The Flatwoods Monster Museum's Bazaare!

What's a Bazaare? Bazaare = Bazaar + Bizarre, and its what happens when you bring together a bunch of paranormal authors and researchers specializing in UFOlogy and cryptozoology for a FREE meet and greet event and merch sale!  The Bazaare was put on by the Flatwoods Monster Museum, and was another great opportunity to bring attention to the Flatwoods Green Monster as well as the paranormal field in general.  It was also a great way to bring paranormal enthusiasts and others to the Sutton/Flatwoods area for an up-close look at the little town that made history in 1952.

After Luke's jiu-jitsu class, we jumped into the Jeep and made the journey north to Braxton County.  The last time Aaron and I were in Braxton County, we visited the Flatwoods Monster Museum, took pictures with all 5 of the Monster Chairs, and concluded the evening with the world premier showing of Small Town Monsters' movie, The Flatwoods Monster: A Legacy of Fear.  It was a lot of fun, but we didn't have Luke with us!  We thought the Bazaare would be a great opportunity to introduce him to the legends and lore of the Flatwoods Monster without him getting bored and cranky, lol.

We were right!  The event ran from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and we arrived around 12:30 p.m. with things already in full swing.  The center floor of the museum was set up with several large tables packed with merchandise from Seth Breedlove, Stan Gordon, Dave Spinks, George Dudding, Eric Altman and Les O'Dell from WV Cryptids and Strange Encounters.  Each featured guest was available and eager to chat with---sharing their knowledge and hearing visitor stories.  

Paranormal investigator, Dave Spinks was there with his new book, West Virginia Bigfoot.  I had to pick up a signed copy for myself and have a quick talk with Dave, who is a really nice and genuine kinda guy.  George Dudding was there with his wide array of books on all things spooky in West Virginia, and Stan Gordon had some of his work available as well.  Seth Breedlove was selling DVDs of his Small Town Monsters productions, including his Flatwoods movie.  Luke, however, was more interested in his movie on the Beast of Bray Road, lol.  Funny side note:  When Luke was about 3 years old, we took him to the French Creek Wildlife Center.  We were both fascinated by the wolves---lying in the sun they just looked like a cute, happy domestic dog.  However, when they stood up and walked, there was something powerful and a little creepy about their movements.  Later on, when we asked Luke what his favorite animal was that he saw that day, he replied with, 'the werewolves.' For YEARS after that, whenever you'd ask him what his favorite animal was, he'd say it was a werewolf. 

Anyway, Eric Altman, who is a Bigfoot researcher, was also in attendance with some cool merch and information. Les from WV Cryptids and Strange Encounters was there as well, and its always a pleasure to see him and talk with him about his current research.  We first met Les at the museum back in April, so it was fitting that we got to go see him again at the museum.  He even had a really awesome gift for me:  an Ouija t-shirt that he made!  Speaking of the museum, it was up and running as usual during the event and the staff was awesome as usual---very friendly, chatty, knowledgeable and helpful.  Luke had a fun time checking out the displays, and it always amazes me how interested he actually is in this stuff, asking follow-up questions and talking about what he saw for days afterwards.  We bought some really cool souvenirs, some for us and some to send to friends in Australia, including postcards, magnets, and guitar picks.  Luke was thrilled to see the pressed penny machine, as he absolutely loves those things and honestly, there were some really cool designs!

We wrapped up our visit to the museum, but we weren't done with Braxton County yet! We had planned on grabbing lunch and then starting the journey to photograph all five of the Monster Chairs. We wanted to take Luke to The Spot, the little restaurant decorated with monster memorabilia and featuring menu items named after various creatures.  Unfortunately, The Spot was closed for the season!  That was a huge disappointment, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.  Not only does it give us an excuse (as if we needed one!) to return in the Spring/Summer, but it led Luke to the finest dessert known to man.  We ended up having lunch at Shoney's, which was actually sort of a treat since most of the Shoney's restaurants around us have closed.  The meal was good, but Luke and Aaron decided to order the chocolate cake/sundae monstrosity you'll see in the photo.  I'm pretty sure my son now has diabetes, but it was sweet to see him so excited about a dessert and hear Aaron share his childhood memories about eating the same thing.  I'm pretty sure that made the whole trip worth it---at least to Luke!  But, we still had the chairs to conquer!

