The Curse of the Foehn Winds

Arabella High Rise, Munich Germany (Source)

Does weather really have the ability to affect our psyche? Can it lead to suicide....or even murder?

A few days ago, I finished reading a really fun book called Haunted Rock and Roll by Matthew L. Swayne. The book briefly mentions the Musicland Studio in Munich Germany. The studio was a popular one throughout the 1970s and 1980s, with bands such as Led Zeppelin, Queen, and the Rolling Stones recording their hits within its dark walls.

But, there was something strange about studio. Many of the artists who spent time there reported feeling extremely uncomfortable. They claimed that there was an evil sense of foreboding that permeated the space, and sensations such as depression and isolation were common. A few even believed that their careers took a downward turn after time spent there. Some began whispering that the studio might even be cursed.  But, why would the studio be cursed?

Musicland was established in the late 1960s by Giorgio Moroder, an Italian record producer. The studios were located in the basement of Munich's Arabella High-Rise Building. The Arabella is a 23-storey skyscraper, built between 1966 and 1969. Over the years, rumors began circulating among the bands that recorded at Musicland that the Arabella was a popular place for suicide victims, the preferred method being to jump off the roof.

A theory has emerged as to why this particular building attracted such a high number of suicides and why so many who used the basement studios felt a curse was attached to the property: the Arabella Hotel is in the line of a weather phenomenon called the Foen (or Fohn, in Germany) Winds. The term 'Foen Winds' originally was used to describe the mass of warm winds that would quickly blow south, down over the Alps, melting the snows and significantly raising temperatures. Today, the term is used to describe the same phenomenon occurring at any mountain.

These strong, hot winds didn't just bring higher temperatures, they also brought weird behaviors. Over the years, studies have shown that those in the path of these winds are likely to suffer higher rates of migraines, suicides, homicides, and delusions. Munich University did a study that seemed to show at least a 10% increase in suicides during Foehn Winds. But HOW does a wind cause so much turmoil in people?

In the 1950s, an Israeli team studied the effects of a similar weather pattern and concluded that the culprit was the concentration of ions in the air. According to an article by Joe Kloc, "When the wind blows, it accumulates positive ions. This causes a rise in serotonin production, which in turn leads to nausea, vomiting, migraines, and a number of potential other side effects." 

For over a hundred years, the Foehn Winds have been great source material for legends and superstitions, and have been mentioned in literature over and over for their strange ways of affecting people. Now, science is finally helping explain WHY. Fortunately for recording artists, the Musicland Studios no longer occupy the basement area of the Arabella. In the early 1990s, a new subway route nearby began to affect the quality of the recordings, so the studios were shut down. 

Sources/Further Reading

Musicland Studios-Wikipedia

Arabella High-Rise Building-Wikipedia

The Foehn Effect

Winds of Change, by Joe Kloc

Friday Funny: Hell Hounds Welcome!

Ha! Here's a little Demon Week humor for you. I'm not gonna lie---I had to read that twice. I guess Hell Hounds are perfectly acceptable in the common areas of Pendle College's student housing?

Hehehehe...anyway, apparently this sign is a clever lil' play on words in reference to the Pendle Witch Trials, England's most famous and well documented set of witch trials in history. What do you think...is this sign funny, meh, or just in poor taste?

Book Review for Ghosts: A Natural History

Title--Ghosts: A Natural History: 500 Years of Searching for Proof
Author--Roger Clarke
Published--by St. Martin's Press, October 2014
Amazon Purchase Information

If I could only use one word to describe this book it would be: British. Very, very British. That makes sense, though, since it was written by a British author who follows the advice of 'write what you know.' The book starts out with the author's own experiences with a potential haunting, and then goes into an excellent and critical look at some of England's most famous paranormal cases and paranormal researchers.

The term, 'British,' however, doesn't just describe the subject matter. The tone of this book is very 'British' as well, and quite honestly, it took me awhile to really get used to the dry, subtle humor, some of the more obscure references, and general tone of the book, which was very sophisticated and academic. That doesn't mean this book wasn't EXCELLENT, though, because it was! Anyone with an interest in paranormal research will likely be familiar with the majority of topics discussed in the book, such as the Borley Rectory haunting, the Brown Lady of Raynam Hall photo, and the spooky goings-on at Cock Lane. But, whatever you THINK you knew to be facts about these cases, Clarke challenges with his in-depth research. Clarke manages to uncover and present to the reader details about famous paranormal subjects and incidents that other books tend to leave out. I've definitely had MY perception about a few cases changed, but better yet, I've been inspired to do a lot more digging of my own.

Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who is passionate about the paranormal. It makes a great addition to any investigator's library and definitely should be required reading for anyone serious about the study of the unknown. I do, however, believe that this is a book better suited to someone who already has a good working knowledge of British ghost history. While Clarke does a VERY thorough job describing each topic, much of the writing comes across as if he is taking for granted that the reader isn't a complete novice to the field. And, while it is a very objective and fair book that represents the facts of each case with very little personal analysis, it might be better suited to a reader who is open to the more skeptical side of paranormal research, because not everything is what it seems....

