Eastern Tennessee has many ghostly legends. I have written many of them through the years. If you have followed The Lantern and our website, there’s a good chance you have read them, as we grew from serving just the Carolinas to include eastern Georgia, Tennessee, and southern Virginia. 1: The Bell Witch: Some legends are…
The Legend of Stonepile Gap
Stonepile Gap in Lumpkin County, Georgia, in Dahlonega, is home to a popular legend. The legend says that Cherokee Trahlyta was told by the Witch of Cedar Mountain of a natural spring that would keep the young woman beautiful and young. Word quickly traveled about her growing beauty, and soon men came across the land…
The Blue Ridge Witch
The Tilley Bend Church was established in 1858 on top of a small hill on Old Dial Road in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Across from the church is a fellowship hall, and tucked behind both buildings is an old graveyard. Many believe the Witch of Blue Ridge is buried there. It should be added that the…
The Ghostly Carriage of Bristol, Tennessee
During the 1850s, streets in Bristol were filled with horses, wagons, and buggies. But, only one man owned a beautiful carriage, and it belonged to the Reverand James King, the pastor of Paperville Presbyterian Church. The carriage was pulled by four horses and driven by an enslaved man named Shadrack Wisdom. Typically, the Reverand would…
The Headless Hobo of Bristol
The Headless Hobo is a ghostly tale in Bristol, Tennessee, and Virginia that has been passed down through generations. The Great Depression hit every family extremely hard, but areas of Appalachia were hit the hardest, which meant living without, and in some cases, starving to death. It was indeed a time when people had to…
Emma still cries at this Virginia Train Station
It seems that every train station has some ghostly tale attached to it. The Bristol train station in Virginia was built in 1856, and the structure survived the Civil War and was rebuilt stronger than ever. William Tompkins, known as “Big Will,” was a frequent visitor to the 72 brothels across the city. His wife,…
The Ghostly Light and Bell of Galax
Many years ago, a family of African-American’s lived in a cabin near Galax, Virginia. Reportedly, a black man was murdered within this cabin, and soon after, travelers along this road late at night could see a bright light moving around in the hollow. This area developed a reputation for being haunted. Other times, a little…
The Legends and Ghostly Tales of Old House Woods
Old House Woods in Mathews County, Virginia, located in the community of Diggs, is renowned for its intriguing legends and ghostly tales. Perhaps it’s because of the Chesapeake Bay, but through the years, this place has earned a reputation for being one of the most haunted places in that state. Locals claim to have seen…
The Ghostly Dog of Old Pipers Gap Turnpike
This appears to be an older ghost story from Galax, Virginia, that has been lost through the years. The legend states that a turn in the Old Pipers Gap Turnpike, near where the road crosses the creek, is haunted by a ghostly dog. Near the turn in the road sits a graveyard, and this patch…
The Vehicle and the Ghostly Pedestrian Accident in Galax
Roy’s Diamond Center, located at 108 S. Main Street in Galax, Virginia, was formerly the Blue Ridge Lines bus station. The site is tied to another ghostly legend. On a foggy night many years ago, a woman stepped from a bus for a cigarette, but she tripped over luggage and stumbled into the street, and…