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.