Hinsdale Haunting, Western New York's Greatest Historical Folly

For one who romanticizes the past, historical folly is a plague - one that will eat away at patience until it is proven guilty. For a small farmhouse in Hinsdale, New York, my tolerance over the years has extinguished. I have watched the television specials and read the eyewitness accounts. With every new invented artifact, my annoyance grows. Lazy research leads to false history. Propagating events that never took place for the reason of monetary gain is inexcusable. And sometimes simple research errors, not necessarily callous in themselves, can spawn seemingly sturdy historical inventions one created after another to continue the story and false history.

My attentions fell on the farmhouse before I graduated from high school and have remained with me since. It was a simple book that took my interest, Echoes of a Haunting, by Clara M. Miller. I am not sure if it was the story that gripped me so, or her voice overriding the pages. This brave account published in 2000 in diary form, told the story, entry by entry, of a haunting in that very farm house that pursued her family in the mid-1970s. Since the media frenzy began surrounding the family, during residency and after, crowds of people have come forward waving their hands in frantic form stating that they too were an eyewitness to the accounts suffered by the Dandy family. My research has led me to believe that many of these experiences that have been brought forward are no more than a cry for attention at the cost of the Dandy family. This paper is not about them. If your curiosities lead you to explore further, please read her book, Echoes of a Haunting. The Dandy family have been lied about, scrutinized, and quite frankly are fed up with the propagated garbage that has been released over the years. Miller released the book in 2000 to combat the rumors of the property - only to lead to a line of idiots preying on false histories to sell a paranormal ticket. As a long-standing friend of the Friars, I also find myself protective of the Franciscans. Rumors have swirled about Fr. Alphonsus Trabold OFM and the hill top farm. His memory has been clouded with superstitious rumor. The great Theology and Religion Professor, loved by everyone that knew him, is being forgotten. Franciscans are unique. They are their own. No matter what religion is followed one must appreciate a group of people that live for no other reason than to help others. I will make note that Clara is one of my dearest friends and her family is considered an extension of my own. To finally relay the historical events that took place on her farm is a gift to her. To unfold 50 years of historical error of the beautiful areas of Hinsdale, Olean, and the Haskell Flats. This is as well a gift in remembrance of Fr. Alphonsus; to finally answer the questions he had unanswered upon his death in 2006.

It is no secret that Mound Builders inhabited the area. In fact, one of the only mound builder tribes found in history is the Allegheny, which most likely derived from several different names as follows; Alligewi, Allegewi, Alliwegis, Alleghans, Talligewi or Talligeu Indians. It is believed that they were extinguished by tribes that traveled to North Eastern America following the waterways to make settlement. After the fall of the Alligewi in the mid-17th Century the Erie People also fell victim to genocide by the Iroquois, mainly the Seneca after a five-year war launched on the Erie People for aiding the Huron gain control of the fur trade.

Moving forward, let us travel to years prior to 1720 with the aid of countless French maps, the narrative of several explorers, information brought to light from Elders, and the work of Historians Eber L. Russell, Lewis H Morgan, and Ely S. Parker to examine Ho-De-No-Sau-Nee-Ga or translated, The People of the Long House. Western New York, being fruitful with flowing rivers, lakes and valleys, made an exquisite home for several Native American Tribes. Thousands of years of history remain in the enchanted mountains, leaving only evidence of their existence. It is this evidence that we will begin with.

Countless sacred sites and artifacts have given us a glimpse of the past. The southern area of Western New York is plentiful with its history. With the soil makeup throughout the region, sites must be treated with great care due to disintegration once in contact with oxygen. So, naturally many of the sacred sites throughout the area are not only protected, but usually owned by a municipality to provide such protection. Many of the main routes driven by today’s world were once heavily traveled foot paths of the Native Americans. These paths often followed waterways. Present day New York Route 16 as well as the route following O-Heé-Yo (Allegany River) are the two to be examined. These areas are rich with history and sacred places.

Near the Cuba, New York, area the village of Te-caŕ-nohns (dripping Oil) or Oil Spring Village can be noted seated near to the Te-caŕ-nohns, G. or Oil Creek and Ja-go-o-geh,G (Place of Hearing .F) or Black Creek. There was the Gah-nos which refers to the Seneca Oil Spring, said to be discovered in 1627 by Franciscan Missionary, Joseph De La Roche D’ Aillon. The spring was highly used prior by the Native Americans, as they felt it was a place of ultimate healing. According to my research, Iroquois villages could span up to eight miles. It is not unlikely that Te-caŕ-nohns extended through the valley that is currently NY Route 446 that stretches into the area of current Hinsdale, New York valley.

