Muskingum County Hauntings & Legends

Avondale

Sidwell House - This well-preserved brick house was said to be haunted by a family who was killed there. As the story goes, a husband who drank too much snapped one morning as he watched his wife prepare breakfast. He went upstairs, retrieved his shotgun, went back downstairs and shot his wife in the back. He then went back upstairs and killed his three children as they slept. One could occasionally smell bacon frying in the kitchen long after the event. The house has since been demolished. (Credits: Brian Edwards)

Beverly

Martin House - This house contained a very small, almost airtight secret room in the basement that was used as part of the Underground Railroad. Family members who once lived in the now-condemned house would not enter the basement because of its "mean feeling." An instant cold would surround you as you began to descend the stairway and you could feel the pent-up anger from something still down there. Witnesses have seem movement and forms of people when they were alone.

Dresden

Saint Matthew's Episcopal Cemetery - Visitors to the cemetery often fee like they're being watched. The apparition of a man wearing coveralls and work boots has frequently been seen. He approaches vehicles only to disappear before making it to the car.

Duncan Falls

Bridge Street Bridge - The Duncan Falls Bridge is supposedly haunted by three little kids who left their house after their mother passed away and were left with their abusive father. The three children went to live on one of the islands in the Muskingum River near the bridge. The river flooded one night and the children did not survive. This scene is said to play out at midnight on certain nights. (Credits: Becky Omer)

New Concord

Muskingum College - A site of multiple hauntings, see Muskingum College below.
Private Residence - A private residence in New Concord is the site of numerous accounts of paranormal activity. It all began when a large tree fell onto the house years ago. Since then, appliances turn themselves on and off, a heavy television was moved from the TV stand onto the bed with tapes circling it, and the front door of a VCR in the living room goes in and out on its own. A dark shadowy figure has been seen walking in the kitchen and standing next to the back door. Dogs in the home bark and growl at the fireplace and at random locations. One dog even hid under a bed after an episode and died a week later.

Norwich

Siesta Motel - This motel is haunted by an angry man who was killed there in 1994 by a burglar. The man had been in an argument with his mother and booked a room at the motel to get away. His mother called him later that night, further enraging him. A short time after he fell asleep that night, he was awakened by the sound of someone in his room. Assuming it was his mother, the man attacked the figure in the dark. The burglar, in turn, killed the man. The man's ghost has roamed the entire building since that day. The ghost is known to slam doors, turn lights off, whisper vulgarities, and take things and put them in odd places. Some have even reported being hit by the dark-haired man.
Stumpy's Hollow - First sighted in the early-1800s, the ghost of a man-faced dog haunts the hollow. He spooked horses and cattle in the area for a while and dogged on a young girl's sleeve and ran away. She and her brother had a good look at him. Once he jumped into a carriage next to a doctor making a house call. There haven't been any recent sightings of the man-faced dog.

Muskingum College

Dean's House - It is said on certain nights, one can stand in the middle of the outdoor theater and look up to the Dean's House and see a ghost looking back at you from the upper-most window.
Little Theater - This old, slightly run-down building once served as the school's gymnasium when the campus only had three buildings. Creaking noises and footsteps from the beyond can often be heard.
Patton Hall - Several ghosts haunt this building. In one room where a RA committed suicide, it is always either too hot or too cold. The silhouette of the woman swinging can sometimes be seen in the window. Lights go on and off by themselves in a certain corner room and the ghosts are known to lock people out of the building.
The Hollow - This short, winding path that cuts through some woods is said to harbor a few ghosts. Odd mists hang over the path at night and full-scale apparitions can sometimes be seen.

Philo

Philo Bridge - The bridge between Philo and Duncan Falls is supposed to be haunted by the cries of babies who were murdered there. Another version of the story of Philo's crybaby bridge states that a teenage boy was babysitting his infant brother while his parents were out. For one reason or another, he got into the family vehicle and took his sibling with him. The car went off the bridge and the baby was killed in the accident.

