(If you are unaware of The Ashtabula Horror, please go check my post on that subject.)
The City of Ashtabula, Ohio seems to be a frequent destination for ghost hunters, paranormal explorers, and others trying to catch a glimpse into the afterlife.
On December 29, 1876, as noted in a previous post, the city of Ashtabula, Ohio was witness to one of the worst train derailments and bridge collapses in American history.
Chestnut Grove Cemetery
A short distance south of the site of the bridge collapse you will find Chestnut Grove Cemetery, where twenty-five of the victims of the horror are now buried. The cemetery also features a memorial to the disaster, as well as a Mass Grave for victims who could not be identified.
This has led many ghost hunters and paranormal investigators to think that Chestnut Grove might be one of the more haunted cemeteries in the Ashtabula area. They say that ghosts (wearing period clothing) are often spotted wandering around the entire cemetery, although many seem to focus on the memorial area.
One of the souls buried in Chestnut Grove is that of Charles Collins, who had worked for the company making the bridge. As construction was beginning, as the Chief Engineer he was ordered by the Bridge’s designer to make some structural and procedural changes which would effectively make the bridge stronger and less prone to collapse, which he refused to do. As a result, he was relieved of his duties on the entire project.
After the indecent, he was asked to testify at the State Legislative hearing. A few days before the hearing, he resigned from his position with the construction company. Two days after testifying, he was found dead in his own bathroom from a gunshot wound.
His ghost would occasionally be spotted in the Cemetery, looking mournful and moving around as if he were looking for someone or something.
The Mystery of Charles Collins
The consensus at the time was that Collins shot himself in the head because over guilt and remorse. Had he made the changes as he was ordered to, the train might not have detailed and no souls would have been lost that day.
But is that what really happened? Or was he just a convenient target by those desperately looking for people to point their fingers at?
In 2011, the results of not one, but two autopsies performed on Collins was (finally) released to the public. The cause of death on both was not suicide, but murder. After over a century later, it may be a little difficult to start an investigation into who might have killed the guy. Was it himself? Or, perhaps someone from the railroad construction wanted revenge for something he said during his legislative testimony?
The Crash Site
The sight of the Ashtabula Horror might not be in the center of a bustling urban area, but that does not mean that it isn’t accessible. There have been countless stories told by people who have chosen to hike to the area and have become aware of things they claim are supernatural phenomena, such as phantom train whistles, the sounds of wood and metal cracking, or seeing ghostly figures wandering the riverbanks or in the river.
A Mystery and a Treasure Hunt
According to historical records, when the Pacific Express train had a fairly substantial amount of gold bars on board. After the incident … well, nobody is quite sure what happened to it. According to legend, it’s still out there, somewhere. This has been a popular destination for treasure hunters seeking to recover lost fortunes.
According to some legends, it’s currently sitting somewhere on the bottom of the river. According to others, it might be buried somewhere nearby.
Nearly as soon as people started to arrive at the scene of the accident, while the train cars were still on fire, several residents were spotted going through the debris, looking for anything valuable they could pilfer. Something as valuable as gold bars would certainly be worth taking, especially since several robbers were seen taking money and jewelry off victims, which later made identifying the deceased all the more difficult.
There are those who discount this theory as there have been no hints that anyone who lived near the crash site seemed to have a sudden influx of wealth, and by now that gold would have been spotted if anyone had tried to cash in on it. Therefore, one going theory is that someone spotted the gold and hid it somewhere close by, hoping that they would be able to come back later for it, which maybe they never did, so maybe it’s still there…?
Of all the legendary treasure hunt sites in Ohio, this is the one that I think just might be the most viable, at least to some extent. The Ashtabula River Railroad Disaster happened 148 years (and counting) ago, so the chances of anything remaining and surviving in all that time dwindle with each passing year. However, depending on various conditions and factors, it still just might be possible to find something of value.
Is It Worth It?
The final question I have … is it worth it? Is this a good spot to go and try to glimpse a ghost? Is this a good spot to search for valuable loot lost to time?
Well, who knwos?
What I can tell you is that what happened to everyone onboard that train back in 1876 shouldn’t have happened and the loss of life was truly horrific. But, if you do wish to pay your respects at the crash site, please be respectful. I also hear that the hiking trail nearby is quite nice.
Treasure hunters have searched the area for years, and if they’ve made any major discoveries, they certainly didn’t tell me about any of it. Also, bear in mind that it’s been over 150 years since the crash. Had there been something to find, you’d think it would have been found by now and there is also always the possibility that any remaining treasure has been reclaimed by the elements – had there been anything down there in the first place.
