A Ghost a Day Page 28

  NOVEMBER 10, 1836 THE WALKER HOUSE

  Mineral Point, Wisconsin

  One of the oldest inns in all of Wisconsin, the Walker House, built in 1836, flourished as a meetinghouse where men from all over the region could gather. In November 1836, a man named William Caffee was executed by public hanging for shooting another man in an argument. But this would not be the last anyone saw of William Caffee. From the mid-1950s the inn stood vacant, until Ted Landon purchased it in 1964. While abandoned, it was the target of vandals and was in desperate need of repair. But soon after Langdon began renovating the building, he began to experience the unexplainable. Disembodied footsteps along with the sound of heavy breathing were heard. It's not known whether the spirits had anything to do with Ted's decision to sell, but once again, the inn would change hands. This time, only four years later, the inn came under new ownership by Dr. David Ruf. The new manager of the building was Walker Calvert. It was Calvert who first reported the ethereal voices arising from thin air and the shocking ghostly image of a headless specter wearing a tattered gray suit. Not long after seeing the torso of a ghost, Calvert spied the full-bodied apparition roaming about the second floor of the inn. Although the Walker House is no longer open to the general public, the owners of the structure are pretty sure that the spirit of William Caffee is still hanging around.

  NOVEMBER 11, 1920 TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR

  London, England

  Westminster Abbey, said to be consecrated by Saint Peter himself, is known for the elaborate coronations of English kings and queens. But it is also the home of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. During World War I, over 116,000 soldiers lost their lives on foreign soil. Since it was impossible to bring all of the bodies home, and identification of all was near impossible, it was decided to build a monument to the brave lads who gave up so much for their country.

  On the night of November 7, 1920, six bodies were exhumed from battlefields in France and brought to the church at St. Pol, each draped with the Union Jack. The British Commander, Brigadier General Wyatt, selected one of the bodies which was transported to England aboard the HMS Verdun. The others were reburied.

  On November 11, 1920, the casket of the unknown warrior was honored by King George V and given a royal funeral. It was laid to rest in soil brought from the French battlefields and under a marble slab quarried in Belgium. The text on the tomb reads: “They buried him among the kings, because he had done good toward God and toward his house.” After the funeral, over a million people visited the tomb. Today it is one of the world's most visited graves, but it seems that not all of the visitors are among the living. When the crowds thin and a deadly silence settles over the tomb, the ghostly apparition of a sullen soldier appears next to the grave. He stands in silence, head bowed, and then simply fades away. Is he the ghost of the unknown warrior or perhaps just the dead honoring the dead?

  NOVEMBER 12, 1912 THE HAUNTING OF CROOKED CREEK

  Harrison, Arkansas

  The devastating murder of Ella Barham lives on in the memories of the townspeople of Harrison, Arkansas. Sadly, it was in November, 1912 when she would become the victim of a gruesome murder. Ella was last seen when she left her home to go horseback riding, but the horse returned alone. Later that same evening, her corpse was found near an old mine shaft. The hunters who found her stated that they'd spotted a curious pile of stones, and upon removing them, located the remains of Ella. Her body had been dismembered by a saw.

  Not long before she was murdered, Ella had refused the unwanted advances of a man named Odus Davidson. Naturally, Odus became the prime suspect. Terrified of being blamed for Ella's murder, Odus, in an attempt to confuse the scent of the bloodhounds, peppered his socks and fled into the woods. His effort proved to be futile because soon after, the posse found him.

  Although he did not confess to her murder, he did admit to cutting wood that day close to where poor Ella's remains were found. Odus was tried, found guilty, and hanged for his crime.

  It appears Ella's spirit has not left this earthly plane. Today, numerous visitors to the mineshaft have reported seeing the ghostly apparition of a woman in white.

