Gurnsey Hollow Cemetery (Also called South Catholic Valley Cemetery) is not your typical cemetery. Most cemeteries are calming, with a long history and many urban legends. Typically there is no truth to the legends and therefore its all up to the imagination. However, Gurnsey Hollow is the setting behind a true story which is so sad and terrible to hear that it must be a haunted place. Not only that, but the cemetery gives off such a strange and scary vibe. As you head up the trail to visit the cemetery, you can’t help but feel trapped, knowing there is only one way in and out. The graveyard is littered with various fire pits, symbols and mishmash that your not quite sure what to think.

The cemetery was created in the early 1800’s and is home to multiple graves, including those of many children. The reason for this is that the graveyard was originally used for children who died due to smallpox. One of the graves belongs to a young girl who was not only buried there, but was murdered in the cemetery as well. She was a seven-year old girl who suffered from mental illness. With the lack of understanding of mental illness in the early years of the town, this young girl would constantly strike a nerve with people. She never did anything on purpose (rather a result of the condition), but some of the townsfolk knew no better. A mob of them chased the girl one day through the woods and into the cemetery. Trapped by the surrounding trees she fell onto the ground and began to scream. The mob of people cared little and threw rocks at the girl, stoning her to death. She was eventually buried there. It wasn’t until a week later that some townsfolk went to the cemetery to pay their respects to the young girl. While laying flowers at her grave they heard loud giggles, felt tugs on their hair and the flowers levitated right in front of their eyes. The young girl had returned. The townsfolk turned and ran back to town as fast as they could and never returned. Even to this day, visitors commonly feel things touching them and hear the young girl playing around them.

Two other spirits haunt the grounds as well. First is that of a young boy who likes to be peoples shadow. He will follow visitors around the graves, but as soon as you leave he will disappear. The second ghost is an older elderly woman who stands watch at the entrance gate as your arrive. She will stand and stare at you as you come closer until she vanishes in a cloudy mist. Other legends exist around the large cross situated near one side of the cemetery. Its said that all visitors should kiss the cross before exiting or risk bringing something home. People often hear moans, see orbs and encounter various power failures on flashlights, camera and phones. Some even have issues with their car headlights. Others have seen creatures including wolves, dead rabbits, albino deer and much much more.

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Grave Adventures

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I went there by myself last week in the middle of the day. I heard a clicking or tapping sound in the woods that I’ve never heard in 40 years of hiking. Having been to many “haunted” places I continued to take some photos and really didn’t let it bother me as much as the deer flies did. I spoke out loud, in case some ghost was listening, that I was there to pay my respects and nothing more. Pretty uneventful as the clicking sound slowly faded away. It is a sad and very random little cemetery. Some old, hand-cut stones and a few newer ones mixed in. It has been vandalized a great deal. As I was about to leave I spoke out: “Peace be with you all.” Right as the words left my lips, something large and heavy hit the ground about 20 feet or so directly in front of me. Funny thing was, I didn’t see anything fall, but I definitely heard and felt it. No, I wasn’t drinking and I don’t do drugs. I also don’t care if the “know it all’s” believe me or not. It happened just as I said. I’ve seen many things I can’t explain in my life, even back when I thought I knew everything. Still never felt the need to degrade those who weren’t as arrogant as me. For the record, I have 2 advanced degrees from 2 of them there colleges and I still don’t know everything. I’ve never actually seen the wind but I believe it exists. If you’re easily spooked, you should stay away from places like this. Also, there are black bears in those woods too. Big ones. Those I have seen. If you don’t believe that either, by all means go there in the middle of the night and have a picnic.
1 month ago
Anonymous

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It use to be a great haunt, but definitely has changed over the years.
1 month ago
Maggs

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Yup. Its scary alright. Seen the light orbs, the screaming, sounds of rocks thrown, running. It was something else forsure. The vibes i got were something ive never felt before. Also the closer we got to the cross the colder it got. And the wind stopped as soon as the orbs went away.
2 months ago
Hayyo

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This place is for real
2 months ago
Joe

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My fiancée and I went up there Aug 20 2019. We brought our Ghost hunting equip and we didn’t get anything on the K2 meter or the spirit box. But we did do some recordings and listened to them on the way back home. We had several unexplained voice responses. Also on our way back to our Truck my Fiancee and I heard something say audibly “Hello”. we will differently be going back again.
4 months ago
bob

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We are so far gone……….(my humble Tri state area)…..good luck finding it.
4 months ago
a very real non public one