Since Aaron and I had found all five chairs back in April, we had no problems quickly locating the first four in the series.  Luke wasn't all that into it at first, but by the time we pulled up to the park for the third chair, he was excited.  Unfortunately, as we pulled into the Gassaway Dairy Queen for the last stop on our trip, we noticed a spot of dead grass, tons of No Trespassing signs, and NO CHAIR. What the hell?  We couldn't find any information online, so we drove around Gassaway a little bit to see if it had been moved.  We finally pulled into the drive-thru at Dairy Queen and asked the employee what was going on.  He told us that the property the chair sat on had been recently sold to a private buyer and the chair removed. He didn't know where it had been taken or if there were plans to reinstall it.  If you have any information, please let me know what's going on!

It was a disappointing way to end the day, but we had fun, nonetheless! As my son is getting older, he's getting more into West Virginia's monsters and the paranormal side of our state's history.  It's quite rewarding to have the opportunity to share stuff like this with him, and see his reaction.  And I gotta say, we are so lucky to live in an area that is embracing this spooky history more and more.  The Flatwoods Museum does such a great job in preserving and sharing information on the Flatwoods Monster.  This Bazarre was just one more way to bring awareness, have fun, and get people excited about an interesting piece of our state's history.  Please visit the links to the guests' websites/social media and show them some love...and be sure to check out the Flatwoods Monster Museum's page as well for updates on upcoming events and information on everything you've ever wanted to know about the Flatwoods/Braxton County/Green Monster! 

The 666 Bible of Morris Memorial Hospital

Not everyone realizes that in Moundsville, WV there is a paranormal museum that rivals even the most well known of its kind.  Alongside of the Warrens' Occult Museum and Zak Bagan's Haunted Museum is the Mountain state's very own Archive of the Afterlife!

Photo from the Archive of the Afterlife Facebook Page

I have visited the Archive of the Afterlife twice now, and each time I've been blown away the sheer quality and quantity of exhibits.  Haunted objects, funerary history, military history, and a host of memorabilia from haunted locations are just a sampling of what you'll find here.  There are several exhibits that I have felt a really strong fascination for, and one of those is the infamous 666 Bible.

According to the museum's website, this mysterious artifact was donated by an anonymous urban explorer from Glen Dale, WV.  This person and his friend were visiting the abandoned Morris Memorial Hospital for Crippled Children in Milton, WV.  The current Morris Memorial building was originally built between 1935 and 1936 and treated over 10,000 children, most of who were suffering from polio, up until the hospital closed in 1960.  With advances in medicine, including a polio vaccine, the great need for a hospital of this type was no longer needed, and the next year, Morris Memorial became a nursing home under the direction of John and Rose Greene.  It operated as a nursing home until it was completely turned over to the city and used as storage about ten years ago.

At first, security wasn't exactly tight at this location, and many amateur ghost hunters, urban explorers, and just plain curious folks ventured onto the property. Even the grounds gave off a spooky feel and peering into windows, one could easily see a mixture of old nursing home furniture and the city's Christmas decorations.  Unfortunately, vandalism was a big issue, with some people going as far as to breaking windows and doors and tearing apart the inside of the old hospital.  At any given time, access to the hospital was easily obtained through one of these busted windows or doors.

With a change in local government came a change in how the property was maintained.  No Trespassing signs flooded the property, and security cameras were installed.  Those caught breaking in were punished, and the vandalism began to curb.  Today, there are plans being implemented to turn the former hospital into a high-end hotel and resort facility.  All that's quite fascinating...but what about this Bible?

