The Spectral History of Washington's Carnation Cemetery

Source

The old Tolt Cemetery, commonly referred to as the Carnation Cemetery, is located in King County, Washington.  According to a local citizen named Isabel Jones, the cemetery dates back to 1905 when Frederick B. Bagwell donated the land which is now the northern section of the cemetery.  Bagwell headed up the cemetery association, which was entirely comprised of Masons.  However, the cemetery was open to everyone.  The following year, however, the International Order of Oddfellows started their own cemetery association and their own cemetery, located directly across the road, to the south of Tolt Cemetery.

Eventually, though, the two separate cemeteries would combine.  In 1957, the Oddfellows took control of the northern half, and it remained in their possession until the mid-1990s when the city officially took over.  Over the 2 acres of land that make up the Carnation Cemetery, there are several burials that pre-date the 1905 origin.  These burials were relocated from nearby Pleasant Hill Cemetery when the new cemetery was established.

Today, the Carnation Cemetery is still an active place---active with paranormal activity!  There are numerous mentions of this location being haunted, and it seems like each mention contains a different laundry list of strange and unusual activity experienced by visitors.  Here are just a few of the many things experienced in this historically haunted cemetery!

*Apparition of a woman in a white dress, sometimes accompanied by a young boy
*Visitors experiencing physical pain with no apparent cause
*Indistinguishable apparitions seen in the peripheral vision
*EVPs saying 'no' and 'help me'
*Shortness of breath
*Whispers and disembodied footsteps
*Feelings of being watched or not alone
*Movement of pinwheels on graves with no apparent wind or other cause

Investigation by Northwest Paranormal Investigations
Visit by Shawn and Rachelle

Following the Deer

One of the latest trends in 'paranormal photography' is the trail-cam capture photo and if you've been on any type of paranormal-related social media in the last year, you've probably come across this photo of a little girl, barefoot and in a nightgown, wandering through the forest while one deer cautiously glances at her, and another stares directly into the camera.  Why don't the deer run off? What is this child even doing out there in the first place? And, why does everything look so darn creepy?

Many have tried to say that the answer to those questions is simply that this little girl is a ghost! And hey, why not?  With all the other creepy trail-cam shots featuring 'ghosts,' including the one below of another ghostly little girl, that's a plausible explanation, right?

Well, like the other trail-cam shots I've analyzed on this blog, this one also falls into the non-paranormal category.  But, unlike those others, this one isn't a flat-out hoax, either!  It's actually a work of art!  The name of this particular shot is "runaway surveillance still 6" and is part of a 2012 photography series by Chicago-area artist, William Harper! This series features several different shots of the little girl among the deer, but the entire series, collectively known as following the deer feature a wide variety of somewhat strange woodland scenarios, including several adults frolicking in the forest nude. More information on William Harper and this series of photos, partially sponsored by the Illinois Art Council, can be found at the following link. *William Harper Photography*

Still the reigning ghost girl champ!

Trail Cam Craziness
Skinwalker Hoax (Still from the movie, Xtro)
Jersey Devil/Demon Chases Deer
Ghost App Girl Hoax

Book Review for Gateway Ghosts and Local Legends

Title: Gateway Ghosts and Local Legends
Authors: Lori and Ron Coffey
Published: 2009 by Fairy Ring Press
Purchase Information:  Available at Jerry's Restaurant in Mt. Sterling, or through the authors' website
Website: Gateway Paranormal Society

Frequent readers to my blog and Facebook page have probably heard me talk about how my boyfriend works for the Kentucky State Police (we're still living in WV, though!) and how his work requires him to travel over a good portion of the state fairly regularly.  On a recent trip to the Mount Sterling area, he and a co-worker stopped for lunch at a little diner called Jerry's....and found this book sitting on the counter!

I am a complete sucker for small-run books on local ghost stories, and this book is the perfect example.  Over the course of 137 pages, the authors (who are paranormal investigators with Gateway Paranormal Society) delve into the ghosts, folklore, UFO and even monster sightings of the area around Mount Sterling...a swath of land where the Eastern Kentucky hills give way to the flatter plains of the west. And seriously...who could have guessed that this area would have SO MUCH paranormal history?!

Reading through these tales was an enjoyable experience, but Gateway Ghosts is definitely one of those books intended for the person who doesn't want to be bogged down with a lot of extraneous detail and history--- each entry was short and to the point.  Although there were several minor editing errors, for the most part it was well-written in a very simplistic, straightforward style.  A large, easy-to-read font makes this book ideal for younger readers interested in local ghost-lore as well as anyone who simply has a short attention span!