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I was draw to a few plots. One was of Father Bernard…..So it read … The first grave I was drawn to. There are no children spirts there. Anyone who thinks as much is either lying or is confused by residual energy…..All I know is although he wasn’t a evil man, he caused a lot of confliction due to own his personal life……which I am sure is was horrendous and hard— none of the mars bars and beer liters will ever understand. …God rest your souls. I hope he is heaven.
Residual energy is a very real thing. I know for a fact The girl left her body there. I could see it. I could feel…I could hear the branches under her feet. I knew where she ran.. Anyone who tells you it is haunted is either confused or lying……..May they have peace. Residual energy can have an impact. Sometimes stories of paranormal inspire the lonely looking for a friend.
You want to be scared? Imagine dying and haunting the same place for 300 years. Really? People love that because they are so scared of their own deathI it gives them of peace of mind? IT IS CRUEL.. …A REAL SEER.
4 months ago
Anonymous

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I used to manage the forest around this. People have no respect and have trashed this place more than once. This is not a party place and if you see this activity call the Cattaraugus County Sheriff. The surrounding forests are full of evidence of the people who used to live here. Along the stream old water powered mill sites can be found. It used to have a fence around it.
5 months ago
Tyler

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I personally wasn’t scared until we left and hit a bird as soon as we pulled out. A little while down the road was a dead black cat. Not long after we nearly hit a turtle! Weird.
5 months ago
Brenda

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Nothing scares my son but him and few friends have gone there few times and leave very scared one time all his car doors were locked, or headlites would flicker he has so man stories but they all agree it is haunted
5 months ago
Nate

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Went there this is morning at 230am and nothing really beautiful there
6 months ago
leavemay

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No one is there. It’s officially not haunted. You are welcome. I don’t think it’s been haunted for a while now. It’s all residual from past. I’m not saying it wasn’t at one time.
1 year ago
Stephanie

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I live right beside the cemetery myself and I’m also a medium/phycic (no I don’t care if you believe me or not) yes there are spirits everywhere in general…The little boy and girl are always at my house.. Timothy and Sarah. You know the story of the girl but not the boy, his parents were killed and he was left.. He died at a young age around 7/8yr old.. Sweet boy.. Anyways yes there is alot of activity there both good and bad but that is everywhere anyways.. So no worries guys.. Just stop disrespecting the place and respect it.. Then you won’t have any worries.
2 years ago
shadowlurker

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Bologna . Been there many times . Part of the reason this cemetery has been subjected to vandalism over the years is because of stories like this . It’s just a cemetery , leave them in peace .
2 years ago
Peaceful

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So if you don’t believe in ghosts , great… Keep on keeping on. And as for doubt on the smallpox thing if you pay attention to the dates on the stones it does fall along the lines of something like that. I’ve been up there a lot and I feel peace. And I believe that spirits are all around us at all times not just at cemeteries. Technically every human is “haunted” daily. Lol. 😂✌💜😀
2 years ago
gilmore

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This is depressing. So often people confuse depressing with scary. People are self absorbed and self centered. People’s fear of death causes them to seek a glimmer of satisfaction in other poor souls misery. Instead of you people defending your belief in ghosts why don’t you stop and think? You sound like children. I’m sure many so called reputable groups have visited it. Who wouldn’t want a vocation that was easier than a first grade math class?
2 years ago
Anonymous

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All you saying ghosts don’t exist, that’s your OPINION. No one alive has any way of knowing if ghosts are real. Personally, I think they ARE real. And, most of the people I know believe in them. You don’t want to believe, that’s your right. But, others have the right to believe. And, you don’t need to berate those that have a different opinion on this subject.
2 years ago
Dennis

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Not haunted at all! Sure it’s in the middle of the woods & at night can be spooky but will pay some1 for proof of ghost activity! Been there over a hundred times &
Always nothing but nature, tombstones, fence, cross & who you came with nothing else. We as teens also partied there even brought ouija board! I will pay for proof! Ghosts don’t exist sorry
2 years ago
Joe

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Grew up hunting them woods around that cemetery 40 years.
This story is a load of crap.
2 years ago
Norman Carlson, Busti, N. Y.

