About This Location
The Spread Eagle Tavern is a beautifully preserved Federal-style building from the early 1800s, located in the charming village of Hanoverton in Columbiana County. Founded by abolitionists, the tavern served as an important station on the Underground Railroad, with a secret tunnel leading from the property to the basement where escaped slaves could hide during daylight hours. The inn has been carefully restored and offers fine dining and historic accommodations.
The Ghost Story
The most heartbreaking ghost at the Spread Eagle Tavern is that of an eight-year-old enslaved girl who died in a fire sometime in the 1800s while hiding on the property. Her spirit runs through the inn, playing and exploring as children do. Guests and staff have heard her footsteps, glimpsed her small figure darting around corners, and felt her curious presence. The tragedy of her death - so close to freedom, hiding from those who would return her to bondage - makes her haunting particularly poignant. Other spirits connected to the Underground Railroad may also remain, drawn to the place that represented hope and sanctuary. The secret tunnel on the property adds to the inn's atmosphere of mystery and hidden history, a physical reminder of the desperate journeys that passed through these walls.