If you are familiar with dennis dietz s books recounting west virginia tales, especially his most popular, the greenbrier ghost, then you must have the greenbrier ghost 2. Megan atwood is a writer and professor with over 45 books published. Mine was known as the greenbrier ghost or the ghost of little sewell mountain and the incident occurred in late 1897. Oct 28, 2019 the greenbrier county courthouse where edward shue was tried is there today, and the murder trial records carry the words of the greenbrier ghost as they were repeated in the trial testimony of her mother. After the tragic death of zona heaster shue, a mysterious apparition appeared and began to hint that not everything about her death was as it seemed.
The briefest form of the story is that told by the road marker. Since the only sources cited were two books, i thought iad track down those publications and see if i could locate more information. Trout shue was given to the jury last thursday afternoon, and the jury, after being out one hour and ten minutes, returned into court with a. The greenbrier ghost and the famous murder mystery of 1897. The death, resurrection and retribution of zona heaster shue. Greenbrier historical society beyond the north house tour. As i commented on the episode 147 entry, i think that, in that photograph of zona heaster shue, dear zona is deceased the more i look at that picture of zona, the more i think it might be a postmortem photograph.
Mountain memories books, south charleston west virginia, 1990, isbn 0938985086. Zonas ghost, the greenbrier ghost, crept right up to her mothers bedside and begged to climb in, mary jane reported. She said that shue was a cruel man who abused her, and who had attacked her in a fit of rage when he believed that she had cooked no meat for dinner. The chilling tale of how an 1897 ghost helped to solve her. Definitely love the greenbriar and all of its significant history.
Nuclear devastation was a clear and present danger a part of daily life. Elva zona heaster was born in greenbrier in 1873, although little was known about her early life, other than. Mccrumb is one of a dozen authors booked to appear at this years west virginia books festival on oct. Born in greenbrier county, wv sometime between 1873 and. Her death in 1897 was presumed natural until her spirit appeared to her mother to describe how she was killed by her husband edward.
The arizona cardinals packed up and checked out of the greenbrier resort on friday and some players no doubt are more than happy to leave. Long a favorite among west virginians, deitzs greenbrier ghost tells the story of the only trial in the united states where the testimony of a ghost was used to convict a man. Long a favorite among west virginians, deitz s greenbrier ghost tells the story of the only trial in the united states where the testimony of a ghost was used to convict a man. For this reason, it is also the most haunted state. In celebration of both west virginias 150th anniversary as well as the history of greenbrier county, the greenbrier valley theatre will present the original musical, the greenbrier ghost the greenbrier ghost tells the strange but seemingly true local legend of zona heaster.
After an elaborate argument of the evidence by messrs. In early october 1896, 23 year old zona heaster met trout shue and instantly fell in love with the powerful 35 year old blacksmith. The greenbrier historical society and the greenbrier valley theatre are cohosting 150 years of stereotypes on tuesday june 18 th at 7. She was married to a man named edward who worked as a blacksmith. He is not what he seems and becomes violent abuse her. In july of 1897, edward stribbling trout shue was convicted of firstdegree murder for strangling his wife and breaking her neck. I have never seen the greenbrier county monster, but my father, brothers, and many other hunters have all seen something. If you are familiar with dennis dietzs books recounting west virginia tales, especially his most popular, the greenbrier ghost, then you must have the greenbrier ghost 2. Born elva zona heaster sometime in the mid1800s in greenbrier county, west virginia, zonas early life is something of a mystery before she. Zona was cold and she had something to tell her mother. Elva zona heaster died in greenbrier county, west virginia, in january 1897. The dull look on her face, her halfclosed eyesplus, she is wearing what her husband placed on her.
Oct 30, 2014 a drive to the grave of the greenbrier ghost. Inside the top secret greenbrier bunker video abc news. Johns county but dont expect to see any alps in this switzerland. No state has seen more bloodshed and early deaths than virginia, mostly because it was center stage for two centuries of war from early indian conflicts and the revolution to the civil war. The tale of the greenbrier ghost in the state of west virginia there is a historical marker that reads. Ap the arizona cardinals packed up and checked out of the greenbrier resort on friday and some players no. Soule united methodist church and cemetery 279 farmdale road western, wv 24958 37. There was a young woman named elva zona shue who lived in greenbrier county in west virginia. In his introduction dennis says he is frequently asked if these stories are true. The spirit who solved her own murder mary jane heaster was devastated by the mysterious death of her daughter zona until zonas spirit appeared in the night to tell her shed been murdered. Dennis deitz received countless awards, including the highest award that can be given to a citizen. The greenbrier ghost and other strange stories, south charleston, wv, mountain memories books, 1990. This free program, held at greenbrier valley theatre, features writer glenn taylor and historian david corbin and will explore how stereotypes play a role in how west virginians are perceived and how we view ourselves, both historically. On greenbriar road there is a light that chases cars.
