Is This Haunted South Carolina Cemetery “Hell” on Earth
What’s the most haunted place in South Carolina? Charleston is what usually comes to mind, but there may be a place overlooked by most, located in the upstate. Spartanburg, South Carolina, happens to be home to a graveyard with a reputation for its paranormal phenomenon (scetv.com).” Oakwood Cemetery (better known as Hell’s Gate) is the most haunted in the State. “The dates on the headstones span centuries, showing that Oakwood has long been chosen as a resting spot for those who hold Spartanburg dear to their hearts. Walking through the cemetery, visitors will find the founder of Converse College, Dexter Edgar Converse, as well as World War II veterans, concert pianist Carlos Moseley, community doctors and businessmen, and Oakwood’s savior, Martha Chapman.
(www.oakwoodcemeteryofspartnaburg.org).” It is Spartanburg’s oldest graveyard, dating back to the late 1800s. The cemetery is beautifully maintained as you walk through it, but the secret to the nickname lies hidden behind a tree line. Individuals who were prisoners, wards of the State, poor, or had no family were commonly laid to rest in Potter’s fields.
The old cemetery was the Potter’s field for the area for more than a hundred years. People have reported experiencing apparitions, glowing orbs, screams, dancing lights, disembodied voices, and temperature fluctuations. Oakwood even has a famous legend of the Woman in White, who haunts the cemetery enshrouded in pale mist. Others have reported feeling a sense of dread, feeling unwell, or having their cell phones mysteriously die. Many have speculated on why the spirits are so restless. According to goupstate.com, in 1914, 314 identified graves from Magnolia Cemetery were moved to Oakwood to make room for railroad expansion. The city sold the land to the Southern Railway for $1. The cemetery went bankrupt, which led to it becoming unmanaged with growth. If those reports aren’t enough to spook the unbreakable, People have even reported seeing people dressed in all black with hoods. The day I visited, something kept drawing my attention to the back of the cemetery towards the tree line. That adventure would have to wait for another day. Hell’s Gate has an underworld that is just as real but not as brightly lit…a Darkside.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr
