Willis - Haunted Indiana: ghosts and strange phenomena of the Hoosier State

STACKPOLE BOOKS

Copyright 2012 by Stackpole Books

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Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

FIRST EDITION

Cover design by Tessa J. Sweigert

This book is intended as entertainment and as a historical record of ghost stories, legends, and folklore from Indiana. Many of these stories cannot be independently confirmed or corroborated, and the author and publisher make no representation as to their factual accuracy. Readers should be advised that some of the sites described in this book are located on private property and should not be visited, or they may face prosecution for trespassing.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Willis, James A.

Haunted Indiana : ghosts and strange phenomena of the Hoosier State /

James A. Willis ; illustrations by Marc Radle. 1st ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. ).

ISBN 978-0-8117-4572-7

1. Haunted placesIndiana. 2. GhostsIndiana. I. Title.

BF1472.U6W5553 2012

133.109772dc23

2011040272

To Courtney
For allowing me to be the center of her universe,
if only for a while

SO HOW DOES A GUY WHOS SPENT THE LAST TWELVE YEARS CHASING after ghosts in Ohio end up writing a book about Indiana hauntings? Guess you could call it destiny. You see, for years now, whenever my travels took me to the western part of Ohio, Id always know when I was close to the Indiana border. Things just started to feel weird. It wasnt anything you could put your finger on. It was as if all these strange and spooky ghosts and creatures were standing on the other side of the imaginary borderline, daring me to cross over and try to find them.

In late 2007, the two Weird Marks, Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman, tapped me to help out on the book Weird Indiana with Troy Taylor and Mark Merriman. Suddenly, I had carte blanche and permission to step over the border and explore Indiana. And let me tell you, the state didnt let me down.

Sure, the state had plenty of traditional urban legendstales such as Bloody Mary and the Vanishing Hitchhiker. But there was so much more. Having now worked on books chronicling ghost stories for many different states, I can honestly tell you that Indiana has some of the most disturbing and twisted ghost stories in existence. What other state can claim a creature that is half woman and half dog makes its home there? Or have a bridge thats haunted by a ghostly purple head? And of course, leave it to Indiana to give one of the creepiest places in the state the grin-inducing nickname Okie Pinokie.

I also noticed something else as I trekked across the wonderful state of Indiana. Mainly, that the state is very reluctant to give up its ghost stories. I have been to many states where people are literally falling over each other to tell me their ghostly tales. No so with Indiana. They keep their stories close to the vest, which makes it all the more satisfying when they finally give up the ghost (literally) and let you in on their spectral secrets. Then and only then do you realize that these tales have been around for years, many being handed down from generation to generation. Sure, some of the tales leave you scratching your head and wondering aloud, could something like that really happen? But really, thats not the allure of Indianas ghost stories. Rather, its how they have become entwined with actual history to give the state of Indiana a truly rich tapestry of folklore. Thats where the mystique of these stories lies. And really, would we expect anything from a state whose very nick-namethe Hoosier Stateis steeped in mystery and folklore?

So come with me now, if you dare, on a strange and spooky journey across Indiana. Well take a trip over some haunted bridges, pass a few spooky houses, try to explain why Indiana has so many ghosts associated with the color blue, and just for fun, stroll on over to Hells Gate. Along the way, well encounter a few ghosts and even some hideous beasts. This trip will be unlike any other youve ever taken. Enjoy the ride!

FAR AND AWAY, THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF INDIANA GHOST STORIES is in the northern part of the state. This may have something to do with the fact that from the very beginning, people in northern Indiana just seemed to like sharing and trading things.

In the 1600s, some of the first people to cross into what is now Indiana were French fur traders from Canada, who brought with them items from Europe to trade with the Native American tribes there. To further spread their business, these traders plied the waters around Indiana, especially Lake Michigan and the St. Joseph River. They created a large trading post at the rivers southernmost bend. That little trading post eventually grew into a city, and its location along the St. Joseph inspired its name: South Bend.

Some four hundred years later, that same trading spirit lives on among the people of Northern Indiana. Only now, they are trading ghost stories. As I noted in the introduction, Hoosiers tend to keep quiet when it comes to their ghostlore, but this is not so in Northern Indiana. Rather, they seem to delight in sharing their stories.

Anyone who has traveled down the rural roads of Northern Indiana for any length of time gets used to all sorts of things popping up in front of his or her cardeer, raccoons, and even the occasional discarded fast-food wrapper. But take a trip down 5th Road in Bremen and be prepared for the shock of a lifetime when it suddenly looks like youre going to drive smack-dab into the middle of a cemeterya haunted one to boot!

The graveyard in question is Ewald Cemetery. Although a series of ninety-degree turns will take you out of harms way and allow you to continue on your journey, it is nonetheless a bit unsettling to see a cemetery looming in your headlights. Perhaps thats why people started saying that something wasnt right out there. Of course, that doesnt explain why to this day, the cemetery is widely known as Little Egypt.

Although there are several reported ghosts at the cemetery, most of the tales center around those of little children. One of the most popular stories says that if you throw a penny or a nickel on top of a childs grave, you will hear a ghostly cry. This is easier said than done, however. Not only is the cemetery surrounded by a fence that is usually locked, but many of the old stones have unfortunately been vandalized, making it nearly impossible to determine which of the graves belong to children. Still, it is not uncommon to stop by the cemetery and see coins scattered around the grounds, because people throw them over the fence toward random plots as if they were playing a game of chance at a carnival.