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The White Lady is a type of female ghost found in legends throughout the world. She is usually the spirit of a woman who died young, died accidentally or unexpectedly, or suffered a tragic loss. Common stories tell of a woman who lost or was betrayed by her husband, fiancé, or lover. Other legends describe a mother who lost her children, a young bride who died before her wedding, or a woman who was murdered. The White Lady is often seen wearing a white dress or gown, appearing near roads, bridges, rivers, old homes, or the place where her tragedy occurred. She may be searching for someone she lost, mourning her children, or repeating the circumstances surrounding her death. One of the best-known related legends is La Llorona, the Weeping Woman, a figure deeply rooted in Mexican folklore. According to the most familiar version of the legend, she lost her husband and, overcome with grief and anger, drowned her three children in a river. Afterward, she was condemned to wander, crying and searching for them. Like the White Lady, La Llorona is forever connected to loss, tragedy, and the inability to leave the past behind. Although White Lady legends differ around the world, the central theme remains the same. A woman died before her life was finished, and her grief was too great to leave behind. Similar stories have circulated in Santa Cruz County of a lady in white who wanders the Ocean Street Extension Road toward the cemetery seeking vengeance in her wake. Pre-dating back to the early 1960's, the tales of the White Lady circulated amongst carousing teenagers sneaking out for a late-night party in an old, abandoned building. Many swore to see the ghostly image of a young woman in white, wandering the abandoned building and walking towards the cemetery late at night. Ocean Street Extension - White Lady Lore Local lore begins with a fantastical tale derived from the 1870's regarding a young mail order bride from Massachusetts. Her arranged marriage was to a local drunkard, who allegedly forced her to traipse about the house each night in her wedding dress while he blatantly beat and demoralized her, for nothing more than his own depraved amusement. The story contends that the young bride sought to escape her abusive husband; however, he grew wise of her disobedience and beat her to death before burning the body in an attempt to hide his evil deed. For generations to come, the bizarre tale asserts that the disembodied spirit of a woman in white wanders the road of the Ocean Street Extension toward the cemetery seeking vengeance in her wake. This story of Santa Cruz’s White Lady is the one most are familiar with and at best it sounds like a very tall tale. Paradise Park -Rountree However, it might have actual roots. While researching the old gunpowder manufacturer formerly known as the California Powder Works mill, now part of what is referred to as Paradise Park, we discovered that the area surrounding Ocean Street Extension has its own stories of unexplained activity. Local historian Barry Brown first brought the White Lady connection to our attention, explaining that residents of the park had also reported seeing what appeared to be a woman in white wandering through the woods, traveling along the area between Ocean Street Extension and the park. Brown believed the apparition could be that of Myrtle Rountree. With that lead, the S.C.G.H. team was hot on the trail to learn more about Myrtle Rountree. What we uncovered was the story of a prominent local family, the Rountrees—whose name would later be associated with the county's Rountree Medium Facility—and a young daughter whose life ended in a series of heartbreaking tragedies. Her name was Myrtle Rountree. According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel in an article dating to August 1913, Myrtle's father, Thomas Rountree, was an employee of the gunpowder refinery. On that fateful day, he brought his wife, children, and family friends, the Scotts, to the Powder Works mill village beside the adjoining riverbed of the San Lorenzo River for an afternoon picnic, much as families had done many times before. What began as an ordinary family outing would soon become a horrific accident—one that would leave young Myrtle badly burned and ultimately become part of the mystery surrounding Santa Cruz's White Lady. Research revealed that what started as a carefree day of fun in the hot August sun, with children playing and the men and women engaged in jovial conversation, would quickly turn into a nightmare that would scar them forever. While eating lunch along the riverbank, thirteen-year-old Alonzo Scott struck a match and tossed it into a pile of what was believed to be asbestos. The debris-filled pile, however, contained gun cotton, a highly flammable material used at the powder works. In an instant, the material ignited. The picnickers were badly burned, but none suffered injuries as severe as fifteen-year-old Myrtle Rountree. The flames burned across her face and back, leaving her clothing nearly burned from her body. Myrtle survived her injuries. She eventually went on with her life and married her childhood sweetheart. Sadly, their happiness would last only two months. Myrtle developed tuberculosis and died at just nineteen years old. Historical newspaper accounts confirm that Myrtle was given a funeral, yet further records have not revealed where she was ultimately buried in the Santa Cruz area. Some members of her family rest at Felton Cemetery, but we have yet to uncover the final resting place of young Myrtle. Perhaps, if our White Lady is Myrtle, she is still searching for her loved ones. In the paranormal world, we recognize that past lives may leave an imprint, much like a memory—of times that may have been happy and loved, or times that may have endured tragedy. If Myrtle is our “White Lady,” she may wander to and from the places connected to her favorite, yet most tragic, memories with her family near the old mill. She may walk the road searching for her childhood love, or make her way toward the cemetery, trying to find her place among the headstones—a place where, even in death, she has no name... Or perhaps it is simply another ghost story, woven together with “what ifs” and unanswered questions. A
Local lore begins with a fantastical tale derived from the 1870's regarding a young mail order bride from Massachusetts. Her arranged marriage was to a local drunkard, who allegedly forced her to traipse about the house each night in her wedding dress while he blatantly beat and demoralized her, for nothing more than his own depraved amusement. The story contends that the young bride sought to escape her abusive husband; however he grew wise of her disobedience and beat her to death before burning the body in an attempt to hide his evil deed. For generations to come, the bizarre tale asserts that the disembodied spirit of a woman in white wanders the road of the Ocean Street Extension toward the cemetery seeking vengeance in her wake. **This story of Santa Cruz’s White Lady **that most are familiar with is at best a tall tale. However, it might have actual roots in teenage love, stone masons and Prohibition-era bootlegging. While researching the old gunpowder manufacturer formerly known as the California Powder Works mill, currently referred to as Paradise Park; which is near the locations of the reported apparitions, Santa Cruz Ghost Hunters, learned that the many residents of this location have also seen what appears to be a woman in white wandering the woods. Through research we were able to learn about the prominent Rountree family (namesake for the county jail called the Rountree Medium Facility). Who had ties to the area in question and a daughter who died leaving a tragically sad tale. Her name was Myrtle Rountree, According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, and an article dating back to August of 1913, Thomas Rountree, an employee of the gunpowder refinery and father to young Ms. Myrtle, brought his wife, children and family friends the Scotts, to the Powder Work Mill Village, beside the adjoining riverbed of the San Lorenzo River, for an afternoon picnic like he had done many times before. What started as a carefree day of fun in the hot August sun, with children playing and men and women engaged in jovial conversation, quickly turned into a nightmare that would scar them forever. While eating lunch on the bank, thirteen - year - old Alonzo Scott ignited a match and threw it in to a pile of what was initially thought to be asbestos; however, the debris-filled pile was actually filled with gun cotton, a highly flammable nitro. The picnickers, were all badly burned, but none as severe as 15 year old Myrtle - who's burns extended from her face and back, her clothes nearly entirely burned from her body. Myrtle survived her injuries, and later married her childhood sweetheart - however, sadly within two months of the marriage, Myrtle developed tuberculosis and died at the age of 19. Although historical news articles reflect Myrtle did have a funeral, further records do not reveal where Myrtle Rountree, was buried in the Santa Cruz area - while some of her family members rest at the Felton Cemetery, we have yet to uncover the last resting place of the young girl. Perhaps if our White