Communication with the Dead: A Friday Funny

 

At this stage in the worldwide Coronavirus Pandemic, I think we're ALL ready to ditch the masks. Unfortunately, that's not possible if we want to continue to follow guidelines and protect ourselves and those around us.  However, there are exceptions to every rule! It seems that if you're communicating with SOMEONE WHO IS DEAD, it's perfectly acceptable to forgo the mask!

It makes sense---if they're already dead, it's not like they can catch anything from you. So, ghost hunters, Spiritualists, paranormal investigators, and psychic mediums---here's your free pass. 

Hehehe, this unfortunate typo (I assume that it should read 'someone who is DEAF') was found shared by Haunted Hills Paranormal Society and Newcastle Ghost Tours. It appears to be local to Australia, and has hopefully been corrected since publication, lol.  Stay safe, stay spooky, and wear your mask---unless of course you're communicating with the dead. 

Ghostly Goings-On at the Dude Rancher Lodge

From the Dude Rancher Lodge webpage

The Dude Rancher Lodge in Billings, Montana is a unique addition to this month's Haunted America collection---it's unique because it's a relatively 'new' haunted location!

A mix of a traditional dude ranch and modern hotel, the Dude Rancher Lodge was built between 1949 and 1950 by Annabel and Percival Goan. The couple ran the lodge together until 1962 when Percival was killed in a car crash. Annabel then took over operations, and ran the hotel alone for nearly two decades. She lived in an on-site apartment, being cared for by her staff, until her health declined to the point where she needed to be moved into a nursing home. Unfortunately, she passed on February 2, 1983.

And, according to the lodge's website, that was when the paranormal activity started!

It's not uncommon for an employee to be cleaning an empty guest room and the television come on all by itself. Lights are also known to turn themselves on and off without the help of any living person. Both guests and staff have reported knocks on guest room doors. When they go to answer the door, no one is there. Guests have even complained of children running up and down the halls, laughing, even when no children are booked for that evening. 

Montana Paranormal Research Society once caught an EVP of a woman's voice in the basement area, lending to the idea that Annabel is the resident ghost. However, it's possible that her passing was just a catalyst for latent paranormal activity.  When the lodge was built, it used bricks from the old St. Vincent's Hospital, the Russell Refinery, and the Washington School. Is it possible that those bricks, especially those from the old hospital, could have been holding onto energy that was later released after Annabel's passing?

If you'd like to experience the hauntings for yourself, staff recommends booking rooms 223, 224, or 226 (which was the room Annabel's grandson stayed in when he took over hotel operations after her death). But, if you want to visit during the Halloween season, make sure you book early, as these rooms fill up fast! 

Michigan's Haunted Bridge

Photo by Nathan Holth, via A Bewitching Guide to Halloween

I'm really on a haunted bridge kick this month! Today's blog post in my Haunted America series joins other bridges across the United States in Indiana and Minnesota. It is the short, and somewhat confusing tale of a haunted Crawford Road Bridge near Cass City, Michigan. 

Cass City, Michigan isn't really a city. It's actually a rather small (1.79 square miles) village in Elkland Township, Michigan. Found in the 'thumb' area of Michigan's mitten, the village was incorporated in 1883, with its first permanent settlers having been in the area since the 1850's. 

A local legend states that some time during the 1800's before a proper bridge was built, a woman was crossing the creek area alone by horse and buggy. At the time, the 'bridge' had no safety railing and when one of the wheels of the buggy left the roadway, the buggy tipped off the bridge, landing upside down. The lady was pinned underneath it, trapped in less than two feet of water. She frantically flailed her body, but she remained pinned and tragically, she drowned before help could arrive. 

Since that time, on foggy nights, legend seekers and ghost enthusiasts flock to the area to experience the ghost of the poor woman who drowned at Crawford Road Bridge. Faint cries for help have been reported, and some have even seen what appears to be a ghostly hand emerge from the side of the bridge, desperately trying to motion for help. Even more frightening, some people say that a woman wearing 1800's clothing will crawl up and over the side of the bridge, stand up, and walk towards them, soaking wet. 

As captivating as this story is, there really isn't much written about it online. The information above came from an article published on 21 January 2021 by John Robinson on the 99.1 WFMK website. Make sure to check it out for photos of and directions to get to the area! 

A Bewitching Guide to Halloween also features the Crawford Road Bridge story from an August 2020 blog post which states that the bridge in question was built in 1917 over Big Drain Creek, and that the decorative railing is all the remains today. 

Minneapolis' Haunted Washington Avenue Bridge

Source: Twin Cities Pioneer Press

Of all the haunted locations throughout Minneapolis, the one I find most interesting is the Washington Avenue Bridge. Built in 1965 to replace an older bridge from 1884, the Washington Avenue Bridge crosses the Mississippi River, connecting the east and the west sides of the University of Minnesota campus. The bridge is unique in that its a double-decker; the top deck is a pedestrian and cyclist pathway, while the bottom deck is reserved for cars and the METRO Green Line light rail system. 

Unfortunately, over the its years of operation, the Washington Avenue Bridge has become what locals call a suicide hot spot. On January 7, 1972, John Berryman, a poet and university professor, possibly became the first to take his own life on the bridge when he jumped to his death, landing on the west bank of the river. Berryman had suffered from years of depression and alcoholism. A recent religious conversion wasn't enough to stop him from taking the plunge off the bridge that winter morning.

Following Berryman were at least half a dozen more, including a young male university student who allegedly wrapped himself up in his comic book collection before taking the fatal jump. It seems that any place so entwined with emotional and tragic tales of death must naturally gain a haunted reputation, and that's true of the Washington Avenue Bridge.

Pedestrian Level Source: 123RF

Pedestrians traversing the top deck of the bridge have reported hearing phantom footsteps coming up behind them. A feeling of being watched by an unseen presence lurking in the shadows is also often reported. In one alleged encounter, a pedestrian claimed that the figure of a man was seen coming towards him, but the figure vanished before the startled witness' eyes. Cold spots are another ghostly phenomenon linked to the bridge, despite the fact that heaters (while often not working or not working properly) have been installed in the pedestrian walkway areas. 

