Spooky Flicks for your Thanksgiving Weekend

If you are like me, Thanksgiving means kicking back and watching some flicks. Not a football or parade fan, a good movie marathon and a bucket of popcorn can make for a special day for Norm and I, so I just wanted to share some of my favorite spooky flicks. Get your self to Blockbuster and enjoy them with me.

13 Ghosts
This is a pretty good frightfest featuring Tony Shalhoub and Shannon Elizabeth. The story goes that this family inherits a house from his ghost hunting brother and then finds an unpleasant warehouse of really bad ghosts locked up in the basement. Neat house. Wish I lived there (without the killer ghosts of course.)

Poltergeist- the first one.
If you have never seen this movie your in for a few good frights and some pretty good chuckles, if you haven't seen it in a while, you'll enjoy it all over again. Spooky but family friendly, even though it was made in the 80's it holds up today.

An American Haunting
This is a good flick starring Donald Sutherland that reflects on a "true" story of the Bell Witch. A period movie, the story-line and production of the movie makes it a must see for anyone at all familiar with the Bell Witch story.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Again, based on a true story, this movie was Really interesting and deeply frightening. Not a slasher or horror film, the scares come from the presence of a demon and the fight for a young girls life. Good stuff. Once you see it, check out the true story.

Silent Hill
Deeply scary with terrifying ghostly creatures, this one may give you nightmares. So, of course, I loved it. Dark and twisted, it follows a woman into another dimension looking for her daughter in a scary abandoned town. Run when the bell tolls cause all kinds of bad stuff will come out to get ya. Wait till after dark to watch it.

The Haunting
If you haven't seen this 1999 film featuring Catherine Zeta Jones and Owen Wilson, its worth a look. A psychologist takes a few people to an abandoned mansion to frighten them for scientific reasons, however, real frights ensue when restless spirits seek to destroy one of the special guests.

Well, I hope these movies keep you busy. Please share some of your favorite ghost flicks here so that I can add them to my list as well.
Happy Thanksgiving

Voice at the Stairs Part 2: The Next Day

The next day, we were made aware that a board is not necessarily the only way spirits can communicate!

My boyfriend picked me up in his Lebaron sedan, and we drove over to Kathy’s house. The Lebaron, although not the typical cool-high school guy car, was luxurious with its fake velvet interior, fold up armrest, and shiny black paint job. We flipped the armrest up and I sat close to Tim as we discussed the last night’s events. Deciding to put it out of our minds, we arrived at Kathy’s house, locked up the car, and went inside.

We returned to the car about 15 minutes later on our way to a fast food place for lunch. Before we reached the car, Tim already knew something was not right. As we all bent down to look inside the roomy vehicle we noticed that the armrest in the front seat was flipped down and upon it sat an opened pack of cigarettes.

We all looked at each other questioningly. None of us smoked, and we couldn’t figure out who could have gotten into the locked car and why they would leave their cigarettes there! Shrugging it off, Kathy grabbed the cigs, crumpled them, and threw them on the street by the curb as we headed off.

It began to rain as we had lunch, and we returned to Kathy’s house for an afternoon of talking and baking cookies. We talked a little about the weird cigarette package, and Kathy admitted that she had experienced some weird goings-on as well since the previous evening. Strange noises woke her, and she was somewhat afraid of what we might have stirred up. Although it was odd, we decided that the things that were happening were not dangerous, and merely a sign from our spiritual friends.

When the rain finally let up, Tim and I made a dash for the car to go back to our respective homes. As I stood in the rain waiting for Tim to open the door, I glanced inside the vehicle. There, again, was a perfectly dry pack of cigarettes balanced on the armrest, the armrest we had left in the “up” position.
Spoooooky.

I Watch, So You Don’t Have To: Ghost Adventures Sloss Furnace

So, I decided to give the Ghost Adventures team another shot at pissing me off with their latest episode in Birmingham, Alabama.

The show begins with a little background and history of the region, featuring the civil war battles and the growth of manufacturing and the Sloss Furnace, the site of this weeks ghost hunt.

The Sloss Furnace representative relays to Zach some of the furnaces morbid past including the deaths of two workers and countless others that fell to their death from the catwalks. Two workers died in a fire blast, leaving me to wonder if Zach will set himself on fire to provoke the spirits.

The Ghost Adventures team meets up with another local ghost hunting group and they retell some incidents that they experienced during a vigil including physical manifestations and apparitions. The sounds of footsteps, and physical close encounters all tempt the crew to lock themselves in for the night. As usual.

A ghost lovingly referred to as Slag is the main focus of this ghost hunt and with his bad reputation will surely be the focus of Zach's flat-affected bravado.

