Nestled in a forest near the town of Bolton in Columbus County, North Carolina there is a simple headstone marking the grave of an immigrant who came to this country looking for a new start. Now, his ghost roams the area looking for something else…
Steve Rossin came to the area in the early part of last century. After arriving in Bolton, he began staying in the swamp, living in a mud and straw hut and surviving off the wildlife. While everyone who came in contact with Steve described him as polite and friendly, his habit of not showering and general lack of hygiene kept most people at bay.
Steve worked for the railroad when he first arrived. Later, as his command of the language improved, he began doing odd jobs around town for folks. This went on for sometime. Eventually, As he got older and his bones could no longer take the harse winter, he began to sleep by the boilers of the town mill to keep warm.
It was there that workers found his body one day. Steve Rossin, called ‘Steve Russian’ by the townspeople, had died in his sleep. A collection was taken up in the community for his burial.
It was a few years after Steve died that people began to report strange things happening around Steve’s grave. Knocks on doors when there isn’t anyone there, eerie noises coming from his grave, people feeling like someone is watching them. It’s said that Steve’s ghost wanders the forest looking for money he buried under a tree long ago. Since the paper company has cut down so many trees over the years, it’s thought that the landmarks Steve used in life are now gone so his ghost must keep searching for the money for eternity.
If you are ever going through the town of Bolton late at night on US 74 listen for North Carolina’s immigrant ghost as he searches for the wealth he accumulated in life.
