Haunted History of Ashland A Stroll in the Supernatural with Lacey Williams

Haunted History of Ashland

A Stroll in the Supernatural with Lacey Williams

Gideon Thompson

The Ashland Beacon

    As the autumn air moves in through the Ohio valley covering the Ashland area with damp fog and notorious fall time rain, we move indoors and begin preparing for fall-time festivities. Sweaters and jackets are pulled from the closets along with our favorite cool weather footwear to move us through the season. Decorations for Halloween and Thanksgiving make their way onto our walls and shelves where we can share our enthusiasm by displaying our unique treasures we have picked up along the way. There are pumpkins, Jack-o-lanterns, hay bales, and fodder shocks sewn across lawns and porches for everyone to admire as the traditions of autumn celebration continue with each generation. Spooky attire and décor begin to show up on shelves as we sift through thrift stores with our pumpkin flavored iced beverages where we are reminded that the cycle of life is present even in purchases. 

    Halloween is only a few weeks away, and just as every year there are parties and events hosted in honor of continuing the age-old tradition of celebrating the supernatural and unknown. The origin of Halloween comes from a recognition of ancient beliefs that the end of October was a time that the living and deceased were united as a boundary between the two became present this time each year. A veil between here and the afterlife is thought to become thin and open, allowing spirits to travel between the two realms to communicate and carry out their last desires. In the past bonfires were lit to bay the wandering spirits from homes and family as they made their way through communities. All Saint’s Day, November 1,  is said to come from Halloween where we pray for those who have passed the day after. The annual recognition of spirits and the unknown leaves the ever-present question to ponder, are ghosts real, and where do they come from? 

    From historic landmarks set in honor of epic battles, to places of infamous happenings, there are endless sites said to be haunted by our ancestors. Unexplained noises that permeate the silent night, voices carrying conversations said to be echoes of the past, and sights such as apparitions walking in the halls of abandoned structures are all signs of haunting and the spirits of the afterlife attempting to tell us their story. If searching for answers to questions of unexplained happenings is an interest of yours, Lacey Williams of the Cryptid Women’s Society, will be presenting “Haunted History of Ashland” at the Boyd County Public Library located at 1740 Central Avenue of Ashland, Kentucky. Haunted History of Ashland is scheduled for Friday, October 16th from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. where Lacey will be speaking on local haunted history found in the Ashland area such as with the Paramount Theater, the Ashland Tragedy, and several other notable places and occurrences in the area related to hauntings. The event is free to the public and could be a great place to meet other ghost hunters and fans of the paranormal. 

    There are many types of ghosts and hauntings as there are poltergeists, echoes, apparitions, banshees, orbs, and even intelligent spirits capable of interactions and communications. All the unexplained events that take place could be much more. While we focus on living each day, those who have passed continue to wherever they may be going, whether it’s heaven or a visit back to their favorite places along the way. The HauntedPlaces of Ashland event is a great way to place to get acquainted with paranormal research and the historic aspect of cryptid and supernatural sightings. Let’s get spooky this Friday, October 16, with Lacey Williams of the Cryptid Women’s Society as she presents Haunted History of Ashland at the Boyd County Public Library!

Photo submitted

Lacey Williams of the Cryptid Women's Society who will be speaking on famous local hauntings and cryptid sightings.