Ghost Stories

In 2009, I wrote about an exorcism that took place in the Dandy residence in 1974 to "de-haunt" the house. The Dandys allegedly experienced abnormal activity including mysterious burns on their bodies, bricks from a crawl space chimney dismantled and placed in the middle of the room, strange chants heard in the nearby woods, and sightings of orbs which led them to call in Rev. Alphonsus Trabold to perform the exorcism on the house. A year after this event, the Dandy family of six moved out. Ownership of this Western New York home has exchanged hands several times since it was built in the mid-1800s. It is back on the market once again. This 100 + year old farm house is mostly original complete with a kitchen, bath, living room, three bedrooms, two enclosed porches, eight acres of land and a large spring fed pond. Now, if you're considering purchasing the house keep in mind it needs a complete restoration. Of course, restoring the property may stir up the numerous gh...

Want to spend a night in Manhattan's Most Haunted House? This may be your chance. The Merchant House Museum is hosting a lecture by Dan Sturges and a raffle. The Winner and a Guest will participate in a real paranormal investigation of the Merchant’s House Museum led by the Historic Paranormal Research team. Merchant's House Museum, also known as the Old Merchant's House and the Seabury Tredwell House, was a Federal-style red-brick row house built in 1832 by Joseph Brewster and designed by Minard Lafever in Manhattan, New York City. Brewster lived in the house until 1836 when he sold it to Seabury Tredwell, a wealthy New York merchant, for $18,000. Seabury lived in the house with his wife, seven children, two boys and five girls, four servants, and an ever-changing assortment of other relatives. Seabury died in 1865. The remaining family lived in the house until his youngest daughter Gertrude, who was born in the house in 1840, died in 1933. Three years after her de...

The Borough of Sunderland decided to take advantage of good rail service and the scenic view of the North Sea and build a psychiatric facility in Ryhope in between 1893 and 1895. Sunderland Borough Asylum also known as Sunderland Lunatic Asylum was designed by noted asylum architect G.T. Hine. There are six wards on either side of a combined chapel and recreation hall along with the usual services. An isolation hospital and infirmary block were added in 1902. In the 1930's an admissions hospital and wartime Emergency Medical Service Huts were constructed nearby. These later became the Ryhope General Hospital, which still operates to this day. The rest of the site became known as Cherry Knowle Hospital when it was acquired by the National Health Service in 1948. As community care replaced the long term stay facilities, the original asylum eventually closed in 1998. However, other satellite buildings were retained for use by mental health organizations. After being abandoned...

Ever wonder what it would have been like to be accused of witchcraft in the 17th Century? A 350-year-old notebook, documenting the trials of women convicted of witchcraft in England during the 17th Century, is now available online thanks to a team at The University of Manchester's John Rylands Center for Heritage Imaging and Collection Care who spent two weeks photographing it. The author was an English Puritan named Nehemiah Wallington. The manuscript is one of Wallington's seven surviving notebooks. The woodturner wrote 50 journals about religion, the civil war and witchcraft trials during the course of his life. Within its pages, she recounts the fate of women accused of having relationships with the devil during a time when England was deep in civil war. Specifically, it relays the details of a witchcraft trial held in Chelmsford in July 1645. More than a hundred suspected witches were serving time in Essex and Suffolk at the time of this trial. Of the 30 women on trial in ...

One of the UK's biggest theme parks was forced to move a new ride to another part of the property earlier this month. Why? This decision was made after fears rose they had disturbed an ancient burial ground, resulting in paranormal activity. Workers building the water ride at Thorpe Park in Surrey said they started witnessing ghostly sightings nearby, including what appeared to be a headless monk. There were also reports of objects being moved, workers feeling like they're being watched and cold spots. To further look in to the matter, a paranormal investigation team, South West London Paranormal, was called in to look into the matter. They determined, using investigative techniques, Quija board sessions and mediums, an ancient burial ground or settlement may have been disturbed. The 64ft-tall water ride, Storm Surge, was originally planned for an area known as Monk's Walk, an old footpath that has linked the ruins of nearby Chertsey Abbey to Thorpe Church since 666 AD. ...