The person who donated the Bible to the museum noted that it was found in an otherwise empty room.  The rather large book was opened up to pages 666-667, and the pages were being held in place by a small angel figurine.  Even creepier, the top of page 667 appeared to have been scorched!  As a souvenir, our donor took the Bible home, and his friend took the angel.

In my investigation group, we didn't have too many rules, but one thing that was highly encouraged was leaving things alone.  Ghost lore is filled with many tales illustrating the idea that taking an object from a haunted location is never a good idea.  Unfortunately for this urban explorer, he would find that out the hard way.

Upon returning home, he put the Bible on his fireplace mantle.  Within three days, the family cat died.  His mother and pet dog became gravely ill.  He heard his name being whispered, only to find no living person anywhere in ear shot.  Things reached a spooky crescendo when three full-bodied shadow people were observed in the back yard.

Presumably, the streak of bad luck and paranormal activity ended when the Bible was donated to the museum.  And if you're brave enough, YOU can visit this seemingly cursed holy book for yourself!  The museum, which has recently expanded, can be found in Moundsville's Sanford Community Center, just a short drive from the WV State Penitentiary at Moundsville!  The museum is a great deal at $3 per person, or $5 per couple and you could spend hours browsing just the collection itself.  But, if you're a little more eager, there are investigation opportunities and paranormal conventions/events held throughout the year.  Now...I wonder if anything similar ever happened with that angel figurine!

More Reading:
Archive of the Afterlife Website
Archive of the Afterlife Facebook
Excellent article by James E. Casto in the Herald Dispatch about the history of Morris Memorial
Theresa's Visit to the Archive of the Afterlife

Theresa's Travels: The Museum of the Bizarre

It's been awhile since I've posted a Weird Wednesday blog and you can't get much weirder than the Museum of the Bizarre!

The Museum of the Bizarre, located in historic downtown Wilmington, N.C., was one of my favorite stops on our recent Wilmington/Carolina Beach trip.  For just a few bucks per person, my son, my boyfriend, and myself were able to spend an enjoyable hour or so perusing the oddities and other attractions that make up the Museum of the Bizarre.

I had first learned about the collection from Jacob the Carpetbagger, one of my all-time favorite YouTubers. Jacob posted a video about his travels to this unique Wilmington museum back in September of 2017...WELL before we decided to visit the area for vacation this summer.  However, when my boyfriend announced that he'd found us a great rental house in nearby Carolina Beach, I remembered the video and immediately put a stop at the Museum of the Bizarre on our itinerary!

Because I had enjoyed the video so much and knew this was a location I definitely wanted to check out, I didn't start reading the reviews from other visitors until after we had visited.  Don't get me wrong...the reviews aren't BAD, but a lot of people tended to focus on the size of the collection.  Admittedly, when we entered the museum, we were under the impression that there was going to be a lot more...so we were disappointed when we realized that the entire collection was just in the big room as you walk in.

And although I would have LOVED to see many more strange and unusual artifacts, I still had an awesome time.  The collection of strange and bizarre items housed at the museum is from the personal collection of owner, Justin LaNasa. As the story goes, when LaNasa, a local tattoo artist, was about to get married, his future bride gently suggested that his collection of anatomical specimens, taxidermy animals, horror movie props, etc. should be housed somewhere outside their home.  At the suggestion of a friend who owned the former serpentarium next door (which is now unfortunately closed down), the Museum of the Bizarre was born.  It opened its doors in April of 2015.

I think when you take into consideration that the items are simply the collection of one enthusiastic collector, the lack of size isn't an issue.  Plus, what the collection lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality!  Obviously, I'm a weird chick.  My boyfriend is a little more mainstream than myself, but he still appreciates unique history and offbeat attractions.  My son simply just gets dragged to wherever the rest of us choose to go.  Yet, we all found things in the collection that were of interest to us!

We accidentally caught the cursed clown doll in the Photo Op spot of the stocks!

