In Paulding County, the scariest thing about Halloween isn’t always the children’s costumes. Members of the Paulding Paranormal Society say they can attest to that.

This year, the society visited the old White Oak Cemetery, where founder Chris Allen said there have been several reports of strange occurrences.

“There is an old local legend of it being haunted and having satanic sacrifices happening there,” he said.

There is also a legend, member Billy Engler said, of a witch buried in the cemetery, which makes it the perfect spot to visit during Halloween.

“It’s very old folklore that many natives to the area know about,” he said. “We have done research on the place and haven’t found any evidence a witch is buried there and in my personal opinion I think it’s a false claim because it’s a Christian cemetery.”

Through the years, member Michelle Jeanneret said, many bodies have been moved from the cemetery, but there are still more than 100 there.

“We don’t know who is here,” she said. “There are only a couple of tombstones out here. We think it used to belong to a church that was once located out there, but there are no deed records of anyone owning the land currently. We have found proof of a church out there, but the old clerk’s office where those records would have been kept burnt down.”

The history of the cemetery seems normal, she said, but on a visit last year the society found some paranormal activity.

“We came here last year and discovered it’s pretty active, so it’s been a hot spot for us ever since and we try to come out here at least once a month,” she said.

Among the happenings, Engler said, have been voices and a spirit they believe is named Annabelle.

All agree, Engler said, that a trip to the cemetery creates a Halloween experience few will ever forget.

“White Oak is a pretty intense place,” he said.