Local Legends

With that movie 'A Haunting in Connecticut' coming out at some point soon, I've been giving more thoughts to local legends. My area is packed with legends and folk tales beyond your average 'ghost story'.

The most well-known legend of my town would be The Black Dog of West Peak. There is said to be a ghostly black dog that wanders all of West Peak, a small mountain and popular hiking area in our city's park. The first sighting of the dog is said to bring good luck, the second- great sorrow, and the third- death.

Another, which I'm a bit more fuzzy on, is a story about a guy known only as 'The Leather Man'. He was said to walk everywhere he goes, up and down the east coast, dressed entirely in old, patched up clothes. And not too far from here is a series of large waterfalls lined with perfectly circular holes known as 'Devil's Hopyard'. The holes were thought to be the hoof-print of the devil, formed in anger when the falls got his tail wet.

So, what of it, GFF? Does your town have any stories it tells, legends or folk tales?

How ya doing, buddy?

Where I'm originally from, Preston, there's an old house just in the outskirts of the city called Chingle Hall. I'm rusty on my History, but when a form of Christianity was illegal in England, the house was used as a secret place of worship. They decked out this house with secret trap doors to hide their shit when a patrol came around. However one day they weren't so lucky on spotting the guards, and everyone who was found in there were killed.

The house is a well known hot spot for ghost hunters, and used to be open to the public. People used to pay money to stay in the house over night, many people said they heard footsteps, felt the sensation of things touching, prodding and dragging them. It was documented that a young girl was locked in one of the rooms and left to die basically, and people get a sad sensation when entering the room.

A friend of a friend said when they went to look around it once, his sister who was a kid at the time was being dragged into the garage where the other children were supposedly hung. I don't know how real this story is, there are so many different stories flying around about the place.

There's a creepy sound clip recorded, it's on the youtubez
YouTube - Chingle Hall Scream

I don't believe anything I haven't seen, but when I went to that place at night remembering all this freaked the shit outta me, so I didn't have the balls to go near the place!

I know it seems to be more of a ghost story than local legend, but it's the history behind tha place that makes it the most famous local legend, it's featured on TV quite a bit on the lameo ghost hunter shows.

I bet there's a shit load about where I live now, I wouldn't mind looking into the history of this place.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

When I lived in Worcester, there was always the high school rumor of Spider Gates (which apparently will have a movie made about it at some point).

Kids would go up there, get shitfaced, and try to provoke whatever goddamn demon they think lived in the Spider Gates cemetery. It's an old Quaker cemetery, so I guess it's special or some shit.

Back out here in the local "hilltowns," I hear a LOT of ridiculous shit - even from local adults.

Cobble Mountain pass is up on one of the peaks of the local mountains. There's a dam back there holding a LOT of water back from flooding us plebes down here in the valley. It's one of the most unsafe dams in the nation, apparently! HA HA HA FUNNY! Due to this, the state shut the pass down and now you can't cross it.

APPARENTLY, a hand full of kids have gone up there and have died due to the mysterious (but all too hokey) giant wolf monster... thing. It has red eyes! It will chase you if you go in there at night and kill you! Even if you're in a CAR!

Because some of the people I know around here religiously believe in this stupid shit, I have gone up there, at night, ready to go. Of COURSE, nothing comes of it except for maybe a state police drive-by (there are people living less than 1/2 mile from the entrance to the pass and THEY WILL report you).

There's apparently another place in one of the local gorges where hunters go. This one I heard from an adult, repeated by people I know. You drive up to the dirt road through the gorge at night. You enter. You drive a ways down (and here's where I've heard variances), and your car battery dies. No matter how many cars in your envoy, all batteries go dead until dawn. You're stuck. Some say only on a full moon, others say all the time.

And o yea. There's some pub downtown Springfield just across the river which was visited by those Rhode Island Ghosthunter people. My father is a regular at the restaurant portion. Some Louisiana place, I think. I've seen the Ghosthunter episode. I laughed. If you believe in this kind of thing, the place was definitely haunted. But you know. Whatevs. Sounds like they have good food. Won't keep me away. =D

One place that I hear about in England is the Ram Inn. I have to admit, that one kind of chills me. If there's one place that could probably convince me of something, it'd be that place. Eerie.