The coroner listed the cause of her death as everlasting faint and then as childbirth. This ghost story is one of the bestknown in west virginia, and at least two books on the greenbrier ghost have been written. Raised around richlands, as far as we know, zona never left greenbrier county in her too short lifetime. May 23, 20 greenbrier valley theatre presents the original musical, the greenbrier ghost, a true story. Civil war soldiers have been seen walking or camping out nearby, and the house itself has seen its share of unexplained phenomena, attributed to the plantations founders. I have ordered the greenbrier ghost and other strange stories by dennis dietz, and i picked up a copy of the man who wanted seven wives by katie letcher lyle at my local library. The greenbrier ghost and the famous murder mystery of 1897 lyle, katie letcher on. Americas resort since 1778 visit the greenbrier and find out what it means to experience life as few know it. The story of the greenbrier ghost starts with this young woman, elva zona heaster shue. She lives in new jersey where she wrangles cats, dreams up ridiculous. Erasmus shue, greenbrier ghost, zona shue elva zona heaster grew up in greenbriar county west virginia. Shue, indicted for the murder of his wife, which commenced in greenbrier circuit court on june 23rd, as far as proceeded with up to last. Trout shues trial, held in greenbrier county, west virginia, rested entirely upon circumstantial evidence that strangely proved shues guiltbeyond a reasonable doubtto jurors who were presented evidence from beyond the grave.
There is not a whole lot of information on her early life, but we do know that she married a drifter named erasmus stribbling trout shue wth kind of name is that anyway. The greenbrier bunker dates back to the height of the cold war. Four weeks after her daughters death, mary jane reported that zona had appeared to her in a dream. Born in greenbrier county, wv sometime between 1873 and 1876 not much is known about her early life. The roadside marker for the greenbrier ghost on route 60 in west virginia calls it the only known case in which the testimony from a ghost helped convict a murderer.
Zona heaster shue was born in the mountains of west virginia. The greenbrier ghost was elva zona heastershue, a local woman who was found dead on january 23, 1897. What started off as a bright light, slowly took form as her daughter. What unfolded next is the only documented case of a murderer convicted by the testimony of a ghost. Elva zona heaster grew up in greenbriar county west virginia. A really interesting compendium of folklore, it begins with the tale of the greenbrier ghost, whose appearances alerted to her mother that she had been murdered. The real name for this road is just greenbriar road and it runs east of switzerland, florida. Mccrumb retells greenbrier ghost story masterfully as. Over forty new ghost stories are gathered in this, the third volume of dennis deitzs popular series, the greenbrier ghost. Elva knew differently and for four nights her ghost appeared at the foot of her mothers bed, telling her that she had in fact been. It is one of the most famous ghost stories in our countrys history. Jun 02, 2016 the greenbrier ghost is the name popularly given to the alleged ghost of a young woman in greenbrier county, west virginia, united states, who was murdered in 1897. The greenbrier ghost, a fulllength musical adaptation, was written by cathey sawyer book and lyrics and joe buttram music. The greenbrier the greenbrier americas resort since 1778.
Jun 24, 2014 the greenbrier ghost was elva zona heastershue, a local woman who was found dead on january 23, 1897. Elva zona heaster shue had passed away suddenly a month earlier. The stories of ghosts from these wars, as well as the spirits of the old manor houses and plantations, are included in this treasury of more than. The show premiered in 2003 at greenbrier valley theatre, with subsequent productions in 2004, 2009 and 20. This man, edward shue, was convicted of killing his young wife, heaster, and sentenced to life in prison. My family and i are avid rabbit hunters, and as are many close friends of the family. Autopsy on the exhumed body verified the apparitions. Here again dennis has gathered colorful stories by west virginians of all ages and walks of life.
The greenbrier independent reported his testimony, manner, and so forth, made an unfavorable impression on the spectators. A letter from a valued lewisburg correspondent supplies the watchman with the following account of the trial of e. Mccrumb retells greenbrier ghost story masterfully as fight. Cardinals end week at haunted greenbrier resort ap white sulphur springs, w. Greenbrier independent july 8, 1897 shue convicted of murder. Initially judged a death by natural causes, the court later declared that the woman had been murdered by her husband, following testimony by the victims mother, in which the latter claimed that her daughters spirit. The greenbrier ghost is the name popularly given to the alleged ghost of a young woman in greenbrier county, west virginia, united states, who was murdered in 1897 initially judged a death by natural causes, the court later declared that the woman had been murdered by her husband, following testimony by the victims mother, in which the latter claimed that her daughters spirit revealed the.
