Ghost hunters in Florida make "electric" discovery at haunted site!

Infrared Photo of Bellamy Bridge at Night
(Courtesy Emerald Coast Paranormal Concepts)

A team of paranormal investigators has made a discovery at a purportedly haunted bridge in Florida unlike anything it has ever encountered.

The location is Bellamy Bridge, the oldest bridge of its type in Florida and the scene of a rumored haunting that goes back to the 19th century. The focal point of the Bellamy Bridge Heritage Trail, the historic bridge is located at 4057 Jacob Road, Marianna, Florida.

On two separate occasions, the team from Emerald Coast Paranormal Concepts has verified the presence of electric "pulses" at the old steel-frame bridge, despite the fact that the bridge is located deep in a floodplain swamp, roughly one-half mile from the nearest source of electricity.

There are no lights, no underground or underwater cables, no generators, no radio towers, no cell phone towers and no other sources of electricity near enough to the bridge to explain the strange electric pulses discovered by the team.

According to Susan Todd, an investigator with the group, the discovery was first noted during an evening of research at Bellamy Bridge in May. The team then returned to the bridge last Saturday night (June 15, 2013) and once again encountered precisely the same phenomenon:

Team from Emerald Coast Paranormal Concepts

We set up our meters, to include our Digital EMF detector, in the same locations as we had done previously, again same response from our equipment, with the exception of the Digital EMF detector which did not pick up EMF anomalies. As our meters were reacting we noted the exact time on our digital recorders and IR Video recorders. We were unable to detect a pattern to when the meters would react. At one point, while reciting information on the history of the bridge all meters started to light up to maximum capacity.

The team is working in cooperation with the Friends of Bellamy Bridge to research and obtain footage at the bridge, some of which will be used in a coming documentary that will benefit the preservation and maintenance of the historic bridge and the interpretive trail that provides public access to it.

To see some of the video and read more about the investigation, please visit http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/bellamyghost.

To learn more about the ghost story itself, please visit http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/bellamybridge.

Are the walls of a Florida "haunted house" bleeding???

Bleeding Walls at Haunted Russ House?

Employees working at the historic Russ House in Marianna, Florida, walked in to an unexpected sight this week - bleeding walls!

The beautiful old structure currently houses the Jackson County Tourism Office and the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. Various ghost hunter and paranormal investigation groups have visited the Russ House and proclaimed it to be haunted, but none of them encountered anything like this!



Russ House in Marianna, Florida

The mysterious "bleeding" liquid was coming from the wall below a storage area, but nothing found in the storage area could explain the source of the liquid.  It is the first time staff of the house have encountered anything like it and they were visibly disturbed by the phenomenon when I visited shortly after it was discovered to take the photographs seen here.

What is it?  No one knows!

Another View of Strange Liquid

According to tradition, the house is haunted by several restless spirits.  The best known of them is said to be that of the home's builder, Marianna businessman Joseph W. Russ, Jr.  He had the house constructed in 1895 in a traditional Victorian style, but his wife later had it remodeled to its present magnificent design.

Russ committed suicide during the Great Depression and legend holds that he still roams the halls of his beloved house to this day. 

You can read more about the Ghosts of the Russ House at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/russhouseghosts.

New Book looks into 10 Southern Ghost & Monster Stories

I'm please to announce the release of my latest book, The Ghost of Bellamy Bridge.

This volume investigates 10 of the best known ghost and monster stories from Jackson County, Florida, through the eyes of a historian. After repeating the legends, the book delves into the real histories behind each of these tales and comes up with some fascinating results!

The book is available for order at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/bellamybook.

The story featured in the book title is the tragic story of Elizabeth Ann Croom Bellamy, a young woman who died during antebellum times. Elizabeth has connections to both Florida and North Carolina and her dead sparked what may be Florida's best known ghost story. Her restless spirit is said to haunt Bellamy Bridge, a historic steel-frame bridge that spans the Chipola River north of the city of Marianna.

A fascinating tale that originated during the antebellum era, the real truth behind the legend is even more intriguing than the legend itself.

Other stories include tales from Marianna, Greenwood, Graceville, Sneads, Parramore, Cottondale and even Two Egg!

100% of the cover price of this volume is being donated to help fund the Bellamy Bridge Heritage Trail, a new public historic site on Highway 162 near Marianna that is being constructed without the expenditure of a single extra tax dollar.

Thank you in advance for your support of this project and I hope you enjoy the book!

