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Restless Spirits Supposedly Haunt Area Cemeteries


The many graveyards of Athens seem to be an outlet for both the residents and students of the area and the discontented souls residing beneath the ground.
Upon entering the iron-wrought gates of State Street's cemetery, one stumbles upon crumbling, weathered headstones. The few legible grave markers, however, reveal tales of death such as the "infant daughter of A.G. & P.K. Brown, stillborn Dec. 22 1840."
The spirits of soldiers from battles as early as the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 protect this graveyard. One of these men was "Daniel Stewart, Esq." who died February 20, 1858, a Revolutionary War hero. He "came to Athens in 1803 (and) founded the town of Stewart."
However, not all war veterans rest in peace. In Haines Cemetery near New Marshfield lies the insane spirit of a Civil War officer. His war deeds drove him to destroy his home near the graveyard on All Hallow's Eve and his ghost now haunts the cemetery.
Bethel Cemetery's graves also contribute to the spooky legends. According to church tradition, the dead are buried in the East-West direction facing the rising sun. But, this graveyard located on the western border of Athens County reveals an eerie phenomenon. A group of Bethel's graves extend North-South facing the Summerland witch heaven.
The geography of Athens' cemeteries plays a vital role in the abundant tales of horror. Five of them - Simms, Peach Ridge, Hanning, Hunter and Mathany and Slaughter - circle the city and form a pentagram.
Second-year OU student Ryan Schneider said he "checked it out on a county road map and it's pretty accurate. The sides differ in less than a 1/4 mile each."
The area inside of this figure is protected from evil forces and has supposedly been used by witches for centuries as the focal point of mystical powers.
Simms Cemetery, one of the pentagram five, rests on a slope off of Peach Ridge Road and has been designated the thirteenth-most haunted place in the world by the British Metaphysical Society. The graveyard was named after John Simms who, according to legend, was a local official known for his noose and multiple hangings. Simms supposedly wanders the cemetery at twilight wearing a hooded robe.
It is also said that Mary Roberts, known to be a witch, is buried near Simms and his family to curse them for all eternity.
The cemetery's natural surroundings unveil one final oddity. The graveyard is hidden from view by a rocky cliff, trees and bushes.
According to Athens Magazine, 1972, "the supreme irony of Simms Cemetery . . . lies in the tall evergreen tree growing in the midst of the graves. Close examination shows that it is an arbor vitae, also known as the tree of life."
Two final ghastly tales stem from Hanning Cemetery, another Peach Ridge graveyard and the sight of frightful seances.
Following the death of OU student David Tischman in April 1970, a seance was held at the cemetery in the hopes of contacting his spirit. The ceremony involved a Ouija Board and two black candles. The board's indicator failed to move but the candles' dripping wax spelled out "DAVT4," often interpreted as David Tischman - 4th month.
A second Hanning Cemetery seance is reported to have taken place on Halloween Eve, 1969. The padlock on the graveyard's gate was secure on this calm evening. Following the seance chanting, however, the wind began to blow and upon leaving the cemetery, the members of the seance discovered an unlocked gate and no human explanation for the occurrence.
Ida Wachenschwanz, Millfield resident of 54 years, recalls many nightmarish stories of sweetheart killings and old, spooky cemeteries. "I've heard the tales since I was a kid, " said Ida. "It's really scary and makes you not want to go out on Halloween."
- compiled by Lisa Zamborsky