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Sunday, December 31, 2017

Theresa's Haunted History Welcomes 2018!

Image from Shutterstock
Tonight, we say goodbye to 2017 and welcome in a new year full of new hopes and new possibilities. This past year wasn't the greatest for Theresa's Haunted History---between bouts of depression and lack of motivation, I just don't feel like I accomplished very much. Therefore, I'm MORE than ready to usher in a new year and another chance to move on.

I've got some pretty awesome things in the works for this year, and I wanted to share them with you all! So, here's my Paranormal New Year's Resolutions for 2018...ya'll make sure I stay accountable and actually get at least SOME of these done!

1. Increase Posting: I have a bad habit of going through these phases where I'll post every day for a couple of weeks at a time...and then stop for over a month. I went nearly 6 months without a single post earlier this year and that is something I NEVER want to do again. Not only do I want to do WAY better than this year's measly 51 posts, but I want to make sure I stay consistent as well.

2. Start a YouTube Channel: My goal is to make several micro-documentary style videos on various paranormal topics of interest to the tri-state. I'd also like to do some review-style videos and maybe showcase some actual investigations, field work, and/or experiments.

3. Book!: I've been saying this for YEARS and the truth is, I pretty much HAVE a book ready to be self-published at any time. However, like with most of what I do in regards to Theresa's Haunted History, I am my own worst enemy. I am WAY too thin-skinned, lol. I feel like that whatever I try, there's already someone out there who has not only done it already, but has done it way better than I ever could. I just got a really strongly worded comment on how awful my historical research was and it is taking everything I have to not just give up completely. I feel like the second I publish a book, all I'm gonna get is hate-mail about how awful and inaccurate it is. But, I'm gonna try to bite the bullet and overcome my fears. Keep an eye out for updates!

There are a few other things that I'm working on for the next few months. On a personal level, I'm planning on continuing my reiki studies and finally taking the MUFON certification test. You can always follow me on Facebook or on Twitter for updates, news, and all sorts of other fun stuff.

I sincerely hope that you have had a wonderful 2017 and will have an even better 2018! Thank you so much for supporting and encouraging me through the tough times. Be safe out there tonight and make the coming year your best one yet!  Stay Spooky, and let me know what YOUR spooky resolutions are for 2018!


Friday, December 29, 2017

Friday Funny: Exorcising Season!



We're just a few more days away from the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018! If you're already starting to make your list of New Year's Resolutions, perhaps you've included a goal of losing weight? Working out? Getting healthier?  If your 2018 includes plans on joining your local gym or breaking out your own treadmill, then let this Friday Funny serve as a spooky inspiration for you! I hope you had a great 2017 and that 2018 is a good one as well!

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Luke Meets Krampus...AGAIN

On December 9th, my family and I traveled to Mike Winland Studios in Kanawha City. Our mission was to once again face off against everyone's favorite holiday monster, Krampus!

Mike Winland, creator of the West Virginia horror and sci-fi convention, Shocka-Con, is a local artist and photographer with a flair for the spooky and unusual. We were thrilled that he was offering this opportunity to sit for a professional photo shoot with such an awesome Krampus! The prices were extremely reasonable for the prints, and Mr. Krampus himself was quite entertaining. We may have to pay for some therapy for Luke later on, but it was all worth it for this shot!

In case you're not familiar with Krampus, he's the not-so-lovable companion to St. Nicholas. On the night of December 5th, while St. Nicholas is busy throughout eastern Europe leaving presents for good little boys and girls, Krampus is out roaming the countryside for the naughty ones. If you're just a little naughty, he might just leave a birch switch for your parents to beat you with. If you're REALLY naughty, you might end up being spirited away in Krampus' sack of horrors!

Luke was a very good boy this year, but there was no convincing him that Krampus wasn't out to take him away, lol. And I don't blame him for being scared----we met a different Krampus last year at Oddbird Gift Emporium in Charleston. That Krampus was a well-spoken, non-threatening sort of interpretation, while the Mike Winland Krampus was the stuff nightmares are made of!

I really hope Mike Winland Studios offers this unique chance again next year. Yeah, its fun to be scared, but more importantly, the sharing of the Krampus legend preserves and introduces the culture, history, and folklore that many around here might not otherwise get to experience. So keep an eye out for next year to see if Krampus shall return...and until then, watch for other great events. The studio is not only a REALLY unique place to get photos done year round, but also houses an art gallery full of wonderful pieces for sale.





Wednesday, December 27, 2017

A Funeral For Old Man Gloom

Source
It's late...but its still technically Wednesday and therefore, its time for a Weird and Wacky end-of-the-year Wednesday!

I found this photo on one of my favorite historic image sites, WV History on View. Taken in Fairmont, WV in late 1928, this strange image depicts a funeral being held in the downtown area.

The funeral, sponsored by the WMMN radio station in Fairmont, is for none other than Old Man Gloom!  But...who IS Old Man Gloom? From what I can gather, in the 1920's, it was an annual tradition in many parts of the country to personify all the gloom and doom of the year and bury it as a way to usher in a more prosperous new year. The funeral procession and mock burial, complete with coffin and headstone, would take place during the last days of the calendar year. With Old Man Gloom safely six feet under, hope for a better year ahead was given to the city.

I hope YOU have a much improved year in 2018! Say goodbye to 2017 and make sure to take any gloom you may have acquired over the past 12 months and bury it safely away...at least, metaphorically!



Friday, December 15, 2017

More Ouija Demons



Ever since the movie, The Exorcist, came out, the Ouija Board has been synonymous with demons. Many believe that there are plenty of low-level, evil, demonic entities just sitting around waiting to be contacted through improper use of the board. This is the second Ouija-related Friday Funny of the month, and I cannot promise it will be the last! 

Oh, and if you want some tips and tricks on using the Ouija board for yourself, or are simply interested in hearing MY thoughts on the whole Ouija debate, please check out my article: Ouija Boards ARE Dangerous! Stay spooky ya'll! 

