Saturday
Night: Haunted
Houses Tour
Visitors
are often surprised that the upper historical district of Parkersburg has some
of the most elegant homes in West Virginia, including a variation of styles reminescent
of both New England and the southern United States. The
earlier houses date from the early 1800s, through Federal, Colonial and
Victorian styles.
With such mysterious allure, many of the houses are said to be haunted with a host of ghosts and other bizarre unfoldings of the supernatural. Naturally, this section of Parkersburg is richest in ghostly lore. Inside many of the palatial homes are actual visitations from the spirit realm that continue to reach out to the living to express their unrest.
The following are the more intriguing houses and sites on
the Haunted Houses Tour.
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The
Burwell House:
This grand Juliana Street home
was built by Mr. William N. Chancellor in 1865. Chancellor was the mayor of
Parkersburg twice following the Civil War, and built many of the most enchanting homes and hotels in
Parkersburg, including the historic Blennerhassett Hotel where his ghost is
frequently seen along with the ever-present cigar smoke that the staff associate
with his spirit. Mysterious lights are reported in the widow's walk of
this elegant, but hair-raising house. Other spirits have been seen peering out
the front door at passer-bys, especially in October. There is a crossroads
nearby. Still a private residence, does the spirit
of Mr. Chancellor haunt his former abode? There is magic and mystery in
this home to be sure. Let the Haunted Parkersburg tour guides explain!
The Captain's
House:
Built by
Captain George Deming, a sea captain, this house is typical of New England street houses. As a
direct descendant of Miles Standish, the Captain finished his home in the 1850s
but died in 1861 at the age of fifty-four leaving a wife and young children.
Does the Captain's ghost still linger? Mysterious footprints continue to
reappear in the attic of the home. Strange, fluttering lights that some appear in the
casement widow. Join the ghost tour and learn how the spirit of Captain George
Deming still makes his presence known.
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The
Captain's Grave:
Here it
is. While researching the ghost tour, we stumbled on the mysterious Captain's
grave one day, all but forgotten. This is the burial site of the fascinating
Captain George Deming located only a few blocks from his former home at 11th &
Juliana Street. Notice the wonderful carving of the ship. Captain Deming was a
native of Connecticut, but made Parkersburg his home before the Civil War. He
was a native of Connecticut and a real sea captain. This tombstone is nearly 150
years old. Why does the Captain's ghost continue to haunt? Visit the ghost tour
and find out.
Weeping Woman
Statue: The
Weeping Woman statue seems to date from a
time shortly after the Civil War. Some declare she stands up and walks through
the graveyard during the night around the Full Moon. Many have claimed to see
her actually move and have photographed her hands in different positions.
There are a number of unexplained powers that are associated with this curious
statue, for instance, the granting of unselfish wishes. Otherwise, this
fascinating, morose lady watches over the Jackson Family plot. An early family
in Parkersburg, the Jacksons were cousins to famed
Civil War General Stonewall Jackson, as well as being judges and artists. It is
reported that the Weeping Woman sometimes strolls through Riverview Cemetery weeping
over the conflict between North and South during the Civil War. There
are actual photographs taken that show the Weeping Woman statue
with her hands folded in different poses.
Riverview Cemetery closes at dusk. Please respect this rule..
When:
The Haunted Houses Tour takes place each Saturday night. Tours are led into the
older district of Parkersburg where tour goers learn the history of their
historical haunts.
Time: The ghost walk begins at 7:30 p.m. and is under 2 miles long, and lasting under 1 and 1/2 hours. Allow for a longer time closer to Halloween though when crowds are more immense and people tend to walk slower. Bring a water bottle. Wear comfortable shoes. Prepare for sprinkles.
Price:
Cost:
Adults $8.00 Seniors & Students $7.00
Children 13
& Under $6.00 Children 6 & Under FREE
PLEASE NOTE: The houses we visit are private homes and are not open to the public. Please stay on the sidewalk and do not venture onto private property. We like to respect the privacy of the owners who are so gracious to allow us to tell stories about their homes.
Weather:
In the event of inclement
weather, and the tour guides do not arrive by 10-15 minutes after the starting
time, you can assume the tour has been canceled for the evening. We, however, do
our best to deal with wet weather and usually the ghost tour goes ahead even in
instances of light rain.
For more information call (304) 428-7978 or email sheppard@wirefire.com
Go back:
www.hauntedparkersburg.com
