Aunt Kate and the Booger: Guest Blog #2

Nolan, WV

Theresa's Note: Today's blog post is another wonderful Guest Blogger submission, this time from local paranormal researcher, Chris May. Chris has shared this awesome story, passed down to him from his Grandmother, about a suspected witch living in the small coal town of Nolan, WV. Enjoy this fascinating tale of what happens when you don't give a witch what she wants...and make sure to share this post with anyone you'd think would also appreciate a little spookiness from West Virginia's southern coalfields! A HUGE THANK YOU goes to Chris for sharing this story; I personally love hearing these old tales passed down from generation to generation, and I'm a sucker for anything related to our state's coal history. 

My Grandmother told this story to me. According to her when she was a child, an old woman lived next door to her and her family in the small coal town of Nolan. My Grandmother stated that many strange things happened in and around the old woman’s home. On one occasion my Grandmother, who was scared to death of old Aunt Kate, witnessed the old woman stick her hand back into a coal burning stove and pull out hot coals and wiggle them in her hands without being burned. 

Grandmother also stated that Aunt Kate would openly admit to witchcraft and on one occasion claimed to have fought with the Devil himself, ripping his leg off and throwing it behind a bed. 

The most disturbing story about Aunt Kate pertained to the old woman not getting something that she wanted....

My Great Grandfather had produced a garden several miles from his home every year. This particular year was very dry; water had to be carried to the crops as well as extra care needed to be taken with ensuring the crops survival. My Grandmother helped her father throughout the growing season and when time came to harvest the crops my Grandmother worked with him to bring the crops the long distance back to the old home place. As my Grandmother and Great Grandfather were wheeling the crops past Aunt Kate’s, she stopped them and stated, “Harrison, give me some of them beans.” 

Now, my Great Grandfather was a very generous man, but felt that due to the hard work that they had put in, the family should get first choice on the crops. He replied, “Old woman we’ve worked hard for those beans and your not gonna get any”. Aunt Kate was very angry at this reply and stated, “Ok Harrison, you’ll be sorry”, and were they ever. 

That night after the family went to bed my Grandmother stated that she heard something walking in the house. According to her the “thing” walked into her room and stood at the head of where she was sleeping and then it would turn and walk out of the room. My Grandmother said she had never been so scared. Because of this walking, she did not sleep all night. The next morning my Grandmother came in for breakfast and was confronted by my Great Grandfather about the “thing” that walked the night before. My Grandmother stated that she and my Great Grandfather were the only two in a house of twelve to hear it walk. My Grandmother stated that her father took old Aunt Kate the beans without haste and as he gave them to her, he told her to “take your booger back!” She replied in an evil tone, “it won't bother you no more” and it didn’t.

Chris May is a 42 year old married father of two. He resides in Barboursville. He holds a master’s degree in leadership studies and a master’s degree in counseling. Chris has worked in the law enforcement field for nearly 13 years as a probation officer. When he is not reading or researching the paranormal and history, he enjoys bass fishing with his 10 year old.

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. 

Child Ghosts of Tennessee: Guest Blog #1

Theresa's Note: My call for Guest Bloggers has gotten a much bigger response than I ever could have imagined! I want to personally thank each and every one of my readers who have taken (and are planning to take) the time to submit such wonderful stories for us all to read. Throughout 2018, I'd like to make it a top priority of Theresa's Haunted History to showcase more personal experiences, more varied viewpoints, and of course, more of what YOU want to see! 

Our first Guest Blogger of the year is Kevin G. from Tennessee. Kevin has been gracious enough to share several strange and unusual experiences he and his family encountered at their private residence: 

My story begins in 2000. I had been living in a house with my ex-wife and young son for about six months when we started having strange events happen. One night on my way home from working second shift, I saw my wife driving up our road. Upon seeing me she slammed the brakes and said something's there. When I got her to calm down, she said she was in the basement of our tri-level house when she heard someone kick the door next to her from the outside. She fled. 

At the time I didn't believe her because she was fond of hyperbole. However, a month later I was waiting for my son to awaken from his nap when I heard what I thought were his footsteps coming distinctly down the stairs. I didn't see him peep around the corner so I went looking for him, only to find that he was fast asleep. 

These initial encounters were to become routine after a while. 

The highlights include the time when my oldest was standing in the hallway at 2:30 in the morning talking to someone. When I asked him who he was talking to he replied "these people keep calling my name." His first cousin told me that someone kept pulling the blanket down to her feet. Another time, I felt someone poke me in the side and sit down next to me on the bed. Then I felt them get up and I heard what sounded like someone standing on a loose floorboard in front of me. 

We finally asked the neighbors if anything strange happens at their house. He said no, but the look on his face said there was more to the story. "You are not going to want to hear this, but three children died in your house from smoke inhalation ten years ago." I will say that explained quite a bit. The occurrences were shocking at first, but we never felt anything evil or malevolent. It was more like someone wanting attention. 

