Z.D. Ramsdell was a businessman who soon
settled in the area and opened a boot and shoe factory. In
1858, Ramsdell completed his home at 1108 B Street, Ceredo, a
lot he purchased from the Jordan family. This brick building
was the first of its kind in Ceredo, and was built by Mr. Denney
Shine, a mason with the Chase Brothers Contractors. The home was
built atop a mound, rumored to be an Adena Indian burial mound,
and also contained a "hidden" basement.
According to local legend, this hidden
basement was used as part of the Underground Railroad. Slaves
would be sheltered there before being ferried out during the
night across the Ohio River into Lawrence County, Ohio.
Due to its involvement with the
Underground Railroad and its location atop an Adena Mound, many
ghost stories arise from the Ramsdell Home. Poltergeist activity
such as doors opening and closing and lights switching on and
off on their own accord are commonplace. In addition, it is
rumored that you can hear the moans of slaves and chains
rattling in the "hidden" basement. Apparitions of slaves have
also been seen, as it is rumored that there are several who are
buried on the property. Several Civil War veteran's graves are
also said to be located on the property.
Overview:
During our second investigation of the Ramsdell House
we tried our hands at a new piece of equipment, a ghost box. This
new instrument is pretty neat but is most certainly a questionable tool to use
during a serious investigation.
While it claimed to be used as a communication tool, it seems
more of a tool of coincidence.
During the night the ghost
box seemed to answer many questions that was asked, for
example our investigators asked how many babies had been
born in the birthing room when they received an answer of
17. However we can not conclude the ghost box answers were
actual spirits communicating with us.
Late in the evening as we
were finishing up ghost box and EVP sessions we were sitting
very still and quiet in an upstairs bedroom when several
other investigators just below us in the main room began to
hear a loud thumping sound. They contacted us on two way
radio to ask where the banging was coming from, and those
who were upstairs sitting quietly had heard no noises whatsoever. After
searching for the source of the noise, the investigators
could not pinpoint where the sound came from.
Investigation Results:
Our second Ramsdell House
investigation was not a disappointment, in fact this
investigation yielded numerous EVP's. Below we have chosen
to publish our best EVP from this investigation. A little
information on this EVP: This recorder was left sitting in
an upstairs room while we were in other rooms downstairs
talking, you will be able to hear the team talking in the
background when a voice much closer to the recorder pops in
about 10 seconds into the audio below. This EVP was captured
in the room that was used by the children as a playroom.