Friday, December 8, 2017

Friday Funny: The Ouija Demons



You can file this one under "things I laughed at harder than I should have"! Happy Friday Funny Day...and I promise, there will be more...educational...demon-related posts throughout the rest of the month, lol. 

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

The Day I Tried to Sell my Soul

We've established on here that I was a weird kid. A REALLY weird kid. When I was about 4 or 5 years old, I would tell people that I wanted to be a voodoo high priestess when I grew up. When I got a little older, I abandoned those plans in favor of becoming a parapsychologist, just like the people I read about in my grandparents' collection of parapsychology and ghost books! I enjoyed visiting spooky locations, watching anything that came on television dealing with the paranormal, and reading anything I could get my hands on.

However, probably the weirdest (and least-advised) things I did before my 10th birthday was attempt to sell my soul to the king of demons himself, The Devil. A little explanation is in order...

It's not that I was an evil, Satanic child. I didn't worship Lucifer and I certainly wasn't after any selfish gains, such as wealth, popularity, or immortality. I was simply curious as to whether or not I could actually do it. There may also have been a touch of oppositional defiance disorder thrown in for good measure.

Even as a young child, I was starting to question a lot of things that I had been taught, one of them being the existence of Satan and how easy it was to summon him, according to movies and television. I was convinced that no matter what, it wouldn't actually work. However, on the off-chance that it did, I was prepared. I had planned on simply just not going through with the deal, lol. I would summon him with the promise of my soul, but before I signed any contract or made anything official, I'd just tell him I changed my mind. Apparently, I had thought this would be adequate, lol.

So, without fear, I attempted to contact the Devil one night. I didn't do anything fancy...just simply audibly and in my head tried to call out to him that I wanted to make a deal. I think I did wait until midnight to do this, as if that would make a difference. Obviously, the red man never showed up. For a brief period of time, I was slightly worried that somehow it HAD worked without me even realizing it. But since I could still enter a church without bursting into flames and the automatic door at the supermarket still opened for me (Simpsons reference for ya), my confidence that I was okay quickly returned.

As an adult, I still have a hard time believing in a Biblical perspective of the Devil and his legion of demons. However, I still would not recommend anyone actually attempting to make contact like I had tried, so many years ago. While my beliefs tend to lean away from this Christian perspective of who/what Satan is, I am open-minded enough to acknowledge that there very well may be forces of good and evil beyond our comprehension. There are some things that its probably best to err on the side of caution and just not mess with, this being one of them, lol.  I hope you enjoyed reading my Weird Wednesday personal experience for Demonic December---but try to do as I say, not as I do in this case!

*On another note, if you WERE to actually try to sell your soul, what would you ask for it in exchange? Is there anything worth selling your soul for? Let me know in the comments below!*

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Paranormal Investigation Bucket List (Extreme Edition)

Image Source
Top 10 Tuesday Time!

One of the questions that you always see being asked of paranormal enthusiasts and investigators is this: If you could investigate any place in the world, where would it be? There are literally hundreds of places that come to mind for me...I love investigating historic properties and there are so many great locations out there that have a lot of potential. But, after much consideration, I've narrowed down my paranormal 'bucket list' to ten locations. I tried to pick locations that were kind of extreme---places that I'm extremely unlikely to ever get a chance to visit, let alone investigate. It's fun to dream, though, right?

Let me know in the comments below what locations are on YOUR paranormal investigation bucket list!

1. Poveglia---Italy's famous Plague Island is thought to be one of the most haunted locations in the world. With a history of sickness, insanity, and death going back hundreds of years, the isolation alone of this island makes me immediately want to go there! As of right now, public access is limited at best, though. Maybe Zak Bagans can hook me up, lol...

2. The White House---The White House is one of America's most historic locations, and if you believe the slew of stories and legends, its also one of the most haunted! Of course, I'm drawn to the history and the potential to meet the spirit of a former president, but I have another reason for wanting to investigate here: just to say that I did! I would love to be the first private citizen to be able to publicly investigate and publish any findings. Even if I wasn't allowed to publish any data or even admit that that I was there, I'd still jump at the chance.

3. Disney World/Disneyland---The Happiest Place(s) on Earth have some pretty dark elements to their history, and various locations at the different parks have a reputation for being haunted. My favorite attraction is the Haunted Mansion...and maybe believe that it may actually BE HAUNTED. At Disneyland, the Haunted Mansion was used as the dumping grounds for the ashes of a deceased young boy by his distraught mother. After this was done, staff claim to have seen the ghostly image of the little boy...among other REAL phantoms. Make sure you click on the link to read more about the Disney ghosts. The ghost stories about various attractions are pretty well-known, but I don't ever see Disney tarnishing their family-fun facade with publicizing any actual paranormal investigations on park property.

4. Western Regional Jail---This jail, located in Barboursville, WV is just a short drive away from me. Built atop the site of a relocated cemetery and home to many, many untimely deaths during its years in operation, Western Regional has racked up plenty of ghostly tales. One of my favorite stories came from a former Correctional Officer who had to deal with a phantom inmate asking for a shaving kit! Since this is an active facility, and I don't plan on being arrested any time soon, chances are doubtful that I'll be experiencing the ghosts here for myself.

5. McMurdo Station---McMurdo Station is a research facility located in Antarctica, so yeah...the logistics of getting permission and traveling to the site just aren't going to happen! The stories from this location are interesting, though. Some of the ghostly sightings and experiences may be the result of a plane crash nearby, but what about the others?

6. Titanic Underwater Site---Again, this would be a complete logistical and financial nightmare, lol. Plus, I'm not SCUBA certified and quite honestly, am a little scared of being in the ocean. But how cool would it be to conduct an underwater investigation of such a historic site?  Luckily, there are several exhibits that house Titanic artifacts that claim to be haunted. Some of those locations may actually be in reach.

7. Chernobyl/Pripyat---A radioactive town left stuck in time? Evidence already collected from several teams allowed in? This is a place I WANT to be, but probably never will. Even if I could secure permission to enter the site and investigate, my funding for a trip to eastern Europe is a little low right now.

