The Green Ghost of Maple Grove Cemetery: A True (and Forgotten) Northeast Ohio Haunting
Hello friends, I’m so happy to be writing another piece for you in my favorite time of year! Given the natural inclination towards ghost stories and other paranormal, creepy and supernatural stories this time of year, I’ve decided to unearth an ancestral ghost story to share with you. This story scared the crap out of me when I was little, and my grandpa told me about what he experienced at that old cemetery off of North Chestnut in Ravenna, Ohio. Before we get into the story of my (now late) grandfather, whom I’m also hoping to honor in my own way with this article, I think it’s necessary to go through the paranormal legends of my little neck of the woods in Northeast Ohio.
I’ve lived in Northeast Ohio pretty much all my life; I was born in Pittsburgh, PA, but we moved back to Ohio when I was 3 or 4 years old. Oddly enough, the apartment we moved into wasn’t so far from the location of this haunting tale, which is told in other stories from varying decades, and varying levels of encounters with this “green ghost”. Ohio is one helluva of a haunted place, and it draws the weirdos like me, who want answers and want to experience it themselves. So while my LA Dodgers bomb this game as the Phillies force a game 4, I’ll instead focus my time on giving you all a good scare.
Ohio’s Haunting History
Ohio, like I said before, is one helluva of a haunted place. Ghost stories, cryptids, and UFO’s are common legends in this area. Ohio is an area of intersection for multiple ley lines, which connect geomagnetic centers from across the globe. On top of that, there were a lot of indigenous peoples who lived here, and were forced out by white settlers. To add even further to this, countless Civil War soldiers hailed from the Buckeye State, as have WWI, WWII and soldiers of wars before and after that.
Legends of the Loveland Frog, Mothman in Southeastern Ohio in the panhandle of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio; hauntings in the Cincinnati area of an old munitions factory (I’ve experienced this personally-a story for another day). It seems as though every county in Ohio is haunted-and those with major population centers-such as Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), Hamilton County (Cincinnati), Franklin County (Columbus), Summit County (Akron), Stark County (Canton), and Portage County (Kent, Ravenna), have some of the most storied paranormal histories-and sites. The Franklin Castle, Mansfield Reformatory (now the site of a museum and the annual Inkcarceration Rock and Tattoo Festival), and countless others can be listed. What I’m trying to say is, Ohio is really fucking haunted.
Without going into anymore specifics, let’s get into the Green Ghost of Maple Grove Cemetery.
The Haunting of Maple Grove Cemetery
Maple Grove cemetery in Ravenna, Ohio, has a long history of Urban legends of hauntings and other spooky occurrences. Built in 1813, Ravenna Township acquired ownership of the land in 1821. The cemetery’s age helps lend the “haunted” aesthetic that, psychologically, induces some of these stories, I’m sure. After all, who hasn’t gone to a cemetery late at night as a teenager, even just for the thrill of it? Below is a particularly haunting photo of two old gravestones I found online, to set the tone of just how creepy this place can be. Also shown is a church on the property, which frankly gives me goosebumps if I look at color photos of it. I won’t include color photos here of the church, but you can find them online if you’re really curious.
Now, one of the most well-known legends of Maple Grove Cemetery is the “Dark Angel” statue and the associated spirit referred to as “Alice”. Legend has it that Alice leaves the statue, which she is bound to, at night to kill livestock. The long version is that after the death of her daughter, Alice built a statue of an angel over her daughter’s burial site. Alice later died of grief herself, and is said to have taken residence within that Angel statue. After her ghastly deeds, she leaves blood on the mouth and hands of the angel statue as a sign of her misdeeds. Is it possible Alice is seeking revenge against those who (potentially) killed her daughter? We may never know, but it’s an interesting possibility, as the area is still near open tracts of land that were once farms. Oh, and to stop the attacks, someone had to cut off the Angel’s Wings and Hands. So the legend says…
The other notable legend of Maple Grove Cemetery is that of the aformentioned “Green Ghost”. No one really knows who he may be, where he came from, nor why he haunts the grounds of Maple Grove Cemetery. All that is truly known of him is his eerie glow; a greenish specter emerges in the darkness and is said to chase curious onlookers out of the cemetery, or worse.
The Green Ghost
As I move forward with this story, I’m going to use literary elements to bring alive, via text, the story my grandfather told me as a child. I want you to experience it as vividly as I did when I was first told this story. It will read a bit like a Poe short story undoubtedly,but I assure you this is a 100% original story, handed down through what is now generations of my family; from my grandpa’s mouth to my ears and memory, and now, to your screen.
The Story
It was the 1960’s; the nation was focused on the Space Race, Cold War, and Vietnam. No one paid much attention to the little town of Ravenna, Ohio, let alone its’ otherworldly inhabitants. Mark was a 20-something year old young man, proud to work hard as a machinist at a local factory, showing his hard work in his prized Red Corvette. He decided, either on a dare, or an act of hubris, to take himself and some friends to the old Maple Grove Cemetery.