Otherwise, I'm generally a skeptic of these sorts of things. Not an ADAMANT skeptic, but you know. Generally all of it is a bunch of hokey bullshit.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Spider Gates...now that's got Hollywood written all over it just by hearing the name!

I do like hearing about stuff like this, even though most of it is bullshit. The stories some people make up can be fascinating.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Sian

Spider Gates...now that's got Hollywood written all over it just by hearing the name!

I do like hearing about stuff like this, even though most of it is bullshit. The stories some people make up can be fascinating.

I couldn't agree more. I LOVE to hear what people come up with locally. I also like to go see what they're talking about. Sometimes at night, you get bored. =D

((Sometimes, some very elaborate shit comes out of it. I love to hear all the stories, despite being a skeptic. It's fun!))

How ya doing, buddy?

It would be my high school. Among a couple of superstitions that I have heard there (that the school was formerly a burial ground etc, etc), I know of three apparitions that haunt the school.

1. A third grader (some say it was the first or second) that died of some sort of cancer (leukemia is what I've heard) that appeared to a guard and "vanished" when the guard turned his head away.

2. The top floor of the school (5th floor) was haunted by a high schooler who died during a fraternity initiation, where he (stupidly) played Russian roulette. With a loaded .45 pistol.

3. In 1996, one student jumped from the roof of the school due to social problems at school (Muslim guy in a predominant roman catholic school) and is now haunting the building (which at 5 AM looks like a concentration camp without lights).

Oh, also saying "excuse me" while passing ant hills. Apparently there are "dark elves" who reside there. Never excuse yourself and you could get "cursed".

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

When I was visiting a friend in Pennsylvania, we took a trip over to the Bayless Pulp Mill. It's been abandoned since 1933:
Forgotten Pennsylvania: Austin Dam and Bayless Paper Mill

We heard stories about people being trapped and left to die in the old pulp vats. Some said it was the work of ghosts of those who died in the flood, others said it was just crazy killers living in the mountains. We explored the site in daylight and didn't see much, other than a basement level full of unnervingly blue water--old chemicals, maybe. We certainly didn't see any bodies. It's a creepy place though, and I wouldn't want to be around there at night.

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I know nothing of where I currently dwell, but the cathedral precincts I used to live on back in Kent had a tale of a chick several centuries back who'd been buried alive inside a particular bit of masonry.

From what I remember there weren't really any accounts of hauntings though.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Salient Worm

When I was visiting a friend in Pennsylvania, we took a trip over to the Bayless Pulp Mill.

It seems Pennsylvania has many, many local legends throughout <3

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I live near one of the legends in my town. I don't mean near as in, "I'm in the area." I mean, I share the same drive. It's right next door.

It's an old house built by one of the founders of the city for his second wife. However, after moving in--she died from heart disease. There are rumors that people can see her moving through the house or looking out the window.

It's in the hands of the historical society, and I know they go up there, but they've never said anything.

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Originally Posted by Sian

Spider Gates...now that's got Hollywood written all over it just by hearing the name!

I do like hearing about stuff like this, even though most ALL of it is bullshit. The stories some people make up can be fascinating.

FIX'D FOR YOU

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Denicalis

FIX'D FOR YOU

Well, I mean, it is a Quaker cemetery, and that's pretty cool. ;_;

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Quakers aren't cool, Sass. Not cool at all.

Now, if it was a scientology graveyard, we could talk.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Denicalis

Quakers aren't cool, Sass. Not cool at all.

Fuck you, Quakers were awesome.

Quaker Oats. And shit. You know. >_>

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Denicalis

Quakers aren't cool

look at the big man

talkin' shit about somebody who he knows won't fight back because they have a religious belief in pacifism

that's low

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Originally Posted by Pangalin

look at the big man

talkin' shit about somebody who he knows won't fight back because they have a religious belief in pacifism

that's low

I sometimes make fun of the amish on digital media because I know they won't find out.

