Johnny Morehouse and Other Ghosts of Woodland Cemetery

 

Photo Taken by Warrick L. Barrett - Find A Grave

If you were to ask me which is my favorite haunted place in Dayton, it would be Woodland Cemetery, hands down. Years ago, and by years I mean over 20 now, I was just a little paranormal enthusiast at the University of Dayton. While living in the Stewart Street Apartments, one of my roommates and I would often head outside for a middle-of-the-night cigarette break. While the cemetery seemed close by day, at night, it was literally right outside our door.

It was there, sitting on the stoop, that we could look up and see headstones mere feet away. We could stand up and almost touch the cemetery's fence. While I can't say definitively that Woodland Cemetery is haunted, I can say that we 100% heard the sounds of a dog barking from deep behind the fence late at night.

Woodland Cemetery has dozens of reasons to visit. From paying your respects to the Wright Brothers to taking in the view from the city's highest point, you'll have a grand time.

The history of the cemetery dates back to 1841, when Ohio commissioned the Woodland Cemetery Association of Dayton. Just two years later, the cemetery opened and had its first burial. From its original 40 acres, the cemetery grew to roughly 200 acres. It was one of the garden cemeteries of the time, the type of place you took your kids for a picnic lunch. Even today, you'll find people taking in the sights and walking the paved trails. Some of those visitors are lucky enough to have a paranormal encounter, too.

Johnny Morehouse

No visit to Woodland is complete without a stop by Johnny Morehouse's grave. Known as The Boy and His Dog, Morehouse's headstone depicts a young boy and his dog. Visitors often leave toys and other trinkets on their trips.

According to legend, Morehouse and his dog (whose name was lost to history) were playing near the Dayton Canal. Morehouse lost his balance and fell in the water. Though his faithful friend tried his hardest, he couldn't save the youngster. The dog was so distraught that he was never able to move on.

The four-legged friend followed the family to Morehouse's grave and refused to leave. He spent every night sleeping on the dirt, his head resting just above Johnny's head. Though his family and even visitors tried to get him to play or even eat, he refused to leave, eventually passing away on the grave.

Visitors may find it strange to see a dog roaming through the cemetery, but he's a frequent sight. They report seeing a dog playing between the headstones before disappearing out of view. Others have heard the eerie sounds of a dog barking late at night when the gate is closed and locked.

Others warn guests about putting their hands anywhere near the dog figure on the grave. They claim that if you put your hand just below the dog's nose, you'll experience what feels like warm air blowing back on you. Johnny is sometimes seen running through the cemetery with his trusty friend, too.

The Girl in the Striped Shift

One of the unique features of Woodland Cemetery is that Stewart Street runs right through its center. If you're driving or walking inside, you'll go under the road to reach some of the newer burial sites. That's also where you might encounter the girl in the striped shirt.

No one knows who she is or where she came from, but witnesses almost always describe the same thing. They see a young woman in her late teens or early twenties, wearing white tennis shoes, jeans, and a striped shirt. Some have claimed to see the same woman in a sweatshirt. Though her clothing may change, witnesses claim that she seemed sad and distraught, sitting near a headstone and crying.

When they approach to ask if she needs help, she seemingly blinks out of sight. Stories about this young woman date back to at least the late 1990s. There are also reports that the headstone where she sits glows blue at night. I've heard from some visitors that the headstone only glows when she sits on it and that she tends to blend in with the blue light before disappearing.

The Ghostly Caretaker

If you died tomorrow, you probably wouldn't think about heading back to work. But that's exactly what happened to the cemetery's old caretaker. Clad in dirty and dusty clothing, he looks exactly like any other worker you might come across on a weekday, except that this man blinks out of existence right in front of your eyes.

Some believe that he's the ghost of an old caretaker who died years ago. He might be connected to another strange ghost. This man looks fairly normal, but when you get close, you realize that he's wearing old-fashioned clothing. Like the caretaker, this man quickly disappears when spotted. A few visitors claimed to see the man take on a blurry appearance and develop a confused look, as he realizes that he's walking but not moving.

I've been back to Woodland a few times in recent years. Once, to enjoy the view from the overlook. Again, to visit the Wright Brothers' grave site. And again, just to take in the scenery. While I can't say with absolute certainty that this cemetery is haunted or filled with ghosts, I can say that it's an eerie place and well worth a visit.