See this at: athensohio.com| Added on 06/29/07

When strangers find themselves in Athens County they will often describe a feeling...something they can't really put into words. Some say this is the spirit of Athens County - its ghosts, legends and special aura. This "feeling" made Athens County an... See more

When strangers find themselves in Athens County they will often describe a feeling...something they can't really put into words. Some say this is the spirit of Athens County - its ghosts, legends and special aura. This "feeling" made Athens County an incredibly popular spot for spiritualists, occult members and novice ghost hunters in the late 1800's and that reputation still lives on today. From the legendary Simms Cemetery to Wilson Hall and the Ridges, Athens County's ghost stories never get old. If you have an Athens County ghost story of your own - let us know. See less

See this at: toddlertime.com| Added on 06/29/07

Opening its doors, the Athens Lunatic Asylum welcomed its first patient in 1874. This state-of-the-art mental hospital was based on the design of renowned architect Thomas Kirkbride and embraced the current societal trends toward institutionalizing... See more

Opening its doors, the Athens Lunatic Asylum welcomed its first patient in 1874. This state-of-the-art mental hospital was based on the design of renowned architect Thomas Kirkbride and embraced the current societal trends toward institutionalizing the insane. The hospital began as a type of long- term care for those not easily accepted or able to function in society. The typical meaning of “asylum” at the time was a safe haven with little likelihood of departure. The original buildings housed 544 patients. Gradually, seven cottages were added to provide housing for a population that was continually increasing at a rapid rate. By the 1930s the patient population had reached over 1,600 and continued to grow until the hospital reached its peak in 1953 with 1,749 patients. The reason for the ever increasing population was the lack of criteria for admittance; patients in the asylum included those that were epileptic, menopausal, alcohol and tubercular victims, and, also, seasonal visitors... See less

See this at: johnbaileyphotograph...| Added on 06/29/07

Asylum, Athens, OH

Asylum, Athens, OH See less

See this at: en.wikipedia.org| Added on 06/29/07

* During the 1940s and 1950s, doctors at the hospital, including Dr. Walter Freeman, "The Father of Lobotomy," performed many lobotomies on patients. Although now discredited as a treatment for mental illness, the surgery on the brain was an accepted... See more

* During the 1940s and 1950s, doctors at the hospital, including Dr. Walter Freeman, "The Father of Lobotomy," performed many lobotomies on patients. Although now discredited as a treatment for mental illness, the surgery on the brain was an accepted medical procedure at the time. * Multiple personality and convicted rapist, Billy Milligan (made famous in Daniel Keyes' book, "The Minds of Billy Milligan") was a patient at the hospital in the 1970s. * The stain left by the decaying body of a 54-year-old female patient has fueled the speculation of those who believe in haunted places. She was found dead in an unused ward early in 1979, after she had been missing for six weeks. * Interior images of The Ridges served as the visual setting for "How To Make Your Movie: An Interactive Film School", an interactive CD-ROM that was produced by Athens, Ohio based multimedia company Electronic Vision in conjunction with film director Rajko Grlic and the Ohio University Film School. [2] * The... See less

See this at: athensasylum.com| Added on 06/29/07

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 hollowturtle You wake up in an insane asylum. Takes...

 hollowturtle You wake up in an insane asylum. Takes... See less

See this at: youtube.com| Added on 06/29/07

once they closed that place down, they essentially just let all the crazies onto the street.

once they closed that place down, they essentially just let all the crazies onto the street. See less

See this at: youtube.com| Added on 06/29/07

please post the conclusion. I love this show and they only play it on holloween,

please post the conclusion. I love this show and they only play it on holloween, See less

See this at: forgottenoh.com| Added on 05/29/06

Deep in the backwoods of Vinton County stands the Moonville Tunnel, a relic from an era long gone. The town it is named for was born when the Marietta and Cincinnati railroad was built through the coal- and iron-rich woods of southeastern Ohio in... See more

