Paradise's headless hound haunts

In search of the headless hound

“Samhain, when the barrier between the worlds is whisper-thin and when magic, old magic, sings its heady and sweet song to anyone who cares to hear it.” -Caryolyn McCullough, Once a Witch

Stories of ghosts, peculiar happenings, and eerie premonitions linger all year long, but seem to creep up more often around October as our focus shifts to things lurking in the darkness. It seems we are often drawn to exploring the unknown, unseen, and other-worldly entities. This curiosity has existed for millennia and follows humans throughout history.

In the late 1800’s, a young girl named Frances Breese lived on The Ridge and spoke of a place called Ghost Hollow near Clark and Bille Roads of Paradise today. The exact origin of this area’s name is unknown, but its supernatural inhabitants decidedly had a hand in that provenance. who roams the hills—large, dark, and foreboding. This hell hound seems to be drawn to the light of lanterns. Is he searching for his lost and earthbound owner in the hopes of reuniting? Or perhaps he’s drawn to the light as he seeks revenge on those who brought about his demise? It seems we will never know as anyone daring enough to attempt to touch him reports the dark ghostly form would quickly disappear into thin air, as if it were never truly there.

Frances, along with her cousins, went out to investigate the phenomena one night, trekking across the dark hollow hoping, and not hoping, to see the ghost. However, they carried no lantern, no beacon to call the hound, and so they say they never personally witnessed the headless apparition. If you decide to head up to Ghost Hollow one October evening, be sure the moon is full and bright so you’ve no need for a flashlight—or wait until the moon is dark and carry your brightest torch. The choice is yours.