Witches Graves - Arcade, New York - Weird Story Locations on Waymarking.com

This is a story about a local “folklore” legend. Interestingly enough a lot of Arcadians know of this site while those oblivious have most certainly stared suspiciously off into the distance and experienced a momentary pause of curiosity. Located in the very back corner of the Arcade Rural Cemetery far away from the rest of the tenants - stands two old gravestones dating back to the mid-1800’s. These are referred to by the always inquisitive “ghost enthusiasts of Arcade” as the Witches Graves.

The headstones bear the names:

Permilla A. Rodgers
Nov. 3rd 18??
Age 24 yrs

Mary Ann Rogers, Wife of Chancy Rogers
Died Sept. 8, 1863
53 yrs.

Not a lot is known about these two tombstones – one stones is supposedly the mother while the other is purported to be her daughter. The mysterious stories surrounding these two graves vary from person to person – odd sensations, chills, strange happenstances – all of which have occurred at the Witches Graves. So much so is the belief in this Arcadian lore that for years burning candles and other sentiments have been left on the tombstones on Halloween night. It is the lure of these lonesome gravestones that year after year entice more and more visitors to come and ponder their existence, their history, and maybe even their fate.

Normally such hocus-pocus talk would receive a firmly skeptic headshake from those who refuse to believe – however it is the location of the headstones that inject the slightest twinge of “what if?” to each and every person who pays the witches a visit. Arcade Rural Cemetery is a rather large establishment - as I assume rural village cemeteries go - and as such, most of the tombstones are found in close proximity to one another – each symmetrically positioned to fall in line with the next.

The Witches Graves however…they are located in a remote corner of the cemetery mere feet from the bushes and weeds that delineate the boundaries of the cemetery as if to be outcast to the point of eviction. Alone, facing the rest of the interred, they stand alongside an old tree in their little corner - and to view them in their isolation and near expulsion from the cemetery begs the most curious question of “Why are these two headstones positioned in places of such solitude away from the rest?”

Are people purposely avoiding these Witches? Is there an unstable presence that has cast them aside into the cemeteries most desolate spot?

As anyone who knows of this Witches Graves will tell you, there is something strange about this place. The stories of what they have seen and heard there may differ, but the end consensus is usually the same. These mysterious “witches gravestones” stand in seclusion, watching over the other tenants of the cemetery...?

Type: Local Legend or Lore Referenced in (list books, websites and other media): Not listed Additional Coordinates: Not Listed Website Reference: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/06/2020 StacyMarie353 wrote comment for it 02/13/2017 bethabrand wrote comment for it

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