Lady is Myrtle, she maybe still searching for her loved ones. “In the paranormal world, we recognize that past lives may leave an imprint, much like a memory, of times that may have been happy and loved or times that may have endured tragedy,” If Myrtle is our "White Lady" then she likely wanders to and from some of her favorite and yet tragic memories with her family near the mill, she wanders down the road to find her childhood love, or perhaps she wanders to the cemetery trying to find her place amongst the headstones, a place where she has no name,... Absolutely. The newspaper clippings actually make Myrtle's story much stronger, because they give us a documented tragedy behind the later White Lady legend. I would also separate the legend of the abused mail-order bride from the historical Myrtle Rountree story, so readers understand that these are two different versions of the story. Here is the cleaned-up version, keeping your voice and haunted tone: The White LadyThe White Lady is a type of female ghost found in legends throughout the world. She is usually the spirit of a woman who died young, died accidentally or unexpectedly, or suffered a tragic loss. Common stories tell of a woman who lost or was betrayed by her husband, fiancé, or lover. Other legends describe a mother who lost her children, a young bride who died before her life was finished, or a woman who was murdered. The White Lady is often seen wearing a white dress or gown, appearing near roads, bridges, rivers, old homes, or the place where her tragedy occurred. She may be searching for someone she lost, mourning her children, or repeating the circumstances surrounding her death. One of the best-known related legends is La Llorona, the Weeping Woman. According to the most familiar version, she lost her husband and, overcome with grief and anger, drowned her three children in a river. Afterward, she was condemned to wander, crying and searching for them. Although White Lady legends differ throughout the world, the central theme remains the same: A woman died before her life was finished, and her grief was too great to leave behind. Similar stories have circulated in Santa Cruz County of a lady in white who wanders the Ocean Street Extension road toward the cemetery, seeking vengeance in her wake. Dating back to the early 1960s, tales of the White Lady circulated among teenagers sneaking out for late-night parties in an old abandoned building. Many swore they had seen the ghostly image of a young woman in white wandering through the abandoned building and walking toward the cemetery late at night. Local lore begins with a fantastical tale said to date back to the 1870s, regarding a young mail-order bride from Massachusetts. Her arranged marriage was to a local drunkard who allegedly forced her to walk about the house each night in her wedding dress while he beat and humiliated her for his own amusement. According to the legend, the young bride eventually attempted to escape her abusive husband. When he discovered her disobedience, he allegedly beat her to death and burned her body in an attempt to conceal his crime. For generations, the bizarre tale has claimed that the disembodied spirit of a woman in white wanders the road along Ocean Street Extension toward the cemetery, seeking vengeance in her wake. But is that really where the story began? The story of Santa Cruz's White Lady that most people are familiar with may be, at best, a tall tale. However, it might have actual roots in teenage love, the old powder works, and a tragic young woman whose life ended far too soon. While researching the old gunpowder manufacturer formerly known as the California Powder Works, near the area now associated with Paradise Park, Santa Cruz Ghost Hunters learned that residents in the area have also reported seeing what appears to be a woman in white wandering through the woods. Through historical research, we discovered the story of the prominent Rountree family, a family with ties to the area and a daughter whose life ended in a series of tragedies. Her name was Myrtle Rountree. The Tragedy of Myrtle RountreeAccording to a Santa Cruz newspaper account from August 1913, Thomas Rountree took his wife, children, and family friends, the Scott family, to the area near the Hercules Powder Company's plant along the San Lorenzo River for an afternoon picnic. What started as a carefree day of family fun in the August sun quickly turned into a nightmare. While the families were eating lunch near the powder works, thirteen-year-old Alonzo Scott obtained a match and, not knowing what the substance was, threw it into a pile of material he believed to be asbestos. It wasn't asbestos. The pile contained gun cotton, an extremely volatile and highly flammable substance. The material ignited. In an instant, the peaceful picnic erupted into flames. Thomas Rountree, members of his family, and members of the Scott family were badly burned. The newspaper described their injuries as severe, with clothing almost completely burned from some of the victims. Among those injured was fifteen-year-old Myrtle Rountree, whose burns extended across her face and back. The accident left a lasting scar on the young girl. But Myrtle survived. And somehow, despite the tragedy, she continued with her life. Myrtle eventually married Everett Whitesell, her sweetheart since childhood. The newspaper described them as having been sweethearts since they were children, and their marriage was apparently a happy one. But their happiness would last only two months. A Bride of Two MonthsIn August 1913, the Santa Cruz newspapers carried the heartbreaking announcement: “BRIDE OF TWO MONTHS CALLED TO LAST REST.” Myrtle Rountree Whitesell had died at only nineteen years of age. Her death was not from the terrible burns she had suffered as a teenager. Instead, after being married for just two months, Myrtle became seriously ill. The newspaper reported that she had suffered for several weeks from tuberculosis, or what was then commonly called consumption. Her young husband, Everett Whitesell, was left devastated. The newspaper described Myrtle as one of the most popular young women in Santa Cruz. She had been born in Felton nineteen years earlier and attended school there before continuing her education in Santa Cruz, where she graduated from high school. She was remembered as musically talented, possessing a beautiful voice that had charmed audiences in Santa Cruz for years. She was a young woman with a future ahead of her. A newlywed. A daughter. A sister. A childhood sweetheart who had finally married the man she loved. And then, only two months into her marriage, she was gone. Her funeral was held at the Pacific Coast undertaking parlors, with surviving members of her family in attendance. But where Myrtle was ultimately laid to rest remains a mystery. Although members of the Rountree family were buried in the Santa Cruz County area, we have yet to uncover the final resting place of young Myrtle Rountree Whitesell. And perhaps that is where the story becomes something more. Could Myrtle Be the White Lady?The old legend speaks of a young woman in white who wanders the road toward the cemetery. A woman who died tragically. A woman who never had the opportunity to grow old. A woman whose life was cut short. The traditional story tells us of an abused bride murdered by her husband. But the historical record gives us another young bride--Myrtle Rountree—who suffered a terrible accident as a teenager, survived burns that nearly destroyed her, found love with her childhood sweetheart, married him, and then died only two months later at the age of nineteen. And there is one other haunting detail. We do not know where Myrtle was buried. If Myrtle is our White Lady, perhaps she wanders to and from the places connected to the memories of her short life. Perhaps she returns to the old powder works where she suffered one of the most horrific moments of her youth. Perhaps she walks the road searching for her childhood sweetheart, the husband she barely had time to know as a married woman. Or perhaps she wanders toward the cemetery, searching for a place among the headstones—a place where she has no name. In the paranormal world, we recognize that places and people can sometimes leave behind what feels like an imprint—a memory of moments that were happy and loved, or moments marked by tragedy. Perhaps Myrtle's story is simply a tragic coincidence. Perhaps the White Lady is nothing more than a legend that has survived generations. Or perhaps a young woman whose life ended far too soon is still searching for the place where she belongs. If Myrtle is our White Lady, perhaps she never truly left. Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit clean this up keep my voice and use the information from news paper clips to help recreate the story: Absolutely. I’ll clean it up without changing your voice, keeping the eerie, historical storytelling style, and I’ll use the newspaper clips as the historical backbone rather than adding unsupported details. I found the existing Whitey material and the local historical reference to the Schwan Lagoon hobo jungle and the Sheriff Enoch “Noch” Alzina / “Kid” McCoy encounter. Send me the story/text and the newspaper clips you want me to work from, and I’ll put it together as one polished narrative.
