Ghosties and goblins

Brrr, it's Halloween. Ready for a ‘Berry good ghost story or two?

Two recently published books include ghost stories from Newberry, “Ghosts of the South Carolina Upcountry” by Tally Johnson and “More Ghosts of Upstate South Carolina” by John Boyanoski.

In “More Ghosts,” our friend and favorite bookseller, Randy Berry, talks about the haunting of his house on Harrington Street.

When he and his family first moved into the house about 25 years ago, one night he heard singing from the nursery. He assumed that his wife Joyce was singing lullabies to soothe the baby back to sleep, but then he realized: Joyce was still sleeping beside him.

He rushed to the nursery, but the singing stopped as soon as he reached the door.

When Randy mentioned what had happened to one of his neighbors, he was told that “everyone” knew his house was haunted-except for the Berrys, of course. The neighbor then shared this story...

In the early 1870s, a little girl of 8-10 years old fell down the stairs soon after her family moved into the house. Sadly, she died. Others who later lived in the house reported that they saw her. She was evidently a beneficent ghost, having once helped to make the beds.

The story went a long way in explaining why the Berrys sometimes heard light footsteps on the stairs, too, like the footsteps of a child.

The haunting was never terrifying or threatening, however, and it did not last for long. For 20 years now, the helpful ghost-girl has not been seen or heard.

Perhaps she was simply wanting to check on the new family in her house, or perhaps she was wanting to help with the baby.

It seems that Newberry has another ghost who likes to check on the new people in a beloved home.

Newberry folklorist Ernie Shealy has been visited by such a ghost, too.

Not long after Ernie and his mother moved into the old Werts home in Silverstreet, he was awakened one morning by the rumble of a car or a truck on his gravel drive. He was still renovating the home, and the broken shades made it impossible for him to see who was outside so early. He thought maybe someone was turning around, and he didn't think much about it.

Until the same thing happened the next morning.

He was sleeping in a different room with no shades, and when he raced to the window and peered outside-nothing was there; even though he clearly heard the sound of an engine, the sound of tires on the gravel.

He thought at the time, maybe Mr. Werts is coming to check on the house. The house was in an upheaval during the renovations, and maybe he was worried about the state of his old home.

Several months later, one morning, Ernie left his mother sewing in a downstairs chair. Mrs. Shealy had not been feeling well, and he'd asked her to rest for the morning.

Ernie went outside to work in the yard. A couple of hours later, he sat on the porch to take a break, and he heard what sounded like furniture being moved in an upstairs bedroom.

His first thought was why on earth would his mother be moving furniture? He tried to enter the house from the porch, but he'd left the front door locked and had to walk around to the back door.

As he reached the hallway and started up the staircase, he saw his mother near the top.

Mrs. Shealy was startled when she heard Ernie behind her. She had heard the same noise upstairs, and she had assumed it was Ernie.

She thought he must have slipped into the house without her noticing, and she was headed upstairs to ask him to wait on moving the furniture until someone could come and help him.

Yes, we all become accustomed to where things are “supposed to be” in our homes. Perhaps someone from the Werts family was trying to return a favorite piece of furniture to where it belonged.

“The activity is always heavier in June,” Ernie said. There was no explanation for that at first.

Ernie often researches old newspapers, and he had seen a notice from the early 1900s, published in November, that Mr. Werts had moved into his new home. The article concluded, “But what does a bachelor need with a house?”

One week later, the newspaper printed a notice that Mr. Werts had married.

Home built in November, wedding maybe in early December.

So why is there more haunting in June?

“When we renovated the upstairs, we found the boards were marked with a date,” Ernie said.

June, of course.

Like Randy, Ernie has never felt threatened by anything in the house. A bit startled now and again, but not afraid. “Even if they are coming back to check on things, they seem to realize that I belong there too,” Ernie said.

Two ‘Berry houses, two ‘Berry kindly ghosts.

Might there be three or four?

Ghost stories are part of our community folklore, and they should be shared. If you know of another ‘Berry haunting, please give Ernie a call at 276-0543 or 924-0282. He would love to hear your tale, and so would I.

Happy Halloween, y'all, and may all your hauntings be helpful!