Wendylou
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- Joined
- Feb 11, 2013
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- Pennsylvania
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Last summer we took a little trip out to Ashtabula Ohio.
While we were there I couldn't help but want to explore the area a little.
I got up early one morning and went to see the supposedly haunted
Chestnut Grove Cemetery. In the late 1800s an engineer named Charles
Collins joined the Owners of the Lake Shore and Michigan Railroad
company in designing a new bridge to be used for the railway to pass
through Ashtabula. The Railway would bring jobs, money and more
people into the area. Many supporters pushed Collins to approve
construction design on the bridge even though he and another engineer,
Amasa Stone, thought it was more of an experimental design that wasn't
yet ready to be used. The bridge was constructed and did bring great
changes to the area. On December 29, 1876 a very harsh winter storm
occurred in the area causing a great strain on the bridge. Snow and ice
were piling up, the wind was blowing hard. The Pacific Express was
heading that way with approximately 159 passengers aboard. By the
time the first engine hit the other end of the bridge it was collapsing.
The train was pulled downward and many passengers were thrown into
the river below some dying on impact, others form hypothermia. Others
died of severe burns from begin trapped inside cars that were set on fire
from the oil lanterns and coal stoves on the train. Due to the severe weather
and lack of resource even more people died of exposure. It took more than
a week to clean up and victims were buried in the Chestnut Grove Cemetery,
19 unidentified people were buried in one grave. It was said that only 63
passengers made it out alive. The Locals and law Enforcement put Collins and
Stone under investigation for the deaths. After Collins was brought to court and
held responsible among his peers he committed suicide. His note said he couldn't
live with the overwhelming guilt. Almost two weeks later Amasa stone also took
his life, the pain to much to bear.
You can see more on my blog at wendytheexplorer.blogspot.com
While we were there I couldn't help but want to explore the area a little.
I got up early one morning and went to see the supposedly haunted
Chestnut Grove Cemetery. In the late 1800s an engineer named Charles
Collins joined the Owners of the Lake Shore and Michigan Railroad
company in designing a new bridge to be used for the railway to pass
through Ashtabula. The Railway would bring jobs, money and more
people into the area. Many supporters pushed Collins to approve
construction design on the bridge even though he and another engineer,
Amasa Stone, thought it was more of an experimental design that wasn't
yet ready to be used. The bridge was constructed and did bring great
changes to the area. On December 29, 1876 a very harsh winter storm
occurred in the area causing a great strain on the bridge. Snow and ice
were piling up, the wind was blowing hard. The Pacific Express was
heading that way with approximately 159 passengers aboard. By the
time the first engine hit the other end of the bridge it was collapsing.
The train was pulled downward and many passengers were thrown into
the river below some dying on impact, others form hypothermia. Others
died of severe burns from begin trapped inside cars that were set on fire
from the oil lanterns and coal stoves on the train. Due to the severe weather
and lack of resource even more people died of exposure. It took more than
a week to clean up and victims were buried in the Chestnut Grove Cemetery,
19 unidentified people were buried in one grave. It was said that only 63
passengers made it out alive. The Locals and law Enforcement put Collins and
Stone under investigation for the deaths. After Collins was brought to court and
held responsible among his peers he committed suicide. His note said he couldn't
live with the overwhelming guilt. Almost two weeks later Amasa stone also took
his life, the pain to much to bear.
You can see more on my blog at wendytheexplorer.blogspot.com