My mom didn't believe me when I was telling her about it in my house. Suddenly she got a strange look on her face and said someone just put their hand on her shoulder and breathed on her neck. My response was, "told you"! 

I always felt like the ghosts liked the fact that my house was full of kids at all times. I was the last one in the house the day we moved and I felt a heaviness in the air. Like an incredible sadness.

Awesome story, Kevin! Thank you again for sharing it with us. I'm always looking for new contributions, so if anyone is interested, please see my blog, Looking for Guest Bloggers, for more information. 

Demon Lemon

I, uh, sorta petered out with last month's Demonic December...so I'll be sprinkling in some demonic-themed posts throughout the next couple of weeks to make up for it! Happy New Year!

On a non-related note, I fully endorse teaching cursive in schools, lol. I do understand that it is a useful skill, especially for people like me to analyze old documents all the time. However, I don't think it should be put above subjects such as math, reading, science and social studies...but I may be changing my mind if something like this were to happen to me!

Theresa's Travels: Archive of the Afterlife Museum

Archive of the Afterlife is located in the old Sanford School

West Virginia is an awesome place for the paranormal enthusiast---our Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum and WV State Penitentiary consistently show up on lists of "Most Haunted" locations throughout the country and even the world. Numerous television shows, including the Dead Files, Ghost Hunters, and Ghost Adventures, have filmed the spooky experiences of our residents. Our Greenbank Observatory is helping lead the way into potential extraterrestrial contact. We've got the first ghost to ever testify in a court of law, leading to a murder conviction. And...we've got some pretty awesome, yet spooky MUSEUMS!

Most paranormal enthusiasts are familiar with the world's only Mothman Museum, located in Pt. Pleasant, WV...but there's another wonderful paranormal-themed museum in the northern part of our state that is definitely worth checking out: The Archive of the Afterlife.

Located just down the road from the WV State Penitentiary in Moundsville, the Archive of the Afterlife Museum is a fascinating repository of history, culture, and all things spooky!  Since 2011, curator and owner, Steve Hummel, has worked tirelessly to amass and share a collection of haunted artifacts and pieces of paranormal history from throughout West Virginia and beyond.

The Archive of the Afterlife isn't huge---in fact, it's a little on the small side. However, it is absolutely PACKED to overflowing with items that would make Zak Bagans salivate, lol. You could spend hours in there and probably not get a good look at EVERY item that makes up the collection.

Can't make it to the Warren's Museum in Connecticut to see Annabelle, the haunted doll? No worries---the Archive of the Afterlife has MULTIPLE dolls that are not only creepy to look at, but who have shown definite signs of being haunted/possessed. Want to see the long-lost skull cap from the State Pen's Ol' Sparky? You can find that here as well! You can find haunted portraits, military memorabilia, death/life masks, and plenty more. I just think its awesome that we have this type of place right here in the Mountain State!

My family and I visited this wonderful attraction last summer during our weekend in Moundsville. Of course, I was in Heaven, and probably a little overwhelmed with all there was to see. I worried that my 7-year-old son would be bored stupid, but to my surprise, he enjoyed it as well. He had a weird fascination with this creepy 'Charlie' Doll, and requested I take his photo with it for posterity. He was also drawn to a haunted edition of Dr. Seuss' famous Foot Book that apparently carries the memory (and a blood stain) of a quadruple homicide. That was probably MY favorite artifact as well, but like I said, there was so much to look at and read about that it was really hard to choose just one top item.

In addition to the collection of artifacts, Steve and his museum also offer a variety of special events, including the 2018 Grave City Haunted Relic Expo January 20th! And....I'll be there! I have rented a vendor table to promote Theresa's Haunted History and will be selling some ghostly household items and other sundries. If you're going to be in the area, please stop in and say hi! Admission is only $5, which includes access to the vendor area, live music, and tons of AWESOME speakers and presenters. You can find the whole lineup and more information at the EVENT PAGE.

The museum is located on the second floor of  the Sanford Center (1600 3rd St., Moundsville, WV, at the corner of 3rd and Cedar). From April to November, the museum is open from 1pm to 6pm, Tuesday through Saturday. December through March, the museum is open from 1pm to 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays only. Admission is just $3/person or $5/couple. Please see official WEBSITE and Facebook page for more information. This location is a MUST-SEE, and is an easy stop for anyone coming in from out of town to investigate or take a tour of the penitentiary. Also, make plans to attend this year's Haunted Relic Expo, and make sure you stop by and say hi to me!

Book Review: The Book of Yokai

Title: The Book of Yokai
Author: Michael Dylan Foster
Illustrations by: Shinonome Kijin
Published: 2015 by University of California Press
Amazon Purchase Information

Last month I finished up what I am calling my favorite book of 2017...and possibly my favorite 'paranormal' nonfiction book in a long, long time. But before I get into the book itself, a little history on why I even chose this title...