10 Great Ghost Stories of the South!

Recent Photo of the Ghost of Bellamy Bridge

With Halloween just one day away, I thought it would be a great time to share this year's list of 10 Great Ghost Stories of the South!  So, here we go...

1. The Ghost of Bellamy Bridge (Marianna, Florida) - This is a great story that originated in the 1800s and preserves the tragic tale of an unfortunate young woman who is said to haunt the environs of one of Florida's oldest bridges.  Learn more at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/bellamybridge.
2. The Face in the Window (Carrollton, Alabama) - The face of a terrified man can be seen in the window of the old Pickens County Courthouse in Carrollton. www.exploresouthernhistory.com/faceinthewindow.
3. The Edgefield Ghost (Greenwood County, South Carolina) - This early 19th century haunting was one of the most noteworthy in American history and was witnessed by hundreds of people including ministers and reporters!  Learn more at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/edgefieldghost.
4. The Bell Witch (Adams County, Tennessee) - Possibly America's most famous haunting, the Bell Witch incident supposedly took place in Adams County, Tennessee.  Learn more at: www.exploresouthernhistory.com/bellwitch1.
5. The Crescent Hotel (Eureka Springs, Arkansas) - The Crescent Hotel bills itself as America's most haunted hotel, and with good reason! Learn more at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/crescenthotel.
6. The Ghost of Big Cedar (near Branson, Missouri) - Big Cedar Resort just south of Branson is said to be haunted by the wife of one of its original owners!  This is one of the most famous ghosts of the Ozarks.  Learn more at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/bigcedar1.
7. Ghosts of the St. Augustine Lighthouse (St. Augustine, Florida) - One of Florida's most intriguing ghost stories, the tale of the strange figures in the St. Augustine Lighthouse has attracted attention for years. Learn more at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/staugustinelighthouse.
8. Ghost of Allatoona Pass (Bartow County, Georgia) - This ghost used to catch rides on trains along the old railroad leading north from Atlanta!  Please click here to learn more: www.exploresouthernhistory.com/allatoonaghost.
9. Ghosts of Waverly Mansion (West Point, Mississippi) - Waverly Mansion near West Point is said to be one of the most haunted places in Mississippi.  Please click here to learn more: www.exploresouthernhistory.com/waverly
10. Ghost of St. Simons Lighthouse (St. Simons Island, Georgia) - The unhappy spirit of a former lighthouse employee is said to haunt the beautiful old tower of the St. Simons Lighthouse.  Please click here to learn more http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/gastsimons2.html.

Ghost of Allatoona Pass - A 19th Century Haunting in Georgia

Tracks near Allatoona Pass

Much as American newspapers did with UFOs in the 1950s, the papers of the 19th century often covered reports of ghost sightings as hard news. As a result, some of the best documented alleged ghost appearances in American history are those that took place during the 1800s.

One particularly unique story involves a ghost that appeared on the trains of the Western & Atlantic Railroad (W&A) during the years after the Civil War.

Deep Cut at Allatoona Pass

According to an 1872 issue of the Atlanta Journal, the ghost appeared on trains as they passed along the stretch of tracks between Allatoona Pass and Tilton, a crossing not far from Dalton in North Georgia.

...This individual appears suddenly on top of the freight cars, takes a seat and remains there for many miles, then the unknown brakesman disappears. Conductors, seeing him, have often gone out to collect his fare, but on nearing him, he would vanish like mist. - Atlanta Journal, Dec. 1872.

The spectre most often appeared as the trains steamed out of the Deep Cut at Allatoona Pass and picked up speed.This prompted speculation among the railroad men that it might be the ghost of a Civil War soldier killed in the frightful battle at the pass on October 5, 1864.

The ghost did not attempt to frighten anyone and seemed more like the mere image of a man than a troubled spirit. It simply sat atop a freight car on the train. It made no sound. It did not move. It was almost as if it were a photograph on the air.

A number of train crews saw the figure and finally a particularly brave engineer decided to get to the bottom of the mystery. Learn what he discovered and read more about the Ghost of Allatoona Pass by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/allatoonaghost.

Ghosts of the Russ House - Marianna, Florida

Built in 1895, the historic Russ House in Marianna is one of the most beautiful old houses in Florida. Some say it is also one of the most haunted.

