Seven Gates of Hell: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Modern urban legend in York County, Pennsylvania}} |
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| ⚫ | The '''Seven Gates of Hell''' is a modern urban legend regarding locations in [[York County, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Downingtown Gates of Hell|url=http://www.weirdus.com/states/pennsylvania/local_legends/seven_gates_of_hell/|publisher=Weird US|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref> Two versions of the legend exist, one involving a burnt [[insane asylum]] and the other an eccentric doctor. Both agree that there are seven gates in a wooded area of [[Hellam Township, Pennsylvania]], and that anyone who passes through all seven goes straight to Hell. The location in question never housed an institution; the aforementioned doctor only constructed one gate, to keep out trespassers. Despite the popularity of this as a tourist destination, the property is privately held; visitors may be charged with trespassing as a result. |
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[[File:7GatesofHell.jpg|thumb|The gates on Toad Road, as they stand today]] |
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| ⚫ | The '''Seven Gates of Hell''' is a modern [[urban legend]] regarding locations in [[York County, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Downingtown Gates of Hell|url=http://www.weirdus.com/states/pennsylvania/local_legends/seven_gates_of_hell/|publisher=Weird US|accessdate=10 November 2013}}</ref> Two versions of the legend exist, one involving a burnt [[insane asylum]] and the other an eccentric doctor. Both agree that there are seven gates in a wooded area of [[Hellam Township, Pennsylvania]], and that anyone who passes through all seven goes straight to Hell. The location in question never housed an institution; the aforementioned doctor only constructed one gate, to keep out trespassers. Despite the popularity of this as a tourist destination, the property is privately held; visitors may be charged with trespassing as a result. |
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==Myth== |
==Myth== |
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There are two popular versions of the myth, each with numerous variations. One states that a mental institution used to be located on either Toad Road or Trout Run Road, depending on the source, in [[Hellam Township, Pennsylvania]]. It was erected in a remote location so as to isolate people deemed insane from the rest of the world. One day in the 1900s, a fire broke out and, due to its remoteness, firefighters could not reach the hospital in time to save it. Many patients died in the flames, while others escaped and were soon beaten to death.<ref name=PennDOT>{{cite news|first=Mike|last=Argento|title=The road to hell paved by PennDOT|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=10C059DF0A6ACF20&p_docnum=4&p_queryname=8|work=[[York Daily Record]]|publisher=[[NewsBank]]|date=August 15, 2005|accessdate=August 17, 2010}}</ref> |
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The gates' role in the story is disputed. Some say that the gates were put up by the local search party to trap the remaining inmates.<ref name=PennDOT/> Others say that, completely unrelated to the asylum story, an eccentric physician who lived on the property built several gates along a path deep into the forest.<ref name=Hellam>{{cite web|title=Seven Gates of Hell|url=http://www.hellamtownship.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B815447CA-49FB-4346-84E6-75D01939B2DF%7D|work=[[Hellam Township, Pennsylvania|Hellam Township]]|accessdate=August 17, 2010}}</ref> Both accounts agree on only one gate being visible during the day, but the other six can be seen at night. According to the legend, no one has ever passed the fifth gate, but if they passed all seven, they would go directly to [[Hell]].<ref name=PennDOT/><ref>{{cite book|last=Nesbitt|first=Mark|title=The Big Book of Pennsylvania Ghost Stories|year=2008|publisher=Stackpole Books|isbn= |
The gates' role in the story is disputed. Some say that the gates were put up by the local search party to trap the remaining inmates.<ref name=PennDOT/> Others say that, completely unrelated to the asylum story, an eccentric physician who lived on the property built several gates along a path deep into the forest.<ref name=Hellam>{{cite web|title=Seven Gates of Hell|url=http://www.hellamtownship.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B815447CA-49FB-4346-84E6-75D01939B2DF%7D|work=[[Hellam Township, Pennsylvania|Hellam Township]]|accessdate=August 17, 2010}}</ref> Both accounts agree on only one gate being visible during the day, but the other six can be seen at night. According to the legend, no one has ever passed the fifth gate, but if they passed all seven, they would go directly to [[Hell]].<ref name=PennDOT/><ref>{{cite book|last=Nesbitt|first=Mark|title=The Big Book of Pennsylvania Ghost Stories|year=2008|publisher=Stackpole Books|isbn=978-0811703642|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780811740173/page/137 137]-138|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780811740173|url-access=registration|quote=Seven Gates of Hell york.}}</ref> |
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==Reality== |
==Reality== |
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[[File:ToadRoadMap1945.jpg|thumb|Toad Road, pre-1945]] |
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In reality, there is no road called "Toad Road" in Hellam Township, but there is one named Trout Run Road.<ref>{{cite map|publisher=[[Google Maps]]|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Trout+Run+Rd,+York,+PA+17406&num=10&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&split=0&gl=us&ei=XTGTStmfDo61lAfQoIGYDA&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1 |
