Author: Dave Miller

Investigation Team: Dave Miller

Date: June 21, 2026

The Herbert & Patricia Wagers’ Memorial Park in Camden, Ohio—gets its eerie nickname from a dramatic, rocky limestone ridge that towers over the winding Paint Creek. The steep, narrow ridge has been known as “Devil’s Backbone” since the late 1870’s. Along the hiking trails are beautiful wildflowers, native pants, tree canopies and the flowing creek.

The Urban Legend associated with giving this preserve a mysterious, haunted reputation is threefold.

First, you have the missing skunk mystery just as the park historical marker states. In the early 1900’s, local residents had a get rich quick scheme to raise skunks beside the creek to sell their pelts only to return in the spring to find that almost all their skunks had mysteriously disappeared. Did they breed on their own in the preserve and become giant size?

Also, two mysterious, unsolved murders occurred on the land. In 1887, Herbert Howard was found murdered at his backbone farm. That murder remains unsolved to this day. Then there was the murder of Franklin Bourne on the same farm in 1912. A fellow farmhand was convicted of the murder but maintained his innocence until the day he died.

Thirdly, a history of Bigfoot sightings has been reported at the park. One example, back in 1977, two teenage boys saw a huge brown figure walking in the area.

Add to these two incidents, you may be hiking on park land where bodies of Native Americans were buried. Chief Little Turtle of the Miami Tribe warned settlers not to disturb the land as it was a sacred burial ground for the Miami Tribe. Is the land cursed?

For several springs, locals reported seeing two mysterious dark-haired men roaming Backbone’s hillside, but no one could ever get close enough to talk to the men.  Many locals believe that the mysterious individuals are “ghost scouts” to administer the Chiefs curse.

In summary, there are many urban legends associated with this nature preserve. One thing is for sure, down along Paint Creek you can turn over rocks and find many fossils on the limestone ravine.

Investigation Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: September 8, 2026

Located a half mile north of Fort Mackinac, near skull cave (a burial site for American Indians), this is one of only four cemeteries in the United States permanently permitted to fly the American flag at half-staff. This honor is maintained 24/7 to remember the unknown soldiers buried here.

The cemetery contains over 140 graves and was built in the early 1800s to house both British and American soldiers who were killed in the War of 1812. After this, civilians and veterans of the American Civil War were also buried here. Many soldiers have been buried here, not many are named

Visitors have reported seeing ghostly apparitions among the gravestones and hearing the faint sound of weeping, believed to be the spirits of those who met tragic ends during the island’s tumultuous history. One such story tells of the ghost of a weeping mother, Mary Ella Cowles (Photo #5).  She is seen over the 19th century graves of her two young children Josiah and Isabel. Thirteen other children died at the fort over the years and were all buried at the Fort Mackinac Post Cemetery, and if the haunting is real, there could be plenty of mothers coming to mourn for their little ones for all eternity. 

We rested for a while at the cemetery as we had cycled about 14 miles so far around the island. We drank some water, ate a snack, then walked and took many photos in the cemetery. The cemetery was peaceful and serene, but very isolated and creepy at the same time. We heard no woman mourning but at nighttime, this area would definitely be dark and scary.

Expedition Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: September 8, 2026

This former British and American military fort from the late 18^th century to the late 19^th century is situated on a 150-foot bluff overlooking the small town and the Straits of Mackinac. The fort is comprised of over a dozen structures and is home to many urban legends.

Through the years, visitors have reported disembodied footsteps, ghostly soldiers in 18th-century uniforms, cannon fire, apparitions of marching soldiers and voices of children. The Officer’s Stone Quarters especially, is said to be haunted by playful ghost children. The fort’s old hospital, dating to 1828, has produced a variety of paranormal claims. During the daytime visit, we had a quick view of the fort and the people impersonating historical figures there. We did not have time for any type of ghost hunting other than taking photos and listening for signs of anything abnormal. The fort tour is worth the price and really educated you on the soldier’s life there a long time ago.

Investigation Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: August 10, 2026

Located in downtown Gettysburg, this house/tavern is the town’s oldest standing structure built in 1776. We ate a delicious lunch (I had a Reuban and French onion soup) in the basement tavern as the house celebrated its 250^th year celebration sharing that distinction with the United States Semiquincentennial. This lower-level dining facility has stone walls, fireplaces, a long bar and makes you feel as if you went back in time. Upstairs, management offers an upscale, candlelit colonial dining experience spread across six historic rooms. In the past, the house served as a hiding place for escaped slaves (an exhibit shows a hiding place in a crawlspace area) and also was a field hospital during and after the Battle of Gettysburg.

Paranormal claims include the sighting of a ghost of Rev. Dobbin, smell of cigar smoke, a sad woman in a blue/black gown, wounded Civil War soldiers, escaped slaves, children’s laughing voices, phantom footsteps, glasses moving and other claims.

After eating we toured the various rooms taking photos and performing two EVPs (one by the slave hideout & one in an upstairs dining room). We gathered no evidence on this day, but the old house/tavern did have its creepy moments.