Edgar Allan Poe, the American literary master of the macabre who penned poems such as "The Raven" and grisly short stories including "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Pit and the Pendulum" as well as the first modern detective story, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" died in 1849 in Baltimore at age 40 after collapsing in a tavern. Sometime in the 1940s, an anonymous man began the annual tribute at Poe's grave on the anniversary of the writer's birth. The "Poe toaster" was always seen dressed in black, wearing a white scarf with a wide-brimmed hat. He always left three roses and a half-empty bottle of cognac and later a few handwritten notes. This tradition was first referenced in print in 1949 by The Evening Sun of Baltimore. After more than 60 years, the mysterious man and his tribute were a no show last year. Many believe he may have had car trouble or fallen ill. Today, many Poe ...

To understand the purpose of a purgatory museum is to understand the concept of purgatory. Purgatory is a halfway point between Heaven and Hell. It's a place for the souls of people who lived good enough lives to avoid eternal damnation, but not good enough to join the angels in Heaven. Prayers by the living can reduce a soul's time in Purgatory. Relatives offer up prayers or pay for entire masses to be said for the departed. A tormented soul sometimes returns to Earth to ask for help. These visitations were rather common during the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The spirit would appear to a relative or friend. Then, reveal it was in torment, and ask for prayers to shorten its time in Purgatory. As proof of its presence, it would touch its burning hand to a nearby object or clothing. In Rome, a museum has collected these objects for visitors to view. The Piccolo Museo del Purgatorio or the Little Museum of Purgatory is housed in the church of Santo C...

Hungryhouse.co.uk , UK’s leading takeaway delivery marketplace, has launched a new scheme which will see pizzas and curries being delivered to spooky burial grounds around the UK between the hours of 6pm and midnight on Halloween for free. The promotion was developed after learning through a survey the number of odd locations food is delivered to including The Ritz hotel in London, a slimming organization in Nottingham and a graveyard in north London. Graeme Horne, marketing manager for Hungryhouse.co.uk , said: "For every order we get that includes the word 'graveyard' in the order comments box delivered to graveyards or cemeteries across the UK, we will reimburse the cost of the takeaway to ensure that hungry fright seekers are at least well fed!" Those in the UK looking to take advantage of this offer need to make sure that they check the restaurants (2500 to choose from) which are part of the marketplace. Users need to know the postcode of the graveyard so that th...

In late May, the infamous "Amityville Horror" house went up for sale with a $1.5 million price tag. Over two months later, a buyer was found. The Dutch Colonial at 108 Ocean Ave. was made famous by The Amityville Horror book and movies as well as being the site of the 1974 DeFeo murders. The five-bedroom, 3.5-bath home went through extensive renovations including the boathouse, the bulk head, the central air conditioning, the gas heating system, the roof, the windows, the sprinkler system, the central stereo system, the deck and the patio by the current owners. Former owners changed the well known address from 112 Ocean Ave. to guard their privacy. The house went in to contract this week. However, rumors dictate they live and are active in the community. It is believed the buyers are retirees David D'Antonio and his wife but neither has made a comment to confirm or deny it. At this time, this has not been confirmed. Details on how much was offered for the property has...

Earlier in the week, animal control officer Frank Hackett shot and killed an unusual animal in a barn southwest of Fort Hood, TX after hearing it growl at him. Officer Hackett hasn't stated whether or not he believes the creature to be the elusive Chupacabra as he awaits DNA results. However, did comment that “it wasn't normal.” A few days later, a second unidentifiable animal was killed several miles away by a rancher. While Officer Hackett isn't ready to declare his find a Chupacabra, many believe the second one may be. Some have described these animals as “half alien/half dinosaur dog like creature with a spiny back” or “a vampire dog of some sort with huge fangs and no tail”. Others state “it has a tail”, or “a stubby cropped looking tail”. At this point, it depends on who you talk to. Hood County Animal Control sent the animal to Texas A&M for testing. Until DNA results are returned Doctors at Texas A&M would only say it's some kind of coyote hybrid. Se...