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In reality, there used to be a road in Hellam Township named Toad Road, however it was wiped off the map after [[Hurricane Agnes]] in 1972. Toad Road ran along the [[Codorus Creek]] and led to the [[Codorus Forge and Furnace Historic District|Codorus Furnace]]. Today, there are multiple gates on this property; which is privately owned. Trespassers can be arrested and prosecuted.<ref name="Hellam" /> The gates associated with this legend can be found alongside Range Road and end at the old intersection between Trout Run, Range and Toad Road. All can be seen day or night, contrary to what the legend says. The dense wooded area, known as Trout Run, contains the ruins of a [[Flint mining|flint mill]] (likely mistaken for a burnt-down asylum). |
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|title=Map of Trout Run Road, Hellam Township, PA 17406|cartography=[[Navteq]]|accessdate=August 17, 2010}}</ref> There was no asylum on Trout Run Road, and the local doctor only put up one gate to keep out trespassers. A related myth states that Hellam was named after Hell; this is untrue as well, as it is a corruption of Hallam, after [[Hallamshire]], England. The area purported to be the location of the seven gates is on private property and trespassers can be prosecuted.<ref name=Hellam/> |
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The only detail to back truth up to this myth would be the fact that Dr. Harold Belknap – a practitioner at [[West Side Sanitarium]] – lived along Toad Road. He was not eccentric, but actually kind-hearted. Belknap would often make threatening signs for any trespassers (most likely interested in the legend) with [[toad]]-related humor written on them – which was how the road got its name.<ref>{{Cite book|last=RENNER|first=TIMOTHY|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1253474808|title=BEYOND THE SEVENTH GATE : exploring toad road, the seven gates of hell, and other strangeness in... york, lancaster, and adams counties.|date=2016|publisher=CREATESPACE INDEPENDENT P|isbn=978-1-5353-8333-2|location=[S.l.]|oclc=1253474808}}</ref> A related myth states that Hellam was named after Hell; this is untrue as well, as it is a corruption of Hallam, after [[Hallamshire]], England. |
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==Notoriety== |
==Notoriety== |
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The Seven Gates of Hell have received a fair amount of attention. [[Mike Argento]] wrote about it in the ''[[York Daily Record]]'', and Matt Lake featured a section on the gates in his book, ''Weird Pennsylvania''.<ref name=PennDOT/><ref>Matt Lake, [https://books.google.com/books?id=bfaultPxl18C |
The Seven Gates of Hell have received a fair amount of attention. [[Mike Argento]] wrote about it in the ''[[York Daily Record]]'', and Matt Lake featured a section on the gates in his book, ''Weird Pennsylvania''.<ref name=PennDOT/><ref>Matt Lake, [https://books.google.com/books?id=bfaultPxl18C&q=hell Weird Pennsylvania: Your Travel Guide to Pennsylvania's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets], Sterling Publishing, 2009, {{ISBN|1-4027-6686-6}}; p. 20</ref> Hellam Township published a page debunking the myths.<ref name=Hellam/> Local resident Cheryl Englar reported a number of tourists searching for the gates, some harassing her and giving her cause to call the police.<ref>{{cite news|first=Mike|last=Argento|title=Backyard hell not fun for residents|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/ydr/access/975579091.html?dids=975579091:975579091&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+22%2C+2005&author=MIKE+ARGENTO&pub=York+Daily+Record&desc=Backyard+hell%27+not+fun+for+residents&pqatl=google|work=[[York Daily Record]]|date=September 22, 2005|accessdate=August 17, 2010}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> |
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==In media== |
==In media== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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{{Urban legends}} |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.hauntedusa.org/yorksevengates.htm Seven Gates of Hell], www.hauntedusa.org |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Seven Gates Of Hell}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Seven Gates Of Hell}} |
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[[Category:7 (number)]] |
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[[Category:Urban legends]] |
[[Category:Urban legends]] |
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[[Category:York County, Pennsylvania]] |
[[Category:York County, Pennsylvania]] |
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[[Category:Hell]] |
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Latest revision as of 22:01, 21 September 2024
40°02′23″N 76°39′42″W / 40.039671°N 76.661692°W
The Seven Gates of Hell is a modern urban legend regarding locations in York County, Pennsylvania.[1] Two versions of the legend exist, one involving a burnt insane asylum and the other an eccentric doctor. Both agree that there are seven gates in a wooded area of Hellam Township, Pennsylvania, and that anyone who passes through all seven goes straight to Hell. The location in question never housed an institution; the aforementioned doctor only constructed one gate, to keep out trespassers. Despite the popularity of this as a tourist destination, the property is privately held; visitors may be charged with trespassing as a result.
