Ghost Is a Crazy Man

I don't often share too many old articles about ghost sightings outside of West Virginia, but I came across this interesting piece from Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania in the May 16, 1915 edition of the Sunday Telegram (Clarksburg, WV) and just had to share it. It is one of the most absurd things I've read in quite awhile...and I read some weird stuff.

So, apparently, a musician/hypnotist named Joseph Androlavage suffered some type of mental breakdown. As a result, he donned a white sheet and terrorized Georgetown citizens with a gun. Yeah. A GUN. This 'ghost' was armed with a pistol. 

In one incident, Androlavage stalked a man named John Daley, and gave him a letter about how his time was soon to come. The letter was signed 'Black Hand.' Four shots of a pistol into the ground were part of this exchange between Androlavage and Daley, and smartly, Daley got the heck out of there. Luckily, some young men from the area were able to safely apprehend Androlavage. 

But, was Androlavage really the "ghost??" 

Although it didn't make it into this West Virginia newspaper until May, the incident with Mr. John Daley actually occurred back in March of 1915 and was written about in the local papers. But, a follow-up story appeared in the March 31, 1915 edition of the Times Leader (Wilkesbarre, PA).  This article, found below, states that Mr. Androlavage claims that he was NOT the ghost, nor did he even own a gun. His friends attested to his character, and believe that the false claims against him were the work of practical jokers. The author of the article seemed to agree that Mr. Androlavage was too sensible for such behavior, and since no other follow-ups can be found at this time, I guess the mystery of Black Hand remains just that: a mystery. 

Vintage Mine Ghost of Pennsylvania

This story is from the March 10, 1913 edition of the Pittsburgh Daily Post and it reads almost like an episode of Scooby Doo!  What was this horrific half-man, half-beast that was seen in the mines and why was it so intent on getting the miners to leave?  Was it a warning of a potential mine accident...or just someone playing a prank?  I absolutely love mine folklore and ghost stories and will be delving more into that area in the next few months, so make sure you keep checking back here and on Facebook at Theresa's Haunted History. 

KITTANNING, Pa., March9,--Tales of a ghost having been seen in the Chickasaw coal mines were rife a few days ago.  Scoffs at first greeted the story when it was told in the little mining town on the Pittsburgh & Shawmut railroad in Madison township.  Later men rushed from the mines with terrifying stories of an apparition, half-man, half-beast, carrying a luminous dinner pail and going from room to room, ordering them to quit work.  The men did not need a second warning, but are reported to have dropped tools and fled.  It is said the wraith took possession of the motor, ordered its driver to depart and then took the trip of loaded cars to the pit mouth.  On arriving outside, however, the trip was discovered by the tipple crew to be without its motorman, and it was taken in charge by the crew.  The miners refused to work for several nights but tomorrow all are expected to return. 

*Article found on Ghost Hunt and Paranormal Research

Book Review: The Demon of Brownsville Road

Title: The Demon of Brownsville Road: A Pittsburgh Family's Battle with Evil in Their Home
Authors: Bob Cranmer and Erica Manfred
Published: 2014 by The Berkley Publishing Group, New York
Amazon Info

When Bob Cranmer and his family moved into an older home in 1988, they were thrilled...until weird stuff started happening. This quick and easy read tells the story of the Cranmer Family and their trials and tribulations from living in a home with a sinister past. Things escalate for 12-18 years before the family finally goes through a long and laborious exorcism process. Ryan Buell and the PRS team make a brief appearance, as they are called in to help document the potential demonic activity for use in securing a church-sanctioned exorcism.