*Want MORE Book Reviews?*

Ghostly Gifts for Dad

Last month, I shared some of my top gift recommendations for spooky graduation gifts. THIS month, I thought I'd try to do something similar in honor of Father's Day. With Father's Day falling on June 19th this year, you've got two weeks to pick out those creepy gifts just for Dad!

1. Ghost Tie---A tie is that all-essential Father's Day gift. However, instead of giving Dad a boring, old striped or paisley printed monstrosity, kick it up a notch with some paranormal themed neckwear instead. I like the cute simplicity of this example from TiesPhotoArtByDarla, available through Zazzle.

2. DVD---Does Dad like to sit around and watch older movies? How about a copy of Ghost Dad on DVD or Blu-Ray? It's an essential addition to any tongue-in-cheek video collection, lol.

3. Tee Time---Maybe Dad is a little more athletic. How about sending him on a golf getaway...to a haunted golf course, of course! He can tee off with the spirits at any number of spooky courses, located throughout the United States and Canada. Check out this list to find a location close to you: Haunted Golf Courses

4. Ghost Gadgets---Guys love gadgets. Give Dad the latest in ghost hunting toys with an investigation starter kit. Even if he never goes ghost hunting, he'll love playing with all the top-of-the-line paranormal technology that's available. Start with one of these starter kits, or move up to the heavy duty equipment available at places such as Ghost Stop.

Dads are really hard to shop for in my opinion, so that's about it for my ideas. I'd love to hear YOUR ideas, though! Hop on over to Facebook and let me know what sort of spooky gifts you are giving to your dad this year!

Theresa Travels: Whipple Company Store

Whew! It's been a busy, busy Memorial Day Weekend! On Saturday, the family and I headed down to Fayette County, WV where we visited the Whipple Company Store, the ghost town of Thurmond, Hawks Nest State Park, The Mystery Hole, and the Glen Ferris Inn. Sunday, we attended the annual Vandalia Festival at the capital and explored the state museum. Monday, we took it fairly easy and took Luke to see the Angry Birds movie. And, on Tuesday, we watched my nephew walk across the stage and receive his high school diploma. So yeah, I'm ready for June....and a little rest and relaxation!

For the first blog of the new month, I wanted to share with you a little about our trip, starting with the always awesome Whipple Company Store. Our original itinerary only included the Mystery Hole and Hawks Nest, but since we were so close to Whipple, we decided we had to make a stop there, too. I am SO glad we did. The travel gods were really smiling down on us that day!

But before I get into that, a little about Whipple....The Whipple Company Store near Oak Hill was built around 1890 and used as a company store until the Whipple Mine shut down in the 1950s. After that, it was privately owned and operated as a general store for many, many years. Now, it is owned by a wonderful couple who work diligently to preserve not only the unique structure itself, but the fascinating history and the forgotten stories, both good and bad. And of course, the building is believed to be haunted!  One of the most haunted areas of the building is said to be the third floor ballroom. The ballroom was added for Lucy Collins, the wife of the mine owner, Justus Collins. It was a place where she could stay and entertain while accompanying her husband on trips to this particular mine town. After the Collins' home in Charleston was completed in 1907, Lucy's entertaining at the company store dwindled. Interestingly, in the 1950s when the first private owner took over, she completely boarded up that part of the building for fear of the spirits that resided there. HPIR was fortunate enough to have given the opportunity to privately investigate this location in 2012. If your own private investigation isn't feasible, you can still experience the darker history of Whipple; each fall, there are haunted history tours available for the public. You can read more about the ghosts of Whipple in my original blog, Coal Camp History Comes to Life at the Whipple Company Store.

Anyway, back to our trip. So we arrive at Whipple, and are pleasantly surprised to see that we arrived on a special day. There was an antique car show going on that day! Not only did we get to take a look at some really awesome vintage wheels, but Luke got to actively participate as a Youth Judge! He received an official hat, t-shirt, and lanyard. I have no idea why, but he picked the General Lee as his favorite car, lol. The owner of the car was really cool---he let Luke sit inside and get his picture taken.

When it was time for our tour to start, once again I was pleasantly surprised! Since the car show was going on that day, the owners of the store were offering complimentary tours! This was a somewhat more abbreviated tour than the normal, intended to be an introduction to the store to spark interest in it. However, it was still an excellent tour, full of information and even some hands-on activities for the kids. One interesting tidbit that I learned was that obviously poorly mannered children were not welcome during the reign of the coal company store. If a poorly mannered child were to approach the porch, the guards on duty did not say a word or touch the child. Instead, they would simply knock into the mother, causing her to fall down the narrow and cleverly designed front steps. Luke really took this info to heart; he was well-behaved as usual, but I did remind him that if he acted up, someone might push Mommy down the stairs, and he seemed to take that seriously, lol.

