The Happy Valley WMA in Williamstown, NY, which was once the ghost town of Happy Valley, is the subject of several local ghost stories and urban legends. The paranormal tales are fueled by the area's history of abandonment, rumors of a curse, and documented tragic events. The Happy Valley that locals describe is the site of a former hamlet called Frasier, established in the 1850s, which is now part of the Wildlife Management Area. Located on the Tug Hill Plateau, the town was abandoned in the early 20th century due to a failing agricultural economy and the effects of the Great Depression. The state began acquiring the properties for a wildlife area in the 1930s. One persistent rumor claims that a witch cursed the village, causing the residents to leave. Others suggest that a plague or widespread illness drove people out, though historical evidence points to economic hardship as the true cause of the town's demise. An old cemetery in the WMA, established in 1866, is believed by some to be haunted. A legend tells of a Civil War veteran with a hook for a hand who is said to haunt the area. After the town was abandoned, the schoolhouse was privately owned and later burned down. This event has been fodder for ghost stories. Many visitors report strange events and eerie experiences in the area, particularly at night, and some advise against going there after dark.