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!

The Hell Hound of Baker Hollow Road Cemetery

Baker Hollow Church, Source

It's getting closer and closer to my favorite holiday...HALLOWEEN!  To help celebrate the more fun, light-hearted side of Halloween spookiness, today's blog post is nothing but pure, unadulterated urban legend.  For the investigation and research process, we try to uncover the truth about haunted locations, supported with as much historical documentation as possible.  However, in the spirit of the season, sometimes its just as important to enjoy a good story for what its worth.  With that caveat, I bring you the tale of Baker Hollow Road Cemetery.

Baker Hollow Road Cemetery is located in Marion, Kentucky and there are so many aspects to this legend, that there's no way I could cover them all.  But before we get to all that, I can't resist throwing in a LITTLE bit of history!

The Baker Hollow Road Cemetery is actually two separate and distinct cemeteries known collectively as the Baker-Phillips Cemetery.  Baker Cemetery is the burial ground associated with the Baker Church, and can be found to the side of the building.  Phillips Cemetery is located towards the front of the church.  When the new road came through this area, it split the farm property of Edgar Ovel Phillips in two, leaving one section on the other side of the road in front of the church.  When a cousin's son passed away in 1949, Phillips gave permission for the boy, Major Samuel, to be buried on that strip of land for free.  As more and more family members passed away, they were also buried on that plot of land.  It wouldn't be until 2008, however, that an arch would be erected denoting the fact that this was a separate cemetery from Baker. (Source)

Courtesy, Find-a-Grave

Find-a-Grave, however, still has the both sections listed under the Baker name, and contributor, Jean, posted the photo of Major Samuel's grave.  The boy died of non-infectious encephalitis just shy of his 10th birthday.  He was the son of James and Marie Samuel.  The reason why its important to note who Major Samuel was is because his burial may or may not have a direct affect on at least one of the cemetery legends!  It is a belief, especially in the southern United States, that the first person to be buried in a new cemetery is destined to become the cemetery's guardian, protecting the grounds and manifesting in a variety of ways, including...in the shape of a black dog.

But, in order to experience the black dog, one must first FIND the cemetery in question, which is located off Baker Church Road.  Coming from Marion, the church and one section of cemetery will be on your left.  Pass the church until you come to the fork in the road and turn around at the fork.  Those who have experienced the Baker Hollow Road legend report that midnight is the best time to go and under the cover of this darkness, the section of cemetery in question will not be visible until one turns around at the fork.  But, as the cemetery suddenly pops into view, its not unusual to experience feelings of extreme sadness to the point of even crying.  Now is the time to keep your eyes open for the Hell Hound.

The rather large dog is described as being as black as night with glowing yellow eyes.  It may appear as limping, or otherwise injured, but DO NOT get out of the car and attempt to pick it up!  If you speed up the car in attempt to get away from this dog, it will keep time with your car, always watching you with its yellow eyes.  If you manage to follow it back to the triangle section of the fork in the road, watch its shadow---legend says that the shadow will turn into a large, demonic beast, before it and the dog disappear from view altogether.

Image by Abellia

As creepy as that sounds, encounters with the Hell Hound, or cemetery guardian, are tame in comparison to what others have experienced.  Just on the road alone, people have heard laughing, screaming, crying, and the voices of deceased loved ones calling out to them.  Strange weather phenomena, such as very centralized rains have been noted, as have thick pockets of fog and mist that appear and disappear out of thin air.  Along the sides of the roads, the spectral bodies of men, hanged years ago for crimes lost to history, can be seen swaying from the trees, and broken down cars will be parked, filled with the tormented screams of those crying for help.

If seeing and hearing all this still hasn't scared you off, feel free to drive into the cemetery itself---just be prepared to stay for awhile.  Those who have dared enter the sacred grounds after dark have found that their vehicles will mysteriously shut off and refuse to start back up.  Even if you wait it out until morning or gather the courage to get out and push the car out through the gates, your encounter has not yet ended.  Visitors often report being plagued by horrible nightmares and nocturnal visits by unclean spirits.