Local lore begins with a fantastical tale derived from the 1870's regarding a young mail order bride from Massachusetts. Her arranged marriage was to a local drunkard, who allegedly forced her to traipse about the house each night in her wedding dress while he blatantly beat and demoralized her, for nothing more than his own depraved amusement. The story contends that the young bride sought to escape her abusive husband; however he grew wise of her disobedience and beat her to death before burning the body in an attempt to hide his evil deed. For generations to come, the bizarre tale asserts that the disembodied spirit of a woman in white wanders the road of the Ocean Street Extension toward the cemetery seeking vengeance in her wake. **This story of Santa Cruz’s White Lady **that most are familiar with is at best a tall tale. However, it might have actual roots in teenage love, stone masons and Prohibition-era bootlegging. While researching the old gunpowder manufacturer formerly known as the California Powder Works mill, currently referred to as Paradise Park; which is near the locations of the reported apparitions, Santa Cruz Ghost Hunters, learned that the many residents of this location have also seen what appears to be a woman in white wandering the woods. Through research we were able to learn about the prominent Rountree family (namesake for the county jail called the Rountree Medium Facility). Who had ties to the area in question and a daughter who died leaving a tragically sad tale. Her name was Myrtle Rountree, According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, and an article dating back to August of 1913, Thomas Rountree, an employee of the gunpowder refinery and father to young Ms. Myrtle, brought his wife, children and family friends the Scotts, to the Powder Work Mill Village, beside the adjoining riverbed of the San Lorenzo River, for an afternoon picnic like he had done many times before. What started as a carefree day of fun in the hot August sun, with children playing and men and women engaged in jovial conversation, quickly turned into a nightmare that would scar them forever. While eating lunch on the bank, thirteen - year - old Alonzo Scott ignited a match and threw it in to a pile of what was initially thought to be asbestos; however, the debris-filled pile was actually filled with gun cotton, a highly flammable nitro. The picnickers, were all badly burned, but none as severe as 15 year old Myrtle - who's burns extended from her face and back, her clothes nearly entirely burned from her body. Myrtle survived her injuries, and later married her childhood sweetheart - however, sadly within two months of the marriage, Myrtle developed tuberculosis and died at the age of 19. Although historical news articles reflect Myrtle did have a funeral, further records do not reveal where Myrtle Rountree, was buried in the Santa Cruz area - while some of her family members rest at the Felton Cemetery, we have yet to uncover the last resting place of the young girl. Perhaps if our White Lady is Myrtle, she maybe still searching for her loved ones. “In the paranormal world, we recognize that past lives may leave an imprint, much like a memory, of times that may have been happy and loved or times that may have endured tragedy,” If Myrtle is our "White Lady" then she likely wanders to and from some of her favorite and yet tragic memories with her family near the mill, she wanders down the road to find her childhood love, or perhaps she wanders to the cemetery trying to find her place amongst the headstones, a place where she has no name,... Absolutely. The newspaper clippings actually make Myrtle's story much stronger, because they give us a documented tragedy behind the later White Lady legend. I would also separate the legend of the abused mail-order bride from the historical Myrtle Rountree story, so readers understand that these are two different versions of the story. Here is the cleaned-up version, keeping your voice and haunted tone: The White LadyThe White Lady is a type of female ghost found in legends throughout the world. She is usually the spirit of a woman who died young, died accidentally or unexpectedly, or suffered a tragic loss. Common stories tell of a woman who lost or was betrayed by her husband, fiancé, or lover. Other legends describe a mother who lost her children, a young bride who died before her life was finished, or a woman who was murdered. The White Lady is often seen wearing a white dress or gown, appearing near roads, bridges, rivers, old homes, or the place where her tragedy occurred. She may be searching for someone she lost, mourning her children, or repeating the circumstances surrounding her death. One of the best-known related legends is La Llorona, the Weeping Woman. According to the most familiar version, she lost her husband and, overcome with grief and anger, drowned her three children in a river. Afterward, she was condemned to wander, crying and searching for them. Although White Lady legends differ throughout the world, the central theme remains the same: A woman died before her life was finished, and her grief was too great to leave behind. Similar stories have circulated in Santa Cruz County of a lady in white who wanders the Ocean Street Extension road toward the cemetery, seeking vengeance in her wake. Dating back to the early 1960s, tales of the White Lady circulated among teenagers sneaking out for late-night parties in an old abandoned building. Many swore they had seen the ghostly image of a young woman in white wandering through the abandoned building and walking toward the cemetery late at night. Local lore begins with a fantastical tale said to date back to the 1870s, regarding a young mail-order bride from Massachusetts. Her arranged marriage was to a local drunkard who allegedly forced her to walk about the house each night in her wedding dress while he beat and humiliated her for his own amusement. According to the legend, the young bride eventually attempted to escape her abusive husband. When he discovered her disobedience, he allegedly beat her to death and burned her body in an attempt to conceal his crime. For generations, the bizarre tale has claimed that the disembodied spirit of a woman in white wanders the road along Ocean Street Extension toward the cemetery, seeking vengeance in her wake. But is that really where the story began? The story of Santa Cruz's White Lady that most people are familiar with may be, at best, a tall tale. However, it might have actual roots in teenage love, the old powder works, and a tragic young woman whose life ended far too soon. While researching the old gunpowder manufacturer formerly known as the California Powder Works, near the area now associated with Paradise Park, Santa Cruz Ghost Hunters learned that residents in the area have also reported seeing what appears to be a woman in white wandering through the woods. Through historical research, we discovered the story of the prominent Rountree family, a family with ties to the area and a daughter whose life ended in a series of tragedies. Her name was Myrtle Rountree. The Tragedy of Myrtle RountreeAccording to a Santa Cruz newspaper account from August 1913, Thomas Rountree took his wife, children, and family friends, the Scott family, to the area near the Hercules Powder Company's plant along the San Lorenzo River for an afternoon picnic. What started as a carefree day of family fun in the August sun quickly turned into a nightmare. While the families were eating lunch near the powder works, thirteen-year-old Alonzo Scott obtained a match and, not knowing what the substance was, threw it into a pile of material he believed to be asbestos. It wasn't asbestos. The pile contained gun cotton, an extremely volatile and highly flammable substance. The material ignited. In an instant, the peaceful picnic erupted into flames. Thomas Rountree, members of his family, and members of the Scott family were badly burned. The newspaper described their injuries as severe, with clothing almost completely burned from some of the victims. Among those injured was fifteen-year-old Myrtle Rountree, whose burns extended across her face and back. The accident left a lasting scar on the young girl. But Myrtle