The Haunting of Federal Hill Cemtery in Kentucky

Bardstown, Kentucky, has an unusual story that people love to tell. This story is a ghost story, but it runs a little deeper than your average ghost story. This is the story of the moving gravestone in the Federal Hill Cemetery, and it has been around for at least 150 years.

John Rowan was a famous man in his hometown, having served seven terms in elected offices, along with being a state judge and working as a State Senator. Later in life he would also serve as a chief justice on the Kentucky Court of Appeals and also serving as the Secretary of State for Kentucky. He was also the cousin of Stephen Foster, who penned a number of his songs during the 19^th century.

Though he was fairly popular in the state, he experienced more than his fair share of rough times. As a child he was frequently sick, and doctors told his family that he may not live past an early age. This prompted the family to move to a country estate in Kentucky. He began changing his life, and studied law as a student. He even married a young woman named Ann Lytle. Lytle's father passed along land to the young couple upon which they built Federal Hill.

One night while playing a game of cards at the house, Rowan began arguing with a man by the name of James Chambers. The two were casual friends, and the argument was a silly one that quickly grew more heated. After Rowan insulted the man's wife, he demanded a duel. The duel led outside, and only Rowan survived.

This could have disturbed a smaller man, but Rowan persevered. However even he could not persevere the cholera epidemic that swept Kentucky in 1833. All told the man lost 26 slaves and four members of his immediate family, including his son John who was Andrew Jackson's Secretary of State. John stopped by the house to visit his family, contracted cholera, and passed away in the house.

Rowan himself passed away in 1843, and told family and close friends that he didn't want a monument or marker on his grave. The man believed in pride, and felt that his meager grave didn't deserve such a high honor. He further claimed that the elaborate house he had built on Federal Hill was a monument in and of itself.

Rowan was eventually buried in the Bardstown Cemetery, though his remains were later moved to Federal Hill Cemetery. Upon his grave family members erected a large obelisk type monument, with the belief that his life fitted such a memorial. That was when things began happening.

The moment the monument was complete, it fell over without warning. Despite spending a good amount of time trying to decide why the stone fell, no one could find a good reason. The best excuse they could find was that roots from a nearby tree had caused too much pressure on the base of the monument.

Not long after, the stone tipped over again. Each time it was replaced, it would stand in place for a few weeks or months, but would eventually topple over again. Eventually local stone workers began refusing to return to the cemetery. Locals began saying that this was Rowan expressing his displeasure at the monument. Some even claimed that he had threatened his family prior to his death at what would happen if his wishes were not followed.

Though it has been 150 years since the monument was first placed in the cemetery, it still continues to regularly follow over today. I visited the cemetery once when I was living in Louisville, Kentucky and I have to say that I didn't experience anything unusual. The monument is not as grand as some that I have seen in the past, but it is easy to find. It was standing when I was there, but maybe the next time I visit, it will have toppled over again.