Now the home of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, the restored house faces West Lafayette Street (U.S. 90) in Marianna, a Northwest Florida city founded in 1827 and rich in history. For 100 years, however, the Russ House was a family residence and seems to have been the focal point for an unusual series of tragedies. These included disputes over a marriage, the loss of a family fortune and the suicide of its builder.

Perhaps because of these events, the house has developed a reputation for ghosts. Photographs taken of the structure's exterior sometimes show what appears to be the indistinct of a man looking out from the windows, even when no one is inside. Visitors report encountering strange scents that remind them of old-fashioned powder or perfume. Employees say the elevator opens and closes on its on and without explanation.

Ghost hunters have investigated the house and have come away convinced that it is haunted by at least two ghosts, one of a man and one of a woman. Those who believe in such things are convinced and many report having seen the figure of a man with a mustache looking down from the top of the stairs. Skeptics, of course, say that the stories originate from the fact that for many years it was a big, weathered, spooky old house.

To learn more about the history of the Russ House and some of the ghost stories told about it, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/russhouseghosts.

The Edgefield Ghost - A Poltergeist in Antebellum South Carolina

Ghost stories abound in the South, but few are as well documented as an incident that took place in the Edgefield District of South Carolina in 1829. It was known at the time as the Edgefield Ghost.

The strange encounter took place in the home of Isaac Burnett and began as strange sounds heard in and around the house, but gradually escalated to what newspapers of the time described as a full blown paranormal encounter. The ghost was not seen, but would routinely talk, answer questions and even whistle songs. Word of the haunting quickly spread through the Edgefield District and scores of other individuals came to see it for themselves. The ghost, or whatever it was, obliged, talking to everyone from neighbors to an old time fire and brimstone Baptist preacher.

The Edgefield Ghost was widely documented in letters and newspapers of the time and continued to be mentioned by editors for decades to come.

The site of the haunting, which gradually faded away in the 1830s, is now in Greenwood County, South Carolina, roughly between the cities of Edgefield and Greenwood. The Burnett house is long gone, as are all traces of the old farm, with only woods and overgrown fields marking the site.

To learn the full story of this remarkable event, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/edgefieldghost.

Pensacola Lighthouse - Pensacola, Florida

Rising 160 feet above the waters of Pensacola Bay, the beautiful old Pensacola Lighthouse has been a Florida landmark since 1859.

Built under the supervision of John Newton, who later became a major general in the service of the Union during the Civil War (he commanded the "Iron Brigade" at Gettysburg after the death of General John Reynolds), the lighthouse has a long and colorful history.

Seized by Confederate forces just two years after it was finished, the light was darkened and its lense removed to prevent Union ships offshore from using it to assist in navigation. Southern troops constructed an artillery battery at the base of the tower and it figured prominently in the massive bombardment that took place at Pensacola in November of 1861. Union gunners across the bay at Fort Pickens targeted the tower and it withstood the shock of at least six direct hits by heavy cannonballs.

After the Confederates evacuated Pensacola in early 1862, the lighthouse was repaired and its lens was replaced. It remains in operation today, although it was automated some years ago.

Numerous stories surround the historic structure, including local tradition that it is haunted by several ghosts. In fact, the tower was featured this week on the popular SyFy Channel program "Ghost Hunters."

To learn more about the historic Pensacola Lighthouse and to see additional photographs, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/pensacolalighthouse.

Bill Sketoe's Ghost: Alabama's "Hole that will Not Stay Filled"

Although the story has been known in the "Wiregrass Region" of South Alabama much longer, it developed a national fascination after it appeared as a chapter in noted writer Kathryn Tucker Windham's popular book, 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey. She called it the tale of the "hole that will not stay filled."

It is the story of Bill Sketoe. Or rather, the story of his ghost.

Although Mrs. Windham, using the information available to her at that time, wrote that Sketoe was a native of Spain, he actually was born in South Carolina in 1818. His father, however, was from Spain. Along with many other members of his family, he migrated down to Dale County, Alabama, during the years before the Civil War.

The exact details of the events leading up to his hanging are murky. Sketoe's family maintains that he was a Methodist minister and Confederate soldier who had hired a substitute to fill his place in the ranks of the Southern army while he came home to care for his sick wife. As the story goes, he was on his way back home from a visit to the county seat of Newton when he was taken prisoner, accused of being either a deserter or enemy of the South, and hanged by members of Captain Joseph Breare's cavalry company.