Obviously there is a lot of "information" out there on this location, and it seems like everyone has their own story to tell about what they or a friend of a friend experienced!  Strange USA has a wonderful collection of these experiences, but if you've had your own...I want to hear about it!

More photos and directions

The Ebola Zombie Debunked

*Unfortunately, as I was preparing for this article, news broke that Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person to be diagnosed with ebola in the United States, has passed away at a Dallas hospital.  Please keep him and his family in your thoughts today.*

It all started with an article from the All Africa website, dated 24 September 2014.  The article discussed that two Liberian women, Dorris Quoi and Ma Kebeh in their 40s and 60s respectively, had been declared deceased, succumbing to the horrible disease ebola.  However, before their bodies were buried, the two women were said to have resurrected.

While the article doesn't flat out say that this story obviously isn't a sign of the coming zombie apocalypse, it is important to note that this area is a very small, very superstitious area.  More importantly...ebola is such a scare right now and with a shortage of doctors and medical supplies and people being turned away at hospitals, its very possible that these women do exist...and were actually declared or thought to be dead 'dead,' but really weren't.

It wasn't until later that a third case of an ebola victim coming back to life hit the media, which apparently was actually the FIRST.  Apparently ABC News, while filming a segment with Dr. Richard Besser for Good Morning America caught footage of a man in a body bag, ready for burial begin moving his arms.  This footage fueled the idea that maybe there was actually something to all this...at the very least, it supported the idea that people who were thought to be dead might not actually BE dead to begin with.

And then, the infamous photo showing one of the living Liberian zombies (see above) went super viral (pardon the pun) after being posted on a satirical news site. The dead probably aren't coming back to life---more likely, they were never dead to begin with, but we do know for sure that the photo released of the victim is nothing but a hoax.  Two images were combined to create the "zombie":

1. A still shot from the movie World War Z, featuring Sarah Amankwah, who played a zombie employee at the W.H.O. lab.

2. This really awesome mask created by sculptor  Jordu Schell

Moundsville's Infamous Prisoner #45512: Red Snyder

The West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville is often credited as being one of the most haunted locations in the United States...and possibly the world.  With well over 100 years worth of the most violent criminals in the state passing through its stone walls, the prison has picked up a well-deserved reputation for being inhabited by those still serving out their sentences.

One of the most well known prisoners and one of Moundsville's most encountered spirits is William "Red" Snyder.  There are a lot of different stories concerning the mythos built up around this notorious murderer, many of which are not exactly true.  While it would be nearly impossible to do a thorough (and 100% accurate) portrayal of Red's history, I wanted to share a few pieces of documented history I was able to find out, as well as share some of his spirit's interactions with the living!

William Andrew "Red" Snyder was born 26 December 1946 to Emory and Laura Snyder of Lewis County, WV.  He was one of 12 children, some of which were older, some of which were younger than Red, who was often called "Billy" by his family.  Citing an obituary I found for his older sister, the children were: Betty Rae, David, Junior, Daisy, Zelma, Dora, Linda, Tommy, Bobby, Molly, and Jenitta.  Unfortunately, Red's mom, Laura, passed away at the early age of 43.  She died 22 July 1961 from complications due to breast cancer.

I haven't found out much about Red's early years, but a later newspaper article cites him as serving 32 months out of a 2-20 year sentence in Lewis County for arson, starting around April of 1965.  He served the time at the West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville and was released on December 21, 1967. It was probably in prison where the nickname 'Red' took hold, thanks to his red hair.  He was also described as being 5'8'' with a stocky build and having hazel eyes.

It wasn't long after Red was released from prison that he'd find himself in trouble again...BIG trouble. Upon his release, he had found out that his 15 year old sister was dating a neighbor boy, a member of the Grogg family.  On Friday, January 5, 1968, Red planned on exacting his revenge on this boy.  Brandishing a high power rifle, he went into his father's bedroom in their home in the Dry Fork community and declared that he was going to "get that Grogg boy."  When his father tried to stop him, Red shot him in the head and fled the house, heading a mile up the road to the Frank Grogg residence.  Meanwhile, one of Red's younger siblings called the police.

