Hannibal, a town where Becky Thatcher and Tom Sawyer once walked the streets. A place of many caves. Stories of folklore are passed throughout the town.
My husband Kenny and I arrived in Hannibal on Sunday, March 22nd. It was a warm spring like day with people hustling everywhere, eager to be out of the house. An invitation came to us from two people, Chris and his friend Rod, to come to their history making town and investigate a few places. The first place we visited was the Mt. Olivet Cemetery. One area in particular seemed to have more weird occurences. Chris has submitted pictures to me of fog moving from a mausoleum across the roadway only to disappear into the air. Above the mausoleum door is the name WJA Meyer. Chris was not able to track down any information on the name. It is located in the area of the civil war graves. According to Chris, strange things have been reported in this area of the cemetery.
Then Chris and Rod ushered us to a place that makes Hell look like a vacation place. This desecrated place has been named Screaming Johnnies and for good reason. Years ago the ground used to be a pasture type area with an open well. There were families living close. Apparently one day, an 8 year old boy named Johnnie, was playing in that area and fell down into the well. He drowned before they could get him out. After that happened, it is said the families living around there would hear a young boy screaming. Upon investigation, they would find nothing. Fearing another child might fall into the well, they filled it with dirt and sand. Despite their effort, on quiet nights the screams were still heard. In 1856 a church named Old School Baptist Church was built on top of the well. A graveyard followed suit behind the church. It is said this is the location where Johnnie was buried. Sometime later in years the church caught fire. While the fire department was there trying to save it, it is said a young boy was spotted standing amont the gravestones. One of the firemen tried to coax him out only to have the boy turn and disappear into the darkness. They were not able to save the church. All that remained was the hollowed out shell. The people of the church started to rebuild but for some reason decided it was useless and stopped. The shell of the chuch still stands today. It has been desecrated by people unknown with spray paint and has been used for parties. There are some stones in the cemetery that have needlessly been broken. During our investigation that night, there were places that made our skin crawl. Cold breezes would brush by and a deathly stillness lingered. Slight rises on the EMF meter would happen and then be gone. A few global lights were found in pictures taken. We feel Chris and Rod are right about the haunting of Screaming Johnnies. Although we didn't hear the screaming of the little boy, we don't doubt that it is heard. If you are able to visit this desecrated place you will feel the restlessness of the spririts. One of them undoubtedly, little Johnnies.
There are several other areas our friends at Hannibal told us about. There are so many we are planning a weekend investigation in the future. More will follow at that time on the enchanted town of Hannibal.
Debbie Lowery
Springfield Ghost Society, Founder/President
AGS Springfield Area Representative