I was drawn to the more 'spooky' attractions.  Housed in the collection were plaster casts of Yeti and Bigfoot footprints.  There was an old Bozo the Clown doll with a sign warning visitors not to look it directly in the eye because it was cursed.  We saw a mummified Chupacabra hand and the signal lantern involved in the famous Maco Lights haunting.  There was even a Ouija Board owned by Houdini.  I also thought the signs posted throughout the museum noting that this was a haunted museum, so don't be surprised if you heard any weird noises, were pretty awesome.

Aaron is a huge fan of Houdini, so he too enjoyed the Ouija Board, as well as the specimen of Alexander Hamiliton's hair.  Other notable exhibits included a crystal skull, shrunken heads, a two-headed calf, tons of movie props, a Hand of Glory, a Freemason alter, and a variety of stuff in jars, lol.  There was also an extremely large 'Fiji Mermaid,' which allegedly was found at nearby Ft. Fisher.

My son, Luke, for some reason, got pretty freaked out while we were there.  Luckily, for an extra couple of dollars, he was able to explore the Hall of Mirrors exhibit (mirror maze) and also play unlimited games on the floor projector.  There was comfortable seating to wait in while Luke played, FREE ice pops, and a small gift shop where I picked up a sticker and some postcards.  Several of the exhibits were interactive, and even though photography of the collection was largely prohibited, there were a few photo op spots where you could take pictures.

I wish photography of the exhibits was allowed, because there was some really cool stuff in there that I would have loved to share with you all---but check out the video below to get an idea of what's there.  Overall, however, this was a really cool little spot in downtown Wilmington, N.C. There is so much to see and do in the Wilmington area, especially if you appreciate things supernatural and/or strange, and a stop to the Museum of the Bizarre makes a great part of any day trip to the city. 

Theresa Travels to the Nitro World War One Museum

This weekend, my family and I made an impromptu stop at the nearby Nitro World War 1 Museum, located in downtown Nitro at 2003 20th Street.  While this isn't a location that is haunted (to my knowledge) I wanted to include it in Theresa's Travels as a local historical resource!

With an interest in local history and a rudimentary knowledge of Nitro's important role in the First World War, we knew we would probably enjoy this museum---but nothing could prepare us for how awesome it really turned out to be!

We were warmly greeted by the lady behind the desk, who made sure to load my son up with plenty of FREE goodies, including small plastic soldiers, pencils, stickers, candy and historic literature. Okay, that last one was for me....but speaking of FREE, there was no charge for admission, only donations.

Our time was short, but we were able to spend a good hour browsing the outstanding collection of Nitro history. The main focus of the museum was Nitro's World War 1 years, when the whole town served as the location for a plant making nitrocellulose, the main ingredient in gunpowder. However, the museum, which was much bigger than I could have imagined, also included plenty of displays on Nitro's general history,  general military history, and even a section devoted to what life was like around the outbreak of the War to End All Wars.

In addition to the exhibits, there was a HUGE section of archival documents and research materials. I was in Heaven! One could easily spend hours browsing through all the historical artifacts, photographs, and hands-on (YES! Hands-on!) exhibits, but I could spend years looking through the old books, video clips, and newspaper archives. Even though we had somewhere to be, I couldn't tear myself away from the bound copies of The Kanawha Valley Leader newspaper, spanning several decades.

I thought my 8-year-old son would be kind of bored with a local history museum, but he seemed to have a great time. He was genuinely interested in many of the exhibits, and asked intelligent questions about what he was seeing. And of course, he LOVED the hands-on aspect. I think he and Aaron could have spent all day listening to the old record player set up in the section devoted to WW1 era home life or talking about what conditions were like in a WW1 trench.

