Raleigh is crawling with history — and ghosts, too, according to Raleigh Walking Tours guide Tricia Sabol. As a guide to Oak City for over seven years, we talked to Sabol about Raleigh’s ghastly inhabitants and other haunting stories.
Editor’s note: These ghost + true crime stories contain references to mental illness, gun violence, death, and other sensitive subjects.
The Ratcliffe Angel
In Historic Oakwood Cemetery, a stone angel guards the grave of Etta Ratcliffe, who was sent to Dorothea Dix Hospital due to suspected mental illness in 1918 by her husband and family. Within a month, Etta died from a brain hemorrhage, and Sabol said this means she most likely wasn’t mentally ill.
Back to that statue. Etta reportedly haunts the angel overlooking her grave, and visitors report that the eyes of the angel follow them around the hallowed grounds. What’s most chilling is what happens in just a few days. According to Sabol, at the stroke of midnight on Halloween, the Ratcliffe Angel’s head spins around 12 times — and there’s even a crack in the neck where the angel’s head is said to spin.
Other unsettling stories on Sabol’s tours include fellow Oakwood Cemetery resident Gov. Daniel Fowle’s peculiar bed, a ghastly tale of the Sir Walter Hotel, and Andy “Slim” Anderson, who causes even more trouble after his death, but you’ll have to join Sabol on a tour for more.
Oakwood Cemetery is private property and closes at 6 p.m. every night. Be sure to check out Dia de Oakwood celebrations to honor and remember those who have died.
More eerie tales
Here’s a small taste of stories to expect on each of Raleigh Walking Tours’ spooky season offerings:
Haunted History: Learn about Gov. Fowle and haunting folklore.
Sip n’ Stroll Ghost Tour: Indulge in some booze and learn about a ghost haunting Salisbury Street after her death behind the Sir Walter Hotel.
True Crimes & Curious Tales: Following a basement shootout, Slim Anderson is killed, but even more mayhem ensues after his death.
Spellbinding Stories: This tour combines ghosts, true crime, and historical accounts.
