During the years prior to the American Civil War, the Underground Railroad was the path to freedom.  Many slaves who were held in the south made their way along this perilous route to the north with one thought in mind: FREEDOM! The roads through the hills and hollows of what is now West Virginia was difficult at best, but offered many hiding places for the escaping slaves on their trip north. In the area of the town of Parsons in Tucker County, there stands a mountain shadowed in folklore and death, Darkish Knob.

Darkish Knob looms as a rocky mount and happened to be along one of the best routes north through the mountains of Western Virginia. It is located in the Potomac Highland area of the state.  There were many places to hide out back in the old days while traversing Darkish Knob, but traveling at night through the deadly pass could be treacherous, if not mortal to those not familiar with the area. A small rickety house was hidden near the base of the hill that offered rest and safety for the slaves attempting escape. The house was so well hidden that many travelers passed it by because they couldn’t find it in the darkness. This made it the perfect place to hide out and avoid re capture. A young girl was trying to locate the house during her escape north. She was being chased by men who had been hired to find runaway slaves, and missed the house and started up the trail over Darkish Knob in her confusion. She rode her exhausted horse to the top of the hill and dropped back down to the path that winds down to the Cheat River. As she rode along the precarious trail, she turned and looked back. The horse lost his footing in the loose shale rock and plunged over the edge of the hill. As the girl fell to the rocks below, she let out a bloodcurdling scream that was heard miles as it echoed off then hills. She plunged to her death while seeking what others would take for granted…freedom from the chains of captivity.

Many residents in the years following the girl’s death, spoke of the Darkish Knob as a sinister and evil filled place. Several unafraid people who have explored the location have “sensed” a presence in the area of the steep overgrown pathway. The ghostly image of the unnamed young girl is said to return to the top of the hill every year on the eve of the date of her death. The ghostly moans and cries of the slave girl are audible for several minutes before a terrifying scream is heard as the moment of her death approaches.

Ghost hunters call this type of haunting residual or imprinted energy. There are many people today who still claim to hear or see her on occasion. Many believe she still walks the loose pathway down the hill, looking for freedom and searching for eternal peace.

Sherri Brake is a paranormal investigator, and owner of Haunted Heartland Tours. Visit online at HauntedHistory.net,  sherribrake.blogspot.com or email Sherri@HauntedHistory.net.

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