Yuengling Mansion

In 1914 Frank Yuengling, owner of Yuengling brewery, and his family moved into a large mansion on Mahantongo street in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. The home had a total of 20 rooms and also housing quarters for maids. But long since the Yuengling family moved out, their spirits may still remain.

The house served as a home to 3 generations of Yuenglings. In 1978 the home was deeded over to the Schuylkill county council for the arts. And in 1979 the home was placed on the national register of historic places. But many believe not all the members of the Yuengling household have left completely.

Many paranormal investigators have visited the home and have discovered some unnatural phenomenon. Most of the sightings take place on the third floor which housed the maids, and where the young children of the family favored to play. There are thought to be two spirits which roam around the top floor and also the various staircases in the home. One spirit is thought to be a former maid who lived in the home with the family, the other spirit is that of a young, female child. EVP's of both spirits have been captured, cold spots have been felt throughout the third floor, and other strange activity has been also witnessed. The house isn't the only place on the property thought to be haunted. The nearby carriage house has also been investigated and strange anomalies have been sighted as well. A recent investigation team noticed a large brown orb floating near the carriage house.

I have found no reported deaths to have taken place on the property or in the home. Perhaps these spirits died many years after leaving the house, and maybe this is the place they'll always remember as home.

Outta the Way's Ghost Tour at Bube's Hotel & Catacombs

Standing out front of Bube's brewery in Mt. Joy last Friday night, we were sharing ghost stories. Not knowing that what we were about to encounter would be surely included in any future ghost stories we were to share. As we entered and met our tour guide, we learned a bit of the history behind the brewery and the spirits that inhabits it. There is no shortage of ghost stories here. Spirits playing tricks on waiters and waitresses. Turning chairs that were placed on the bar back onto their feet, glasses falling for no reason, and spirits conversing with the staff. "Is anyone here sensitive to spirits" our guide boldly asks, more than a dozen hands shoot up. This was gonna be an interesting night!

The group descended down a long set of wooden stairs into the darkness of the brewery's catacombs. A feeling of excitement rushed over me. With it's limestone slabbed walls, and caverns of natural spring water these stone walls could be a vortex to all the spirits in the town of Mt. Joy. Unfortunately not much was sensed in these dark hollows, by myself or by many others. Instead of being discouraged we were humored with the tales of the town drunk who would roam through the nearby caves in a drunken, naked stupor.

Slowly we all climbed back up the creaky steps and followed our guide into the old hotel. Immediately upon entering into the hotel a sense of unease was felt by many, including myself. Many on the tour felt a nearby presence and also smelled one. As we moseyed throughout the large hotel it always seemed as if the spirits were one step ahead of us, escaping down a narrow hallway as we would enter a room. Spirits of young children were felt near a bathroom, a guest seemed to feel these children met a gruesome fate. I personally felt that not all these spirits were appreciative of us paying them a visit.

After reviewing and uploading photos I noticed many orbs in the pictures. Orbs can be explained, we were a large group and the place is rather old, so dust could most likely be a culprit. But some things I cannot explain. Why were some guests freezing cold in the same room other guests were burning up with heat? What was that pungent smell that was following around the tail end of the group? And what was that sinister presence that nearly all the group felt upon entering into the hotel? Guess you'll have to take the tour yourself and come up with your own answers.

For more information on "Outta the Way" group tours visit our website.

Haunted VanSant Covered Bridge

Hidden on the back roads of Bucks county, Pennsylvania sits a seemingly pleasant covered bridge. Truth is the VanSant covered bridge is thought to be one of the most haunted spots in the commonwealth. Many paranormal investigators have spent late evenings here gathering data. Throughout the bridge cold spots have been felt, cries heard, and apparitions spotted. So why all the paranormal activity?

Many urban legends haunt this bridge. It's said a man murdered a woman and her child on the bridge and now she haunts the area mourning the loss of her child. Others think it's the murderer who's still hanging around, literally. There have been reports of groups seeing an apparition hanging by a noose from the rafters. It was thought the murderer was subsequently hung here for his heinous crime.

Other local legend's say the woman drowned her children herself, after giving birth at a young age and out of wedlock. This particular legend is fairly common folklore for many rural covered bridges. Earning them the nickname "cry-baby bridges," this is due to the fact it's said you can hear baby's cries as you pass over the bridge.

The bridge is also very close to Washington's Crossing, which played a major role in the Revolutionary War, though many men perished in this area due to influenza and other illnesses. So is it the spirit of a murdered woman folks see, and the cries of her children they hear? Or maybe a criminal who was hung here for his past crimes, or perhaps it's the spirit of a fallen soldier crying out his last gasps of life vowing to never be forgotten.

Outta the Way! Tours the Haunted Dungeon

Last week Outta the Way took our first group tour. We paid a visit to the dungeon, located beneath the Columbia market house. As we descended down the wooden steps into the dark hallways we knew we were in for a treat. The halls were lined with gothic lamps giving of an orange hue. Giving you the feeling Hell couldn't be too far away.

As we visited the cells, each white with obvious years of abuse. We learned about the dark history hidden under this seemingly pleasant country market house. Our guide informed us on how the prison got started, about it's architectural structure, and some of the torment felt by the prisoners of past years. The dungeon holds many terrifying tales within it's walls, perhaps even more.

Haunted Places in Pennsylvania

Whether you're traveling the rural back roads, or in the heart of Philadelphia, if you're in Pennsylvania chances are there's a ghost nearby. In fact, the Keystone state seems to have a few of the most famous haunts in the country.

The battlefields in Gettysburg where over 7,500 men perished in just a few days is thought to be one of the most haunted areas in all of the United States. The Eastern State Penitentiary in downtown Philadelphia has it's share of ghostly visitors as well. The tortuous methods dished out to these lawbreakers many years ago, still lingers fresh in the apparitions that still haunt this fortress of solitude. Even the small town of New Hope, near the Washington crossing has it's share of supernatural tales. From haunted inns, to covered bridges shrouded in mystery. It's no wonder New Hope is thought to be the most haunted town in America.

In a state so rich in history, yet so ripe with violence it only seems natural (or supernatural) that Pennsylvania would seem to be the most haunted state in our great country.