This book wasn't a terrible read, but it just wasn't for me. And...that's pretty much all I'm going to say about it. After I wrote a very thought-out  and honest review, I started looking around the web to see what other people thought of this book and was horrified to see both Bob and his wife, Lesa, harassing those that had anything bad to say about it. I'm trying to eliminate negativity in my personal life and ain't nobody got time for all that. So, proceed with caution. If you're a fan of Ryan Buell and/or Paranormal State, you might find this book interesting as it is said that this was a pivotal case for the team.  If you can get past a lot of personal information that has no bearing on the story whatsoever and pretend this is a work of fiction, then it can be a pretty interesting story. And, if you're still on the fence as to whether or not this book is for you, I'd recommend checking out the reviews on Goodreads, where people aren't afraid to express opinions openly!

Spoiler Alert! Check out this article for more info on the haunted reputation of the Brownsville Rd. home:
Former Residents of Brentwood 'Demon' House Dispute Book's Claims, by Sean D. Hamill (26 October 2014)

*MORE Book Reviews*

The Ghosts of Hershey Park

It's amusement park season!  I am a huge fan of amusement parks and a huge fan of ghost stories, so I was all excited when I read that today (April 24th) was the anniversary of Hershey Park in Pennsylvania...and that the park is home to several ghosts.

The park officially opened on April 24, 1907 and in its early days, was not much more than a nice place to have a picnic and go boating.  It was created by Milton S. Hershey as an outdoor recreation area for employees of his candy factory.  Over the years, additional attractions were added, including a swimming pool complex, amphitheater, and rides.  In the early 1970s, HERCO pushed for the expansion of the property as a modern day theme park with a one-price admission for total access. 

Over its long history, the park has definitely picked up its fair share of ghost stories.  Here's just a few of those tales!

Milton Hershey
The ghost of founder, Milton Hershey is said to roam the grounds of his park, keeping an eye on this aspect of his chocolate empire. Although a few witnesses have claimed to actually SEE Mr. Hershey's apparition after park hours, this is one ghost that is usually smelled, and not seen.  A phantom smell of cigar smoke is said to indicate Mr. Hershey's ethereal presence.

From the Hershey Community Archives

"The Carrousel" 
Every amusement park needs a carousel...and a haunted one is even better!  The current carousel at Hershey's is actually the park's third.  A year after the park opened, Milton Hershey decided to allow the public to enjoy it as well...and added a used carousel for the enjoyment of his guests and employees.  It quickly became a hit, and in 1912, a larger carousel was installed and operated until 1944. That year a new carousel was purchased, but due to a shortage of park funds, an older, used model was picked out.

That carousel was the Philadelphia Toboggan Company #47 Carrousel (notice the two 'r's). Built in 1919, the carousel began its career at Liberty Heights Park in Baltimore, where it remained for ten years.  Then, it moved to Enna Jetta Park in New York before it was purchased in 1944 by Hershey Park.  The theme of the carousel is one of understated patriotism.  Beautifully carved eagles, flags, and Lady Liberty are sprinkled throughout the artwork of the ride as a tribute to the end of WWI in 1918--the war to end all wars.  It was quite fitting that it would arrive at Hershey Park in the last days of WWII.

Today, the carousel is famous for being one of the spookiest places in the whole park!  Originally installed near Spring Creek, it was moved to Founder's Circle in 1972.  Since then, park personnel have seen the carousel's lights turn on by themselves, and the ride eerily start to turn without a living soul nearby.  The music coming from its Wurlitzer organ begins to drift through the park, all under the command of an unseen operator.  Well, mostly unseen.  There is one story where a security officer was doing his rounds, when he noticed the lights of the carousel turned on.  He turned them off and began to walk away, but the lights flipped themselves back on.  As the officer turned back around towards the ride, a shadowy figure of a person sitting near the controls was seen.  By the time the officer actually reached the ride, the mysterious figure was gone.

The Lighthouse
The original swimming pool complex of Hershey Park was completed in 1911 and lasted until 1928.  The following season, a new swimming complex, complete with a concrete island lighthouse, was opened.  The pools were filled in during the 1971 season and all that remains as a reminder of those years gone by is the lighthouse near the front of the park....that, and the ghosts.  Over the nearly half a century that the pools were in operation, several children unfortunately drowned in their waters.  The spirits of those children have been seen near the lighthouse wearing their old-fashioned swimwear, oblivious to the changes made by time.