survived. And somehow, despite the tragedy, she continued with her life. Myrtle eventually married Everett Whitesell, her sweetheart since childhood. The newspaper described them as having been sweethearts since they were children, and their marriage was apparently a happy one. But their happiness would last only two months. A Bride of Two MonthsIn August 1913, the Santa Cruz newspapers carried the heartbreaking announcement: “BRIDE OF TWO MONTHS CALLED TO LAST REST.” Myrtle Rountree Whitesell had died at only nineteen years of age. Her death was not from the terrible burns she had suffered as a teenager. Instead, after being married for just two months, Myrtle became seriously ill. The newspaper reported that she had suffered for several weeks from tuberculosis, or what was then commonly called consumption. Her young husband, Everett Whitesell, was left devastated. The newspaper described Myrtle as one of the most popular young women in Santa Cruz. She had been born in Felton nineteen years earlier and attended school there before continuing her education in Santa Cruz, where she graduated from high school. She was remembered as musically talented, possessing a beautiful voice that had charmed audiences in Santa Cruz for years. She was a young woman with a future ahead of her. A newlywed. A daughter. A sister. A childhood sweetheart who had finally married the man she loved. And then, only two months into her marriage, she was gone. Her funeral was held at the Pacific Coast undertaking parlors, with surviving members of her family in attendance. But where Myrtle was ultimately laid to rest remains a mystery. Although members of the Rountree family were buried in the Santa Cruz County area, we have yet to uncover the final resting place of young Myrtle Rountree Whitesell. And perhaps that is where the story becomes something more. Could Myrtle Be the White Lady?The old legend speaks of a young woman in white who wanders the road toward the cemetery. A woman who died tragically. A woman who never had the opportunity to grow old. A woman whose life was cut short. The traditional story tells us of an abused bride murdered by her husband. But the historical record gives us another young bride--Myrtle Rountree—who suffered a terrible accident as a teenager, survived burns that nearly destroyed her, found love with her childhood sweetheart, married him, and then died only two months later at the age of nineteen. And there is one other haunting detail. We do not know where Myrtle was buried. If Myrtle is our White Lady, perhaps she wanders to and from the places connected to the memories of her short life. Perhaps she returns to the old powder works where she suffered one of the most horrific moments of her youth. Perhaps she walks the road searching for her childhood sweetheart, the husband she barely had time to know as a married woman. Or perhaps she wanders toward the cemetery, searching for a place among the headstones—a place where she has no name. In the paranormal world, we recognize that places and people can sometimes leave behind what feels like an imprint—a memory of moments that were happy and loved, or moments marked by tragedy. Perhaps Myrtle's story is simply a tragic coincidence. Perhaps the White Lady is nothing more than a legend that has survived generations. Or perhaps a young woman whose life ended far too soon is still searching for the place where she belongs. If Myrtle is our White Lady, perhaps she never truly left. Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit clean this up keep my voice and use the information from news paper clips to help recreate the story: Absolutely. I’ll clean it up without changing your voice, keeping the eerie, historical storytelling style, and I’ll use the newspaper clips as the historical backbone rather than adding unsupported details. I found the existing Whitey material and the local historical reference to the Schwan Lagoon hobo jungle and the Sheriff Enoch “Noch” Alzina / “Kid” McCoy encounter. Send me the story/text and the newspaper clips you want me to work from, and I’ll put it together as one polished narrative.
Local lore begins with a fantastical tale derived from the 1870's regarding a young mail order bride from Massachusetts. Her arranged marriage was to a local drunkard, who allegedly forced her to traipse about the house each night in her wedding dress while he blatantly beat and demoralized her, for nothing more than his own depraved amusement. The story contends that the young bride sought to escape her abusive husband; however he grew wise of her disobedience and beat her to death before burning the body in an attempt to hide his evil deed. For generations to come, the bizarre tale asserts that the disembodied spirit of a woman in white wanders the road of the Ocean Street Extension toward the cemetery seeking vengeance in her wake. **This story of Santa Cruz’s White Lady **that most are familiar with is at best a tall tale. However, it might have actual roots in teenage love, stone masons and Prohibition-era bootlegging. While researching the old gunpowder manufacturer formerly known as the California Powder Works mill, currently referred to as Paradise Park; which is near the locations of the reported apparitions, Santa Cruz Ghost Hunters, learned that the many residents of this location have also seen what appears to be a woman in white wandering the woods. Through research we were able to learn about the prominent Rountree family (namesake for the county jail called the Rountree Medium Facility). Who had ties to the area in question and a daughter who died leaving a tragically sad tale. Her name was Myrtle Rountree, According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, and an article dating back to August of 1913, Thomas Rountree, an employee of the gunpowder refinery and father to young Ms. Myrtle, brought his wife, children and family friends the Scotts, to the Powder Work Mill Village, beside the adjoining riverbed of the San Lorenzo River, for an afternoon picnic like he had done many times before. What started as a carefree day of fun in the hot August sun, with children playing and men and women engaged in jovial conversation, quickly turned into a nightmare that would scar them forever. While eating lunch on the bank, thirteen - year - old Alonzo Scott ignited a match and threw it in to a pile of what was initially thought to be asbestos; however, the debris-filled pile was actually filled with gun cotton, a highly flammable nitro. The picnickers, were all badly burned, but none as severe as 15 year old Myrtle - who's burns extended from her face and back, her clothes nearly entirely burned from her body. Myrtle survived her injuries, and later married her childhood sweetheart - however, sadly within two months of the marriage, Myrtle developed tuberculosis and died at the age of 19. Although historical news articles reflect Myrtle did have a funeral, further records do not reveal where Myrtle Rountree, was buried in the Santa Cruz area - while some of her family members rest at the Felton Cemetery, we have yet to uncover the last resting place of the young girl. Perhaps if our White Lady is Myrtle, she maybe still searching for her loved ones. “In the paranormal world, we recognize that past lives may leave an imprint, much like a memory, of times that may have been happy and loved or times that may have endured tragedy,” If Myrtle is our "White Lady" then she likely wanders to and from some of her favorite and yet tragic memories with her family near the mill, she wanders down the road to find her childhood love, or perhaps she wanders to the cemetery trying to find her place amongst the headstones, a place where she has no name,... Absolutely. The newspaper clippings actually make Myrtle's story much stronger, because they give us a documented tragedy behind the later White Lady legend. I would also separate the legend of the abused mail-order bride from the historical Myrtle Rountree story, so readers understand that these are two different versions of the story. Here is the cleaned-up version, keeping your voice and haunted tone: The White LadyThe White Lady is a type of female ghost found in legends throughout the world. She is usually the spirit of