The team immediately sees an apparition, not caught on film, and begins to talk to the spirits. They hear a child's voice and the camera man gets a supernatural punch in the face. It's as if the spirits could read my mind and obey my orders…

So, twelve hours or so later, the team leaves with some EVPs that were very garbled and some personal experiences that weren’t nearly as frightening as the hat Zach wears when he talks to the sound tech he brings his EVPs too. Yikes.

Once again Zach justifies his provocation of the spirits and happily listens to the spirit world's voice captured on tape saying "I hate Zak." Hm. That makes two of us.

Paranormal France

Just the word "France" brings a look of romantic longing onto most Americans faces. With its history of royal families, heroic characters and war, and its landscape dotted with castles, caves and catacombs, ghost hunters will find no lack of entertainment and mystery on a tour of this beautiful country. Should you get a chance to visit, take a break from the museums and fashion boutiques to see some of the paranormal wonders that abound here.

Of course, you'd have to start at the Catacombs, where the TAPS crew found themselves surrounded by skulls and mysteries never before seen. The appearance of a tape recording lost by a wandering tourist (never seen again, by the way) only deepens the mystery. Tours are widely available so be sure to take your camera and do a little ghost busting.

The Chateau of Versailles is not only breathtakingly beautiful, but was the home to French royalty until the late 1700's. Yes, the famous Marie Antoinette is said to still visit here and can sometimes be seen wandering through the gardens. Try some EVP work here to see if you can make a connection.

While seeing how the "other half lives," be sure to walk through the Brissac Castle in Loire Valley. Known to be the site of a double murder of the owner's wife and lover, dwellers here find themselves to have a few extra guests. Is it the wife looking for her tragically lost love? Who knows, but the place has got a dark and creepy feeling.

No trip to France would be complete without paying your respects to Joan of Arc at the Basilica at Le Bois Chenu Domremy. People have caught apparitions on film here and reports of ghostly happenings go all the way back to the early 1900's. Spooky!

If anyone has been to France and has a ghostly encounter, be sure to share it here!

Photo by ricardo.martins flickr.com

Netherlands Netherworld

As with most places, the Netherlands is filled with history both tragic and world changing. Visited by the Spanish Inquisition, witch hunts and executions and of course, home to Anne Frank, there are plenty of reasons a tourist would find ghosts in this beautiful country. If you are going to be making a trip there, there are some places paranormal enthusiasts should make sure to visit to learn and experience the past of this lovely and diverse area.

Starting with the historic and personal story of Anne Frank, you can visit the annex where she slept in Amsterdam. Tourists report weird cold spots there and some see the shadow of a girl in the window.

Then, book a room at the Hotel Berma. Central to all the other tourist locations such as museums and night spots, talk to the staff here to learn about the odd happenings previous guests report including a strong feeling of an unseen presence. Maybe the owners can enlighten you on the past of this spot so that you can address the otherworldly residents directly!

A dungeon is sure to be a place with paranormal energy, and the Amsterdam Dungeons will fit that bill. Sure, it's more an amusement park now, which seems insulting to the hundreds of souls who died and were tortured here, but you can still get an informative tour of this medieval place and learn about the terrible things the Council of Blood did in this area.

Europe has plenty of castles so be sure to take a tour of the Castle Duivestein in Voorschoten. Visitors and locals all say that there is just a pervasive strange energy around the place and nighttime photos of the drive up to the castles are always filled with weird orbs. As always, chat up the staff and tour guides to get the real skinny on paranormal activities and hot spots.

Photo by thegshow~ flickr

The Cemetery - A true encounter

My mother, Shirley, grew up in a middle class neighborhood in a simpler day. In the 1940’s and 50’s children still went outside to play, and found companionship in each other instead of a computer generated killing spree game. She was lucky enough to have good and loyal friends and a bicycle on which to explore her universe.

Around the corner from the duplex where she lived was a cemetery. A perfect place for her and her mates to ride their bikes without fear of being run over by cars, or chased by dogs. One day she and her friend Marge discovered an open grave; a hole dug for an upcoming burial…surrounded by gravel and mounds of dirt. As an adult, the sight of an open grave brings about a weary sense of our own mortality, but to children, it is just another opportunity to play and explore.

As dusk set, Marge and Mom sat on the edge of the hole, tossing small rocks down inside, and around the nearby monuments. Laughing and pushing each other they gathered handfuls of tiny stones and tossed them gleefully until they realized the sun was low and they had to return home.

Hopping onto their bikes they made their way through the deserted cemetery roads towards the gated entrance. They glanced at each other questioningly as they heard tiny “pinging noises around them. They slowed their bikes and turned their heads just in time to see pieces of gravel, many pieces, zooming towards them from out of nowhere! Turning back toward the road ahead they dodged as unseen assailants tossed fistfuls of rocks and dirt, pelting their backs and arms! They yelled to each other and looked around for the culprits… but none were seen. As they finally pedaled out onto the main street, the stones dropped in the air, and were no more.