Myth
[edit]There are two popular versions of the myth, each with numerous variations. One states that a mental institution used to be located on either Toad Road or Trout Run Road, depending on the source, in Hellam Township, Pennsylvania. It was erected in a remote location so as to isolate people deemed insane from the rest of the world. One day in the 1900s, a fire broke out and, due to its remoteness, firefighters could not reach the hospital in time to save it. Many patients died in the flames, while others escaped and were soon beaten to death.[2]
The gates' role in the story is disputed. Some say that the gates were put up by the local search party to trap the remaining inmates.[2] Others say that, completely unrelated to the asylum story, an eccentric physician who lived on the property built several gates along a path deep into the forest.[3] Both accounts agree on only one gate being visible during the day, but the other six can be seen at night. According to the legend, no one has ever passed the fifth gate, but if they passed all seven, they would go directly to Hell.[2][4]
Reality
[edit]
In reality, there used to be a road in Hellam Township named Toad Road, however it was wiped off the map after Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Toad Road ran along the Codorus Creek and led to the Codorus Furnace. Today, there are multiple gates on this property; which is privately owned. Trespassers can be arrested and prosecuted.[3] The gates associated with this legend can be found alongside Range Road and end at the old intersection between Trout Run, Range and Toad Road. All can be seen day or night, contrary to what the legend says. The dense wooded area, known as Trout Run, contains the ruins of a flint mill (likely mistaken for a burnt-down asylum).
The only detail to back truth up to this myth would be the fact that Dr. Harold Belknap – a practitioner at West Side Sanitarium – lived along Toad Road. He was not eccentric, but actually kind-hearted. Belknap would often make threatening signs for any trespassers (most likely interested in the legend) with toad-related humor written on them – which was how the road got its name.[5] A related myth states that Hellam was named after Hell; this is untrue as well, as it is a corruption of Hallam, after Hallamshire, England.
Notoriety
[edit]The Seven Gates of Hell have received a fair amount of attention. Mike Argento wrote about it in the York Daily Record, and Matt Lake featured a section on the gates in his book, Weird Pennsylvania.[2][6] Hellam Township published a page debunking the myths.[3] Local resident Cheryl Englar reported a number of tourists searching for the gates, some harassing her and giving her cause to call the police.[7]
In media
[edit]Toad Road, a 2012 independent psychological horror film, makes use of the legend.
References
[edit]- ^ "The Downingtown Gates of Hell". Weird US. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
- ^ a b c d Argento, Mike (August 15, 2005). "The road to hell paved by PennDOT". York Daily Record. NewsBank. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Seven Gates of Hell". Hellam Township. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
- ^ Nesbitt, Mark (2008). The Big Book of Pennsylvania Ghost Stories. Stackpole Books. pp. 137-138. ISBN 978-0811703642.
Seven Gates of Hell york.
- ^ RENNER, TIMOTHY (2016). BEYOND THE SEVENTH GATE : exploring toad road, the seven gates of hell, and other strangeness in... york, lancaster, and adams counties. [S.l.]: CREATESPACE INDEPENDENT P. ISBN 978-1-5353-8333-2. OCLC 1253474808.
- ^ Matt Lake, Weird Pennsylvania: Your Travel Guide to Pennsylvania's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets, Sterling Publishing, 2009, ISBN 1-4027-6686-6; p. 20
- ^ Argento, Mike (September 22, 2005). "Backyard hell not fun for residents". York Daily Record. Retrieved August 17, 2010.[dead link]
