My Haunted North Carolina Trivia Quiz

Answer: Devil's Tramping Ground

The Devil's Tramping Ground is a circle 40 feet across. Around the perimeter is a path about a foot wide. The story goes that the devil walks this path every night plotting ways to cause trouble. The soil within the circle is sterile, and anything placed within it is said to disappear by morning. It is located about 10 miles from Siler City in western Chatham County.

Answer: Brown Mountain Lights

My husband has seen the lights. He said they are balls of colored lights that jumped place to place on the mountain tops. The Cherokee have known of these light since 1200. One story is that the lights are spirits of Cherokee maidens searching for their lovers lost in battle. They are best seen, on a clear night, from Wiseman's View, in Burke County, near Morganton.

Answer: Sirens of the French Broad

The old tale goes that she seems to be a beautiful woman, and she lures unwary men into her eternal icy embrace. She is said to have dark, haunting eyes, her long hair streams into the water. This theme goes back a long way. Remember your Homer?

Answer: Pink Lady

A lady dressed all in pink supposedly fell to her death one night around 1920, and she is said to have been seen by guests ever since. 'The Pink Lady' is supposed to be harmless, and even playful. This is one of Asheville's most famous spectors.

Answer: Rev. Hawkins

In March, 1930, the Rev. W.T. Hawkins, a retired Methodist minister, left his house at twilight and out into our beautiful Sapphire counrty. He was never seen again. Hannah Dude and Frankie Silver are two of North Carolina's most infamous women. Their stories could, and do fill books. Hannah Dude was convicted of sealing her young granddaughter into a small cave in the western North Carolina mountains and leaving her to die. Dude was actually seen by one of my friend's grandmother taking the child over the mountain that morning. Frankie Silver was hung for killing her husband with an axe. Joseph Crater was appointed to the New York State Supreme Court in April of 1930, and he vanished on Aug. 6, 1930 and was never seen or heard from again. It was really strange. Earlier that day, Judge Crater had gone to his office and removed a load of files.

Then he cleaned out his bank account and safety deposit box. He then dined at a New York City resturant with friends, telling them he was going from there to see a Broadway play.

After eating, he hopped into a cab, waved goodbye and vanished. It spawned one of the biggest manhunts in New York history.

Answer: William Whiting

A pennisula, south of Wilmington, was the site of Ft. Fisher. Here in December of 1864, greatly out numbered by Union troops, Gen. Whiting refused to surrender, was shot, and taken to the Union Prison in New York, where he soon died. But his spirit was seen by several Confederate veterans who had returned to the ruins of Ft. Fisher many years after the War ended.

It has been many years seen his spirit has been seen. Hopefully, his spirit rests in peace. The South abounds with sad spectors from the Civil War.

Answer: organ music

Ghostly organ music coming from an old church seems to be a common ghost story. My great-grandfather told a similar story to my mother of an organ he heard being played in an empty church. And she told it to me.

Answer: Gray Man

The Gray Man of Pawley Island has been seen many times, always before a big storm. He appears either as a blurry figure, or an old man who warns people of impending diaster. It is said only the foolish do not take his warning seriously. Pawley Island is in South Carolina, but I am including it here, because I enjoyed hearing this story so much.

Answer: his head

In 1867 Conductor Joe Baldwin walked car to car announcing the station. He was in the last car when it uncoupled and stopped. He frantically signalled the train coming from behind with swings of his lantern-to no avail. The car was demolished, and his head was severed.

A wavering light can be seen coming up the track, starting about a mile from Maco Station, ever since. Then it disappears. This is one of our most famous ghost light stories, and the lights has been seen by countless people. Maco Station is about 14 miles from Wilmington.

Answer: Edward Teach

The most fearsome of all pirates, Blackbeard, is said to haunt the Inlet. He is seen as a ghostly light and a spector with a fierce demeanor. Ocracoke Inlet is in North Carolina's Outer Banks. 'Haints', Ghostly lights, and Shades--I hope you enjoyed this brief tour through the ghost stories of my lovely home state, North Carolina. BOO! GOTCHA!