a woman who died young, died accidentally or unexpectedly, or suffered a tragic loss. Common stories tell of a woman who lost or was betrayed by her husband, fiancé, or lover. Other legends describe a mother who lost her children, a young bride who died before her life was finished, or a woman who was murdered. The White Lady is often seen wearing a white dress or gown, appearing near roads, bridges, rivers, old homes, or the place where her tragedy occurred. She may be searching for someone she lost, mourning her children, or repeating the circumstances surrounding her death. One of the best-known related legends is La Llorona, the Weeping Woman. According to the most familiar version, she lost her husband and, overcome with grief and anger, drowned her three children in a river. Afterward, she was condemned to wander, crying and searching for them. Although White Lady legends differ throughout the world, the central theme remains the same: A woman died before her life was finished, and her grief was too great to leave behind. Similar stories have circulated in Santa Cruz County of a lady in white who wanders the Ocean Street Extension road toward the cemetery, seeking vengeance in her wake. Dating back to the early 1960s, tales of the White Lady circulated among teenagers sneaking out for late-night parties in an old abandoned building. Many swore they had seen the ghostly image of a young woman in white wandering through the abandoned building and walking toward the cemetery late at night. Local lore begins with a fantastical tale said to date back to the 1870s, regarding a young mail-order bride from Massachusetts. Her arranged marriage was to a local drunkard who allegedly forced her to walk about the house each night in her wedding dress while he beat and humiliated her for his own amusement. According to the legend, the young bride eventually attempted to escape her abusive husband. When he discovered her disobedience, he allegedly beat her to death and burned her body in an attempt to conceal his crime. For generations, the bizarre tale has claimed that the disembodied spirit of a woman in white wanders the road along Ocean Street Extension toward the cemetery, seeking vengeance in her wake. But is that really where the story began? The story of Santa Cruz's White Lady that most people are familiar with may be, at best, a tall tale. However, it might have actual roots in teenage love, the old powder works, and a tragic young woman whose life ended far too soon. While researching the old gunpowder manufacturer formerly known as the California Powder Works, near the area now associated with Paradise Park, Santa Cruz Ghost Hunters learned that residents in the area have also reported seeing what appears to be a woman in white wandering through the woods. Through historical research, we discovered the story of the prominent Rountree family, a family with ties to the area and a daughter whose life ended in a series of tragedies. Her name was Myrtle Rountree. The Tragedy of Myrtle RountreeAccording to a Santa Cruz newspaper account from August 1913, Thomas Rountree took his wife, children, and family friends, the Scott family, to the area near the Hercules Powder Company's plant along the San Lorenzo River for an afternoon picnic. What started as a carefree day of family fun in the August sun quickly turned into a nightmare. While the families were eating lunch near the powder works, thirteen-year-old Alonzo Scott obtained a match and, not knowing what the substance was, threw it into a pile of material he believed to be asbestos. It wasn't asbestos. The pile contained gun cotton, an extremely volatile and highly flammable substance. The material ignited. In an instant, the peaceful picnic erupted into flames. Thomas Rountree, members of his family, and members of the Scott family were badly burned. The newspaper described their injuries as severe, with clothing almost completely burned from some of the victims. Among those injured was fifteen-year-old Myrtle Rountree, whose burns extended across her face and back. The accident left a lasting scar on the young girl. But Myrtle survived. And somehow, despite the tragedy, she continued with her life. Myrtle eventually married Everett Whitesell, her sweetheart since childhood. The newspaper described them as having been sweethearts since they were children, and their marriage was apparently a happy one. But their happiness would last only two months. A Bride of Two MonthsIn August 1913, the Santa Cruz newspapers carried the heartbreaking announcement: “BRIDE OF TWO MONTHS CALLED TO LAST REST.” Myrtle Rountree Whitesell had died at only nineteen years of age. Her death was not from the terrible burns she had suffered as a teenager. Instead, after being married for just two months, Myrtle became seriously ill. The newspaper reported that she had suffered for several weeks from tuberculosis, or what was then commonly called consumption. Her young husband, Everett Whitesell, was left devastated. The newspaper described Myrtle as one of the most popular young women in Santa Cruz. She had been born in Felton nineteen years earlier and attended school there before continuing her education in Santa Cruz, where she graduated from high school. She was remembered as musically talented, possessing a beautiful voice that had charmed audiences in Santa Cruz for years. She was a young woman with a future ahead of her. A newlywed. A daughter. A sister. A childhood sweetheart who had finally married the man she loved. And then, only two months into her marriage, she was gone. Her funeral was held at the Pacific Coast undertaking parlors, with surviving members of her family in attendance. But where Myrtle was ultimately laid to rest remains a mystery. Although members of the Rountree family were buried in the Santa Cruz County area, we have yet to uncover the final resting place of young Myrtle Rountree Whitesell. And perhaps that is where the story becomes something more. Could Myrtle Be the White Lady?The old legend speaks of a young woman in white who wanders the road toward the cemetery. A woman who died tragically. A woman who never had the opportunity to grow old. A woman whose life was cut short. The traditional story tells us of an abused bride murdered by her husband. But the historical record gives us another young bride--Myrtle Rountree—who suffered a terrible accident as a teenager, survived burns that nearly destroyed her, found love with her childhood sweetheart, married him, and then died only two months later at the age of nineteen. And there is one other haunting detail. We do not know where Myrtle was buried. If Myrtle is our White Lady, perhaps she wanders to and from the places connected to the memories of her short life. Perhaps she returns to the old powder works where she suffered one of the most horrific moments of her youth. Perhaps she walks the road searching for her childhood sweetheart, the husband she barely had time to know as a married woman. Or perhaps she wanders toward the cemetery, searching for a place among the headstones—a place where she has no name. In the paranormal world, we recognize that places and people can sometimes leave behind what feels like an imprint—a memory of moments that were happy and loved, or moments marked by tragedy. Perhaps Myrtle's story is simply a tragic coincidence. Perhaps the White Lady is nothing more than a legend that has survived generations. Or perhaps a young woman whose life ended far too soon is still searching for the place where she belongs. If Myrtle is our White Lady, perhaps she never truly left. Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit clean this up keep my voice and use the information from news paper clips to help recreate the story: Absolutely. I’ll clean it up without changing your voice, keeping the eerie, historical storytelling style, and I’ll use the newspaper clips as the historical backbone rather than adding unsupported details. I found the existing Whitey material and the local historical reference to the Schwan Lagoon hobo jungle and the Sheriff Enoch “Noch” Alzina / “Kid” McCoy encounter. Send me the story/text and the newspaper clips you want me to work from, and I’ll put it together as one polished narrative.