For the past couple of years, my son has really enjoyed the show, Yokai Watch. He has binge-watched all the episodes offered by Netflix SEVERAL times now, plays several video games featuring Yokai, and has read several of the easy readers devoted to the series. I started watching the show with him and found it absolutely delightful! It's cute, its funny, it has some humor that adults can appreciate without being crass, AND its about a subject that is near and dear to my heart. As you know, I absolutely LOVE anything considered strange and unusual within the paranormal realm.

Each summer, I have Luke pick a topic that he's interested in. As part of summer 'Mom School,' we take a really in-depth look at the subject and do all sorts of fun activities associated with it. It's a way to keep him learning all summer long without making it feel like he's actually learning anything. This summer he chose real-life yokai as his topic, and of course, I was thrilled. To help prepare for our studies, I added The Book of Yokai to my Amazon cart.

While we did use the Yokai Codex to look up particular yokai, but life got in the way, and I never got around to reading and utilizing the other half of the book. That is, until early December!

If you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about, "yokai" is a pretty broad term used in Japan to denote a wide variety of paranormal entities. Ghosts, monsters, spirits...these things are all considered yokai. And if you ever wanted to know ANYTHING about yokai, I would highly recommend picking up a copy of this book!

The Book of Yokai is divided into two sections. The first part of the book is a scholarly and pretty thorough exploration of the yokai culture. While these beings are considered supernatural, they actually hold an extremely prominent place in Japanese history. Their stories have been passed down from generation to generation, changing with the changing times. Some yokai are known throughout the country, while others are not known outside their small villages. Yokai star in movies, manga, television shows and video games. They even promote tourism and act as mascots for product brands. Yokai truly are ingrained into the Japanese culture and there have been many prominent academics and folklorists who have dedicated their lives to their study.

The second section of the book is the Yokai Codex---a sampling of different yokai one may encounter. Enhanced by both historical artwork and original drawings by Shinonome Kijin, each entry gives as much as history and as clear as a description as possible. You'll learn about the Kappa, a water yokai who loves cucumbers, Kasa-Bake, who is an umbrella monster, and the popular Slit-Mouthed Woman who terrorizes children walking home from school...just to name a few.

Obviously, this is a topic that can never be fully exhausted in just one book or one list, but Foster does an excellent job in choosing some iconic and well as some obscure yokai to discuss. He also does a fantastic job in explaining the topic of yokai to a western audience. Again, this isn't something easily done, nor possible to exhaust in one book, but The Book of Yokai is a great introduction as well as a useful resource for the more knowledgeable researcher. There are times where it gets a little repetitive, but overall, its well-written, entertaining, and full of wonderful information about a fascinating topic.

*Want More Book Reviews?*

Looking for Guest Bloggers!

Do you have a paranormal experience you're willing to share with the world? Are you a paranormal investigator or researcher looking for some FREE promotion? Are you knowledgeable in the paranormal, UFOlogy, cryptozoology, or history fields and want to share your expertise?

Then I'm looking for you! Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State is searching for guest bloggers! 

As part of my plans for 2018, I'd like to incorporate more personal stories and experiences from my readers, as well as spotlight those working tirelessly in the field of paranormal investigation and/or research. And, I'm not gonna lie---it's going to be a busy year for me, and if I can get a few guest bloggers submitting content every now and then, it would REALLY help me keep the content on here fresh and interesting! 

If you're interested, here's what you need to know:

1. This is NOT a paid gig:  Unfortunately, I don't really make any money from this blog, and therefore, do not have the budget to hire a staff of writers. You will, however, be given full credit for your content, which will be shared on various social media sites, the same as my other blog posts. You may also share the post wherever and whenever YOU like. You may also include  links to your website or any social media sites you own within the blog. I cannot guarantee a specific number of hits, but on average, my blog gets about 1000 unique visitors.

2. You may submit as many blog posts as you'd like. If you have just one experience you'd like to share, I'd love to share it for you! If you'd like to submit a series of articles, photos, etc., that's great, too! I do, ask, however, that blogs be at least 500 words in length, with some exceptions allowed.

3. You do not have to write your own post. If you have an experience or piece of evidence you'd love to share, but hate writing, I'll be happy to write the actual blog post for you. You will still receive credit for the story and/or evidence. You may choose to include your full name, partial name, or submit anonymously. 

4. I reserve the right to turn down any submissions that I feel don't fit in with the mission of Theresa's Haunted History. Stories that contain references to illegal activity (such as trespassing), are not related to the topics mentioned above, or that badmouth another team/investigator/researcher will not be allowed. Posts related to the tri-state area of West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky will be given first priority.

5. I reserve the right to edit any submissions for minor grammar/spelling errors. If more editing needs to be done on my part, a final draft will be sent to the author for review before being published. 

If after all that you're still interested or would like more information, please send me a message via Facebook, or email me at theresarhps@yahoo.com with the subject of Guest Blogger. I look forward to hearing from you! Stay spooky!