Jefferson County Hauntings & Legends

On this page you will find haunted locations and legends of Jefferson County. Many of these are genuine and documented haunts, but others may be legend or hearsay. Remember, we do not condone trespassing. Always seek permission before entering private property. If you know of a haunting or legend not listed for this county, please submit them through our Haunting Submission Form.

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 Oak Grove 

Oak Grove School – It is said that late at night, ghostly skeletons and headless figures in white are seen in the windows carrying lanterns.

 Steubenville 

Harding Middle School – The school was supposedly haunted by the ghost of a music teacher who was allegedly killed by one of his students in the 1980s. His ghost was said to walk the halls at night and some students claimed to have seen his face appear in the windows throughout the building. Some witnesses reported hearing unexplainable music coming from Room 200, which had been renovated five years after the incident. The building was demolished in 2002 and replaced with a new school. It is unknown if any of the paranormal activity has carried over to the new building.

State Route 7 – The spirit of a woman is said to beg for a ride to Steubenville along State Route 7. It is said that if one gives her a ride, they will never be heard from again.

Steubenville Library – Built in 1902, the library is said to be haunted by its first librarian, Ellen Summers Wilson. Wilson’s ghost particularly haunts her former office in the attic. She is so well known that the library placed a sign on the attic door that reads, “Home of the Library Ghost.”

 Wintersville 

Cross Creek Presbyterian Cemetery – At the end of Cross Creek Road (Fernwood Road) is an old cemetery where a white figure is reported to have been seen wandering under the trees among tombstones. The figure is usually reported as female and is visible from the road. The cemetery used to be a popular place to park, but few couples go there more than once after hearing strange moaning sounds there. The ghost is not always visible. Trespassers often report feeling that they are being watched or sometimes hear someone following them. The origin of the cemetery’s ghost is unknown.

Loftus Home – An old eccentric lady known as “Old Lady Loftus” lived at the home. She is said to have killed her husband and tried to make it look like a suicide. In life, locals say that Mrs. Loftus would answer any noise with gunfire. After she passed away, many believe she returned from beyond the grave to haunt her worldly house, chasing away trespassers. One person who went to investigate placed their fully-charged video camera in the basement window and the battery was instantly discharged. Witnesses would hear thumping sounds and cars driving by when no cars were present. The Loftus House was destroyed by a fire in the late 1990s. (Credits: Joe DeArdo and Heather D.)

Nancy’s Hole – According to legend, a young girl named Nancy was playing near the creek when she fell in and drowned. Ever since, passersby have reported eerie feelings, cold chills, and have even seen the ghostly young girl roaming the shore. Animals are known to behave oddly in the area.