Several mounds can be noted in the area. For example, there is a burial mound inside of Forness Park, in Olean, New York. This mound is very close to the settlement He-So or Olean that was seated where the O-heé-yo, G (The Beautiful River) or Allegany River and Ischua creek intersect.

He-So mound is one of many that are noted and recognized throughout Western New York. Other notable mounds can be found locally in the townships of Allegany, Olean, Conewango, and Randolph. Take care to note, that there are several mounds throughout western New York, and stemming south throughout the country.

Where mounds are not located are on a hill top in Hinsdale, New York, where they have been stated for several years to exist. Rumors of a chief’s burial and several mounds have swirled for several years since a quote by a local was published in the newspapers. Countless historians have attempted to combat this rumor, but despite efforts it continues to breathe life. As recent as 2016, publications are still regurgitating the false stories that the house was built over 800 Native American graves and the site of a horrific massacre.

Any historical researcher of the area would note that Native Americans settled in valleys, near waterways. Without a source of water, life would be very difficult. Hill tops were used as protection, not only from the elements but as look out points. There were several small footpaths along the hills that were used by tribes, but there was no village within the hill-top surrounding the house. To add, a geologist friend by trade, accompanied me on the property adjacent to the hill top homestead. We did not locate a single mound.

Why don’t we move on to the rumor of massacre. Meaningless loss of human life in any circumstance is horrific. Throughout thousands of years there were several skirmishes throughout the area. Rumors are still fiery as recent as 2016. The hot ticket to investigate the supernatural in a place of horror is the “in thing.” The Senecas and Elders from several tribes have been informed of not only the mound claims but the massacre claims as well. To add, they are also aware that these are false history of their people and claims to a sacred space, being used to commercialize “ghost hunting.” As one can imagine, they are disgusted. This historic hoax stems from a newspaper article published by the Patriot and Free Press, September 9-15, 2009. Please review article below:

In the article, Rambacher can be quoted stating, “In 1737, local Native Americans who were part of the seven tribes of the Iroquois Confederation, the Senecas, sent a proclamation to Alexander Hamilton of the Continental Congress stating that they were actively opposed to the formation of the United States.”

When reading this information, the first oddity that struck me was the fact that it states the seven tribes of the Iroquois Confederation. The five nations formed between approximately 1570 and 1600, later becoming the six nations in 1722. At no time were there seven tribes. To continue, Alexander Hamilton was born January 11, 1757. The Continental Congress met from 1774 to 1789. Following the article, these Nations contacted Hamilton apparently 20 years before his birth? Also, that would have the Natives contacting the Continental Congress 37 years before formation. To continue, in this article Rambacher was quoted, “During the campaign over 800 men, women and children were killed in the area that is now Main Street, Hinsdale.” Rambacher went on to state that those casualties are what laid the ground work for spirit disturbances in the Hinsdale area. This is absolutely untrue material. No evidence of a massacre exists in history in the valley of Hinsdale, New York, or on the hilltop farm above it. There are also rumors of a curse bestowed upon the hill by a disgruntled woman, belonging to an exploratory band that was massacred in the area. From this information, I began investigating claims. I did locate through the Historical Society of Cattaraugus County that in 1807, many individuals, both white settlers and Native Americans fell victim to a deadly disease. It is said that an Indian Squaw that had recently returned to the area of He-So after being gone for a great deal of time to care for the sick, simply stated that her loved ones would pass from the sickness. Due to her correct prediction, she was denounced by her tribe as a witch and burned alive. I believe that the rumors of massacre and curses stem from Rambacher’s quotes and hearsay being retold numerous times, to become the idea behind the Hinsdale haunting. There have been constant rumors of a curse bestowed upon the hill that the farmhouse stands; the Iroquoians refute them.

