Akron Ghost Tour

11. Metzler Family Stone-Throwing

Akron, OH

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Stone-throwing ghosts have been documented in and around Europe since the 1590's. The Metzler family, recent immigrants from Germany, experienced their first stoning in Akron in their home in 1858. While husking corn in the field behind her house, Maria Metzler was pelted with stones from the sky. She couldn't figure out where the stones were coming from and fled to her home. A little while later, as the children were finishing their chores, they too were bombed with egg-sized stones. Upon discussing the two events, the family determined that someone was playing a mean joke on them. The next evening, while husking corn, Maria was again hit by flying stones and clumps of dirt. But the abuse did not stop there. The next day, the stones appeared on the inside of the house, mysteriously appearing from just beneath the ceiling. One rock hit Maria's daughter in the face and soon clumps of coal and brick entered into the mix, supposedly from nowhere. The news spread through Akron quickly and people came from all over town to witness the stone-throwing phenomenon. When journalists arrived to cover the stone story, they two were accosted by warm, wet rocks. The news spread nationwide and it was reported that more than two thousand people visited the property. When the family found themselves at whit's end, they brought in a Catholic Priest to perform an exorcism on the rock-throwing ghost. Guests of the exorcism experienced warm wet rocks being tossed their way, yet the ceiling above showed no signs of deterioration or manipulation. Two weeks later, the rocks ceased to fall and the Metzler's went back to living a normal life. The mystery surrounding these strange events exists to this day, and people continue to visit the location of the old home, which is now a parking lot, in hopes of encountering the stone-throwing ghost and being struck in the face. Yes, apparently, some people want to be hit in the face by a rock if it is thrown by a ghost.