US State Urban Legends

Pennsylvania Urban Legends

Urban legends have all the allure of traditional storytelling and folklore, with the added bonus that they are situated in your exact time and place. When you hear them, you know they're probably not true... But that doesn't keep you from walking a little faster past the cemetery or avoiding the darkest corner of your attic. If you're in the mood for a chill or you need some fodder to creep out your little sister, you've come to the right place.

The Seven Gates of Hell, York

As the legend goes, an insane asylum once resided in a wooded area of Hellam Township that burned down one fated night. Though many patients perished in the flames, many also escaped into the surrounding area. releasing its occupants into the surrounding area. Seven gates were built to trap the wandering inmates. The myth states that today, only one gate is visible by day, though all seven are visible by night, and that any person who passes through all seven gates goes directly to Hell. In reality, an insane asylum never existed in the area, and only one gate was built by a local doctor.

The Green Man, Pittsburgh

This is one legend that turned out to be true. Residents of the South Park area near Pittsburgh during the 1950's often spotted a strange figure walking along Route 351 at night. The figure was a man without a face who allegedly emitted a greenish glow-- locals were frightened by his shocking appearance and his nocturnal habits. The man, Ray Robinson, had been severely electrocuted as a child and lost most of his facial features. He only came out at night due to his disfigurement, though in reality he did not emit a glow of any sort. He was actually a really nice guy who would chat with anyone who approached him, though this did not prevent some passers-by from treating him cruelly or the community from fostering ghost stories about his misfortune.