Arriving at the Grogg residence, Red found that the parents, Frank and his wife, were not home.  They returned shortly after to find that Red had their 8 children, aged 3-22 years, held hostage at gunpoint. Grogg attempted to wrestle the gun away and was fatally shot in the chest.  City, state, and county police officers began arriving on scene and Red ran out of the house shooting at officers.  State Police Sergeant Andrick fired back, striking Red in the leg.  As he fell, other officers jumped on him and seized the gun.  He was found guilty of the murders of both Frank Grogg and his own father, Emory Snyder.  He'd never leave the state penitentiary again.

Prison life seemed to suit Red just fine, however, and he became a respected, yet highly feared prisoner and a leader in the Aryan Brotherhood, although he was somewhat of a loner.  Described as always wearing a toboggan hat, Snyder was a straight shooter with the guards and other prisoners.  If you didn't bother him, he didn't bother you, but if he wanted you dead, you better make your peace---and soon.  Snyder played a vital role in the 1986 prison riot, where three inmates were killed and 16 hostages were taken.  Several informants came forward and accused Red of having the inmates killed.  As a result of his involvement, as well as his suspected involvement in several other inmate deaths including a stabbing death in 1971, destruction of property, and tampering with locks, Red and his good friend, Rusty Lassiter were both assigned to North Hall, where the most violent offenders were housed.

According to an article in the Charleston Gazette, inmates housed in North Hall were usually given their recreation period alone and late at night.  However, Red and Lassiter were often allowed to take their recreation period at the same time as guards thought the friendship was good for both of them, psychologically.  It was during a Sunday evening, when the cell doors opened for the men.  Red was just coming out of his cell, number 20 (the very last cell on the ground level of B side in North Hall, marked with the words Aryan Brotherhood scribbled on the wall) when Rusty Lassiter ran up from his cell 10 feet away and attacked Red.  Lassiter had taken a metal part from his bed and filed it down into a shank, which he used to stab Red at least 15 times, but as many as 37 times by most accounts.  Red died in the early morning hours of November 16, 1992 after choking to death on his own blood.  According to former guard, Maggie Gray, Lassiter had been ordered to attack Red on order of Elijah Sutton, who wanted to take over leadership of the Aryan Brotherhood.  Gone was the feared and revered man who enjoyed watching Days of Our Lives, who was never without a chew of tobacco in, and who was distinguished by his raspy voice and unique laugh.

Red was supposed to be buried in the prison's cemetery on Tom's Run, known as White Gate Cemetery.  However, so respected and feared, even in death, by the other prisoners, they took up a collection to have his body taken to Riverview Cemetery, much to the outrage of local citizens.  After a brief fight, Red's body was allowed to be interred at Riverview, but no stone marks his final resting place.

Red's body may have finally made it out of the prison, but in the minds of many, his spirit never did.  One of the first people to encounter  Red's ghost was Maggie, who is now a tour guide for historical tours of the prison.  One morning before tours opened up, Maggie was doing her usual walk-through when she went passed Red's former cell and heard his distinct voice say, "Morning, Mag."  Intrigued, she sought the help of paranormal investigator, Polly Gear, and together they caught an EVP late one night.  Maggie was alone in Red's old cell and was telling him that his killer had recently been released.  When the recording was played back, Red seemed to answer back that he already knew.  As far as I can tell, Red doesn't necessarily like to be seen, but multiple investigators who have visited his former cell have claimed to have obtained EVP evidence, sometimes in not-so-nice language, and other communication in the form of EMF meter hits, ghost box sessions, etc.

Red was one of the prison's most notorious prisoners in life.  He has kept up that reputation in the afterlife, just waiting for the right person to come into his cell and have a chat.  Are you up for it?