8. Tower of London---Honestly, I don't see myself being able to travel anywhere out of country for an investigation, but if I could, I'd definitely want to start in Great Britain. The Tower of London has so much history, much of it rather violent, and there are any number of ghost stories that would make a great focus for a ghost hunt. Maybe one day.

9. The Amityville Horror House---I know there is a lot of controversy surrounding the events that took place with the Lutzes in this home. I am in the camp who believes that most, if not all, of what they claimed was entirely fictional...but that doesn't mean there ISN'T anything going on here! A family was brutally murdered here, which could definitely lead to some potential paranormal activity. Plus, how cool would it be to get to investigate such a well-known, but now off-limits location? *Bonus: Check out the facts behind this creepy photo caught during an investigation of the Amityville home---Amityville Demon Boy Photo.

10. The Library of Congress---I am a certified bibliophile and cannot get enough of libraries and books. Some of my favorite spooky spots are haunted libraries and this king of all libraries has so many treasures that I'd probably be too busy snooping around the collection that I'd miss any ghosts! Still, it would be cool to say that I investigated here, since I highly doubt I'd ever be granted permission to do so.

Want more of Theresa's Favorite Haunts? Here's my picks for Top 10 Most Haunted Places in the World!

Monday, December 4, 2017

Book Review for Roswell: History, Haunts, and Legends

Title: Roswell: History, Haunts, and Legends
Author: Dianna Avena
Published: 2007 by The History Press
Amazon Purchase Information

When I think of a haunted city in Georgia, my mind goes straight to Savannah. In fact, I would wager that Savannah could be ranked up in the Top 10 Most Haunted Cities in the WORLD! But, after reading Roswell: History, Haunts, and Legends by Dianna Avena, I don't know. There is definitely enough history and ghostly legends in this small town to give Savannah a run for its money!

Located just 20 miles north of Atlanta, Roswell was once home to the Cherokee Indians, before they were cruelly moved off their land through the Trail of Tears. Just a mere quarter-century after being established as a town, Roswell would suffer through the ravages of the Civil War. Today, the town is a great place to live and raise a family---close enough to a major city to be convenient, yet still quiet and peaceful with a small-town feel. Well, maybe things aren't TOO quiet and peaceful...

Many locations around town, both old and new, boast a haunted reputation. At Chaplin's Restaurant, employees have reported the spooky sounds of a phantom horse-drawn buggy outside after business hours. A woman, believed to be a victim of suicide, is seen standing in front of the fireplace at the Voila Hair Salon. And, Barrington Hall, a historic home open to the public as a museum, has hosted a number of ghosts and the ghost hunting groups intent on experiencing them.

These stories and more make up Avena's Roswell Ghost Tour, which operates year-round. However, if you can't make it down to Georgia to take the tour, I'd highly suggest this book! It is packed with some of the great stories about this fascinating place in norther Georgia. While its not the same as actually being there, this book is a great read. There's just enough history mixed in to really set the context for the stories without bogging the reader down with mundane details. It's well written and contains plenty of beautiful photographs to accompany the text. If you're interested in southern hauntings, pick up a copy of this book---it makes a great addition to anyone's paranormal library!


Sunday, December 3, 2017

Chaplin's: Georgia's Most Haunted Karaoke Bar

You can find Chaplin's Restaurant and Bar just outside downtown Roswell, Georgia. Located in the Founders Square Shopping Plaza on South Atlantic Street, this popular karaoke club and family dining establishment has been in operation since at least 1988. Owned by David Kamran and Joseph Radfard, the bar is named for legendary actor, Charlie Chaplin. And, like so many other locations in this historic town, the restaurant has a reputation for being haunted!



According to the book Roswell: History, Haunts and Legends, by Dianna Avena and based off the popular Roswell Ghost Tour, the activity at Chaplin's is quite unnerving to its various staff! In one incident, a manager was staying late to wrap up some paperwork alone in his office. While working, he heard a commotion coming from the kitchen. Cabinet doors were slamming, the oven doors were opening and slamming shut, pots were rattling---just complete chaos. Fearing a break-in, the manager approached the kitchen cautiously, but of course, found nothing. No burglar...and no signs of anything being amiss in the kitchen. 

That manager won't stay alone in the building anymore, and neither will most of the other staff. Strange noises, feelings of unease, and items being moved around by unseen hands are common experiences. But the freakiest thing experienced by those staying after hours is the sounds of a phantom horse and buggy! 

When the last patron of the evening has left for the night, and the karaoke machine has gone silent, its not unusual for staff members to hear the distinct sounds of a horse-drawn buggy clomping around outside. Of course, when the sounds are investigated, there is nothing there.  Only the echo of an event from long, long ago in the town's history.

It is believed by many that Chaplin's was built atop what was once a Cherokee burial ground and that the sounds are that of a horse and buggy carrying a body up to the graveyard to be buried, as was the custom for the natives in the area during the late 1700s/early 1800s before they were relocated on the Trail of Tears. Or perhaps, the horse and buggy are from a slightly more recent time in history, when the town was ravaged by the Civil War. 

We may never know just who or what haunts Chaplin's Restaurant and Bar, but to many staff members over the years, there is no doubt that it IS haunted. If you're ever in the area, Roswell is just a short drive from Atlanta. Many of its beautiful, historic homes are open to the public and the Roswell Ghost Tour is a must-see. Finish off your evening with some karaoke...and hopefully, a ghost!

Stay Spooky, Ya'll! 

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Gifts for your Favorite Squatcher

Christmas is right around the corner....and if you're still searching for that perfect gift for your own Sasquatch-loving friend or loved one, look no further!  I've compiled a short list of the best Big Foot inspired gifts on the market.

I've tried to include a variety of price points and sources, but if there's something you're interested in, I'd suggest doing your own research to make sure you get the best deal available from your most trusted retailer. For a more comprehensive list of items, I found this website, Bigfoot Gifts and Toys, FULL of unique gifts!

Have a very Hairy...er, I mean MERRY Christmas!