Years ago, I traveled to St. Bonaventure to review Fr. Alphonsus’ archives. In my research, I located a typed copy of the deed action on the property owned by Clara M. Miller and husband Phil Dandy. This was sent to Trabold by an associate. At the time, this was liquid gold to me as a researcher. I prized it for nearly six years. It wasn’t until a quiet night with an 1853 map of the area that I realized the fatal mistake with it. This mistake has destroyed the true history of not only the farm house, but the entire area - leading to bizarre fantasy stories being hand-fed to the public. Let us follow the exact typed deed, and begin to fix a 50-year-old mistake. Please review the deed search below, as exact from the archives of Fr. Alphonsus:

This deed search was pulled in good faith but a horrific accident happened. Fr. Alphonsus’ associate located the wrong McMahon family in the deed line. Parcels were much larger in the early days of the region. Several deeds were quick claimed and passed quickly to ensure easements for farming. I noted that in 1890, Perrin and Ira Edwards adventured west following the 1862 Homestead Act (Hinsdale...My Home Town, Cooper, 1999). Which also didn't agree with my paperwork. Let us dissect:

What I have crossed out here, is the deed for a completely different property. This was an error, which was easy to do. This was before the era of computerized information. It was not done purposely. This very deed research, done in the mid- 1970’s has birthed a plethora of issues.

Let me continue with the proper history of the parcel, then we will dive into the mistake and the complications from it. We shall begin with the year 1813 and Wheelock Wood. Lewis Wood settled into the area now known as Hinsdale, New York, followed by his brother Wheelock seven years later. Wheelock Wood settled on 100 acres in township 3 range 3. Near the first saw mill that was erected in 1814 owned by Emory Yates Sr., Wheelock would come to settle in an area very near to Yates. His brother, Col. Emery Wood, would follow residency in Hinsdale in 1817. By the year 1830 Wheelock Wood owned 249 acres - living well farming and running a tannery business, and building the house that is no longer standing but was south of the current homestead viewed today. Both Emery and Wheelock Wood were veterans of the War of 1812.

In the year 1853 two brothers purchased properties from Wood, David and Charles Everts. Both family men, purchased the area of the hill top farm. It is believed that David Everts built the homestead viewed today as the historical haunt, and his brother Charles moved into the original homestead just south of the current standing structure. Throughout the next four years several purchases in the surrounding lands took place - which was not uncommon for the time, though the standing structures remained with the Everts brothers. Please review the 1853 Map below:

In the year 1858 the Everts brothers sold their properties to an Alfred Burton and moved to Iowa. In 1861, Alfred Burton’s property was sold by George and Elizabeth Burton to a newly immigrated Irishman, Michael McMahon, wife Catherine Howard and family.

McMahon is a familiar name to the current researchers of the Hinsdale Farm Haunting. The home itself sits on the road, which is the namesake of the family. Several generations of McMahons loved the home until approximately 1971 when realty tycoon Dona M. Reiss purchased it. In review of a map from 1916 it can be noted that son of Michael McMahon, Dennis McMahon owned the property, with both buildings still standing. Please see below:

As one can see the smaller building seated just south of the farm house was vacant at the time. In speaking with historians from the area, it is guessed that it was burned down. At no time in history were either the farm house, surrounding barns or this vacant home once belonging to Charles Everts and family used as an Inn. Thus, begins a fall down the rabbit hole.

Let us continue with the deed search pulled from Fr. Trabold’s archives. Upon reviewing that 1853 map, I noted that Russell K. and Emily LaFever were noted on the deed. Imagine my shock when I noticed the Russell K. and Lewis L. LaFever farms seated on Yardman and Emerson roads, in the Haskell Flats area nowhere near the property of McMahon. This led me into researching the LaFever family. In 1832 John LaFever settled into the area building a hotel on what is present day Haskell Road. Two of his nephews built farms as above, Emerson and Yardman Road. John LaFever later sold the hotel to Ambrose Salisbury in 1844. Many LaFever family members returned home to Reading, New York. Lewis L. remained in the area until his death. L. L. LaFever was adored by the community for his philanthropic life. The Edwards family moved into the LaFever farms, renting at first and purchasing it later. The Emerson Family currently resides on the properties today. The site of the LaFever/Ambrose Hotel is currently on Haskell Road in the town of Cuba, New York. At no time in history, did any murders occur on location. Nor did any LaFevers live on the hill-top farm.

Current Hinsdale Farm owner Daniel Klaes released a publication recently titled Hinsdale House an American Haunting (Dark Moon Press 2016) which he coauthored with Professor Tim Joyce. In this publication, it states,“In the Mid-19th century, Hinsdale, not Olean, was the logical place for a stage coach stop due to its comparatively metropolitan size.”

