Haunting at LaBelle Cemetery

*The original cemetery was established May 15, 1851 by the Oconomowoc Cemetery Association. This first cemetery, called Oconomowoc Cemetery was along Walnut Street between Wisconsin Avenue and the Norwegian Bridge in what is now a residential and commercial area. Burials were made there until 1864, when it was decided that a larger area would be required for the cemetery. A new site was selected and named La Belle Cemetery. All of the owners of lots in Oconomowoc Cemetery were given lots in the new cemetery in exchange and the bodies were relocated to La Belle Cemetery. The old cemetery was sold in January, 1865.

Since the relocation to La Belle Cemetery, there have been many reported ghost sightings, the most popular of them being a young girl who steps down from her tombstone to drown herself in the lake. This statue is very popular with the local ghost tales surrounding the very old cemetery. Not only has she been spotted drowning herself in lake, but there have been claims that they have seen her hands bleed [stigmata] and that if you ask to be judged she will judge you pretty harshly, making you go blind if you are a bad person.

Many people visit the statue and they believe the eyes stare at them and fallow as they walk away. I did notice that the way the statue is carved that she does appear to look at you and the eyes do seem to fallow you, but I do not feel that this is supernatural in anyway. People leave coins n her hands.. and i did see many coins in her hands when we went. I did not witness her walking into the lake or stigmata of any kind. I didn't even see traces of blood if she had ever had one.

The cemetery is a very beautiful and old cemetery with many interesting tombstones to see, even if I doubt that these ghost sightings ever happened I did enjoy the cemetery and the tale.

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The photos of the statue.





*Taken from Links To The Past