In Linwood, a member of one of the biggest landowning families in Scotland is believed to have cursed the economy...or at least she is being blamed for 30 years worth of misfortune. Lady Anne Speirs' curse was brought to life, over a century after her death, in the early 1980s when Rootes Car Plant, Linwood's main source of income, shut down. Legend states Lady Anne pledged a curse on anyone who disturbs the crypt, recently rediscovered by contractors working for Tesco. Superstitious locals are warning that soon-to-be-approved plans to move the remains of five people from a mausoleum and reunite them with their descendants in North Berwick will bring tragedy to the Renfrewshire town due to this curse. However, it's unlikely supermarket giant Tesco will alter their plans to move the remains to the East Lothian town for a new supermarket and community facilities to regenerate the area. Tesco immediately moved to have the bodies disinterred, but a court order stalled the...

Almost a year ago, I relayed the story of Maggie Duffton , a former owner of the Burnett Arms Hotel who died in 1931. A legend stated she commissioned three coffins to be made after her death, one believed to contain her body and another her money. Both walled up in a hotel cellar vault. Current owner, Malcolm Edwards hired a stone mason in 2008 to put all the rumors to rest. A 2-ft granite wall was demolished, revealing what some feared the most. Not one coffin or even two for that matter. However, paranormal activity has increased. A barmaid who used to be the cleaner many years ago saw a figure walk through a locked door one day and asked to speak to Norman. A woman has also been seen late at night wearing a pink wedding dress. Edwards has since decided to put the bar up for sale, first time in three years. He claims the ghosts haven't ran him off but is moving on to run another hotel. Anyone in the market for a Scottish bar accompanied by a few friendly ghosts?

In the 80s, Tommy Tutone scored a hit by making a phone number infamous. Another phone number has made headlines. In 2001, the former CEO of Mobitel, a Bulgarian mobile phone company, died of cancer. Despite the fact Vladimir Grashnov business record was spotless, rumors persisted his cancer was due to radioactive poisoning by the hands of a business rival. He was the first owner of the number 0888-888-888. After his death, the number passed to Bulgarian mafia boss Konstantin Dimitrov. He took a trip to the Netherlands to inspect his £500 million drug smuggling empire. Unfortunately, he didn't return home with a pulse. Two years after the first suspected victim of the number's alleged power, Dimitrov was gunned down by a lone assassin, supposedly sent by his Russian rivals, while eating dinner with a model. He had the mobile on his person at the time of his death. Konstantin Dishliev, an estate agent, received the number next. Dishliev secretly ran a massive cocaine trafficking...

Upon signing up on a new website, how many times do you read the terms & conditions from beginning to end? Members of a UK game website called GameStation skimmed over the "immortal soul clause". This clause grant the company the right to claim their soul: "By placing an order via this web site on the first day of the fourth month of the year 2010 Anno Domini, you agree to grant us a non transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul. Should we wish to exercise this option, you agree to surrender your immortal soul and any claim you may have on it, within 5 (five) working days of receiving written notification from gamestation.co.uk or one of its duly authorized minions." It goes on to say "we reserve the right to serve such notice in 6 (six) foot high letters of fire, however we can accept no liability for any loss or damage caused by such an act. If you (a) do not believe you have an immortal soul, (b) have already given it t...

Many debate whether the modern vampire sub cultural should be respected or a fad not worth sweating about not to mention those who isn't swayed either way. We as a country elected our first black president. Is a vampire president going to be our next first? Jonathon “The Impaler” Sharkey certainly hopes so. The 45 yr old Republican with the support of his 19 yr old fiancee, daughter of the same age and 2 yr old grandson is set to file paperwork to run for President of the United States in 2012. He is currently documenting his journey in a film titled The True Impaler . Sharkey is no novice when it comes to politics. He was once on the Executive Committee of the Hillsborough Co. Republican Party (HCRP) in the 1990s. Later ran for Governor of Minnesota in 2006 and also had short-lived bids for U.S. Senate in 2000, U.S. President in 2004, and U.S. President in 2008. And recently switched his party affiliation from Independent to Republican to run with the G.O.P. Although his vampi...

