Ghost Tales Superstitions Of Southern Appalachian Mountains

Adults and children alike enjoy a good ghost tale. The Southern Mountain region is rich with haunted legends and superstitions. These short stories are previously unpublished and have been handed down for generations spanning nearly a century. * On a winding, dangerous road in Rich Mountain a lone driver offers a ride to a pale and sad young girl. He soon discovers that his silent passenger hasn't accompanied him to their destination, and he questions his sanity when he realizes she is gone. There is proof that she occupied the passenger seat, but where did she go? Hugh should consider himself lucky that she didn't stay along for the ride. * A coal miner seeks housing and employment in a small camp in West Virginia, but the only house available is known to be haunted. Previous residents report hearing wheezing and coughing from an unseen occupant hobbling on a cane throughout the house. Many families left the house to escape the haunt, but this miner doesn't believe in ghosts. Will disbelief be enough to do away with the ghostly legend, or will Jim actually discover that ghosts do exist? These and 10 more chilling stories of supernatural, superstition, ghosts and phantoms will incite you to consider the question do ghosts really exist? Can a spirit return from the grave to seek justice? Can a proclaimed fortune teller cast a spell of revenge? Can amulets and good luck charms change your destiny? Discover why the people of the Southern Appalachian Mountains delight in sharing stories around campfires at stir offs, pie suppers, and during brush arbor. Take a step back in time, get a chill down your spine next to a warm fire in the dark of night while smelling sweet sugar molasses. Are you ready to wander into the woods alone? Or will the spirits of the ridge keep you at bay?

The eastern side of the Smokies abounds with spooky tales, like the story of a Shadow Woman who appeared to a farmer each morning and evening to beg for a cup of milk. Skinned Tom is another East Tennessee haunt, though his is a sinister tale that warns the unfaithful to steer clear of local lover’s lanes for their illicit trysting. From the farmer who finds a Cavern of Skulls to a moonshiner who makes a deal with a water demon; and the Half Shaved ghost seeking vengeance to the first (and only) meeting of the Asheville Ghost Club, the Great Smoky Mountains and its foothills abound with spooky tales. My favorites are in this collection.

In the mysterious shadows of the Appalachian Mountains, ghosts linger long after their bodies have been put to rest. This old, eroded mountain chain stretches from northern Alabama in the south all the way to Maine in the northeast. Veteran ghost writer Susan Smitten has written a spine-tingling collection of tales to thrill and entertain: - in Tryon, North Carolina, a woman's great-grandmother continues to watch over her family from beyond the grave - East Tennessee State University has been called the most haunted campus in the southern United States the old lunatic asylum in Weston, West Virginia, is a ghost hunter's paradise - old habits die hard--or don't die at all--for the founder of the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia ...and more, from all over the Appalachians.

Real experiences at some of Tennessee's most infamous haunted locations. A Chattanooga Hotel: Known for the spirit of a beheaded prostitute killed in the late 1800's by a lonely soldier during a time when the hotel lobby was used as a triage for wounded and dying soldiers during the Civil War. Many believe guests have checked in but never checked out. Our experience here may be the 'soul' reason I started researching ghost stories. Oak Ridge, TN: The Old Guest House played a key role in the Manhattan Project, many important people stayed there. Witnesses have heard voices, footsteps and seen apparitions in this vacant building. Can the dead visit in the after-life? Alcoa, TN: The Stone House was built to withstand the Armageddon and beyond, the original owners believed for as long as they built they would have eternal life. The sounds of banging, whispering and other noises have been heard even when the house was vacant and some have seen the apparition of an old man. Incredible story, incredible experiences. Caryville, TN: A former coal mining town known as 'Red Ash' is home to an 8-10ft goat-man with a pentagram carved in his forehead "conjured" to protect the gated grave of an important forefather. A phantom train still runs the train rails tempting youthful thrill seekers to "race the ghost train" many have met disastrous fate adding even more casualties to an area known for death and ghosts. Long ago a man fell to his death from a coal tower where witnesses still hear his voice through the car radio and some have even seen his apparition take the lethal plunge on certain nights. These and more legends are a part of the incredible Red Ash legacy. An old Mental Asylum in Knoxville is a paranormal haven for hearing voices, eerie songs from an old music box; seeing apparitions of an old lady in a rocking chair where the original asylum stood. Is it also home to a dark, evil entity? With a history of patient abuse, neglect, untimely death and satanic rituals anything seems possible. The author researches haunted legends testing the haunt-ability of these locations, while proving that sometimes things really do fit the description of paranormal.

Folklore and ghost stories are important. They connect us to our past, and keep memories alive in one form or another. Unfortunately, many stories and tales appeared in books and periodicals that are hard to find, out of print, or have vanished completely. Inside you'll read about the ghosts, urban legends, superstitions about witches, mysterious creatures, strange unidentified flying objects, and other tall tales from Avery, Madison, Watauga, and Yancey Counties, North Carolina. Some books are good at "spinning a yarn", especially out of Southern Appalachian urban legends. Other books have presented the folklore as presented. Word of mouth can completely change a story, as well. Whenever possible, this book dives deep into a story to uncover the persons and true stories behind the legends.

A collection of ghost stories and folklore from southern Appalachia.

Nancy Roberts has often been described to as the "First Lady of American Folklore" and the title is well deserved. Throughout her decades-long career, Roberts documented supernatural experiences and interviewed hundreds of people about their recollections of encounters with the supernatural. This nationally renowned writer began her undertaking in this ghostly realm as a freelance writer for the Charlotte Observer. Encouraged by Carl Sandburg, who enjoyed her stories and articles, Roberts wrote her first book in 1958. Aptly called a "custodian of the twilight zone" by Southern Living magazine, Roberts based her suspenseful stories on interviews and her rich knowledge of American folklore. Her stories were always rooted in history, which earned her a certificate of commendation from the American Association of State and Local History for her books on the Carolinas and Appalachia.