Hershey Park Lighthouse from Hershey Community Archives

The Sooperdooperlooper Rollercoaster
The 1977 season of Hershey Park opened with the addition of a brand new thrill ride: the Sooperdooperlooper rollercoaster!  However, the ride seemed cursed from the very beginning.  On its opening day on July 4th, 1977, the ride experienced a mechanical failure, stranding passengers, including Hershey's CEO and other VIPs, on the hill lift.  No one was hurt, but passengers were forced to walk down the narrow catwalks to safety.  Unfortunately, it would be only a month later when someone WOULD get hurt.

William Harter was a 16 year old high school student working at the park as a maintenance man as part of a summer vocational program.  On August 25th, Harter was removing some bolts from a magnetic control device designed to stop the train. Standing between the rails with his back toward the train, it suddenly started moving and ran over him. Since the incident, many security guards, maintenance personnel, and other employees in the park after dark have seen the shadowy figure of a young man standing or walking along the rails of the coaster.


Boardwalk
The tale of the Lady of the Boardwalk can be found in Christopher Wolfe's book, Ghosts of Hershey and Vicinity.  Apparently, when the park began its huge expansion project in the 1970s, several nearby private properties were purchased.  One elderly lady who was a long-time resident did not want to sell her beloved home, yet felt she had no choice.  Instead of giving in, she killed herself in her own attic.  The area where the house once stood is located across from the Kissing Tower and is home to several shops, including Boardwalk Fries.  In fact, it is believed that part of the original house does still stand, renovated into the strip of shops here.  Employees of the establishment have heard the moaning and wailing of a woman, most notably coming from the second story of the building.

Links:
The Ghosts of Hersheypark by James Waldron
The Oldest Ride at Hershey Park by J.A. McLynne
Hershey Park History from Wikipedia
Hershey Community Archives

Pep the Prison Pup of Eastern State Penitentiary

Construction of Pennsylvania's Eastern State Penitentiary began in 1822 and opened in 1829, serving inmates up until 1971.  Over the years, this literal textbook example of incarceration has housed many notorious and even famous inmates...some not even human!

According to legend, a black labrador retriever named Pep was sentenced to life without parole on August 12, 1924.  His crime?  Pep allegedly killed then Governor Gifford Pinchot's wife's favorite cat.  The governor used his executive powers to have Pep incarcerated for the murder and subjected to the same mugshot process as all the human inmates, even being given the prison number of C-2559.

It's an awesome story, but as many such fantastic tales, isn't exactly true.  The truth is...Pep WAS a bad dog, but he wasn't a cat murderer. 

During Governor Pinchot's first term as governor, he received Pep the puppy from the nephew of his wife, Cornelia Bryce Pinchot.  The nephew was a breeder of labradors and for awhile, Pep was a cherished member of the family.  But, like many of his breed, Pep had a nasty habit of chewing up furniture.  No amount of punishment could stop Pep from chewing up the cushions on the governor's outdoor sofa.  Unable to deal with Pep's bad behavior, the family decided that Pep had to go, but it seemed too cruel to euthanize him.

Luckily a trip to Maine inspired the Governor.  According the the governor's son, Pinchot observed therapy dogs used in prisons to boost the morale of the inmates.  Upon returning home, Pinchot discussed the idea with his friend Herbert Smith, who happened to be the warden of Eastern State Penitentiary.  Pep was then given to the prison as a gift and the famous mugshot was taken as either a publicity stunt, or a joke.

Pep lived at Eastern State for the rest of his life.  By some accounts, he was "transferred" to Graterford Prison when it was built in 1929, but other sources believe that he simply accompanied the prison work crew back and forth during its construction and that he died in the early 1930s at ESP, where he was buried somewhere on the grounds.

