Old Knightstown

The Cave

The air was heavy and smelled of damp earth and fires long extinguished. The entry room was not very large, perhaps six to eight feet wide and just enough room for a 12-year-old to stand. The walls were stained with ash dust from fires built by other Knightstown explorers. The dirt floor was a mix of deep dust, ashes and bits of burnt sticks and tree limbs.

I was in the secret Knightstown cave.

Not many knew of this mysterious gash in the earth on the northeast edge of Knightstown. I don’t recall how my brother and I learned of its existence, perhaps from the late Bill Hiner, a neighbor lad who often shared our explorations.

We visited two or three times when we were in the fifth and sixth grades. Once we decided to explore its depths, but the tunnel soon narrowed to crawl space, and my claustrophobia prevented further investigation. Besides, we were certain some hideous monster was lurking in the darkness just beyond our flashlight beams. If we kept completely quiet and held our breath we could imagine hearing muffled sounds in the pitch black distance.

We had heard the cave extended far back under Knightstown and that there were other large rooms. It was said it extended under the old cemetery on east Morgan Street; others said it went far under Knightstown itself. I am not sure anyone ever had the nerve to completely explore its length. Despite the intrigue and the promise of high adventure we never ventured far beyond the main room. Unless someone has sealed the entrance I am sure it is still there today. It was/is located on the hillside overlooking Blue River, just south of the old Knightstown dump site that existed for many years on northeast Morgan Street.

It is possible the cave is even larger today. It was most likely created by underground drainage over the past 100 or more years. Now, 60 years after our explorations, it is probable erosion has created even larger tunnels—and even bigger caverns, if they really exist!.

For certain it still lies hidden in undergrowth, its opening agape like the mouth of a hungry beast. It is a timeless adventure waiting for rediscovery by new generations of Knightstown youngsters.

Thanks Wayne, That’s a great story..!!!