As Mom would tell this story, she would always end it by saying that we should always respect the dead… as they demand it.

Ghosts of Gettysburg

Gettysburg is well known as one of the most haunted locations in the United States. The site of one of the Civil Wars most tragic battles, the Gettysburg area honors the memory of thousands of brothers, sons and fathers. A drive through nearly any Civil War area will bring a sensitive person into contact with the spirits of past soldiers, and Gettysburg offers a high concentration of souls reliving their sad last moments.

I have been through this area myself and found spirits on the battlefield as well as walking along the roadsides throughout Pennsylvania. The ghosts I encountered on the battlefield were looking for brothers or friends amongst the dead or trying to get home to their loved one. Sad and most likely merely echoes of the past fueled by extreme tragedy and sorrow.

Whether you are a sensitive or not, the people of the Gettysburg area will share historical information as well as paranormal stories with visitors and tourists. The Black Cat tour or Patriot tour will give you a guided walk around the Gettysburg area introducing you to some of the most "popular" haunts. If you'd rather meander around on your own, here are some places to visit.

Start at the Jennie Wade house. Jennie Wade is known to be the only civilian causality during the battle as she was while baking bread for troops in her kitchen. The wayward bullet found its way to Jennie and she could not be saved. It is said that her house, now a tourist location is haunted by Jennie, her sister and indeed even the soldier who inadvertently shot her.

Then, move to Sachs Covered Bridge. This is the location of multiple hangings of soldiers and the site of apparitions and disembodied voices. Check it out after to dark to increase the fright factor.

Stay at Cashtown Inn, the historic bed and breakfast that was once occupied by Jefferson Davis and troops. TAPS visited this location and found it to be full of otherworldly footsteps and cold spots. Make your reservations early.

As with all locations, treat the area with respect as it is basically a cemetery for brave soldiers.

photo by intothelens4149

Ghost Adventures: Riddle House, West Palm Beach Florida.

There is just something about Zach Bagan that makes me root for the ghosts.

This week the team goes to the Riddle House to investigate what is supposedly a very active home. Creaking stairs, moving objects and of course, a tragic history of suicide in the attic. Part of an overall paranormally active community, visitors and locals claim to have seen apparitions, and loads of other ghostly activity.

Of course, the team takes on the Rambo attitude that has quickly become their trademark and over dramatizes the history and claims of activity. Zach Bagan's excitement is barely contained as he continues his investigation.

After lockdown, Zach explains his provocation of spirits as only directed towards ghosts who harm the people working in the building, however, that really doesn’t justify, in my mind, to walking up in the attic with a hangman's noose.

As he tied the noose to a rafter, he explains again that he is not disrespectful; making me wonder how many emails they have gotten about their approach to ghost "hunting."

So, an hour later, the group wraps up the show with nothing more than a few noises and falling objects to relay as evidence of this haunting. I am sure I would have been scared as well, after hearing the flag fall out of a corner, or undetermined knocks and echoes, and for that, I find the show continually interesting.As for Zach and his approach...I am waiting to see more. If I was a ghost, I'd beat the crap out of him.

Photo by:thelastminute Flickr.com

Stull Cemetery -Kansas Gateway to Hell?

Stull cemetery is a small rural cemetery off a beautiful state parkway. Surrounded by quaint old buildings and hordes of cyclists, this off road plot of land seems quiet. Is it really a gateway to hell?

The church on the property has a legendary past, that is, its past is mostly legend. Locals say that the building had been used by devil worshippers and other evil-doers and that they opened a hole to hell itself. Trespassers tell tales of feeling powerful energy at the base of the stairs of the old church, and Halloween nights fill the cemetery with groups of people waiting to see The Legion itself.

Prairieghosts.com shares this story. "In 1980, an article appeared in the Kansas City Times that added further fuel to the rumors about Stull Cemetery and the abandoned church. The article was quoted as saying that the Devil chose two places to appear on Earth every Halloween. One of them was the “tumbleweed hamlet” of Stull, Kansas and the other, which occurs simultaneously at midnight, is someplace on the “desolate plain of India.” From these sites, according to the article, the Devil gathers all the people who died violent deaths over the past year for a prance around the Earth at the witching hour."

Now, the old church has mysterious been torn down, some say in the middle of the night to avoid problems with locals, and the cemetery is fenced off and marked "Private." That didn’t stop me and Norman from driving out there to investigate ourselves.