On a funner note, he got to operate the old elevator, explore how a scrip register and scrip worked, and sit in an old phone booth. I really enjoyed getting a refresher on some of the information I already knew about the store, learning a few more interesting tidbits, and just BEING there. Growing up in West Virginia and coming from a long family history of coal mining, the idea of the company store fascinates me. Joy and Chuck, the owners, have done such a wonderful job in keeping the history of this unique treasure alive. The Whipple Company store truly is one of a kind. It's like a time capsule and it is something that I would encourage EVERYONE to visit. You WILL learn something. You WILL be entertained. You WILL be touched by the overwhelming emotion that permeates throughout the walls of the Whipple Company Store. You might even be creeped out! During the autumn, special haunted history tours are available! Whether you're interested in coal mining history, women's history, West Virginia history, paranormal history, or history in general, Whipple is a treasure trove. Make it a must-see stop on your next trip through southern West Virginia. It's not a long drive from Charleston, and its a very short drive from Beckley. It's also located nearby a ton of other great tourist spots.

If you can't make it to southern West Virginia any time soon, you can still support this wonderful location. You can pick up a copy of one of their awesome books (I got Volume I), make a donation through their website, or follow them on Facebook and spread the word! Let friends and family know about this little gem of Appalachia.

Ghostly Graduation Gifts

Both my nephew and my step-nephew will be graduating high school at the end of this month. As they are getting ready to start this new phase in life, I'm left wondering what sort of spooky and totally awesome gift would be appropriate for such an occasion. While cash is still the safest and most practical gift for any grad, if you have a graduate in your life who enjoys the creepy side of things....consider one of these options as a unique alternative or as simply a supplement to the boring ol' money standby.

1. A Book of College Ghost Stories: Is the college that your high school graduate is going to in the Fall haunted? (Or, is the college that your college graduate is leaving haunted?) Why don't you see if there is a book specifically dedicated to those hauntings, or if the school is mentioned in a compendium of ghost tales? Here are two general examples:  

Haunted Colleges and Universities, by Tom Ogden
Haunted Halls of Ivy, by Daniel Barefoot




2. A Haunted Trip: Besides money, the gift of travel is another popular option for graduates. Get creative, and give it a spooky spin! You can give your grad tickets to a public ghost hunt at one of the popular pay-to-play locations (such as Waverly Hills, WV State Penitentiary, TALA), book them a couple of nights' stay in a haunted hotel, or just send them to a location know for its hauntings, pointing out all the haunted attractions, tours, restaurants and hotels in the area. Another cool idea is a ghostly road trip! Again, point out all the spooky spots along the way to eat, stay, and play.



3. A Psychic Reading:  Your graduate is about to embark on a crossroads in his/her life. If they are feeling a little overwhelmed or unsure of the direction they should take, they might enjoy a psychic reading! Check your local listings and ask around for recommendations. You can go with a general psychic reading, or choose someone who specializes in palm reading or tarot.

4. Spooky Dorm Furnishings: If your graduate is moving into his/her first apartment or staying in a dorm for the first time, help them decorate it with spooky style and freaky functionality! Etsy is a great source of different home goods relating to various paranormal themes. Here are a few of my favorites!

Protect furniture with these MugRug coasters from SewSweetSparrow

Snuggly fleece blanket from micmo

5. Spooky School Supplies: Study in spooky style! Carry your books around in a ghostly backpack (okay, so its really the SnapChat logo, but that makes it even more relevant right? LOL) or protect your tablet with with what so many fear is a demonic portal to Hell---can you think of a better security measure against stolen property??

From Wanelo

Monday Meme: Scooby-Doo vs. TAPS

Happy Monday! Ready for today's Monday Meme? This one definitely takes me back to my childhood. I was obsessed with Scooby and the rest of the gang from Mystery, Inc. when I was younger. I was pleasantly surprised that my now 18 year old nephew also enjoyed it when he was little. My six year old son still counts it among his favorite shows, which warms my heart.

In some ways, I'd like to think that Scooby Doo had a little something to do with my decision to become involved in paranormal research. It was the first time I saw a group of everyday people actually investigate 'paranormal' mysteries...and pretty much solve them all! I don't think I'm alone---in fact, I've actually heard many paranormal investigators give at least partial credit to Scooby Doo for sparking their interest into researching the unknown.

In a similar vein, many paranormal investigators also give credit for their start in the investigation world to the original TAPS team, as featured on Ghost Hunters. Although not perfect, at the time, the show really was somewhat revolutionary. Just like Scooby, you had a group of everyday people investigating mysteries of the unknown. It was, and continues to be, one of the more accurate portrayals of the investigation process available on network TV.

I was never a HUGE Ghost Hunters fan, but I've watched my fair share of episodes over the years and loosely follow their work. I do respect the team for their contributions to paranormal research...which is why I felt the need to point out a huge problem with today's meme, lol. Yeah, Scooby and the Gang could wrap up a case in less than 30 minutes...but there was a reason for that. In Scooby, the bad guy was always a shady real estate developer, a group of smugglers, or a disgruntled family member left out of a will. The mysteries were solvable because there was a rational explanation.

TAPS may have never 'caught a ghost,' but maybe because what they're actually investigating cannot be caught. They've amassed some interesting potential evidence over the years, but if something is truly paranormal, by its very definition, it cannot be explained. Or, maybe...there are no ghosts to catch? Just something to think about this week.....