Wollyburger Cemetery

This interview was focused on two people’s experiences exploring the Little Pennsylvania Cemetery in Central Ohio. It also included a brief discussion of some at home experiences as well. Garrett and Michael were two of several friends who lived together and loaded up on a road trip to share some experiences at the cemetery that they knew as  Wollyburger. The boys loaded up in a car and drove about 40 minutes away from the urban center. They parked their car on a narrow back road, lined with random trailers and ranch houses.

They walked about a mile and then finally up the long wooded path to the cemetery. The first time they wore black, but later abandoned this practice because several college aged individuals wearing black and walking along the side of the road might look suspicious. As the sun fell, and they drew near to the tomb stones, they discussed some rules. One rule prohibited shushing, another established that if you heard something, say mark. As they arrived they attempted to make contact. They would regularly introduce themselves, and make it known that they were there peacefully for the purpose of communication. On some of these recordings, they heard some unexplained sounds, voices and words. They brought a camera as well, and weren’t able to perfectly explain what it captured. They would leave the cemetery, feeling the rush of being in a place where one does not belong and return to it with the refreshed idea of pursuing information on the haunted place. One specific night they met some likeminded individuals and as they sat, discussing the things that college and high school students discuss, they had an experience that was particularly jarring. So jarring, Garrett never went back. He was not left unscathed for his refusal to go along, facing his friends teasing words. Michael did return, and had a few other experiences, but none so effectual as the large shape they saw looming in the trees.

 

To open the discussion, I started with a broad question.

When I say supernatural, what comes to mind?

Michael gives some quick examples, while Garrett gives a more broad approach, saying that the supernatural is something that can’t be explained by science. Throughout the interview, it is obvious that Garrett wrestles with the beliefs held by his younger self. He is certain of his experiences, but is unsure what it was that he was experiencing.

Supernatural?

We then move on in our conversation, to specific experiences in their lives regarding the supernatural. The first thing to be brought up is Wollyburger Cemetery. They have had multiple trips to Wollyburger, and their experiences varied each time they went. Michael and Garrett discuss their attitudes toward their visit to the cemetery and some of the experiences and methodology they had.

The most memorable experience they had at Wollyburger involved a looming figure that multiple people saw. The figure was large, looming and left quite an impression on Garrett. He reports drawing the figure in a journal, which he has since thrown away. When I asked him to recreate the drawing, this is what he drew.

It was obvious from their descriptions that what they saw left a lasting impression on them. It also highlights a sense of excitement.

Why Wollyburger?

One may notice that Garrett and Michael were not alone on their adventures. High school and college-aged individuals frequent Wollyburger Cemetery. So, I asked a couple of questions regarding why they, and others went to Wollyburger. Was this something that happened or something they sought out? Michael also recounts his impression of the cemetery and the overall feel of the area.

In this next Audio Clip, Garrett puts it best when he says, “I was out to be scared, realistically.”

Why do you believe? What is the purpose?

I was also curious to hear what their opinion of the purpose of the supernatural, or sharing supernatural experiences was. Michael, finds it to be mind opening. Garrett says that it is a method of bonding.

What about Wollyburger Now?

While at the time Wollyburger was not accepting late night visitors, it is closed off more so now. It is reserved as hunting and fishing grounds. I am not aware of if this tradition of sneaking into the old cemetery still happens. But it does appear to be an important site for adventure and rebellion in late adolescence and early adulthood.

 

To fully understand the experiences recounted by Garrett and Michael, I think it is helpful to explore the idea of legend tripping. Legend tripping, according to Carl Lindahl, involves a (usually adolescent) trip to a place where horror or tragedy occurred. As we explore their experiences, I am sure you will find that these, at the time college students, were functionally legend tripping.  In doing research, I found that the ideas in my interview aligned best with Shannon K. Tanhayi Ahari’s reveiw of Legend Tripping: A Contemporary Legend Casebook ed. by Lynne S. McNeill and Elizabeth Tucker. Ahari states, “Another concept that the editors stress is the notion of liminality, as they emphasize legend tripping as a way to make important “discoveries” that help with “transitions from one life stage to another” (p. 16)” Later in her analysis, she puts, ” He analyzes the legend trip as a way for young people to “[play] chicken with adolescent anxieties” (p. 67).” Carl Lindahl has another interesting piece, which relates well to the information that I have provided on Michael and Garrett’s experiences. A parallel can be drawn between the young families and adolescents visiting the ghost tracks for the thrill of having their cars pushed over the tracks, seemingly against the will of gravity and the journey that was made to Wollyburger to pursue experiences with that which cannot be explained. Both were done in the pursuit of a thrill, often in a group with friends or loved ones.

I rather enjoyed interviewing Michael and Garrett. They both have an entertaining way of speaking, and it was obvious from the way they fed into each other’s pauses that some of the stories recounted have been told many times. I would highly recommend listening to the interview, if you find yourself with some spare time.

Citations

Lindahl, C. (2005). Ostensive Healing: Pilgrimage to the San Antonio Ghost Tracks. The Journal of American Folklore, 118(468), 164-185. Retrieved December 4, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/4137700

Tanhayi Ahari, Shannon K. “Legend Tripping: A Contemporary Legend Casebook Ed. by Lynne S. McNeill and Elizabeth Tucker (Review).” Journal of American Folklore, vol. 133, no. 530, Sept. 2020, pp. 496–498. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edspmu&AN=edspmu.S153518822053000090&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Here is the full interview: