Halloween 2023 Wrap-Up

I can't quite explain why, but the Halloween season is a bittersweet time for me. I love it; it's my favorite time of the year. But at the same time, I get really depressed as well. Part of it is hiraeth---an obscure word meaning homesickness for a time or place that no longer exists. I can never go back to the magic of the Halloween from my childhood. It's also partly FOMO-the fear of missing out on all the awesome NEW activities that are out there, that I just don't have the time or the energy to fit in. 

I've been a little mopey the past several of weeks thinking about all the things I didn't get to do this year. I didn't carve pumpkins for the first time in my entire life. I didn't decorate the new apartment. I didn't visit a haunted house/trail. Oh, and I only watched about a third of the Halloween movies I usually I watch each year. Today, however, I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself, and take a look back on the wonderful things I DID get to experience this year, including a couple of bucket-list items for me. Let's start with some of the activities I did with my group, Spectral Research and Investigations!

Brian dressed up at ready
to receive trick-or-treaters!

2023 was the start of our (hopefully!) annual Safe Trick-or-Treat, held at the Museum of Radio and Technology in Huntington. In the three hours we were open, we had well over 220 people come through the museum, where they were greeted by costumed members of the SRI team. We loaded them up on candy and non-food treats (we even had to make a store run halfway through!), and let them play games, participate in Halloween crafts, and of course, explore the museum itself. It was a wonderful way for us to give back to our community and introduce the museum to many new faces. Almost everyone we talked to either didn't realize the museum was even there, or had never had the opportunity to stop by. It was so awesome to see entire families dressed up and having a great time. Plans are already underway to make 2024 an even bigger event! 

Another community outreach service SRI offered this Halloween season was donating our services to the Cabell County Library's Halloween Gala. After the gala had concluded for the evening, SRI members led small groups of gala participants around the main branch library in search of ghosts, giving them a little history of the building's alleged haunts, and showing them how to use popular ghost hunting tech. We had done something similar last year, offering two separate public hunts of the main branch and the Gallaher Village area. Those events were so much fun and went so well that we were honored to be asked to return again this year to help raise funds for the library system.

The SRI team and the Uncovering
History team in front of the Lowe Hotel

The last big project that SRI worked on in October was a two-day on-location film shoot with the crew from Uncovering History! We joined the guys in Point Pleasant in search of the Mothman, starting with an investigation of the haunted and historic Lowe Hotel, and wrapping up with a wild romp through the TNT area. We did a little of our own filming as well, so I'll be sure to share when each of our videos premiers. We had a blast and got along so well with the crew that we've been asked to lend a hand on further adventures...more on that coming up soon!

Amidst all that chaos, I managed to work in some personal adventures as well, starting with attending MystiCon at the Ravenswood Public Library. MystiCon is an annual all-things spooky and Halloween event, offering guest speakers, vendors, and all kinds of other cool activities to get you in the mood for the season. I've already blogged about it (MystiCon blog) so I won't babble on, other than to say that this is a REALLY well put together event with some great speakers, and I look forward to hopefully vending next year. 

MystiCon 2023

My husband, who is trying to make a solid effort to join me on more of my spooky pursuits tagged along to MystiCon and had a great time. He didn't, however, care too much for another event I dragged him along to....

Okay, so ever since I saw the Halloween episode of King of the Hill with the Hallelujah House, I've wanted to experience that for myself. The problem was, I could never find a Hell House or Judgement House close by. This year, I started my search early, and found that Memorial Baptist Church in Beckley was offering a Judgement House AND it had a Sunday date that I could work into my schedule!  It was quite the experience. The place was packed, and that poor staff was trying their best to move the huge number of guests through as efficiently as possible, which meant that each 'scene' involved us being stuffed butt to gut with about 20 other people into a small viewing area. We got super up close and personal with our fellow patrons as we moved through the story line of a family just discovering church....only to be gunned down in a home invasion. 

It seems we were the only ones who were there ironically, lol. I won't get into the subject of religion other than to state that I wholly disagree with the message that was being preached. But, we watched as the mother went off to Heaven, while the father went off to Hell, which was the coolest scene in the whole production. Afterwards, we had to sit in a room with a preacher for an additional 30 minutes, not unlike a timeshare presentation. I was disappointed that this was not one of those Hell Houses that were really wild and gruesome in its coverage of multiple sins. It was fairly tame with one message at hand and one story line. Still, we remained absolutely respectful and left there knowing that we were surely going to Hell. 

Kenova Pumpkin House

The other bucket-list item I checked off for 2023 was my first visit to the Kenova Pumpkin House! I'll be dedicating a whole blog to this one, but the Pumpkin House is a internationally-known attraction, with thousands of carved and lit pumpkins on display. We went on Halloween night, and surprisingly, found a good parking spot. It was crowded, but not overwhelming, and plenty of food trucks and vendors were set up along the street to enhance the experience of seeing more jack-o-lanterns in one place than I'd ever seen before. It was kinda funny, though...the weather had been downright HOT that week, then wet, so there was quite a bit of visible mold on most of the pumpkins, which actually somewhat added to the Halloween atmosphere, lol.

Sadly, I have yet to bring back my own Halloween party, but I went to the St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group's end of the year Halloween bash, and it was awesome! Games, costumes, prizes, good food and great friends were just what I needed to cheer me up. Ron Lanham of Wild and Weird made a little alien body cake that we all devoured, my team dominated Paranormal Trivia, and Denise Cyrus from the St. Albans Historical Society gave our group a special haunted walking tour of the town. Angie Breeden, who started the group with a young man named Barry, has done an excellent job with this group, and if you're interested in the paranormal at all, I'd highly suggest you follow on Facebook for updates! Meetings will resume in January 2024 and are held on the last Wednesday of the month at the St. Albans Historical Society.

Move over, Jaimie!
This alien was delicious

One last thing my husband joined me for was a Ghost Hunting 101 class with Tracey Perry. I attended Tracey's class last year as well, and both times have lucked out; I've walked away with the door prize! Last year I won a nice video camera, and this year I (well, my husband actually won, but....) walked away with a little ghost hunting kit.  It was a nice  presentation, and I'm always interested to see how other teams out there are operating, and I'm always willing to support my fellow investigators. I wrote about my experience last year HERE. 

Looking back over this super long list of things I did, I realize that I need to stop moping around! I did a LOT of cool things this Halloween season, and made some lasting memories with friends and family. I only hope that Halloween 2024 is as awesome as this year was. 

Spooky Season 2022 is Finally Here!

From SRI's Fairfield County Infirmary
Investigation in September

I mean, it's spooky season all year long here at Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State, but as October 1st finally arrives, it seems...official! Along with plenty of ghosts, spooks, monsters, and goblins, October also brings along with it another round of the Ultimate Blog Challenge. That's right---thirty one more straight days of brand new paranormal content here on the blog. 

As some readers may already know, I lost my mom last week after a nearly 6 month battle with cancer. I haven't had a whole lot of time, energy, or motivation lately to focus on my work, but I'm desperately needing a distraction. Hopefully, this blog will provide that much needed outlet for me to concentrate on during these next few months, and the UBC will give me the push to actually get it published. I've certainly got quite a back log of content I've been wanting to share with ya'll! Despite everything going on, I've still tried to keep up with my paranormal investigations with Spectral Research and Investigations, my spooky reading, making research notes on cases I'd like to study further, and going to as many local paranormal events as possible. 

Please join me all month long as we get caught up with some new haunted locations in West Virginia and beyond, take a look at some of SRI's events/investigations, and explore everything strange and spooky throughout the tri-state. This is my favorite time of the year, and I'm excited to get to share it with you.  Happy haunting! 

Happy Historical Halloween!

So far, my Halloween isn't going too great.  Not only was trick-or-treat rescheduled for Saturday due to the weather, but I just found out that Facebook is not allowing me, or anyone else, to share my blog content due to a 'violation of community standards.'  Not only does my blog contain NOTHING that would violate community standards, but I never got any notification of what exactly is in violation and who/when/why it was reported.  A good chunk of my blog traffic comes from Facebook, so this is really gonna hurt until it is resolved!  Plus, I failed miserably at the October Ultimate Blog Challenge---my mother-in-law was re-admitted to the hospital and my mom had to have a minor procedure done that still managed to knock her down for awhile...so I've been pulled in about a hundred directions. Blogging has had to be put aside for awhile, which always gets me down.  So while I'm sitting here trying not to cry, I thought I would try to be productive and at least start publishing some content to share through other channels! 

Halloween is my absolute all-time favorite holiday, and last year I discovered a handful of historic photographs on the WV History on View website depicting Halloween festivities in West Virginia!  These are my favorites!  I hope you're having a much better Halloween than I am.  Stay safe out there...and stay spooky!

This photo dates to 1919 and shows a group of young people in Nitro, WV headed to a masquerade party!  Nitro was a WWI boom town, named by the federal government after nitrocellulose, the main ingredient used in the ammunitions that were manufactured there during the war.  This picture comes from a little less than a year after the war's end, when hopefully there was much to celebrate that Halloween!

Is this a Halloween parade? Maybe a New Year's belsnickeling/mumming parade? The description from the WV History on View website only denotes that it is from Beechurst Avenue in Morgantown, West Virginia. I love these costumes, especially the masks!  There is something so magical about vintage, homemade costumes that really evokes a sense of Halloween for me!  Let me know in the comments below what YOUR favorite costume was growing up, and if it was store-bought or homemade!

Okay, so I'm not entirely sure this is a Halloween picture (or maybe a picture from a theatrical production's cast), but this OMA group portrait in Front of St. John's, Martinsburg, W. Va., shows some awesome costumes!  I absolutely LOVE the OMA owl and moon banner...but, uh, what's with the goats???  Anyway, once again...

Happy Halloween from Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State!

Here We Go Again!

It's October!  Can you believe it?  This is my favorite month of the year....and the busiest month of the year for Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State!  If you haven't done so yet, you'll want to follow me on Facebook for 31 days full of spooky, Halloween goodness.

Each day will be a day full of posts dedicated to a new spooky topic, beginning with Edgar A. Poe today and followed by Appalachian Granny Witches tomorrow.  You'll wanna check back each day for articles, photos, discussions, and even a few giveaways!

You'll also want to check out the blog each day because once again, I've joined the Ultimate Blog Challenge!  For a whole month, I'll be posting fresh new content for your enjoyment.  New West Virginia hauntings, new paranormal photos, new book reviews, and so much more ghostly and Halloween articles are coming your way! I've failed miserably the last few times I've attempted this challenge, but October is MY month and I'm dedicated to seeing it through to the end this time.  I feel confident, but a little nervous because...

...I'm also going to be super busy this month!  I'll be attending The WV CASE Paranormal Expo in Morgantown on October 12th and I'll have a table set up at the Beckley Fall Oddities Fair on October 26th. There are a few haunted house attractions I'm planning to visit and a few ghost tours I've scheduled to attend.  I've got a few other paranormal and Halloween-related events lined up this month and I'm going to try my best to shove in as much spooky fun as possible. Of course, I'll be sharing all those experiences with YOU!

Halloween is my favorite holiday and autumn is my favorite time of the year.  I'm excited for another opportunity to spend it with you all.  Let me know down in the comments, or join the discussion over on Facebook and let me know what this October has in store for you!  Any investigations planned? Going on any ghost tours?  Seeing any spooky movies this season?  Feel free to share your plans and let us all know how YOU'RE making the most out of Spooky Season 2019.

Happy Haunting, ya'll!

Happy Halloween 2018!

Happy Halloween, everyone!  Tonight, the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. Ghosts and goblins may be out and about...so keep those cameras and voice recorders ready to go, lol.   I hope you have a wonderfully spooky Halloween holiday.  Come on over to Theresa's Haunted History Facebook page and let me know what YOUR Halloween plans are for today. Trick-or-treating?  Scary movie marathon? Party time?  Or, are you just gonna curl up with a book of ghost stories and wait until morning?

Stay spooky...and I'll catch ya back here in November for more ghostly goodies!

Horton Hears an EVP

Now THIS is a Dr. Seuss book I'd definitely buy!  Although, admittedly, I don't think I'd like to be tasked with analyzing any EVPs that would come from deceased Dr. Seuss characters, lol.  Lots of rhyming, tongue twisters, and complete nonsensical gibberish....well, that last part actually sounds a lot like REAL EVP work, lol.  Happy Friday, ya'll!  Halloween is coming!

Spirits of the Dead: A Poem by Edgar Allan Poe

What's the Halloween season without a selection from the original Master of Horror, Edgar Allan Poe?  His poem, Spirits of the Dead, was originally published in 1827, yet it still remains just as creepy and beautiful today as it did back then. Enjoy the poem for what it is...but if you'd like a closer analysis of its meaning, check out this site, Like Paper and Pencil.  Happy Haunting, everyone.  

Nitro's Festival of Fright!

This Halloween season has been a season of firsts for my family.  I'm not sure why our schedules seem to be so different than they were last year, but we're finding that we have much more time to attend quite a few of our local Fall/Halloween events! Each year we say we're going to try and go....but this is the first time in a LONG time we've had the opportunity to attend Shocka-Con in Charleston and Hurricane's annual Harvest Festival.  And for the first time EVER we got to attend Nitro's Festival of Fright!

In its third year, Nitro's Festival of Fright is a pretty cool family-friendly event with a little something for everyone.  It's held at Nitro's Ridenour Lake, which is a beautiful setting with lots of space.  We didn't get the chance to check out the line-up of bands that played Friday night, but it definitely looked like a great show with local favorites, The Renfields, Robot Jurassic,  REL-X and Ghost Road.  We did, however, get to do most of the activities the following Saturday.

We had kind of a late start since Luke had jujitsu class at noon.  But, we left right afterwards and made it in plenty of time to see the ACW wrestling show by 2 pm.  It was absolutely sweltering with temperatures in the lower 90's and the sun beating down (I actually ended up getting sunburned.  Who gets sunburned at a damn Halloween festival?), but the guys managed to put on a good show.  They even managed to bring in some classic wrestling legends such as Tracy Smothers, Mr. Hughes, and Brutus 'The Barber' Beefcake. Michael Myers added a touch of Halloween absurdity by serving as a manager? valet?

After wrestling, I had planned on having a tarot card reading.  It's my goal to work in a little
paranormal/supernatural wherever I go, lol. I was really disappointed, however, to see that sometime during the show, the lady doing readings had packed up and left.  So, instead, we let my son Luke get in as much Autumn/Halloween fun as possible.  He ran into a friend while at the festival, so they spent a few minutes playing games.  They did a ring-toss, rolled some pumpkins down a hill to see whose would reach the bottom first, and then shot zombies with Nerf guns.  While the festival itself was free to attend, and the wrestling show was free to watch, there was a very minimal charge ($1) for the games, which, if I remember correctly, was to raise money for some club or program at Nitro High School.

When the boys had their fill of games, Luke's buddy joined back up with his family and we walked over to the pumpkin carving area.  We were extremely lucky in that we got the last pumpkin available.  The guys working the pumpkin carving event were really awesome.  Our assistant cut off the top of our pumpkin and even scooped the guts out for us!  He then let Luke have a marker and a carving kit and let him have at it.  To my astonishment, Luke drew his face and carved his pumpkin ALL BY HIMSELF!   Luke turned 9 years old a few weeks ago, and this year is already shaping up to be quite a transitional year for him, as we found out at the Hurricane Harvest Festival last weekend.  He's not a little kid anymore.  He's too big for bouncy houses and many of the little kid activities found at family-friendly events and festivals.  Yet, he's not quite ready to be a big kid yet.  Carving his own pumpkin was a big step for him...and he only managed to stab himself once with the safety knife.

Another big transitional step for Luke was the Trail of Terror!  Normally, Luke is not the kind of kid who really enjoys haunted houses and similar attractions.  But, for whatever reason, when we were telling him about the activities available and asking him if the festival was something he'd like to go to, he latched onto the idea of that trail and wouldn't shut up about how cool it was going to be.

The opening of the trail was delayed by about 45 minutes, and I thought for sure as we were waiting, Luke was going to change his mind.  He was determined, though...and really excited.  We paid our $5 per person admission fee, which I secretly thought was going to turn into thousands of dollars worth of therapy costs in the near future.  As we waited for our turn to go down the trail, the ladies working the entrance did an excellent job interacting with and entertaining the line.  They had some awesome witchy costumes, which were beautiful...but just a tad out of place for a zombie-themed haunted trail.  When it was finally our turn, we started off hearing a quick back story.  I absolutely loved how they tied in the true history of Nitro's role in World War One and made that the basis of the zombie theme along the trail.  Our guide then took us down the path where we'd encounter zombie after zombie...and also quite a few mutant spiders, rats, and other creatures.

It's important to note that we went on the trail while it was still full daylight, so we could easily see all of the zombies well ahead of time.  That took a little of the spookiness out of it, but at the same time, you could get a good look at the wonderful makeup and it afforded the zombies the opportunity to focus on meaningful interactions with guests, and not JUST jump scares.  Things were fairly calm at first, and then you hit the climax of the trail. The zombies completely take over and run amok, causing plenty of screams from the crowd. Luke even got chased down by a couple of different zombies, which as his mother, I found absolutely hilarious.  The volunteers really knew how to work the crowd and create a fun atmosphere.  Luke was scared, but not traumatized. He left the trail with a newfound confidence, and I left full of pride for my little dude who showed so much bravery and tried something new that I thought he'd never do in a million years.

The only downside of the trail is my own personal issues.  Despite my horrific back pain, I still try to
do everything that I want to do and not accept my physical limitations. I love haunted attractions, and wanted to share my son's first experience with such...but the walk up the hill to the head of the trail, and then the incline at the beginning of the trail was way too much for me, unfortunately.  It caused us to fall well behind the pack. At one point, I was in so much pain and so out of breath, that I, deader than any zombie, just sorta laid across a toxic waste barrel for a few minutes.  I have to hand it to the volunteers---they made sure I wasn't actually dying and that Luke and I made it out of the trail safely without ever breaking character.

Overall, the whole day was a really nice family experience for us.  I got to pick up a few souvenirs from Jeff Wamsley at the Mothman Museum booth and I got two beautiful stained glass ornaments from Kelly Bryant's Studio 13 booth.  There were a few things that I wish would have gone a bit smoother.  It seems like a lot of vendors packed up and left when wrestling was over.  The food was good, but it was a bit pricey and I would have liked to have seen a bit more variety. Having to bring your own seating for the wrestling was a pain when you had to park so far away or ride the shuttle.  Still, we made it through and everyone we encountered was extremely kind and helpful...and yet our festival experience wasn't quite over yet!

After dropping Luke off at his grandmother's for the night, Aaron and I grabbed some dinner and headed home to rest for awhile. Then we headed back out to Ridenour to wrap up this year's festival with a midnight drive-in showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show!  All evening long, there were FREE movies being offered on an inflatable screen.  Some were kid-friendly, and some were a little scarier...but we chose to come for Rocky!  Ever since Aaron and I started dating, we've tried to go to at least one showing of Rocky Horror each October, and this was the perfect chance.  We had a parking pass, but didn't end up needing it.  We arrived about 20 minutes 'til midnight and the weather was perfect.  We could hear and see perfectly, and got to sit comfortably in the car while watching our favorite movie.  My little black heart was thrilled that some of the people around us were into the audience participation lines and some even got up and did the Time Warp.  No concessions were available for purchase, but we brought our own snacks and had a great time.  It was the perfect ending to a nice event.

I'd like to thank Jim Caudill, Tim Arnott, and everyone else who volunteered at this year's festival or who came out in the heat to entertain us, cook for us, and provide us with lots of fun art and other goodies.  Like I said, everyone was just really nice and it made for quite a special experience.  Being able to see my son carve his own pumpkin and bravely push himself to do a haunted trail was an experience I won't forget.

Welcome, October!

BOO!  Welcome to October at Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State!  October is my favorite month, but its also my busiest month in real life AND here on the blog.  I'm excited to bring you a month FULL of spooky stories, ghost sightings, cryptozoological updates, and all things paranormal-related.

I've decided to once again give the Ultimate Blog Challenge a try.  Yep, that means that theoretically I will be posting a brand new blog each and every day for 31 days, culminating with my favorite day of the year---Halloween!  Although I did really well during the April Blog Challenge, I had to abandon my July attempt due to illness.  I'm feeling pretty good about the October challenge, though, and have already schedule-posted quite a few blogs.  So, you know you'll at least get SOME new content, even if I tap out early.

Witches, werewolves, vampires, UFOs, and of course, GHOSTS will be flooding this blog all month long, with an emphasis on stories from West Virginia.  But, if you're not from the Mountain State, don't fret---there will be haunted locations from other areas featured, as well as plenty of general ghostly goodness.  I'm actually really excited to be sharing some awesome new stories...and there will also be an occasional update to older blogs thrown in for good measure.

The fun won't end with just new blog posts!  October is full of special features over on Theresa's Haunted History Facebook, as well.  Every Wednesday, I'll be sharing a Halloween-themed ghost story from the popular site, WVGhosts.com.  Each day at 3 p.m. I'll be sharing a vintage ghost-themed Halloween graphic for your visual pleasure.  Mondays will be discussion days where I'll be asking YOU for your opinions and stories on a variety of spooky topics.  There may be a few additional surprises thrown in throughout the month as well as plenty of shares of anything and everything paranormal-related that I think you all would enjoy.

Speaking of sharing, I wanted to share the info on this adorable graphic I found to illustrate today's blog post!  I came across this and thought it was perfect for me. The image is called Super Spook, and is the work of DeviantArt artist, CodiBear. Check out CodiBear's other work and social media platforms at the link provided.

Stay spooky ya'll and have an awesome October!

January 2018 Updates!

We're only a week into 2018, and I already feel the need to do a quick update blog! There is so much going on this month

1. Grave City Haunted Relic Expo---On January 20th, my friend and I will be traveling to Moundsville, WV to set up a table for the Grave City Haunted Relic Expo, hosted by Steve Hummel of the Archive of the Afterlife Museum! There is a great lineup of speakers, live music, and some excellent vendors. I'll be promoting Theresa's Haunted History, as well as selling some small, spooky trinkets. If you're in the area, PLEASE stop by! Admission is only $5 and it looks like its going to be a really fun event.

2. Patreon---After much deliberation, I have been convinced to join Patreon. Patreon is a website where people can easily and safely donate money to the content creators of their choice. Those pledging $1 or more a month to Theresa's Haunted History will receive a personalized postcard from my haunted travels. Those pledging $3 or more a month will receive a goody bag with various ghost-related items. Please do not feel obligated to make a donation---no matter what, I still plan on improving both the quantity and quality of content on this blog and on Facebook, but I hope the added incentive will assist me in the development of a YouTube channel. Thank you in advance to anyone willing to throw a few bucks my way, though!

3. Guest Bloggers---On January 1st, I made a call for guest bloggers to share their stories, expertise, and perspectives on all things paranormal. To my surprise, there was an amazing response! The first of what I hope will be a LONG line of submissions was posted already, with a new post coming tomorrow. Keep an eye on the blog for all the great guest blogs coming your way. If you're interested in becoming a guest blogger, please let me know!

4. Halloween Blog---After another hiatus, I've revived my Halloween blog, and have been doing a pretty good job in keeping it, as well as thing one, updated! If you crave Halloween content all year round, please come check it out and share it with your friends.

5. YouTube Channel and Book---These are my two BIG projects of 2018, and preparations are already well underway. Check back for updates!

6. Re-writes and Updates---A lot of posts on this blog are outdated, some being originally posted at my old website as early as 2006. When I first started compiling these entries, they weren't designed for the public to see; they were a way to keep track of potential locations to look into for investigations and further research. Therefore, many entries are not well-written, they aren't complete, or information has just simply changed (or become available). I've also grown a LOT as a researcher. I have more access to additional resources, and more experience. I need to go back and just improve on some of the earliest entries. I've already started, and it is a monumental task, lol. And quite honestly...I've been a little lazy with it. If there is a location that I KNOW I am never going to investigate, I won't go super in-depth with its history. One of these days, I'm going to make a video and show all the documents I collect and all the work I put into the research behind an actual investigation location so people won't think I'm just an idiot who doesn't know what she's doing, lol. The best place to keep current with these updates will be on my Facebook page.

Well, that's what's going on with me so far in 2018! How has your new year been going? What goals and plans do you have coming up? Hop on over to Theresa's Haunted History Facebook and let me know! Stay Spooky, ya'll. 

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! 

Fozzie's Friday Night Funnies

Fozzie Bear shares his favorite Halloween jokes for tonight's Friday Night Funny! Wocka Wocka Wocka!

Spooky Documentaries

We're well on our way to Halloween, and to get you in a spooky mood, I thought I'd share some of the paranormal-related documentaries that I've been enjoying lately! I actually haven't gotten around to too many documentaries this month since what little free time I do have is filled with cramming in as many Halloween movies as I can possibly watch, but a few little educational gems have stood out as recommend watching. Have fun and let me know if you're watching anything of interest this month!

1. Haunted History of Halloween---this is my absolute favorite Halloween documentary. Produced by the History Channel, it covers quite a bit of the history, customs, and folklore of my favorite holiday. I usually end up watching this several times in October, lol. It's available on YouTube, so you can watch it, too!

2. Not Your Typical Bigfoot Movie---I am taking a Paranormal Phenomenon class at Ohio University Southern campus, under the direction of Todd Martin. This video, which chronicles the trials and triumphs of two Bigfoot researchers from Portsmouth, Ohio, was recommended as part of the course work. I found it a bit depressing and the title definitely gets it right; this is NOT your typical Bigfoot movie!

3. The Nightmare---This one is available on Netflix streaming and focuses on a group of people who all suffer from sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis, with or without the accompanying hypnagogia is one of the most terrifying things I have ever been through, so I applaud any film that attempts to get the information about this strange affliction out there to those who need it.

4. Visions of Ted Serios---Ever since I first learned of the Chicago bellhop who amazed researchers in the 1960s with his apparent ability to create 'thought photographs' on Polaroid film, I have been fascinated. I was thrilled to recently learn that there was a short film made about Ted...but then I actually FOUND the film, lol. It starts out okay, but then diverts into UFOs and gets pretty weird from there on. It's only about 20 minutes long, so its not a complete waste of time if your curiosity gets the best of you.

5. Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy---This is for the hardcore Nightmare on Elm Street fans, and is available on Netflix streaming. Just under FOUR (4!!) hours of behind the scenes interviews, history and film clips from the iconic horror flick.

*Looking for more strange and spooky documentary recommendations?*

Halloween Jokes

It's the first Friday in October and I'm ready for Halloween. For tonight's Friday Night Funny, I'd like to share this hilarious, yet poignant message from the ghosts, lol. Ya'll know I'm all about stopping the spread of misinformation!

8 Classic Tales of Horror

Looking to add some intellectual savvy to your Halloween celebrations this year?  There are so many  awesome books, fiction and non-fiction, that make excellent spooky reading material for this time of year, but I've chosen to share some of my favorite examples of classical horror literature.  These tales, all written in the 1800s, have withstood the test of time and remain as creepy now as the day they were written.  Many of these are quick reads, either short stories or novellas, and ALL are available FREE in various formats for reading on your computer or ebook device.

If you have a favorite spooky book, perfect for the Halloween season, hop on over to Theresa's Haunted History Facebook and let me know what it is!

1. Turn of the Screw by Henry James--Published in 1898, this is perhaps one of my favorite novels by Henry James, despite its verbosity and complexity.  Don't let the language scare you off; this is truly a frightening tale of a governess trying to protect her young charges from the spirits who intend to do them harm....or is it?  The mystery of what is actually going on, whether it be in real life or in the governess' own mind makes for some creepy reading.

2. The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde--Here's a short story, first appearing in print in 1887 and again in 1891 featuring a family that moves into a quintessential haunted house.  However, as hard as the ghost tries, the family, except for one young girl, chooses to ignore him.

3. Dracula--Published in 1897, this iconic work by Bram Stoker is the go-to guide for the vampire mythos and the creation of horror's most famous ghoul, Count Dracula!

4. Frankenstein--Mary Shelley's 1818 work is another iconic piece in the history of horror.  Written one summer during a challenge with some friends over who could write the scariest story, this tale of a doctor and his monstrous creation has been a Halloween favorite for close to 200 years.

5. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson--The ultimate tale of good vs. evil and the dual nature of every human being...just, pushed to the limits, lol.  Published in 1886, this classic tale will send shivers down your spine.

6. The Picture of Dorian Gray--Another Oscar Wilde favorite, published in 1890.  The Picture of Dorian Gray is a tale of what happens when vanity overrules a person's senses.  This story was apparently quite controversial in Britain when it was first published!

7. The Tell-Tale Heart--First published in 1843, the Tell-Tale Heart is a Poe classic...and you can't have a Halloween-themed literature list without mentioning Edgar Allen Poe!  Murder, insanity, and the incessant beating of that blasted heart come together to terrify you with this gothic thriller.

8. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving--Published in 1820, this short story has withstood the test of time; the tale of Ichabod Crane meeting the Headless Horseman is still as spooky as it was almost 200 years ago.

*Links updated on October 8, 2017*

Family Friendly Halloween Movies

I absolutely LOVE Halloween and am so blessed that my five year old son also shares in my passion for the holiday and everything spooky about it--including the movies!  This is a really fun age for him, because he's still young enough to really enjoy his favorite cartoon characters and their crazy Halloween hijinks...but he's also getting to the age where he can really watch and understand some spookier tales.  In no particular order, here's a list of 11 of our favorite Halloween movies to watch together as a family!  Some are more suited for little kids, while many of them are really meant for a slightly older audience.  Almost all can be appreciated, at least in part, by the grown-ups!

1. Paranorman (2012)-- A young boy has the ability to see dead people.  It's kinda like The Sixth Sense in CGI, but with more of a purpose.  I really like this movie.  It's a cute kid's movie, but there are some rather adult innuendos thrown in for the parents, which hopefully, will go right over the heads of most children.  Oh, and there are zombies...lots and lots of zombies.  If you have a Netflix account, you can watch this one on there.

2. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow/Disney version (1949)--This is an annual tradition for us, and we even named one of our kitty cats Ichabod after Mr. Crane and his thin frame and voracious appetite.  The atmosphere is delightfully spooky and there's just something about vintage Disney that puts me in the Halloween spirit.  It's a wonderful adaptation of the Headless Horseman tale with wonderful music thrown in.

3. Hocus Pocus (1993)--One of THE best Halloween movies ever made, in my opinion.  Its exciting, its spooky, and the kids win!  It also has one of the best adaptations of 'I Put a Spell on You' that I've heard.  Since 1993, this tale of the Sanderson Sisters of Salem, who are resurrected on Halloween night by an unwitting virgin has captured the hearts of cult movie lovers, lol.

4. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!  (1966)--Another timeless classic that is at the top of every family's Halloween season viewing!  Linus awaiting the Great Pumpkin in the pumpkin patch, Lucy's terrifying witch mask, and poor Charlie Brown's candy bag full of rocks will never get old.

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)--Dark and spooky and quintessentially Halloween. There's really not much more I can say about this one.

6. The Worst Witch (1986)--Mildred Hubble is a witch; possibly the WORST witch!  This classic 80s coming of age tale with a twist covers all the cliche themes of being yourself, doing your best, and the value of friendship...but with witches!  For the parents, especially the mommies, Tim Curry makes a spectacular appearance as the Grand Wizard, and wows students and teachers alike with his funky dance moves, catchy Halloween song, and high tech 80s special effects.  This one is available to watch for free on Youtube.

7. The Witches (1990)--Based off the Roald Dahl book, this film has one of the creepiest moments in cinematic history as the head witch peels off her face mask to reveal her true form.

8. Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest--I absolutely love Curious George and this one-hour long Halloween special is really cute and cleverly done.  It's a spin-off of the cherished Headless Horseman tale, but its done is a very non-scary, yet mysterious way.  Little kids will love the twist at the end, and even those a little older will appreciate some of the jokes.  This one is available on Netflix if you miss it on PBS.

9. Ghost Busters (1984)--This is probably Luke's favorite movie out of all these mentioned.  I'm not sure what it is about a group of guys running after some actually pretty scary ghosts, but he'll watch it over and over again and sing "Who Ya Gonna Call?"  until you physically make him stop!  The part where the evil dog-thing attacks Rick Moranis' character is a little intense for him, but the rest of the movie doesn't faze him a bit...and its one of my favorites, too.

10. Halloween is Grinch Night (1977)--Until this year, I had no idea this movie even existed, but found it in its entirety to watch FREE on Youtube.  Obviously, nothing can replace the Grinch's timeless Christmas tale, but this Halloween prequel had its moments and plenty of catchy lil' tunes.  At a little over 25 minutes long, this is a perfect pre-bedtime quickie. 

11. Winnie the Pooh's Halloween Stories--I actually found this one while posting the Youtube link to Halloween is Grinch Night and had to post it!  It's your classic Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends from the Hundred-Acre Wood telling spooky stories.  At one hour long, this collection of tales is great for movie night with even the youngest of family members.

There are tons of awesome family-friendly Halloween movies and specials out there.  If you or your family has a favorite that you didn't see mentioned here, head over to Theresa's Haunted History Facebook page and let me know about it!  Happy Halloween!

Theresa Travels to the Castle Halloween Museum

Photo by Stephen David Entertainment, via Location Library

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

2024 Article by Sean Collier in the Pittsburgh Magazine

YouTube Playlist for Castle Halloween

Castle Halloween Museum

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

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

Hours: Open by appointment only

Price: $8 admission (Now $15)

Gift Shop/Antique Boutique on-site

Website: www.castlehalloween.com 

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

Theresa Discovers The Castle Halloween Museum

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

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

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

Boggs Run School: Undated photo from Marshall Co. GenWeb

Planning The Trip

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

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

The Tour

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

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

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

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

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

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

Extra Stuff to Consider:

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

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

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

*Photography is allowed and encouraged!

*Bring cash for your $8 admission fee!

In Conclusion

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

My Halloween Cat

Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted a black cat.  Since we're a dog family, and NOT a cat family, I thought that dream was never going to come true.  When I was 17, a stray cat DID show up at our house, who quickly became part of the family...but he was a tabby.  Years later when we were on the search for a pet cat for my son, Luke, I told him that people didn't pick cats; cats picked their OWN owners and that when the time was right, God would make sure he got the kitty that was meant for him.  The kitty that came into our lives was a white and orange flame-tail we named Snowball.

Snowball

Aaron and Ichabod

I resigned the fact that even though I always wanted a black cat, I had to listen to my own advice...that cats pick their own owners and it must not have been in God's plan for me to have my little black kitty.  I owe an apology to someone up there because a few weeks ago, a little black kitty came into our lives!  When a friend and fellow HPIR member, Kelly, put a message up asking if anyone to take the emaciated little ball of feisty black fluff she had found at a client's home, I knew that I had to give this kitty a good home.  Mom, Luke, and I (after calling a very reluctant Aaron) got in the car and went to go pick up our new baby.

The little kitty was so thin that you could see and feel every one of her bones.  We took her directly to our vet, and luckily my mom drove because even though we had the cat carrier, I held the tiny cat all the way back to Hurricane.  She was literally so thin that I was afraid she wasn't going to make it, and if she DID'NT make it, I wanted her last moments to be ones filled with love and comfort.  She laid against my chest and slept the entire way.  I decided early on that the little cat would be named Ichabod, after Ichabod Crane.  I know that new television show just recently came out, but OUR Ichabod is actually named after the Disney character.  Each year at the start of the Halloween season, Luke, Aaron and I watch the animated movie, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which contains a loooong description of how thin Ichabod Crane was.  Unfortunately, we found out from the vet that Ichabod was a female.  Still, the name was so fitting that we kept it, and call her Icky for short.

Aside from finding out from the vet that Ichabod was a girl, we found out that she was severely emaciated and basically had no muscle mass.  She was so weak that they wouldn't even give her the required vaccinations.  We made an appointment to come back in 10 days with orders to provide plenty of kitten chow and even more TLC.  Ten days came and went, and Icky gained over 2lbs.  She was now healthy enough to start the vaccination process.  She had also grown quite comfortable in her new home and even with her new cat brother, Snow.

With doctors' appointments and everything else, she's kept me even busier, but I can't imagine our home would be complete without her.  She's my little Halloween gift--I finally got my black cat, and right before Halloween!

National Face Your Fears Day!

Thing, the Chirophobic's worst nightmare

Today is October 8, 2013 and that means its National Face Your Fears Day!  With Halloween is just a few short weeks away, this is a time of year when most of us WANT to be scared! Horror films, ghost stories, and haunted house attractions are some of the ways we can safely face our fears this time of year and have a lot of fun at the same time...but to some people, its not that easy!  Fear of everyday objects can be debilitating...and unfortunately, kinda hilarious for the rest of us!

So, in order to celebrate this unique and somewhat spooky holiday, I thought it would be fun to make an alphabetical list of some of the more interesting fears and phobias.  I've also thrown in a few Halloween-themed phobias just for fun!  These have all come from The Phobia List, which offers an excellent index and information on a variety of phobias.

Automatonophobia- Fear of ventriloquist's dummies, animatronic creatures, wax statues - anything that falsely represents a sentient being.

Barophobia- Fear of gravity.

Chirophobia- Fear of hands.

Dextrophobia- Fear of objects at the right side of the body.

Eisoptrophobia- Fear of mirrors or of seeing oneself in a mirror.

Francophobia- Fear of France or French culture.

Genuphobia- Fear of knees.

Homichlophobia- Fear of fog.

Ichthyophobia- Fear of fish.

Japanophobia- Fear of Japanese.

Kathisophobia- Fear of sitting down.

Linonophobia- Fear of string.

Mycophobia- Fear or aversion to mushrooms.

Novercaphobia- Fear of your step-mother.

Omphalophobia- Fear of belly buttons.

Peladophobia- Fear of bald people.

Q-?

Ranidaphobia- Fear of frogs.

Samhainophobia: Fear of Halloween.

Triskaidekaphobia- Fear of the number 13.

Uranophobia or Ouranophobia- Fear of heaven.

Vestiphobia- Fear of clothing.

Wiccaphobia: Fear of witches and witchcraft.

Xanthophobia- Fear of the color yellow or the word yellow.

Y-?

Zemmiphobia- Fear of the great mole rat.