1. Big Foot Ornament:  There are a ton of Big Foot Christmas Tree ornaments available from a variety of online sources, but I love the festive garland festooning this hand-painted design by Toscano.  At a cost of $15.90, this one is durable and affordable enough to overlook the Planet of the Apes-looking face on the Squatch. 







2. Vial of Bigfoot Fur: We all have that one person who is incredibly hard to shop for because they already have EVERYTHING. Well...do they have a vial of Bigfoot hair?!? I'm guessing not. And, even if they do, at less than $5 a pop, this little gift makes a great stocking stuffer that anyone can enjoy. After all, you can never own too much Bigfoot hair.








3. Bigfoot Socks: These are an essential wardrobe piece for everyone from the armchair Squatcher, to the experienced Bigfoot researcher. They also make a great gift---practical AND alluring (bonus points if you can name that reference, lol). These run a little under $13.








4. Bigfoot Play Set: Toys R Us offers this unique play set from the Animal Planet for $22. Pieces include a plaster cast of a Bigfoot print, a little hunter with equipment, and of course, the man himself, Sasquatch...among other pieces. Children of any age would love this set, including me!







5. Hands-On Bigfoot Expeditions!:  If you have someone on your list who enjoys experiencing stuff over getting stuff, consider purchasing them tickets for a hands-on field research event, hosted by the Bigfoot Field Research Organization! Various dates and locations are available for the 2018 season, but get your tickets fast, as events tend to fill up quickly! 

Friday, December 1, 2017

Demonic December and Other Updates!

Holy crap, it's December already! 2017 seemed to fly by and as we wrap up this last month before the new year, I wanted to give you some updates...kinda, lol.

2018 is going to be a BIG year for Theresa's Haunted History. There are at least two big projects in the works, including an actual full-length, publicly available book about local haunts. The other---well, I'll be keeping that a secret until after the holidays. Until then, I think I've got some cool stuff planned for the blog and the Theresa's Haunted History Facebook page.

November's Serial Killer Month was a lot of fun and took us to some weird places, so I wanted to try another theme this month. Throughout December, both on Facebook AND here on the blog, I'll be posting some interesting facts, case studies, and other tidbits of information relating to anything and everything demonic. If demonology fascinates you, or even terrifies you, I'm hoping you'll be able to find some accurate, reliable information presented in an objective way from a scientific viewpoint. At the very least, I hope you'll be entertained!

December's postings will also be heavy on holiday related hauntings, traditions, and folklore. No matter what winter holiday you celebrate, there should be something that you can both relate to and learn from. And to be honest....December is a spooky month! There are just as many, if not more, hauntings and ghostly traditions associated with Christmas and other winter holidays as there Halloween! I'm looking forward to the traditional  telling of ghost tales around the fire on Christmas Eve and holding a Dumb Supper for lost loved ones. I even plan on meeting Krampus again this year!

Please check back here often for updates, and if you aren't following me on Facebook, please hop on over and join in the discussions! Throughout December I'll be bringing back Daily Questions and even a few debate topics. I love to hear from my readers. I think each and every one of you has so much to offer and we can all learn so much from each other!

I hope you have a wonderful December. Stay Spooky, ya'll!

Thursday, November 30, 2017

The Not-so-Ghostly Ghost of Mammoth Cave (KY)

Martha Washington's Statue Postcard
Mammoth Cave has sometimes been referred to as America's LARGEST haunted location. Covering 52,830 acres with over 400 miles of mapped passages, there is definitely room for plenty of ghosts! There is also plenty of historical precedent for a spooky past. For example, part of the cave was used as a tuberculosis hospital in the 1800s! Mummified human remains also seem to have a habit of popping up within the interior of the cave. And yes, over the years there have been plenty of personal experiences of ghostly noises and apparitions by both staff and visitors to the cave.

However, the cave's most famous ghost is not really a ghost at all!

According to the book, Scary Stories of Mammoth Cave, the ghostly apparition now commonly referred to as Martha Washington's Statue, was first spotted by tour guide William Garvin in the 1880s. While walking down a cave passage known as 'Broadway,' Garvin saw the glowing apparition of a woman FLOATING above the ground in front of him. He witnessed the apparition for several moments before it blinked out of existence. Bravely approaching the location where the ghostly woman had been seen, Garvin raised his cane with the idea that he might possibly have to defend himself against some spooky entity. He then realized his mistake.

Garvin had assumed he was alone in the cave at the time, but there was actually a tour group nearby. The apparition he had spotted was caused by a Bengal Light (a type of flare used before the cave was rigged for electricity) turned on by the tour group and shining through the rocks.

Over 100 years later, visitors to Mammoth Cave, especially those taking the historic tour, can still spot Martha Washington's Statue and even purchase a 1912 postcard with her glowing image, photographed by Benjamin Hains. If you've been to Mammoth Cave and have a spooky story to share, or a photograph of the famous Martha Washington, I'd love to hear from you! Share below in the comments and as always...stay spooky my friends!

Further Reading:
Mammoth Cave--The World's Largest Haunted Place, by Troy Taylor

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

The Harpers Ferry Crazy House---Weird Wednesday

From WV History On View
Usually if you say you're headed to the 'Crazy House,' it means you've finally lost ALL of your marbles and you're on your way to be committed. However, if you say you're going to visit the Harpers Ferry Crazy House, it doesn't mean you're off on a vacation to a room with padded walls---it means you're visiting one of the town's most quirky attractions!

The Crazy House, more politely known as the Curio House, can be found at 844 E. Ridge Road, overlooking the Potomac River. It was built between 1914 and 1915 by Eugene Shugart and his wife, Maggie. Shugart, born in nearby Charles Town in 1867, bought the land around 1910 and as his family and political career (he was elected for 7 terms as mayor of Harpers Ferry beginning in 1902) continued to change, constructed his unique domicile.

There's nothing super weird about the basic architecture of the home; its a classic Craftsman design of the period, although it was known as being the first 'modern' home built in that area of Harpers Ferry. Construction materials came were recycled from the old Federal Armory, made famous in 1859 by John Brown---which is an interesting little tidbit, but not what makes the house so one-of-a-kind. That honor goes to how the eccentric collector, Eugene Shugart, chose to decorate his abode.