I learned so much from reading this book, and now have a list of topics that I want to research further.  It really is packed with some great anecdotes, first-hand accounts, and good, ol' fashioned spooky stories that would be difficult to find anywhere else. I tend to really enjoy books that delve a little more into the history behind suspected haunts, but I appreciate  getting back to the basics when it is as well done as it was here.   Beautiful black and white photos and illustrations only add to the appeal of this little book.  If you'd like to get a copy, they are being sold through the authors' website, listed above.

The Liekkio--A Finnish Fright Bite

Omens of Death: The Liekkio, by sombrefeline

Have you ever heard of the Finnish ghost called a Liekkio or Liekko?

According to Peter Haining's Dictionary of Ghostlore, the Liekkio is the spirit of a child who was secretly buried in the woods.  Often these children were the result of unwanted pregnancies, abuse and neglect, and even....murder.  I can't help but think that Hansel and Gretel came pretty darn close to becoming a couple of Liekkios themselves!

Liekkio means 'flaming one,' and that is exactly how these spirits are said to manifest.  Much like the willow-o'-the wisp and the Jack o' Lantern, the Liekkio manifests as a dancing flame which lures travelers away to danger, and in some versions of the story, lures them to Tuonela, the Finnish realm of the dead.  Seeing the Liekkio, whether you choose to follow it or not, is often regarded as a death omen, and the area in which they are seen is surely to be the spot of an upcoming death.

Today, the same explanation for willow-o-the-wisp (and the many other similar ghost lights seen throughout the world) is given for liekkios---swamp gas!  Swamp gas is caused by the breaking down of organic matter in areas that are persistently wet.  So the next time you're hiking through one of Finland's swampy forests and see a dancing flame luring you off your path, just ignore it and keep going!  While it might not actually be a real GHOST, it might just lure you off into a dangerous area of the forest, filled with snakes, bugs, and other swamp-related hazards.

 What Causes Willow-o-the-Wisps?

Happy Paranormal Day!

Happy Paranormal Day!

Seriously, its a real holiday...at least, its as real as the other bizarre holidays this month, such as Lost Sock Memorial Day!  Paranormal Day might not be well recognized, but its an opportunity for lovers of the strange and unusual to band together and share our love with those around us!  It is a day to bring much needed recognition and validity to field of paranormal research, as well. There are numerous ways to celebrate this wonderful holiday and to get you started, I've included eight simple spooky activities, perfect for today or ANY day really!  Join me over on Theresa's Haunted History Facebook page and let me know how you're celebrating.

1. Watch a spooky, ghost-themed movie...but not necessarily a horror flick.  There are so many good movies out there that feature ghosts and other paranormal elements, many of which can be watched for FREE on Youtube, or through popular streaming services, such as Netflix.  To get you started, you can check out my article on Paranormal Investigation Movies.  If movies aren't really what you're in the mood for, you can watch a few episodes of your favorite paranormal television show, instead.  And...if you are of legal age and are so inclined, you can check out my blogs for DRINKING GAMES of two popular series, Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures.

2. Read a book!  Fiction or non-fiction, its your choice...just make sure there are some elements of the paranormal in there somewhere! If you have a Kindle, there are plenty of awesome choices out there for FREE download from Amazon.  You can check out my recommendations HERE, or go to my Book Reviews page for plenty of non-fiction choices, mostly featuring tri-state area haunts.

3. Tell ghost stories.  Get together with friends and families over a bonfire or in front of the fireplace and see who can tell the creepiest story.  See if you can guess which stories are made up...and which ones are completely TRUE!  You can even turn it into a game---several years ago, my friends and I got together to play a game called 100 Candles.  It's an old Japanese ghost story game in which 100 candles are lit.  The guests take turns telling ghost stories, blowing out a candle at the conclusion of each tale.  When all 100 candles are blown out, it is said that the darkness around you will be filled with all 100 ghosts from the tales.  You'll probably get bored well before reaching 100 stories, but its a fun opportunity to get together with friends, pig out, and have fun.

4. Visit a haunted location!  Many historical places open to the public have at least one or two ghost stories attached.  Eat dinner at a haunted restaurant, tour a haunted museum, stay the night in a haunted hotel, bowl a game at your favorite haunted bowling alley, take in a show at a haunted theater, or simply take a leisurely drive down a haunted road. Read up on the haunted history of your chosen spot, then keep your eyes and ears open for anything strange.  Don't forget to bring your camera and take lots of pictures---you never know who might show up in your shots.

