost of Paul Lyons is said to haunt the trail to the falls that bear his name at Mohican State Park in Richland County. Lyons, a self-reliant pioneer, lived in the area with his milk cow. On a dark night, Paul realized the cow had wandered off and he searched for it, barely hearing the sound of the bell around the cow’s neck. He followed the sound through the woods to the edge of the falls and fell 80 feet to his death. A grave marker bearing his name now stands at the trail leading to the falls.

Some say that on dark nights, the sound of the cowbell can be heard on the trail to the falls, and the figure of a man waving a lantern can be seen at the top of the cliff.

Head east to Beaver Creek State Park in Columbiana County and learn of its days as a bustling place of commerce - grist mills powered by the Little Beaver Creek ground grain into flour, the Sandy and Beaver Canal was being built; and later, the railroads made their impact. Today, legend has it that late at night, the figure of a woman, believed to be Esther Hale, can be seen wandering through the old grist mill. Esther, a stern Quaker preacher, lived in town and has kept her vigil at the mill for more than 100 years.

The Punderson Manor House at Punderson State Park in Geauga County has many stories of lingering spirits. There are tales of flickering lights, sounds of mysterious laughter, and the feel of a sudden chill while walking through the house. Some have seen ghostly figures of a woman floating in the hallways, in the dining room and kitchen. The ghost of a young girl was purportedly seen walking down the spiral staircase. It’s unclear why there have been so many reports of ghostly apparitions at the home, but over the years tragedies are known to have befallen its various owners.

The abandoned Moonville Tunnel near Lake Hope State Park in Vinton County is said to have a haunting spirit. Many materials used to be delivered to the former mining town of Moonville by train. One night, a careless railroad brakeman waved his lantern to signal the locomotive to stop at the station. The brakeman swayed and stumbled into the path of the oncoming train and was instantly killed. Some say, late at night, the eerie green and red lights of the brakeman’s lantern can still be seen shining, waving back and forth near the old train tunnel.

Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve in Greene County also is known for haunting spirits. Long ago, as the story goes, a beautiful Indian maiden tried to steal the affections of a brave away from the woman he loved. She intentionally fell off a rock into the pool below, now known as the Blue Hole, hoping the brave would save her. He didn’t, and she drowned. Now on occasion, some people report seeing the ghostly form of the Indian maiden appears on the rock only to vanish at midnight into the Blue Hole with a ghastly scream that echoes down the canyon.