The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE GHOST OF RESTON

RESTON, VIRGINIA, NEAR WASHINGTON, D. C., IS NOW A NEW TOWN
BUT WAS ONCE THE SITE OF A BEAUTIFUL MANSION, ALSO KNOWN AS
RESTON. A YOUNG GIRL WITH LONG BLONDE HAIR LIVED HERE LONG
AGO. SHE WAS COURTED BY A MAN WHO BECAME INSANELY JEALOUS AND
IN A FIT OF ANGER, KILLED AND DECAPITATED HER, TAKING THE HEAD
WITH HIM IN HIS FLIGHT. THE HEADLESS BODY WAS BURIED ON THE
GROUNDS OF RESTON, BUT THE HEAD WAS NEVER DISCOVERED. SEARCHING
FOR HER HEAD, THE "GHOST OF RESTON" HAUNTED THE MANSION UNTIL
IT WAS DEMOLISHED.
WITHOUT A HOUSE OR HEAD NOW, SHE CONTINUES TO HAUNT LONELY ROADS
AND WOODS NEAR THE TOWN OF RESTON, AND HAS RECENTLY APPEARED
TO SEVERAL CARLOADS OF TEENAGERS, WHO HAVE MADE A HOBBY OF
"GHOSTWATCHING." SHE SEEMS ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN BLONDE GIRLS
LIKE HERSELF, FOR WHEN A CAR CONTAINING A BLONDE PARKED NEAR HER
HAUNTS, SHE NOT ONLY APPEARED BUT DREW CLOSE TO THE CAR AND TRIED
TO ENTER THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE GIRL INSIDE SCREAMED AND
THE GHOST DISAPPEARED.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DORM ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 05-12-1969