From Goldenseal (Summer 2009)

Shugart liked to collect Civil War relics. He also had a soft spot for collecting fire-damaged pieces. In fact, in 1904, he contacted the mayor of Baltimore, asking for a 'souvenir' rescued from that city's recent major fire tragedy. He displayed these items by literally embedding them into the walls of the home, over doorways and windows, and even lining pillars and columns with them.It's not uncommon to see baby doll faces, pieces of China, seashells, you name it. In the free spaces, he tacked up various odd quotes, many dealing with worry. Shugart was especially worried about worry and even went as far as to bury "The Remains of Old Worry" in a coffin impression in the sidewalk in front of the home.

Photo from Unpopped Collar
But maybe he DID have something to worry about...Shugart only got to enjoy his Crazy House for a few short years before dying in 1919. In 2001, Chris Craig and Ed Wheeless bought the home. They were only the third owners of the property they would soon call Laurel Lodge. After renovations, the two opened up a Bed and Breakfast at the home in 2007. Unfortunately, it looks as if the B&B has just recently closed it doors to the public. If you're local to that area and have any insight as to the fate of Laurel Lodge, please let me know down below in the comments! I'd hate to see Eugen Shugart's strange legacy no longer be available to visit. (Further reading: Herald Mail Media)

May the weirdness live on. Stay spooky, ya'll!

Friday, November 10, 2017

What Ghost is Haunting YOUR House?



So, what ghost is haunting YOUR house? Apparently I have a naked little league coach with a battery-powered miner's helmet at my house. I guess I could do worse...

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Wayne County's Weird Chicken

Happy Weird Wednesday! It's been a long time since I shared some just plain strangeness. Luckily, as I was researching a completely different topic, I came across this news article from the August 9th, 1923 edition of the Wayne County  (West Virginia) News.

LOST: COUNTY'S FREAKISH CHICKEN AMONG THE MISSING!

Send for Sherlock Holmes.

The three-legged chicken, the nine-days wonder of Dock's Creek, has mysteriously disappeared and left behind not a clue, not even a track.

Wayne county once again strutted its stuff by producing a chicken in a million--a three-legged one. This chick which disappeared last week belonged to Wiley Irons of Dock's Creek. It was a Plymouth Rock and was about six or eight weeks old. . . .

This short little news article was transcribed and submitted to the WV Archives by June White. And for me, it raises a lot of questions! So, Dock's Creek is an area in Kenova, WV and Wiley Irons WAS a citizen of this small community. Born in 1869, Wiley passed away on September 17, 1947. He was buried among many other relations in the Dock's Creek Cemetery. His life can be verified, but what about that of the chicken?

As of this writing, I have yet to find any other sources that confirm the freakish chicken's existence, but that's not really the mystery, here. Chickens born with extra legs aren't super rare, so I have no doubt that such a creature was born in Wayne County. However, I want to know what happened to the unfortunate bird! Did it just wander off? Was it eaten by a wild animal? Was it kidnapped? And just what does the title of the article mean: "among the missing?" Had an entire group of chickens gone rogue? During my next trip to the library, I plan to search the newspapers from around this time to see if there were any follow up articles claiming the chicken made its way back home...but I'm not holding my breath! 

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Book Review for The Little Book of the Paranormal

Title: The Little Book of the Paranormal
Author: Rupert Matthews
Published: 2010 by The History Press
Amazon Order Information

Rupert Matthews' The Little Book of the Paranormal is just that! This under-sized hardback edition only measures in at 5 inches by 8 inches and only contains about 144 pages of information...but for such a small package it packs a hefty punch.

This probably isn't a book specifically aimed at the reader who is well-educated on a variety of paranormal topics. Rather, its a great little introduction to the novice student of the paranormal, or for someone who just wants a quick sampling of stories without delving into too much history or analysis.

The topics covered in this book range from cryptids to UFOs to ghosts and hauntings. Whatever your niche interest in the paranormal field is, there's sure to be something here to interest you. Historic illustrations help break up the well-written text and serve as visual interest to the information presented.

I really enjoy books like this; each story is short, concise, and to the point. It's a quick read that you can put down and pick up again any time without losing any context. It's an entertaining read, and one that has inspired me to do additional research on topics such as the British WWI pilot whose spirit arrived back at his room...at the very moment he died in a plane crash.

The Little Book of the Paranormal was included in the pile of books I purchased this year at ScareFest, but you can find both a physical copy and the Kindle edition on Amazon. With such a wide appeal, I think this book would be a great read for anyone with any level of interest in the paranormal.






Saturday, November 4, 2017

2017 Ghost Tour Photo

Original Photo by Melissa Stanley, HPIR
Last Saturday, Huntington Paranormal hosted Haunted and Historic Guyandotte's Cemetery, River and Rail Tour. Despite the bad weather, we had a great turnout! Plenty of people braved the cold and the rain for a chance to learn a little about Guyandotte's haunted history and to possibly see a ghost!

Unfortunately, I don't believe anyone saw anything paranormal that night...at least with the naked eye. However, when our President and Tour Creator, Melissa Stanley checked through her photos from that night, one in particular caused her to do a double take! Behind one of our historic re-enactors there appears to be a hazy white humanoid shape. If you look closely, the shape seems to be walking behind our 'soldier,' almost in the same posture even. 

Below the original, (which is property of Melissa Stanley and may not be used without express written permission!) is a more zoomed in view. We're pretty sure our anomaly is nothing more than a combination of pareidolia and a light reflection from a nearby streetlamp....but I'd love to hear YOUR opinion!  Let me know down in the comments what you think. Is this photo easily explained away, or do you think it may actually show an otherworldly being wanting to be a part of the show?

This isn't the first strange photo that has been captured on our tours---and hopefully it won't be our last either! If you're interested in the chance to experience your own ghost and potentially capture some photographic evidence, make sure you keep up with the Haunted and Historic Guyandotte Tours Facebook page!
Cropped version, property of Melissa Stanley, HPIR


Friday, November 3, 2017

Friday Funny: Another Spooky Kitty

There is no shortage of paranormal cat memes. I hope this one brings a smile to your face today. Happy Friday! 