Taken to the river bank opposite Newton and placed in the back of a buggy or wagon, he had a noose placed around his neck with the other end attached to the limb of a post oak tree. Sketoe, however, was a tall man and when the whip was cracked on the backs of the horses and the buggy or wagon driven out from under him, he was able to keep himself alive because his toes touched the ground. To solve this situation, a wounded soldier in Breare's company used his crutch to dig out a hole under Sketoe's feet so he would hang and die.

For more than 100 years, for reasons that no one could explain, the hole mysteriously was swept clean each night. Many thought that the swinging feet of Bill Sketoe's ghost swept away any straw, sticks or other debris that fell into the hole. Others thought that a local resident kept the hole clean as a reminder of his friend's unfortunate death.

Whatever the case, the "hole that will not stay filled" became a major part of Alabama folklore. The real facts of the story are a bit different than the legend, which is common with such tales. To learn more about the ghost of Bill Sketoe and the true story of the events surrounding his death, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/sketoe.

The Bell Witch - Adams, Tennessee

One of the best known ghost stories in American history surrounds an old farm place near the Kentucky line northwest of Nashville, Tennessee.

The story of the Bell Witch has been loosely popularized in modern movies and literature (the movies "An American Haunting" and "The Blair Witch Project," for example). But the real story is much more interesting.

According to tradition in the Bell family, the haunting began in 1817 when strange incidents began to take place on the farm of John Bell. His family lived near the modern community of Adams, Tennessee, having settled there in 1804. As the story goes, the strange events started when Mr. Bell spotted a strange animal on the farm. It had the body of a dog and head of a rabbit, but escaped when he tried to kill it. Almost immediately, the family began to experience a series of strange and terrifying things.

As was the case with the Edgefield Ghost in South Carolina a few years later, the spirit terrorized the family with strange noises and voices and seemed to focus on John Bell and his young daughter, Betsy (Elizabeth). Unlike the Edgefield story, which was reported at the time of the events, the Bell Witch story does not seem to have appeared in print before the latter part of the 19th century, long after the alleged events.

To learn more about this unique Southern ghost story, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/bellwitch1.

The Ghost of Bellamy Bridge - Florida

One of the most interesting Southern ghost stories revolves around an old iron bridge that spans the Chipola River a few miles north of the charming small city of Marianna, Florida.

Local legend holds that the area around the bridge is haunted by the ghost of a young woman who died long before the Civil War. As the story goes, she somehow got too close to an open fire on her wedding night and her beautiful gown burst into flame. She rushed from the house in panic and was so severely burned that she died a short time later.

Since then, according to the story, her ghost has been seen around Bellamy Bridge. Often at midnight and usually in the form of a glowing figure moving through the Chipola River swamps. Her grave is nearby.

It is a fascinating story and while the facts don't stand up to much real scrutiny, the real story is even more fascinating. The Ghost of Bellamy Bridge is a strange combination of 19th century reality and fantasy involving one of that era's most famous novelists.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/bellamybridge. Be sure to check out the photo of the ghost and also click the "True Story of the Ghost of Bellamy Bridge" link at the bottom of the page to read the detailed account of how the ghost story came about.

Springer Opera House: Georgia's Haunted Theater

The historic Springer Opera House dominates a city block in downtown Columbus and is one of the most beautiful buildings dedicated to the arts in Georgia. It also is reputedly one of the most haunted.

The Springer is unique because it opened in the midst of the turbulent Reconstruction Era as a tribute to culture and arts in a time of great violence. Over its long and storied history it has hosted such luminaries as Oscar Wilde, Will Rogers, Edwin Booth, John Philip Sousa, Ethel Barrymore, William Jennings Bryan and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It is a true landmark of Southern history and heritage and, if stories told around Columbus are to believe, at least one of the finest actors who performed there is still hanging around.

According to Columbus legend, the Springer Opera House is haunted by the playful ghost of noted 19th century actor Edwin Booth. Sort of the Brad Pitt or George Clooney of his day, Booth was one of America's most famous actors until a fateful day in 1865 when his brother, John Wilkes Booth, shot and killed President Abraham Lincoln.

The assassination forced the entire Booth family into self-imposed seclusion. But in the 1870s, as animosity over the assassination began to fade, Edwin Booth began an effort to salvage is career. As part of this move, he came to Columbus to perform "Hamlet" at the Springer Opera House. The performance was warmly received and did much to help Booth redeem his career.

Legend holds, though, that Edwin Booth promised to haunt the theater after his death until it staged a performance of "Hamlet" once again. Strange events began in the theater after Booth passed on from this world and continue to this day.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/springerghost.

