The Place Of Scary - Haunted Places: Old Hwy 411 - Chatsworth ,Georgia

The Place Of Scary - Haunted Places: Old Hwy 411 - Chatsworth ,Georgia: Once the only road in or out of Chatsworth. The area has histories involving civil war battles and the Trail of Tears. People have reported ...

I'm Still Here...

Ok, SO I know what you're thinking...she starts a new blog and already she's negelcting it...
But that's not how it is...

I've spent an ungodly amount of time this weekend researching the haunting at the Old Floyd County Prison. Seems everyone knows about Big Red- supposedly he was so terrible his fellow inmates murdered him. However...no records that I can find tell WHAT he did that was so terrible, when and HOW he was murdered....  so that doesn't exactly make for a good story, now does it? (And I would WELCOME any comments from anyone who knows more of this story...)

Another thing keeping me busy/ crazy is that I now have my own webpage, independednt of blogger, but setting it up is taxing my hamsters, you know? Learning a whole new language/ layout... hope to have it running soon. I will post a link here and I actually plan to transfer this page over to the new one. Don't ask me how... I mean I read how last night but... Mandarin Chinese makes more sense at this point.

I have also been researching the Cowee Tunel haunting for my next book-stay tuned....

I would like to say THANKS to eveyrone faithfully visiting this page. I promise it will get better as I move it over to its new home.

The Ghost of Attaway Plantation- Researching the Past

A couple years ago I found an article in the Waynesboro Citzen (Burke, County Georgia) from the 1800's. The article claims that Colonel S. H. Attaway was having problems with a ghost on his plantation. According to the article, a house on the plantation was haunted by a rather noisy ghost. (I am curious as to whether the house was the main house of the plantation or another house located there.) It seems that no one could remain overnight in the house without being tormented by the ghost. It not only made scary, gutteral sounds, but also opened doors and slammed them shut. Footsteps could be heard walking up and down the stairway. Col. Attaway, himself, admitted to the haunting. He had searched for the source of the haunting, but never found anything.

Sam McClelland claims to have stayed several nights in the house. During this time, doors would open and then slam violently. Doors he distinctly remembered shutting would be found open. He, too, witnessed the mysterious footsteps, moanings and groanings of the Attaway Plantation ghost. Anyone else attempting to stay there overnight told the same story.

I was intrigued by this story. After all, the house had gained enough noteriety to be featured in a local newspaper.

In doing a little research, I found that, while there was a plantation owned by Attaways in Burke, County, Georgia, I could not link a Col. S. H. Attaway to the plantation. The plantation was named Mount Pleasant and was burned by General Sherman on his march of destruction. If any pictures or records of this plantation exist, they have escaped me.

As for Sam McClellend, he did exist. I found evidence of a Sam McClelland living in Burke County during this time period. In fact, both the McClelland and Attaway surnames are quite prevalent when researhing Burke County, Georiga.

Perhaps there was a haunting on the Attaway Plantation... I'd love to know more. Wouldn't you?

Estelle

Estelle is a ghost town located west of Lafayette, Georgia on Pigeon Mountain.  A gold mining town, Estelle served the Alabama and Georgia Railroad.  Originally known as Shaw, Ga, the Estelle Mines were named for Estelle Shaw, daughter of Jesse Mercer and Mary Camp Shaw, owners of the mining operation. When the gold died out in the area, Estelle faded away.

At one time, the camp consisted of 175 houses, two schools, a commissary, a carpenter shop, machine shop, blacksmith shop, sawmill, a steam plant, and a supply house. A six mile railroad ran through seven tunnels into the mine. There is also a cemetery, which can still be found where the two schools were located.

Today, Estelle, particularly the cemetery, is said to be haunted. Visitors have claimed to hear disembodied voices. Ghost hunters have photographed orbs and vortexes, and have gathered quite a few EVP's.

Have you ever visited the ghost town of Estelle?  Did you encounter anything unusual?

I visted the cemetery a few years ago. I was drawn to this lonely place on the mountain, although I knew nothing of its history. I love old cemeteries- haunted or not. I didn't see or hear anything unusual, I just remember that the place carried a very sad feeling.

If you ever find yourself in Lafayette, Georgia, visit the Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Receration Area. Take the time to explore this lonely ghost town. You just might encounter a few former citizens of Estelle.

On Ghost Stories, Greed, and...well, Sometimes a Load of Crap

When I first began collecting ghost stories, I began spending a lot of time with historians and story tellers. I also spent a great deal of time in the Heritage Room at Sarah Hightower Regional Library in Rome. Ga. I made some great friends, I heard some great stories, and I came upon some ugly truths as well.