Deep in the backwoods of Vinton County stands the Moonville Tunnel, a relic from an era long gone. The town it is named for was born when the Marietta and Cincinnati railroad was built through the coal- and iron-rich woods of southeastern Ohio in 1856. At its peak in the 1870s, the town boasted a population of more than 100--almost exclusively miners and their families. There was a row of houses along the railroad tracks, a sawmill just down Raccoon Creek, a general store, and a saloon. In its early days the residents of Moonville worked in the Hope Furnace nearby, but later on they turned almost exclusively to mining coal underground. The coal was then used in the many iron furnaces in the vicinity, usually the one at Hope, where weapons and artillery for the Union Army were made during the Civil War. See less

See this at: home.fuse.net| Added on 05/29/06

I have heard that in it's prime the small town of Moonville only had about 50-65 people. The area was harsh terrain, and very hilly. Some folk say the small town only had about four real buildings besides the houses that were sparsly scattered about... See more

I have heard that in it's prime the small town of Moonville only had about 50-65 people. The area was harsh terrain, and very hilly. Some folk say the small town only had about four real buildings besides the houses that were sparsly scattered about the area. The town had a schoolhouse, a post office, a general store, and a railroad depot. Today all of these buildings are long gone, except for a cematary (where some of the Moonville people are buried) and a few house foundations. There was also one Saloon, and the town people would often walk the railroad tracks to get to it. But the one thing that remains today that you can still see, is the haunted Moonville Tunnel. See less

See this at: en.wikipedia.org| Added on 05/29/06

The small coal mining town of Moonville existed for only a short time nestled in the deep the heavily wooded appalachian foothills of southeastern Ohio. Located now in Vinton County, within Zaleski State Forest near Lake Hope State Park and the town... See more

The small coal mining town of Moonville existed for only a short time nestled in the deep the heavily wooded appalachian foothills of southeastern Ohio. Located now in Vinton County, within Zaleski State Forest near Lake Hope State Park and the town of Hope. Very little is left of a once thriving mining town except the road bed of a removed railroad track, a few hard to find foundations, a cemetery, and of course the infamous, intimidating, and forboding, railroad tunnel that bears this legendary ghost town's name. See less

See this at: cscwww.cats.ohiou.ed...| Added on 05/29/06

Alden Library’s Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections is home to the infamous "Spook File." This collection of Athens area ‘hauntings’ is known throughout Ohio University, Athens, and surrounding towns.

Alden Library’s Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections is home to the infamous "Spook File." This collection of Athens area ‘hauntings’ is known throughout Ohio University, Athens, and surrounding towns. See less

See this at: cscwww.cats.ohiou.ed...| Added on 05/29/06

Athens is home to Ohio University, which holds one of the biggest Halloween parties in the country. People from all over the nation flock to Athens to take part in the unforgettable experience known as Halloween.

Athens is home to Ohio University, which holds one of the biggest Halloween parties in the country. People from all over the nation flock to Athens to take part in the unforgettable experience known as Halloween. See less

See this at: cscwww.cats.ohiou.ed...| Added on 05/29/06

Much of the perceived spiritualism in Athens may have been caused by one family and a mountain. Mount Nebo is more than 1,000-feet-high (one article states it is just 1,006 feet, while others state that it is 1,058 feet) and is just three miles north... See more

Much of the perceived spiritualism in Athens may have been caused by one family and a mountain. Mount Nebo is more than 1,000-feet-high (one article states it is just 1,006 feet, while others state that it is 1,058 feet) and is just three miles north of Athens. It was thought to be the highest peak in Athens (though an Athens News article from May 17, 1975 states that there are at least 4 higher peaks in the area). However, the spiritualists thought that Mount Nebo was "close enough to the heavens" to feel a "breeze from angels’ wings," according to a 1984 article in the Columbus Dispatch. See less

Highlights: Then, in 1871, Eli Curtis purchased the mountain for $257.50 and said that he would dedicate it "to the Lord of Hosts."

