The Ohio Ghost Story That Will Leave You Absolutely Baffled
By April Dray|Published October 31, 2017
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April Dray
Author
April is the Ohio staff writer for Only in Your State. She is an Ohio native with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. With more than 10 years of writing experience and a background in news reporting for Ohio newspapers, she's published pieces in multiple print and online publications. When she's not on deadline or chasing after her toddler, she's hunting for hidden gems in Ohio or getting lost in a good book.
It’s no secret that Ohio is full of sinister stories involving ghosts of tragedies past. (This list proves Ohio is one of the scariest states in the country.) But what might be a secret to some are the little-known hauntings that get forgotten over the years by those who don’t live in the area.
Rogues Hollow is one such place. It’s Ohio’s very own version of Sleepy Hollow and most Ohioans don’t even know it exists. From tales of a haunted mill and a crybaby bridge to a shaking graveyard and a headless horseman, Rogues Hollow is one of Ohio’s most haunted areas. You can explore the park today—just be sure to stay away after dark, as that’s when the ghosts come out to play.
Like many rural areas and small towns in Ohio, Rogues Hollow was once a thriving coal mining village near the modern day town of Doylestown, Ohio.
Very few remnants of the coal mining town remain. Chidester's Mill was once mysteriously burned to the ground, but it's been fully restored. Today, it houses a museum where you can learn all about the history of the area.
The hollow is especially spooky at night. One legend even involves a headless horseman that roams the area at night.
Even local historians and residents believe in many of the ghostly tales surrounding the hollow. Russell Frey's self-published history of the town describes the hollow at night. He writes: "Ghosts are best seen in the Hollow on a moonlit night when there are large, fleecy clouds overhead. Then the Hollow fairly comes alive with the residents of the spirit-world, those who had a hand in making Rouges Hollow a wild and dangerous place scores of years ago. It's said that you can see more as twilight turns to pitch blackness of the night. Then you can see nooks and crannies with shadowy forms on the move."
Rogues Hollow was actually once a place notorious for outlaws and gangsters to hide out. Shoot-outs and robberies were common here. And these continued until the early 20th-century. In spite of the town's crooked reality and the peculiar tales, creepy things continue to happen here. Sounds of a crying baby at night, shaking grounds at the graveyard and ghost sightings continue to haunt the hollow and the visitors that dare to explore.
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Today, you can visit The Chidester Mill Museum and the Chippewa-Rogues Hollow Historical Society from June - September.
If you want to know more about the history of the area and the hauntings that go along with it, this is where you'll find the most accurate information. Every October, the historical society even hosts a "Walk the Hollow" event where you hear the spooky tales surrounding the hollow and explore the area at night.
For more information about this fascinating piece of Ohio history and its hauntings, watch the short video below:
What do you think about Rogues Hollow? Do you believe the ghost stories and local legends are true? Let us know what you think!
