No one knows where the name originated, but if you have ever visited the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, you have been on Purgatory Mountain. In 1971, a land grant of nearly 1,400 acres from Purgatory Mountain was issued to designate and build the state’s Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
Some believe the name originated from bootleggers who used the mountain as a hiding place; however, the name dates back even further. The rolling hills in this section of North Carolina are also home to many legends and lore, such as the Phantom Car.
One story that seems to slip from time is the hunter’s tale. During the Civil War, Purgatory Mountain and the surrounding landscape were home to many Quaker families. The Quakers didn’t get involved in the war, and the gentleman in charge of the nearby recruiting station didn’t push or force the young men to fight because of their pacifist religion.
However, after a few years, a new recruiter came to the area. The Civil War was nearing an end, and the Confederate forces were depleted. He was described as a mean man who developed the nickname of the “Hunter” for his tactics. One day, the gentleman scoured the countryside, rounding up 22 young men under age 13. The boys were forced to march almost 150 miles to Wilmington. When they arrived, the boys orchestrated a plan to get back home, even if that meant walking through frigid winter temperatures and crossing rivers. It took them over two months to arrive back home, but soon, the hunter began to terrorize their families.
The boys would camp on Purgatory Mountain and only return home to grab rations. Soon, they knew their families would never be safe from the constant abuse administered to them by this evil man. So, they hatched a plan, using their three best sharpshooters to sit on the lookout just above the man’s cabin. The next morning, the hunter walked from his cabin in the early morning hours, and the three young men fired in his direction, instantly killing the man.
After the Civil War, life seemed to turn back to normal for the boys and their families. In the following years, the man’s spirit was seen walking the land until, one day, someone referred to him as the “Hunter of Purgatory Mountain.” It appears the ghost of the hunter is still searching for the boys who made their getaway in the afterlife.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.
Source: Bane, Theresa. “Haunted Historic Greensboro.” Schiffer Publishing, 2009.
