Sunday, March 31, 2013
Clifton, TN - Public Library
There is a field behind the Public Library that if you go to
between 8:00pm and 5:00am then you can sometimes see a white figure of a man
moving around the field. They say that the white figure is a man by the name of
Rosco Young Blood who buried his money in the field back in the 1950's and
still roams the field trying to find his money that he buried there.
Cleveland, TN - St. Luke's Episcopal Church Mausoleum

John Henderson Craigmiles was a very successful man. He was a former sea captain, and a prominent business man in Cleveland, TN during the 1800s. However, his endured more tragedy than most people can imagine.
Nina Craigmiles was born on August 5, 1864, to John
Henderson Craigmiles and his wife, Adelia Thompson Craigmiles. From the day she
was born, her entire family fell in love with her, especially John. He showered
her with affection, and bought her the best toys money could buy. He rarely
ever let her leave his sight, and, as a result, she had few friends her own
age. Some people have suggested that she wanted friends her own age, but if she
did, she didn`t appear to want for it very much. She seemed very happy in such
a loving family.
Sadly, on October 18, 1871, that happiness came to an end.
It was Saint Luke`s Day, and Nina`s grandfather, Dr. Gideon Blackburn Thompson,
was taking her for a ride on a horse and buggy. He had done this many times
before, and Nina absolutely loved riding.
Apparently, Dr. Thompson lost control of the horse and
buggy, because it went directly into the path of a train. Dr. Thompson was
thrown to safety, but Nina was killed.
The entire town was saddened by the news, and many people
showed up for her funeral. After her funeral, Dr. Thompson and two others were
baptized. The Craigmiles were devout Episcopalians, and since the Episcopal
congregation of Cleveland did not have a church to visit at, John Henderson
Craigmiles vowed to build one, which he did in memory of Nina. Saint Luke`s
Episcopal Church was consecrated on the third anniversary of Nina`s death. It
was (and still is) a very beautiful church. Not long after, Mr. Craigmiles had
a mausoleum built behind the church in memory of his daughter. She was laid to
rest inside, as was another infant son who died, and Mr. and Mrs. Craigmiles.
Mr. Craigmiles met an untimely death after falling on some ice, which
apparently triggered blood poisoning. A third member of the family had met a
tragic death.
Today, if you visit the mausoleum, you will notice red
streaks the color of blood appear on it. Almost everyone agrees that these
streaks appeared just after Nina was laid to rest inside. These streaks are
said by many to represent the tragedy that the Craigmiles family endured.
People have tried many times to wash of these streaks, but they cannot. No one
can explain what caused them to appear.
Sorrow continued for the Craigmiles. An infant son died
within hours of his birth, Nina`s grandfather John Craigmiles died of food
poisoning and his wife Adelle succumbed to injuries sustained when she was hit
by a car in 1928. As each member of the family joined the others in the crypt,
the stains grew deeper and more prominent.
In the area around the mausoleum, children have been known
to play. Some children have claimed to see the ghostly apparition of a young
child dressed in 1800s style clothing. Other people have also reported seeing
this, and hearing crying coming from the vicinity of the mausoleum. Local
legend says that it`s Nina crying and wanting to play with the friends she
never had in life. For years, youth in the area would approach the mausoleum
after dark as a test of bravery. Many failed this test.
No one doubts the
pain endured by the Craigmiles family. One can only hope that it doesn`t remain
now, after their deaths`.
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