St. Simons Lighthouse - St. Simons Island, Georgia

One of the most beautiful spots on the Georgia coast, the St. Simons Lighthouse on St. Simons Island is a noted Southern historic landmark.

Built to replace earlier towers, the lighthouse was constructed during the 1870s and is still in use today. The site had earlier also been the location of a Confederate battery during the Civil War and Fort St. Simons, built by the British during the early 1700s. Nothing remains of either fortification, but a cannon on the ground preserves the memory of Fort St. Simons.

From bottom to top, the spiral staircase inside the tower includes 129 steps that reach the catwalk where visitors can absorb a spectacular view of the Golden Isles of Georgia from 104 feet above the ground.

According to legend, the St. Simons Light is haunted by the ghost of one of its former keepers. Newspaper accounts of the time confirm that Frederick Osborne, the keeper of the light in 1880, was shot and killed by his assistant, John Stephens. According to the reports, Stephens believed that Osborne had spoken "inappropriately" to Mrs. Stephens. He shot and killed Osborne, was arrested for murder, but was subsequently acquitted.

Since then, there have been reports that Osborne's restless spirit roams the lighthouse and grounds. Eyewitness accounts of a ghost at the lighthouse appeared in print as early as 1908.

To learn more about the St. Simons Lighthouse and its unusual ghost story, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/gastsimons.

The Ghost of Big Cedar - Branson, Missouri

One of the South's more unique ghost stories surrounds historic the historic Big Cedar resort on the outskirts of Branson, Missouri.

The resort got its start as the private wilderness getaway of two wealthy families during the years before the Great Depression. Harry Worman, a railroad executive, and Jude Simmons, an entrepreneur, purchased the Big Cedar Hollow and its mysterious Devil's Pool spring, a tributary of the White River, as a private resort deep in what was then the wilderness of the Ozarks.

Several of the structures built by Worman and Simmons can still be seen at Big Cedar, now a resort owned by Bass Pro Shops and located in Ridgedale, a community about ten minutes south of Branson, Missouri. The resort has done an outstanding job of preserving and using the structures, incorporating them into the landscape.

Harry Worman was married to a young woman named Dorothy. Census records show that she was half his age and tradition holds that she was unhappy at Big Cedar. She supposedly ran away to Mexico with one of the staff members hired by Worman to maintain the wilderness estate and died there far from her Missouri home.

But if the stories of staff members of the resort are to believe, Dorothy came back home after all. There have been numerous reports of her restless spirit, dressed in a long white gown, being seen roaming the grounds. In fact, it is probably Branson's best known haunting.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/bigcedarghost.

America's Most Haunted Hotel - Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Whether you believe in such things or not, there is no doubt that most Southerners enjoy a good ghost story.

One of the best places to hear some unique ones is at the beautiful and historic Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Built in 1886 to cater to a rich and elite clientel that came to the mineral water spas for which the city was once famous, the Crescent featured beautifully landscaped grounds, elegant dining, carriage rides and even "tea dances."

As America's fascination with the supposedly curative powers of spring water faded, however, the hotel fell on hard times. By the late 1930s, it was in the hands of "Dr." Norman Baker, a radio station owner and former manager of a "mind reading show." Baker came to Eureka Springs to convert the Crescent into an elegant medical facility where he performed a variety of unusual procedures on patients who came to willingly pay for an alleged "cancer cure" that he promoted far and wide. It was, of course, a fraud.

Indicted on Federal mail fraud charges, Baker was sentenced to prison at Leavenworth. During his trial it was revealed that, despite the fact that it operated during the darkest days of the Great Depression, he cleared an estimated $4,000,000 at his pseudo-medical facility.

Once again a beautiful and romantic hotel that overlooks the charming Victorian city, the Crescent Hotel is a focal point for ghost stories, many of which revolve around the structure's association with "Dr." Baker. Some have proclaimed it as "America's Most Haunted Hotel." To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/crescenthotel.

The Ghost of Sketoe's Hole - Newton, Alabama

One of the South's more fascinating ghost stories centers around a spot on the banks of the Choctawhatchee River in Newton, Alabama.

Like many such stories, the legend preserves the memory of a real event. On December 3, 1864, a local man named William "Bill" Sketoe was hanged at Newton by men from Captain Joseph Breare's company of Alabama militia cavalry. The Civil War was then raging and the men accused Sketoe of deserting from the Confederate army. The story preserved by his family is that Sketoe had hired a substitute to fight in his place and was at home caring for a sick wife.

