Ghost Dinner Party at The Crier in the Country

 The original owner, Lydia Pennel haunts this inn/restaurant, The Crier in the Country located in Glenn Mills, PA.  The house was built in 1740 and Lydia was one of the original inhabitants.  It was her and her husband's home for many, many years.  She was forced to sell the bed and breakfast.  Some say she never wanted to leave and hasn't.  It became an inn/restaurant in the 1940's.  There are stories of moving chandeliers, singing and appearances of apparitions in the upstairs dining room named after Lydia as it was her former bedroom.  Ghosts over for dinner?  The sounds of a dinner party can be heard in the empty dining hall downstairs on occasion.

Servers set a dining room for a party, the next day the place settings would all be stacked in piles and placed in the center of each table.

Once in the during the house's lifetime as a inn/restaurant, a young boy was staying on the 3rd floor.  He reported seeing a shadow like apparition.  His new pet dog was staying in the room with him and was viciously trying to defend him.  The dog jumped at the apparition near the window and smashed through it falling to his death.  It is thought that some of these "unknown" entities may be from British soldiers who where hanged nearby during the Revolutionary War.  At one point, the house and it's grounds served as an encampment for British soldiers.

Artist's rendition of "Shadow figure" or "Shadow people"

The person who purchased the property from Lydia, Henry Saulnier, also haunts the place.  Workers at the inn believe his apparition has been seen in the kitchen by a young girl.  She stated she saw a man wearing "funny clothing".  Later identifying the man in a photo in the lobby which turned out to be Henry Saulnier who had long since passed away.

The Crier in the Country Inn and Restaurant

Back to top of story

American Ghosts and Hauntings Index by Region Page

Ghost of General Anthony Wayne

During the Revolutionary War, General "Mad"Anthony Wayne commanded troops under the leadership of George Washington.  He commanded the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment at the battles Brandywine, Paoli, and Germantown.  

 General "Mad" Anthony Wayne

 Former estate of General "Mad" Anthony Wayne in Paoli, Pa

He later led the Continental forces at the Battle of Monmouth.  Followed later in the war by the Battles of Stoney Point and Green Spring.  Stoney Point was his most successful campaign of the Revolutionary War.  After serving as a statesman, General Wayne was later called back into service to lead forces during the Indian Wars at Fort Recovery and the Battle of Fallen Timbers.

Statue honoring General Anthony Wayne at Valley Forge, PA

Wayne died in 1796 while returning to Pennsylvania from a western military post.  He was buried at Fort Presque Isle which later became Erie, Pennsylvania. There was a blockhouse named after him which is still standing today.  

Marker at the site of Fort Presque Isle which contained the Wayne Blockhouse

His family wished to have his remains moved to the family plot in in Radnor, Pennsylvania which is located near Philadelphia,  not far from Wayne's home in Paoli, PA.  His son, Colonel Issac Wayne traveled to Presque Isle to retrieve his father's remains.  However, Issac was traveling with a small horse drawn rickety two wheeled cart.  In order to make transport easier, they boiled the flesh from the bones and placed it back into the grave.  The bones were then loaded onto the cart for transport back to Philadelphia.  The box containing General Wayne's remains kept falling off of the cart.  It was discovered upon arrival in Radnor that many of the General's bones were missing.  Rather than backtracking and retrieving the missing bones along the trail back to Presque Isle which follows what is now mostly Route 322,  what was left of his bones was buried in the family plot at St. Davids Episcopal Church.

General Anthony Wayne's second grave site in Radnor, PA

It is said that every year on General Wayne's Birthday which also happens to be New Year's Day, he rises from his grave and can be seen riding across the state of Pennsylvania back to his original grave in search of his bones.  

Back to top of story

American Ghosts and Hauntings Index by Region Page

The Ghosts of Providence Road

There are several hauntings along Providence Road in Delaware County, PA each of which can be attributed to a woman named Elizabeth Wilson.  Around the time of the Revolutionary War, Elizabeth reportedly had two illegitimate children to a British soldier whom she met while working in Philadelphia.  When it came time to have her children, she left the city to seek refuge at her father's home in the country.  




Giving birth to twins, Elizabeth arrived back in Philadelphia to seek out the children's father.  She was however childless upon her return.  Around the same time, the bodies of two infant boys were found in the woods along Providence road near the intersection of Edgemont.  It was assumed that these were the children of Elizabeth Wilson and she was promptly placed under arrest and scheduled to be hanged to death.




Elizabeth's brother William Wilson, hearing of his sister's troubles, came to her aid.  He managed to get Elizabeth to tell her story in front of a justice. She claimed that the children's father murdered them after wanting no claim to them and threatened Elizabeth with death if she spoke to anyone about it.  The judge, believing her story said they would stay her execution, but would need to get a reprieve from the council in Philadelphia before her execution time.  William raced as fast as he could through snow and muddy winter road conditions to get the document that would save his sister's life.  Upon getting the approval, he raced to get to Hangman's Hill where Elizabeth was scheduled to be executed.  He was however, 20 minutes too late.  His sister had been hanged to death.

Artist rendition of the Elizabeth Wilson hanging on Providence Road

Upon seeing his sister dead, William withdrew from society and fled to live in a cave near what is now Hummelstown, PA.  He lived off the land and the earnings he made by making and selling millstones.  He became known as "The Pennsylvania Hermit".  After his death in 1821, writings were found among his belongings in his cave.  These writings were later published as the book "The Sweets of Solitude".

William Wilson became "The Pennsylvania Hermit" writing memoirs entitled "The Sweets of Solitude"

To this day, the cries of babies can be heard near the intersection of Edgemont and Providence Road. Nearby in the area that used to be known as Hangman's Hill, the ghostly image of Elizabeth Wilson is said to be seen roaming.  Nearby businesses, including a nearby restaurant, have experienced a high level of poltergeist activity.  And along Providence Road, some say they have heard the hoof beats and have even seen the ghost of William Wilson on his horse in his eternal race to save his sister.

Back to top of story

American Ghosts and Hauntings Index by Region Page