“After the storm, something strange was discovered: a silhouette of the girl’s face appeared, etched into the glass of the window near where she died”

Beside Maple Grove Cemetery stands a white house built in 1870, known locally as the Sexton House. Originally home to the cemetery’s caretaker, the house has earned a reputation far beyond its appearance—thanks to one mysterious window.

According to local legend, a young girl once lived in the house in the late 1800s. She was said to be romantically involved with none other than Jesse James—the infamous outlaw who robbed the Southern Bank of Kentucky in Russellville in 1868. When her parents forbade her from attending a local dance with Jesse, she became furious. While bathing near a window, she allegedly cursed God in anger. At that very moment, a bolt of lightning struck the house—killing her instantly.

After the storm, something strange was discovered: a silhouette of the girl’s face appeared, etched into the glass of the window near where she died. Not a detailed face—more like a soft outline or shadowy impression. But it was unmistakably human. It captured people’s imaginations and quickly became a local curiosity.

Looking at the window today, the silhouette appears to be the profile of a young woman. Her head is slightly tilted downward, and though subtle, her features—her nose, lips, and chin—are distinct enough to give the eerie impression of a frozen moment in time. The shape of her hair or bonnet suggests a 19th-century style, adding to the unsettling historical feel of the legend. Some believe it’s a natural effect caused by weathering or a chemical reaction in the glass, while others swear it’s something far more supernatural.

In 1920, to stop the growing number of visitors hoping to catch a glimpse, the window was painted over. But that didn’t stop the story. Locals claimed that during storms—especially when lightning flashed—the silhouette would still appear through the paint. Eventually, the window was boarded up completely.

Today, those boards have been removed. The window is once again visible, weathered by time but still intact. And yes—you can still see the silhouette.

We last drove by the house in 2023.  It’s still there, holding onto its legend at 515 W 9th St, Russellville, KY.