The Story Behind This Haunted Cemetery In Pennsylvania Will Chill You To The Bone
By Beth Price-Williams|Published November 25, 2021
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Cemeteries provide solace for those left behind. We can visit our loved ones, chat with them, and leave loving gifts at their grave. Perhaps most importantly, we feel closer to those we have lost. Most cemeteries are quiet and peaceful. However, the residents at some – like this haunted cemetery in Pennsylvania – are restless and let visitors know of their unhappiness.
The story of the haunting of Strasburg Cemetery begins with the sad tale of Annie Gonder, perhaps best described as the black sheep of her family.
She was so unpopular and disliked within her family, in fact, that she was forced to live alone in the small family home. The rest of the family lived nearby in the Gonder Mansion, built by her brother, a railroad tycoon.
Annie lived her life in that small house until she was found dead in a local creek in 1918. How or why died was undetermined. Was it merely an accident, suicide, or something more sinister?
In any case, Annie may have never lived in the opulent mansion during her life, but she apparently became a regular visitor after her death. Passersby tell of seeing her peering out of a window.
When Annie’s not hanging out at her brother’s mansion, she’s wandering aimlessly through Strasburg Cemetery. Her plot in the cemetery isn’t with the rest of her family, but it is within eyesight.
Perhaps that final insult resulted in Annie spending so much time hanging out at the cemetery. She’s been seen standing near her grave. When she’s not seen, a white light or an eerie mist guards her final resting place.
However, she’s not the only spirit said to remain at the cemetery. Others tell of seeing a mysterious little girl in a blue dress running around the cemetery while shadows of another child have been spotted playing in the cemetery.
Have you been to this haunted cemetery in Pennsylvania? Did you experience anything out of the ordinary? Share your experience in the comments! Up for more paranormal exploration? Here are more haunted cemeteries in Pennsylvania that are well worth a visit, especially if you want to increase your chances of experiencing the paranormal.
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