Thursday, November 2, 2017

My Haunted Home

I don't think I would ever classify the house I live in now as haunted. Having grown up in my mom's current home in Winfield, where it was a strange day when you DIDN'T see an apparition walking down the hall, pretty much any sort of suspected paranormal activity happening here would pale in comparison.

I can't deny it, though. Over the years since we've owned the house, there have been a few things going on that we were never able to fully explain away.

It first started before we even moved in. My son and I were still at my mom's house, but Aaron was ready to move out of his house in Charleston. Before he could, the house needed some major work. Aside from desperately needing a new roof, we also had to clear out the rest of the previous owners' belongings, tear up all the old carpet, lay a new kitchen and family room floor, and paint. Aaron, often accompanied by my dad, would come over to the house in the evenings after work to get as much done as possible.

On at least one occasion, both Aaron and my dad swear they saw a UFO. They were taking a break out on the front stoop. Our neighborhood is pretty high up on a hill, so we have a fair view of the Hurricane Walmart out our front door. It was in the sky above this area where they noticed the glowing orb. Inside the house, things were a little spookier...

My dad was working alone one evening, after the carpets had been pulled up. He was in one of the bedrooms painting and heard the distinct sounds of kids running through the living room, laughing. He assumed that we had brought Luke over and that it was he who was causing the commotion. However, when he stepped out to meet us, he discovered that he was still alone and had been the entire time. I have yet to hear the sounds of the children in the house, but later on, I'd have my own experiences.

Living Room, where the sounds of phantom children running were heard
After the house was in livable condition, Aaron moved in. Luke and I came about a year and a half later. We moved in the summer before Luke started preschool. That winter, Aaron got a new job. As part of his training, he had to be out of town for a week at a time several times over the course of a few months. That left me and Luke home alone....but not entirely alone.  Around this time, Luke had been having trouble sleeping. He's always had night terrors, but they seemed to have gotten worse. This is also around the time when he started wanting to sleep in our bedroom. Or, he would wake up at night, turn on all the lights, and shut his door. The logical part of me tried to explain his behavior by the changes that were going on. We hadn't lived in this house all that long, plus Aaron was away a lot.

But then I started seeing things. When Aaron was away, I would sleep in my office/bedroom. I usually kept the door partly open so that I could hear Luke if he got up in the night. And, of course, we were keeping the hall light on for Luke as well. Lying in bed on several occasions, I could see movement in the hallway through the crack of my door. It looked as if there was a person standing in the hall, peeking in at me through the crack. Even though this shadowy figure was much taller than Luke, and Aaron was out of town, I'd still always get up and check...never finding anything.

Things reached a peak one weekend while Luke was spending the night at my mom's house and I was alone. As I walked past his room and peeked in, I nearly had a heart attack. I saw what appeared to be a dark, shadowy figure standing beside his bed. That night, I grabbed the sage. As I saged every inch of the bedroom and the hallway, I firmly told whatever it was in there that we were going to come to a compromise. It was welcome to stay in the house if it wished, but under no circumstances would it EVER show itself to my son or invade his personal space (the bedroom) again. If it did, I would do everything in my power to make sure it was banished from here.

That seemed to work, lol. Luke's sleeping habits started to get back to normal, and I never saw the dark figure again. Every now and again I'll hear a noise I can't account for, or something will go missing, only to reappear nearly right in front of me. Many times as I'm sitting on the couch in the family room, I'll swear I'll catch movement coming from the living room in my peripheral vision...but I can never get a close enough glimpse to see if it is anything. I honestly don't know if there is anything in this house and if there is, where it came from. However, I'll be keeping my eyes and ears open and letting you all know of any potential activity that may occur in the future.  Happy Haunting!

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

November is Serial Killer Month

Well, its November 1st. Halloween is unfortunately gone for another year...but the spookiness continues all year here at Theresa's Haunted History!

I'd like to start this new month by wishing all those November babies a very big 'Happy Birthday!' I'd like to follow that up with the hope that none of you November babies reading this blog are associated in any way with that graphic to the left, lol.

A couple of years ago, I came across this photo, or at least, one very similar to it, on Facebook. Since then, I've seen other graphics and even articles posted all claiming the same thing. That thing is this:


*THE MAJORITY OF SERIAL KILLERS WERE BORN IN NOVEMBER*

Apparently there was a study done back in 2006 by Jan Ruis. When Ruis compared the birth dates for 100 serial killers, it was discovered that 17 of the subjects were born in November. That's almost twice as many as the average of 9 serial killers per every other month. But why are so many serial killers being born in November?  Perhaps it has less to do with the month itself, and more with the astrological sign.

Many of these November babies that grew up to be monsters fall under the sign of Scorpio. The astrological sign for Scorpio covers the dates of October 23 through November 21. And, according to a website on horoscopes, Scorpios have the following strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths: Resourceful, brave, passionate, stubborn, a true friend

Weaknesses: Distrusting, jealous, secretive, violent

So, yeah. I can see where those tendencies may be conducive to the behavior of a serial killer. Obviously, most Scorpios and/or people born in November never end up as serial killers, and instead are well-adjusted, productive members of society. But, its still an interesting topic to discuss...which is what we'll be doing all month long over at Theresa's Haunted History! Throughout November, I'll be posting some stuff on the supernatural side of serial killers and some additional resources about the astrology aspect. Over my years of research, I've discovered that there are a TON of people out there interested in the paranormal who are also very interested in serial killers and true crime. The correlation is huge.That fact, in and of itself, is worthy of study one day. But first, here's a very short list of some November-born serial killers you may have heard of. Sword and Scale lists the profiles of a few of them! 

Ted Bundy: November 24th
Charles Manson: November 12th
David Ray Parker: November 6th
Dennis Nilsen: November 23rd
Derrick Bird: November 27th

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Happy Halloween From Theresa's Haunted History!