  NOVEMBER 13, 1974 AMITYVILLE HOUSE

  Amityville, New York

  The haunting of the Amityville house: fact or fiction? You decide. At approximately 1:00 A.M. on the morning of November 13, 1974, all hell broke loose. Butch DeFeo murdered his whole family in cold blood. Among the six to die were his father, mother, two brothers, and two sisters. One of them was named Dawn, whom he later branded an accomplice. But what could possibly drive a son to murder his parents and siblings? If one is to believe Butch, the plan was concocted after years of abuse at his father's hands. In fact, Butch, who never admitted to killing his siblings, stated that it was Dawn who first approached him with the heinous request of murdering their parents in cold blood. Butch refused, until the night of the thirteenth that is, when under the influence of drugs and alcohol, he finally caved in to Dawn's abhorrent requests. Since Butch was the only member of the DeFeo family to survive, it's difficult to say exactly what took place during that murderous night. However, it has been discovered that more than one gun was used, and gunpowder was in fact found on Dawn's nightgown, so perhaps there is some truth to Butch's tales. But what of the supposed haunting?

  Tales of the haunting began thirteen months after the murders, when the Lutz family moved in. A priest named Father Mancusco blessed the home on December 18, 1975. During his blessing of the home, he allegedly heard, “Get out!” in one room in particular. Keeping the strange experience to himself, he recommended the Lutzes not use the room for a bedroom. Apparently they listened, and the room was converted into a sewing room, a room that later become the focus of unexplainable phenomena.

  As reported by the Lutzes, supernatural events began to escalate in the next few weeks. The personalities of those living in the home changed. The children became so unruly that the Lutzes were forced to punish them severely, beating them with straps. The walls dripped green slime, and the sewing room became infested with large black flies, despite it being winter. On numerous occasions, George awoke to find his wife had turned into a ninety-year-old hag. Another time, he witnessed her body levitate off of their bed. Through the many supernatural tortures, the Lutzes became increasingly agitated. Finally, when a crucifix was found hanging upside down, George called in the priest once again. But when he refused to return, the family blessed the home themselves. Not long after, the Lutzes, taking minimal belongings with them, left the home, never to return. They lived in the reportedly haunted Amityville house for only twentyeight days.

  But are the tales of the Lutz family true or nothing more than a hoax for Hollywood to hype numerous books and movies? That's for you to decide.

  NOVEMBER 14, 2007 BLUE MIST

  Parma, Ohio

  As reported in Associated Content, a surveillance camera at a Marathon gas station in Parma, Ohio, captured what appears to be a floating blue mist or blob circling around the gas pumps and finally coming to land atop a customer's windshield.

  One baffled worker stated that the phenomenon lasted for approximately thirty minutes before finally vanishing.

  Curious onlookers, attracted by all of the media attention, flocked to the gas station for a closer look. When interviewed by local media, it was apparent that opinions of the cause of the blue cloud varied. There were those that believed it to be nothing more than a blue plastic bag caught in the wind. However, when the surveillance video was replayed, even the most stringent nonbelievers were left scratching their heads.

  One person believed the property to have once been inhabited by Native Americans and perhaps the gas station stood atop their burial grounds. Others believed the oddity to be an angelic presence or a spirit. It appears the floating blue blob is one sighting that may forever remain unexplainable.

  NOVEMBER 15, 1910 HARRY'S ROAD HOUSE

  Ashbury Park, New Jersey

  Ever since Harry's opened, som
ething hasn't been quite right, especially in the basement. One night, the manager closed the basement door only to have it swing back open as if pushed by an unseen hand. Another time, he observed a ghostly old woman traverse the cellar stairs and pass into the kitchen. But he's not the only person to see the glowing figure. On another occasion, the manager and two chefs went into the basement of the closed restaurant. They were startled when they witnessed an old lady across the room. The manager called out to her, informing her that they were closed and that she would have to leave. She didn't respond. Once again, he addressed her. Still there was no response. Finally as he approached her, she simply faded away. A garbage collector who she even called by name has also seen her. And on numerous occasions, the sobbing of a female can be heard in the women's bathroom. But who is this mysterious sullen woman?