The Washington Avenue Bridge is a unique pathway connecting the University of Minnesota campus, but it has seen more than it's fair share of tragedy over the nearly 50 years since it was built. If you find yourself walking, biking, or just simply driving across it one day, remember to keep those who lost their lives below you in your thoughts.  And keep your eyes and ears open---you might just meet a ghost! 

Sources:

Sparber, Max. "Haunted Twin Cities: The Washington Avenue Bridge." MinnPost 24 October 2011

Washington Avenue Bridge Wikipedia

John Berryman Wikipedia

Exorcism and Fried Chicken

 

Awhile back, this image was all over social media. A church near Bardstown, KY seemingly was advertising a public Satanic Exorcism, complete with all the fried chicken you can eat for 50 cents.  That sounds like a hell of a deal!  And let's be honest...at first glance, this image almost seems believable.  I can totally see this area hosting a large tent-revival type of church service, where faith healers smacked the demons out of the afflicted, and fried chicken was plentiful. 

But, sometimes things aren't as they seem. A quick reverse image search reveals the non-doctored, original version, which is from 1940 and can be found at the Library of Congress.

As you can see, the mundane phrase 'Church Picnic' was changed to the much more interesting 'Satanic Exorcism.' You can still get your unlimited fried chicken for 50 cents, though. The original photograph also gives us a slightly larger perspective. It appears that this advertisement for St. Thomas' church picnic was displayed at Hession Roofing Company, either on the actual store itself, or the owners' home.  In fact, in this ad from the early 1950's, the home featured looks almost exactly like the home in the photo!   One further thing to note, though.  St. Thomas in Bardstown, KY is a Catholic Church. I'm not a theologian, but I know enough about the Catholic religion to confidently say that church-sanctioned satanic exorcisms would not be a festive, public event. I can't, however, verify whether or not fried chicken would be an integral part of the process. 

I know it's been awhile since this photo originally started making its rounds, but I realized I never actually got around to blogging about it!  I still see it pop up every now and then, so it's a great reminder to not believe everything you see. There is a LOT of outright fakery, and a lot of misinformation being passed on as fact in the paranormal community. This photo probably started as a joke, without any malicious intent, but there are people who see this and automatically assume that it must be true. Always take a few minutes to verify information, especially if something seems too good to be true.  Happy Haunting! 

 

Concord's Colonial Inn

If you're looking for an elegant place to stay in the Concord, Massachusetts area, filled with history and GHOSTS, look no further than the Colonial Inn! Originally built in 1716, Concord's Colonial Inn has been a private residence, a boarding house, and even acted as a variety store before becoming Concord's Colonial Inn in 1900. Over the years it has gone through multiple expansions and renovations and has picked up quite the haunted reputation throughout New England. 

One of the first recorded experiences of ghosts at the hotel comes from 1966. Newlyweds M.P. and Judith Fellenz were visiting from New York and were given Room 24 on the second floor. The next morning, Loring Grimes, the innkeeper, noticed that the bride looked pale, but didn't think much of it.  However, two weeks later, a letter arrived from Mrs. Fellenz. In the letter, she states that during her stay on June 14, 1966 she had encountered what she believed was a ghost and wanted to know if anyone else had reported similar experiences.

She claims to have awakened sometime during the night, feeling like there was an unknown presence in the room. She saw what she described as a grayish, shadowy mass standing to the left of the bed, about 4 feet away. The vaguely human-shaped mass floated to the foot of the bed where it stayed a moment before melting away. 

Since that fateful encounter, the Colonial Inn has embraced its haunted history, and proudly shares information about the hotel's ghosts on its website. Room 24 is still considered the most haunted room in the hotel...and for good reason. It seems that during the Revolutionary War, the inn was actually a private residence owned by a local doctor. Room 24 became an operating room for wounded soldiers, and many passed away, in great pain, within its walls. Interestingly, it is noted that the ghosts that roam the Colonial Inn rarely include Revolutionary War era soldiers.  Rather, it is the CARETAKERS of these soldiers and the inn that are more likely to be seen, including a nurse named Rosemary.

Rosemary is seen as an older woman who roams throughout the halls. Disembodied voices have been heard, floating orbs have been seen on camera and with the naked eye, and it's not uncommon to experience flickering lights or lights/televisions that come on by themselves in the middle of the night. Room 27 on the first floor was used as a morgue during the Revolutionary War and is also a favorite haunted hot spot for those wanting to experience something paranormal during their stay.

The Colonial Inn's haunted reputation has attracted both curiosity seekers looking for a spooky night's stay, and also seasoned paranormal investigators. Over the years, several teams have come to the hotel looking to collect evidence of the afterlife, including the team from TAPS.  Ghost Hunters filmed an hour long episode (Season 6 Episode 14) at the hotel in 2010. 

*Information and Photos for this blog came directly from Concord's Colonial Inn's website.*

Hexenritt

 

Happy Tuesday! Today's blog is a quickie---I just wanted to share this beautiful piece of witchy art with everyone.  The title of this painting is Hexenritt, translated to Witches' Ride. It was completed around 1875 by German artist, Carl Spitzweg. 

I hope your week has started out strong and continues to get better and better. And don't forget to take a few minutes to appreciate the arts---the creepier the better!

Gary's Phone Call--A Personal Spirit Communication

I believe that spirits can communicate with us in a variety of ways, including dreams.  In fact, I think that dreams are a rather safe way for them to reach out to us---dreaming about a loved one that has passed is far less scary to most people than actually seeing their apparition, and it allows for a more direct form of message communication than subtle hints and signs left during the waking hours that might be ignored or misinterpreted. 

Over the years, I've had plenty of dreams about those who have gone on before me, mostly my grandparents offering words of encouragement or advice. But one dream in particular stands out as potentially being an actual spirit communication. It was the time when I dreamed my uncle called from beyond the grave to ask a very special favor. 

My uncle Gary passed away when I was still in high school. It was my mom who actually found him, after going over to his house to help him with some paperwork stuff he had asked her to help with. Gary lived alone at the time with his big orange cat, Mozart. He loved that cat, and spoiled it like crazy. Whenever he'd have to go out of town, he'd pay me and my boyfriend to go over and feed Mozart and clean his litter box. So, I kinda assumed that after Gary had passed away, we'd be taking Mozart home to live with us.

