Growing up in Greater Cleveland, one can’t help but be exposed to a bit of local lore. There’s so much history in the area, and with it comes several seemingly mysterious sites. From cemeteries to old and castellated buildings, stories surround all sorts of mundane and familiar places. Today, we’re going to explore the campus of one mysterious cemetery near Cleveland, and we’ll delve into (and even debunk) some of the myths whispered about its hallowed grounds. Are you ready for a trip through time and local lore about the legendary Ohio witches ball?
Let’s pay a visit to Myrtle Hill Cemetery, the oldest burial ground in Medina County.
Pirate Bay Paranormal Research/Facebook
Established in 1822, this nearly six-acre cemetery is the final resting place of some of the area’s earliest settlers.
Ohio Lost/Facebook Ever visited Mapleside Farms in neighboring Brunswick? The farm’s founding family, the Tillotsons, were among the first settlers in the area, and they also call this lovely little plot of land their eternal resting place.
The cemetery is also home to an enduring mystery engulfed in an incredible piece of local lore.
Funetorium/Facebook Beneath a three-foot granite ball is a small marker that bears a single name; “Stoskopf.” Legend maintains that a witch is buried here, and the massive granite structure was designed to keep her spirit from wandering.
Local legends explain that Old Lady Stoskopf murdered her family and tossed them in a well. When the townsfolk discovered the grisly truth, they sentenced her to death. When she was buried, she was buried standing up, and a massive gravestone was placed above her to weigh her spirit down.
Ohio Lost/Facebook Locals insist that the stone itself alludes to the horror lying underneath. It’s cold to the touch in the daytime and warm by night, and even leaves won’t dare to settle on the cursed structure.
The legend has existed in the area for decades, but it is very likely that there isn’t even anyone buried under the massive stone - called the Witch’s Ball - at all.
Ohio Lost/Facebook This structure is probably a family plot marker, not a grave, and the seemingly unusual nature of the granite stone is actually easily explained. There are no close trees to drop leaves directly onto the structure. As for feeling warm in the cool of night… it’s just a granite stone and it sits in the warm sun all day. It will maintain a bit of heat into the night, and it will take a while to warm up again after the following sunrise.
However, as is the case with most legends, there is an element of truth to this tale.
Toronto Ghost hunter/Facebook The legend was likely inspired by the real-life slayings carried out by Martha Wise. Martha poisoned her family’s water supply and ultimately killed three family members… only a mere mile away from where the Witch’s Ball stands today. Martha performed her dark deeds in the 1920s, and she died in 1971 at the Marysville Reformatory for Women.
Though that legend may be nothing more than an unusual mashup of true occurrences, the age of the cemetery is undeniable.
Toronto Ghost hunter/Facebook Many can’t help but believe that the cemetery itself is haunted, and legend-stompers have been visiting the cemetery (and trespassing at night) to try to interact with its resident spirits.
Could the spirits of Myrtle Hill Cemetery be the area’s founders, or is our imagination taking advantage of our unease?
North East Ohio Paranormal Hunters/Facebook This cemetery is admittedly beautiful and peaceful, but it does seem to have a particular sense of mystery about it.
Located off of Myrtle Hill Road in Valley City, this rural cemetery is worth a visit.
Ohio Ghost Town Exploration Co./Facebook Just remember to visit during daylight hours, and perhaps consider paying respects to the early settlers that helped grow what would become the suburbs.
Legend, it seems, is usually at least partially rooted in fact. Have you ever visited this spooky cemetery, or heard about the legendary Ohio witches ball? Do you think the ghosts of the community’s founders could be hanging around? Share your experiences in the comments, or share your favorite local legends!
Pirate Bay Paranormal Research/Facebook
Ohio Lost/Facebook
Ever visited Mapleside Farms in neighboring Brunswick? The farm’s founding family, the Tillotsons, were among the first settlers in the area, and they also call this lovely little plot of land their eternal resting place.
Funetorium/Facebook
Beneath a three-foot granite ball is a small marker that bears a single name; “Stoskopf.” Legend maintains that a witch is buried here, and the massive granite structure was designed to keep her spirit from wandering.
Locals insist that the stone itself alludes to the horror lying underneath. It’s cold to the touch in the daytime and warm by night, and even leaves won’t dare to settle on the cursed structure.
This structure is probably a family plot marker, not a grave, and the seemingly unusual nature of the granite stone is actually easily explained. There are no close trees to drop leaves directly onto the structure. As for feeling warm in the cool of night… it’s just a granite stone and it sits in the warm sun all day. It will maintain a bit of heat into the night, and it will take a while to warm up again after the following sunrise.
Toronto Ghost hunter/Facebook
The legend was likely inspired by the real-life slayings carried out by Martha Wise. Martha poisoned her family’s water supply and ultimately killed three family members… only a mere mile away from where the Witch’s Ball stands today. Martha performed her dark deeds in the 1920s, and she died in 1971 at the Marysville Reformatory for Women.
Many can’t help but believe that the cemetery itself is haunted, and legend-stompers have been visiting the cemetery (and trespassing at night) to try to interact with its resident spirits.
North East Ohio Paranormal Hunters/Facebook
This cemetery is admittedly beautiful and peaceful, but it does seem to have a particular sense of mystery about it.
Ohio Ghost Town Exploration Co./Facebook
Just remember to visit during daylight hours, and perhaps consider paying respects to the early settlers that helped grow what would become the suburbs.
Love local lore? These creepy creatures are said to haunt Greater Cleveland, and you never know when you’re going to spot one.
