THE STORY
Reported Haunting
Historic Shank's Tavern in Marietta is associated with the "Lady in Black," disembodied conversations and footsteps, violent unexplained knocks, half-bodied apparitions, phantom laughter, and a bizarre account of two headless figures floating through the tavern.
Built in 1814, Shank's Tavern in Marietta is one of Lancaster County's oldest continuously operating taverns and openly acknowledges its reputation for ghosts. Its best-known apparition is the "Lady in Black," a woman reportedly seen in an upstairs window, at the top of the stairs, and near the ladies' room. Local tradition suggests she may be Barb Hauer, who operated the tavern during the nineteenth century, although that identification has never been proven. Owner Bob Shank has recalled unusual activity from his childhood living above the tavern, including hearing the cigarette machine operate, coins apparently dropping into an empty payphone, voices coming from the closed bar, and heavy knocks on a bedroom door when no one was present. During one incident, something reportedly struck the door with enough force to split the wood and scatter coat hangers. A longtime neighbor described seeing two headless, floating apparitions enter the tavern, an experience that reportedly kept him away for decades. Other accounts include phantom laughter, heavy footsteps, doors opening or slamming, half-bodied figures in the kitchen, booming noises, and the sensation of an unseen hand taking hold of a passerby. The tavern has been investigated by paranormal groups multiple times.