Admirers of the Riverview Cemetery’s Weeping Woman leave flowers to honor the alleged spirit. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

PARKERSBURG — Standing over the Jackson family plot in Riverview Cemetery, a solemn statue known as the “Weeping Woman” has watched over Parkersburg’s dead for more than a century — and inspired one of the city’s oldest ghost stories.

Carved in the late 1800s, the figure’s bowed head and sorrowful expression have long fueled local legends. Popular lore says she weeps real tears under the moonlight, grants wishes to kind visitors and turns her gaze when no one seems to be watching. Another popular tale claims that the statue punishes those who mock her.

Local historians say there’s no evidence of the supernatural. They focus more on the lived history of the cemetery.

“Riverview is one of the oldest and most historic cemeteries in the area, this cemetery was started by the Cook family on land that was part of their farm,” notes the Julia-Ann Historic Square walking tour guidebook. “More distinguished Wood County citizens are buried here than in any other local cemetery.”

Among those laid to rest are West Virginia Govs. Jacob B. Jackson and William E. Stevenson, as well as U.S. Sen. Peter G. Van Winkle. According to Judith Smith, president of the Julia-Ann Historic District Board of Trustees, Van Winkle cast the deciding vote against impeaching President Andrew Johnson in 1868. His decision was later honored by President John F. Kennedy in his book, “Profiles in Courage.”

The exterior of Riverview Cemetery hints at autumn as the leaves begin to change. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Smith said Riverview became a part of the Julia-Ann historic district in 1977.

“It’s only right that we have its history preserved,” she said. “Many of Parkersburg’s earliest families — the Dils, the Dudleys, the Thompsons — are all buried there.”

In addition to the Weeping Woman, other lore swirls around the cemetery. Former nearby residents Ben and Natalie Bradley reported having their own encounters with some sort of spirit.

During their time living in a 13th Street house that sits up against the cemetery, Natalie said she began to have dreams of a woman named Lucy Pierpont, a name she didn’t recognize at the time.

“In the dreams, this woman told me she had a relationship with Ben and then later that they had a child together,” Natalie recalled. “It got so vivid that I finally asked if he knew anyone by that name, and he didn’t.”

The exterior of a house on 13th Street sits up against Riverview Cemetery in Parkersburg. Former homeowners Ben and Natalie Bradley reported experiencing supernatural occurrences. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Around the same time, Natalie’s wedding band had vanished from her dresser. She searched everywhere but had no luck tracking it down. Simultaneously, Ben had developed an interest in local genealogy and discovered a headstone for Lucy Pierpont Jones and her infant son just 100 yards behind their home.

“I went out there, found her grave, and said out loud, ‘You’ve got me confused with someone else, and if you have the ring, you need to bring it back’,” Ben said. “Within 24 hours, the ring was back on the dresser — right where it had been before.”

The couple said other strange incidents in the house included footsteps and silhouettes seen in empty rooms. They stated none of it ever felt malicious, only unsettling.

“You can believe what you want,” Ben said. “We’ll just tell you what happened.”

For generations, Riverview Cemetery has drawn visitors for its historic significance — and for the legends that haunt its history. Whether the Weeping Woman truly cries or other spirits continue to roam the cemetery continues to hold Parkersburg’s imagination.

The Weeping Woman stands vigil at the Riverview Cemetery in Parkersburg. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com.

Riverview Cemetery, one of the oldest in Parkersburg, houses the graves of several local and state politicians. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Lucinda “Lucy” Pierpont Jones’ grave sits in Riverview Cemetery just a few hundred yards from a house on 13th Street where owners reported dealing with her spirit. (Photo by Gwen Sour)