We found the town of Stull, outside of Lawrence Kansas to be charming and peaceful. Beautiful in the autumn, we felt a bit out of place and conspicuous taking pictures of the cemetery off the main road. The crumbled church could be seen far off in the corner of the cemetery, and I must admit I did feel a weird energy about the place. Is it because of the devil himself or the amount of energy spent in this location by other ghost hunters… I don’t know. Check it out for yourself, but no trespassing!

The Black Angel of Iowa City

A few people have asked me about the photo I use in my profile here, so here's its spooky story.
This is the Black Angel of Iowa City. Found in Oakland cemetery near the university, the Black Angel's story is mostly mythical, although the true story is no less interesting. But, first, here is the legend.
This stunning 8 foot memorial statue sits upon the final resting place of the Feldevert family. Standing since the early 1900's, this originally bronzed statue has turned black with normal oxidation, but that hasn’t stopped the lore's and legends from deeming it a more supernatural occurrence.
Some claim that Theresa Feldevert was somehow evil and that is the reason the angel turned black. You see, Theresa's son died at the age of 18 due to meningitis, but people gossip that perhaps it was murder. Doubtful.

Others say that the angel was struck by lightening and turned black. That by some supernatural occurrence this angel was deemed to have paranormal powers and to stand too close would lead to harm.

The true story? The angel was commissioned by Theresa for her family plot and created by a bohemian sculptor. The angel didn't turn out to be the price Theresa had bargained for and the stunning statue remained crated up for some time until the lawsuit was settled. Finally, the angel was placed over the burial plot of her son (whose smaller tree trunk monument can be found under the bush nearby) and ashes of her husband.

Today, this breathtaking statue brings college students to dare to kiss beneath it, for if you kiss beneath it, you will die the next day. Others say if you look into her face you will die, or become ill.

Interesting note: My husband Norm and I went there before we had actually moved to the area to check it out for ourselves. As I took picture after picture Norm wandered away to answer natures call, yes, right there in the cemetery. Later that day he was struck down with flu-like symptoms and was ill for several days. Was this the Black Angels revenge for his disrespectful kidneys or did we just have a bad beer at the local brewery? Hard to say, but I say, don't chance it. Pay your respects.

The Haunted White House

Since we are all feeling patriotic right now, I thought I would write a little about the ghost stories that take place in the First House… the White House.

There are many ghosts roaming the white house corridors, as noted by the first families and other visitors and guests of this great historic building. One of the most famous is the apparition of Abraham Lincoln. Many of the first ladies sensed his presence in the White House including Jackie Kennedy and Eleanor Roosevelt! Harry Truman even documented an encounter with the ex-Pres, saying he found him knocking on his office door. Abe’s not the only Lincoln to pop in now and again. His son, Willie, who died in the White House, was seen by Presidents Grant and Taft.

Thomas Jefferson is said to have been seen by First Families playing the violin in the Yellow room, and Andrew Jackson is said to enjoy frightening guests in the Queen’s bedroom by making himself known through his deep laughter and spooky knocking.

Even the outdoor Rose Garden is said to be haunted by its planner, Dolly Madison. She’s the gal who planted this famous spot and people have reported seeing her apparition wandering through the space- day or night.

So, if you ever get the chance to spend the night in the White House bring your ghost hunting equipment!

photo by: Bethany L King _ Flickr

Haunted Old Louisville

Haunted Old Louisville

Historic Old Louisville is an area that encompasses a large neighborhood south of downtown and around the Central Park. Its large estates and brick Victorians immediately bring thoughts of a gentler time in the South. This old neighborhood is celebrated in Kentucky and local historic societies offer tours of the area to help bring the citizens and their accomplishments to life for modern day dwellers.
There is also a Haunted Louisville tour that takes you on a dark meander through this breathtaking environment, offering stories of the scandals and tragedies of our long-gone neighbors. Or are they?

Norm (my husband) and I took a drive out to this area on a bright and sunny Sunday, and found it to be as charming, and crowded with cars, as we expected from an old Louisville urban setting. Many of these fine homes are rented out, but several of the more infamous ones remain in the hands of the families of the old south.

1464 St. James Court is one of the supposedly haunted houses of this street. Hard to believe this interesting old home could possibly hold a mystery, but its true. The strangest haunting I have heard of, it doesn’t involve apparitions or gobs of ghastly ghouls, but one single moment of time, replaying itself over and over with marked regularity.

A gunshot. A single gun shot that rings out every evening in the foyer of this fine building. The story goes that the home housed a lovely girl who after a long courtship and separation due to war, finally was engaged to her prince charming. On the eve of their engagement party, it’s said that some of the groom to be’s army buddies came to the party and engaged in adolescent gun-play. An accidental shot rang out, and killed the bride as she stood looking on.

The current residents claim to not have heard the shot fire while they have been living there, but the house continues to have its reputation and place in history and lore.