SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — In the southwest of Summersville, West Virginia, there’s a local legend about the “Ford Ghost.” J.W. Benjamin shared this tale in the W.Va. Heritage Encyclopedia, highlighting details from Lonnie E. Legge that hint at the haunting’s location.
Locals living near Laurel Creek, under Panther Mountain, know about the “Ghost Ford” near old Bethel Church. Before a footlog and handrail were installed, the road crossed a shallow stream there.
Around 1900, this eerie spot was dark, with tree branches forming a tunnel and little sunlight reaching the stream. This was the setting when a chilling event happened to a friend of Lonnie E. Legge’s father.
The story began in the 1870s when a Syrian peddler was murdered at the ford, his money and goods stolen, and his loyal red collie was also killed. The dog’s ghost, rather than the man’s, started haunting the area.
This ghostly collie, blood-red and visible even on dark nights, defied gravity, trotting about three feet off the ground. People would see the dog near the ford, usually appearing about a hundred yards away and staying until they crossed the creek.
Despite their belief in ghosts, locals weren’t too afraid of this friendly spirit, knowing that ghosts wouldn’t cross water. Lonnie Legge’s father recalled an evening when he and a group of boys and girls from Tipton decided to attend a meeting at Bethel Church, six miles away.
After the meeting, the group, in high spirits and teasing about the ghost, walked back. A young man named Charley Grose boasted he would handle the ghost dog if it appeared. As a storm approached, the group saw the red dog trotting beside Charley. Charley bravely reached out to grab it, but the dog vanished, unleashing chaos.
The apparition erupted with smoke and fire, accompanied by a thunderous sound. The terrified group splashed through the creek, running until they were out of breath. They feared Charley was lost, but he eventually called out, scared but unharmed.
This experience ended the group’s nighttime visits past the ford. The girls refused to go after dark, and the boys weren’t as brave without them.
Years later, others also reported seeing a ghost at the same spot. While some swore it was a ram, the confusion likely stemmed from the dog’s fiery appearance.
If you ever visit Panther Mountain and Laurel Run, old-timers can show you the way to Ghost Ford. Try visiting on a dark, stormy night, and you might experience the eerie legend yourself.