Locations:
CapitolTheatre
Constructedin1928,thishistorictheaterissaidtobehauntedbythespiritofaformerusherandotherghostlyfigures Employeesandguestshavereportedsightingsofapparitionsandunexplainedphenomena
The Blue Church
East Wheeling is the home of The Blue Church; an impressive pre-civil war Greek revival church located on the corner of 12th and Byron Streets. The legend of this historic church is that the former minister of St. Matthews Episcopalian congregation, Rev. John Armstrong, was buried beneath the front steps more than a century ago
What was thought to be local lore turned out to have some truth behind it An article published in The Wheeling Intelligencer on November 1, 1866, describes the relocation of the church and potentially the body: “At the building of the new church at the head of Monroe Street [12 St], his remains were removed to it and now rest beneath the chancel”
While The Blue Church is currently not open to the public, you can take a stroll past this spooky site while checking out the rest of the old buildings from Wheeling’s past
Main Street Bridge
The Main Street Bridge is the longest single span stone bridge in the United States and was constructed between 1891 and 1892
Dominick Carey, the superintendent of construction from the Paige, Carey & Co of New York apparently fell from the bridge while heavy stones were being moved It was assumed that the scaffolding gave way, Carey fell into Wheeling Creek, which feeds the Ohio River, and was swept away. Witnesses say they encounter the apparition of the unlucky contractor on the bridge, as well as another possible spirit. Allegedly, the bridge saw another tragic accident. A gentleman leading a team of horses across the bridge stopped to fix a loosened hitch and was trampled to death by his own horses Witnesses have reported being approached by a man who asks, "Have you seen my horses?"
Tunnel Green/ Hempfield Railroad Tunnel
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Built in 1857 by the Hempfield Railroad Company, this legendary tunnel has been a source of intrigue since before it was built This is because the Peninsula Cemetery was moved from above the hill where the tunnel was set up to be located Several bodies of early Wheeling residents were disinterred and relocated There have also been documented accounts of murders taking place at the tunnel, as well as deaths from train accidents It is believed that in the early 1900s, a young man was killed by a passing train as he tried to walk the tracks through the tunnel, and another young man, an immigrant, was robbed and killed in the tunnel As a result of these occurrences, several bypasses have reported seeing ghosts, hearing disembodied voices, and strange sounds when passing through A woman in a black cape has also allegedly been seen at this tunnel, matching the description of the one that has been seen at the Peninsula Cemetery Today, the Wheeling Heritage Trail system runs through Tunnel Green, so you can easily go and see for yourself
Peninsula Cemetery
Located along the National Road, Peninsula Cemetery, sometimes referred to as Foundry Cemetery because of its proximity with a WWII-era factory, opened on May 2, 1842. Before the cemetery opened, many of the area's dead were buried in the East Wheeling Cemetery, including the Zanes family, founders of the city of Wheeling However, the westward movement was in full swing, and this was a highly sought-after location for the railroad. Despite protests from the town, the location of the East Wheeling Cemetery was sold on May 1, 1854, to make room for a B&O railroad Bodies from the cemetery were spread out to several different places More prominent families seemed to choose the new Mt Wood Cemetery, while the Peninsula Cemetery seemed to receive the bulk of the unclaimed bodies Unclaimed bodies were reinterred in the upper end of the cemetery, which became a Potter's Field
The potter's field area of Peninsula Cemetery would receive more bodies over the years Because in the 1890s a smallpox epidemic swept through the area, and many of its victims were buried in the potter's field. Then, in the 1920s, the old Sixteenth Street Cemetery fell out of decommission, and those bodies were reinterred there.
