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[[File:Hardin.jpg]]

= '''Ridgeway Cemetery''' =

== Overview ==
The Witch’s Pyramid is a legend centered around a large pyramid-shaped tombstone located in Ridgeway Cemetery in [[Hardin County]], Ohio. According to local folklore, the marker is the final resting place of a witch who died in the 1800s. Her ghost is said to haunt the cemetery grounds. The legend has inspired decades of interest and controversy, including a notable 1997 incident in which individuals attempted to exhume the supposed burial site.

== Location ==
* '''Address:''' Ridgeway Cemetery, near State Route 273
* '''City/County:''' [[Ridgeway]], [[Hardin County]], Ohio
* '''Public Access:''' Yes

== Haunting / Legend Summary ==
Local legend claims that a woman accused of witchcraft was buried beneath a pyramid-shaped tombstone in Ridgeway Cemetery. The stone is inscribed with an eerie poem, which contributes to the tomb’s ominous reputation. The woman’s ghost is said to wander the cemetery grounds, particularly at night.

In 1997, several individuals attempted to dig up the grave, reportedly reaching six feet down without finding remains. They were subsequently arrested, convicted, and sentenced. The event was covered on the front page of a local newspaper in [[Kenton]], Ohio.

Despite widespread belief in the legend, a 2014 visit by the Ohio Exploration Society (OES) reported no evidence of a pyramid-shaped gravestone that matched the description.

== Historical Background ==
* '''Construction date:''' Unknown
* '''Original purpose:''' Burial marker in a public cemetery
* '''Notable events:'''
** 1997 – Grave digging incident involving multiple individuals; made front-page news in Kenton.
* '''Key timeline moments:'''
** 1800s – Alleged burial of the woman referred to in legend as a witch
** 2014 – OES investigation reported no matching tombstone found

== Reported Phenomena ==
* '''Apparitions:''' Ghost of the alleged witch said to wander the cemetery at night
* '''Cold Spots:''' N/A
* '''Voices/EVPs:''' N/A
* '''Physical Touches:''' N/A
* '''Object Movement:''' N/A
* '''Malfunctions:''' N/A
* '''Poltergeist Activity:''' N/A
* '''Shadow Figures:''' N/A
* '''Time Anomalies:''' N/A

== Skepticism & Alternative Explanations ==
* The 2014 investigation by the Ohio Exploration Society failed to locate a tombstone matching the description of the Witch’s Pyramid, casting doubt on its existence.
* The inscription on the stone, if it exists, may have contributed to the legend through misinterpretation or local storytelling.
* No verifiable historical record confirms that an accused witch was buried at Ridgeway Cemetery.
* The 1997 digging incident may have been based more on folklore than fact, further perpetuating the myth.

== Visitor Information ==
* '''Visiting Hours:''' Daylight hours recommended; cemetery access may be limited after dark
* '''Fees or Costs:''' N/A
* '''Contact Info:''' Managed by local township or county authorities
* '''Warnings/Restrictions:''' Visitors are strongly discouraged from disturbing graves or conducting unauthorized excavations, which are illegal

== Citations / References ==

*Legend submitted by local source familiar with 1997 incident involving alleged grave disturbance at Ridgeway Cemetery.
*Ohio Exploration Society. "Ridgeway Cemetery Visit," 2014. No matching pyramid-shaped tombstone was found.
*Eyewitness account reported in local folklore and Kenton-area newspaper (1997).

[[Category:Legend]]
[[Category:Apparitions]]

Ridgeway Cemetery - Revision history

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