By Gary Malicki
Sometimes I ponder many things while spending time on the porch. Recently I wondered, how did Halloween begin? As it turns out, one ideas is, in the late 1800’s when there was a move in America to turn Halloween into a holiday about neighbors getting together. The idea was an alternative to focusing on ghosts, pranks and witchcraft. Fast forward to 2023…the place…the EVL library where I attended a lecture on the “Legends, Lore and Ghosts of Ellicottville”.
It was an interesting evening that began with a brief business meeting of the Ellicottville Historical Society who sponsored the event.
Enter the compelling Amanda Woomer who facilitated the lecture. Amanda is a writer, anthropologist and former international English teacher. She lives local and has co-written 15 books including A Haunted Atlas of WNY. Amanda also runs a fascinating website called spook-eats.com, a travel site that believes the paranormal belongs to everyone. Her interest in ghosts and hauntings began with her first spiritual encounter at age 7 and she never looked back.
Amanda focused on 5 locations about possible hauntings in the EVL area. First, she talked about The Ashford Hollow Witch on Rohr Hill Road in Ashford. The witch in question was Sophia Disch born in 1833 who never married. To help explain how someone could be accused of witchcraft she talked about women who may not have lived a traditional family life and because they were different, they were therefore, labeled as such.
She moved on to Hencoop Hollow Road aka The Haunted Road. There once stood a cemetery and schoolhouse and the road is rumored to be haunted by children.
Next was Hinsdale House at 3830 McMahon Rd. in Hinsdale. There have been many stories of the supernatural but no historical record of paranormal activity. Amanda stated that spooky stories began there in the 1970’s. The house is now a paranormal research center and available to rent.
Then there’s Wildwood Sanitarium at 71 Prospect Street in Salamanca. It was a holistic hospital in 1923 and then became a tuberculosis ward. It can also be rented by groups.
Finally, Amanda said one of the most haunted places in our area is Allegany State Park. She noted a few specific areas where the unexplained occurs. She singled out cabin #2 on Stoney Trail. Also, the very popular and heavily visited Thunder Rocks where people have reported seeing The Flannel Man. It’s also a spot referred to as the Home of the Woman in White. In the Quaker Run area of the park across from the Quaker rental office, people are said to have seen the specter of a little girl walking in the road.
At the end of the lecture when she opened the floor to questions I decided to raise my hand. I didn’t have a question but pointed out to the group that I was feeling a bit freaked out as I was wearing an Allegany State Park ball cap (my signature look) which I held up and displayed to the audience. If the opportunity presents itself, I will always shamelessly break the tension in a room for a laugh if I can.
Amanda was very enthusiastic and entertaining in her presentation. Feel free to visit the locations discussed in this Halloween article and check out Amanda Woomer on Facebook.
I’m glad I was there for her presentation and also for having the chance to see a small sample of the workings of our Historical Society.