Johnstown, the once-thriving community southeast of Virginia City, has become a hotbed of myth and folklore, attracting ghosthunters and storytellers alike.
However, the current residents are eager to debunk the legends and put the matter to rest, as they believe these tales have tarnished the town’s reputation and drawn undesirable elements. Comstock Historical Society’s president, Michael Gannett, spoke out against the perpetuation of misinformation:
“For decades, there’s been this perpetuation of misinformation,” said Gannett. “Go to Johnstown, they tell you. It’s this real ghostly place. But the truth is, Johnstown’s a big fraud.”
Johnstown, once home to miners, blacksmiths, and prostitutes, is now an abandoned spot, with remnants of its past found in the vicinity of State Route 341 and Old Dayton Road.
Among the dozens of myths surrounding this once-thriving settlement, some of the most spine-chilling stories involve untimely deaths and unexplained misfortunes.
One such tale recounts the untimely demise of Gershon Hollister in 1859. The circumstances of his death vary in different accounts. Some say he tragically fell into a mine shaft, while others believe he met a more sinister fate, allegedly murdered in the home of William Tanner, a neighbor of Abiel Johns.
Another victim of the alleged curse was the Nathaniel Carter family, who moved to Johnstown in 1859 and settled in the house previously owned by Abiel Johns. Tragedy struck the Carters four years later when they relocated to the outskirts of Silver City.
While Nathaniel Carter was away from home, bandits invaded their homestead, murdering his wife and children before setting the house ablaze. Upon his return, Nathaniel met a grisly end, leaving a trail of unanswered questions and sorrow.
The legends don’t end there; they extend into the realms of high-profile figures.
One such tale includes Mary Cheney Greeley, the wife of Horace Greeley, who hanged herself a week before her husband lost his bid for the Presidency in 1872.
Another is the story of Civil War hero Gen. Herman Swift, whose mental state deteriorated after his third wife died when struck by lightning.
Dr. William Clark, a prominent cancer specialist from the East Coast, bought about 1,000 acres near Johnstown in 1924.
He and his wife lived there peacefully until a strange incident unfolded one fateful summer.
Called to New York on business, Clark left his wife behind.
Upon returning after a 10-day absence, she was gone.
Resident Walter Kilham, known as the hermit of Johnstown, has lived there since 1959, but he’s become frustrated with the influx of tourists seeking ghosts:
“I tell them if you believe in ghosts, I guess you’ll find one,” he said. “If you don’t, then there aren’t going to be any.”
The legends surrounding Johnstown trace back to the Johns family, whose history included tragic events, mysterious deaths, and possessive spirits.
As Kilham has pointed out, these legends reportedly began in the 1920s when residents spun tales about the fateful curse that purportedly led to the demise of the community.
According to the legends, the Johns family’s troubles began with Edmund John, who allegedly had his head chopped off by orders of Queen Victoria for annoying members of the court circle, setting the stage for the other tragedies that befell the family.
Edmund’s son, John, the Duke of Northumberland, was said to have plotted to overthrow King Edward by orchestrating a marriage between his son, Lord Guilford Johns, and Lady Jane Grein. With the plot’s failure came the beheading of the Lady and both Johns.
In a cruel twist of fate, Lord Guilford Johns’ brother, a military officer, returned to England from France carrying the plague, which claimed the lives of many of his troops and thousands of English citizens. Finally, adding to the family’s mystique, another of Guilford’s brothers, the Earl of Leicester, reportedly left England under mysterious circumstances.
His descendant, William Johns, eventually made his way to Connecticut and settled in Guilford. Three of his descendants later ventured to the Comstock in the mid-1850s.
However, some residents, like John and Jean Leech, believe the downfall of Johnstown was simply due to the silver strike in nearby Virginia City. But it’s the stories of curses, ghosts, and other frightful anomalies drawing witch covens, motorcycle gangs, and television stars to the place.
Harriet Clerk, a resident of Comstock whose ancestors lived in Johnstown, aims to set the record straight through her upcoming booklet, “The True Facts of Johnstown.” The booklet will provide a factual account of the community’s history, dispelling the myths that have overshadowed its true story.
However, on certain nights, under a gibbous moon, some claim to witness mysterious shapes dancing amid the few foundation stones remaining in Johnstown, hinting at a past that continues to intrigue and captivate.
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