I will obviously be returning to this little gem...multiple times...in the future. It makes for a great afternoon adventure, and is extremely family-friendly. However, I will be leaving the boy and the boyfriend at home next time, and camping out in the archive section! If there are any local paranormal investigators/researchers in this area and you are working a case in Nitro or the surrounding area, I HIGHLY recommend that you stop in here.  The staff is knowledgeable and passionate about history, and there are just so many great resources right at your fingertips. Of course, even if you aren't a paranormal researcher and just love history or want to know more about Nitro and its pivotal role in the war, definitely come check this place out! We are so lucky to have such an outstanding, well-organized museum such as this so close to home.

Nitro History Resources
Museum Website
Museum Facebook Page

Theresa's Travels: Archive of the Afterlife Museum

Archive of the Afterlife is located in the old Sanford School

West Virginia is an awesome place for the paranormal enthusiast---our Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum and WV State Penitentiary consistently show up on lists of "Most Haunted" locations throughout the country and even the world. Numerous television shows, including the Dead Files, Ghost Hunters, and Ghost Adventures, have filmed the spooky experiences of our residents. Our Greenbank Observatory is helping lead the way into potential extraterrestrial contact. We've got the first ghost to ever testify in a court of law, leading to a murder conviction. And...we've got some pretty awesome, yet spooky MUSEUMS!

Most paranormal enthusiasts are familiar with the world's only Mothman Museum, located in Pt. Pleasant, WV...but there's another wonderful paranormal-themed museum in the northern part of our state that is definitely worth checking out: The Archive of the Afterlife.

Located just down the road from the WV State Penitentiary in Moundsville, the Archive of the Afterlife Museum is a fascinating repository of history, culture, and all things spooky!  Since 2011, curator and owner, Steve Hummel, has worked tirelessly to amass and share a collection of haunted artifacts and pieces of paranormal history from throughout West Virginia and beyond.

The Archive of the Afterlife isn't huge---in fact, it's a little on the small side. However, it is absolutely PACKED to overflowing with items that would make Zak Bagans salivate, lol. You could spend hours in there and probably not get a good look at EVERY item that makes up the collection.

Can't make it to the Warren's Museum in Connecticut to see Annabelle, the haunted doll? No worries---the Archive of the Afterlife has MULTIPLE dolls that are not only creepy to look at, but who have shown definite signs of being haunted/possessed. Want to see the long-lost skull cap from the State Pen's Ol' Sparky? You can find that here as well! You can find haunted portraits, military memorabilia, death/life masks, and plenty more. I just think its awesome that we have this type of place right here in the Mountain State!

My family and I visited this wonderful attraction last summer during our weekend in Moundsville. Of course, I was in Heaven, and probably a little overwhelmed with all there was to see. I worried that my 7-year-old son would be bored stupid, but to my surprise, he enjoyed it as well. He had a weird fascination with this creepy 'Charlie' Doll, and requested I take his photo with it for posterity. He was also drawn to a haunted edition of Dr. Seuss' famous Foot Book that apparently carries the memory (and a blood stain) of a quadruple homicide. That was probably MY favorite artifact as well, but like I said, there was so much to look at and read about that it was really hard to choose just one top item.

In addition to the collection of artifacts, Steve and his museum also offer a variety of special events, including the 2018 Grave City Haunted Relic Expo January 20th! And....I'll be there! I have rented a vendor table to promote Theresa's Haunted History and will be selling some ghostly household items and other sundries. If you're going to be in the area, please stop in and say hi! Admission is only $5, which includes access to the vendor area, live music, and tons of AWESOME speakers and presenters. You can find the whole lineup and more information at the EVENT PAGE.

The museum is located on the second floor of  the Sanford Center (1600 3rd St., Moundsville, WV, at the corner of 3rd and Cedar). From April to November, the museum is open from 1pm to 6pm, Tuesday through Saturday. December through March, the museum is open from 1pm to 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays only. Admission is just $3/person or $5/couple. Please see official WEBSITE and Facebook page for more information. This location is a MUST-SEE, and is an easy stop for anyone coming in from out of town to investigate or take a tour of the penitentiary. Also, make plans to attend this year's Haunted Relic Expo, and make sure you stop by and say hi to me!

