The Moonville Tunnel

On June 13,2011, after my husband Nick and I explored the Hopewell Furnace and where The Town of Hope once stood, we moved on down St Rt 278 to Wheelabout Rd/ Township Rd 18. After turning left on to Wheelabout Rd we followed it til we got to the bridge at Raccoon Creek. On the left side of the road is a worn down trail, that is the trail to the Moonville Tunnel.  Its a short little hike that takes you along Raccoon Creek and up a hill to the opening of the historic Moonville Train Tunnel, which helped supply the Town of Hope with goods and the transportation of iron ore and coal.  The Moonville Tunnel was build around 1856 only a few years after the Hopewell Furnace went into business and the Town of Hope started to build. The tunnel was an asset to the area but it was also a common place of death. The exact number of deaths that occurred in or around the tunnel is unknown due to poor record keeping and loss of documents. The Breakman job on the train was the most dangerous jobs. His job was to stand atop train cars, using a long metal T-Bar to engage or disengage the break coupling between the cars. The Breakmen worked rain or shine, summer and winter. It was not uncommon to hear of a Breakman falling to his death from a train car. For the ones that did survive the fall they usually lost fingers and other appendages. Another well known death that occurred at the tunnel is "The Lavender Lady", who has said to of died from falling into the trestle of the train after visiting her lover.
The Breakman and The Lavender Lady are known to haunt the tunnel. It is said that at night a lantern or swinging light can be seen in or around the tunnel and cigar smoke can be smelled. The cigar smoke can even be smelled during the day. It is also said that lavender can be smelled at the entrance of the tunnel, it is said to be the perfume of the lady who died after falling through a trestle after visiting her lover. Even though lavender plants are not native to the area.
Hiking the trail to the tunnel, it was amazing to think this was once a town. Once we got to the top of the trail at the opening of the tunnel is was amazing to see the size for the tunnel and its historic beauty. Unfortunately over the years it has been vandalized with graffiti, but its true beauty still shines through.
A few things I experienced at the tunnel were my camera batteries died shortly after walking the tunnel and they were brand new that day, and I smelled the cigar smoke.

On June 15,2011 a few days after Nick and I went to the tunnel, I took my friend Kim, her children, and her dog Sophie to the tunnel to explore. This time I smelled the lavender at the opening of the tunnel at the top of the hill. Also my friend Kim, her children and even the dog got a dry cough. Once we got back to the car their cough went away. My camera batteries went half dead, but when we got back to the car my camera had full battery again. The Moonville Train Tunnel is like any historical place, it has an extensive history and along with that comes stories of  possible paranormal activity. Whether you are into history, paranormal activity, or just into  trains The Moonville Tunnel is something you should see.

Hopewell Furnace

On June 13,2011 Nick and I took a day trip adventure to The Hopewell Furnace and The Moonville Tunnel. Leaving Pickaway County Ohio we took St Rt 56 East through Laurelville and through South Bloomingsville. Hope you dont get car sick, 56 is a very windy road. We followed 56 til we got   to St Rt 278, then you are entering into to the Zaleski State Park area. Its about a 3000 acre park total. While driving down 278 the first place we come along to was  the Hopewell Furnace. There is a lot of history and ole folk lore that goes along with the furnace. The furnace was name Hopewell after the Adena Culture the Hopewell Indians. The furnace was in operation from 1854 to 1874. The Town of Hope came to life from the jobs the Hopewell Furnace created. The Furnace employeed 100 people that worked 12 hours a day and only made 65 cents a day. The Town of Hope flurished with homes, a church, one room school house, and a saloon.  The one room Hope School still stands today. After the closing of the furnace  in 1874 The Town of Hope slowly died; folks left to find new work.  Now all that is left of The Town of Hope is the Hopewell Furnance and the one room school house. While visiting the area we hiked the opposite side of the road from the furnace that was once The Town of Hope. Now its an over grown forest, its hard to believe that there once was a thriving Town of Hope. Old folk lore says the Hopewell Furnace is said to be haunted. It is said that on rainy nights a light can be seen at the top of the furnace and that human wispers can be heard. This is said to be a night watchman that fell into the furnace and burnt to death. However they have never been able to prove that happened or provide a name. While visiting the furnace neither myself or Nick experieced any paranomal activity. Once we got home from our day adventure I uploaded my pics to my computer and then to my facebook page. On  one of the pics, facebook seen a face in the trees and wanted me to tag it. Does that count as Paranormal Activity?

Last Summer my husband Nick and myself started going on little back woods day adventures. We had so much fun trying to find where to go and how to get there. We learned so much history and old folk lore from these places that when I would go back to work, people I worked with like to hear my stories. and would always ask about where I planned to go next.  Since I have always had a dream of writing a book since I was a little girl. I thought this maybe the perfect way to start. Last Summer we went to Moonville and Lake Hope, Turkey Run Church, just to name a few. I will start my blog with my stories from last summer. I hope you all enjoy.