I also punch Jainists.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

There are quite a few ghost stories for Asheville, where I live now, but since I didn't grow up there I'm not familiar enough with any to retell them. It does have the Brown Mountain Lights though, which I've heard are pretty famous. I remember looking out the car window as a kid while going down the mountain at night after visiting my grandparents in hopes of actually seeing them. I liked the story since it doesn't aim to be about ghosts or anything really specific; just some odd balls of light.

Originally Posted by Some History Site

Probably the most famous of all mystery-light phenomena in the United States occurs in this area. Although they occur all
year long, July through September is the best time to see them. These luminous balls have been described as rolling or tumbling along the ridge, they appear to rise above the ridge, they bump together and pull apart. The lights have been reported to have been seen for hundreds of years. There is a Cherokee legend that claims they have been seen as far back as the 1200's. Legend has it the lights are the spirits of the wives and mothers of Cherokee and Catawba warriors killed in battle, searching for their loved ones. Another story is that the lights are the spirit of a slave searching for his
master who disappeared during a hunting trip.

How ya doing, buddy?

I don't know of any ghost stories or anything of the sort for Phoenix but we do, or rather did, have the Baby Man or Man Baby.

Phoenix News - “Baby Man” William Windsor Found Dead in Home - page 1

Basically this was a guy who inherited a good fortune and became an adult baby. He wore baby clothing, drank bottles, had a crib, bonnet and even hired women to change him and the sort. I actually saw him twice when I was working at Toys R Us.

My first encounter with him occurred when I was coming out of the back store room through the side exit and started down the stroller aisle. Right when I turned I saw the guy dressed in full baby outfits and did an immediate about face. I saw him again a few weeks later this time buying baby formula. Very, very bizarre.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Quote:

It seems Pennsylvania has many, many local legends throughout <3

Back home there's a small road nearby where I live that's supposed to be the home of some Indian ghost that wanders around late at night/early morning. The spookiest thing I've seen on the road was a flock of wild turkey roaming about, though.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by guyinrubbersuit

I don't know of any ghost stories or anything of the sort for Phoenix but we do, or rather did, have the Baby Man or Man Baby.

Phoenix News - “Baby Man” William Windsor Found Dead in Home - page 1

Basically this was a guy who inherited a good fortune and became an adult baby. He wore baby clothing, drank bottles, had a crib, bonnet and even hired women to change him and the sort. I actually saw him twice when I was working at Toys R Us.

My first encounter with him occurred when I was coming out of the back store room through the side exit and started down the stroller aisle. Right when I turned I saw the guy dressed in full baby outfits and did an immediate about face. I saw him again a few weeks later this time buying baby formula. Very, very bizarre.

Bizarre indeed. I wonder if he had that fantasy his entire life...

I just remembered, there's a guy in Preston I've seen once but apparently he's somewhat of a local legend. The first time I saw him he was crossing a very very busy intersection, and by crossing I mean walking right the way through it, with a shopping trolly full of weird stuff that must've reached up a good 12 ft. Thinking about it he looked like a wizard in a suit. When I told my teacher about it he told me that he used to be an insanely intelligent science teacher at the University, but just got a little bit loopy and just wanders around Preston with his shopping trolly. He's meant to be quite pleasant man I hear! I'd love to find out what his story is...

How ya doing, buddy?

There's one just down the road from where I live. It's not hugely famous, but all the people I've spoken to from this area seem to know about it. Boughton Hall. Seems it used to be a halfway house for troubled youth. There was a fire there about 40 years ago, people like to say one of the kids did it but I think that's just meant to be a little story enhancer. The building's just been sat there for years, no one's attempted to renovate it or even demolish it, it's just been boarded up and the gates locked. So naturally kids try and break in.

A few of us did actually one night. Unfortunately I'm rather susceptible to these kind of things, and my mind plays tricks on me. I swear that house was actually staring at me with hatred, the feeling is a little hard to describe, it was as if the house didn't want me to be there. As we approached, a flicker of shadow danced across the wall and out of sight, much too large to be a rodent or even a fox (and no, it wasn't us). And then I started hearing the flames in my head, at which point I legged it to the perimiter wall and scaled that fucker like my life depended on it. Yeah. I don't do spooky.

