A Haunting in Tryonville

 

Located between Townville and Centerville in Crawford County, the tiny village of Tryonville is named for a pair of Connecticut brothers, David and James Tryon, who settled here in 1828 and purchased one thousand acres of forested land. The forest, along with a spattering of farms, must look very much the same today as they must've looked in the late 19th century, when an old couple by the name of Huckleberry lived-- and died-- here.

It was in 1895 when stories began to circulate about the ghost of Mrs. Huckleberry, who was seen in her window beckoning strangers after she departed from the realm of the living. What makes the tale of the Huckleberry haunting unique, however, is the fact that old Mr. Huckleberry-- after passing away a short while later-- also began appearing alongside his wife. This attracted the attention of many local spiritualists, who traveled to Tryonville in order to determine if Mr. and Mrs. Huckleberry had some sort of unfinished business, or perhaps an important message to convey. 

The following article, which appeared in the October 11, 1895, edition of the Warren Evening Democrat, describes the haunting:

Some time ago it was reported that a number of people in Trionville [sic], a small town between Titusville and Corry, had seen the spirit of a Mrs. Huckleberry, an old lady who departed some months ago. The story has been revived again in the last few days. It is claimed now, however, that her husband accompanied her over her trip in this mundane sphere.

A few nights ago a man living in the neighboring town of Clappville was passing the haunted house on his way from the village to the depot. When he got opposite the building he heard a deep groan and then a tapping on one of the window panes. Glancing toward the house he was startled to see a figure dressed in white, standing near a front window and solemnly beckoning to him.

The gentleman is a man of nerve and the ghost did not frighten him in the least. He stopped and looked the swaying figure over without a tremor, when it commenced to fade slowly out of sight he simply laughed and called out: "Next time tell me what you want and I'll come to your assistance if it's convenient."

The next night one of the young men of the neighborhood encountered this spirit. He was on his way home from a dance that had been held in a neighboring town. As he passed the haunted cottage he was startled by a loud groan that seemed to come from the upper room in the building. He turned and looked in the direction from which the sound seemed to originate and was horrified to see a ghostly figure in the window. The face resembled that of Mr. Huckleberry, who died there nearly a year ago. As he stood looking at the apparition a second figure suddenly came into view and took a position near the first one.

This was too much for the youth and he took to his heels. The next day he told his associates what he had seen and although they endeavored to make him think that someone had played a practical joke on him, he positively affirmed what he saw was a genuine spirit.

These stories reached the ears of several spiritualists in the community and they have been working ever since to get an audience with these departed spirits. They feel sure that they have some important message for their earth friends and have an idea that they can assist them. They have formed circles several times in the building but have had their troubles so far for nothing.