History & local legend
On October 8, 2005, Northwest Pennsylvania Hauntings visited Holmden Cemetery, the wooded burial ground associated with the former oil-boom town of Pithole. Four-year-old Toby came along with his family. They followed the path into the cemetery at about eleven that night.
After roughly fifteen minutes, Toby asked his mother what a ghost looked like. When she asked why, he pointed to a place about ten feet away, then hid his face against her neck. He stayed that way as the family returned to the car.
According to the account written by his grandparent, Toby explained only during the ride home. A man had been standing nearby, watching them.
Sources
- Northwest Pennsylvania Hauntings, October 8, 2005, original field account by Toby’s grandparent
- Venango County cemetery inventory, Holmden Cemetery, also called Pithole Cemetery, coordinates and location in relation to museum
- Linda Dill, Venango County cemetery survey, Holmden family and oil-town residents’ burials
- Oil Region Alliance, Pithole City and the Holmden Farm