See this at: cscwww.cats.ohiou.ed...| Added on 05/29/06

Hundreds of numbered graves stand along a hillside on the grounds of The Ridges, a reminder that thousands of patients once lived and died on the mental hospitals grounds. A few headstones list names, but most don the institutional stamp of a state... See more

Hundreds of numbered graves stand along a hillside on the grounds of The Ridges, a reminder that thousands of patients once lived and died on the mental hospitals grounds. A few headstones list names, but most don the institutional stamp of a state hospital that saved money by ordering pre-numbered headstones. See less

See this at: cscwww.cats.ohiou.ed...| Added on 05/29/06

At its peak, The Ridges housed 2,000 patients. Thomas Armstrong, from Belmont County, and Daniel Fremau, who thought he was the second coming of Jesus, were the first two patients to enter The Ridges in 1874; but Margaret Schilling and William Stanly... See more

At its peak, The Ridges housed 2,000 patients. Thomas Armstrong, from Belmont County, and Daniel Fremau, who thought he was the second coming of Jesus, were the first two patients to enter The Ridges in 1874; but Margaret Schilling and William Stanly Milligan were among the two most well known patients in the Athens asylum. See less

See this at: cscwww.cats.ohiou.ed...| Added on 05/29/06

When the doors of The Ridges, formerly called the Athens Lunatic Asylum, opened in 1874, mental illness was a thing of shame. Patients were admitted and promptly erased from the memory of society. Mental illnesses were considered afflictions to be... See more

When the doors of The Ridges, formerly called the Athens Lunatic Asylum, opened in 1874, mental illness was a thing of shame. Patients were admitted and promptly erased from the memory of society. Mental illnesses were considered afflictions to be remedied - not disorders to be treated. Practices such as ice baths, excessive shock therapy, induced vomiting and "bleeding" were thought to rid the brain of its maladies. See less

See this at: cscwww.cats.ohiou.ed...| Added on 05/29/06

Everyone who’s ever been to Athens has felt the ominous, looming presence of The Ridges. Secluded on a hill overlooking the city, the former asylum is reminiscent of any number of Jack Nicholson movies released in the ‘70s. Yet, few know the story of... See more

Everyone who’s ever been to Athens has felt the ominous, looming presence of The Ridges. Secluded on a hill overlooking the city, the former asylum is reminiscent of any number of Jack Nicholson movies released in the ‘70s. Yet, few know the story of the self-contained city on the hill that made contractor Henry O’Bleness and his family a small fortune and sustained the southeastern Ohio community when its economy was otherwise in shambles. Few care to discover the names and faces that shaped a community; due to common fear linked to misunderstanding mental illness, fewer still are standing up to claim relatives who vanished into 90-square-foot cells within those brick walls. Originally christened The Athens Lunatic Asylum, the main building of grounds is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, waiting, it seems, for its story to be told. See less

See this at: cscwww.cats.ohiou.ed...| Added on 05/29/06

Mist hung in the damp air like fog at midnight May 1. It was Beltane, a night when Celtic legend said the veil between the real world and the supernatural supposedly disappeared—a perfect night to test local lore that spirits haunt a former mental... See more

Mist hung in the damp air like fog at midnight May 1. It was Beltane, a night when Celtic legend said the veil between the real world and the supernatural supposedly disappeared—a perfect night to test local lore that spirits haunt a former mental hospital. See less

See this at: cscwww.cats.ohiou.ed...| Added on 05/29/06

Athens is supposedly the 13th most haunted place in the world. Rumor has it that there are five cemeteries that make up a pentagram around the Ohio University campus with Wilson Hall in the middle. Quite a few sources cite these five cemeteries as... See more

Athens is supposedly the 13th most haunted place in the world. Rumor has it that there are five cemeteries that make up a pentagram around the Ohio University campus with Wilson Hall in the middle. Quite a few sources cite these five cemeteries as the largest ones in the area: Simms, Hanning, Cuckler, Higgins and Zion. See less

