Helltown | Boston Township, Ohio

Posted: 04.01.2025 | Updated: 03.26.2025

Helltown. The nickname itself conjures terrifying visions synonymous with evil: devil worship, human sacrifice, mass murders. But does this abandoned town in Ohio deserve such a moniker?

Many would say yes. From a sinister church hung with inverted crosses to rumors of monstrous creatures preying on unsuspecting travelers, Boston, Ohio – aka “Helltown” – has no shortage of disturbing legends.

Reputed to be one of Ohio’s spookiest places, Helltown can be explored by those daring enough and penchant for the eerie and unusual. Meanwhile, in nearby Pennsylvania, you can learn about all the unusual aspects of Steel City on a Pittsburgh Ghost Tour with Pittsburgh Ghosts! 

Is Helltown, Ohio, Haunted?

Abandoned places have long been considered ripe for haunting, especially when the living are forced out against their will. Such was the sad scenario in Helltown. 

Residents were ordered by the government to vacate their homes, leaving behind their history, their memories, and even their dead.

Did the mandatory mass exodus trigger dark forces to claim this land as their own? Several accounts by area visitors document eerie encounters supporting this theory. 

The History of Helltown

Settled in 1806, Helltown was officially christened as Boston Township. It developed into a thriving center of agriculture and industry, boosted by the proximity of the Cuyahoga River and the timber resources of the Cuyahoga Valley. 

However, the idyllic existence of Boston’s residents was cut short in 1974.

As concerns over America’s dwindling natural resources rose, President Gerald Ford signed a bill allowing the National Park Service to seize the occupied land of Boston Township for the future site of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, utilizing a process called “eminent domain.”

The residents had no choice but to comply with the forced buyout of their homes.

With resentment made obvious by graffiti left behind, “Now we know how the Indians felt,” they departed the once vibrant hub, creating a modern-era ghost town simmering with restless energy.

Houses were boarded up, “No Trespassing” signs were posted to discourage the curious, and several buildings were bulldozed.

Suddenly, the government seemed to lose interest in the project, leaving the dust to settle on empty streets and abandoned vehicles.

Speculation ran rampant, and theories of a government cover-up began to circulate. Those brave enough or foolish enough to trespass into the forbidden area offered chilling accounts hinting at devil worship, a serial killer, and toxic waste spills.

The nickname “Helltown” rose from these stories, and it stuck. Below are the most famous of Helltown’s spine-tingling legends. 

Helltown Church

The most celebrated legend of Helltown is also the most visually unsettling…. an abandoned Presbyterian church that sat for years in the center of town, decorated with crosses hung upside-down.

 Local legend claims the church was the meeting place of a satanic cult and that the basement was used for animal sacrifices… or worse. 

Over time, the church’s frightful reputation grew, as individuals reported flickering candlelight spotted through the windows long after the building was known to be vacant. 

Cry Baby Bridge

Cry Baby Bridge is technically on the outskirts of Helltown, on Boston Mills Road. By many accounts, the bridge is teeming with paranormal activity.

Legend alludes to a young woman whose baby plummeted to its death – some say by a tragic accident, others say it was murder. No historical facts have emerged to clarify the incident, but as neighboring residents will tell you, seeing and hearing is believing.

 Locals claim that the bridge is haunted – both by a mysterious woman in white, who has been said to materialize at the end of the bridge – and by the spirit of a baby, whose heart-wrenching cries can be heard echoing through the night. 

Visitors also report tiny handprints and footprints appearing in the dust on their cars after visiting the location.

Haunted School Bus

There’s not much creepier than an abandoned school bus. Its broken windows lending the illusion of watchful, unseen eyes within. 

But what makes Helltown’s haunted school bus legend even more terrifying is the backstory.

The legend claims the bus was filled with students on their way to a field trip when an elderly woman flagged the driver down. She told the driver she needed help and directed him to a remote location.

But it was a trap. A serial killer was set upon the driver and students, and all were murdered in cold blood.

