Every Halloween people start looking for haunted houses. In Ohio you can visit one of those fake haunted houses with people dressed up in costumes or you can head to one of the real haunted houses this state has to offer.
The Austin Log Cabin in Austintown is supposedly haunted by a soldier who’s missing his head. People working there have seen this ghost as has people going by the cabin. Oddly enough others claim that no one ever died near the spot so the haunting can’t be real.
Cortland’s Debra Place is haunted by several different people including a woman in a long white dress. Residents claim they’ve been woken by someone standing in their room or have seen things moving on their own.
Ohio also has its fair share of haunted historic houses like the Our House Museum in Gallipolis. People sometimes see things moving and feel someone watching them. Also haunted is Chateau LaRoche or the Loveland Castle in Loveland. Many believe that the original builder haunts the site and that some of the antiques there are haunted by former owners.
Then there is the Levee House Café in Marietta, which was once used as a brothel. A well known local man kept his mistress there and when word of his affair broke, his son killed his father and the woman. People now claim to see the ghost of the man sneaking into the back of the house.
Marietta also has the haunted Alpha Xi Delta House on the campus of Marietta College. The 1855 house is haunted by the first owner, George White. Students there claim George likes to play with the water, doors, windows and even electrical appliances. He also makes his opinions of male visitors well known.
The Harding Home in Marion is haunted by the ghost of President Harding. On the anniversary of his death every year a clock on his desk stops working and a model ship moves.
The Sorg Mansion and Opera House in Middletown, Ohio is also haunted. One night a singer at the opera mysteriously vanished in the tunnels and all that was found was a red dress she wore that night. Those working late at night have hear a woman singing and some claim to see the ghost of a woman in a red dress in the makeup room.
Cambridge has the haunted Colonel Taylor B&B; where the ghosts of the former owner and his wife still roam. You also have the story of the Franklin Castle in Cleveland. Dozens, maybe even hundreds of people over the years have heard weird things like music and people talking or seen figures moving around inside, even though the building has been empty for years.
Columbus has several haunted house. The Kelton House is haunted by its original owner Grace Kelton while the Old Governor’s Mansion is haunted by a black woman dressed in old looking clothing. Mudhouse Mansion in Fairfield is another favorite haunted house in Ohio. This house has been abandoned for years, but is believed to be haunted by the ghost of slaves that once lived there. Supposedly the slaves were treated badly and rose up one night to kill their owner.
Another presidential haunting is at the James A. Garfield House in Mentor. People who have spent time upstairs felt like someone was watching them. Or you can stop by the Ceely Rose House in Mansfield. Rose killed her whole family in 1896 and apparently still haunts her old home.
You also have to consider haunted apartments like the Pauni Apartments in Cortland. The ghost here walks through the hallways, shuts doors and moves things around. Supposedly the apartments were built on top of a burial ground. Coopermill Manor in Zanesville is haunted by a young soldier who served there when it was still a military base. Those living in the buildings now have sometimes spotted him.
The Carlisle Park Apartments in Carlisle is haunted by a violent ghost who likes to chase people around. The Cornell Place Apartments in Cincinnati has a few ghosts. Residents have heard people walking and talking in the hallways, but when they open the door there’s no one there.
Think about detention homes for a moment, those places where kids were once forced to live a harsh life, separated from their parents and loved ones. Are you surprised that these places are haunted? Take for instance the Summit County Juvenile Detention Home in Akron. One of the house mothers was killed one night while working there and decided not to leave.
There’s also the haunted Mary Haven Boys Group Home in Lebanon. Numerous people over the years have seen children playing in the attic, on the stairs, in the recreation room and even people driving by have seen then looking out the windows.
The Light & Hope Orphanage or Gore Orphanage is also haunted, though the old building is long gone. You can also visit the ruins of the old Swift Mansion in Medina. A number of kids died in the building from natural causes and their ghosts are rumored to still roam.
The Green Acres Children’s Home in Oberlin is one of those stories that people talk about a lot. In the basement people report encountering a violent spirit, while others talk about the ghost of a young boy running loose on the upper floors.
There’s also the haunted Fairmount Children’s Home in Alliance. Those who have been inside have spotted people outside, heard footsteps and people talking and see dark, shadowy figures. There are also stories of people who go inside and feel uncomfortable, like someone is watching them.
Ohio also has a few haunted nursing homes like the Edge Wood Nursing Home in Lucasville, which is haunted by a couple that once owned the house. Parms has the haunted Pleasant Lake Nursing Home. Supposedly a little girl drowned while playing in the lake behind the nursing home and moved inside. Many employees and patients have encountered the ghost of the little girl.
Napoleon is home to the haunted Scott House. General Robert Scott haunts the house that he built. People have seen the man walking around and in their room late at night. There are also reports of a woman giggling loudly and cold spots.
Another haunted house is the Punderson Manor House in Newbury. There are stories of children running loose and the ghost of a man who hung himself in the area now used as a lounge. There’s also a haunted house on Helen Drive in Rossford. The ghost here is always seen wearing a white dress and she frequently watches over any children living in the house.
Waynesville’s Hamelhouse is haunted by a ghost that likes to toss things around the room, while the story of the Old Mill in Wilmington is a little more involved. Supposedly the original owner kept illegal slaves in the house and treated them badly. People hear the sounds of kids screaming and a man laughing. Others have seen the ghosts of the slave children for themselves.
Of course you also have the Big Green Castle in Harrison, Ohio. Not only is the house haunted, but the carriage house on the property is also haunted. People see shadows and someone moving around when the house is empty and hear strange noises.
With all the haunted houses in Ohio, why bother with the fake ones?
Sources:
http://www.forgottenoh.com/haunted.html
http://theshadowlands.net/places/ohio.htm
