History Lesson: Spirits of the cider mill

BURRVILLE, New York (WWNY) - The Burrville Cider Mill is best known for its apples, doughnuts, waterfall — and ghosts.

“We’ve been here 28 years,” owner Cindy Steiner said. “The cider mill has been around since 1801. It started as a sawmill, a grist mill — it’s had many purposes.”

It apparently also serves as a gathering place for spirits.

“I’ve heard them, seen them, smelt them, felt them, Steiner said, “so they’re here. There’s more than one, several, according to local psychics.”

The most prominent one is Homer Rebb. He used to own the cider mill and never left.

“I’ve actually seen a ghost,” Steiner said. “It was a hot day in August when we first opened up and I was filling the cooler with cider. It felt like someone came into the room. I looked through the cooler doors and saw somebody standing there in heavy wool pants and work boots. I’ve also heard somebody in the attic, heard the press going when nobody’s there.”

The most famous story happened at an apple sorting table. A worker was alone when he noticed some oddly shaped scars on the apples in front of him.

“This one had a scar that looked like an ‘I’. The next one had a scar that looked like a ‘C’. The next one looked like a ‘U’ and the next one looked like this,” Steiner said, referring to a skull shape. She said the worker wore a sweatshirt every day that depicted the skull symbol of Marvel’s the Punisher.

It’s not just the workers who have had ghostly experiences. Customers say they’ve felt a tap on their shoulder, a twist of their hair, and have seen someone who wasn’t quite there.

“I’ve had people tell me the light in the attic will turn on when they’re talking to the ghosts,” Steiner said.

Throughout the year, many paranormal investigators and psychic mediums have confirmed the suspicions.

“They seem to be talking about several,” Steiner said. “And I said ‘how many do you think are here?’ She said ‘right now, about 14. But some are leaving and here come some more.’”

Despite the many spooky occurrences, the Steiner family says they welcome the ghosts. And they’re not afraid.

“Not at all,” Steiner said. “It’s actually comforting. I’ll come back.”

After all, if you were a ghost, wouldn’t you want to stay here, too?

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