Local lore begins with a fantastical tale derived from the 1870's regarding a young mail order bride from Massachusetts. Her arranged marriage was to a local drunkard, who allegedly forced her to traipse about the house each night in her wedding dress while he blatantly beat and demoralized her, for nothing more than his own depraved amusement. The story contends that the young bride sought to escape her abusive husband; however he grew wise of her disobedience and beat her to death before burning the body in an attempt to hide his evil deed. For generations to come, the bizarre tale asserts that the disembodied spirit of a woman in white wanders the road of the Ocean Street Extension toward the cemetery seeking vengeance in her wake. **This story of Santa Cruz’s White Lady **that most are familiar with is at best a tall tale. However, it might have actual roots in teenage love, stone masons and Prohibition-era bootlegging. While researching the old gunpowder manufacturer formerly known as the California Powder Works mill, currently referred to as Paradise Park; which is near the locations of the reported apparitions, Santa Cruz Ghost Hunters, learned that the many residents of this location have also seen what appears to be a woman in white wandering the woods. Through research we were able to learn about the prominent Rountree family (namesake for the county jail called the Rountree Medium Facility). Who had ties to the area in question and a daughter who died leaving a tragically sad tale. Her name was Myrtle Rountree, According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, and an article dating back to August of 1913, Thomas Rountree, an employee of the gunpowder refinery and father to young Ms. Myrtle, brought his wife, children and family friends the Scotts, to the Powder Work Mill Village, beside the adjoining riverbed of the San Lorenzo River, for an afternoon picnic like he had done many times before. What started as a carefree day of fun in the hot August sun, with children playing and men and women engaged in jovial conversation, quickly turned into a nightmare that would scar them forever. While eating lunch on the bank, thirteen - year - old Alonzo Scott ignited a match and threw it in to a pile of what was initially thought to be asbestos; however, the debris-filled pile was actually filled with gun cotton, a highly flammable nitro. The picnickers, were all badly burned, but none as severe as 15 year old Myrtle - who's burns extended from her face and back, her clothes nearly entirely burned from her body. Myrtle survived her injuries, and later married her childhood sweetheart - however, sadly within two months of the marriage, Myrtle developed tuberculosis and died at the age of 19. Although historical news articles reflect Myrtle did have a funeral, further records do not reveal where Myrtle Rountree, was buried in the Santa Cruz area - while some of her family members rest at the Felton Cemetery, we have yet to uncover the last resting place of the young girl. Perhaps if our White Lady is Myrtle, she maybe still searching for her loved ones. “In the paranormal world, we recognize that past lives may leave an imprint, much like a memory, of times that may have been happy and loved or times that may have endured tragedy,” If Myrtle is our "White Lady" then she likely wanders to and from some of her favorite and yet tragic memories with her family near the mill, she wanders down the road to find her childhood love, or perhaps she wanders to the cemetery trying to find her place amongst the headstones, a place where she has no name,... Absolutely. The newspaper clippings actually make Myrtle's story much stronger, because they give us a documented tragedy behind the later White Lady legend. I would also separate the legend of the abused mail-order bride from the historical Myrtle Rountree story, so readers understand that these are two different versions of the story. Here is the cleaned-up version, keeping your voice and haunted tone: The White LadyThe White Lady is a type of female ghost found in legends throughout the world. She is usually the spirit of a woman who died young, died accidentally or unexpectedly, or suffered a tragic loss. Common stories tell of a woman who lost or was betrayed by her husband, fiancé, or lover. Other legends describe a mother who lost her children, a young bride who died before her life was finished, or a woman who was murdered. The White Lady is often seen wearing a white dress or gown, appearing near roads, bridges, rivers, old homes, or the place where her tragedy occurred. She may be searching for someone she lost, mourning her children, or repeating the circumstances surrounding her death. One of the best-known related legends is La Llorona, the Weeping Woman. According to the most familiar version, she lost her husband and, overcome with grief and anger, drowned her three children in a river. Afterward, she was condemned to wander, crying and searching for them. Although White Lady legends differ throughout the world, the central theme remains the same: A woman died before her life was finished, and her grief was too great to leave behind. Similar stories have circulated in Santa Cruz County of a lady in white who wanders the Ocean Street Extension road toward the cemetery, seeking vengeance in her wake. Dating back to the early 1960s, tales of the White Lady circulated among teenagers sneaking out for late-night parties in an old abandoned building. Many swore they had seen the ghostly image of a young woman in white wandering through the abandoned building and walking toward the cemetery late at night. Local lore begins with a fantastical tale said to date back to the 1870s, regarding a young mail-order bride from Massachusetts. Her arranged marriage was to a local drunkard who allegedly forced her to walk about the house each night in her wedding dress while he beat and humiliated her for his own amusement. According to the legend, the young bride eventually attempted to escape her abusive husband. When he discovered her disobedience, he allegedly beat her to death and burned her body in an attempt to conceal his crime. For generations, the bizarre tale has claimed that the disembodied spirit of a woman in white wanders the road along Ocean Street Extension toward the cemetery, seeking vengeance in her wake. But is that really where the story began? The story of Santa Cruz's White Lady that most people are familiar with may be, at best, a tall tale. However, it might have actual roots in teenage love, the old powder works, and a tragic young woman whose life ended far too soon. While researching the old gunpowder manufacturer formerly known as the California Powder Works, near the area now associated with Paradise Park, Santa Cruz Ghost Hunters learned that residents in the area have also reported seeing what appears to be a woman in white wandering through the woods. Through historical research, we discovered the story of the prominent Rountree family, a family with ties to the area and a daughter whose life ended in a series of tragedies. Her name was Myrtle Rountree. The Tragedy of Myrtle RountreeAccording to a Santa Cruz newspaper account from August 1913, Thomas Rountree took his wife, children, and family friends, the Scott family, to the area near the Hercules Powder Company's plant along the San Lorenzo River for an afternoon picnic. What started as a carefree day of family fun in the August sun quickly turned into a nightmare. While the families were eating lunch near the powder works, thirteen-year-old Alonzo Scott obtained a match and, not knowing what the substance was, threw it into a pile of material he believed to be asbestos. It wasn't asbestos. The pile contained gun cotton, an extremely volatile and highly flammable substance. The material ignited. In an instant, the peaceful picnic erupted into flames. Thomas Rountree, members of his family, and members of the Scott family were badly burned. The newspaper described their injuries as severe, with clothing almost completely