Ghosts From Yesteryear Are Said To Haunt This Historic Lighthouse Outside Of Greater Cleveland
By Nikki Rhoades|Published October 11, 2021
×
Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Ghost stories are amazing, if you think about it. While they’re often mere legends, there’s always a bit of truth and history sprinkled into these local tall tales. Here in Northern Ohio, there’s no shortage of stories… whether you’re in Greater Cleveland or on Lake Erie. Today, we’re going to dive into a maritime tale that’s void of any merriment as we explore a haunted lighthouse near Cleveland. Keep this legend in mind, because you might want to visit this lighthouse on future trips to South Bass Island… or you might want to tell its legend by the bonfire tonight.
Just a day trip away from Cleveland is South Bass Island, locally know as the Key West of Lake Erie.
The island, which hosts the community of Put-in-Bay, has a fascinating history... both in terms of its geology and its human influence.
On the southern end of the island is South Bass Island Lighthouse, owned by The Ohio State University... but it previously housed lighthouse keepers beginning in the late 1890s.
This gorgeous 2.5-story Queen Anne Victorian home was built to keep people safe. Its Fresnel lens helped traveling ships spot the shore when visibility was low. If only this safe haven could have protected the first lighthouse keeper.
Advertisement
The first lighthouse keeper, Harry Riley, lived on the island with his assistant, Sam Anderson. Both met an unfortunate demise.
Sam Anderson was said to be an eccentric, and rumors circulated about him capturing snakes on the island and keeping them in the basement of the lighthouse. He was hired in the summer of 1898... just before a smallpox epidemic broke out. It was mild, but at-home quarantines were encouraged. Purportedly, the stress of the quarantine and uncertainty of the smallpox epidemic made Anderson nervous.
Anderson was found floating in Lake Erie at the end of August, having either fallen or jumped off a cliff near the lighthouse. The lighthouse keeper was found wandering just a few days later, and he was declared hopelessly insane.
Riley was committed to an insane asylum where he died about a year later. The lighthouse would operate normally until 1962, but the oddities of these two residents' demise have locals shaken up to this day.
The lighthouse was reported to be haunted as early as 1907, though its most haunted room is said to be the basement, which is, unfortunately, closed to the public.
Today, some visitors still report feeling uneasy near the lighthouse. It's sometimes featured on local ghost walks and is open to visitors in the summer months. Unfortunately, if you're hoping to see it during the spooky autumn months, you might have to settle for admiring it from afar. Don't worry, though... you might catch a ghost wandering the landscape, as a death occurred nearby in the 1920s, too.
Whether or not it is truly haunted, there's a fascinating history here and at other landmarks across the island.
You can spot the historic lighthouse at 2368 Langram Rd, Put-In-Bay, OH 43456.
This lovely Victorian home and lighthouse on Lake Erie is something of a time capsule today… and some of its spectral residents just might have a story to tell. Have you ever had a ghost encounter? We’d love to hear about it in the comments.
This is not the only haunted lighthouse near Cleveland, believe it or not! The Fairport Harbor Lighthouse is haunted by a furry four-legged friend whose loyalty is worthy of legend.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
