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Harpers Ferry, West Virginia Ghost Tales | |
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I moved to Harpers Ferry in September 2009. I am a paranormal researcher and author and I moved out here to start a new paranormal research team. The headquarters for our team is the Booth house, otherwise known as The Haunted Cottage.
David Hartman, a local historian in Harpers Ferry told us how the home became known as the Booth house. A friend introduced David to a nice man by the name of Roy Booth. He and his father were moonshiners and relatives of John Wilkes Booth. Roy told David what he knew about John. As most people know, Junius, Edwin and John Booth were very famous actors. Like today’s movie stars, they were well-known across the United States.
Harper’s Ferry has been a tourist area for many years. It’s not too far from D. C. And could be accessed by train. One of the attractions that still exists today is the Apollo Theater in Martinsburg. It presented numerous plays and operas. Jefferson, Jackson and Washington also visited the area. However, Route 340 did not exist- only Charlestown Road.
Roy said John Wilkes Booth used to rent a home in Harper’s Ferry for summer use. That home is what is currently known as the “Haunted Cottage” on Old Taylor Lane. Being a charmer of the ladies, Booth had many lady friends. One of them, Pam, stayed with Booth during his stay in Harper’s Ferry. Recently, the home was on land that belonged to Frank Cavalier. It was a dairy farm, but there were also rentals and tenant homes on the property.
Charles Town, WV was the main producer of tin roofs in the United States. It brought two of John Wilkes Booth’s friends, John Yates Beall and John Hager or Yeager (he was unsure), to the area. When Booth learned they were in the area, he found them and rekindled their friendship. However, the Civil War started, sending friends into battle. Jackson & Beall joined the Confederacy. A severe wound (to the lung) left Beall incapable of active military service. It took him 3½ years to recover. During his recovery the Secret Service wanted Beall to free Confederate officers. (The plan was to free captured Confederate officers by derailing the train that carried them. ) He and his companion, John S. Anderson, were captured in Niagara, N. Y. (Anderson testified against Beall in return for leniency. ) President Lincoln signed Beall’s death warrant and refused all requests to reverse that decision.
After Beall was hanged (February 24, 1865), his body was shipped to Harper’s Ferry by train. The wagon carrying the casket to the cemetery passed in front of Booth. This infuriated him. Beall was considered to be the brother Booth never had. Twenty-two days later, Lincoln was assassinated. Did Booth kill Lincoln in revenge for killing Beall?
Although we heard stories of the house being haunted (shadowy figures, apparitions, glowing lights, etc) we were not able to confirm anything until we moved in. However, shortly after moving in, strange phenomena did begin to occur. We even recorded footsteps!
The Haunted Cottage is now a fully functional paranormal research facility. Come and visit us sometime soon!
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- Ghost picture submitted by Vince Wilson
BIGGER SIZE PICTURE HERE
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