So how did the story spread about Pep's crimes?  From papers archived at Grey Towers National Historic site, the governor's former home, it is largely implied from the governor's son that the stories were made up by a newspaper reporter with a sense of humor looking for an interesting story to boost readership. And where there's one legend, there's bound to be more.

In the paranormal field, Eastern State Penitentiary is largely noted as being one of the most haunted locations in the United States.  Many groups, including those from popular television series, have caught evidence and had personal experiences involving the former inmates of the prison.  Since Pep is such an integral part of the prison's history, some believe HIS spirit is still roaming the halls of the place where he was loved and cherished by guards and inmates alike.  Visitors have claimed to have heard the jangling of dog tags and even the howl of a dog echoing through the metal cells.

Today, you can own a little piece of Pep's history.  The Eastern State Penitentiary website and gift shop sells some memorabilia has Pep's mugshot photo on a T-shirt, mousepad, and coffee cup.  You can also pick up a set of dog tags in Pep's name, and this cute little plush Pep doll!

Book Review for Night Stalks the Mansion

Every once in awhile, I'll stumble onto a book that leaves me so captivated that I can't put it down until every last word has been read.  That's what happened recently when I picked up a Kindle copy of the classic, Night Stalks the Mansion.

Written by Constance Westbie with Harold Cameron, the book tells the two-year saga of the Cameron Family's life in a haunted house.  The story is from the 1950s and chronicles how the Camerons and their five children, under the stress of living out of a hotel due to a post-war housing shortage and job transfer, fell under an air-tight lease to a house that DID prove too good to be true.  Even before the family moved in, weird footsteps were heard.

Not being able to break the lease, the Camerons resolved to learn to live with their ghostly inhabitants, and even come to think of them almost fondly.  Two ghosts appeared to make their presences known in the house, the first being a distinguished lady who frequented the home's library, but whose footsteps could be heard leaving that room and ascending the stairs to the third floor.  The second ghost was of a male, whose footsteps were heard walking along the gravel drive.

Over the course of their stay in the home, the pieces fall into place about who these ghostly visitors may be.  An elderly man, once a slave who worked the original mansion, filled in the missing pieces, but paid a dear price for it. 

This book really reads more like a novel...and a detective novel at that.  On one hand, its hard to believe that the history of the house learned from the elderly man fit so perfectly...and in such a great time frame, lol.  You know that time is coming, and its so vindictive when it does and everything finally makes sense.  On the other hand, the story is TOTALLY believable.  The activity, while disconcerting to those not used to it, is fairly mild and for the most part is characteristic of most hauntings we deal with.  The family comes together to learn to live with their ghosts, giving them the same respect as they would living inhabitants.  Its really quite touching, and a great read for anyone who has recently found his or herself in a similar situation.

Originally published in the 70s, this book made a comeback around 2005 when a grand-nephew of Mr. Harold Cameron discovered that his family history would make for an awesome movie.  That movie was put on hold, but a FaceBook page recently created for it states that its back on track, and just released a video game!

Today, the home in a Pennsylvania suburb is gone...it caught fire and was torn down in the late 1980s.  Another home was built atop the site and incorporated into a new housing development.  According to sources, neither the new home, nor the surrounding homes, are reported as haunted.

That doesn't stop the interest in the former Edwards home, though!  I don't want to give any details away for those wishing to pick up a copy of this book for themselves, but a local group has delved into the history of this location and has discovered that although its no stranger to tragedy, the history of the mansion as recorded in official documentation doesn't quite match up with the legends and the claims laid out in the book.  Please see their link below for what is now known as the Heilbron Mansion.

Anyway, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is experiencing the ups and downs of living in a haunted home.  I would also recommend it to anyone wanting a quick, spooky-but-not-horrifying tale of what its like to have to share your space with a roommate...a roommate from another time and place!

Heilbron Mansion
Amazon Purchase Info