In one instance, I was reading a rare collection of ghost stories collected in the early 1980s. Copies of this book sold for over $100 on Amazon, as the book was out of print. I read the book front to back and took many notes. There was one story in the book that captured my attention. It was an interview with an old reverend who has since passed away. It was his sincere account of his own paranormal experience, which took place back in the 1940's. He was sincere in his retelling and I had a great deal of respect for him as he tried his best to integrate his fundamental Christian beliefs with what he had seen. Fast forward to months later- I was searching online about a haunting in that same area and I came across a rather well-known website that covers strange and paranormal experiences here in Georgia. Lo and Behold, I read an account of the reverend's story- yet is was being told be another storyteller/ historian who claimed it was HIS experience! As a teacher, writer, and former librarian, this set off every alarm in my little brain and heart. This was wrong on SO MANY levels.  Call me naive. I was floored! Seriously- this was outright plagiarism in my book.

Later on, I was interviewing another storyteller/ historian who was involved with a ghost tour in her town. As she told me stories from the area, I asked about one of the stops on the tour. "Oh no, honey, that one's not true,' she said. 'I mean, the story happened, but it happened elsewhere, We just needed a story for that building so we could include it in the tour. So we just stuck that one there."

A couple weeks ago I posted on the history site of a certain Northwest Georgia town (known for it's "haunted places") that I am collecting ghost stories for a book on Ghosts of Northwest Georgia. I got a (QUICK!!!) response from a lady in that town who informed me that, if I would PAY for a ghost tour of the town, they would share their stories. Sadly, I don't believe a single tale I hear from this town now. I feel like that are making up ghost stories to gain tourism. Being noted in a book would bring in business, would it not? They just sell made-up tales for money, in my opinion.

This has changed the way I look at local legends and ghost stories.  I still love them. I still collect them. However, I also look at the teller as well as the tale. When the average Joe (or Jolene) sends me their sincere personal tale, I take it for the truth. They believe it, so I believe it. But do I believe every story I hear on a haunted tour? No, I am afraid I don't. Where there is fame to be gained, or money to be made (or public recognition being sought).... I take it with a grain of salt.


Am I wrong to feel this way? What are your experiences with tours and such? Maybe I have allowed a few bad apples to wrongfully color my opinions.  I DO honestly listen to and read every tale. It's just that, when certain local celebrities have an agenda... it just makes me wonder....

Resaca Confederate Cemetery

I first heard of this cemetery from a non-ghost-believing friend. However, my first visit was with a couple friends from Southern States Paranormal. We spent an afternoon walking and talking in this quiet, beautiful place. 

This was the first Confederate Cemetery in the US- actually, it was created at the same time as a cemetery in Virginia, so both carry that distinction. Created by the daughter of a southern planter, the cemetery is dedicated to the memory of those who died in the Battle of Resaca. 

Although peaceful during the day, the cemetery takes on another persona as night falls.  Spirits roam here. An invisible guard walks back and forth before the cemetery gate. Other soldiers march back and forth on the hill surrounding the cemetery. A little girl is said to haunt the grounds as well.  Ghost hunters have recorded EVPs as well as taken photos of orbs, vortexes, and even a soldier or two.

The problem with visiting the cemetery (at any time) is the crime rate here. There have been several incidents (non-paranormal) that have taken place here. This is a remote area. making it ideal for drug sealers and others with less than honorable intentions.

I visited the area with a couple of good friends during the summer of 2013.  Long story, but we ended up having to call the police- after getting cornered in the cemetery by some ill-intentioned creeps. 

While a beautiful place to visit, and full of history, this is not a place to venture into alone. As  I mentioned, the crime rate here is considerable, and the creepier element thrives in this remote area. Be forewarned.

The Ghost of Cloudland Canyon- True or Hoax?

In researching tales of the southern states, I came across a tale that takes place in Cloudland Canyon State Park- a hidden gem in Rising Fawn, GA. According to legend, the park is haunted at night by the ghost of a Native American on Horseback. Campers often see him as he quietly passes through the park. However, this spirit doesn't incite fear in guests. Evidently, he makes them feel safe- as if he is watching over visitors to the park.

Here's the thing- In searching the web and the Heritage Room at Sarah Hightower Library, I can find nothing on this haunting. I posted the haunting on my FB page Ghosts of Northwest Georgia. No comments. No takers. SO... I am beginning to wonder- is this a true tale, or did someone make this up? And for what reason? To gain readership? To gain visitors to the park?

Maybe the ghost is for real.  Maybe he just has a small following....

Have you ever heard of the ghost of Cloudland Canyon? Have you seen him?