You Might Just Spot A Ghost At The Largest Cemetery In West Virginia
By Megan Shute|Published October 14, 2018
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
As one of America’s oldest states, West Virginia is full of history. And with that history come tales of all things paranormal. Cemeteries, in particular, play host to a variety of ghosts and spirits, and while West Virginia has no shortage of cemeteries, there is one destination that stands out among the rest as quite creepy — especially if you visit at night. If you’re interested in ghost hunting before Halloween, head to the largest cemetery complex in the state for a potentially creepy experience.
Welcome to Spring Hill Cemetery Complex, a national historic district located in Charleston, West Virginia where you just might encounter a ghost or two.
Located on a series of tree-shaded and landscaped hills overlooking central Charleston, the Spring Hill Cemetery Complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places more than a century after it was founded in 1869.
The complex is actually comprised of several individual cemeteries, including Spring Hill Cemetery, Mountain View Cemetery, B’nai Israel Cemetery, Lowenstein Cemetery, and Mount Olivet Cemetery. Measuring in at approximately 172 acres, it is West Virginia’s largest cemetery complex.
The cemetery was originally only 20 acres but was added to over time, to include land where a "contagious hospital" once stood before it was demolished by the city of Charleston.
West Virginia Governors William A. MacCorkle (1857-1930) and George W. Atkinson (1845-1925) were laid to rest here, as well as countless others notable figures from the state, some of which are said to roam the grounds as ghosts to this day.
It is said that the cemetery’s potter’s field, a burial ground for paupers and strangers, was once the site of various hangings aided by the mighty arms of an ancient oak tree. Reports have been made by those who have heard the sounds of panicked strangulation, though we’ll leave it to you to stop and listen for yourself…
The Spring Hill Mausoleum, a stone-faced reinforced concrete structure constructed in 1910, is especially unsettling.
With more than 15,000 headstones, paranormal encounters aren’t unheard of at Spring Hill. That being said, the staff doesn’t approve of or sanction ghost hunts, so we may never truly know what spirits might roam the beautiful grounds of Spring Hill.
While you will find stunning views of Charleston from Spring Hill, there is a certain eerieness lingering in the air at this historic cemetery — especially after the sun has slipped beyond the horizon.
Have you ever visited Spring Hill Cemetery Complex and encountered anything out of the ordinary? Share your creepy and paranormal stores with us in the comments below.
If you’re looking for another creepy destination to visit before Halloween, head to this abandoned castle and cemetery hiding in West Virginia.
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