The first graveyard in Batavia dated back to 1806. It was known as the West Main Street Cemetery, and was located along the northern banks of the Tonawanda Creek. The town founders didn’t realize the extent to which the Tonawanda Creek regularly flooded, however, and in 1823 it was decided that a new cemetery would be established (Batavia Cemetery) farther east in Batavia. All bodies were moved from West Main Street Cemetery to Batavia, and eventually houses and businesses were built on what was once sacred ground.
Some believe the early settlers of Batavia may have left a few bodies behind, however. That would at least explain why a strange woman, dressed all in grey, is often seen walking along the north banks of the Tonawanda Creek, in exactly the spot where the original cemetery was located.
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Geographic Information
- Address:
- North Side of Tonawanda Creek
Batavia, NY
United States
Get Directions » - GPS:
- 43.00139254319119, -78.19795194868777
- County:
- Genesee County, New York
- Nearest Towns:
- Batavia, NY (0.6 mi.)
Elba, NY (5.3 mi.)
Oakfield, NY (5.7 mi.)
Alexander, NY (7.5 mi.)
Attica, NY (10.4 mi.)
Corfu, NY (10.9 mi.)
Le Roy, NY (10.9 mi.)
Pavilion, NY (12.4 mi.)
Wyoming, NY (13.3 mi.)
Bergen, NY (14.2 mi.)
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I lived in the town of Batavia for about 2 years when I was 15-16 and again for about 4 years when I was 18-21. I didn’t live more than walking distance from both the original location as well as the current location. I remember hearing stories from friends and strangers about their experiences. There was one experience a friend of mine had that really stands out in my memories. She told me about how a few weeks prior to her telling me the story that she was near the original location of the cemetery and she kept hearing what sounded like a woman crying and she figured it was just a person having a bad evening, until the crying sounds turned to hysterical sobbing/laughter. At that point she was a little more concerned and went to investigate where/who it was coming from. She then seen a woman dressed in what she said, “was a greyish/brown tattered gown” So immediately she thought that this woman was either homeless or mentally ill due to her appearance and the on and off creepy, weepy laughter. She said she didn’t see anyone else around and it didn’t seem that anyone that lived around there didn’t hear it. So she asked if the lady was okay and if she needed help. The lady didn’t reply right away but, her crying fit had stopped. My friend then said that she had food and water if she wanted any and thats when things turned scary for her. She explained that after she asked the lady if she was hungry the lady started laughing again and slowly turned around towards her. This is exactly what my friend told me after that, “when she turned around at me I was frozen and couldn’t move, her face was just a black shadow. Even though the street light was shining on her she had no face, I went to scream and run but I couldnt! She started to walk towards me and then run at me and when she got right in front of me, she like turned into dust or something!!!” She said that she felt like she passed out because after that happened she woke up on the ground and extremely confused. I was in total shock when she finished her story but yet I believed her 100%! She was crying by the time she was done and shook her head telling me “you think I’m crazy! I never told anyone about this, you’re the first. Do you believe me?! ” I told her I don’t think youre crazy at all and I absolutely believed her. Now i, myself, have been able to see and communicate with spirits since I can remember. Up until recently 2020 Ive never been brave enough to pursue my gifts. I’ve always been terrified myself because I know what I’ve seen and what I’m able to see. She didn’t know this about me at that point and when I told her about my “gifts” She was surprised and I had then went on to inform her that she may have some form of an attachment or even a mild possession, as she did tell me when I asked her that, she has had horrible nightmares about things she was too scared to talk about, random bruises and Knicks on her body that she didn’t cause or even know about till her mother pointed them out to her, and she said her mood and demeanor had been different ever since. So I urged her to go to the the church nearby and speak with the priest there. She wasn’t religious but her mom was so I made sure to talk to her mom about it too. She did eventually go and they blessed her, said some prayers, and came to bless their home. 10 years later we don’t talk but I do know that she was thankful I listened and helped her and I she seemed to be okay after that. I plan on investigating that area where it happened and both the surrounding area and present cemetery location. I am nervous but I have a feeling I’ll be able to find out who this woman was and what she wanted with my friend that night. Please let me know if anyone out here had experienced anything like this at either location and share your experience! I’d love to know about it!!
Is this place near the railroad track bridge? There’s a slope that goes right down to the edge of Tonawanda Creek that’s all overgrown with brush and wildflowers. I don’t know if I was in the right location.
I live at the exact location of the address given for the cemetery. I have been here for 6 years. I have never seen this woman everyone speaks of. I have seen farmers, I have seen children, and I have seen animals. You can’t just visit and have an experience. It doesn’t work like that here.