  She may have something to do with what happened in 1910. In November of that year, the mutilated body of a young girl was found near Harry's. And although a man was convicted of her murder, perhaps this apparition is that of the young girl's mother, still looking for her missing daughter.

  NOVEMBER 16, 1919 SUICIDE BRIDGE

  Pasadena, California

  With much fanfare, the Colorado Street Bridge was dedicated on December 13, 1913. The nearly 1,500-foot concrete structure snakes its way across the Arroyo Seco in Pasadena. Like many major construction projects, there is a legend associated with it. During its construction, a worker tumbled to his death into a vat of quick-drying cement. Unable to retrieve the body, he became a permanent part of the bridge. This may be only a legend, yet it does reveal the bridge's darker side.

  On November 16, 1919, the first of many suicides occurred. A man jumped from the bridge, falling 150 feet to the riverbed below. Since then, over a hundred suicides have been recorded, earning it the name Suicide Bridge. One of the most notable was that of a young mother, who on May 1, 1937, threw her baby over the rail and then jumped after her. Ironically they were not united in death as the mother had hoped. The baby landed in the trees below and survived.

  In 1993 major renovations of the bridge were completed, including a new suicide fence, making it much more difficult to add to the bridge's checkered past. Yet, the great number of suicides continues to haunt the bridge, at least in spirit. Several ghosts have been associated with the bridge and the riverbed below. Motorists and pedestrians have spotted numerous spirits, including a man with wire-rim glasses and a woman in a long flowing robe who appears to jump from the bridge. The woman who threw her baby off the bridge is seen wandering the structure looking for her child. Below, the spirits walk aimlessly about and there are reports that strange sounds and crying can be heard. No one knows why there are so many suicides, but some say it is the construction worker who feeds people's depression, urging them to jump so that he may never have to roam alone.

  NOVEMBER 17, 1896 OHIO STATE REFORMATORY

  Mansfield, Ohio

  Built in the late 1800s, the Ohio State Reformatory became home to more than 150,000 inmates in its ninety-four-year reign. Troublemakers were tossed into solitary confinement, also called the “hole.” Some were never seen again. The others were executed, murdered, tortured, and forced to endure grueling mental and physical abuse day in and day out.

  At first Ohio State Reformatory had good intentions. It would be a place where prisoners could be reformed for their reentrance into society. Just like anything else, the best-laid plans sometimes go awry.

  As the Gothic-style building aged, so did the ideals of the institution. In 1990, the building's state of disrepair, coupled with the torturous conditions, led to its demise.

  With its turbulent history and the horrors meted out within its walls, it's no wonder that the Reformatory is reportedly haunted. Much of the activity takes place at the chapel. A chapel? Ah, but if you look deeper, it begins to make an eerie sense. You see, the chapel is located on the same spot where the executions were once carried out. It's here where many visitors have seen full apparitions of those they believe to be among the prisoners hanged in this room. But the chapel is not the only paranormally active place. The cells are alive with ethereal chatter, and the “hole,” where many men suffered their last breaths has made many a visitor physically ill. And if nausea isn't enough to deter thrill seekers from entering the “hole,” perhaps the report of glowing red eyes peering out of the threatening darkness will do the trick.

  NOVEMBER 18, 1926 HAUNTED ROUTE 66

  Catoosa, Oklahoma

  If you're planning a road trip and you're not sure where you want to go, keep the “Mother Road” in mind. Route 66 is the road that cuts across eight states, running from California to Chicago. There are numerous ghost sightings along this roadway. And if you happen to find yourself in the vicinity of Catoosa, Oklahoma, it's been recommend by many a motorist that you stay on Route 66, and keep driving. If you don't, you may find yourself in the same predicament as other road warriors and come face-to-face with the ghost of a little boy. It seems that at some point in history, a young Native American boy was struck and killed just outside of Timber Ridge Cemetery, which is where he's now buried. It's this little boy's apparition that is sometimes seen kneeling on the side of the road by passersby. Others have stated that when driving down Highway 412, they've hit the ghostly apparition, only to see him vanish moments later. When they step out of their car to investigate further, they find no body, just a dented bumper smeared with bloody handprints.