There was a lot of stuff to do, however, to settle Gary's estate and clean out his house. Much of that responsibility was left to his daughter and her family. It was decided to leave Mozart at his home until everything was over.  When his daughter wasn't there, my boyfriend and I or my mom and I still would go over there to feed and take care of him. Then one day, deep into this process, I had the dream.

In my dream, the phone rang. It didn't sound any different---just a normal ring---and I answered it as I would normally do. It was Gary on the line. In my dream, I KNEW he had died, but for whatever reason it felt perfectly normal that he'd be calling. I wasn't at all concerned that I was receiving a phone call from someone who was no longer alive. He called me by his nickname for me, and asked if my mom was home. When I told him no, that's when his voice took on a sort of desperate tone.

He said that he had been trying to reach her but couldn't and that I needed to give her a message ASAP. He said that she needs to go get Mozart. Mozart needs her. PLEASE go get Mozart. 

I promised to give her the message, said goodbye and hung up. That's all I remembered of the dream, and at the time, it didn't really seem like a big deal. In fact, I wasn't going to say anything about it to anyone, but the next day, something told me that I should bring it up. Sort of in passing, I casually asked my mom when we were going to be able to bring Mozart home. She got a weird look on her face and said that we weren't going to be adopting the cat after all. Gary's daughter and grand kids had decided they wanted to keep him instead.

I was hesitant to tell her about the dream, but I went ahead and she got pretty shook up and told me some details that I had no idea about. Before Gary died, he showed a lot of signs that he knew his time was coming to an end---including asking mom to help him with the paperwork that she was at his home to complete when she found him. He had also asked her that if anything should ever happen to him, please take Mozart and take care of him. He had even set aside some money in his will for Mozart's care. My mom had promised him that she would take care of the cat, so when Gary's daughter told her that her family was taking him, my mom told her of the promise she'd made. She even told her that she didn't want the money in the will---just that she had made a promise to Gary that she had to fulfill. It didn't matter. Mozart did not come to live with us, and I never dreamed of Gary again. 

The Ghosts of Panorama at the Peak

Source: Whiskey Fire, 2012

Although currently closed, the Panorama at the Peak Restaurant for over a decade offered up farm to table favorite meals, awe-inspiring views, and a plethora of ghosts! The restaurant, located just outside of Berkeley Springs, WV, was built in 1929 and over the years garnered quite the haunted reputation.

According to The Big Book of West Virginia Ghost Stories, by Rosemary Guiley, Panorama at the Peak began in 2004 when partners Leslie Hotaling and Patti Miller purchased the old Panorama Steakhouse. Already, the restaurant was known to be home to several ghosts, as the former owners had strategically set up protective crystals throughout the property to keep the spirits at bay.

Fortunately, however, all the ghosts at Panorama at the Peak seem rather benign and playful. The most-often encountered is the spirit known as Captain Grey. No one knows who the Captain was in real life, but believe he was the first white man to settle the area, and thus, guards the land. The captain gets his name for his outfit---he is seen wearing dark pants, a dark jacket, and a cap similar to what a sea captain would wear.  He appears as solid and full as a real person, beard and all, and is often mistaken for such. He has been seen in the upstairs in the former residential area, but prefers to frequent the pub section of the restaurant, located in the oldest part of the building. 

When seen in the pub, he always sits in the same booth. Occasionally, he is accompanied by the spirit of a young girl about 12 or 13 years old. This ghost also appears as a solid, living person, wearing a white dress, white bobby socks, and sporting long hair. 

For whatever reason, Captain Grey has never been spotted in the kitchen---but the kitchen does seem to be one of the more active areas of the restaurant. Scott Callanish, who was hired as an executive chef in 2007, has had multiple encounters with multiple entities, many of whom are very playful. An unseen presence likes to turn off one of the stove's burners and throw rice paper, sheet by sheet, around the kitchen. Scott simply has to tell the offending phantom to knock it off, and it usually does. In one incident, one of two turkeys that were put in the walk-in to thaw went missing.  After an extensive search, Scott told whatever ghost took it that they better put it back in the walk-in before it went bad.  Shortly thereafter, the turkey was returned to the walk-in.

Two other ghosts are seen near the kitchen--a woman in her 40's and a young girl around 12 years old. These two are seen running out of the pantry, and then running out the front door of the restaurant. Psychics who have visited the restaurant believe that this is a mother and her daughter. After the daughter died, the husband left the mother, and she became trapped between the worlds. In 2011, psychics helped the mother cross over, and she and her daughter have not been seen since.

Another ghost 'disappeared' or moved on after the 2011 intervention by psychics. A little boy around the age of 8 had been seen in the kitchen area. The boy, with brown hair, jeans and a t-shirt, began appearing to Scott two to three times a week, so Scott set out a ball and a truck for him to play with. Both items were moved from their original location overnight. Psychics visiting the restaurant believe that the boy was killed when his grandfather pushed him down the stairs, and although he wasn't specifically the target of the 2011 crossing over, he seemed to have moved along with the mother and daughter. 

Rosemary notes one more ghost in her book: Psychic Donna Wolfe Gatti, who often came to the restaurant, claimed that Patti's own grandmother was one of the ghosts who hung out in the kitchen, tossing flour around. Could she also be the one who liked to play with the stove top and the rice paper?

Book Review for One Last Thing!

Title: One Last Thing! Strange, Curious and Humorous Conversations with the Other Side

Author: John E.L. Tenney

Published 2011 by John E.L. Tenney

Amazon Purchase Information

I've been a fan of John E. L. Tenney's work in the paranormal field since I saw him in the short-lived paranormal investigation show, Ghost Stalkers.  I had heard of him before that, but I think that was the first time I really got to see how he operated as a paranormal investigator...and I was impressed! I also follow John on Twitter, and he always comes across as a smart and witty kinda guy. Therefore, I was thrilled to open my presents Christmas morning and find that I had been given his book, One Last Thing!

I was also kind of surprised, because this book had been on my wish list quite awhile! After all the presents were open, I sat down by the fireplace and started reading. I was done before breakfast was served, lol.

One Last Thing! is a super short read, coming in at under 60 pages, but it was a book that took John 20+ years to make. It is not your simple run-of-the-mill investigation memoir or handbook. Rather, its a fascinating compilation of real life EVP transcripts from John's work in the paranormal investigation field. 