Sources:
Laura Snyder's Death Certificate
The Herald-Advertiser 7 January 1968
Charleston Gazette 17 November 1992
The Haunted History of the West Virginia Penitentiary by Sherri Brake
Travel Channel's Ghost Story-Moundsville episode
Various resources from Ancestry.com

Book Review for Haunted Jersey Shore

Title: Haunted Jersey Shore--Ghosts and Strange Phenomena of the Garden State Coast
Author: Charles A. Stansfield, Jr.
Published by Stackpole Books (2006)
Amazon Info (Also available on Kindle)

My boyfriend was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, so we were both delighted--and rather surprised--to find a copy of this book at our local Goodwill store. I have to say, it was the best 50 cents I have spent in a long time!

At 114 pages, this book is short, but that makes it a perfect, quick read for this time of year!  I had my reservations at first, because I had previously read other books by different authors in this publisher's same series.  While still pretty good, these books tended to be a little sparse when it came to the actual number of stories covered.  This book was the complete opposite!  Divided by geographical area, there are several dozen stories packed between its covers. 

Most of the tales are only about half a page in length, and therefore, there's not a lot of history or extraneous information detracting from the meat of the story.  As a historian for my paranormal investigation group, I really value and appreciate a thorough historical profile for my research, but sometimes I just want to read the good parts and enjoy a good scare!  Again, that makes this the perfect little book to read during the Halloween season as it focuses on the spooky part, and doesn't worry about proving or disproving the tales.  Of course, enough details are given so that anyone interested in learning more can do their own research with or without the aide of the bibliography.  Also included in the text are links to different area paranormal groups and websites, and information about how to find companies that conduct ghost tours in the area.

If you have any ties to the Jersey Coast, definitely pick this one up for some spooky reading!  But, if you're NOT familiar with the area, don't be intimidated; its still a very enjoyable read that doesn't rely on a previous understanding of the history or geography of the area.  And seriously...how could you not love the cover illustration of the Jersey Devil?

*Want more Book Reviews?*

The Haunted History of Parkersburg's Quincy Hill

With outstanding views of the Ohio River and downtown Parkersburg, clean restrooms, a quaint wooden gazebo and a cute little play area, Quincy Hill Park seems like a peaceful place to relax, and to possibly get a little exercise and fresh air.  But when the sun goes down, Quincy Hill Park is anything but peaceful.

Originally known as Prospect Hill, the area of Quincy Hill Park was used as a tent hospital during the Civil War.  It was actually one of five Civil War hospitals that sprung up in the area during the war years, and from what I can gather, this tent-city operation, which was home from anywhere to 500-1000 sick and wounded soldiers, was one of the lower rungs.  It was where the African American and Irish immigrant soldiers were sent.  At one point, a small pox epidemic raged through the camp, devastating the patients and overwhelming the small staff. Moans and cries from the sick and dying could be heard all the way in downtown Parkersburg, and it seems as if some of those soldiers never left.  Over 150 years later, the moans of those who suffered terribly atop the hill can still be heard.  In the book, A Guide to Haunted West Virginia, authors Gavenda and Shoemaker tell of one tale in particular which occurred on the evening of September 26, 1996 as two young girls ascended Quincy Hill to get a good view of that night's lunar eclipse.  Below them, they heard the moan and the rustling of what they assumed to be the restless spirits of long-dead Civil War soldiers.

Susan Sheppherd, of the Parkersburg Ghost Tours also related a rather interesting ghost tale associated with the Civil War spirits of Quincy Hill.  Ron Nelson, an historian, Civil War re-enactor, and ghost hunter visited the area one evening and conducted an EVP session.  He was shocked to find on his recording what sounded like someone whistling the commercial from an Irish Spring soap commercial!  Consulting experts, he found that the song whistled in the commercials was an old Irish folk song...and that the soldiers sent to this particular hospital were largely of Irish heritage.

Another ghost story from Quincy Hill isn't related to the Civil War, but it does take on a more visual experience.  One way to get to the top of the hill is to climb the 150+ stairs leading up from Avery Street.  About halfway up, there is a small concrete landing lit with a lamppost.  Joggers and other early morning visitors to this area have seen the apparition of a Native American standing on this spot.

