Special to 1812Blockhouse
Do you believe in ghosts? The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is getting into the spooky spirit with campfire stories about some of the state’s spookiest spots.
“People know about ODNR’s beautiful outdoor spaces, but they may be less familiar with the mysterious backstories that go with some of our historic properties,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “We’re excited to get into the spirit of the season and teach a little lesson about these places all at the same time.”
Fiery embers set the scene for the stories which will be released once a week through October. Telling the tales is Hocking College professor and renowned co-author of books like “Haunted Hocking: A Ghost Hunter’s Guide to the Hocking Hills and beyond”, Pat Quackenbush.
The first story told is that of the Ceely Rose House in Lucas. The home, near Malabar Farm State Park, was the setting of a triple murder in 1896. The house was home to the Rose family: David, who operated a mill on the property, his wife Rebecca, their son Walter, and their 23-year-old daughter Ceely. In June 1896, Ceely poisoned her family with arsenic over their disapproval of her infatuation with their neighbor. To find out what happened next and why some say this site is haunted watch the first video here.
The Ceely Rose house is one of ODNR’s “Let’s Get Historic” sites. Each site is marked with a descriptive sign and a QR code to help visitors learn more. You can find a full list of our “Let’s Get Historic” sites here.
Image by István Asztalos from Pixabay