Theresa Travels to the Castle Halloween Museum

Photo by Stephen David Entertainment, via Location Library

(Theresa's Note: This post is from 2014. Castle Halloween is no longer located in Benwood, WV. It has reopened in Altoona, PA. I've updated the contact information and included a recent magazine article and a YouTube playlist. Happy Halloween!) 

2024 Article by Sean Collier in the Pittsburgh Magazine

YouTube Playlist for Castle Halloween

Castle Halloween Museum

Address: 1595 Boggs Run Rd. Benwood, WV (Now at 2028 Broad Ave. Altoona, PA)

Contact: 304-233-1031 (Now 814-940-1031)

Hours: Open by appointment only

Price: $8 admission (Now $15)

Gift Shop/Antique Boutique on-site

Website: www.castlehalloween.com 

Over this past weekend, a very small planned trip north morphed into an unexpected adventure beyond what we ever thought we'd be doing in a whole year, let alone the span of a half a day!  In this first installment of a 3-part blog, join me on the first leg of our journey and how we came to get there in the first place!

Theresa Discovers The Castle Halloween Museum

For the past several years, members of HPIR have promoted our Haunted and Historic Guyandotte Tours at the yearly History Day at the Legislature, held each February at the State Capitol.  It's a day where historical interest groups from all over the state can come together...and its a great resource for finding unique tourism opportunities!  

At least, that's what happened several years ago when I picked up a newsletter being passed out by the West Virginia Association of Museums.  Sitting at our info table, I started reading through the newsletter during a lull in the action and was pleasantly surprised to see an article about a unique museum in our Northern Panhandle devoted entirely to the social history of Halloween.  I filed that information away, with an understanding that one day, I would take the time to make the trip.  For me, Halloween isn't just a one-day event; it's a lifestyle.  

As it is, life got in the way and the museum, while not forgotten, lost priority until my boyfriend came home one day and excitedly asked me if I had ever heard of a Halloween museum near Wheeling.  He then proceeded to show me a video on Youtube he found featuring an in-depth overview of all the wonders the museum has to offer.  We decided unanimously to up the priority level and make sure we crossed this one off our bucket list.  It took almost a year, but I finally got my chance to visit. My friend Carrie and I decided we were going to take a day trip to Moundsville. We took a tour of the Palace of Gold, the WV State Penitentiary, and of course, made a stop at the wonderful Castle Halloween Museum!

Boggs Run School: Undated photo from Marshall Co. GenWeb

Planning The Trip

The Castle Halloween Museum is open by appointment only and you'll need to call a few days in advance---even though the museum is a short drive off US 250, communications are spotty and it might be a day or so before the owners can return your call.  You can reach them through an email form provided on the website, www.castlehalloween.com, or you can call.  The phone number is 304-233-1031 and it totally went over my head until writing this down that last four digits of the phone number are 10/31, as in, October 31st---Halloween!

The museum itself is housed in the old  Boggs Run School, located on Boggs Run Road in Benwood.  A short drive directly off U.S. Route 250, the museum is just a few minutes away from both Wheeling, WV and Moundsville, WV...which, we'll discuss a little later on!  Anyway, Boggs Run, which wasn't incorporated into the town of Benwood until 1944 (and named after James Boggs who settled in the area in the late 1700s) is prone to flooding, so keep that in mind if the rains have been especially heavy.

The Tour

Our tour was scheduled for 9 am Saturday morning and we arrived a few minutes early after our nearly 3 hour drive from Charleston, WV.  Pulling into the parking lot, we were delighted to see the old school building adorned with gargoyles.  We entered through the "cemetery gates" and into the lower level of the building where immediately we were seized with hundreds of vintage boxed costumes, a collection of children's books, and other fun stuff.  We met our tour guide and owner, Pamela Apkarian-Russell, and her delightful husband, Chris, and began the guided portion of the tour.