As for people of local legend, there's a bloke on our road who looks freakishly similar to Saddam Hussein. Almost every day he comes out of his house wearing a cycle helmet, a checkered shirt with a bodywarmer and jeans, and pushes his bike down the hill to the main road. He then stands on the corner and screams obscenities at each and every driver, sometimes with elaborate hand gestures. Occasionally he cycles to the roundabout and continues his tirade from there.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by guyinrubbersuit

I don't know of any ghost stories or anything of the sort for Phoenix but we do, or rather did, have the Baby Man or Man Baby.

Phoenix News - “Baby Man” William Windsor Found Dead in Home - page 1

Basically this was a guy who inherited a good fortune and became an adult baby. He wore baby clothing, drank bottles, had a crib, bonnet and even hired women to change him and the sort. I actually saw him twice when I was working at Toys R Us.

My first encounter with him occurred when I was coming out of the back store room through the side exit and started down the stroller aisle. Right when I turned I saw the guy dressed in full baby outfits and did an immediate about face. I saw him again a few weeks later this time buying baby formula. Very, very bizarre.

We have alcoholics and perverts round here too, I don't think they quite qualify as local legends.

Lewes being a Norman town however, we have hundreds of supposedly haunted houses and shit like that. The ruins of the Priory are chock full of ghosts, as is the castle, Anne of Cleaves house, the old west gate house and half the pubs. Can't say I've ever seen any myself though.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Pubs always seem like places that are noted to be haunted. My boyfriend works at the British Legion, he swears he saw something one night when they were locking up. The owners also say the basement is haunted, and some tough army commando navy dudes get too shit scared to go down there.

I watched this shitty ghost hunter programme one late night and these 3 stupid American girls spent a night in a English pub and nothing fucking happened. At the end there was this title screen saying "During the night, there were cold breezes and a tap turned on all by itself. YOU DECIDE"

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I have heard that carbon monoxide, before it is lethal, is a potent hallucinogenic.

If you had a bad chimney and went to sleep with a fire on you may wake up tripping balls. Of course, you wouldn't know you are tripping balls, and you'd think you are seeing spirits or something. I have heard this as an explanation for a lot of visions people had in old mansions.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I think the legend closest to my area is probably the Nightmarchers, ghosts of ancient Hawaiian warriors that roam around old battlefields carrying torches. You're not supposed to look at them, otherwise they'll kill you, or you simply disappear forever. This one probably scared me the most growing up.

Morgan's Corner in the Nuuanu Pali area (this is probably one of the most haunted areas on Oahu when you read up on legends) of Oahu is home to the "teens go make out in the woods, girl hears noise, boy goes out and gets murderfied and hung above the car" urban legend. But I think the story for us had something to do with a girl hanging herself near the home of the Morgan family. People say they often see fireballs and strange lights in the area, too.

A Japanese "mujina" used to haunt the restroom of an old drive-in that has long since been closed/demolished. It was always a faceless woman with beautiful long hair. My mom swears that long before I was born, she saw this faceless woman wearing a bright white dress, floating around the graveyard right next to the drive-in. Dunno whether I believe her, she likes to pull my leg sometimes.

My favorite is the one about pork..you are never supposed to carry pork of any kind in your car when you drive over the old Pali road or else your car will stop and the pork will rot. I think the legend was about how Pele lived on one side of the island, and the half man-half pig demigod lived on the other and they didn't like each other. So if you take pork over to that side of the island, you're taking a piece of the god and you will not be allowed to cross.

I've always wanted to try the pork one but I'm real chicken shit to visit any of these areas in general. There used to be a ghost tour visiting the most haunted places on the island, given by the author of a book here called "Obake Files." Books full of all kinds of local legends..scratching/choking ghosts, haunted ancient Hawaiian artifacts...love the book but I always freak myself out by the end like an ass.

Jam it back in, in the dark.