My generation of ghost hunters basically grew up using digital voice recorders and being told that you'd be lucky if you got more than one short word at a time during an EVP session. John shakes things up by using an old school reel to reel, spending HOURS on each EVP session, and capturing some wonderfully interactive conversations with spirits. Some of these conversations are poignant, while others are downright hilarious! It seems that even bodily death cannot destroy someone's sarcasm or snark. I think one of my favorite conversations recorded in the book is a spirit who takes the command to repeat a series of knocks and turns it into a knock-knock joke--seriously.

Reading through the pages, not only was I entertained to the point of chuckling aloud a few times, but I also found myself nodding my head in agreement. John notes that quite a few spirits seem to use the same language, most notably referring to wherever they are as the "Forever" or the "Always." I personally have heard these terms used a few times in my own EVP research, as well as another incident where the entity refers to itself AS A GHOST. It is recommended that to establish a rapport with the other side, some of this language should be incorporated by investigators, and I certainly plan on using what I've learned in the book in my next investigation.

John also notes that sometimes a question would be answered before it was even asked, sparking the debate as to whether ghosts/spirits can be telepathic. Again, I've had similar occurrences in my own investigation work, to the point where we experimented with whether or not WE the investigators were actually imprinting thoughts on tape. 

Overall, this was a really fun book. I wish it had gone more into John's philosophy and method of EVP work. I would love to have researched that more, because the introduction and closing pages, while scarce in number, were packed with useful tidbits of information. But, for what it is---a humorous collection of conversations with the other side--I'm happy. It's a quick read and a perfect palate cleansers for the investigator who needs something easy and fun to read, yet still educational. Obviously, a book of this nature isn't for everyone, but I'm proud to have One Last Thing! in my personal paranormal library!

THERESA'S PARANORMAL BOOK REVIEWS PAGE

Start Small

 

Happy Friday!  January is the time of year when most people are focused on setting goals and resolutions...and after the whole fiasco that was 2020, I know I'll be personally trying to go full-steam to make up for everything I didn't accomplish last year.  But, whatever your goals, plans, resolutions, or dreams are, don't forget to take it one step at a time.  Start small and work your way up for a better chance at success!

This cute lil' ghost from Feel Afraid reminds us of just that---start small! Have a safe and spooky weekend, everyone. 

The Ghostly Clarinetist of Centennial Hall

 

Source: Cherry County Tourism Board

I'm fascinated with the hauntings of Centennial Hall, located in Valentine, Nebraska. Unfortunately, the internet hasn't provided the casual reader with too much information on this spooky location. So, today's blog will just be a little short Fright Bite! Here's what we do know:

Today, Centennial Hall houses a 12 room museum, each with a different theme. You can see military antiques, the Hallock Bell collection of over 1700 bells, and if you listen closely, you might even experience a ghost.

The building dates back to 1897 when it was built as a high school for the area. Tragedy stuck, however in 1947 when a young female student was murdered. It is believed that the girl's friend poisoned the girl's clarinet reed. When she went into the music room to practice, she came in contact with the poison reed, and passed away.

The hauntings began shortly after, while the building was still used as a school. Teachers would see the apparition of a small girl, which came with an accompanying feeling of dread. After the building converted into a museum, all the instruments were removed from the former music room, but visitors and staff alike still have reported hearing eerie clarinet music being played. A rocking chair has also been spotted rocking on its own. 

Centennial Hall seems like a fascinating museum to visit, with lots to see, an on-site thrift shop to browse, and the ghost of a murdered student to provide some background music for your stay. 

More Info:

This Former School is Haunted by the Ghost of a Clarinetist, by Jenny Maclay. 20 October 20202

Ghost Research at Fairmont's Dixie Theater

If you've been on social media in the last ten years or so, you've more than likely seen those memes asking something along the lines of "Would you stay in this haunted house overnight for X amount of money?" Or, "Would you work the overnight shift at this haunted graveyard?"  Everyone has their price, and most people would actually jump at the chance to stay in a haunted location overnight, money or not. But...these are always hypothetical situations.

If you lived in Fairmont, WV in 1920, however, you could actually prove how brave you really were!  

I found the newspaper clipping above in the April 3rd, 1920 edition of The West Virginian. It was right there, under the WANTED ads. Depending on your gender and race, you could earn anywhere from $25 to $75 for spending the night alone in a local cemetery.  You had to stay there all night, absolutely alone, but you could bring a gun with you, just in case.  Oh, and you also had to spend the entire night CHAINED TO A BED.  Granted, it was guaranteed that the bed would be warm and comfortable, and it was all in the interest of science. 

Wait, WHAT? There's a lot to unpack in this short lil' Help Wanted ad. Why would being a woman of color net you $50 more than being a white dude? Were they actually just going to dump a BED in the middle of a cemetery, and then CHAIN YOU TO IT? What was this experiment setting out to accomplish?  And why the hell should interested parties contact the manager of the Dixie Theater?

Obviously, this sent me on a frustrating search for more information---a search that I'm still working on.  What I found, however, was that the Dixie Theater in Fairmont was located at 240 Main Street. Around the time of this article, it appears that the manager was a man named Russell Linn or Reno Fleming.  And...this little Wanted Ad  wasn't the only connection to spiritualism associated with the theater.

In December of 1918, the Dixie Theater hosted a lecture by Evangelist H.B. Wescott on the topic of spiritualism. Apparently, spirit photographs were shown on the theater's screen, and Wescott lectured on a biblical explanation of spiritualism. It's noted in the article, found in the December 28, 1918 edition of The West Virginian, that he had spoken previously on the subject, and there was such an interest that he was asked to come back. Is it possible that the experiment in 1920 was connected to another lecture or event on spiritualism hosted by the theater?  

The topic of Spiritualism in West Virginia has recently become an interest of mine, and there are a couple of more blogs in the works about various mediums and spiritualist groups from around the Mountain State. If you can't wait, here's another interesting newspaper article to tide you over.  It's about a Hungarian widow from Thurmond, WV who traveled to Huntington to seek clues in her husband's death from the famed spiritualist medium, Elizabeth Blake!

HUNGARIAN WOMAN SOUGHT MURDER CLUE FROM SPIRITS

The Unquiet Grave of Mary Nasson

Close up of Mary Nasson's tombstone

In trying to complete my challenge of finishing out Volume 2 of Haunted America here on the blog, I stumbled across an interesting cemetery legend from York, Maine. It seems that in the historic Old York Burying Ground, there lies a unique tombstone, said to mark the final resting spot of a witch!