One day, after they had been married only 3 months, edward sent a young africanamerican boy named andy jones to his. Greenbrier ghost trial marker, sam black church, west virginia. The greenbrier ghost of west virginia knowledgenuts. She was buried, presumed the victim of woman troubles, but a month later, zonas ghost appeared to her mother to spin a tale of cruelty and murder. The greenbrier county courthouse where edward shue was tried is there today, and the murder trial records carry the words of the greenbrier ghost as they were repeated in the trial testimony of her mother. Mccrumb is one of a dozen authors booked to appear at. I also want to get the early bird books newsletter featuring great deals on ebooks. Her mother asked for another examination of her daughters body, and discovered that her neck had been broken a fact denied by her husband and not mentioned in the death certificate. The time a murderer was convicted thanks to his victims ghost. The greenbrier resort, a national historic landmark in white sulphur springs, west virginia, has hosted distinguished guests from around the world since 1778. The jury deliberated for an hour and ten minutes before returning a verdict of guilty. The result is my book, the man who wanted seven wives. Deitzs greenbrier ghost tells the story of the only trial in the united states where the testimony of a ghost was used to convict a man.
The plantation house and surrounding areas have seen supernatural activity. Elva knew differently and for four nights her ghost appeared at the foot of her mothers bed, telling. The greenbrier county monster west virginia ghosts. A teaser for the greenbrier ghost, a film cowritten and to be codirected by scott mcclanahan and chris oxley, forthcoming from two dollar radio moving pictures. Besides being a unique case in the annals of west virginia ghost lore, the story of the greenbrier ghost has made history in other places also, like in the documents of the american court system. One january day in 1998, my father and two brothers went hunting with some friends in greenbrier county. In 1897, newlywed zona shue was found dead in greenbrier county, west virginia. It was the only case that a ghost came back from the grave to solved her own murder. Jul 05, 2011 zona heaster shue was born in the mountains of west virginia. The strange and twisting case of the greenbrier ghost is an odd tale that stands at the crossroads of human cruelty and the supernatural. It is the only case in which a ghost helped convict a murderer. Dec 01, 2017 zonas ghost, the greenbrier ghost, crept right up to her mothers bedside and begged to climb in, mary jane reported.
Greenbrier valley theatre presents the musical, the. How a ghosts evidence convicted a murderer dying words. The greenbrier ghost is the name popularly given to the alleged ghost of a young woman in. Cardinals end week at haunted greenbrier resort fox sports. Greenbrier ghost news newspapers books scholar jstor january 2014 learn how and when to remove this template message. Valley of death contains about 300 pictures as well as firsthand accounts by eyewitnesses as buffalo creek flooded, killing 125 people. Her death was originally thought to be from natural causes. Besides the best selling greenbrier ghost volumes 1 and 2, and 3, deitz book, buffalo creek.
Following is the story of the greenbrier ghost a remarkable case in which the victims spirit testified as to the cause of her own violent death and named her killer. The greenbrier ghost is the name popularly given to the alleged ghost of a young woman in greenbrier county, west virginia, united states, who was murdered in 1897. The greenbrier ghost by tracy delong nook book ebook. They seemed very happy together, but zonas mother never liked edward shue and warned her daughter not to trust him. In the winter of 1897 in greenbrier county, west virginia, mary jane heaster claimed to be visited by the ghost of her deceased daughter. Included in this volume are seven stories illuminating the legendary braxton county monster. Greenbrier ghost according to local legend, zona appeared to her mother in a dream four weeks after the funeral. The monroe watchman july 1, 1897 the shue murder trial in greenbrier. The greenbrier ghost the following is a list of books and articles about the greenbrier ghost which can be found at the west virginia state archives library. Shue house the house where zona was murdered still stands and is a private residence today. It remains the only one of its kind the only case in which the word of a ghost helped to solve a crime and convict a murderer. Even now, greenbrier county is far removed from the hustle and bustle of city life, with a population of about 34,000, spread out over a thousand.
Shortly after zona shue was found murdered, her spirit visited her mother. Soule united methodist church and cemetery and the story of the ghost of zona shue, the greenbrier ghost. The time a murderer was convicted thanks to his victims. In his introduction dennis says he is frequently asked if these stories are. Greenbrier valley theatre presents the original musical, the greenbrier ghost, a true story. This book is based on true ghost story that happened in 1897. Oct 16, 2015 cardinals end week at haunted greenbrier resort ap white sulphur springs, w. Just about every family and bloodline have a ghost in the closet.
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