Along an expanse of road known as Coffin Road, there is a plaque commemorating a horrific tragedy, the echoes of which still seem to resonate to the present day.
This plaque marks the spot where an orphanage once stood before it was consumed by a sudden fire which killed many of the children who lived there.
Some say the inferno was ignited by lightning, but legend tells a different story.
As the story goes, there was an old man who nurtured a lifelong hatred of children and one night he targeted this rage at the poor kids living in the orphanage.
After setting the building ablaze, it is said he then walked down the road, selected an appropriate tree, and hung himself from it. This tree, known by locals as the “Hangman’s Tree,” still exists.
No matter how the fire started, the area now seems to be imbued with paranormal fallout from the event. It is said that, on certain nights, visitors to the site can witness the ghosts of children, hear their playful laughter, and, if you believe the legends, still glimpse the apparition of the hateful old man hanging from the tree.
(Originally published on the Haunted Toledo Facebook page on November 21, 2016)
About The Author
Christopher Tillman is an explorer, writer, and documentarian with a passion for all things strange and unusual. He has been investigating claims of paranormal activity since 1993, cataloging over 1500 legends in the State of Ohio. His first documentary, dealing with the haunted history of Ohio’s first serial killer, premiered on Toledo’s PBS affiliate in 2020. When he’s not traveling the country in search of the paranormal, he resides in Toledo, Ohio.
Christopher Tillman on IMDb
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
Bring the Legend home on DVD or Blu-ray! Haunted Toledo's first documentary, featuring Ohio's greatest ghost story premiered October 22 on Toledo's PBS affiliate, WGTE. Do the spirits of a serial killer and his final victim haunt the businesses along Main Street in Sylvania, Ohio? In 1857, Ohio's first known…
In "Documentaries"
Ravine Cemetery is located just outside of downtown Sylvania, Ohio and it is here, in this quiet neighborhood cemetery, that stories of a phantom bride has captivated the imaginations of many for over 50 years. The story of the ghost bride entered northwest Ohio folklore in the 1970s when…
In "Legends"
Join Christopher Tillman as he takes you on a short walk through Riverside Hospital! Was this abandoned hospital haunted, or was it just a legend? Have you had an experience here? Tell us about it! Subscribe to the Haunted Toledo YouTube channel for more videos featuring some of your favorite…
In "Legends"