Pamela is know as the Halloween Queen, and for good reason.  Not only has she amassed and curated a 35,000+ collection of Halloween and related memorabilia, she's also authored an impressive collection of books about Halloween-themed antiques and collectibles, as well as collections of ghost stories and history.

The guided part of the tour lasts around 90 minutes and Pamela is extremely knowledgeable about the history and the social and cultural significance of each piece in the massive collection.  Vintage costumes including Dennison crepe paper examples dating all the way back to the early 20th century,  Halloween-themed Fenton glass, mourning jewelry and other memento mori, board games, pottery, original paintings, folk art, voodoo memorabilia, decorations, advertising...this is just a minuscule example of what is available to see.  Plenty of antiques from early times up through modern vintage definitely evoke a feeling of nostalgia...and exhibits featuring newer examples of pop culture, such as Harry Potter and The Nightmare Before Christmas will interest the younger visitors.   If you're looking for a gory, horrifying house of terror, you're in the wrong place.  However, if you're looking for an excellent slice of America's favorite holiday from a cultural and historical perspective, you'll be in heaven.

Halloween Queen Pamela, and husband Chris.  Courtesy of castlehalloween.com

After the guided portion of the tour, you're free to roam about on your own to take a closer look.  There is so much to see that it is quite overwhelming!  You could spend a month in there and not see everything, which gives us plenty of reason to plan another trip!  We did spend a few minutes taking in some of what we missed the first time around, but found ourselves enjoying plenty of off-topic conversation with our gracious hosts.  We learned that they had moved the museum to WV about ten years ago, after living in New England.  Shoddy construction crews had destroyed the roof, and as a result, a corner of the main exhibit showroom was heavily damaged by rainwater.  We also learned that even though people have come from all over the world to this little corner of West Virginia to visit the Halloween museum, it is not well-received by the locals.  

For that reason, I strongly encourage each and every one of you out there reading this to visit this museum as soon as possible and bring your friends and family along!  This is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in history, or anything even remotely related to Halloween.  It is truly a unique experience and you'll never seen anything quite like it anywhere else.  We need to spread the word!  Make a donation or buy one of Pamela's books, available online if you cannot make the trip.  Certain instances have left a poor impression of West Virginia and her people on this couple, and I'd like to show them that this is NOT representative of all of us, or even the majority of us.  So, please support this awesome destination and help make it an integral part of Northern Panhandle tourism.

Extra Stuff to Consider:

*Are you visiting Moundsville Penitentiary for a tour or ghost hunt?  The Castle Halloween Museum is a very short and easy drive from the prison; it took us seriously only about 5-10 minutes to get there.  If you're coming from out of town, plan out a few extra hours before or after your penitentiary experience to tour the Halloween Museum.  You will NOT be disappointed!

*Bringing children?  Children are welcome on the tour, which can be customized within reason to fit their age level and interests.  However, in my opinion, this is a tour that will be most enjoyed by those ages 10 and up.  

*Mobility issues?  There are some very tight spaces, and a few stairs leading up to the front door and down to the main level of the museum.  However, if you require a wheelchair, please give them a call and let them know the situation.  I believe I read online somewhere that special accommodations can be made.  The good thing is, there really isn't much walking involved.  Still, wear a pair of comfy shoes, and dress seasonably.  Fans were placed liberally throughout the museum, offering a chance to cool down and keep the air moving, but it was still quite hot inside during our visit.

*Photography is allowed and encouraged!

*Bring cash for your $8 admission fee!

In Conclusion

I could spend hours just talking about all the cool things we saw and how much fun we had at West Virginia's best kept little secret.  In fact, our original itinerary was just to visit the museum, maybe walk around downtown Wheeling for a bit, have lunch, and then head back home.  Plans quickly changed after we realized how freaking close we were to Moundsville!  Check back tomorrow for part two of this blog series...and find out what was going on at one of the most haunted locations in the world!