burned from some of the victims. Among those injured was fifteen-year-old Myrtle Rountree, whose burns extended across her face and back. The accident left a lasting scar on the young girl. But Myrtle survived. And somehow, despite the tragedy, she continued with her life. Myrtle eventually married Everett Whitesell, her sweetheart since childhood. The newspaper described them as having been sweethearts since they were children, and their marriage was apparently a happy one. But their happiness would last only two months. A Bride of Two MonthsIn August 1913, the Santa Cruz newspapers carried the heartbreaking announcement: “BRIDE OF TWO MONTHS CALLED TO LAST REST.” Myrtle Rountree Whitesell had died at only nineteen years of age. Her death was not from the terrible burns she had suffered as a teenager. Instead, after being married for just two months, Myrtle became seriously ill. The newspaper reported that she had suffered for several weeks from tuberculosis, or what was then commonly called consumption. Her young husband, Everett Whitesell, was left devastated. The newspaper described Myrtle as one of the most popular young women in Santa Cruz. She had been born in Felton nineteen years earlier and attended school there before continuing her education in Santa Cruz, where she graduated from high school. She was remembered as musically talented, possessing a beautiful voice that had charmed audiences in Santa Cruz for years. She was a young woman with a future ahead of her. A newlywed. A daughter. A sister. A childhood sweetheart who had finally married the man she loved. And then, only two months into her marriage, she was gone. Her funeral was held at the Pacific Coast undertaking parlors, with surviving members of her family in attendance. But where Myrtle was ultimately laid to rest remains a mystery. Although members of the Rountree family were buried in the Santa Cruz County area, we have yet to uncover the final resting place of young Myrtle Rountree Whitesell. And perhaps that is where the story becomes something more. Could Myrtle Be the White Lady?The old legend speaks of a young woman in white who wanders the road toward the cemetery. A woman who died tragically. A woman who never had the opportunity to grow old. A woman whose life was cut short. The traditional story tells us of an abused bride murdered by her husband. But the historical record gives us another young bride--Myrtle Rountree—who suffered a terrible accident as a teenager, survived burns that nearly destroyed her, found love with her childhood sweetheart, married him, and then died only two months later at the age of nineteen. And there is one other haunting detail. We do not know where Myrtle was buried. If Myrtle is our White Lady, perhaps she wanders to and from the places connected to the memories of her short life. Perhaps she returns to the old powder works where she suffered one of the most horrific moments of her youth. Perhaps she walks the road searching for her childhood sweetheart, the husband she barely had time to know as a married woman. Or perhaps she wanders toward the cemetery, searching for a place among the headstones—a place where she has no name. In the paranormal world, we recognize that places and people can sometimes leave behind what feels like an imprint—a memory of moments that were happy and loved, or moments marked by tragedy. Perhaps Myrtle's story is simply a tragic coincidence. Perhaps the White Lady is nothing more than a legend that has survived generations. Or perhaps a young woman whose life ended far too soon is still searching for the place where she belongs. If Myrtle is our White Lady, perhaps she never truly left. 
Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit clean this up keep my voice and use the information from news paper clips to help recreate the story: Absolutely. I’ll clean it up without changing your voice, keeping the eerie, historical storytelling style, and I’ll use the newspaper clips as the historical backbone rather than adding unsupported details. I found the existing Whitey material and the local historical reference to the Schwan Lagoon hobo jungle and the Sheriff Enoch “Noch” Alzina / “Kid” McCoy encounter. Send me the story/text and the newspaper clips you want me to work from, and I’ll put it together as one polished narrative.
Local lore begins with a fantastical tale derived from the 1870's regarding a young mail order bride from Massachusetts. Her arranged marriage was to a local drunkard, who allegedly forced her to traipse about the house each night in her wedding dress while he blatantly beat and demoralized her, for nothing more than his own depraved amusement. The story contends that the young bride sought to escape her abusive husband; however he grew wise of her disobedience and beat her to death before burning the body in an attempt to hide his evil deed. For generations to come, the bizarre tale asserts that the disembodied spirit of a woman in white wanders the road of the Ocean Street Extension toward the cemetery seeking vengeance in her wake. **This story of Santa Cruz’s White Lady **that most are familiar with is at best a tall tale. However, it might have actual roots in teenage love, stone masons and Prohibition-era bootlegging. While researching the old gunpowder manufacturer formerly known as the California Powder Works mill, currently referred to as Paradise Park; which is near the locations of the reported apparitions, Santa Cruz Ghost Hunters, learned that the many residents of this location have also seen what appears to be a woman in white wandering the woods. Through research we were able to learn about the prominent Rountree family (namesake for the county jail called the Rountree Medium Facility). Who had ties to the area in question and a daughter who died leaving a tragically sad tale. Her name was Myrtle Rountree, According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, and an article dating back to August of 1913, Thomas Rountree, an employee of the gunpowder refinery and father to young Ms. Myrtle, brought his wife, children and family friends the Scotts, to the Powder Work Mill Village, beside the adjoining riverbed of the San Lorenzo River, for an afternoon picnic like he had done many times before. What started as a carefree day of fun in the hot August sun, with children playing and men and women engaged in jovial conversation, quickly turned into a nightmare that would scar them forever. While eating lunch on the bank, thirteen - year - old Alonzo Scott ignited a match and threw it in to a pile of what was initially thought to be asbestos; however, the debris-filled pile was actually filled with gun cotton, a highly flammable nitro. The picnickers, were all badly burned, but none as severe as 15 year old Myrtle - who's burns extended from her face and back, her clothes nearly entirely burned from her body. Myrtle survived her injuries, and later married her childhood sweetheart - however, sadly within two months of the marriage, Myrtle developed tuberculosis and died at the age of 19. Although historical news articles reflect Myrtle did have a funeral, further records do not reveal where Myrtle Rountree, was buried in the Santa Cruz area - while some of her family members rest at the Felton Cemetery, we have yet to uncover the last resting place of the young girl. Perhaps if our White Lady is Myrtle, she maybe still searching for her loved ones. “In the paranormal world, we recognize that past lives may leave an imprint, much like a memory, of times that may have been happy and loved or times that may have endured tragedy,” If Myrtle is our "White Lady" then she likely wanders to and from some of her favorite and yet tragic memories with her family near the mill, she wanders down the road to find her childhood love, or perhaps she wanders to the cemetery trying to find her place amongst the headstones, a place where she has no name,... Absolutely. The newspaper clippings actually make Myrtle's story much stronger, because they give us a documented tragedy behind