Visitors to the cemetery have witnessed a woman wearing a black cape, standing over a grave which is presumably her own She is only seen in the older section of the cemetery and has been known to chase visitors out
National Road
The Mount Wood Overlook
This secluded spot overlooking Downtown Wheeling offers breathtaking views and an air of mystery The structure, built in 1925, was constructed by a doctor for his wife; however, he was sent away on drug trafficking charges before completion. Across from the Overlook is a cemetery that was built in the 1700s, which is one of the oldest in the area This cemetery houses the graves of the first families in Wheeling The history of the area provides spiritual activity at this location
The National Road is the nation's first federally funded interstate highway, conceived in 1806 Construction began in Maryland in 1811, and today, the road stretches over 800 miles across six states The road reached Wheeling in 1818, and it is in this area which is reputedly haunted Near the Pennsylvania border in Ohio County, the sounds of cannons firing can be heard coming from the surrounding woods. During the Civil War, the road was used to transport troops, and several minor skirmishes did take place along the route
The Ghosts of OVMC’s East Tower
Ohio Valley Medical Center (OVMC) formerly, Ohio Valley General Hospital was a 200-bed health care facility in Wheeling, WV It was founded in 1890 as City Hospital Ohio Valley General Hospital School of Nursing was established on campus in 1892 and was the first school of nursing in the state of West Virginia The hospital closed permanently in September 2019 The site of OVMC has been cleared and a new cancer center is planned for the site While open, employees stated that frequent paranormal activity happened while working the midnight shift on the 7th floor that housed the IT Department. One employee, Sharon Tarleton, stated that she experienced taps on her shoulders, or heard whistling, or wondered why the coffee machine would be turned off when she knew she had turned it on. For more info, see Steve Novotney’s article The Ghosts of OVMC’s East Tower | Lede News
Yesterday's Draught House and Stage
Beginning in 2006, Yesterday's Draught House and Stage had been serving up live music, drinks, and possibly hosting a family of ghosts Yesterday's, which occupied a 4-story building built over 100 years ago, was located at 1056 Main Street The venue is currently closed
While open, they proudly displayed the history of this building. It is believed that in 1908, the building was owned by a millinery operated by Mrs. J.S. Gavin. Around 3:30am on Tuesday, August 11th, 1908, a gas leak caused a fire in the building. Gavin's three daughters, Clara (27), Mamie (29), and Margaret (21), were asleep on the third floor and suffocated to death before they could get out. Four of Gavin's sons, plus two servant girls, escaped serious injury by jumping out 3rd story windows Mrs Gavin herself was gravely injured
Yesterdays promoted the idea that the venue was haunted by the three sisters who died in a fire, over 100 years ago
Surrounding Areas:
Roney’s Point Hospital
Roney’s Point Hospital was originally a tuberculosis hospital built in 1936 where many were sent to die in isolation It remained open until the mid-1960’s when it was converted to a mental health facility housing men and women suffering from drug/alcohol addiction and mental health issues The former state hospital, known as an insane asylum, was common in 1950-1960s and sometimes treated patients with outdated and brutal methods By the early 1970’s, the hospital was shut down Roney’s Point became known as more than just an abandoned building Many witnesses visiting the location report the same things: sudden cold spots, distant humming strange glowing lights and hearing disembodied voices & footsteps
Some believe it is the spirit of a former nurse Others think it is the many souls that died in fear and loneliness Today, the hospital is sealed off and the building is wasting away like souls that occupied it
West Virginia Penitentiary
When thinking of haunted places around the Ohio Valley, the West Virginia Penitentiary is a clear front-runner The prison was in operation from 1866 to 1995 and was once considered the most violent prisons in the US It housed the most dangerous criminals from the region and beyond Throughout the years it was in operation, there were several riots, a fire, and nearly 100 prisoners were executed by either hanging or electrocution. Knowing the prison’s history, it makes sense why it has become known as a site of paranormal activity. Visitors report experiencing cold spots, strange noises, and sightings of ghostly figures. The penitentiary offers tours, ghost hunts, paranormal investigations, and haunted house experiences.
Here is a link to the map of all of these wonderfully spooky placeshttps://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1Bp-vUFca8Ws-vaiXJoHHYD1JwyK5Q70&usp=sharingg
