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Authors: Roberta Simpson Brown
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decided to take the law into their own hands and hang Elmer Hill. Several such attempts were foiled, but finally a mob, many of whose members were prominent citizens, proceeded to Wayne County and seized Elmer Hill from the jail. The sheriff was not present at the time, and the deputy offered up the keys to the jail to the mob with no resistance.
Elmer Hill was taken back to Jamestown to a large black oak tree near a place called Gaddins Spring. He was seated on a horse that belonged to Nannie's grandfather. There, on the road coming up from Cumberland River, the men hanged Elmer Hill from the oak tree and left his body hanging there for all to see. Officials eventually came out and cut his body down. His unmarked grave is supposed to be in or near a Jamestown cemetery. Only a few know the actual spot.
Reports of Elmer's last words vary. Some say he told the mob to go ahead because he had it coming. Others suggested that the mob might have made up those words to justify what they did to him. Some say he said he had planned to do the same thing to three other girls and only regretted that he couldn't live long enough to do it. Guilty or innocent, he was deprived of a fair trial by the hanging.
There are reports of sightings of Elmer Hill's ghost in the area where he was hanged. One child on his way to school reported seeing him hanging in the tree where he died. Two travelers who had a flat tire near where the lynching took place claim a man stood and watched them change the tire before disappearing. They described the man when they arrived at the place where they were staying for the night and learned that the ghostly watcher resembled Elmer Hill.
Considering that people still hear a little girl calling for her mama and see a restless figure appearing near the place of Elmer Hill's lynching, it seems that neither the victim nor the killer has yet found peace on the other side.
The Russellville Ghost
Stories of the ghost of a girl from Russellville is one of the most often told ghost stories in Kentucky. It is especially effective on stormy nights. We were so fascinated with the story that we went to Russellville a few summers ago to check it out. Unfortunately, the ghost did not make an appearance while we were there. Curious people like us still drive by to see if they can catch a glimpse of her.
Russellville is located in the southwest portion of Kentucky, just north of the Tennessee state line. The haunted house is located on Clarksville Road at a crossroads at a stoplight next to a cemetery.
This story has several variations, but the one most often told to us starts in a setting that is typical, yet perfect for ghost stories. This one truly started on a dark and stormy night!
On the night of this story, a young girl who lived in Russellville was dressed for a date that she had been looking forward to for a long time. Her parents had told her that she could go to a dance with her boyfriend if the weather was good. She spent the day in preparation for the big event. She was certain nothing would happen to spoil this evening for her.
As the afternoon wore on, however, dark clouds began to bank in the west. She began to feel uneasy as she heard a low rumble of thunder.
âPlease don't let it storm tonight,â she prayed silently, but her prayer went unanswered.
She looked out and saw that the clouds looked more threatening than ever. As night approached, so did the storm. She hoped the cloud would go in another direction, but it showed no indication of doing so.
The girl watched anxiously out the window for her date to arrive, but all she could see was the lightning, which flashed constantly and lit up the empty road. The storm hit at her house with violent winds and pouring rain. The girl was furious. It was so unfair! Her boyfriend was delayed because of the storm and didn't come. The wonderful evening she had planned was not going to happen. She stomped around the room, angry and frustrated. Her father
Elmer Hill was taken back to Jamestown to a large black oak tree near a place called Gaddins Spring. He was seated on a horse that belonged to Nannie's grandfather. There, on the road coming up from Cumberland River, the men hanged Elmer Hill from the oak tree and left his body hanging there for all to see. Officials eventually came out and cut his body down. His unmarked grave is supposed to be in or near a Jamestown cemetery. Only a few know the actual spot.
Reports of Elmer's last words vary. Some say he told the mob to go ahead because he had it coming. Others suggested that the mob might have made up those words to justify what they did to him. Some say he said he had planned to do the same thing to three other girls and only regretted that he couldn't live long enough to do it. Guilty or innocent, he was deprived of a fair trial by the hanging.
There are reports of sightings of Elmer Hill's ghost in the area where he was hanged. One child on his way to school reported seeing him hanging in the tree where he died. Two travelers who had a flat tire near where the lynching took place claim a man stood and watched them change the tire before disappearing. They described the man when they arrived at the place where they were staying for the night and learned that the ghostly watcher resembled Elmer Hill.
Considering that people still hear a little girl calling for her mama and see a restless figure appearing near the place of Elmer Hill's lynching, it seems that neither the victim nor the killer has yet found peace on the other side.
The Russellville Ghost
Stories of the ghost of a girl from Russellville is one of the most often told ghost stories in Kentucky. It is especially effective on stormy nights. We were so fascinated with the story that we went to Russellville a few summers ago to check it out. Unfortunately, the ghost did not make an appearance while we were there. Curious people like us still drive by to see if they can catch a glimpse of her.
Russellville is located in the southwest portion of Kentucky, just north of the Tennessee state line. The haunted house is located on Clarksville Road at a crossroads at a stoplight next to a cemetery.
This story has several variations, but the one most often told to us starts in a setting that is typical, yet perfect for ghost stories. This one truly started on a dark and stormy night!
On the night of this story, a young girl who lived in Russellville was dressed for a date that she had been looking forward to for a long time. Her parents had told her that she could go to a dance with her boyfriend if the weather was good. She spent the day in preparation for the big event. She was certain nothing would happen to spoil this evening for her.
As the afternoon wore on, however, dark clouds began to bank in the west. She began to feel uneasy as she heard a low rumble of thunder.
âPlease don't let it storm tonight,â she prayed silently, but her prayer went unanswered.
She looked out and saw that the clouds looked more threatening than ever. As night approached, so did the storm. She hoped the cloud would go in another direction, but it showed no indication of doing so.
The girl watched anxiously out the window for her date to arrive, but all she could see was the lightning, which flashed constantly and lit up the empty road. The storm hit at her house with violent winds and pouring rain. The girl was furious. It was so unfair! Her boyfriend was delayed because of the storm and didn't come. The wonderful evening she had planned was not going to happen. She stomped around the room, angry and frustrated. Her father
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