Here in McDowell County & Western North Carolina, there are several ghost legends that have been passed on from generation to generation. McDowell County has a rich history dating all the way back to the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Here are a few of the most popular legends
East McDowell Junior High...It is said that East McDowell Junior High School is haunted by children that were killed in a fire of an orphanage that used to be on the same property as East McDowell...The Elhanan Orphange opened in 1898 and was ran by a prominant business woman by the name of Mattie Perry. The orphanage was shut down in 1927 and the big fire was in 1928. This rules out any children being killed since the orphanage had already been shut down. It is also said that a former librarian haunts the library and campus. My brother said once in the 1980's he and a friend were driving around to the back entrance to the school and right when they entered the gate they both felt an overbearing feeling of dread. This same feeling has been reported by several people over the years in that same general location
Lake Tahoma Dam...It is said that in the 1950's, a couple was horseplaying around the dam on night and the girl stepped around the small fence and slipped and fell. Some say if you walk towards the dam at midnight, an eerie fog will roll across the water and onto the bridge. Some even say you can see the girl fall over the edge on some nights. I have personally spoken to a resident that has lived on Lake Tahoma Road her entire life and she has been to the dam hundreds of times. She recalled only one instance where she did see a gray shadow climbing on and around the fence. It lasted about 30 seconds
Helen's Bridge...In Asheville, right before you go into the tunnel on Tunnel Road, take a right onto Beaucatcher Mountain Road and you will come up on a cobblestone bridge. It is said that a woman named Helen lost her daughter to suicide after she hung herself on that bridge and the urban legend says that if you say "Helen Comeforth" three times, the ghost of Helen will come to your car and ask if you have seen her daughter. I spoke with L.E.M.U.R. founder Joshua Warren recently and they(LEMUR) have done several investigations out there and they have found some interesting results.
If you know of any other legends, please go back to the main page and click on "Comments On This Site" link and let us know.
