Tormented by the Devil

Ennis, WV ca 1910 Source

Ennis, West Virginia was once a thriving coal community, located in McDowell County. Established in 1888 by William McQuail and James McCormick, the town served as the base of operations for the Turkey Gap Coal and Coke Company, and later, the Ennis Coal Company. It was named for the family of McQuail’s wife, Joanna Ennis McQuail. Today, not much exists of the original town, and the location is now a part of the Switchback community along US Route 52. But, at one time it was home to a sensational ghost story!

Various newspapers throughout southern West Virginia ran the story of the Ennis Specter in late August of 1917. One early Friday morning, just after the midnight hour, the residents of a local boarding house were awakened by the awful screams of a female in distress. All 8-10 persons heard the screams, which upon investigation, turned into the disembodied voice of a woman, calling herself Smith. Ms. Smith related that she was the sister of Frank Smith, who lived in Columbus, OH. She had been visiting Ennis some 14 years prior and was staying at the boarding house when she was murdered. The assailants, three men, stole $143 from her. The ghost was even said to accurately name the family who was living in the home at the time of the alleged murder. 

By the next morning, word of the ghostly voice spread far and wide, and visitors from miles around came to hear it for themselves. It is estimated that at least 3000 people visited the town of Ennis in search of the ghost. Local miners even refused to go underground that Saturday. 

Ennis, WV ca 1910 Source

On Sunday morning around 9am, the ghostly voice again spoke, telling the crowd her tragic story. When one curious on-looker asked her why she had waited fourteen years to come back, she stated that she had been in torment these past years and the devil just now released her long enough to come back and share the secret of her murder. 

The boarders packed their bags and left, and it was said that the owners themselves were packed up and moved out by Monday, not wanting to deal with the ghost of a murdered woman and the scores of on-lookers she brought to town. The building in question isn’t really specified, other than it being a frame dwelling on the north end of the railway, nearly opposite the post office.  While looking into the history of the town, I found mention of a boarding house beside the old high school that was specifically for the use of teachers, but as the high school wasn’t built until the 1920′s, this probably wasn’t the house. There was also the Ennis Hotel, but that wouldn’t have fit the description, either. Unfortunately, it really doesn’t matter now, as none of these buildings are left. The town of Ennis is as forgotten as the phantom Ms. Smith who once visited and ended up staying an eternity. We can only hope that while forgotten to history, her murderers were one day brought to justice. 

For more about the history of Ennis, and an excellent collection of local photographs, make sure to check out the Bramwell WV Website! 

The Hinton Daily News 18 September 1917

The McDowell Times 31 August 1917