They’d all heard legends of the Green Ghost, his chases and supernatural abilities. But that was all superstition and urban legend, right? Tonight they would find out just how wrong that assumption was, for the spirits of Maple Grove Cemetery were awaiting them, eager to whisper haunting stories to those brave or foolish enough to enter the grounds at night. None of these horrors, however, compared to the horror that was surely awaiting them in the Green Ghost.
It’s late at night, in the autumn; a pitch black sky with just a few grey clouds hung overhead, a sliver of the Moon barely illuminating the road ahead. The crisp fall air and rustling leaves are the only thing you can hear, save for the roaring engine of Mark’s gorgeous Corvette. As he and his friends drove closer and closer to the cemetery, they felt a sinking in their stomachs, as if something sinister was awaiting them. Shrugging it off as a “case of the spooks”, they pressed on.
Turning the corner from Prospect to N Chestnut, the old cemetery’s gates welcomed any who dared to enter. They’d heard the legend of Alice, the Dark Angel, who killed livestock after dying from grief. But she was no comparison to the lore surrounding the Green Ghost. This ghastly figure had haunted the campfires of the residents of Ravenna and nearby Kent for decades, and the claims were as varied as are the trees in a forest. Nevertheless, they entered anyway…
As they drove along the then unpaved road of the cemetery, there was an eerie feeling; a presence, as if they were being watched. At some point, someone suggested locking the car doors-which were manual, push locks back then, so that they may (perhaps jokingly) prevent any ghouls or ghosts from coming in-or anyone up to no good.
Try as they may, the locks refused to be pushed down to lock the car doors. They were stuck in the unlocked, upright position. Try as they may with all their strength to push those locks down, it proved futile. How impossible! Yet, it was happening right in front of their eyes. They began to worry, and panic was stricken on the girls’ faces, while the guys kept trying to lock the doors. Never before had this happened-and in a new Corvette, at that! Mark continued driving along the path, going as fast as he could while still being safe. Once they exited the cemetery, the doors were able to be locked again, much to the relief of Mark and his friends.
Driving away, they all knew they were lucky to have escaped, and with such little consequence. Mark felt that his next time visiting-if there ever was a next time-would prove more dangerous than this visit. After leaving, they high tailed it out of there, and never went back. The car ride home was silent; no one knew what to say, yet they were all sure what had just happened was the work of the notorious Green Ghost of Maple Grove Cemetery. Some never spoke of that night again, save for Mark, who had told his kids (my mom and uncle) and grandkids (myself and at least one of my cousins) this story.
My grandmother refuses to enter this cemetery, despite never having been there before herself. My grandpa’s story is enough for her to stay away. No one in my family has since stepped foot in this haunted site, at least not yet, as far as I know.
Yours truly is a bit of an adrenaline junkie, and also an avid paranormal investigator. Maybe someday, I’ll pay Maple Grove a visit with my equipment in hand, and be able to tell my tale in addition to my grandfather’s. For now, we have more questions than answers when it comes to the Green Ghost; and it may forever stay that way.
On a Softer Note for Samhain
As our ancestors pass through the veil to visit us once more, and the lines between our world and theirs are blurred, let’s remember those who we love by sharing their stories, much as I am with you. Mark, my grandpa, is the best grandpa a kid could’ve asked for. He taught me so many things, and continues to, even as he’s left this world. My retelling of this story is a labor of love-both for him, and for our readers. I’ve got a few other spooky stories-either handed down in my family, or ones I’ve experienced myself-that I plan to share with you this spooky season.
Light a candle for those on the other side. Stay safe, stay grounded, and never forget those who have gone before.
Yours Truly,
The Modern Merlin
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Author Bio:
The Modern Merlin is a Polytheist, Pagan, Animist, Witch, Sorcerer, Paranormal Investigator, Amateur Folklorist, Chaos Magician and Occultist. He embarked on his spiritual and magickal journey over 15 years ago. As such, he has extensive knowledge of The Occult, Ceremonial Magick, Chaos Magick, Witchcraft, Sorcery, and both modern and ancient world religions and folklore. He is a practicing Sorcerer, blending ceremonial high magick, chaos magick and witchcraft, as well as plant medicine, poisonous plants and entheogens, shamanic techniques, and mysticism. He believes that magick can be as simple or as complex as one needs it to be, and rejects dogma, instead trusting his intuition, and encourages other magickal and spiritual folks to do the same! He venerates and casts magick with a wide array of spirits and deities, and works with both the Left and Right Hand Paths, having experience in both. He has also studied eastern philosophies such as Taoism, Zen Buddhism, and Hinduism. He is an Astrologer and Tarot reader and actively studies and practices many other forms of divination including Runes, Ogham, Palmistry and Scrying. An animal lover, he sees divinity in nature-the trees, plants, animals and sky. Also an avid reader, you’re hard pressed to not find him nose deep in a book, most likely on an occult, mystical, religious or magickal subject. He is the Co-Editor of PaganPages.Org and the author of multiple columns for PaganPages.Org. He gives readings and other spiritual services through his Facebook Page, The Modern Merlin, as well other free informational posts for everyone to see! You can reach him on Facebook, or e-mail him at [email protected]
