There is a stunning river canyon, breathtaking vistas, sandstone cliffs, sparkling streams, and a deep forest that is home to a vast diversity of flora and fauna in Beaver Creek State Park, which is located in Columbiana County. This park is a wilderness escape. Visitors can explore various hiking trails that cater to all skill levels, allowing them to immerse themselves in the natural beauty and tranquility of the area. Whether one is seeking a peaceful retreat or an adventurous outing, Beaver Creek State Park offers an unforgettable experience.

The locals' stories add interest to a stroll through the woods of Beaver Creek State Park. Imagination brings the ghost town of Sprucevale to life; the canals abandoned this small settlement. The remains of Hambleton's Mill are the only remnants of Sprucevale that have been maintained. These remnants serve as a poignant reminder of the area's rich history and its once-thriving community. Visitors can explore the mill’s structure, gaining insight into the hard work that shaped this region, while also enjoying guided tours that reveal intriguing tales of the past.

There were four Quaker brothers named Charles, James, Isaac, and Benjamin Hambleton who purchased more than 300 acres of land along Beaver Creek in the year 1813. In the latter part of that year, James Hambleton built a grist mill that he named Hambleton's Mill. In the course of its operation, the water was directed beneath the mill by means of two stone arches that were located on either end of the structure. These arches served a practical purpose and added an aesthetic quality to the mill, blending functionality with beauty in the landscape. As the years passed, Hambleton's Mill became a central hub for the community, where local farmers would gather to grind their grain and exchange news.

Sprucevale, a tiny village near the mill, started to flourish. A total of twelve dwellings, a post office, a wool factory, a general store, Hambleton's Mill, and a locksmith business were all residents of Sprucevale at the height of its prosperity. The mill's business began to diminish alongside the gradual deterioration and eventual closure of the Sandy and Beaver Canals, ultimately leading to the mill's permanent shutdown. Not only was the entire town of Sprucevale abandoned in 1870, but it was also abandoned permanently. The once-thriving community, filled with bustling activity and vibrant life, now stood silent, its buildings succumbing to the encroaching nature that reclaimed the land. Over time, the remnants of Sprucevale became a haunting reminder of its past, with only whispers of its former glory echoing through the little village.

There are several ghost stories that continue to circulate around the deserted town of Sprucevale, with the story of Esther Hale being one of the more well-known tales. On Esther's wedding day, her fiancé left her at the altar without providing any further explanation. In a short timeframe following that, she passed away, never having removed her wedding dress. Rumors suggest her presence near Hambleton's Mill and the Little Beaver Creek bridge. Some say that on foggy nights, you can still see her wandering in her tattered gown, searching for the love that abandoned her. Locals claim to hear whispers of her name carried by the wind, a haunting reminder of a love forever lost.

There are several legends and folklore about this location. Some of the most famous and told are those of Esther Hale, Gretchen Gill of Gretchen’s Lock, and the ghost of Pretty Boy Floyd. But there are others that were shared as well. Let’s look at all of these in a little bit more detail.

Gretchen Gill: There are reports that the spirit of Gretchen Gill from Gretchen's Lock occasionally visits Sprucevale. Gretchin was believed to have died from malaria during the construction of the canal system, and her father put her casket into one of the locks until they were ready to sail back to their homeland at the end of her father's work. People report seeing her spirit walking along the lock, sitting there in tears, and asking visitors if they have seen her mother.

Pretty Boy Floyd: It is reported that the spirit of Pretty Boy Floyd has been seen around the area of Sprucevalle and in the parking lots for the group camping site. They captured and killed him about a mile away from the Sprucevale site, but he remains within the boundaries of Beaver Creek State Park.

Esther Hale: As with most folklore, there are at least two different versions that exist. The story of Esther Hale is no different. Esther was said to be a beautiful young woman who was to be wed on August 12. She got all dressed up in her wedding gown, made her wedding cake, and decorated her cabin with wedding flowers. At 10 a.m., the time her nuptials should have begun, friends, family, and the minister showed up at her cabin for the service. The main issue was that there was no groom. They waited until half past twelve, and as people began to leave, someone went to the groom's cabin to see if he was alright. Their report to Esther showed that the cabin was empty, the stove was cold, and the groom was missing. Esther was devastated. So much so, she never took off her gown. She shut the drapes of her cabin and never came out. Her friends tried to get her to leave, eat, and drink. In December of that year, a neighbor noticed her door was open. They went inside the cabin. Snow was blown throughout, the wedding cake was still on the counter all rotten, the wedding flowers all wilted, and there was Esther sitting in a chair in her old tattlered wedding gown, who appeared to have died some time ago. Another version states that she left her cabin in December of that year and hung herself in the mill. It is said that her spirit comes back on August 12 and haunts drivers going across the Little Beaver Creek bridge. In December, people have also reported seeing her roaming around the mill.

Lucy Cobb, also known as the mushroom woman, was said to be unattractive. She would bring vegetables from her garden into town and sell or share them with the villagers of Sprucevale. There was one gentleman that she took kindly too, and she would always make a point to go to him first so that he could have a pick of the vegetables. Then, before she would leave town to head home, she would stop again to see if he had any requests. Over time, Lucy thought that the gentleman was starting to like her as well. She came into town one morning and went to her house as normal and found that he was sitting on his porch with another young woman. The man introduced the woman to Lucy as his fiance. Lucy was completely crushed by this news, but she calmly kept her feelings to herself. She invited the couple to come to her house that night for dinner so that they could celebrate their recent engagement. That night, Lucy delved deep into her stock of poisoned mushrooms and used them to make her “special” sauce. She served the poisoned mushroom gravy to the couple, and they passed away. She then burried them both in her garden. It is said that her spirit and the spirits of the couple haunt Sprucevalle. Lucy can be seen walking around carrying a basket of vegetables, offering them to visitors, and the couple can be observed appearing to be covered in dirt and some kind of black liquid coming out of their mouth.

Little David: The old blacksmith of the town caught young David stealing from him one night. Since this was a lawless village at the time, the blacksmith took the law into his hands to punish young David by hanging him from the rafters inside his blacksmith shop. The spirit of young David was known to haunt the last house that stood in Sprucevalle that was torn down in 2007. Some people hold the belief that he continues to roam the grounds and even appears on EVP recordings.

Jake the Night Watchman: Jake is thought to be a friendly spirit in Sprucevale. It is said that he was working late one night when a severe storm came up. Lightning struck him, causing him to fall into the river at lock number 41 and drown. On dark, stormy nights, people have claimed to see an old man with a white beard, an old pioneer hat, and a lantern walking around the ruins of the lock. There are even reports of a lantern glowing in the water by the lock. If you go close to the apparition of Jake while he is working, he gives you a warning not to get too close to the rushing waters of the river.