The Ghost of Crooked John
Area Coal Miners, Hikers and Hunters have been telling stories for over one hundred years of encounters with a ghostly mountain man in the Upper Cunard Area. Most have reportedly seen him while walking the road built by Crooked John leading to his lower mine which later became the Brooklyn mine. Today this road is known as the Brooklyn Mine Trail. Others have seen him around the location of his cabin he called "Tsinosga". Although John's cabin is no longer present it seems his spirit just may be. This sight today is occupied by a former Company House, originally built by the Coal Run Coal Company in 1918. The picture to the left is said to have been taken in 1959 along the Brooklyn Mine access road. After snapping the photo the witness was reported to be so "shook" that they wrecked their car over the mountain side where it still lies today just off the Brooklyn Mine Trail. Some say Crooked John can be seen in this photo with his rifle returning from his mine.
Tsinosga Today
Although the exact location is not known , based on the original lease survey it is believed that today, the house pictured to the left located on Cunard Road roughly occupies the original site of Crooked John's cabin known as "Tsinosga". If correct Crooked John's cabin would have stood directly behind the current house, closer to the mountain side and in front, of the collapsed mine entrance in the hillside. Remnants which are still present today.