On March 16, 1916, The Republic of Meyersdale, Pennsylvania reported the alleged haunting of a recently deceased Mr. Jonathan Albright. The veteran’s ghost was said to have driven his family out their home (in Meyersdale) on two occasions. “On one occasion several weeks ago, ” The Republic reported, “the family averred, he came and stood at the head of the stairs and ordered them all out of the house, They were so frightened by his austere manner and stern command that they all ran to the home of Andrew Lehman nearby […].”
The next week (March 23, 1916), The Republic published an update. It seemed the ghost was not Mr. Albright but a poodle. The Republic explained, “The ghost story originated by some children dressing up a poodle dog and propping the animal up in bed, so that he resembled an old man, and then calling Mrs. Albright and telling her there was a man in bed upstairs.” A scared Mrs. Albright ran out of the house and told neighbors of her sighting. The story spread.
Source: March 16, 1916 (pg.1) & March 23, 1916 (pg.1), The Republic, Meyersdale, Pennsylvania
It Was Not a Ghost 