When Mary Nasson passed away on August 18th, 1774 at the age of 29, her husband Samuel had her grave marked with tombstone bearing a carving of Mary herself. From my experience, its rare to see portraits carved on tombstones of this time period, especially portraits that do somewhat evoke an image of fictional witch, Winifred Sanderson. But, even more damning in terms of legends and lore, Samuel covered the top of her grave with a granite slab. 

No one knows for sure just when the rumors of Mary being a witch began, but they date back to at least the late 1800's. George Alexander Emery's 1894 book, Ancient City of Georgeana and Modern Town of York (Maine) from it's Earliest Settlement: Also its Beaches and Summer Resorts, mentions Mary's grave in the Old York Burial Ground, noting that the granite slab was added as a means of keeping the witch in her grave. Since then, the legends of Mary Nasson being a witch have only grown and evolved with each telling. 

Protective Granite Slab

Some believe that Mary was actually hanged, or otherwise executed, for being a witch. However, there is no proof of that.  Others believe she was simply a woman who knew a lot about the medicinal properties of herbs...too much, in fact...and that's how she gained a reputation as a witch. Crows that hang out in the cemetery during the summer are often attributed to being her familiars.  And, others just believe that the best explanation for a granite slab (sometimes said to emit its own heat) is that it must be there to keep something sinister at bay. 

More than likely, the granite slab was put over the grave to keep cattle, pigs, and other roaming animals away from the body. In fact, it was a pretty common practice, and there's a good chance that even though Mary's grave is the only one that STILL has its slab in place, at one time, quite a few burials implemented the system. 

But, granite slab or not---witch or not---if you believe local legend, the slab hasn't succeeded in keeping Mary's spirit still. According to Joseph Cito's book, Weird New England, Mary's ghost enjoys interacting with children. Her apparition has been seen giving them wildflowers and pushing them on swing sets. 

Sources:

Atlas Obscura

Find-a-Grave

New England Folklore

The Ghost Cat Butt of Parkersburg

Susan Sheppard-Haunted Parkersburg

Many years ago, my mom and I went on our first of several walking tours with Haunted Parkersburg's Ghost Tours, owned and operated by renowned researcher, Susan Sheppard. It was a really fun experience, and I learned a lot about the haunted history of Parkersburg, WV. But among the stories of the Silver Run Tunnel, the the Marrtown Banshee, the East End Ghoul, the ghosts of the Riverview Cemetery, and so many others, one tiny story stuck out most to me...

...the apparition of a black cat's hindquarters.

Ghostly cats are nothing too out of the ordinary. I know several people, myself included, who have experienced their beloved feline sticking around long after their bodily death. In fact, Parkersburg itself has several locations haunted by ghost cats, most notably the old Trans-Allegheny Bookstore is said to be home to up to three phantom felines. But, those cats appear...whole.

There's a story from one of the historic residential areas in Parkersburg where a black cat's apparition is seen. The head and front paws are never seen, however.  Only the tail and hindquarters has ever been seen. But why would only the cat's BUTT appear to witnesses?

Source

The house where the half-cat is spotted was built around 1900, and is located right near where the old streetcar system, which operated through the 1940's ran. It's theorized that the poor cat was a pet of the family who lived in the home and that it met an untimely end on the tracks of the streetcar. To me, however, that doesn't fully explain why only the cat's back half is observed.  Even if the poor creature was cut clean in half by a passing streetcar, why would only the back half be left? Where's the front half?  Perhaps it was too badly mangled in the fatal accident...or perhaps there's another house nearby where people are seeing only the head and front paws of what they think is a completely different cat. 

I was pleased to see this lil' tidbit was included in the first edition (2004) of Sheppard's book, Cry of the Banshee.  In the same chapter, its noted that (presumed) living cats seemed drawn to the tours, and whenever a ghost tour was being led around town, numerous black cats would pop up along the route. That struck a chord with me, because when I was a tour guide for Haunted and Historic Guyandotte Tours, that was a running joke with us, as well. We ALWAYS had cats, not always black, though, follow our tour through the village, and occasionally, sit and LISTEN to our stories. On more than one occasion, a tour patron went home with an obvious stray. 

An old folklore belief states that cats protect their humans from harmful spirits---could our little tour assistants have simply been keeping us safe from the ghosts that prowled around town? Or were they themselves, the ghosts? 

*Want more spooky cat stories?  Here's my experiences with Ambrosis, The Ghost Cat*

New Mexico's Haunted Herzstein Memorial Museum

Herzstein Memorial Museum. Source: Clayton-Union County Chamber of Commerce

In October 2018, the New Mexico Department of Tourism proclaimed the town of Clayton to be the most haunted city in the entire state. Along with Union County Courthouse and the Hotel Eklund, the Herzstein Memorial Museum is listed as a spooky example of why Clayton is New Mexico's Most Haunted City.

The Herzstein Memorial Museum is housed in a beautiful old building, dating back to 1919. It began its life as a Methodist Church, but also served as skating rink, a bowling alley and a library. The Museum gets its name from Albert Herzstein, whose foundation paid for extensive renovations and restoration of the building in 1987. Albert was the son of pioneers; his parents built the first cinema in Clayton, New Mexico in addition to operating a successful mercantile business. 

To honor the Herzstein family, one whole exhibit in the museum is dedicated to all the interesting treasures and artifacts they collected from their travels around the world. Other exhibits deal with the Santa Fe Trail, Native Americans, the Dust Bowl, and other aspects of New Mexico history.

With so many different artifacts and with a building used for so many different purposes, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly who or what is causing the hauntings. However, museum staff feel that the main ghost to call the Herzstein home is 'a sassy older lady.' 

In 2015, a ghost hunting group claims to have caught the apparition of a woman in white on video. Executive Director of the museum, Victoria Baker, has also noted that the sound of disembodied high-heeled footsteps have heard in the kitchen area. 

Subsequent paranormal investigations have produced an EVP of a little boy's voice in a back bedroom area, poltergeist activity, and strange noises throughout the museum, including a rattling noise on or near the staircase. Quite a few videos exist on YouTube from various ghost hunting groups sharing their Hertzstein evidence, but you can view the 2015 apparition photo right from the local Chamber of Commerce's website! 

