The Summerville Light, a mysterious orb occasionally seen hovering over railroad tracks in the remote town of Summerville, South Carolina, has sparked decades of speculation. Local legend suggests that the phenomenon is the lantern of a ghost whose husband lost his head in a tragic train accident. However, one seismologist, Susan Hough of the U.S. Geological Survey, thinks there might be a more grounded explanation—one that doesn’t involve the supernatural but is just as fascinating. She proposes that the Summerville Light could be a manifestation of earthquake lights, an intriguing and mysterious phenomenon that has puzzled scientists for years.
The Mystery of Earthquake Lights
Earthquake lights are an atmospheric phenomenon associated with seismic activity, and they are observed in various forms—ranging from glowing spheres to sparks, and even columns of light. These lights tend to appear around the time of major earthquakes or near fault lines, often in remote or sparsely populated regions. Though these lights have been seen in different parts of the world, the mechanism behind their creation remains unclear, even to the scientific community.
Possible explanations include the release of gases like methane or radon during earthquakes, or the discharge of electricity caused by the movement of rocks in fault zones. In a 2024 review paper, Japanese seismologist Yuji Enomoto discussed several proposed theories, though none have been definitively accepted.
Despite being a largely unexplained phenomenon, earthquake lights have captured the attention of scientists like Hough, who have explored whether some historical ghost lights might have seismic origins. As Hough notes, certain areas where these lights are observed also align with zones of active geological stress, often near shallow faults or places where the Earth’s crust is under strain.
The Connection to Summerville
Hough’s fascination with the possibility that earthquake lights might be the source of the Summerville Light began after reading a USGS newsletter featuring “spooky science” studies. The newsletter led her to an old thought that she had never explored in depth before: What about the ghost stories from Summerville?
Armed with curiosity, Hough began researching the mysterious lights that had been reported in Summerville, starting with local newspapers and books. According to her findings, sightings of the Summerville Light began in the 1950s and 1960s—right around the time of several minor earthquakes (magnitude 3.5 to 4.4) that occurred in the region between 1959 and 1960.
These earthquakes, though relatively minor in terms of size, were significant enough to pique Hough’s interest. Could they have triggered a phenomenon like earthquake lights? She began to examine the location of these earthquakes in relation to the areas where the mysterious light had been spotted, and there appeared to be an intriguing connection.
The Role of Fault Lines and Gases
Hough, collaborating with her colleague Roger Bilham of the University of Colorado, Boulder, had already been involved in studies to track earthquake patterns near Charleston, South Carolina—an area that is well known for seismic activity. Summerville, located just 25 miles northwest of Charleston, was included in their research.
Hough’s speculation about the origin of the Summerville Light draws on what is known about shallow faults, as these kinds of faults tend to produce minor, localized quakes that might go unnoticed except by those who live in affected regions. One possible mechanism she suggested for the Summerville Light is the release of underground gases, such as methane or radon, during these seismic events. The escaping gases, if they accumulate in nearby water droplets, could be ignited by a spark created by the movement of fault lines, the friction between rocks, or even a nearby static electrical discharge.
Hough’s idea suggests a chain of events in which gaseous substances—harbored in subterranean deposits—are suddenly freed due to small earthquakes. These gases could then rise to the surface, where they could mix with the air, causing the phenomenon of glowing lights when they are ignited by static electricity. She also noted the presence of abandoned railroad tracks nearby, where old steel rails and scrap metal piles could potentially create sparks that might contribute to the ignition of the gases.
“If old tracks are replaced, they’re sometimes not hauled away immediately, and piles of old scrap metal along the tracks are a potential source of sparks,” Hough remarked, highlighting the ways in which human and natural factors could intersect.
Furthermore, Hough noted that foggy or misty nights may be a recurring feature of the sightings of these ghost lights. This could provide a physical explanation for why they are sometimes visible only in dark and mist-laden conditions, as gases trapped in mist could help to amplify the illumination effect, similar to how light can refract through moisture-filled air to make objects appear more vivid.
Testing the Hypothesis
While Hough’s hypothesis remains speculative, she believes it is testable. By monitoring the region for escaping gases, scientists could deploy sensors or other gas detection equipment to measure the presence of methane or radon during and around seismic events. Moreover, experiments could be conducted in laboratories that simulate the conditions of shallow faults to observe if the movement of rocks can indeed produce sparks capable of igniting gases.
If Hough’s hypothesis is correct, the ghost stories of Summerville might help provide valuable clues for earthquake science. For regions of low seismic activity—such as parts of the eastern United States, where earthquakes are infrequent but certainly not impossible—these so-called ghost lights could potentially guide seismologists in uncovering active, yet undiscovered fault lines.
Curiously, Hough also mentions that similar ghostly phenomena have been reported in places like Wilmington, North Carolina, suggesting that these stories may not be isolated. If they are indeed tied to minor seismic activity, regions once thought to be inactive may warrant further study for possible undetected fault zones.
A New Kind of “Ghost Hunt”
While the connection between ghost stories and earthquake science may seem unconventional, Hough points out that this combination of folklore and scientific inquiry offers a unique way to study the geology of regions where active faults might not be as obvious. By using local myths about lights in the sky as a starting point, seismologists could unearth patterns that have gone unnoticed by more traditional seismic research.
“There’s a lot of faults in the eastern U.S.,” Hough explained, “but figuring out which ones are actually active is tough work.”
Perhaps the Summerville Light—whether a haunting manifestation or a simple natural phenomenon—can provide a subtle yet significant clue to unraveling some of these mysteries. In a sense, it may be that the “friendly ghosts” of Summerville are shining a light on fault zones that could otherwise be overlooked.
While science and folklore are often seen as opposing realms, the intersection of the two can sometimes reveal hidden truths. Susan Hough’s innovative research demonstrates how stories, science, and serendipity can come together to help us understand the world—and the strange phenomena within it—better.
The next time someone speaks of a ghostly lantern swaying in the night air of Summerville, we might just be looking at something a little more earthy—and a lot more electrifying—than the ghost of a long-lost train accident.
Reference: Susan E. Hough, Haunted Summerville: Ghostly Lights or Earthquake Lights?, Seismological Research Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1785/0220240442