Author Chris Woodyard delves into the eerie and fascinating, sharing local ghost stories, and bringing spine-chilling tales from our backyard to life.
The Spooks of Springfield and Beyond
On Wednesday, October 23, 2024, Chris Woodyard, acclaimed author of the Haunted Ohio series, joined the Clark County Historical Society for an intriguing journey into the eerie and unexplained—sharing spine-chilling tales of her ghost-hunting adventures and local stories from Springfield, Ohio.
I found Woodyard’s stories about the Springfield Metallic Casket Company especially intriguing. Specifically, how they developed burglar-proof vaults as a defense against Resurrectionists—men who profited by stealing newly buried bodies. Watch the full program below:
About the Author
Chris Woodyard’s journey as a writer seems almost fated; it began with her first dictated book about a witch in the first grade, which set the tone for her lifelong fascination with the supernatural. Over time, her formal education in Medieval & Renaissance Studies fueled her passion for a diverse array of topics, including Victorian death and mourning practices, folklore, costume history, and cloistered nuns. Additionally, her unique background has been enriched by various jobs—from housecleaner to church organist to vintage clothing store owner—all contributed to her uncanny experiences, such as encountering a ghostly audience in church or a spectral presence in her store. Ultimately, these encounters have profoundly shaped Woodyard’s rich storytelling, infusing her works with an authentic sense of mystery and macabre curiosity.
Woodyard is the acclaimed author of the Haunted Ohio series, a captivating collection that delves into Ohio’s haunted history through stories of ghosts, folklore, and regional lore. Furthermore, her recent series, The Ghosts of the Past, includes titles such as The Face in the Window, The Headless Horror, and The Ghost Wore Black, which explore Victorian hauntings, mysteries, and eerie encounters across Ohio and beyond. Additionally, Woodyard authored The Victorian Book of the Dead, a morbidly fascinating look at Victorian-era death customs. Her imaginative world-building extends even further into fiction with A Spot of Bother: Four Macabre Tales, blending her love for vintage clothing and subtle ghost stories with dark humor. Inspired by classic authors like M.R. James and E.F. Benson, Woodyard crafts ghost stories filled with historical detail and gothic allure, ultimately making her a notable voice in supernatural literature.
Want to Learn More?
