Revenge, Ohio Ghost Town

You’ll find Revenge, Ohio at coordinates 39.587453, -82.785347 in Fairfield County’s southeastern region. This 19th-century rural settlement once thrived with general stores, blacksmith shops, and a post office before declining due to agricultural challenges and youth migration. Today, scattered building foundations, weathered stone cellars, and an old cemetery mark the ghostly landscape. Local legends tell of supernatural encounters, including the infamous “Lavender Lady” and Engineer Frank Lawhead’s restless spirit. The town’s dark history holds more haunting tales.

Table of Contents hide

1 Key Takeaways

2 The Rise and Fall of a Rural Community

3 Location and Geographic Significance

4 Local Legends and Folklore

5 What Remains Today

6 Historical Impact on Ohio’s Landscape

7 Frequently Asked Questions

7.1 Why Was the Town Named “Revenge”?

7.2 Were There Any Documented Murders or Violent Crimes in Revenge?

7.3 What Businesses or Industries Operated in Revenge During Its Peak?

7.4 When Was the Last Known Resident Recorded Living in Revenge?

7.5 Are There Any Burial Grounds or Cemeteries Associated With Revenge?

8 References

Key Takeaways

Revenge was a 19th-century rural settlement in Fairfield County, Ohio, located at coordinates 39.587453, -82.785347.
The town features supernatural legends including the ghost of “The Lavender Lady” and Engineer Frank Lawhead’s spirit.

Physical remains include scattered building foundations, stone cellars, and a historic cemetery with 19th-century headstones.
The settlement declined due to decreased farming profitability and youth migration to urban areas.
The ghost town reflects broader patterns of frontier settlement failures influenced by environmental challenges and human conflict.

The Rise and Fall of a Rural Community

During the 19th century, Revenge, Ohio emerged as a thriving rural settlement driven by agricultural prosperity and expanding trade networks. Much like ghost town of Egypt, it once had a general store serving its community.

You’d have found a bustling community with general stores, blacksmith shops, and a post office serving both town residents and surrounding farms. The establishment of schools and churches fostered strong community cohesion, while seasonal gatherings and religious services brought neighbors together. Local businesses offered fried chicken dinners to hungry travelers, bringing additional commerce to the area.

As larger towns grew and transportation improved, you would’ve witnessed Revenge’s gradual economic shifts. The declining profitability of farming, coupled with younger generations seeking opportunities elsewhere, led to the town’s eventual abandonment.

Location and Geographic Significance

Nestled in Fairfield County’s southeastern region, Revenge, Ohio sits at coordinates 39.587453, -82.785347 near present-day Heigle Road SW.

You’ll find this ghost town situated within Ohio’s agricultural heartland, where rolling hills and fertile soil once supported a thriving farming community. While the Lancaster & Hamden Railroad influenced nearby settlements, Revenge’s transportation history relied primarily on rural township roads and early pioneer routes. Much like The Buxton Inn, which stands as Ohio’s longest continuously operated hotel, this area holds deep historical significance. Similar to ghost town communities across Ohio, many locations are no longer recognized by modern GPS systems.

Gentle slopes and productive farmland stretch across the horizon

Small creeks meander through the countryside, once essential for local agriculture
Rural roads intersect near Old Columbus Road NW and Coonpath Road NW
Scattered farmhouses dot the landscape, remnants of earlier settlement

Open fields extend toward neighboring ghost towns like Royalton and Buckeye Park

The geographic features that initially attracted settlers – arable land and accessible terrain – weren’t enough to prevent the town’s eventual decline.

Local Legends and Folklore

Tales of supernatural occurrences in Revenge, Ohio primarily center around the railroad tracks and their tragic history.

You’ll find haunting tales of a train conductor killed in a dispute, and a smallpox-stricken messenger who met his fate trying to warn an oncoming train.

Among the most notable ghostly encounters is “The Lavender Lady,” believed to be Mary Sheay, who was killed on the trestle and now leaves a distinct lavender scent in her wake. The spirit of Engineer Frank Lawhead also haunts these tracks after his death in a head-on collision in 1880. Like many other ghost hunting locations, the area attracts numerous thrill-seekers hoping to validate urban legends.

The infamous spirit of David Baldi Keaton, known as “The Bully,” continues to terrorize the area just as he did in life as an abusive tax collector.

Even in death, tax collector David Baldi Keaton haunts Revenge’s streets, his bullying spirit as merciless as ever.

Along the tracks, you might spot the spirit of a man clutching a whiskey bottle, a reminder of the town’s troubled relationship with alcohol.

What Remains Today

Three key features define what remains of Revenge, Ohio today: scattered building foundations, an old cemetery, and overgrown pathways that once served as roads.

You’ll find deteriorated stone cellars and weathered foundations peeking through the vegetation, while artifacts discovery continues as soil erosion uncovers rusted tools and household items. Similar to forced evacuations in Helltown during the 1970s, residents had to abandon their homes and belongings. Like many other settlements in the state, coal mining operations once sustained this community before its decline.

The cemetery stands as the most preserved landmark, featuring 19th and early 20th-century headstones that tell stories of past residents.

Crumbling stone foundations emerge from thick underbrush
Rusted farm implements lie scattered among fallen timber

Weathered headstones stand sentinel in the old cemetery
Former roadbeds wind through dense forest growth
Hidden cellar holes mark where homes once stood

Preservation challenges mount as nature reclaims the site, with minimal maintenance and no formal protection against vandalism or decay.

Historical Impact on Ohio’s Landscape

While many frontier settlements shaped Ohio’s early landscape, Revenge’s tragic history exemplifies how violence and geography could doom a town’s survival.

You’ll find that Revenge’s story mirrors a broader pattern of settlement failures where frontier justice and personal vendettas derailed community development. The Shawnee settlements established key trading networks before the conflicts began. The town’s location near flood-prone waterways made it particularly vulnerable, as natural disasters compounded the effects of social strife. Like the tragic case of Thomas Carr’s execution, violent incidents often led to settlements being abandoned or stigmatized.

The impact of Revenge’s decline rippled through the region’s settlement patterns. You can trace how neighboring communities adapted their development strategies, often choosing higher ground and establishing stronger civic institutions to avoid similar fates.

Today, Revenge stands as a reflection of how environmental challenges and human conflict could transform Ohio’s early settlement landscape, reshaping population distribution and community planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Was the Town Named “Revenge”?

You’ll find the town’s name origin remains a mystery in history, likely stemming from a local dispute or vendetta between early settlers in Madison Township, Fairfield County during the late 1800s.

Were There Any Documented Murders or Violent Crimes in Revenge?

As quiet as a shadow, you won’t find any documented murders, mysterious disappearances, or violent altercations in the records. Despite its ominous name, evidence shows the town lacked violent crime entirely.

What Businesses or Industries Operated in Revenge During Its Peak?

You’d find iron furnaces and mining operations driving the local commerce, with company stores, blacksmith shops, and post offices serving workers who kept the industrial village running in southern Ohio.

When Was the Last Known Resident Recorded Living in Revenge?

You’ll find no official record of the last resident, though local accounts suggest people moved out by the 1950s. Today, you might hear tales of ghost sightings instead of actual inhabitants.

Are There Any Burial Grounds or Cemeteries Associated With Revenge?

You won’t find any documented final resting places or burial practices in Revenge’s historical records. While nearby Ohio ghost towns often maintained cemeteries, no cemetery history specifically connects to this location.