Eric Defibaugh - Haunted Lorain County

Published by Haunted America

A Division of The History Press

Charleston, SC

www.historypress.com

Copyright 2019 by Eric Defibaugh

All rights reserved

Front cover: From Jack Brown

First published 2019

e-book edition 2019

ISBN 978.1.43966.799.6

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019943361

Print edition ISBN 978.1.46714.336.3

Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

To my mother, Bunice Bea Defibaugh. She inspired all of her kids to be readers by example, having a book in her hand in every free moment she hadof which there were few, of course, with raising seven of us. The desire to make her proud has always been a driving force in my life, and I like to believe that authoring a book would have accomplished that. I hope she can see me now.

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Even a book this size can be a considerable undertaking, and I will be the first to tell you that I would not have been able to pull it off without the help of some amazing people I am blessed to have in my life.

My sincerest thanks to:

First and by far most, my wife, Judy. Her organizational skills and savvy computer expertise have proven more invaluable than I could have ever anticipated. Beyond that, had it not been for her always being at my side encouraging meon this project and in lifeI would never have been nearly as successful as I am. I literally owe everything to her, and I will forever be grateful.

Alan Leiby. When it comes to knowledge of Lorain Countys history, there are few who can carry this guys water. An author of several excellent books himself, my gratitude for his willingness to share photos from his extensive collection cant be overstated.

Rita Pullen. Easily one of the kindest and most understanding people I have ever had the fortune to meet. First a neighbor, then after the passing of my own mother, a parental figure who looked after me as her own son. Her wisdom has been essential to me, and I always seek out her perspective when considering any major decision in my life, including taking on this project.

Donna and Mark Warner. The years partnering with them for Scarlet Transportations Ghost Tours have taught me so much not only about the paranormal but of the importance of integrity. Their disciplined approach to their investigations forces them to objectively seek out evidence to either prove or disprove a claim rather than filtering it to support a predetermined conclusion. This is a lesson that can and should be applied to all aspects of life.

Tom Adkins. The smartest and most interesting guy I knowI learn something new every time I talk to him. Hes the kind of guy who is so easygoing, you completely lose track of time when engaged in a conversation with him. Toms knowledge of the railroad history of Lorain County is unparalleled in my eyes.

Joel and Shannon Shupp. Hearts of solid gold. Volunteering the amount of time to the community that they do is nothing short of admirable. People like them make Lorain County a better place.

Joyce Rhodes. Her knowledge of the history of the Lorain Palace Theatre and the city of Lorain itself is only surpassed by her genuine enthusiasm and cheerful disposition. She is an absolute gem in Lorain Countys crown.

Jack Brown. His willingness to share his knowledge of photographic equipment and its use has opened so many possibilities to me in my endeavors. And his willingness to lend me some equipment from time to time has allowed me to take some decent photos.

The Lorain and Elyria Public Library Systems. A tremendous resource for any research project, particularly the new microfilm systems, and a quiet place to work when you need to remove yourself from the distractions of home. I found the branches of both systems to be full of friendly faces that were always happy to help.

And the good people of the Spirit of 76 Museumone of the most important historical institutions in Lorain County. Barb, Tim, Cindy and the rest work ridiculously hard and sacrifice personally for the important task of preserving the history of the southern part of the county. They deserve acknowledgement and recognition from every resident in Lorain County.

INTRODUCTION

But I do believe in the paranormal, that there are things our brains just cant understand.
Art Bell

Ghosts. A subject that can generate both scoffs and reverence in equal parts. Books, newspaper articles, television shows, radio programs, movies, campfire storiessome tongue-in-cheek, some notall fuel the fire of public interest and generate revenue. Some variation of are they real? is a question forever on the minds of the sceptics. The answer is that they are certainly real to the people who have had the experiences. Sure, there are hoaxes out there. When attention, notoriety and money are a factor in any situation, there will be people who are more than willing to game the system to get their piece. These stories tend to fall apart quickly under even the slightest of scrutinyespecially in the minds of the doubterseven lies can be based in truth. But what if the credibility of the source is beyond question? Well-respected actor on screen and stage, Patrick Stewart alleges to have seen a ghost while he was performing Waiting for Godot at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Former United States congressman and Cleveland mayor Dennis Kucinich claims to have personally experienced a UFO sighting. Teddy Roosevelt, twenty-sixth President of the United States and founder of the Sierra Club, once wrote about his encounter with a Sasquatch. Would you be able to look a man as accomplished and formidable as TR in the eye and question his integrity? I know I couldnt. Its my belief that somewhere between Teddy Roosevelt and the hoaxes is where most ghost stories lie.

Credibility is important. When we set out developing the Ghost Tours of Lorain County for Scarlet Transportation & Adventure Tours, we knew that our success would hinge on the authenticity of our sources and the plausibility of the story of each location. That is the same approach I took with this book. Many of the stories you will find within these pages originate from solid sources such as clergy members, teachers, law enforcement officers, local businessmen, respected community elders and the likepeople with good reputations and the respect of the community. These are people with something to lose, perhaps not as much as a president or a governor, but enough that I feel confident putting my own name on their word.

The rest is my perspective on the legendary folklore we all grew up hearing. In reading these particular stories, you may find some differences from the version you heard growing upmaybe a detail is out of place, maybe the location is different. Maybe more. I assure you that I have combed through every possible piece of documentation I could get my hands on for the subject, and for some of these storiesGore Orphanage in particularthere are hundreds of documents. It can be tedious work, but when you do this, youll find there is something akin to the game of telephone at play. With each passing generation, some details can be exaggerated ridiculously while others fade into oblivion, leaving us with a tale that vaguely resembles its origins. Its human nature to exaggeratewe all want to impress our friendsbut I feel that its important to remain as grounded as possible to maintain credibility. Thats why I have done my level best to bring you not just a collection of ghost stories but a haunted history of Lorain County that has surrounded, and in some ways shaped, our community for generations. I sincerely hope you enjoy.