Quincy Tank Disaster

With all the ghost tales stemming from the Civil War era and earlier, a tragic event in the area's history is sometimes overlooked.  Back on March 19, 1909, the hill was still known as Prospect Hill, and at its top were perched the city's two reserve water tanks.  Around 5:10am, one of the tanks burst, crashing into its twin and causing it to burst as well, sending 2 million gallons of water rushing down the hill and directly into town.  A newlywed couple was killed when their small home was washed away, several were severely injured, and a church and several homes were destroyed.  Other homes and businesses received a great deal damage, and debris littered the streets.  Although I am unaware of any ghost stories resulting from this tragic event, one can't help but note that this one little area has seen a great deal of tragedy within a short period of time. 

Sources:
Quincy Hill Water Tank Disaster: Photos and articles from Jim Dawson
Haunted Parkersburg Ghost Tours by Susan Sheppherd
A Guide to Haunted West Virginia by Walter Gavenda and Michael T. Shoemaker

The Allen House of Monticello, Arkansas

I can't believe its October!  This year has flown by and I've been a little lazy when it comes to updating this blog on a regular basis.  Therefore, it is my goal to crank out at least 5 posts a week, starting with an addition to the Haunted America series:  The Allen House of Monticello Arkansas.

This gorgeous Queen Anne Victorian home was built in 1906 for Joe Lee Allen and his family--wife, Caddye, and his three daughters, Ladell, Lonnie Lee, and Lewie.  Designed by architect Sylvester Hotchkiss and built by Josiah B. White, the home on North Main Street was an opulent and extravagant display for the Allen family.

Unfortunately, life in their beautiful home wouldn't always be so happy.  Joe Allen, who was quite the businessman, operating a hotel and serving as president of a loan and trust company, also dabbled in automobile sales.  On October 23, 1917 he was killed while showing a new model to a potential buyer.  His body was brought home and his funeral was conducted in the parlor two days later.  He was laid to rest in Oakland Cemetery.

His death, however, would not be the only tragedy to befall this family and leave its mark on folklore. Following her mother's Christmas party in the wee hours of December 26, 1948, daughter Ladell took to the master bedroom suite and drank punch laced with mercury cyanide.  She was taken to Mack Wilson Hospital and treated by Dr. Johnnie Price.  Unfortunately, she could not be saved, and passed away on January 2, 1949.  Her mother, Caddye, sealed the room up.  It stayed sealed for the next 37 years.  Rumor has it that the bottle of mercury cyanide was still sitting on a closet shelf when the new owner opened the room.

No one could ever say with certainty why Ladell chose to end her own life, despite the fact that she was seemingly well loved by the community and her family.  However, she wasn't without her own hardships.  Ladell had married a man named Boyd Bonner in 1914, but the marriage was an unhappy one and by 1927 the couple had been granted a divorce.  The rather short union produced a son named Elliot Allen who would die of pneumonia at the tragically young age of 28 in 1944.

Ladell never remarried, although rumors popped up that she was having an affair with a Texas oil tycoon.  Her ex-husband passed away in June of 1948, six months before Ladell took her own life.  After her death, Caddye remained in the home until her own death in 1954.  Two years later, a grandson of the family began renting out rooms as apartments, still keeping the master suite sealed.

It was during this time that the ghost stories began.  Tenants reported a myriad of strange phenomena, including furniture being moved around on its own, photographs marred by hazy, human figures, and even sightings of a woman sitting in a turret window seat.  Footsteps were heard, and one story involves a door that just wouldn't stay shut; it was as if someone were on the other side pushing back at the tenants as they tried in vain to shut it. Although there are several female deaths associated with the Allen House, many believe the main ghost to be that of Ladell who tragically took her own life.

The home stayed in the family until 1986.  Its current owners, the Spencers, have been there since 2007 and live in the home as their private residence.  However, they do conduct private historic tours by appointment only year round, and offer a special Halloween haunted history tour on October 30th and 31st each year.  The cost is $10 and more information can be found at the links provided below.  The Spencers have also been known to let in paranormal investigation groups, several of which who have had some interesting experiences of their own at the house!  You might also remember this house being featured on a bunch of different television shows, including Ghost Hunters and My Ghost Story.

Sources:
Allen House Website
Haunting America
Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture