Just three days after President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in January 1961, bright orange flames lit the horizon of North Carolina in the town of Faro in Wayne County. With the rising tension and fear of a Cold War, a B-52 Stratofortress took to the skies on a long, extended patrol. Sometime around the 12-hour…
The Most Prominent and Wealthiest Black Plantation Owner in the State
Sumter County, South Carolina, is rich in history, haunts, and folklore. From the haunted Church of the Holy Cross, containing not one but two popular ghost stories, to the historic Ellison Plantation, the entire county should have a permanent historical marker stamped on every street corner. One community, Stateburg, is home to William Ellison Jr.,…
Emma’s Light Still Burns in This Georgia Cemetery at Night
Many years ago, a young girl, Emma, was often told ghostly stories by her nurse. Sometimes, the stories were real, and other times, not. Feeding her four-year-old mind ghostly tales made Emma afraid of the dark. One day, the family replaced the nurse with another, but her fear remained until Emma’s father instructed the new…
The Haunted Bethesda Cemetery & Church
This haunted church and cemetery in eastern Tennessee is thought to have it all…well, at least in the paranormal circle of the world. Bethesda Cemetery and Church in Morristown are tied to several ghostly legends. Several Confederate specters have been reported both inside and outside the church. The spirits that are said to haunt the…
The 1886 Charleston Earthquake
On August 31, 1886, the most damaging earthquake in the Southeastern United States and one of the most significant historic shocks recorded in Eastern North America struck Charleston, South Carolina, at 9:51 P.M. local time. Many buildings in the old city were destroyed or damaged. The earthquake, which had an estimated magnitude of 7.0-7.3, had…
The Devastating 1893 Sea Islands Hurricane
Some believe the devastating Sea Islands Hurricane, which struck near Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston on August 27, 1893, to be one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in the history of South Carolina, even surpassing the 1886 Charleston earthquake, Hurricanes Hugo and Helene, and the 1924 Horrell Hill Tornado. And, we can never forget the…
The South Carolina Great Flood of 1908
The great flood of 1908 was the most extensive flood of record. A low-pressure center formed in the Gulf and moved northeast across South Carolina, causing unprecedented statewide flooding. All major rivers in the state rose from 9 to 22 feet above flood stage. This historic event occurred in late August, affecting over 80% of…
The Ghost of Blackbeard Haunts This North Carolina Island
Teach’s Hole in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, specifically Ocracoke Island, is the name given to a channel and spot where the infamous pirate Blackbeard is said to have anchored and met his demise in battle. 1718 wasn’t a great year if you happened to be a pirate in those days. Stede Bonnet and…
The Flaming Ship of Ocracoke
On the night of the new moon each September, a strange and ghastly sight can be seen off Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. A phantom ship engulfed in flames floats by before disappearing into the night. The ship was responsible for bringing refugees to the New World in the early 1700s,…
The Headless Horseman of Camden
Camden, South Carolina, is the oldest inland city in the state. Two Revolutionary War Battles occurred here. Some also believe that Camden was built upon the site of the chiefdom of Cofitachequi, which was founded in AD 1300 and encountered by the Hernando de Soto expedition in April 1540. The area is home to another…