There is an old abandoned factory in downtown Canton that is rumored to be haunted. The former Hercules Engine Factory has had reports of ghosts, shadow people, strange sounds, and violent unseen forces. Visitors have claimed to have been pushed or knocked down by something unknown.
History
The Hercules Engine Factory was built in the mid 1850s. It was used as a military training facility in both World Wars. In the late 1800s, the York Ice Company used the factory's large warehouse space to store ice. In recent years, a haunted attraction known as the Factory of Terror was hosted on the property.
Hundreds of bodies were stored in the factory when an influenza pandemic spread among Canton residents. So many people died that local cemeteries couldn't dig graves fast enough. The furniture companies that made coffins couldn't keep up with the demand. Corpses were stored in the temperature-controlled icehouse to prevent further outbreaks until they were given a proper burial. The bodies that weren't claimed by family members were buried near the railroad tracks in a large grass field. The burial ground is now a parking lot and some of the bodies remain buried beneath it.
Haunted History
Many folks believe that the spirits of the deceased still roam the factory. Visitors have witnessed ghosts, heard strange voices, seen shadow people, and some have been attacked.
Location
The Hercules Engine Factory is located at 1036 Market Avenue South, in Canton, Ohio.
Be sure to check out John's other columns:
Akron Paranormal Examiner
Cleveland Haunted Places Examiner
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