A FewHaunted Places in N.W.Pa.

[jgisafishin]

Where I live in Pennsylvania there are a few haunted spots near where I live like Axe Murder Hollow, Gudgenville Bridge and the Hotel Evergreens. Axe Murder Hollow was where a guy was supposed to have found his wife messing around with the caretaker so he killed his wife, daughter and the caretaker on a dark and stormy night. Then his house was supposed to have been hit by lightning and he was killed when it burned down. He is supposed to be seen in the woods at night carrying a lantern and an axe looking for more victims. Never saw him myself but when we would see cars parked there we used to park down the road and break out our lanterns that we used for night fishing and spread out. Then one of us would let out a howl and fire up the lantern for a minute. Then the lantern would be shut off and the next guy in another spot oh, say a hundred yards away would do the same thing. By that time the kids that we were spooking would be leaving in a hurry. Little devils we were. The Hotel Evergreens, which was a bar at the time, was once a layover for travelers in the later 1800's. It had rooms on the second floor that were rented to the bartenders and others that were supposed to be haunted. One guy I know said he would wake up in the mornings and his chairs, desk and dresser would have been moved around during the night without waking him. Others would say the same thing would happen in their rooms. I never saw anything like this happen (we would drink up there after the bar closed) but the place gave out a certain vibe, for sure. Unfortunately the place burned down last year. It was arson as the place had been closed and there were no utilities, like electricity. Sad. We also had a covered bridge from the 1800's over a local creek that a horse/donkey (depends on which version you hear) and buggy was supposed to have gone through the side on a dark, possibly stormy night and the horse/donkey was killed. It was said that at night you could hear the horse/donkey on the bridge. Never heard it myself though. A young girl was supposed to be seen in the area of the bridge also. It was said that she was killed near the bridge. Sadly this bridge was burned down this year by two punks who thought it would be funny.

[jgisafishin]

These are tales that have been around for many years around here. There are also several versions but this is the one passed around when I was young (pre-internet days). Others claim that gypsies were involved with the Axe Hollow murders. Yet another claims the guy murdered partying kids. There is also a tale of a young man and his girlfriend getting stuck on the road one rainy night. He went for help and did not return. The girl waited and waited until she heard tapping on the car roof. Finally she got out of the car. She was horrified to find her boyfriend hanging over the car by his ankles and the tapping was blood dripping from his cut throat. Of course there is no way to confirm this story but I don't believe this one to be true. Unfortunately there are new houses around Axe Murder Hollow now. Not many people go there anymore because of this and the many years the police have chased young people away. Erie Pa. and the surrounding area is supposed to have quite a few haunted places around. When my friends were going to Edinboro College there was supposed to be a dorm that a young girl who studied music committed suicide in. Late at night she is supposed to be heard singing or playing music, again this depends who you talked to. One of my friends was in this dorm in 1980 which was when and were I heard the story and he told me he never heard the singing or music. Edinboro College is suppose to have several other haunted places. The Battles House in Girard, Pa. is supposed to be haunted. This is one of the first houses in that area. On Halloween they do ghost tours in the house and on the grounds. On the grounds is the first paupers cemetery, where they buried the poor and unknown. These are just a few of the places that are supposed to be haunted here. Erie Cemetery is supposed to be one of the most haunted places with a story that involves a black dog that is seen and then vanishes (got family buried there which is were I heard of this one). There is another about a mausoleum that is scorched as if by fire but it won't clean up no matter how many times they try. I guess I'll have to haul my butt into Erie and see if I can find that one and take photos. If you type in Axe Murder Hollow you will find sites where these and other stories are already told. The ones I mention are the ones I heard as a young person. The others I didn't know about until I read them on the net and there can be several versions of each of these stories. I myself would have to search the net to refresh myself on them. If you want to find and read them search Axe Murder Hollow Erie, Pa. Well, it is bed time so until next time. :)

[Tkay - Moderator]

Like to see pictures if you ever go there.

[jgisafishin]

It is private property and always has been. Don't know if the site of the house is even there anymore. I guess I'll have to take a ride in the subdivision and see what's up.