According to the legend, Sketoe proclaimed his innocence to no avail and as he was strung up, prayed that God would forgive the men involved in his hanging.

Things did not go quickly for the man. As he dangled from the limb of a water oak, his feet touched the ground and saved him from instant death. One of Breare's men, however, supposedly used a crutch to dig out a hole under Sketoe's feet so that he could no longer touch ground. He died and was buried at the Mount Carmel Cemetery in nearby Echo, Alabama.

Sketoe's Hole, as the spot became known, was a landmark for residents of the Newton area for more than 125 years. It could be filled up with trash or other debris, but the hole would strangely be cleaned out each night. The unusual activities led to the rise of a ghost story in the vicinity and many became firmly convinced that the ghost of Bill Sketoe still swung at night from the long vanished oak limb at the site. It was said that his swinging feet brushed the hole clean.

The story achieved a measure of fame when it was told as "The Hole that will not Stay Filled" in Kathryn Tucker Windham's popular book, Thirteen Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey.

To learn something of the true history of the story and to find out what eventually happened to Sketoe's Hole, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/sketoe.

The Legend of Noccalula

One of the more fascinating legends of the mountain country of Alabama is the story of Noccalula.

The daughter of a Cherokee chief, Noccalula had fallen in love with a warrior from her own tribe. He was not a man of influence, however, and her father felt that greater benefit was to be gained from her marriage to the leader of another nearby tribe. Noccalula protested, but her father overruled her request and drove her true love from the village.

The wedding with the neighboring chief was scheduled and a great feast was assembled on the planned day. Noccalula was dressed in her finest by the women of the village, but instead of walking to her groom-to-be, she instead slipped away to the high bluffs overlooking a powerful waterfall that flowed near the village.

After considering her fate, she took her own life by leaping to her death in the rocks and swirling water below.

Noccalula's father was heartbroken by the suicide of his daughter and realized that his own harshness had driven her to her death. He decreed that the waterfall should always be known by his daughter's name and it is called Noccalula Falls to this day. Claims have been made through the years that the ghost of the young Cherokee princess can still be seen moving in the mists of the falls.

The truth of the legend, of course, is difficult to verify, but that is often the case with tales of this nature. The waterfall, however, still flows. Now surrounded by a fascinating park and recreation area in Gadsden, Alabama, Noccalula Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the South.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/noccalula.

A Murderer's Ghost in Macon, Georgia

Unlike their counterparts of today, 19th century American newspapers often carried reports or assigned reporters to investigate ghost sightings and similar hauntings. As a result, they provide an interesting insight to many stories of the time.

An example is the 1885 report of a haunted house in Macon, Georgia.

According to widespread reports that year, a house in the community was haunted by the ghost of a man that had killed his wife before taking his own life. Neighbors reported seeing and hearing unusual things in the house and one former friend of the man even went to investigate.

To read the story of the "Murderer's Ghost of Macon, Georgia," please visit: www.exploresouthernhistory.com/maconghost.

The Shooting Star Ghost of Georgetown, South Carolina

One of the strangest Southern ghost stories is that of the "Shooting Star" ghost of Georgetown, South Carolina.

This spectre appeared repeatedly during the decades following the Civil War and was covered by newspapers around the South.

The ghost was believed to have been that of a slave that killed his "master" during the closing years of the war. He paid for this act with his life and, for years after, reappeared and disappeared rapidly in the area. These quick appearances gave him the name of the "shooting star ghost."

If you would like to read an early newspaper account of the "Shooting Star" ghost, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/shootingstarghostsc. Please be aware that some of the language in the article does not fit with modern standards.

The Plowing Ghost of Fernandina, Florida

One of the most unusual ghost stories to appear in 19th century newspapers around the country is that of the Plowing Ghost of Fernandina, Florida.

The ghost was first noticed by a farmer as he looked out the window of his home while sitting up with a sick child. To his surprise, the mysterious figure of a man could be seen plowing a nearby field in the gloom of the night. Although the night was dark, the figures of the man and his horse were strangely illuminated.

The man sent his son out to investigate, only to watch in shock as the boy walked directly through the strange apparition without seeing it.

The story soon became well known throughout the area and was covered by newspapers throughout the country.

If you would like to read more about Fernandina's Plowing Ghost, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/plowingghostofflorida.