Frackville, affectionately known as Mountain City to people within the coal region, has always been a quiet, relaxed, community-oriented location. The wooded area was used as a vacation destination due to its beauty and serenity during the heyday of the area's booming coal industry, A rail line transported coal from the Mahanoy Plane through the small borough and off to its final destination. Over time, Frackville's community members became more and more close-knit. Even today, it seems each resident knows their neighbor more intimately than just as an acquaintance. It is not uncommon for an intended ten minute walk to extend upwards of an hour due to the frequent stops and conversations with friends. That is most likely why an undertaker's assistant encountered a neighbor with a message for his family. The only difference between this and a resident taking a walk and speaking to a friend today is the neighbor was already dead.
In a back sector of Frackville, with a church looming in the not too far distance, several sections of cemeteries sit. Graves go back to the inception of the small borough. So much so, the founder of the borough, Daniel Frack and his family, can be found resting for all eternity in one of these graveyards.
One sultry, summer afternoon in August 1895, a funeral had just concluded. The time had arrived to fill-in the grave and arrange the burial plot. This task was bestowed upon an undertaker's assistant known with the last name of Phillips.
The man set to his task. Time passed as the sun slowly began to set and twilight creeped in. Phillips, having completed this type of task several times in the past, continued upon his responsibility without any trepidation even though the darkness was closing in by the minute. Without warning, the air within the cemetery seemed to grow colder. The feeling shifted from comfort to apprehension and uneasiness. Phillips ceased shoveling dirt upon the lowered coffin and looked towards the far reaches of the cemetery. There, slowly manifesting, seemed to be a whitish cloud. Movement caused the vapor to swirl and take on a form. After a short time the image of a man became more and more clear.
The young assistant, stunned by this vision, dropped his shovel and stared into the darkness towards the apparition now making its way towards him. Phillips realized he recognized the apparition as a man from the small community. His funeral had been just several weeks before. The apparition slowly and silently made his way towards the stunned caretaker. As the apparition came within several meters, an echoey voice was heard by Phillips. The apparition told Phillips he had a message the caretaker needed to deliver to his family. Horrified, the young apprentice could tolerate no more. He dropped the shovel, dodged several grave markers and ran out of the iron gates of the cemetery not looking back. The next day the apprentice went to Undertaker Fitzpatrick and told him of his ghostly encounter while completing his task. The undertaker listened patiently to Phillips as he let him finish. Upon his conclusion, Fitzpatrick told Phillips sometimes he may have experiences that could not always be explained in this line of work. However, they had a responsibility to the family to see the job completed and the cemetery taken care of. Fitzpatrick rigidly told the young man he needed to finish the task.
After a day or two of mustering up courage , Phillips accumulated enough nerve to go back to the cemetery. He arrived while the sun was high in the sky. Phillips knew the task at hand was formidable, therefore he began to work at a quick pace to be finished as soon as possible. Slowly, the assistant grew focused on his task and his apprehension faded away. Several hours passed as the sun slowly made its way towards the horizon.
Phillips realized the amount of time he had spent in the cemetery as twilight began to take over the daylight. A coldness crept down his spine, and the hairs on his arms stood on end. Just then Phillips froze and looked towards the far reaches of the cemetery. There standing beneath a tree was the apparition of his acquaintance witnessed a few nights before. Phillips, being overwhelmed with the primordial urge to flee, subdued his instincts and stood his ground. The apparition made his way towards the horror-stricken man. Seemingly floating, the translucent form made his way to within a few feet from the apprentice.
The apparition told Phillips he had an urgent message which needed to be delivered to his beloved family. Refusal to do this would cause the apparition's soul to have unrest for all eternity. Phillips listened to the apparition as he clutched his shovel tighter and tighter. The apparition went on that the messages content that was told must be Phillips' and the recipients' only. Phillips could never tell another soul its contents. The apparition's soul would be at unrest and roam this cemetery for all eternity if others knew.
Phillips listened intently as the spirit delivered the utmost important message. Feeling great sorrow for the spirit, Phillips agreed to deliver the message only to the apparition's family. Hearing this agreement, the apparition was satisfied. The spirit drifted backwards in the breeze until it was no more.
Phillips gathered up his tools and made his way to the borough family's home. He trepidly knocked upon the family's door. A burst of light and warmth filled the darkness Phillips stood within. Upon recognizing the young man, the family welcomed him within their home.
It is said a most vital message was delivered to the apparition's family that evening. What the message was, only Phillips, the family, and the apparition know. Phillips was a man of his word. The young assistant himself went to the grave never divulging the contents of the message.
The restless spirit was never witnessed again within the confines of the small Frackville cemetery.
I love these stories.