Gretchen’s Lock, the site of the annual Gretchen Fest, is named for the local legend of the ghost of a young girl who was entombed in the lock. (Submitted photo)

EAST LIVERPOOL — The Friends of Gretchen (F.O.G.) and The Ohio Paranormal Investigation Team (O.P.I.T) are encouraging people to attend Gretchen Fest where they can learn about a local legend which started back in the 1850s.

Legend says, according to event coordinator and local author Bill Little, that Gretchen, the daughter of the engineer who built the Sandy Beaver Canal, passed away at the age of 10 and was entombed in what is now known as Gretchen’s Lock until the lock system was finished. Upon completion of the lock system, the girl’s father unearthed her to take her home, but while en route their ship went down at sea and now her ghost supposedly haunts the area where the lock is located.

“The ghost stories of her have been going strong since the 1850s so it is a local legend,” Little said.

According to Little, after he wrote a book called “Gretchen” in which he reimagined and retold the story as historical fiction, with what he said contained some truth and some not, which sold over 3,000 copies locally, Beaver Creek State Park approached him and asked him to create Gretchen Fest.

The inaugural fest was held in 2022 with over 700 people attending.

The event, which will be held Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5p.m., will feature some of the top names in the paranormal field, local and celebrity speakers, guided tours back to the lock system by paranormal investigators who will talk about the legend, vendors artists.

Special guests at the fest will include April Busset, the psychic housewife of New Jersey; Chris Houston, radio talk show host; James Creachbaum, The Hitman producer and Sunday night host; Robin Kale paranormal investigator; Trish Walther social media host; Ed Saluga, author; Bill Rigby, host of the Agents of the Unexplained podcast and 3 Souls Paranormal, paranormal investigators.

There will be very limited seating for speakers, so attendees are encouraged to bring their own folding chairs.

In addition to learning about Gretchen, attendees will have the opportunity to ask about other local haunting legends

The fest will be held at Gretchen’s Lock on the Sprucevale side of Beaver Creek State Park about half a mile south of the Pretty Boy Floyd memorial.

Due to the limited Wi-Fi and cell phone reception in the area, the event will be cash only.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com