Their restless spirits are now doomed to wander the woods of Helltown in a futile attempt to escape the killer’s clutches.

Peninsula Python and Toxic Waste Mutations

The legend of the Peninsula Python dates back to the 1940s when The Atlantic published a farmer’s account of the giant serpent he witnessed on his land, only a stone’s throw from Helltown.

 “Clarence Mitchell saw an 18-foot snake crawling across his cornfield near Peninsula, Ohio, on June 8, 1944. After several days of effort, a posse that had been formed on June 25 failed to find any evidence other than broken branches and trails leading to the Cuyahoga River. Reports of a large snake were made through August 1 by other residents of the valley, including Pauline Hopko, who said it slithered away from a willow tree in her yard and frightened her cows so much that they broke loose and ran away.”

More frightening than Mr. Mitchell’s claim is the conspiracy theory linked to it. Believers insist a toxic chemical spill in Helltown caused animal mutations. They cited it as the real reason behind the mandated evacuation of 1974.

Indeed, toxic waste was found nearby many years later. The Krejci Dump, encompassing 47 acres, had been used for decades by industries disposing of hazardous waste. 

In 1985, a hiker became ill after coming in contact with contaminated soil. An investigation ensued, uncovering hundreds of buried drums leaking toxic chemicals, poisoning the earth. 

Reports of strange growling noises and shadowy glimpses of unknown entities near Helltown’s wooded areas continue to breathe life into this gruesome tale.

Highway to Hell

Another popular topic of speculation is Helltown’s perilous roadways.

“Road Closed” notices hang on chains blocking access to twisting, serpentine roads peppered with steep inclines and sheer drop-offs.

One such road, nicknamed “Highway to Hell,” is reported to host an evil presence – one that will attempt to take control of your car and force you over the edge if you’re not vigilant.

Perhaps the countless accidents, injuries, and deaths on this stretch of pavement are what prompted the barring of public access. Or perhaps it was blocked to keep prying eyes away… 

Local legends warn of nefarious individuals lurking in the woods that border the road. They always keep a watchful eye out for intruders.

 Boston Cemetery

No ghost town would be complete without its own haunted cemetery, and Helltown’s Boston Cemetery does not disappoint.

Stories abound of orb sightings, the sound of mournful weeping, and the presence of a ghostly male who simply sits and stares, waiting for his long-lost family to return to visit.

In a town where the living were forced to abandon their ancestors’ graves, it’s no wonder the spirits are restless. 

 In 2016, the government demolished many of the original architectural structures to quell vandalism. Most of the abandoned buildings, including the church, were leveled.

Boston Cemetery still stands as a testament to Helltown’s tragic history. The echoes of the town’s ghostly residents still whisper to those who choose to hear.

Haunted Pittsburgh

Helltown and the Boston Township are closer to Cleveland than Pittsburgh. But the two-hour drive shouldn’t stop any intrepid thrill-seeker. Take heed before entering one of the most haunted places in Ohio. You may regret what you find. 

If you are looking for something safer, family-friendly, yet just as spooky, then Pittsburgh Ghosts is your haunted halfway point. Our Pittsburgh ghost tour is the top-rated in Steel City, and while it lacks dangerous roadways and satanic churches, we still think it packs a punch. Join us tonight!

Keep reading our blog for more information on the spookiest happenings in Pennsylvania, the Midwest, and anywhere else! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for even more spooky content from across the United States! 

Sources:

• https://www.travelchannel.com/shows/helltown/episodes/helltown
• https://www.bostontownship.org/ourtown.phtml
• https://puzzleboxhorror.com/ohios-helltown-urban-legends-and-history/
• https://strangeandspookyworld.com/crybaby-bridge-project/helltown-crybaby-bridge/
• https://www.lovelandroar.com/post/urban-legends-of-ohio-helltown
• https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1945/11/the-peninsula-python-an-absolutely-true-story/656940/
• https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/state-pride/ohio/krejci-dump-helltown-cle
• https://thelittlehouseofhorrors.com/helltown/