The legend of Stovepipe has reportedly been around since the 1800s but it varies in the telling depending on whom one speaks to in the town.
One version takes place at the train tunnel in Rices Landing that is the entrance to Pumpkin Run Park. This version circulates the Internet on a variety of paranormal investigation sites.
It was a dark and rainy night in the 1800s when a young lad was driving a horse and buggy over the railroad tracks at Pumpkin Run. He was believed to be taking a shortcut, perhaps one that he often took, to reach his home.
Quite suddenly a train came barreling in his direction. The young man's horse could not move the buggy over the tracks as quickly as the horsepower of the train.
In a macabre twist the buggy overturned, and the wheels of the train decapitated the boy, leaving his ghost to wander around looking for his head.
The tale concludes with the ghost placing a piece of stovepipe where his head once was and the belief of many was he would return when he heard someone call, "Stovepipe, Stovepipe, Stovepipe" after midnight on rainy nights.
The second version of the story begins on what is known as Horseshoe Bend, named for its perfectly horseshoe-shaped curves.
It was a dark and rainy night, again, and a young man was bringing his buggy around Horseshoe Bend when it suddenly overturned, throwing him out. One of the wheels of the buggy severed his head.
The townspeople who came upon the scene commented that his flattened neck resembled a stovepipe, giving the story a name. About a year later a passerby claimed to see a ghost on the bend fitted with a stovepipe where his head once was.
This version, too, concludes with the claim that shouting "stovepipe" on dark, rainy nights after midnight would make the ghost appear.
But at least three other versions of the story also have been told and two of them have a more sinister twist.
In the first, a man by the name of Stovepipe Kelly was on his way to visit his mistress in his horse-drawn buggy. The woman's husband knew of the affair and he lay in wait for Stovepipe on Horseshoe Bend. The jealous husband caused the buggy Stovepipe was driving to overturn, but it wasn't the buggy that lopped off Stovepipe's head.
"His head was cut off but it wasn't from a horse and buggy accident," said Mary Lewis, who heard this version from her parents and aunt growing up. "It was the woman's husband who cut it off."
An alternate version was told to Lewis' daughter, Judy Armstrong of Carmichaels, by her grandmother, who would be more than 100 if she were still alive today.
"Granny told us the story that it was a coal miner and it was at a time when they were trying to form the unions. A man named Stovepipe Kelly, because he always wore a stovepipe hat, made the mine owners angry and they were waiting for him on Horseshoe Bend to kill him," said the former Dry Tavern resident. "I remember we would go down there to Horseshoe Bend and scare the bejeezus out of other kids at night around Halloween by saying Stovepipe."
The final version came about when a car missed the curve on Horseshoe Bend and went over the hillside. The car sat for many years until it was a rusty pile of junk, but perfect to aid in the spinning of a tall tale.
This version can be found on YouTube by searching Horseshoe Bend, Rices Landing, Pa. Chip Guesman, a native of the town created several videos documenting stories about Rices Landing and the people who live there.
Guesman begins by telling the "true" version as he knows it.When he guides viewers around the bend he points to the spot where the car once sat.
"When we would come up the road in the school bus you could see it (the car). The kids my age always told the story of Stovepipe who wrecked his car and lost his head. It was a good story because of the old car that lay down in there," Guesman narrates.
Regardless of which version of the story one believes in, the result is still the same: If you venture into Rices Landing on a rainy night after dark and have the courage to pause near the Horseshoe Bend while bellowing, "Stovepipe, Stovepipe, Stovepipe," perhaps in the fashion of Ichabod Crane, an apparition missing his head may just appear.
There is just one more thing you should know. The final part of the legend is that Stovepipe returns because he is looking for his head, and yours may do just fine.
**********
STOVEPIPE - Train Tunnel Legend
Train Tunnel Legend and locals claim on a rainy night a young boy in the 1800's was driving his horse and buggy over railroad tracks to take a short cut when the train came and collided with the buggy, the boy's head was severed and his body found a piece of stove pipe which it placed where his head would be, now on rainy nights after dark if you walk the tracks and call "Stove Pipe" three times his ghost will appear to you.
Below is a follow up comment intended to correct the above statement:
"The Stovepipe Ghost is not at the tunnel into Pumpkin Run Park. The train over that tunnel last ran in the 1930's, and nobody could drive a buggy over it because it was too narrow. There is a road called Horse Shoe Bend directly up from the tunnel. In the early 1900's a man was coming down Horse Shoe Bend in his horse & buggy when the buggy overturned and the mans head was cut off by the wheel of his wagon. When some men from town went to retrieve the body they said his neck was so flattened out that it resembled a stove pipe. About a year later, on the same road, a person was traveling by and thought he saw the headless body laying along side the road. Later the myth about Stovepipe began. If you go up Horseshoe Bend and stand at the 'bend' and say 'Stovepipe, Stovepipe, I found your head!' You can hear Stovepipe come up the embankment. The tunnel myth was started by some kids who have no knowledge of the town.
If you go under the tunnel and into Pumpkin Run Park and follow the road back then go across the creek, you will see a pile of cut stones. about 100 years ago there was a town back there called 'Casebear Hollow' and there was a stone quarry, a rock dust mill, as well as 10 houses. The stone quarry is a place where a lot of strange happenings have occurred. Its been said that sometimes you can hear eerie flute notes coming from near the quarry, and rumor has it that there is a flight of stairs that take you under the quarry and there are supposed to be some kind of evil things that live there. Further back in the park is a place called 'Mooney Rocks' where someone fell to their death from them. If you follow the creek you will eventually find yourself near the foundation of an old grist mill where the body of a murdered young girl was found....... How do I know these things? I've lived here for almost 65 years. Just be careful when you come here exploring."
Send us an email
New Items - Strickler's Celebrity Autographs
ANOMALIST BOOKS
Works on maverick science, unexplained mysteries, unorthodox theories, strange talents, and unexpected discoveries. Please check out their excellent and diverse catalog
The 'C' Influence
Actualizing Esoteric Discussion
"The latest news from beyond the mainstream"
Join Ben & Aaron for their weekly podcast!
Check out Mysterious Universe Plus+ all access format!
Spirit Rescue International
Providing no cost professional spiritual help, personal support and guidance
Take the first step towards genuine peace of mind
SPIRIT RESCUE INTERNATIONAL - HAUNTED HELP
Spiritual, paranormal and supernatural guidance and support using remote viewing and other complementary therapies - all are welcome
Phantoms & Monsters Wiki
A NETWORK OF INVESTIGATORS, ENTHUSIASTS AND THOSE SEEKING THE TRUTH
THROUGH PARANORMAL EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION
Astral Perceptions - Discussion of interterrestrial and multidimensional phenomena including
conversations on the proficiency of remote viewing
SUPPLY BASE
Buy alternative supplies and gifts
CLICK HERE!
