Willowcottage Photography
Mysterious Marker found along the banks of Dead Man’s Creek, Girard Pa.
“The strangest thing happened in the hot summer afternoon near Erie in July of 1861.
In the suburban Erie township of Girard there was a large summer picnic at the Battles estate that July summer day in 1861. The Battles were a wealthy banking family in the small rural town on the Western edge of Erie County. Just 3 years earlier they had constructed the large Italianate style farmhouse that was a showcase in the local community. That summer was one of celebration; Rush Sobieski Battles had just wed Charlotte Webster, his banking partner’s sister, in late March. They had recently returned from their honeymoon and hosted that lavish feast on their lawn on that hot summer day.
After the picnic two gentlemen were taking a leisurely stroll in the acreage behind the farmhouse to enjoy the cool early evening breeze. As they descended the tiny slope in the landscape that ended in at the edge of a small creek they saw something flailing in the water a few meters up stream.
It was a body.
They rushed to the bodies side and pulled it from the creek. The body was that of a young man dressed in a military uniform. He looked to be about 21 and his throat was slit from ear to ear. As the crown gathered to view the body, no one in the small close knit community recognized him. Then they realized the oddest part of this mystery, for the dead lad wore the military uniform of a soldier in the War of 1812…some 48 years out of time!
The uniform was new, its colors were bright and the uniform fit perfectly. The boy was never identified and the body was buried in a local cemetery. The small creek behind the Battles Mansion forever after was known by its new name, Dead Man’s Creek.
Some darker theories suggested he was transported from the past or another spiritual plane to the creek (Spiritualism was the rage at that time.) No matter how he got there, his ghost is alleged to walk along the creek looking for his assassin. That's the legend on why tiny Battles Creek became known locally as Dead Man's Creek
Erie Pennsylvania and the War of 1812 are forever linked because of the prominent role the city played in the naval victory of the War.
This fascinating story has been spread by word of mouth for over 100 years in the small community of Girard Pennsylvania. It has also been reported in local historian Stephanie Wincik’s book “The Ghost’s of Erie County”, “
Mysterious Marker found along the banks of Dead Man’s Creek, Girard Pa.
“The strangest thing happened in the hot summer afternoon near Erie in July of 1861.
In the suburban Erie township of Girard there was a large summer picnic at the Battles estate that July summer day in 1861. The Battles were a wealthy banking family in the small rural town on the Western edge of Erie County. Just 3 years earlier they had constructed the large Italianate style farmhouse that was a showcase in the local community. That summer was one of celebration; Rush Sobieski Battles had just wed Charlotte Webster, his banking partner’s sister, in late March. They had recently returned from their honeymoon and hosted that lavish feast on their lawn on that hot summer day.
After the picnic two gentlemen were taking a leisurely stroll in the acreage behind the farmhouse to enjoy the cool early evening breeze. As they descended the tiny slope in the landscape that ended in at the edge of a small creek they saw something flailing in the water a few meters up stream.
It was a body.
They rushed to the bodies side and pulled it from the creek. The body was that of a young man dressed in a military uniform. He looked to be about 21 and his throat was slit from ear to ear. As the crown gathered to view the body, no one in the small close knit community recognized him. Then they realized the oddest part of this mystery, for the dead lad wore the military uniform of a soldier in the War of 1812…some 48 years out of time!
The uniform was new, its colors were bright and the uniform fit perfectly. The boy was never identified and the body was buried in a local cemetery. The small creek behind the Battles Mansion forever after was known by its new name, Dead Man’s Creek.
Some darker theories suggested he was transported from the past or another spiritual plane to the creek (Spiritualism was the rage at that time.) No matter how he got there, his ghost is alleged to walk along the creek looking for his assassin. That's the legend on why tiny Battles Creek became known locally as Dead Man's Creek
Erie Pennsylvania and the War of 1812 are forever linked because of the prominent role the city played in the naval victory of the War.
This fascinating story has been spread by word of mouth for over 100 years in the small community of Girard Pennsylvania. It has also been reported in local historian Stephanie Wincik’s book “The Ghost’s of Erie County”, “