the later White Lady legend. I would also separate the legend of the abused mail-order bride from the historical Myrtle Rountree story, so readers understand that these are two different versions of the story. Here is the cleaned-up version, keeping your voice and haunted tone: The White LadyThe White Lady is a type of female ghost found in legends throughout the world. She is usually the spirit of a woman who died young, died accidentally or unexpectedly, or suffered a tragic loss. Common stories tell of a woman who lost or was betrayed by her husband, fiancé, or lover. Other legends describe a mother who lost her children, a young bride who died before her life was finished, or a woman who was murdered. The White Lady is often seen wearing a white dress or gown, appearing near roads, bridges, rivers, old homes, or the place where her tragedy occurred. She may be searching for someone she lost, mourning her children, or repeating the circumstances surrounding her death. One of the best-known related legends is La Llorona, the Weeping Woman. According to the most familiar version, she lost her husband and, overcome with grief and anger, drowned her three children in a river. Afterward, she was condemned to wander, crying and searching for them. Although White Lady legends differ throughout the world, the central theme remains the same: A woman died before her life was finished, and her grief was too great to leave behind. Similar stories have circulated in Santa Cruz County of a lady in white who wanders the Ocean Street Extension road toward the cemetery, seeking vengeance in her wake. Dating back to the early 1960s, tales of the White Lady circulated among teenagers sneaking out for late-night parties in an old abandoned building. Many swore they had seen the ghostly image of a young woman in white wandering through the abandoned building and walking toward the cemetery late at night. Local lore begins with a fantastical tale said to date back to the 1870s, regarding a young mail-order bride from Massachusetts. Her arranged marriage was to a local drunkard who allegedly forced her to walk about the house each night in her wedding dress while he beat and humiliated her for his own amusement. According to the legend, the young bride eventually attempted to escape her abusive husband. When he discovered her disobedience, he allegedly beat her to death and burned her body in an attempt to conceal his crime. For generations, the bizarre tale has claimed that the disembodied spirit of a woman in white wanders the road along Ocean Street Extension toward the cemetery, seeking vengeance in her wake. But is that really where the story began? The story of Santa Cruz's White Lady that most people are familiar with may be, at best, a tall tale. However, it might have actual roots in teenage love, the old powder works, and a tragic young woman whose life ended far too soon. While researching the old gunpowder manufacturer formerly known as the California Powder Works, near the area now associated with Paradise Park, Santa Cruz Ghost Hunters learned that residents in the area have also reported seeing what appears to be a woman in white wandering through the woods. Through historical research, we discovered the story of the prominent Rountree family, a family with ties to the area and a daughter whose life ended in a series of tragedies. Her name was Myrtle Rountree. The Tragedy of Myrtle RountreeAccording to a Santa Cruz newspaper account from August 1913, Thomas Rountree took his wife, children, and family friends, the Scott family, to the area near the Hercules Powder Company's plant along the San Lorenzo River for an afternoon picnic. What started as a carefree day of family fun in the August sun quickly turned into a nightmare. While the families were eating lunch near the powder works, thirteen-year-old Alonzo Scott obtained a match and, not knowing what the substance was, threw it into a pile of material he believed to be asbestos. It wasn't asbestos. The pile contained gun cotton, an extremely volatile and highly flammable substance. The material ignited. In an instant, the peaceful picnic erupted into flames. Thomas Rountree, members of his family, and members of the Scott family were badly burned. The newspaper described their injuries as severe, with clothing almost completely burned from some of the victims. Among those injured was fifteen-year-old Myrtle Rountree, whose burns extended across her face and back. The accident left a lasting scar on the young girl. But Myrtle survived. And somehow, despite the tragedy, she continued with her life. Myrtle eventually married Everett Whitesell, her sweetheart since childhood. The newspaper described them as having been sweethearts since they were children, and their marriage was apparently a happy one. But their happiness would last only two months. A Bride of Two MonthsIn August 1913, the Santa Cruz newspapers carried the heartbreaking announcement: “BRIDE OF TWO MONTHS CALLED TO LAST REST.” Myrtle Rountree Whitesell had died at only nineteen years of age. Her death was not from the terrible burns she had suffered as a teenager. Instead, after being married for just two months, Myrtle became seriously ill. The newspaper reported that she had suffered for several weeks from tuberculosis, or what was then commonly called consumption. Her young husband, Everett Whitesell, was left devastated. The newspaper described Myrtle as one of the most popular young women in Santa Cruz. She had been born in Felton nineteen years earlier and attended school there before continuing her education in Santa Cruz, where she graduated from high school. She was remembered as musically talented, possessing a beautiful voice that had charmed audiences in Santa Cruz for years. She was a young woman with a future ahead of her. A newlywed. A daughter. A sister. A childhood sweetheart who had finally married the man she loved. And then, only two months into her marriage, she was gone. Her funeral was held at the Pacific Coast undertaking parlors, with surviving members of her family in attendance. But where Myrtle was ultimately laid to rest remains a mystery. Although members of the Rountree family were buried in the Santa Cruz County area, we have yet to uncover the final resting place of young Myrtle Rountree Whitesell. And perhaps that is where the story becomes something more. Could Myrtle Be the White Lady?The old legend speaks of a young woman in white who wanders the road toward the cemetery. A woman who died tragically. A woman who never had the opportunity to grow old. A woman whose life was cut short. The traditional story tells us of an abused bride murdered by her husband. But the historical record gives us another young bride--Myrtle Rountree—who suffered a terrible accident as a teenager, survived burns that nearly destroyed her, found love with her childhood sweetheart, married him, and then died only two months later at the age of nineteen. And there is one other haunting detail. We do not know where Myrtle was buried. If Myrtle is our White Lady, perhaps she wanders to and from the places connected to the memories of her short life. Perhaps she returns to the old powder works where she suffered one of the most horrific moments of her youth. Perhaps she walks the road searching for her childhood sweetheart, the husband she barely had time to know as a married woman. Or perhaps she wanders toward the cemetery, searching for a place among the headstones—a place where she has no name. In the paranormal world, we recognize that places and people can sometimes leave behind what feels like an imprint—a memory of moments that were happy and loved, or moments marked by tragedy. Perhaps Myrtle's story is simply a tragic coincidence. Perhaps the White Lady is nothing more than a legend that has survived generations. Or perhaps a young woman whose life ended far too soon is still searching for the place where she belongs. If Myrtle is our White Lady, perhaps she never truly left. |
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