Ghost of Hugh Hamblen and His Phantom Model-T - Kingsport , Tennessee

There is a notorious stretch of road in northeastern Tennessee called Netherland Inn Road.  It is known to become enveloped in fog very easily as it lies along the Holston River waterfront.  Back in 1922, five boys were in a serious accident caused by the fog.  Several of the boys died, but the others were in critical condition and hospitalized.  One of those boys was the son of Hugh Hamblen. The others had eventually passed away, but Hamblen seemed to be improving.

Hugh Hamblen was visiting his son in the hospital and upon returning to his car, discovered that the infamous Holston River fog had set in.  He was walking across Netherland Inn Road to his Model-T Ford when a car approached out of the fog.  Hugh frantically tried to flag the car down to prevent from being struck, but his efforts were to no avail.  The driver did not see Hamblen or his car and he was struck and killed instantly.  Hugh Hamblen made the ultimate sacrifice as the notorious road claimed his life instead of the life of his son.

One of the early model-T cars produced by Henry Ford

Over the years, there have been well over one hundred people who have been driving along that stretch of Netherland Inn Road and claimed to have seen a man in a fedora, trench coat, and wearing a scarf frantically waving at them in the fog.  Only to disappear as they approached.  This is the same clothing that Hugh Hamblen was wearing that night way back in 1922 when he was killed! 

Henry and the Model-T

Sometimes, people traveling along the Netherland Inn Road have also insisted that they saw a Model-T Ford along the road in the dense fog.  Many report that car appeared wrecked or smashed, others have reported that it was intact. There are occasions when some have claimed that they have seen both Hamblen and the Model-T as he was standing next to it, waving away to warn of the fog!

Back to top of story

American Ghosts and Hauntings Index by Region Page