Prior to 1844 the current stop for travelers within the Hinsdale area limits would have been the Norton House owned by James B. Norton, later dubbed the Temperance Hotel run by Julius and Nancy Edwards until the hotel burned in 1912. Or, they would have taken the Haskell Flats route which was heavily advertised. Again, when speaking of his hill top farm Klaes/Joyce state:

“That inn -was what came to be called The Hinsdale House. [T]wo names for the owners: Ian and Richard. Because record keeping at the time was not as meticulous as it has grown to be today, the last name of these two very evil brothers remains unknown or in dispute. Ian and Richard were rapists and thieves, using the Hinsdale House as a spider web to attract their victims. The very worst thing a traveler could let these two miscreants see was that they were wealthy. A beautiful necklace or an expensive watch could easy be a traveler’s death warrant. Seeing those items on a guest signaled to these brothers that this was a person to rob, perhaps sexually assault, and drag to the tree for hanging."

The hill top where the famed farm house stands is very treacherous to reach even with the safety of current vehicles. This was in no way a stage coach stop. It would have been a feat to travel up the hill to begin with, let alone carrying weight. Also, records were extremely meticulous, land law and deed law were the substance of all interactions following the Holland Land Contract. On the 1853 map of Hinsdale, New York, McMahon Road can be seen in its original form leading down to what is Emerson Road. As shown below:

By 1867, McMahon Road had been terminated to a small dead-end road due to poor travel conditions for locals and the original trail leading to Emerson became what is currently known as Plank Road. Years later, Underwood Road was put into place west of Plank Road leading to present day McMahon Road.

Stagecoach travel routes never ran over that hill. They ran from present day NY Route 16 and beyond, and the present-day Haskell Road through the Haskell Flats Valley. The LaFever Hotel, currently stands on Haskell road, Cuba, as stated above. I will not share the location of this building due to current “ghost chasers” causing havoc in their pursuit of the supernatural. Though I feel it is important to note it a second time that no one was ever murdered at either hotel. This fabrication of history by the present owner of the Hinsdale farm property, not only has no historical backing, but again, is chasing the deed misinterpretation from the archives of Fr. Alphonsus Trabold OFM. I felt it necessary to pursue the LaFever family because as one of the brothers are on the deed folly, I feel that many are chasing this family as the "killer brothers" and in belief that the LaFever Hotel and the farm house are one in the same. They are not. Dennis McMahon was deeded the Hinsdale farm property on February 3, 1912. On April 20, 1912 he also was very briefly the owner of the Edwards farm before deeding it to John McMahon. This quick succession of deed changes as well as an easement explain the discrepancy on the LaFever (Edwards) farm deed. The LaFever family was upstanding and loved by the early local communities.

Moving further in history to the year 1942, I will refer to the Klaes/Joyce publication Hinsdale House: an American Haunting (Dark Moon Press 2016) again quoting:

“An unusual number of accidental deaths and events of serious injury are also associated with the Hinsdale House, including the untimely and tragic death of sixteen year old Alfred Warren, who, while helping his father cut down a branch on the site in 1942, was struck in the head when the buzz saw they were using to complete the task snagged, hurling the saw with immense force into his head causing traumatic injury that snuffed out his life three hours later in the nearby Cuba Memorial Hospital in Cuba New York. [A]lfred frequently makes his eternally youthful presence known to those who stay a while in the home. [A] look at the simple number of people who have died on the property of unnatural causes over the course of its existence as a non-native location is statistically out of proportion to the standard statistical rate of danger on rural land.”