There have been several...unusual objects that have come up for auction over the years. The latest are two bottles filled with blue "holy water" and well...a ghost at TradeMe auction website. Supposedly, a man in New Zealand enlisted the help from a couple of spiritual leaders for a nearby church to perform an exorcism on his house. The results were two spirits, one believed to be Les Graham who died in the house in the 1920s and the other is that of a little girl. The blue "holy water" keeps them safely at rest. If you want to release them in to your home, you pour the water in a bowl and let it evaporate in your house. So far, the bidding has reached £275. When an item such as this pops on to radar, I usually write it off as a scam. I mean seriously. It sounds like a scam, right? But this one got me curious. How do you get a ghost to go in to a bottle? Do you lure it in with a treat or something? This led to my latest fishing expedition. From what I found, you can...

Millions have seen Illusionist Criss Angel walk on water. However, in Boston, Lincolnshire UK, the spirit of a monk has been seen walking across a swimming pool. Of course, this monks' talents are probably more residual than entertainment for visitors. In the late 13th Century, friars migrated to the booming town of Boston. There were four orders: the Dominicans or black friars (named for the color of their robes), Franciscan or grey friars, Carmelites and Austins or Augustines. St. John's Hospital was run by an order of monks called the Knights Hospitaller and cared for the poor and sick. In the mid-16th Century, Henry VIII closed all the friaries. The Geoff Moulder Leisure Complex's swimming pool is adjacent to Boston Grammar School field. In this field, archaeologists have uncovered a burial site believed to be linked to one of the ancient friaries that once stood in the town of Boston. If indeed it was part of a friary, this may explain why the monk seen not only wa...

Like many towns, Montague, NY has their very own local legend. This one involves a young woman who died in a fatal car accident. Anna Joan Machowski was born on February 2, 1917. Her life wasn't exactly a fairytale but little did she know, her death would be the fuel of legend and rumors for years to come. At the age of 24, she married a man named Alfred and gave birth to four children. Her marriage wasn't always the happiest and she often drowned her sorrows in alcohol. On June 14th, 1954, she and friend, Jan Winiarski, jumped in to Jan's 1949 Studebaker truck and drove to Barnes Corners to purchase wine. With Anna at the wheel, they sped along Sears Pond Road. She raced towards a curve. An onlooker watched in fear they wouldn't make it and he would be right. The truck went off the road and flipped several times until coming to a rest upright on its wheels. The witness raced to the scene. When he arrived, he found Anna's body lying next to the wrecked truck, her ...

I have received a few inquiries concerning the status of Snowball Mansion. Information had suddenly fallen silent…that is until now. Mike and Nancy Stevens bought the house a few weeks ago. About three years ago, the mansion was involved in a little real estate scam. The Fuhrings who ran the establishment as a bed and breakfast put it on the market for $1.9 million, initially. The expected buyer put down $1 million on the Snowball Mansion and financed the remainder with two loans. She never made a payment on those loans nor moved in. It turned out the buyer was part of a multimillion-dollar real estate fraud scheme, and the house was tied up in an F.B.I investigation. Those involved were arrested and charged. Finally, earlier this year the mansion was returned to the lender and placed on the market. So for three long years it sat vacant, waiting for new life. Vandals broke windows and doors. The copper wiring and air conditioning unit was also taken. Graffiti covered the wal...

It seems a little battle has been brewing in Cambridge, United Kingdom between a Catholic Church and a self appointed “King of all Witches”. Magus Lynius Shadee owns occult shops in France and Normandy. His next branch is to be located in Cambridge, supposedly opening on December 24th. Church leaders fear he may prey on the vulnerable or the distressed. While they aren’t believes, a concern rose in the possibility of Shadee using manipulation of people’s fears which may result in mental problems. Shadee has yet to reveal the location of his shop other than it will be in the city centre. The shop and "surgery" will be open to the public and will offer exorcisms, physical research, paranormal phenomena, direct voice communication, manifestation of "ghosts" and witchcraft. He has offered to prove his abilities to anyone interested. However, it seems he has already begun the demonstrations without any inquiries. On a visit to the city, he claims to have performed an...