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You fools. There are no such things as ghosts or the paranormal. You should all be sued and thrown in jail for trespassing, vandalism, desecration, and libel. The cemetery is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, the surrounding land by New York Department of Conservation, not some private local. A dedicated volunteer organization, not the Boy Scouts, are restoring it. No one was ever stoned to death there or anywhere in Cattaraugus County. Whenever anyone tells you anything strange or unusual, ask for a source. Personal feelings, impressions, and observations are the least reliable form of evidence, not the best. You should have tried harder to graduate from high school.
2 years ago
BigWaldo

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The Story of the Murdered Girl isnt True at all There is no proof of anything even close to that happening, nor is the whole small pox thing.
2 years ago
Sarie (Naetzker) Mackay

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We used to go here in the 1960s (my brother and I). I never saw anything paranormal but I did notice that a lot of the graves were of children, and maybe via power of suggestion, I felt a sad childlike vibration whenever I went there. Quite powerful, actually. Enough to make me leave promptly. My brother and I found this cemetery completely by accident when we were running around in the woods at my dad’s camp. I was somehow deeply impressed by it and its aura. I even memorized one of the epitaphs: “We only know that thou hast gone, and that the same returnless tide, which bore thee from us shall glide on, and we who mourn thee with it glide.”
3 years ago
Anonymous

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This story is bull shit. I’ve lived near this cemetery all my life and visited it many, many time. I’ve never before heard this story or ever seen or heard or felt anything unusual while in the cemetery.
3 years ago
Justin

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Went once and will never go back. In high school a group of us went up one night. Didn’t see anything but still seemed un-easy. Before leaving a few of the others i was with kissed the cement cross at the top. I in turn pissed on the base of it. On the way home , completely sober mind you, i got into a car accident just outside of frewsburg, slammed the car into a tree at about 60 or 70, and almost killed myself and two friends. Learned my lesson about being a little shit almost instantly. Whether it was something paranormal or just karma I’ll never go back.
3 years ago
Frewsburg native.....

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People should just leave these cemeteries alone its horrible to mess around in a place where people are laid to rest. Just ridiculous all the people that are buried there get so disrespected and there are a lot of children just so so very sad!!!! Have compassion!!!!
3 years ago
Ron McCormick

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Grew up in frewsburg , been to gurnsey cemetery 100 times never seen or felt anything like people are saying . It’s just a cemetery nothing more.
3 years ago
Anonymous

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Grew up in Jamestown and went there as a teen around 1996 with friends. Saw the lady in white, whom you guys have forgotten, and scared the crap out of us. We ran back to the car which was parked right in front of the gate and it didn’t start right away. Never went back. Completely haunted!!!!
3 years ago
1. Anonymous
  
  I’m pretty sure the Lady in White haunts Lake View Cemetery and not Gurnsey.
  3 years ago
Karen Harrison

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I have physically been to this cemetery. I have photos that prove how insane this cemetery is. In fact, one of the most scary experiences of my entire life. Bar none, this place is definitely haunted.
3 years ago
1. Anonymous
  
  Show pic please
  3 years ago
Chelsea Katherine

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I have grown up in jamestown new york which is a short drive to and from gurnsey. I have had many terrifying expriences there. Once ia group of friends and i stopped by at one a.m. just to see what would happen that late.. we parked our car at the top gate which is about 25 ft from the road when we walked up to gurnsey cemetary we had seen nothing for about 30 minutes and went to leave and had a rush of air pass all of us but no trees moved. Then when i turned around to yell at a friend to pick up the pace shehad a orb behind her floating for just a few minutes. When we returned to the car the car was pushed almost into the road all the doors were still locked but there were hand prints on the inside of the car windows.
4 years ago
Charles

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This cemetery has been investigated by some reputable groups….a few vowed to not go back. I have gone there a few times with a couple of friends. Yep we did get some wild pictures. One of my friends sat on a bench while there and we took his picture. Later we were looking on line for some information on the place…..well lo and behold we found a pic that someone had taken of the shape of a man sitting there that is buried next to it……..well we got a shock as was a very close likeness to our friend who had sat there on our visit. We always take 2 pictures quickly back to back of something and several of ours had something missing or something added in them…..I was woke up the morning after our last visit there by something seriously scratching down the back of my right arm….I woke my husband up as I was yelling and waking up….pictures were taken of the 4 5 inch scratches down the back of my arm. While there it rained outside of the cemetery but not inside of it……there certainly were many things that we didn’t have an explanation for. I certainly would like to go back but with more than a couple of other people. The cemetery has been being fixed up by the area boy scouts. The cemetery is on privately owned land. The owner is pretty decent. You can locate him through Frewsburg town hall and get permission if want to be there at night….also let the police know you’re going to be there. Please remember this is a very remote area with a lot of wild life….seeing a bear or venomous snake is a real possibility…..just saying….be safe.
4 years ago

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Haunted Places, Legends and Ghosts

Gurnsey Hollow Cemetery : Frewsburg, NY

Gurnsey Hollow Cemetery : Frewsburg, NY

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