I want to wish everyone out there a very Happy Halloween! And what image do you automatically think of for Halloween? I don't know about you, but for me, naked devil babies and cherubs dancing together in harmony around a lit candle is the first thing that comes to mind....

Seriously though, I hope you've enjoyed the spooky season so far. Tonight, as the veil between the worlds is said to be at its thinnest, take a moment to honor those who walk on the other side. Close your eyes and listen for what lies beneath the everyday noise and chaos. Keep an open mind and you might just catch a glimpse of....something.

If you'll be trick-or-treating or enjoying any other holiday related activities this evening, please keep safe and warm out there. And if you're like me and not ready for Halloween to be over, you can always check out my other blog, Theresa's Halloween Wonderland! It's a place for me to basically post Halloween stuff all year round so that I don't get too depressed come November 1st. Stay spooky everyone, and Happy Haunting! 

Monday, October 30, 2017

Theresa Travels to Lewisburg, WV

Angel of Death?
When Aaron asked me if I wanted to come with him to Lewisburg  over Labor Day weekend to pick up some computer/vintage gaming stuff he had bought, of course I said YES! I love Lewisburg. Named the Coolest Small Town in America in 2011, Lewisburg is one of West Virginia's most historic (and HAUNTED!) places. We packed Luke up, made the 2 hour drive, and made a day of it.

Close-up
After picking up Aaron's purchase, we started our tour of the town. We began with a trip to the Old Stone Church Cemetery. The entire cemetery is so full of history and stories, and its a beautiful memorial to the citizens of Lewisburg who have long been gone. However, we were there to see one stone in particular---that of the Lewisburg Angel of Death.

As the story goes, shortly after young Maud Matthews passed away, a beautiful stone angel statue was erected over her grave. Two of Maud's young female relations kissed the angel's cheeks in memory of their fallen friend...and then quickly died themselves afterward. Legend states that the statue is cursed and that anyone foolish enough to kiss the cheek of the angel will meet a similar fate as the two girls and will be dead within a year.

I'm a little superstitious, so I decided not to test fate. Others had, though! Upon closer look at the statue, both cheeks are very smooth and worn down. There also appeared to be a little hint of lipstick still visible!

After visiting the Old Stone Church Cemetery, we took the short drive up the hill to visit the Confederate Cemetery. This is another beautiful location, and a very unique one. Confederate dead from the Battle of Lewisburg and Droop Mountain are interred here in a mass earthen grave in the shape of a giant cross. We were sad to see that a historical sign had been defaced, but the site was otherwise pretty well taken care of. I was surprised at how interested my then 7-year-old son was in this location. He even requested that my boyfriend film him giving a small historical talk for his YouTube channel.
Confederate Cemetery
To round out our trip, we also made a quick stop at the haunted General Lewis Inn. We were hoping to grab some lunch there, but we were too late for lunch and too early for the dinner service, so we had to settle for some outside photos. After that, we decided to drive down to the Greenbrier to take a look around....but we got a little distracted by a side trip! We made an unplanned stop in at Organ Cave and took their awesome Civil War tour. I did ask our tour guide if there were any hauntings associated with the cave, especially given its use during the war, but he denied it. The family that owns the cave is extremely religious, so I'm not sure they would have admitted to any paranormal activity even if there had been reports. Still, we had a great time and learned a lot. We eventually did make it to the Greenbrier, but unfortunately we ran into ANOTHER food situation. We were going to eat at the Greenbrier, but the only restaurants that were open at that time had a dress code----and after that extensive cave tour, I had mud and dirt smeared down my side and nothing to change into. Luke and Aaron weren't much cleaner...so we had to settle for a few outside photographs and dinner at Applebee's.

Summer 2009
By this point, we were all pretty tired, but we needed to make one more stop. Since we were in the area, we HAD to pay our respects to West Virginia's most famous ghost girl, Zona Hester Shue, otherwise known as the Greenbrier Ghost.

Summer 2017
Zona is buried in the Soule Baptist Church Cemetery in the nearby town of Sam Black Church. This was the first time I had been to visit Zona since I was pregnant with Luke. He and I 'recreated' the photo I had taken eight years earlier when I stood behind Zona's grave to conceal my very large pregnant belly! It was a really cool experience to share with my son, and I'm glad Aaron got to be there as well. I've never really written much about Zona on here since her story has been covered so extensively elsewhere, but she's always held a special place in my heart. Seeing her final resting place being well cared for and still receiving visitors was a great end to a great day.

*If you'd like to see more photos from our Lewisburg trip, please join me over at Theresa's Haunted History Facebook page and look for the Lewisburg album under Photos. And if you'd like to hear more of Theresa's adventures, subscribe to the blog! Thanks!*



Sunday, October 29, 2017

1877 Murder at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

Luke at the hospital fountain during that spring tour
Since the current owners took over what is now referred to as the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in 2007 and opened the building up to the public, I have been lucky enough to participate in several historic tours, and even two overnight investigations. The old building, which I still often refer to as the Weston State Hospital, has always fascinated me and drawn me in. Maybe its because I had an aunt who worked there. Maybe its because I had a great-aunt who was a patient there. Maybe its because I've dealt with my own mental health issues that I just simply relate---I often think about how if I were born 100 years...even 50 years...before I was, there would have been a good chance I would have ended up as a patient.

Whatever the reason for my fascination, I've always been really driven to find out as much as possible about the hospital, especially its patients. The spring before last, my boyfriend and I took my son up to the French Creek Wildlife Center. And since we were in the area, afterwards we decided to stop in at the old hospital and catch the last historic tour of the evening.

Our guide, dressed as an orderly, was a younger guy, but he was extremely knowledgeable and well-spoken. One of the stories he told us was of a murder that took place in the older section of the hospital, an area most people know as the Civil War section. He didn't give too many details that I can remember, but did relate the tale about how a patient calmly beat another patient to death with a piece of his own bed. (There's another similar murder that occurred years later, that I'll be discussing in another blog.)

