Moonville, Ohio facts for kids
Moonville is a ghost town in Vinton County, Ohio, United States. It was once a small mining community. Today, only a few things are left, like old building foundations, a cemetery, and an old railroad tunnel. This tunnel is famous for many ghost stories.
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History of Moonville: A Mining Town
In 1856, the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad (M&C) was building its tracks through southeastern Ohio. The owner, William Cutler, wanted to save money while building the railroad.
A man named Samuel Coe offered his large property for the railroad to pass through for free. In return, the railroad would help transport coal and clay from his land. This plan helped the railroad save money and time on its way to Cincinnati.
Soon, many coal mines opened in the area because there was a lot of coal. This led to the creation of the mining town called Moonville.
Moonville was never a big town. At its busiest in the 1870s, it had just over 100 people. It is believed the town was named after a man named Moon who ran a store there. The town was very isolated, deep in the woods. People often had to walk along the train tracks to reach nearby towns like Hope or Mineral. Even today, Vinton County is mostly forest and has few people. Back then, it was even more wild.
Walking on the tracks was very dangerous. There were two long trestles (bridges) and the Moonville tunnel. One trestle was only about 50 yards from the tunnel entrance, crossing Raccoon Creek. It is thought that by 1920, at least 5 or 6 people had died on these bridges or inside the tunnel. The last known death was in 1986, when a 10-year-old girl was hit by a train on the trestle near the tunnel.
In 1887, the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad was bought by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O). This line became very important for trains traveling from St. Louis to Washington, DC. Train traffic grew a lot, but Moonville itself started to decline. By the early 1900s, the coal mines were running out and closing. The last family left Moonville in 1947, and the town became completely abandoned. By the 1960s, all the buildings were gone, leaving only the town cemetery and the famous tunnel.
Moonville Tunnel: Ghostly Legends
The Moonville Tunnel is known for many ghost stories. People say that several ghosts still haunt the tunnel and its surroundings. These legends include four different ghosts: The Engineer, The Brakeman, The Lavender Lady, and The Bully.
The Engineer's Lantern
The ghost of Theodore Lawhead, a train engineer, is said to haunt the tracks. He reportedly died in a train crash in the 1880s. Visitors sometimes see a glowing figure holding a lantern, walking along the tracks and through the tunnel.
The Brakeman's Sleep
The Brakeman is believed to be the ghost of a young man who worked on a train. One night, he fell asleep on the tracks. His ghost is said to still be seen near the tunnel.
The Lavender Lady's Scent
Visitors to the Moonville Tunnel have reported seeing a thin, older woman walking near the trail. She then disappears, and the air fills with the smell of lavender. Many believe this is the ghost of Mary Shea, who was killed on the tracks at the far end of the tunnel.
The Bully of Moonville
The Bully is thought to be the ghost of Baldie Keeton, who lived in Moonville. The legend says Baldie was known for his strength. One night, after an argument, he was found dead on the tracks. Many believe he was murdered. Now, the legend says Baldie Keeton's ghost sometimes stands above the tunnel, watching visitors. He might even throw small pebbles. This story was also told by mothers to their children to encourage them to come home before dark.
The End of the Train Line
Even after Moonville became a ghost town, train traffic kept increasing on the single track. In 1973, the B&O railroad joined with other companies to form the Chessie System. This caused train traffic to double, with up to 14 trains passing through each day.
Railroad workers found this part of the line very lonely and isolated. Trains seemed to appear without warning. The line was "dark," meaning it didn't have signals, and train movements were controlled by written orders.
In 1981, a signal was put up at Moonville. Railroad workers were told to use this signal to stop trains, not flashlights. Engineers were only supposed to stop if the signal was red.
In June 1985, CSX announced that this line would be used less often. The last regular freight train passed through Moonville in August of that year. Trains continued to run for a short time, but the line was officially abandoned, and the tracks were removed in 1988.
Today, the area is still open to visitors. The old railroad path now forms part of the Moonville Rail-Trail. About six and a half miles of the trail are open, with plans to extend it further.
Events
Each Halloween, a special festival called Midnight at Moonville is held on the old railroad path and inside the tunnel. It has a Halloween and ghost theme.
Images for kids
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West entrance of the Moonville tunnel
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Location of Moonville, Ohio