Clayton, New Mexico is embracing its haunted history and living up to its reputation as New Mexico's most haunted city.  If you're in the area, make sure to include a stop at the Herzstein Memorial Museum. You'll learn about the early history of New Mexico, and you might even catch a glimpse of a sassy older lady from the early 20th century!

MORE HAUNTED AMERICA

The Wewe Gombel

 

This horrifying entity with the super-long boobs is known among Javanese legend as the Wewe Gombel. Her tale is a tragic one, and when it comes to scary-looking ghosts and monsters of eastern lore, she's actually pretty misunderstood. 

The Wewe Gombel myth comes from the Semarang, the capital of Java Province in Indonesia. As the story goes, there was a couple living in the village of Bukit Gombel. After years of marriage failed to produce a child, the husband lost interest in his wife, and began neglecting her. After finding him with another woman, the wife killed her husband in a fit of rage. Shortly after, she committed suicide.

Since she died by her own hand with so much rage and hatred inside, her vengeful spirit was doomed to come back as the ghost or demon known as the Wewe Gombel. This ghost lives in a nest, located in the Arenga pinnata palm tree. 

At night, the Wewe Gombel goes out in search of children to kidnap, to make up for the children she was never able to bear in life. Although this tale is largely told to children to scare them into staying out of trouble, legend states that the Wewe Gombel only kidnaps children who are abused or neglected by their parents.  She tucks the child under her gigantic breasts, takes them back to her palm tree nest and lovingly takes care of them. She returns the children if and when the abusive, neglectful parents change their ways. Taking in abused and/or neglected children and giving them a loving home, tucked safely under her breasts in a palm tree nest, hardly sounds like something an evil or demonic spirit would do---especially since she's willing to return the child to its parents IF they can prove they've changed their ways. But, if you're concerned that your children will be spirited away by the Wewe Gombel, make sure you keep them inside at night!

Ghost Vs. Poltergeist

 

Have you ever wondered what the difference was between a ghost and a poltergeist? Thanks to Poorly Drawn Lines, you now know!  Poltergeists are nothing more than fancier, wine drinking lil' ghosts. 

Happy Friday, everyone.  Have a safe and spooky weekend!

Ghostly Wails of Tygart Dam

Tygart Dam, 1937. Source: WV History on View

I love a good, local ghost story---the more obscure and unknown, the better!  My husband, who was born and raised in Grafton, WV knows this, and was more than happy to share with me a tale he had always heard growing up in Taylor County concerning the Tygart Dam.

According to local legend, an African-American worker on the dam slipped and fell into a section of wet concrete that had just been poured. A rescue attempt was impossible, and it was deemed too risky to attempt to remove the body. So, the helpless worker was entombed inside the dam and to this day, visitors to the area can hear mournful wails and screams coming from the dam, as his grisly death replays itself over and over.

As with many ghost stories, the back-story on the wailing ghost of Tygart Dam cannot be proven with historical documents.  However, that doesn't mean that there couldn't be paranormal activity reported that is based on actual events. 

Tygart Dam, Summer 2020

My husband's grandfather was actually one of the many laborers who 'flooded' into the Tygart River Valley in the mid-1930's in order to work for the WPA in the construction of the Tygart Dam. Construction on the dam was authorized between 1934, and construction took place between 1935 until the dam was officially operational in 1938.

At the peak of construction, unskilled laborers working on the dam could earn 45 cents an hour, and skilled laborers could earn up to $1.10 an hour. The problem was, there was a shortage of skilled laborers. Local newspapers at the time noted that skilled laborers were hard to come by because of union and apprenticeship practices at the time, and so they were given authorization to let some of the unskilled laborers take on work that they normally wouldn't be allowed to.  That fact, combined with the less stringent safety protocols of the 1930's, led to what I believe was the majority of deaths associated with the dam project. 

Back of Dam, Summer 2020

There are 11 official deaths associated with the dam itself, and at least 151 injuries, some quite serious. That doesn't even take into account the deaths and injuries associated with off-site projects that contributed to the dam's construction. 

Although he wasn't African-American, author Brenda Tokarz notes that there was a young man who apparently DID die after a fall into the wet cement. On March 4, 1936, 16-year old Charles Goff died while working on the Tygart Dam. It's hard to read, but his death certificate suggests that Charles died when a concrete chute collapsed. His death certificate doesn't explicitly state that he was buried in wet cement, but notes that he died of a skull fracture and was buried in Bluemont Cemetery.

Fatal falls, many involving fractured skulls, were probably the most common causes of death for dam workers. George Dale died on August 17, 1936 from injuries sustained in a fall on July 21st of that year. Lalon (Labon) Davis fell 35 feet and fractured his skull, dying immediately from his injuries. On June 7th, 1937, Hays Berry also died after he fell, fracturing his skull and suffering from multiple internal injuries. Joeseph Duriga died on September 16th after falling from the dam.  His cause of death is listed as drowning.

Hinton Daily News, 19 August 1936

With all the fatal falls occurring at this dam, I can definitely believe that those screams of fear and pain could be trapped as a residual haunting. Eleven victims---that's a lot of death, happening in an almost identical manner, in a span of around two short years. 

Today, Tygart Lake, created by the dam, is a popular outdoor recreation area and state park. The dam itself was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and has a visitor's center that you can visit and learn more about the history of Tygart Dam, the lake, and the surrounding area. Several months ago, my husband and I had dinner at the state park's lodge, then drove up to see the dam. As we were sitting on a bench nearby, watching the water flow over the concrete, we both swore we could hear what sounded like screaming coming from down below. 

Sources and Further Reading:

Untold Stories and History of Tygart Lake, by Brenda Tokarz

National Register of Historic Places Application

Bolton's Book Review: A local history of a local icon, by Robert Bolton. Mountain Statesman, 2 June 2020. 

The Raleigh Register 11 June 1937

The Raleigh Register 17 September 1937

The Librarian Who Never Left

Hutchinson Public Library

There was absolutely no doubt that Ida Day (later, Ida Day Holzapfel) was a hard worker. When she was hired by the Hutchinson Public Library in Hutchinson, Kansas, she spent the next ten years dedicated to making some MAJOR changes. Among her accomplishments, she developed a new cataloging/classification system, introduced Sunday hours for the library, and was instrumental in making sure that everyone had access to books, especially World War 1 soldiers and shut-ins. 

