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Monthly Archives: September 2024

The Haunting Legacy of Pere Cheney: A Forgotten Michigan Town and its Cemetery

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Nestled in the remote wilderness of northern Michigan, southeast of Grayling, lies the abandoned cemetery of Pere Cheney, a town once bustling with life. Founded in 1873 by George Chaney, Pere Cheney flourished, reaching a population of approximately 1500.  However, its vibrant existence was tragically cut short by two devastating epidemics of diphtheria in 1893 and 1897, which claimed the lives of most of its residents. 

The cemetery, a poignant reminder of the town’s demise, stands as a testament to the hardships endured by its former inhabitants.  The majority of the headstones have succumbed to time and neglect, leaving only a few fragmented and weathered markers, some of which have toppled or been vandalized.  One of the most prominent structures is a monument dedicated to the memory of Frank and Frances Barber’s children, Hattie, Ray, and Roy, all of whom perished in December 1893.  Their collective death during the holiday season paints a stark picture of the devastating impact of the diphtheria outbreak on the community, leaving behind a chilling legacy of loss and grief.

The tragic fate of Pere Cheney has fueled local legends of haunting, with whispers of ghostly apparitions and unsettling sounds.  Some individuals claim to have witnessed handprints appearing on vehicles parked near the cemetery, while others recount hearing children’s voices echoing through the surrounding woods.  While the veracity of these claims remains unverified, the cemetery’s unsettling atmosphere and the lingering memory of the town’s sudden decline evoke a sense of unease.

Regardless of the presence of paranormal activity, the cemetery of Pere Cheney serves as a poignant reminder of a forgotten community and its tragic history.  The residents who lie buried within its hallowed grounds deserve remembrance, not for the spectral tales surrounding them, but for the resilience and hardship they faced in the face of adversity.  Their story serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of human existence and the enduring impact of historical events on the landscape and the collective memory of a community. 

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Butler Island Plantation and the Weeping Time

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Butler Island Plantation, situated along the Atlantic coast of Georgia, was once a vast rice plantation. Major Pierce Butler, a Founding Father of the United States and a proponent of slavery, acquired the property in 1790 and oversaw its operation until his death in 1822. Following his demise, the plantation passed into the hands of his grandsons, Pierce Mease Butler and his brother John. Pierce, however, had recklessly dissipated his inheritance, incurring a reported debt of $700,000.

As a result of his financial ruin, the management of Pierce Butler’s estate was entrusted to trustees. In an effort to settle his debts, the trustees auctioned off his once-grand but neglected Philadelphia mansion for $30,000. Other Butler properties were also sold, but these measures proved insufficient to satisfy creditors, let alone maintain Butler’s opulent lifestyle. Faced with this dire situation, the trustees resorted to the Georgia plantations and their “moveable” property—the enslaved people.

In 1859, over 400 enslaved individuals were sold at a public auction, a harrowing event known as the “Weeping Time,” which served as a stark reminder of the brutal reality of slavery.

During the American Civil War, the plantation was deserted by its owners, leaving the enslaved residents to fend for themselves. Many remained on the island, forming a community and continuing their rice cultivation. Following the war, these former slaves, now emancipated individuals, acquired land and established their own farms on Butler Island.

Today, Butler Island Plantation is preserved as a historical site. The brick chimney that stands near the road was part of the rice mill built decades ago.

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The Haunted Infirmary

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South of Winchester along US-27 is a large brick building. Above the front door carved in stone are the words RANDOLPH CO. INFIRMARY. It was built in 1899 and served the citizens of Randolph County for over a century. The property started as the county poor farm in 1851, taking care of the mentally and physically disabled, elderly and orphans. The large 5000 square foot building that stands today cared for many people over the decades.

It has also seen its share of tragedy. It is believed that over two hundred people have died in the facility, many from tuberculosis and some to suicide and possibly murder. It is said that one man died after being pushed out a second story window. The infirmary contained up to 350 acres for farming and livestock, and it also has a cemetery with unmarked graves for the people who died under its care. In the 1990s, it was used as a nursing home; it closed in 2008. The current owner, Dann Allen, purchased the historic old asylum in 2016 to save it from demolition. It is currently being used as a paranormal attraction for visitors to explore paranormal activity.

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The Most Haunted Spot in Wisconsin

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Stone chimneys and the foundation of a mansion stand along the shore of northern Wisconsin’s West Bay Lake near the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is the remains of a large cottage known as Summerwind. It was built in the early 1900s as a fishing lodge and then purchased by Robert Patterson Lamont. He was United States secretary of commerce during the administration of Herbert Hoover. Legend has it that Lamont fired a pistol at a ghost one night and was so frightened that he and his family abandoned the house.

In the late 60s Ginger Hinshaw purchased the old house with intentions of renovating it after it had sat abandoned for decades. Experiencing strange phenomena her father wrote a book called Carver Effect: A Paranormal Experience in which he claimed the mansion was haunted by 18th century explorer Jonathan Carver. A 1980 Life magazine photo essay including Summerwind among “Terrifying Tales of Nine Haunted Houses”.

Once again the family abandoned the house and in 1988 it was struck by lighting and burned to the ground. The stonework and foundation is all that remains. The story of the haunting was told in a Discovery Channel’s 2005 episode of A Haunting.  You can watch the full episode on Youtube.

I am not sure how true the stories are but it was a peaceful place when I visited. I did not see any no trespassing signs when I was there but I did not poke around since I figured it was private property. I took some pics from the driveway and left.

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