The Ghost of 5th Street Hill

Do you believe in ghosts? Wandering spirits? I do.

5th Street Hill is a common landmark in the Huntington area. A big hill that connects the area near the park to the ramps for I-64. One night, many years ago, my great-grandfather was coming down 5th Street Hill in the rain. This wasn't just an easy sprinkle, but the kind of downpour where your windshield wipers don't matter. A little less than halfway down the big hill, his headlights catch the glow of white cloth. He stops and sees a young bride, clad in her wedding dress, in tears and begging to be taken to the church. It's very late, but the poor woman is soaked to the bone and shivering, so he pops open the passenger-side door and beckons her in. She sits quite still in the seat, and though he tries to make conversation, she only weeps. When they make it to the bottom of the hill, her crying intensifies. Suddenly, the air is cold and as he looks to the seat next to him, the woman vanishes in mist.

This is the Ghost of 5th Street Hill, a local phantom who has appeared every so often since at least the 1940s. Ghost stories give me the heebie-jeebies, but local ghost stories REALLY give me the heebie-jeebies; especially when you're own great-grandfather actually had an experience with it. My mother recalled the story to me some years ago, and not long after that my favorite English teacher told it to our class. It didn't hit me until my teacher told the story that this experience was well shared among the populace of the Huntington area. There is usually some variance in the tale, but it's fascinating to me that such a phenomenon exists here. Seems like you always hear ghost stories about other places, but it's different when it's at home.

I have yet to see the Ghost of 5th Street Hill, but I've had my own encounters with spirits. What about you? Do you have any famous local ghosts? Or had an experience yourself? Comment below or on our Facebook page! We'd love to hear about it!