The Ghosts of Harper's Ferry

By Crusader1307

 Once considered The State of Virginia, before being ceded to the newly formed State of West Virginia in 1864, Harper's Ferry was a major Railway conjunction in the 19th Century of The United States. Seen as a key defensive point, it would become the point of contest during The Civil war of 1861-1865. Even before, The Ferry would become National News, when in 1859, abolitionist zealot John Brown led a Raid against the Federal Armory there, in hopes of stealing weapons to arm a ''Slave Army'' and bring War in The South. The Raid was a failure for Brown, who was captured. Later tried and hung – Brown forecast His death as the ''start of a Civil War''. During the later Conflict of 1861 forward, Harper's Ferry fell under both Federal and Rebel Control several times. Today, the quaint little Town is no longer the major Rail Terminus of The 19th Century, but a popular Tourist Spot. And it is very popular with paranormal Investigators, who often cite the vast amount of ''Haunted Homes'' in The Village.

The preserved Armory is where Brown's Ghost has been ''seen'' and ''felt'' on more than one occasion (He was wounded several times in the battle). Several US Soldiers are also seen (of those few numbers that Brown's men killed). But the majority of hauntings are the many Houses, still kept in immaculate condition to resemble their appearance in the 19th Century. Some home boast tales of the several Artillery Sieges from both sides of The War, in which stray cannonball would crash into homes and kill those inside. ''Their'' Spirits are quite active, from a ''crying infant'' (killed by such a bomb), to ''mourning wails from Family members''. Slaves were said to have been sold at one time at The Ferry, and their Ghostly and tormented Souls are said to be ''heard and seen'' on the late night Streets of The Ferry. The totality of the Hauntings is such that a Nationally known ''Ghost Tour'' was established their for the past 10 years. It draws thousands who hope to perhaps catch a glimpse of a ''window or doorway'' view of a long dead Resident of the Ferry.