Haunted Ohio: Chillicothe's Crosskeys Tavern

 

The Crosskeys Tavern in Chillicothe - Photo Available Here

From the outside, the Crosskeys Tavern in Chillicothe looks like any other bar or pub. I've probably been in dozens that look the same. Though closed three days a week, the tavern is quite popular with locals who gave it an average of 4.3 starts on Yelp. Based on rumors and stories, the tavern may also be haunted.

Also called the Cross Keys Tavern by some visitors, it's home to a ghost lovingly called Harold. According to local lore, Harold was a friendly customer and a regular at the bar. One night, after throwing back a few, Harold started walking home and made the mistake of cutting through the ally. Harold had a run-in with a man who held him up at gunpoint and killed him when he took too long to hand over his wallet. Another story claims he had an altercation with another man over his mistreatment of his lady friend.

Someone who took the annual Chillicothe Ghost Walk claims she heard a different origin story for Harold. Chillicothe allegedly has a series of tunnels running under the city. When a psychic took the tore, she claimed Harold had a deep connection to the tunnels. She was wary of saying any more. Legend says before Harold, the tavern had a different ghost named Tom who somehow had a connection to the Prohibition era.

One site I found claimed Tom was the owner of the original bar in the building, Club 19. As a way to make some extra money and foster his love of gambling, Tom let a bookie set up shop in the back. When hot, Tom was really hot, but it didn't take long for the tide to turn. After losing a big bet and not having the money to pay it off, Tom and the bookie's men fought in the alley behind the tavern. While the two walked away, Tom died on the spot.

The Crosskeys Tavern sits inside one of the oldest buildings in Chillicothe. Built in the 1800s, it played host to a variety of businesses over the years. The tavern opened in 1972 and quickly gained a reputation for its resident ghost. Harold often knocks glasses off the bar, scaring both bar staff and customers, especially when the glassware breaks. Employees occasionally put items down when they're working alone and come back to find them gone.

Harold seems most active in the basement. Employees hear footsteps down there when the tavern is closed or hear the sound of a man laughing. He also likes to make a nuisance of himself, especially when the bar is shut down for the night.

Stop by the Crosskeys Tavern to enjoy a great meal, listen to live music, have a cold drink, and look out for the ghost of Harold. The Crosskeys Tavern is at 19 E. Main St. in Chillicothe, Ohio.