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Address: Myrtle Hill Cemetery, Myrtle Hill Rd, Valley City, OH 44280, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
the witches ball Ohio August 21, 2022 Sarah M. What are some other haunted cemeteries in Ohio? Cemeteries are places where the imagination can run wild, even though most are absolutely beautiful and lovely in broad daylight. Allow us to paint a picture: perfectly manicured grounds and rolling green hills; lily pad dotted lakes and stately trees; colorful flowers and fluttering flags as far as the eye can see. This is not a description of a botanical garden or city park; rather, this is a description of a cemetery. And not just any cemetery, but Spring Grove Cemetery, one of the most haunted cemeteries in Ohio. The park’s 700 acres don’t just contain gravesites and mausoleums; there is also a beautiful arboretum and walking paths that invite guests to come and wander – and reflect. But as you traipse across the grounds and gaze into the reflective pools, you might get the feeling that you’re not alone. Visitors frequently report sightings of ghostly figures, as well as the sense that they are not alone among the headstones and monuments. In one section of the cemetery, there have been stories of strange white wolves that roam around, keeping an eye on those they see. People have also reported seeing figures appear and then quickly disappear – these happenings are not limited to the darkness and have even been reported by visitors during the day. What’s the most haunted place in Ohio? The Golden Lamb is located in charming downtown Lebanon, 40 minutes north of Cincinnati. The iconic restaurant and inn is the oldest continuously operating business in Ohio, having opened in 1803. It’s also known as being, hands down, the most notoriously haunted place in Ohio. The Golden Lamb, formerly known as The Lebanon House in the early 1870s, played a key role in much of our region’s history. The restaurant and inn has hosted 12 Presidents, from John Quincy Adams to George W. Bush, as well as other famous figures like Charles Dickens and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Interestingly enough, since Thanksgiving became a National Holiday in 1870, The Golden Lamb has served a Thanksgiving meal for every single holiday celebrated in our country. With so much history, it’s no surprise there are also many haunted tales from those who have worked and spent time at this long-standing restaurant!
The OIYS Visitor Center
the witches ball Ohio
August 21, 2022
Sarah M.
What are some other haunted cemeteries in Ohio? Cemeteries are places where the imagination can run wild, even though most are absolutely beautiful and lovely in broad daylight. Allow us to paint a picture: perfectly manicured grounds and rolling green hills; lily pad dotted lakes and stately trees; colorful flowers and fluttering flags as far as the eye can see. This is not a description of a botanical garden or city park; rather, this is a description of a cemetery. And not just any cemetery, but Spring Grove Cemetery, one of the most haunted cemeteries in Ohio. The park’s 700 acres don’t just contain gravesites and mausoleums; there is also a beautiful arboretum and walking paths that invite guests to come and wander – and reflect. But as you traipse across the grounds and gaze into the reflective pools, you might get the feeling that you’re not alone. Visitors frequently report sightings of ghostly figures, as well as the sense that they are not alone among the headstones and monuments. In one section of the cemetery, there have been stories of strange white wolves that roam around, keeping an eye on those they see. People have also reported seeing figures appear and then quickly disappear – these happenings are not limited to the darkness and have even been reported by visitors during the day. What’s the most haunted place in Ohio? The Golden Lamb is located in charming downtown Lebanon, 40 minutes north of Cincinnati. The iconic restaurant and inn is the oldest continuously operating business in Ohio, having opened in 1803. It’s also known as being, hands down, the most notoriously haunted place in Ohio. The Golden Lamb, formerly known as The Lebanon House in the early 1870s, played a key role in much of our region’s history. The restaurant and inn has hosted 12 Presidents, from John Quincy Adams to George W. Bush, as well as other famous figures like Charles Dickens and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Interestingly enough, since Thanksgiving became a National Holiday in 1870, The Golden Lamb has served a Thanksgiving meal for every single holiday celebrated in our country. With so much history, it’s no surprise there are also many haunted tales from those who have worked and spent time at this long-standing restaurant!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Cemeteries are places where the imagination can run wild, even though most are absolutely beautiful and lovely in broad daylight. Allow us to paint a picture: perfectly manicured grounds and rolling green hills; lily pad dotted lakes and stately trees; colorful flowers and fluttering flags as far as the eye can see. This is not a description of a botanical garden or city park; rather, this is a description of a cemetery. And not just any cemetery, but Spring Grove Cemetery, one of the most haunted cemeteries in Ohio. The park’s 700 acres don’t just contain gravesites and mausoleums; there is also a beautiful arboretum and walking paths that invite guests to come and wander – and reflect. But as you traipse across the grounds and gaze into the reflective pools, you might get the feeling that you’re not alone. Visitors frequently report sightings of ghostly figures, as well as the sense that they are not alone among the headstones and monuments. In one section of the cemetery, there have been stories of strange white wolves that roam around, keeping an eye on those they see. People have also reported seeing figures appear and then quickly disappear – these happenings are not limited to the darkness and have even been reported by visitors during the day.
What’s the most haunted place in Ohio?
The Golden Lamb is located in charming downtown Lebanon, 40 minutes north of Cincinnati. The iconic restaurant and inn is the oldest continuously operating business in Ohio, having opened in 1803. It’s also known as being, hands down, the most notoriously haunted place in Ohio. The Golden Lamb, formerly known as The Lebanon House in the early 1870s, played a key role in much of our region’s history. The restaurant and inn has hosted 12 Presidents, from John Quincy Adams to George W. Bush, as well as other famous figures like Charles Dickens and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Interestingly enough, since Thanksgiving became a National Holiday in 1870, The Golden Lamb has served a Thanksgiving meal for every single holiday celebrated in our country. With so much history, it’s no surprise there are also many haunted tales from those who have worked and spent time at this long-standing restaurant!