5. Do a little paranormal investigating for yourself!  Don't belong to a group....no problem.  There are plenty of locations that offer public ghost hunts, such as Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum and the WV State Penitentiary.  Can't afford the big name pay-to-play locations?  Also not a problem!  Just grab a few friends, a camera and a cheap voice recorder and check out any local haunted hot spots, such as cemeteries or parks.  Just make sure you get permission to be there and practice good behavior.  You can read my article on Outdoor Investigation Tips to give you some ideas.

6. Get a psychic reading. Whether or not you believe that anyone has the ability to tell the future, its always a little fun to see how eerily accurate (or totally off-base) your reading can be.

7. Are you more of a studious type?  Get educated!  Take a class related to the paranormal field, such as genealogy or photography...there are some great FREE choices online, but you can also find one local to your area.  You can also take Fiona Broome's FREE Ghosts 101 class, which comes with a certificate of completion.  Don't have the time to commit to an actual class?  Youtube is full of wonderful lectures from a variety of speakers on a variety of paranormal topics. I've even found a few TEDx videos dealing with paranormal topics, such as a talk by Jeff Belanger on haunted places!

8. Turn Paranormal Day into a Day of Service.  Way back when I first heard of Paranormal Day (I believe about 8-9 years ago) it was being touted as a day of service, a way for the paranormal community to not only recognize the field as a legit field of study, but as a way to give back to the community.  This is a perfect opportunity to volunteer as a team, or individually, and give it a paranormal spin!  Do you have a historic cemetery nearby that could use some work?  Get with the owner to see what can be down about mowing, trimming, cleaning up debris, etc.  However, don't undertake any preservation work or cleaning of tombstones unless you are properly trained to do so.  If there is a historic building near you, check with the owners to see if there is anything you can do to help.  Again, light yard work, such as mowing and trimming, might be needed, but perhaps they need volunteers to help with historic tours, cleaning up inside, or office work. You can also make a monetary donation to these types of locations for their upkeep, if that's more your style.

The Ghosts of Lewisburg's John Wesley Methodist Church

Photo by Chuck and Alice Riecks

Also known as the First Methodist Church, the John Wesley Methodist Church in Lewisburg, West Virginia is one of the oldest brick churches in the state.  Construction began on what is now E. Foster Street in 1820 under the direction of John Weir.  Major renovations were undertaken by notable mason and architect John Dunn in 1835, giving the church a new vestibule, indoor staircase, and office space. Unfortunately, between the time when the church was originally built and when it was renovated, there was a tragic death involving a young girl who was a member of the congregation. 

Although the cause of death is not given, local legend states that visitors to the church have noticed the little girl, about ten years old, seemingly FLOATING high above the ground, her braids and dress flapping in the breeze.  The reason the child appears to be floating is that when she was alive, the staircase to the upper slave balcony of the church was located outside the building. The 1835 renovations, which included an indoor staircase, made the outdoor one obsolete and it was eventually removed. In life, it was said that the young girl enjoyed sitting on the top stair, bouncing her ball as she looked down.  It is this phantom sound of her bouncing ball that draws the witness' eyes up to the young girl seemingly suspended in mid-air, waiting on a staircase that has been gone for over 100 years.

The death of a young church member wouldn't be the only tragedy the church would face in its history...and it wouldn't even be the only tragedy that would result in paranormal activity!

Prior to the Civil War, the Methodist Church was split on a national level over the issue of slavery.  The congregation of the Methodist Episcopal Church remained in the building, while the Methodist Episcopal Church South faction moved into a new facility across the town.  The two factions would eventually reunited after the war, building a new church.  According to information from the National Register of Historic Places, the John Wesley building was then given or sold to the freed Blacks who were once relegated to only worshiping in its upper balcony.   However, before that happened, the John Wesley Methodist Church had to survive the war.