See this at: cscwww.cats.ohiou.ed...| Added on 05/29/06

It was Friday afternoon, just after the rain had died down again for what seemed to be the billionth time that day, when my foot slipped off the trail and sunk my leg knee-deep into a puddle of mud. I looked down at myself, wanting to do nothing but... See more

It was Friday afternoon, just after the rain had died down again for what seemed to be the billionth time that day, when my foot slipped off the trail and sunk my leg knee-deep into a puddle of mud. I looked down at myself, wanting to do nothing but scream in frustration, and I realized that maybe this "hunting cemeteries" thing wasn’t such a good idea, after all. See less

See this at: cscwww.cats.ohiou.ed...| Added on 05/29/06

Athens is full of lore and legend – the heart of which can be found right here among the rich greenery, brick paths, and historic buildings that are Ohio University. One of the best known legends is that of the ghost who haunts 24 East Washington... See more

Athens is full of lore and legend – the heart of which can be found right here among the rich greenery, brick paths, and historic buildings that are Ohio University. One of the best known legends is that of the ghost who haunts 24 East Washington Street. During the Civil War, Athens was torn over the issue of slavery. While the town had many southern sympathizers, it also allegedly maintained several houses used as stops on the Underground Railroad. Reportedly, these included what is now the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at 24 East Washington Street, said to rest atop several underground tunnels linking it to other safe havens for runaway slaves. Nicodemus, a runaway slave, was hiding in one of these secret passages one night when a group of southern sympathizers raided the house. They found Nicodemus and, as he attempted to run, shot him in the back. He died while the sympathizers proceeded to drag his body out of the house. Until the 1970s, nothing more was heard of him. In 1972,... See less

See this at: cscwww.cats.ohiou.ed...| Added on 05/29/06

Residents of Ohio University’s West Green said they had seen the shape of a demonic face on the door...

Residents of Ohio University’s West Green said they had seen the shape of a demonic face on the door of Wilson Hall room 428. Still, few considered the dormitory “the most haunted building on campus.” See less

See this at: cscwww.cats.ohiou.ed...| Added on 05/29/06

Have you seen a demonic face glowing on the door of your dorm room? Are you afraid to play your Bob Marley albums because you've heard that one of his fans will return from the dead if you do? Have disembodied voices ever echoed through the halls of... See more

Have you seen a demonic face glowing on the door of your dorm room? Are you afraid to play your Bob Marley albums because you've heard that one of his fans will return from the dead if you do? Have disembodied voices ever echoed through the halls of your residence? Do lights flicker on and off when no one's there? Is your fraternity house haunted by a runaway slave? Does your toilet paper play supernatural pranks on you? Well, welcome to Athens, which was featured on Fox Family Channel several years ago as one of the scariest places in the world. And Ohio University, which plays such a big role in Athens life, is the locale of some of the town's most notorious ghost stories. The question is: Are any of them true? According to popular tradition, ghosts are spirits of the dead that visit the living, usually without an invitation (which is why they can be difficult to distinguish from your relatives). Ghosts may be malevolent, or they may be harmless and even friendly. They may manifest... See less

See this at: ohioexploration.com| Added on 05/29/06

* Hanning Cemetery - Part of the group of "pentagram" cemeteries, Hanning Cemetery is said to be haunted by the ghost of OU Student David Tischman.

* Hanning Cemetery - Part of the group of "pentagram" cemeteries, Hanning Cemetery is said to be haunted by the ghost of OU Student David Tischman. See less

See this at: geocities.com| Added on 05/29/06

During the first decades of the University, the College Green was known to be used as a pasture ground for local farmers' cattle, and the few remaining bison often found their way onto the Green. Since the coming of the European settlers, the... See more

