One famous Ohio state ghost story is about the Ridges in Athens. It was an old asylum. People claim to see apparitions of former patients wandering the halls. Some have reported hearing strange moans and cries.
There are also stories about the Moonville Tunnel. Supposedly, a railroad worker was killed there long ago. Now, many say they see a ghostly figure near the tunnel entrance at night. It's said that if you pass through the tunnel at midnight, you might feel an icy chill and hear the sound of a train that's not really there.
There are stories of strange noises coming from the abandoned parts of the Ohio State Penitentiary. Some believe these are the ghosts of inmates who suffered greatly while imprisoned there. For example, there are reports of moaning sounds, as if the spirits are in pain. It could be that the harsh conditions and violence in the prison's history left a sort of spiritual imprint.
One well - known Ohio State University ghost story is about Orton Hall. It's said that the ghost of a former professor haunts the building. Students have reported strange noises and cold spots in certain areas of the hall, especially at night.
In some of the old mansions in Mansfield, there are stories of ghostly apparitions. For example, in a particular Victorian - style mansion, a family reported seeing a lady in white. She would appear in the upstairs bedrooms and then disappear. It could be the ghost of a former resident who had some unfinished business or a tragic story attached to the house.
There are rumors about a haunted house on the outskirts of Dayton. The story goes that a family died tragically in that house many years ago. Since then, strange noises can be heard, like the cries of children and the sound of furniture being moved. Some visitors have even reported seeing shadowy figures moving around the rooms.
In the Ohio penitentiary, there's a story about a group of prisoners who formed a pact. They were all killed during a riot. Their ghosts are said to roam the prison yard. Witnesses say they've seen strange mists and heard the sound of chains rattling, which might be the chains the inmates were bound with during the riot. These ghost stories add to the eerie atmosphere of the place, making it a place full of mystery and fear.
There is a story about an old, abandoned house in Dublin. Legend has it that a family died in a tragic fire there long ago. Now, neighbors sometimes report seeing lights flickering in the windows at night when no one should be there. Some even say they've seen the silhouettes of a family as if they are still living in the burned - out house. The local kids are often dared to go near the house, but few are brave enough to actually do it.
The Ohio Reformatory is also said to have the ghost of a young prisoner who died of illness in the prison. His ghost is often seen in the infirmary area. Legend has it that at night, you can hear the sound of his cough and the rattling of the chains that bound him when he was sick. It's possible that the emotional energy left behind by the inmates and the tragedies that occurred within those walls have contributed to these ghost stories.
One famous Delaware Ohio ghost story is about the old haunted house on Main Street. People claim to see a spectral figure in the attic window at night. It's said to be the spirit of a woman who died there long ago.
One famous Youngstown Ohio ghost story is about the haunted Lanterman's Mill. People claim to have seen the apparition of an old mill worker late at night. Some say they can hear strange noises coming from the machinery as if it's still in operation, even though the mill has long been closed for the day.
There's a story in Circleville about a ghostly hitchhiker. Supposedly, a young woman in a white dress can be seen on a particular stretch of road late at night. If you pick her up, she'll disappear before you reach your destination. Some think she was a victim of a tragic accident on that road long ago.