I'm terrible at dealing with scary things, but I had to read "Haunted Willoughby, Ohio" by Cathi Weber. Staff Writer Janet Podolak wrote about Weber on Halloween last year (quite fitting!).

I couldn't read the book before bed because I'm that much of a scaredy-cat. The stories were scary enough to give me chills on a hot summer day.

Weber tells ghost stories about several sites in Willoughby, including the history of the place, who lived or worked there, and who is rumored to be haunting each location. Sprinkled throughout the chapters are images from the past and present, to help readers place the spooky stories.

Podolak's story detailed Weber's haunting coverage:

Her recent book tells stories of Willoughby's history and details spiritual encounters at Willoughby Coal & Supply, the Willoughby Brewing Co., the Homestead House Bed & Breakfast, Willoughby Masonic Temple, the Willoughby Public Library and Charter One Bank. It tells the story of the Girl in Blue, who is buried in Willoughby Cemetery; recounts the gruesome past of the Willoughby Medical College; and tells about the ghosts that haunt Van Gorder Manor. Each chapter concludes with the address of the place she's detailed and a website where readers can glean more information.

If any of that interests you, be sure to pick up the book. Even if you don't believe in this sort of thing, the stories about places you have been will leave you with goosebumps -- and might make you think twice the next time you pass one of these locations. I'm already antsy about seeing the Charter One Bank when I return this book to the Willoughby Public Library -- and I'll surely be looking for ghosts as I do it.


-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl