09/19/2024
Beaver County has a haunting history. Let's take a look at some of the more famous instances!
Ambridge’s popular Mad Anthony Bier Stube is known not only for its lively atmosphere and entertainment but also for something far spookier. Beneath the music and laughter, there have been reports of ghostly footsteps echoing from the cellar stairs and mysterious doors that open and close by themselves. The establishment is said to be haunted by the spirits of a young Harmonite boy and girl.
Over the years, both staff and visitors have claimed to experience odd occurrences, like sudden cold chills, lights flickering, chandeliers swaying in still air, and even a piano that once began playing on its own. The owner takes these ghostly tales in stride, saying that the legends are good for business and that the spirits pose no harm. In fact, he makes a habit of wishing them a pleasant goodnight when locking up at the end of the day.
There’s also a chilling legend tied to the old cemetery in Patterson Township, where it’s said that the remains of ancient Native Americans were buried without coffins. The cemetery once stood at what is now Lincoln Place, near the Old Presbyterian Church on 10th Street in Beaver Falls. Some locals tell stories of eerie wails and moans heard coming from the site of the former graveyard.
Another notable spot in Beaver County with a ghostly reputation is the Merrick Art Gallery in New Brighton. Renowned for its stunning artwork and grand halls, the gallery is also home to something much less visible. The current director’s wife, along with several former gallery directors, has spoken openly about strange occurrences. Three different directors have described eerie experiences, such as feeling an icy chill, seeing movement out of the corner of their eye, or hearing footsteps when no one else was present.
One former director even reported seeing a man in old-fashioned clothing walking through the gallery, studying the paintings. The man had glasses and a full, gray beard, but as the director watched, the figure slowly faded and disappeared. Many believe this ghost is Edward Dempster Merrick, the gallery’s founder and great uncle of the current director, Bob Merrick. Edward died in 1911 and was known to wear glasses and sport a gray beard—fitting the description of the apparition seen in the gallery.
New Brighton’s Borough Building, formerly the National Guard Armory, is also said to be home to an active spirit. Known as “The General,” no one is certain who this ghost might be or why he lingers there, but many are convinced of his presence.
Young guardsmen on duty often reported strange occurrences, such as hearing footsteps or seeing doors open and close by themselves. When the building was later leased to the city, these incidents didn’t stop—they intensified.
One dispatcher, Nancy Mastilak, who often worked night shifts, had several unsettling experiences. She frequently heard heavy footsteps from empty rooms, witnessed doors opening and closing on their own, and saw lights turning on and off without explanation. On one particularly frightening occasion, while standing near a printer, she heard someone enter the room and felt a cold hand touch her shoulder. When she turned around, no one was there, and the room was completely empty. Nancy says she never left a room so quickly.
A former employee, Irene Jefferies, also had several encounters with the spirit. She recalled hearing footsteps and feeling like she was being followed. Once, she saw a reflection of something in the glass of a water cooler, and after screaming at it, the figure vanished.
Even Police Chief Phil Rini has acknowledged the unusual reports from his officers, who have heard strange noises and unexplained footsteps. Some have even reported hearing what sounded like furniture being moved in empty rooms or heavy objects dropping to the floor. While many were initially skeptical of these ghost stories, most now take the haunting of “The General” more seriously, as the ghost continues to make his rounds.
It seems Beaver Valley holds its own when it comes to haunted locales, with several spots in the county rumored to host spirits that refuse to rest peacefully.
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