  NOVEMBER 19, 1797 HICKORY HILL

  Gallatin County, Illinois

  It is rumored that the former slave house in Hickory Hill is alive with torturous moans and whispers of days gone by. As retold by his descendants, John Crenshaw was a salt miner who was known to kidnap and lease slaves for mining. He was also a man who took great pleasure in torturing the slaves for the smallest of transgressions. However, once Crenshaw's tactics of procuring slaves became public knowledge, he was forced to change his ways and leave behind his mining of salt for a career in farming.

  It wasn't until after 1920, when the slave house was converted into a tourist attraction, that strange occurrences were reported. On their walk through the attic (where the slaves had been shackled), visitors began to report unexplainable cold air and the eerie sounds of people crying and moaning, which appeared to arise out of nowhere.

  In fact, it is said that one intrigued local ghost hunter, touched by the ghostly tales, declared that he would put the ghosts to rest. Rather, it turned out he was put to rest. Although he was in good health, not more than a few hours after venturing into the attic of Hickory Hill he dropped dead.

  TERRIFYING TIDBIT

  A recent Gallup poll revealed that 45 percent of Americans believe in ghosts.

  NOVEMBER 20, 1734 AMERICA'S STONEHENGE

  Salem, New Hampshire

  America's Stonehenge, located deep in the woods near Salem, New Hampshire, has always been shrouded in mystery. This 4,000-year-old megalith site is a maze of stonewalls and trails punctuated with stone chambers. The main site contains a sacrificial alter, working observatory, burial chamber, and oracle hole. Little is known about the site or why it was abandoned.

  The property is open to the public, and many visitors have witnessed their share of paranormal activity. Some have felt as if they were being watched, while others have spoken of a pair of red eyes watching them from the forest. Batteries in electronic devices become drained, and even hot coffee goes cold quickly. There have also been reports that one of the larger stones in the parking lot has morphed into the shape of a little old lady. Stones taken from the area have been quickly returned by frightened visitors, who claim that they had been transformed into nine-foot-tall Native Americans.

  Many feel that Mystery Hill, as it is sometimes called, holds the secrets to America's past buried beneath its rock formations. But up to now it has yet to reveal them.

  TERRIFYING TIDBIT

  Smudging is a ceremony in which a bundle of herbs, most commonly sage, cedar, and sweetg
rass, is burned to drive out a negative energy or entity from entering a space.

  NOVEMBER 21, 2001 WINDHAM RESTAURANT

  Windham, New Hampshire

  In 1812, the Dinsmore family built the house where the Windham Restaurant is now located. Through the years it has seen its share of owners, and each time there have been reports of surreal goings-on.

  Staff frequently experience the antics of spirits that wander around this New Hampshire restaurant. One waitress described feeling a cold chill, and an invisible hand brush back her blond hair as her unclasped necklace fell to the floor. Quite often the owners, Vess and Lula, have found place settings rearranged and chairs turned, facing the window, when they open in the morning, as if the spirits had been watching a parade.

  Batteries continually drain from the air fresheners in the women's restroom. Much to their surprise, guests have also experienced paranormal activity. Female guests have had their dangle earrings toyed with. One gentleman, after asking his waitress about the ghosts, had his wine glass neatly fracture in his hand. The owners, rather than fearing their invisible guests, have embraced them. So much so that there have been numerous paranormal investigative teams, along with television crews, that have documented the strange occurrences. But who are the ghosts that inhabit this establishment? The spirit of a young girl has been seen, as well as a little boy, referred to as William. And on more than one occasion, staff members have run to the rescue of a man tumbling down the stairs, only to find that when he reaches the bottom, he vanishes. No matter when you make a visit to this haunted restaurant, it's doubtful you'll be disappointed. The sign over the door at the Windham Restaurant reads, “Food and Spirits,” a phrase that is truer than you think.