During the first decades of the University, the College Green was known to be used as a pasture ground for local farmers' cattle, and the few remaining bison often found their way onto the Green. Since the coming of the European settlers, the life-giving buffalo had slowly been disappearing. The local Native American tribes viewed the animals as sacred, and placed a curse on anyone who would harm the buffalo. The last buffalo in Ohio, called Stroud by the settlers, would often spend his days grazing along the banks of the stream that would one day be dammed to form Dow Lake, also known as "Stroud's Run". Following the outbreak of the Civil War, during the driest summer on record, a small patrol of Confederate soldiers crossed the Ohio River from what was then Virginia. They came seeking game to feed their comrades-in-arms. The troops moved in towards the city of Athens, and came across the stream where Stroud spent the hot days of summer. The mighty buffalo stood, grazing in the late... See less

See this at: geocities.com| Added on 05/29/06

During the final days of Moonville, the city was struck with a death sentence: Small Pox. The residents were dying, slowly at first, but soon by the dozens. The stench of death hung over the town, the stagnant air trapped by the surrounding... See more

During the final days of Moonville, the city was struck with a death sentence: Small Pox. The residents were dying, slowly at first, but soon by the dozens. The stench of death hung over the town, the stagnant air trapped by the surrounding mountains. Every day, the desperate residents waited for the passing train to deliver life-saving supplies: food, water, and medicine. Daily the town would gather at the edge of the city... See less

See this at: geocities.com| Added on 05/29/06

Bryan Hall holds the prestigious position of being the oldest residence hall on Ohio University's campus still used as a residence hall, and perhaps the lesser known position as one of the most haunted buildings on campus. What is it, one wonders,... See more

Bryan Hall holds the prestigious position of being the oldest residence hall on Ohio University's campus still used as a residence hall, and perhaps the lesser known position as one of the most haunted buildings on campus. What is it, one wonders, that makes Bryan Hall such a special place to live, and such a favorite place to haunt. No one knows for sure, but none who have lived within its walls can deny the tremendous positive energies that emanate... See less

See this at: geocities.com| Added on 05/29/06

1. Delt House (University Terrace): Strange things started to happen a few years back at the Delta Tau Delta house after some members made a trip to a local cemetery, Simms'. Simms' cemetary, found on Peach Ridge, one of the several mountain ridges... See more

1. Delt House (University Terrace): Strange things started to happen a few years back at the Delta Tau Delta house after some members made a trip to a local cemetery, Simms'. Simms' cemetary, found on Peach Ridge, one of the several mountain ridges surrounding the valley of Athens, is one of the cemeteries said to form a pentagram around the city, with its center over Wilson Hall, on the College Green. Its also listed as one of the most haunted places on earth. The story goes that in the first years of the city, the Simms clan were very involved in city life, with the father serving as local magistrate and executioner, all rolled into one. It is said that after sentencing a criminal to hang for his crimes, the town would process out of town to Judge Simms Peach Ridge home to carry out the verdict. In the dark of night, in the secluded family cemetery, the victims were hung until dead from the branch of an old, dead tree overhanging the family's wooded grave plots. The rope marks on the... See less

See this at: prairieghosts.com| Added on 05/29/06

Soon after, the family got in touch with what would become the Davenport’s spirit guide, a phantom named John King (who would go on to become the busiest spirit guide in the Spiritualist movement). King allegedly told the family to begin renting a... See more

Soon after, the family got in touch with what would become the Davenport’s spirit guide, a phantom named John King (who would go on to become the busiest spirit guide in the Spiritualist movement). King allegedly told the family to begin renting a hall and giving public performances of the Davenport brother’s reputed powers. The boys were only 16 and 14 when they went on stage for the first time in 1855. The initial performances contained tricks also in use by the Fox sisters and by other mediums in the growing Spiritualist movement, including table tipping and rapping. But soon the Davenport brothers began to introduce other phenomena into the act, like musical instruments which floated in the air, playing under their own power, and spirit hands that touched and pulled at sitters and audience members. By the end of the year, they were performing in New York City and had introduced not only the spirit cabinet into their séances, but complicated escapes from ropes and knots as well.... See less