Let us digest this quote for a moment. This again continuous to follow the folly of that dreaded 1970’s deed pull. To correct this; Warren Emerson passed away from a buzz saw accident in 1942 at 16 years of age. He died in Cuba Memorial Hospital three hours after the accident which happened on his Emerson homestead on Emerson Road. He did not suffer this horrific tragedy on or anywhere near the property owned by Klaes. The continued rumor of such things disheartens the Emerson family. May this finally put it at rest, and never be brought to light as historical research again. Please see newspaper article below:

Another commentary on the above Klaes/Joyce quote. There have never been reports of unnatural deaths on the property of the Hinsdale Farm. The closest issue was the murder of Danny J. Simpson by his brother David A. Simpson. After an argument, David shot Danny at close range with a shot gun. Danny perished one hour later in the Olean General Hospital. David A. Simpson was sentenced on January 8, 2000. This took place on a property close to the Hinsdale Farm and has been mentioned as a “haunt’ of sorts. This is again an unfortunate mistake of one brother ending the life of another. Family is currently still in the area, and it is not only untasteful to speak of murdered Danny as a “haunt,” but it did not happen on the property, and it is often misinterpreted. Please see Cuba Patriot newspaper article below:

There are rumors surrounding a tree which until approximately 2009 grew on the corner of McMahon Road and Wagner Hill Road. The current “research” by the present owner states in his publication, Hinsdale House: an American Haunting (Dark Moon Press, 2016) that this tree was instrumental in ending an “immense number of victims, 190 years ago.” The tree was notable due to a large branch that hung silently over the dirt of McMahon Road. I remember locating it years ago - it was originally how I found the homestead. What is lovingly dubbed the “Hanging Tree” or the “Tree of Despair” was not large enough in accordance to a dendrology study in 1865 as listed in current released research. To add, in the year 1865 the McMahon family owned the Hinsdale homestead, and not only was there no Richard or Ian, the McMahon family were certainly not serial killers. This leads me to believe that no one was hanged from this tree. These wild claims derive from a misinterpretation done by famed psychic Alex Tanous on April 13, 1974, while on site aiding Fr. Alphonsus Trabold OFM - which will bring us to 1974. It should also be stated that the remains of this tree are on private property that recently had to be posted due to consistent trespassing - trespassing that was televised as well via cable TV and webisode format. The current owner, a friend, has never been contacted for permission to enter.

When the Dandy family lived in the home, the matron of the family, Clara Dandy, who now is known by her maiden name, Miller, sought help with the unexplainable happenings in the home. Again, quoting Hinsdale House: an American Haunting (Joyce/Klaes, Dark Moon Press) it states: “The Official Catholic Rite of Exorcism took place April 13, 1974 and was conducted by Father Alphonsus Trabold. The world knows that much about the Hinsdale House.”

Miller met with Father Alphonsus Trabold OFM, a Theology and Religion Professor and exorcist of St. Bonaventure University. He spent a great deal of time with the family and enlisted the help of noted psychic Alex Tanous while he was on a speaking engagement at St. Bonaventure University. On April 13, 1974, Tanous, a film crew of NYU Students and Fr. Trabold ventured to the home to attempt to “de-psyche” the property, as Alex wrote. Many are stating that this was in fact an exorcism done by Fr. Trabold. This is not true. Fr. Trabold stated that one cannot ‘exorcise a building, only a person.” The Dandy family agrees with these statements, and when speaking to the director of the footage taken day, it was again confirmed. Tanous wrote about his expedition to the Hinsdale hill in his publication, Beyond Coincidence (Doubleday; 1st. ed edition (1976)). There is also a transcription of the recording readily available from the Tanous Foundation, run currently by his niece and historian Alice. Transcription and more information can be found at www.alextanous.org.

Fr. Trabold was no stranger to the study of darker avenues and paranormal research. He is noted as preforming several exorcisms within his lifetime in the surrounding areas. He did not perform one with the Dandy family at the Hinsdale Farm. The family will confirm this. The local newspaper headlines screamed with the spooky story and the hero friar, but in no time was an exorcism done on that property.

The last point I would care to make, is the subject of a horrific car accident that the family experienced during their stay on the farm. Michael Dandy suffered a terrible injury upon losing control of his vehicle driving towards the home on Wagner Hill Road. It has been rumored recently that family friend Randall Carr was the individual in the accident. This is not the case, and still being a local individual, I would imagine Randy doesn’t appreciate being spoken about. I know the Dandy family has been left disgruntled over such recent claims.

There is a plethora of avenues I could continue with, but I will end my piece here - in hopes to combat propagated garbage throughout our beautiful region. History is interesting enough; it doesn’t need to be changed. I have answered all of the questions I asked myself years ago. With every answer comes three more questions. Eventually I will answer them all. I always do.

In loving memory of Michael Dandy

Many thanks to

Toni Story, Clara M Miller, Glenn White, Roger Marsh, Michael Nicholas, Dennis Frank,