Author James T. Baumgratz will present his findings about unsolved mysteries of the PA Wilds region.

The fascination of true crime runs rampant these days, but what about the unsolved crimes of the past?

The Warren County Historical Society will hold a free presentation on the unsolved mysteries of Warren County at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, in the main courtroom at the Warren County Courthouse, 204 Fourth Ave., Warren.

Author James T. Baumgratz will take those attending on a journey through the dark side of history by delving into hauntings, unsolved homicides and other mysteries connected to Warren and its surrounding communities – stories where the line between history and the unexplained are blurred. The program is hosted by the Warren County Historical Society.

Baumgratz began writing in 2017 and has authored eight books on the topic of local true crime. His latest book features more than 200 haunted locations in the Pennsylvania Wilds, including 18 in Warren County. The presentation will touch on the mysterious unsolved cases such as the Joseph Wagner murder in 1922 as well as the incident that happened at the Riverview Cemetery in Pittsfield and the ghost that allegedly appeared thereafter.

Baumgratz maintains a writing cabin in the Pennsylvania Wilds and spends many weekends exploring all that the Wilds has to offer, especially the mysterious and forgotten past. His books, Unsolved Cold Cases from the Pennsylvania Wilds and Hauntings in the Pennsylvania Wilds, will be the basis for his presentation.

A magna cum laude graduate from Clarion University, Baumgratz is a professional juried artisan with the Pennsylvania Wilds Cooperative with book projects continuously in the works. Once employed with the Straub Brewery in St Marys as well as later as a sales manager for Xerox, Baumgratz is presently employed in The Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP). Father to son Drew (wife Caitlin), Baumgratz is the grandfather of two girls, Zoey and Miah and he resides in St. Marys, Pa.

A selection of his books is available for sale at the Warren County Historical Society at 210 Fourth Ave., Warren.

Baumgratz’s presentation is free and open to the public. For more information, call 814-723-1795, visit warrenhistory.org or find the Warren County Historical Society Facebook page.