MN's Haunted Greyhound Bus Museum

Our theoretical trip across Haunted America is drawing nearer to a close.  Today's stop is Hibbing, Minnesota at the Greyhound Bus Museum.

Photo from the Greyhound Bus Museum's website

Since 1999, the Greyhound Bus museum has been located in its own facility at 1201 Greyhound Blvd.  And, since 1999, the museum, which features over 17 historical Greyhound buses and various photos, videos, and memorabilia showcasing the history of bus transportation in America, has been haunted.

Various phenomena have been reported by staff members, and several different paranormal investigation groups have collected compelling evidence and experienced first-hand accounts of the museum's otherworldly inhabitants.  Tools will go missing, only to show up neatly stacked elsewhere sometime later.  Strange noises are heard and shadows are seen darting in between buses and even ON the "Nine Bus."  For display purposes, the bus windows are set in the closed position, while the doors remain open for visitors to explore the insides.  However, staff who are there by themselves will report that many of the buses' doors will be found closed on their own, and their windows in the down position.  The Scenic Cruiser 4501 is especially prone to its windows being lowered and raised by spectral hands.

And then, there's the little girl.  Witnesses have seen the apparition of a little girl between the ages of eight and ten years old.  She is most active around 5a.m. and it is noted that even local police officers have witnessed the child.  The little girl has also been known to interact with paranormal investigators via EVP.

So why would a newer building built specifically for the museum be so haunted?  There are definitely different theories.  It's possible that whatever is haunting the building has a direct tie to the buses or some other piece of memorabilia.  That is something we see a lot with museum investigations and even investigations of locations with many antiques.  John Zaffis, the Haunted Collector, has even carved out quite an interesting living dealing with haunted artifacts, so the idea is definitely one that is not new to paranormal research.

However, The Minnesota Paranormal Study Group (MPSG) did a couple of investigations here back in 2009 and posted some rather compelling historical research about the LOCATION where the building now sits.

Adjacent to the museum is Hibbing's oldest cemetery, Hibbing Park Cemetery, (sometimes called Maple Hill to distinguish it from North Hibbing Cemetery) which saw its first burial probably around October of 1919 according to its website.  Many, including Glen Katzenberger (listed as assistant director of the museum during its 2009 investigation by MPSG), believe that the hauntings stem from the connection with the cemetery.  But...there could be OTHER explanations as well. *Note* I've had a few people tell me that the cemetery in question IS the North Hibbing Cemetery. I've also had a few people tell me that it isn't the North Hibbing, lol. I don't plan on traveling to Minnesota any time soon to confirm or deny, so please just be advised that to the best of my knowledge, its one or the other, lol.

Photo by Lisa McLean, Find-a-Grave

Also according to MPSG's research, the land where the museum sits was once a quarantine camp for a 1918 outbreak of yellow fever.  It was theorized that the close proximity to the Hibbing Park Cemetery was ideal so that bodies could be easily disposed of from the camp.  Although the first official burial didn't happen until 1919, we do know that the land for the cemetery was acquired as early as 1917 so we can't officially rule anything out.  In addition, the fill dirt for the construction was taken from Rhood Hospital.  Is it possible that the little girl ghost and any of the others are associated with the quarantine camp, or even the dirt from the former hospital?  Those theories also hold some merit in ghost lore theory, but there's one more scenario that needs to be addressed...and that is the issue of completely natural causes!

In 1920, the town of Hibbing was actually moved when the Oliver Mining Company found an abundance of iron ore under the town.  The original Hibbing is located just north of the building, and right beside it is the Hull Rust Mahohning Mine.  With that much iron ore and mining operations located so close by, is it possible that the windows and doors moving could be attributed to ground vibrations?  Could the apparitions and darting shadows be nothing more than the effects of infrasound or a disturbance in electromagnetic fields?  I think that's also quite a possibility!

*Hungry for more Hibbing haunts?  Check out the famous Hibbing High School Phantom*