Bones found inside Aspen Manor
By WARREN SCOTT, Staff writerWELLSBURG - The Brooke County Sheriff's Department is investigating the discovery of bones said to be found in a wall at a former assisted living facility that once served as a summer home to a wealthy industrialist.
Gene Valentine, owner of Aspen Manor, confirmed skeletal remains were found in a basement wall there but said he has been away and had little information about the discovery. He noted he didn't know if the remains were human bones.
The bones have been sent to the state for investigation.
A group known as the Brooke County Paranormal Society has reported, through its Web site, being involved in the discovery during a visit to the business Friday night. On its Web site, the group reports on visits to local cemeteries and other sites in search of paranormal activity.
Located off Brinker Road and above Wellsburg's east side, the 76,000-square-foot mansion was built in 1896 as a summer mansion by Joseph Vandergrift in 1896.
There have been unconfirmed stories over the years that Vandergrift's wife and son committed suicide, on separate occasions, at the home.
It was used as a home for retired clergy by the Knights of St. George for many years.
In more recent years part of it was used as an assisted living facility, first by the Catholic Knights of America, a fraternal benefits society, and more recently, Valentine.
In an interview earlier this year, Valentine said he invested $1.5 million in renovations to the building and adjacent facilities but was unable to recover financial losses assumed by the Catholic Knights of America and under his own management.
He announced plans to reopen it as a budget hotel and bread and breakfast.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.
