ROWLESBURG — Is the River House Lodge haunted?
Tim Weaver said he is not a big believer in the paranormal but strange things happen in the three- story lodge.
There’s nothing strange about the spell the restored house casts on visitors.
“I rented here and fell in love with the place,” he said. “Then I found out I was not the only one here. There are others here.”
He said when he is in bed at night he can hear furniture being moved around upstairs.
“We call it the movers,” Weaver said. “The good news is they are friendly ghosts. It’s a cozy feeling.”
Weaver grew up in Rowlesburg, in a traditional railroad family. He moved to New England in 1970 and is a professor emeritus of Boston University. He bought River House Lodge seven years ago.
“I thought I would do a bed and breakfast. Visitors to the town have been increasing. I thought this would be a nice place for people to stay. There was nothing available after the old Howard Hotel closed.”
Weaver said River House dates back to the late 1800s. It was built by Harry Hollis for his two sons.
“Hollis’ sons Robert lived in one side and Ross in the other.” Later the structure was used as a jewelry store, which closed after the 1985 flood. Weaver said flood waters came up to the door.
“Clyde Sypolt saved it after the flood. I rented here and fell in love with it and bought it,” he said.
When his property manager from New England stayed in the lodge he heard his door knob turn. The door opened and then closed by itself.
“Another oddity, Victoria (Leigh) and I were watching TV the other night. The air conditioner was on and suddenly the kitchen door opened and closed by itself. When I’m here alone I get a feeling I am not alone,” Weaver said. “Sometimes when I’m in bed I can hear someone breathing. It’s like someone drawing air through their teeth. I’ve put my hand out to see if someone else is in my bed.”
The rooms at River House Lodge are furnished with period furniture. Many of the items, including dishes, were once part of Rowlesburg’s Howard Hotel.
Each room is numbered and has a name related to the local railroad. Weaver and Leigh chose railroad names in keeping with the history of the house and the town. Birch Root Farms toiletries are placed in the rooms for customer use. The goat’s milk toiletries, which include soaps and lotions, are made locally by Robin and Jim Davis, of Etam, who raise goats.
Weaver said there is always something to do while staying at River House Lodge. Nearby is the Monongahela National Forest, Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley.
“If you go out on the third floor balcony, you can get the best view of Cannon Hill you can get anywhere,” he said.
According to the Historical Marker Project, Cannon Hill was a strategic location during the Civil War Battle of Rowlesburg in April 1863. A cannon was positioned atop the hill with the railroad bridge in sight. The bridge linked eastern and western Union forces with supplies of food, ammunition and troops.
For more information on River House go to riverhouselodge.org. For reservations call 304-454-2095 or 978-270-3847.
