MOUNT GILEAD — Halloween is over, but it’s time to begin looking for the Ghost Towns of Morrow County. The names aren’t necessarily haunting, but the disappearance of these communities is quite intriguing.
Aaronsburg, Florida Grove, Friendsboro, Grays Corner, Indigo, Jamestown, Kelker, Moshers Mill, Queen Settlement, Rome and Surprise are among those towns that no longer exist — if they ever really did. These are listed on the official Ohio Ghost Town Exploration Co., which traces places that used to be.
One such town is Penlan, which was featured on March 28 as part of our Country Roads series. Another, Steam Corners, was written about on May 30.
Those both have remnants — houses, farms and a few businesses. Most of the others listed above do not, at least not to my knowledge.
Now that we’ve exhausted the ones that have something remaining, it’s time to dig into the Ghost Towns that have nothing — except maybe an old cemetery — left to see. A ghost town is defined as an abandoned village, town, or city, usually one that contains substantial visible remains.
We are reaching out to county residents and historians. What do you know about these Ghost Towns?
Do you have documentation, photos or anecdotal stories about any of these places? If so please contact me at [email protected] or call 419-946-3010, extension 1806.
