The South Carolina Lowcountry is steeped in a rich history spanning over three centuries which includes the cultural aspects of many European and African immigrant groups. Naturally embedded in that long history would be the opportunity, as well as the natural certainty, of supernatural stories. The Charleston area has many well known and legendary local haunts.
This ongoing series is dedicated to the results of CMPS applying its scientifically based methods to these legends to see what we come up with. Our conclusions will undoubtedly not be considered the final words on Charleston's ghost stories, nor should they be. However, gauged by our own standards for a legitimate haunting, we report on the following:
THE SUMMERVILLE LIGHT
Off of North Main Street in downtown Summerville is Light Road. It is a fairly long and straight dirt road surrounded by woods on both sides. I believe there are hunting clubs in those woods and a few houses just before the road becomes paved again.
The legend of the Summerville Light has been around apparently for a very long time. It seems back to the eldest generation of Summervillians have heard of it, and often swear by it. I have heard a wide variety of stories about the light sightings. Many people claim to have seen, and in many cases have been chased, by a strange green ball of light. Some say it will pass right through a car stalling the engine and paralyzing those inside until it passes. Some say you can see the light through the glass, but not its reflection in the car mirrors. Some claim you can chase after it down the road at any speed you can handle and never catch it. Some have even reported ghostly voices attached to the light.
The story behind the lights existence is as varied as the reported encounters. Some say a couple ran out of gas on the road. The man walked into town to get gas leaving his lady companion to wait for him in the car. When he returned, she had vanished. The light is his spirit looking for her. Another story claims a drunken vagabond passed out on the railroad tracks nearby and was beheaded by a passing train. The light is the glow from his lantern he carries while searching for his head.
I have been traveling Light Road for many years hoping to glimpse the Summerville Light. This effort culminated in hundreds of uneventful trips. I have never seen anything unusual. The last few times I went, I brought along some equipment and got nothing on tape, film, or audio.
I suspect the ball of light most people are reporting is nothing more than distant oncoming headlights. The oncoming car turns off onto a side street in the distance just before the "haunted" section of Light Road begins. When the turn is made, the light seemingly disappears into thin air.
Now certainly there will be those who swear to paranormal happenings on Light Road, and I don't knock them. However, I can find no evidence to indicate anything unusual is going on there. If someone can offer some legitimate evidence showing the Summerville Light, CMPS will be more than happy to analyze it.
UPDATE: May 19, 2008
I was contacted by Mr. Randy Baker who had his own experiences with the Summerville Light. More, he has a photo. I ran the photo through all the software I have available to me and I can't explain it. Here is his email that explains the background on the photo:
"That picture was taken from a 1978 Ford Fiesta 8) -- almost stopped -- and most of the illumination is from the headlights. The light is suspended just 4-5 feet above the road. You can see where the headlight illumination starts on the road at the bottom of the picture, which would give you a perspective of the distance.
It's actually the last of a long series of pictures taken by my friend in the car, most from further away. This is the only one I have. If I recall correctly the one just before this was slightly further away, but even more dramatic because the car was moving faster, which blurred the vegetation on the sides, and the light disk floating above the road was somewhat clearer. The area of the road behind the light was even more brightly lit. I might be able to track down who has them (but it's been a *long* time since I've been in contact them.)
I've seen the light maybe 3-4 times, but only once like this. I had previously thought it was an optical illusion -- maybe distant headlights being reflected/magnified by some sort of atmospheric effect. We'd drive down the road much too fast for a dirty road and small car (60 mph+), but you'd never get any closer to the light.
Randy"
Here is the photo courtesy of Mr. Randy Baker. (Click to enlarge)