But, life goes on and in 1926 Ida left the library to attend the University of Kansas. She also got married and became Ida Day Holzapfel. However, the Hutchinson Public Library would eventually call her back. She started back in 1946 and helped oversee the library move out of the old Carnegie building and into it's current location on Main Street. During this second tenure, she developed quite a reputation as being a very prim and proper librarian, having daily tea with staff at 3pm. She also developed the reputation of being so highly dedicated to the library that she could be difficult to work with at times.  She definitely had her own ideas about how things at HER library should be ran, and would do what she needed to do to make sure things went the way she wanted. 

Again, life would move on and Ida would step away from the Hutchinson Public Library.  In 1953, she took a job as a reference librarian in Tulare County, California. A newspaper notice about her resignation included the following: "She plans to retain ownership of her home, and will eventually return to Hutchinson."

Ida Day Holzapfel

Unfortunately, the new job in Tulare County was never meant to be.  Ida was involved in a car accident on her way to her first day on the job and passed away from her injuries.  That quick line in the newspaper before she left, however, would be eerily prophetic.

It seems that Ida Day Holzapfel made good on her promise to return to Hutchinson, and to the Hutchinson Public Library system to which she dedicated so much of her life. 

Paranormal activity at the Hutchinson Public Library was so common, that the local paper covered the story in 1975, and its been featured many times since in other articles, news stories, and websites on haunted locations.  Even the official website for the Hutchinson Public Library has a page dedicated to Ida and the hauntings!

Ida prefers to haunt the area around the basement. Staff and visitors have reported hearing disembodied footsteps in that area, as well as items that will occasionally go missing or seemingly move to different positions when no one is looking. In once incident, librarians Angeline Welch and Rose Hale were working in the basement. Hale had to run upstairs a moment, but when she returned, she heard Welch speaking to someone, and then heard footsteps walking away. When asked who she was talking to, Welch claimed that she hadn't been talking to anyone---no one else was even down in the basement.

The next day, Hale had an even weirder experience when she saw a lady standing by the stairs, who then vanished into thin air. She didn't recognize the woman, but when she described her to a colleague, it was apparent that Hale had seen Ida Day Holzapfel. 

*Theresa's Note: When I was researching the information for this blog, I perused the Hutchinson Public Library's website and noticed that they were CLOSED ON SUNDAYS. I wonder what Mrs. Holzapfel would have to say about that!*

HAUNTED AMERICA

Book Review for Cursed Objects

Title: Cursed Objects: Strange but True Stories of the World's Most Infamous Items

Author: J.W. Ocker

Published: 2020 by Quirk Books, Philadelphia, PA

Amazon Purchase Info

I just have to say, this book is physically stunning! The chunky hardback packs in 271 thick pages and has a beautiful cover featuring some eerie little illustrations in a sort of shiny, shimmery, metallic silver and blue combination. Honestly, that's what initially drew me to the book---but its content is pretty awesome as well! 

I've always had a fascination for cursed and haunted objects, the weirder the item the better! Ocker packs in quite a few of these items, each with a well-written, factual background on the item's known history and it's alleged 'cursed' activity. Each entry is only a few pages long, and there are plenty of illustrations to keep even my ADHD mind focused and moving through the book.

As someone who is a fan of all things strange and unusual, I've heard of quite a few of the objects mentioned in this book.  Some of the more famous cursed items include The Hope Diamond, King Tut's Tomb, the Dybbuk Box, The Crying Boy paintings, and of course, Annabelle the Doll.  However, I was delighted to see entries for objects that I either knew little about, or had never heard of, including Little Mannie and the Prague Orloj. 

These objects are discussed with just the right bit of humor mixed with legend mixed with fact to make for a really interesting read, and I love that the author also included a chapter on the museums that make a business out of collecting and showcasing the types of items found within this book. There isn't a whole lot of scholarly analysis as to the phenomenon of cursed objects as a whole, but there are few little extras throughout the book to help give a better understanding of why an object may be cursed. There's also a bibliography AND an index, which as a researcher, I'm thrilled to see included. Overall, this is a neat book for both the hardcore paranormal enthusiast and for someone who just likes a good, interesting read about spooky, unsolved mysteries. 

Want MORE from J.W. Ocker?  Ocker has a podcast called Odd Things I've Seen, about well...odd things and where to find them! 

See what else Theresa is reading at my Book Reviews page! 

Strange Noises in Benwood

I've stumbled across another great vintage newspaper article featuring a West Virginia haunting!  The following article can be found in the 27 September 1893 edition of the Wheeling Register (view original article at Chronicling America). It tells of a large frame building owned by Wheeling Steel and Iron, formerly used by a furniture and casket making company to lay out bodies of accident victims. Strange noises could be heard coming from the second story of the building, and one group of young men even claim to have seen an apparition in white robes dart by on the staircase! The building was at the corner of 8th and McMechen Streets in Benwood, WV, and as far as I can tell, the picture below is of the interior.

 NOW IT'S GHOSTS

WHICH THE PEOPLE ARE SEEING DOWN AT BENWOOD

A Weird, Gloomy and Creepy Yarn About a Haunted House, With All the Usual Accessories

Benwood has a sensation.

It is a reported haunted house.

This house is near the center of the city, and the authority furnishing the story is unquestionable.  Citizens, generally are taking an interest in it, so much that a party of persons, composed of two doctors, a member of Council and a minister of the town, and a REGISTER man, will go in a few evenings to make an investigation of it. In fact, Benwood is all worked up over it.

At Eighth and McMechen streets stands the large frame building formerly occupied by Becker & Zimmerman as their furniture and undertaking rooms. This building, probably the oldest in all that locality, is owned by the Wheeling Steel and Iron Company. Numerous stories have been afloat that strange noises proceeded from the second story of the building. Many a man has been scared out of it by weird noises. Many dead, killed by accidents, have been laid out in the rooms, from which now comes the stories so hard to believe but for the high authority.