During the Civil War, the church found itself literally in the middle of the May 23, 1862 Battle of Lewisburg.  During the fighting, a cannonball struck the church, and the resulting damage can still be seen today. After the fighting had died down, the church was used as a makeshift hospital building for the wounded and dying soldiers on both sides.  The second ghostly legend from this church involves a young soldier who was mortally wounded.  For whatever reason, instead of receiving medical treatment inside the church, the young soldier was said to have crawled into some bushes on the side of the building, hiding from the enemy troops.  He died before anyone found him and today, the energy of his tragic death seems to have left a lasting impression.  The area on the side of the church is shrouded in an unearthly darkness...a darkness so deep that it seems to swallow up anyone who enters.  Those who do enter, however, report overwhelming feelings of sadness and melancholy, almost as if they are feeling what the young soldier felt as he lay dying all alone.

*Information on the ghost stories associated with this location came from the book, Haunted Lewisburg West Virginia, by Nancy Richmond, Tammy Workman, and Misty Murray Walkup.*  

National Register Application

Kentucky's Lake Monsters

With my boyfriend working for the Kentucky State Police and traveling all over the Bluegrass State, I've found myself focusing a lot of my reading and research on Kentucky legends and ghost stories.  Through that research, I've stumbled upon not one, but TWO different Kentucky lake monster stories!  Now, Kentucky definitely isn't a state that I would normally associate with a high concentration of aquatic cryptids...but these two stories certainly suggest something strange is going on in those waters!

The Lake Linville Monster--Rockcastle County

The first lake monster I ran across comes from the far western part of the state, in Rockcastle County.  Close by to the haunted Aunt Polly House lies Lake Linville.  Lake Linville is a man-made lake created in 1968 by the construction of the earthen Renfro Dam.  At a maximum depth of only 36 feet and an average depth of 16 feet, it doesn't necessarily seem like the ideal home for a large, unusual beast...but try telling that to the locals!

There are various references and comments made in passing about what exactly lurks in these waters, if anything (some feel that the sightings are merely trash and other debris littering the lake), but sadly to say, the most detailed information comes from a Topix post, started in September 2008, warning people to stay away from Lake Linville.  The poster relates a personal story about a bluish green snake-like creature with a long neck and a long tail and a head the size of a basketball that attacked his canoe, breaking it in half and leaving him for dead in the water.  While many mocked the authenticity of this encounter, several others came forward with similar, if not less dramatic, encounters.  Well...except for ONE post.  A poster relates a fairly horrifying tale from when she was a little girl and the lake was first being created.  Could it be the origin of today's sightings?  Here's a portion of her story in her own words:

"ONe afternoon, we decided to take a hike in the woods after our picnic and we had been gone for about an hour when we heard the helicopters.

There were three of them and one was huge, the size of an Army helicoptor or something. We stayed in the woods and watched as men with guns got out.

Mom was afraid and made us all hide. The next thing I knew, a large crate, big enough to hold a car was brought off of one of the helicopters. Then six men with guns who were wearing black masks opened it. I was astounded and almost screamed as a huge, black snail looking thing came out. It seemed to be looking at the men and one of the men yelled, "Go!" real loud and then the thing swished into the water.

The men went back to the helicopter where two more crates were taken off and two more of the slug like animals were let go. All of a sudden the men with the guns began to back up and we saw that one of the giant snail like things was scooting towards them. That's when we heard the shots."

Sid Calk Lake--Mt. Sterling Area

From Calk Lake's Facebook

This second lake monster tale only recently caught my attention while reading the book Gateway Ghosts and Other Local Legends by Lori and Ron Coffey.  Sid Calk Lake, located in the Mt. Sterling area, is a private fishing lake named for Sidney Johnson Calk, a local resident who died on October 16, 1975 at the age of 85.  As a private lake, membership is required to partake in the excellent fishing, picnic opportunities, and corn hole tournaments!  Today, the lake seems like a fun place to relax and partake in outdoor recreational activities, but it became a scene of horror during the summer of 1967.

The first sighting of the Calk Lake monster was witnessed by three men out doing some night fishing.  When their boat got caught on some debris, one of the men jumped out to help untangle it.  He thought he was standing on a submersed log...until the 'log' coiled up, splashed around and swam away!  The light of the full moon illuminated what was estimated to be a snake or snake-like creature as big as a telephone pole.

Several days after that sighting another fisherman was thrilled to have caught a pretty big bass...but as he was reeling it in, a snake with a head as large as a trashcan snatched it off his line and swam away with it. The final sighting came later that summer when a young boy spotted the creature, describing it as being 'long as a house,' and as 'big around as a man.'  A few glimpses were caught here and there, but just as mysteriously as it showed up, the Calk Lake Monster disappeared for good.

Article by Ron Coffey on the Calk Lake Monster