While there are many stories without a known origin, like the tale of Bloody Mary, The Hook, or even the well known tales of the creature Slenderman, one known legend claims local Koppel Pa it’s origin. The Green Man, also known as Charlie No Face, comes from a place just miles outside of Ellwood City.
As these stories get passed down from generation to generation, multiple versions come about. One known version of the story goes that teenagers in Koppel used to drive into a tunnel, turn off their lights, and call out to the “Green Man” who would appear from the darkness, his skin tinged green from a tragic electrical accident. If he touched your car, the electrical charge from his body would either stall the vehicle or make it difficult for it to start. Another version is the simple fact that if you go driving down a certain road, you’ll still be able to see the “glowing green skin” of Charlie No Face. He’s the main character in the tale of a glowing green man who lives in a tunnel originally built in 1924. The tunnel is known as the Piney Fork Tunnel that was built to service coal mines along the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Peters Creek Branch. It was later abandoned and soon became known as “The Green Man Tunnel.”
Charlie No Face or the Greenman is actually a person. Not just a story character, not just a myth or a legend told to scare little kids.
These stories are actually about a man named Raymond “Ray” Robinson, who lived in Koppel, Pa.
Robinson was only nine-years old when he was injured by an electrical line on the Morado Bridge, outside of Beaver Falls. However, less than a year before, the same line had killed another boy.Robinson, much to the surprise of the doctors, survived his injuries. He didn’t leave the accident completely unscathed though. Robinson had been severely disfigured: losing his eyes, nose, and right arm.
During the day, he refused to leave his home, in fear of what the locals may say or do. Robinson decided to spend his days making doormats, wallets, and belts to sell with his relatives. At night, he would roam. He would go on long walks on the undisturbed stretch of State Route 351, using a walking stick to feel his way. His efforts to stay hidden never truly were successful Groups of locals would go out in search of Robinson at night during these walks, just to get a glimpse of his deformities.
Robinson was know for usually hiding from the curious neighbors, but sometimes, if you were lucky, he would exchange a picture or hold a short conversation in exchange for a beer or cigarette.
Some people who approached him were friendly, others were cruel. While on his strolls, Robinson had been hit on multiple occasions by a car, but none of this discouraged him from his nightly walks. His late night walks only stopping when he was in the last years of his life, and when he then later retired to the Beaver County Geriatric Center. Robinson would then pass away there at the age of 74 during the year of 1985.
Raymond lives on however, but as a legend, as myth, and as a story told by the older generations.
Picture credits to Wikipedia.
May you Rest in peace Uncle Raymond..