Last Monday night a dozen young men, in an unguarded moment, entered the building and sat down. It wasn't long before their hair was standing on end, for from the rooms above came strange noises. The young men who were so scared are reliable, and would be willing to take oath as to their sincerity in the matter. The noise sounded like bricks were being thrown on the floor, and occasionally, the young men say, they could hear cries and groans not like anything earthly. They say, too, a peculiar sound attracted attention, and there was an echo like a stifled cry. One of the boys, William Rutman, had $5 in his pocket. He offered to give the money to anyone who would ascend the stairs. The boys cowered in a corner furthest away from the sounds, but one of the men started to ascend the stairs, for he wanted the $5. He says a peculiar feeling came over him as he ascended the stairs. The groans increased, and something darted past him, he states, clad evidently in white flowing robes. After that the men made a retreat. They hastened to town and told what they had seen. Though many were incredulous, yet none volunteered to investigate. 

If there be such a thing as "ghosts" this seems to fill the bill, and the crowd which will go to investigate propose to investigate fully.

It is improbable that it could be any person playing a trick, as persons say who have examined the building thoroughly before dark and locked it up, but have heard the strange sounds in the night time. 

The Vegetable Man

West Virginia is a pretty weird place! We've got Mothman. We've got the Grafton Monster. We've got the Flatwoods Monster. We even have Sheepsquatch, the Ogua, and a variety of Bigfoot roaming the hills of our state. But, it terms of weirdness, all these pale in comparison to the story of The Vegetable Man.

Sometimes referred to as the Veggie Man, this absolutely eerie West Virginia creature first appeared in Fortean literature in a 1976 newsletter published by West Virginia's own controversial ufologist, Gray Barker. However, the encounter with the Vegetable Man actually dates back to nearly a decade before.

In July of 1968, a local bow hunter named Jennings Frederick was roaming the woods outside of Fairmont, WV. The U.S. Air Force veteran was hunting woodchucks, unsuccessfully, and was about to head back, when he heard what was described as “high-pitched jabbering, much like that of a recording running at exaggerated speed.”

Just then, Frederick looked up and saw one of the weirdest creatures to ever have been reported in West Virginia, and possibly, the whole country. He described an extremely tall being, well over 7 feet high. Although it was vaguely humanoid in shape, the creature was extremely thin. It's coloring was a yellowish-green, which in my mind creates a picture of a chlorophyll-based stalk of celery!

Long ears and yellow, slanted eyes were also noted, but the most horrifying feature of the creature seems to be its arms. The arms, which were no bigger around than a quarter, ended in what appeared to be three long, slender fingers tapering off into suction cups.

Frederick observed that he thought the being looked sickly, which was confirmed with a strange, telepathic message he received as the whirring, high-pitched jabbering increased. "You need not fear me. I wish to communicate. I come as a friend. We know of you all, I come in peace. I wish medical assistance. I need your help."

Frederick didn't have the opportunity to make sense of what the creature was trying to convey before it reached out and wrapped it's 'hand' around his arm. The suction cups attached to his arm and begin sucking his blood, sending a jolt of pain up his arm. However, as the blood could be seen seeping up through the creature's arm and body, where it reached the yellow eyes and began to swirl and oscillate. This hypnotic effect seemed to alleviate Frederick's pain as it 'fed' on his blood for the next two minutes.

When the Vegetable Man had finished its vampiric feeding of poor Frederick, it sprinted up a steep embankment and disappeared at a supernatural speed, leaving Frederick's arm in pain and with several small wounds where the creature had suckled. Before fleeing the scene himself, Frederick heard what he interpreted as the creature's craft being propelled by a propulsion system.

No one ever saw the Vegetable Man again, and it is understandable why Frederick would wait so long before telling his unbelievably weird story of what seems like a close encounter with an extremely odd creature from another planet.

As an interesting side note, I can confirm that a Jennings Frederick and a Jennings Frederick, Jr. did live in Fairmont, WV. Jennings Frederick, Jr., who went by Skip, did serve in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War and his obituary interestingly notes that he loved art and science, and was known to be able to draw whatever he saw. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2012 at the age of 62.

Further Reading:

Cryptid Wiki---Veggie Man

Vegetable Man: Cryptopia by Rob Morphy. 11 July 2016

Avon, Indiana's Haunted Bridge

Avon Haunted Bridge--Source: Visit Hendricks County

Avon, Indiana is a small town located in Hendricks County, almost in the center of the state. And, like most small, mid-western towns, Avon is home to a local urban legend: The Legend of Avon Bridge. 

In typical urban legend fashion, stories as to why exactly the bridge is haunted not only differ depending on who is telling the tale, but also can't really be proven or disproved by historical documentation. Further, the stories as to what the 'haunting' entails also seem to differ from telling to telling, making the location a quintessential urban legend hot spot!  Here's what we do know:

The Avon Bridge can be found in Washington Township Park, its distinct arches spanning across County Road 625 East. Built in 1906, the bridge was designed by engineer, W.M. Dunne for the Big Four Railroad.  Today, it is still owned and operated as an active train bridge by CSX.

It's also one of the most popular places to go at Halloween for a little spooky fun!

Stories tell that one of the workers who built the bridge, sometimes noted as an Irish worker, and sometimes an African-American one, drunkenly slipped and fell into the wet cement used in the construction of the massive arches. His body was never recovered, and his ghastly moans for help can still be heard, over 100 years later, each time a train crosses.

Another story involves a young mother who was taking a shortcut home across the train bridge while carrying her baby. While on the bridge, a train quickly approached, and the young mother was caught off-guard as to what to do. She went to set the infant down, but it fell to the ground below the tracks, causing the mother to subsequently fall after it.  Both were killed, but again, when the train rumbles by overhead, people below the bridge can hear either a woman's mournful scream, a baby's wail, or both. 

It's customary to honk your car's horn as you drive under the bridge, presumably to drown out the eerie sounds that you might hear, especially if you're passing under the bridge on Halloween.  But, a word to legend trippers---by some accounts, the area is closed after dark, so if you want to experience the spooky sounds of the Avon Bridge, you'll have to go before dusk. Feel free to blow your horn as you drive underneath, but take a second to stop and listen; if there's a train overhead, ghost or not, you're sure to hear some strange sounds! 

Sources and Further Reading:

Visit Hendricks County: The Legend of the Avon Haunted Bridge, by Ericka Bethel. 22 October 2020

WishTV: Avon's Haunted Bridge: The Truth Behind the Tales, by Nina Criscuolo 27 October 2017