Roseville

Roseville Prison - This abandoned prison just outside Zanesville is said to be haunted. On some nights, the ghost of a woman dressed in white can be seen falling from the roof of the building in a re-enactment of her suicide. Ghostly, shadowy images have also been reported peering out of the guard tower. UPDATE: This property is now restricted and deconstruction has begun. (Credits: Ally and Chris)

Trinway

Prospect Place - Built between 1856-57, this house is haunted by a few spirits. One is that of a girl who jumped out a window during a big dinner party. A mother and daughter who lived in the mansion during the 1860s also haunt the place. The daughter died during a very cold and long winter. Her mother caught pneumonia waiting for the ground to thaw to bury her daughter and died. They remain in the mansion to this day, mostly hanging out around the fireplace.

White Cottage

Bagley House - Various people have witnessed odd things at the house and the sound of laughter can be heard coming from the barn. The structure is not very sound, so use caution if you decide to check it out. (Credits: Angela Martin)

Zanesville

Black Joe - The ghost of an old slave who died while escaping the South via the Underground Railroad is said to haunt the streets of Putnam (a section of Zanesville) and the building that he was buried under.
Cemetery Road Cemeteries - Ghostly figures are said to haunt the cemeteries on either side of the road. They are often seen during the night standing along the side of the road next to their graves, apparently unaware they are dead. They disappear soon after they are seen. (Credits: Alyssa Peugh)
Chandlersville Road Residence - A home in the 2200 block of Chandlersville Road is thought to be haunted. A President Kennedy plate has flown off the wall and into the burners when they were on several times. The sound of a cane hitting the floor can be heard and when investigated upon, the sound stops. Attempts to record the sound have failed. (Credits: Clarice)
Convent of St. Thomas - A ghostly nun is sometimes seen kneeling down at the altar in front of the tabernacle.
Ellis Bridge - This bridge stands above the northern lock on the Muskingum River. Below it is a bike path bridge that was once a railroad bridge. Following the flood of 1913, which killed many local residents, had to mostly be rebuilt. Since then, mysterious lights have been seen gathered around the bridge at night.
James Madison School - Built in the 1850s, this school is supposed to have a haunted basement. It is speculated the ghost could be that of Black Joe, who may have been buried there.
Moxahala Avenue - Ghosts of Civil War soldiers and escaped slaves have been seen along this road and on Putnam Avenue.
Moxahala Burial Ground - In the Putnam section of Zanesville, the cemetery is said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman named Miss Arnold. She died at a young age and was buried there. Her body was stolen a short time later by Dr. Connant (a local doctor) and some of his students. The doctor's horse handler had found the body beneath a haystack on his property. When the town marshal went to retrieve the body, it had disappeared once again. Miss Arnold's ghost now haunts the burial ground looking for her body.
Muskingum County Courthouse - Ghostly figures in colonial-period clothing are often seen walking along the riverfront near the courthouse.
Secrest Auditorium - Mr. Secrest is said to haunt the auditorium. He is often seen in the balcony and on the stairs, and is occasionally seen carrying a ladder. Though Mr. Secrest died in 1993, the auditorium was said to be haunted before then.
Senior Citizen Center - The ghost of John C. Hazlett, whose house once stood on the site, is said to haunt one of Zanesville's senior citizen centers. Hazlett lead volunteer troops during the Civil War from Zanesville to Stone's River, Tennessee, where he was killed by a musket ball during the battle. He was buried near his home which was later built over by the church, and is now the senior citizen center.
Sherwood Drive Residence - Lights turn off and on, and even sometimes explode, in a house on Sherwood Drive. The garage door will open and close and a man can be seen walking around. The first owner of the house reportedly died there.
Steven Guthrie House - Ghostly whispers can be heard in the attic of this house.
Stone Academy - This building is said to be haunted and around Halloween, tours are given of the building.
Y-Bridge - The Licking River ghost rattles windows in the homes around the bridge. The spirit of Doctor Isaac Fowler, whose horse missed the bridge and plunged into the river one foggy night, is also said to haunt the bridge. On foggy nights, he is said to repeat his ride to death.
Zanesville Community Theatre - During rehearsals, ghostly music and people talking can be heard from backstage. When investigated, nobody is found.