I took note of the story because it was pretty interesting, but honestly, since there wasn't necessarily any 'ghostly activity' that was associated with the incident and this being the first and only time I'd hear this tale from a guide, I just kind of filed it away in the back of my mind. It wasn't a top research priority for me. Besides, I didn't have a whole lot of details to help me search.

But, research is totally an on-going project for me. As I discover new resources and become more adept at searching, I'm constantly finding new information. A few weeks ago, I tried out a free week-long subscription to an online newspaper archive service. As I was playing around with the program, learning how it works, I did a simple search for 'Weston Hospital.' Tons of articles came up from different newspapers, and I came across some pretty crazy stories. The story, however, that really caught my eye, was about a murder that took place at the hospital in 1877.

The article, which I've transcribed below, comes from the Saturday, February 24th, 1877 edition of the Weston Democrat. The article begins with a statement given by a local citizen about a recent death at the asylum and the writer is not very forgiving of the staff for allowing this murder to happen. They even go as far as to request that the Legislature form a committee to look into the incident and management of the hospital.  That paragraph is followed up by a retort claiming that no one is to blame for the death and it was unavoidable under the circumstances.

The names of the patient killed and the patient who did the killing were omitted, but their initials were given. Based on just that, I've been searching in vain trying to find out the name of at least the man killed. Currently, no such record is available online at the WV Death Index, and I haven't had much luck using other resources, either. I've searched through the Find-a-Grave index for the hospital cemetery in hopes that maybe he was buried there and there is record of it. I've even scoured the 1870 hospital census records, thinking that maybe the patient had been there long-term, but didn't really find a sure candidate. What complicates matters even further is that the deceased patient is at first referred to in the article as G.T., but then later as S.

I haven't given up hope yet, and I may end up actually taking a trip to the Lewis County Courthouse to take a look at their death index for 1877 to see if that can shed some light on the mystery. If I find out anything, I will be sure to update...but if YOU have any information that can put me on the right track, I'd love to hear from you!




Weston, Feb. 15
Editors Intelligencer:

Some days ago (according to the Clarksburg Telegram) a patient confined in the Asylum at this place was brutally murdered by another inmate. The attendants, watchful guardians, knew nothing of the matter until the head of the poor victim was beaten to a jelly. No inquest was held; and I presume the poor creature will be reported as "died," in the next annual report. This sort of thing may be all right, but a number of people here do not think so, and would thank the Legislature for a good committee to investigate the management of the Asylum.

The writer of the above evidently intended to create the impression that Dr. Camden had endeavored to conceal the unfortunate occurrence referred to, and the spirit of the writer is in full keeping with the malignant spirit manifested in several other letters from this place in the last few months in reference to the Asylum. Here are the full particulars:

On the 31st of January, 1877, soon after the attendants having charge of ward number eight in the Hospital, unlocked their sleeping rooms, and before the patient mentioned in the above paragraph had fully dressed himself, another patient, who had been more expeditious in putting on his clothes, slipped in upon him before he had left his room and struck him several blows with a bed-slat, from which he died. These patients occupied rooms in different parts of the ward; and, as set forth in the accompanying certificate, the one that inflicted the injury had not previously manifested homicidal proclivities. The attendants discovered the dead shortly after it was committed, and at once reported the fact to the physicians, but the patient was in a dying condition when the Doctor reached him.  The Superintendent then made known the facts to the proper authorities; but owing to the circumstance, a formal inquest was not thought to be necessary. But at the Doctor's solicitation, the Prosecuting Attorney and several physicians examined the remains and questioned all who knew anything relative to the case. The patient that perpetrated the act acknowledged that he did it; and in a very succinct manner entered into a full revelation. He said he did it by the command of God, who had Himself been trying to kill him, but not succeeding fast enough, had employed him to do it. He also said that if he had not killed him, deceased would have murdered him; all of which, of course, was the offspring of his disordered brain.  His victim was an epileptic in the lowest stages of insanity. He did not have mind enough to make any defense, nor to call for assistance, which he would have received had he done so, as there were others in the hall who would have noticed any unusual noise or commotion.

The following certificate was given on the same day that the accident occurred:
W.Va. Hospital for the Insane
January 31st, 1877

"We the undersigned, at the request of Dr. T.B. Camden, Supt., viewed the dead body of G.T. and find that he came to his death by the hands of J.M., an insane patient, by blows inflicted by him with a bed-slat, upon the head of said S., fracturing the bones of the skull. And  that the act was unavoidably committed by the said M. on a sudden impulse, and as far as we can learn, he has not heretofore evinced any homicidal tendency; and as far as we are able to ascertain no blame can be attached to any one. Given under our hands
[Signed]
Andrew Edmiston
Prosecuting Attorney for Lewis County
[Signed]
G.B. Simpson, M.D.
A.M. Dent, M.D.
C.M. Jackson, M.D.

We have omitted the full names of the two patients referred to in the certificate, and have used merely the initials for the sole reason of saving the feelings of their friends.

It will be readily seen by these facts that there was no disposition to conceal anything connected with the much to be regretted catastrophe.

Friday, October 27, 2017

Ghost Butts

I'm sure you could write a really thought-provoking and inspiring blog post about the theory behind the concept illustrated in this cartoon. Or...you could save the academia for another post and just appreciate how stinkin' cute these little ghost butts are!

Happy Friday Funny Everyone! We're almost to Halloween!


Friday, October 20, 2017

It was...Awiens

Awww....this isn't a Friday Night Funny; its a Friday Night 'omg that is too adorable for words.'  Hehehe, there are several different versions of this meme floating around the web, and aside from being adorable, it IS funny. Anyone who has ever watched the show Ancient Aliens, or anyone who has ever had an inkling of interest in UFOlogy for that matter, knows the man who made this all possible: Giorgio Tsoukalos. Giorgio's penchant for conveniently using the excuse of 'aliens' to explain unsolved mysteries, and his wild mane that seems to get higher ever season has made him quite the internet sensation, both in and out of the paranormal field. I've included a comparison shot just in case you aren't familiar with him, lol. Stay spooky...and silly! Also, if you're itching for more cute kitty paranormal memes, check out my blog, Ghost Story