Alger Cemetery, Westpark Ohio
I really enjoyed reading your blog but I'm surprised there was no mention of the creepiest cemetery that I have ever been to: Alger Cemetery located in the "West Park" area of Cleveland. For years I never knew the name of the place because my friends and I would enter from an old entrance not clearly accessible. Alger is technically located at 16710 Bradgate Street, Cleveland Ohio but it was commonly known to us as "the cemetery near Common Grounds." Here is a link to a site about the cemetery history. The back entrance is located behind a KFC parking lot off of Lorain Road, across the street from Common Grounds coffee shop. Anyone that used to spend time in Common Grounds about a decade ago knows it was a common haunt for teens, weirdos, magicians, rockers and artists, which is how I learned these legends about the cemetery:
One of the more noticeable features of the cemetery is the single crypt in roughly the center of the large cemetery. It's the only tall feature other than trees as it is the only raised structure, fairly easy to see during the day or evening. The only markings I'd ever seen on the crypt is the name PAULICK (I read somewhere it belongs to a Catherine Paulick, died 1951). The crypt isn't very well maintained, and had a 2-3 foot angel statue nearby. Legend has it that come time ago (unspecific) a gang of kids or "Satanic cult" broke into the crypt on Halloween, and burned the artifacts and human remains contained within. Either from angering the ghosts or from opening up a demonic portal (depending on the version), the cemetery is now heavily haunted with noises, shadow people and the like. Also, the angel statue is said to move, change position, and do other supernatural things.
I personally never had a frightening experience there, except for suspicious sounds like footsteps and branches cracking. I DID note the angel statue's head broken during one visit, only to see her intact and in a different location during a future visit, though that could easily be the work of maintenance crews. Still, I never felt comfortable there and I get the chills just thinking about Alger. I wonder if anyone else remembers hearing about this story or had a supernatural experience there, or can corroborate the crimes that supposedly took place there.
It's a lot more frightening than Old Chestnut Grove or "Witch's Hill" in nearby Olmsted Falls.
