Ghost Horse

A favorite ghost story of Union County, North Carolina is
"The Ghost Horse". 

“Last Wild Horse in Union County Killed by Bad Shot” was the headline in the April 15, 1927 Monroe Journal.  According to the writer, T. W. Secrest, the incident happened “more than one hundred years ago”.  This would date it around 1827, pre-Union County (our county was formed in 1842).

It appears there was a certain white stallion of medium size with a heavy mane.  He had a favorite roaming territory “from Monroe to Indian Trail and from Wesley Chapel to Unionville”. (pretty big territory!) 

It was said that he could be found about 1 ½ miles “west of Bakers” (near Rocky River and

Old Charlotte Highway

area) near “Vern and Carl Helms’ home” most every morning on a hill in a “thick clump of lofty pines”.  (around the current Monroe Airport and yes, this hill of pines is long gone)

Well the men of the town decided he would make a mighty fine riding horse.  So they built traps and lanes to drive him in but they realized he was too smart for that.  About 20 men, set themselves up in different places, with a bell on each of their own horses to run and tire him out. (this plan already sounds like it has problems)

Each would take up the chase as the wild stallion would run by.  (he must have thought this was a great game!)

They did this until late in the evening.  Then they decided the best shot should “crease the horse’s neck” which meant to nick the horse’s neck near the mane and the horse would fall down and remain unconscious long enough to be roped up.  (huh?)

Andrew ‘Andy’ Secrest won the toss of the coin for this task.  Alas, he shot too low and killed the horse. 

The end, right?  No.  After sharing this story with a Secrest researcher she asked an elderly relative about it.  Turns out that the Helms and Secrest families (& others) swore they saw the horse standing in the cluster of pines for years afterward. 

So, before the airport came along and cleared the land, Union County had a ghost horse.

Who knows, maybe it still roams to this day. Hey out there in Unionville, ever see a streak of white flying by?

Interested in other ghost stories of Monroe or Union County?  Come to the Union County Public Library at 316 E. Windsor Street, Monroe, NC, and ask for the vertical file, UCVF:  Ghosts.

(sketch courtesy of author of blog, Patricia Poland, this means, don't steal it!!!!)