Ghost Stories

Do you think the world will come to an end in the year 2012? Why or why not?

If you ever find yourself in a place called Liberty Hill, located in Northern Austin, TX, I suggest you make a stop at Bittick Cemetery. Most likely one grave will stand out among the rest. There are various legends attached to this grave. The general story begins with a black woman named Elizbeth Sampson. In the 17-1800s, this slave was accused of being a witch. However, such an accusation wasn't enough to seal the deal on her death. It is believed Elizbeth stole a horse in order to escape and was captured. As it was done in those days, prisons and juries were tossed away for a good ole hanging. The tree used still stands to this day (supposedly across from the cemetery). After being buried, "Was borne and dide, But remember as yo are passing by, Yo all shall die as well as I" was carved in to her headstone. If you choose to visit her grave, you must bring an offering of some sort. It's believed if you don't, something devastating will happen to you. On Hallowe

High on a huge hill sits the ruins of a 19th century Victorian mansion tainted by the blood of four people. The Labadie family traveled to the Indian Territory of Oklahoma in the mid 1800s pursuing agricultural ventures. Frank Labadie was educated at the Osage Mission, starting out in life independently. He took up the occupation of farming, devoting his attention to the further cultivation and improvement of the home place of fifteen hundred acres, situated in Osage County. He continued to operate until 1891 but shifted his attention to the lumber business, dealing in hardwood timber. Labadie retained ownership of the original homestead, receiving large royalties from oil wells located on the property, while also owning a twenty-acre truck farm near Big-heart, in Osage County. In 1884, Labadie married Miss Samantha Ellen Miller, a native of Illinois. The story goes Frank and Samantha lived with a loyal black slave named Enos Parsons. After the Civil War, Parsons refused freedom and

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

Do you think the Kensington Runestone is a hoax? Why or why not?

In the past few weeks, this little blog has been bestowed two awards: First up is the Beautiful Blogger Award. I was given this one once before, but this time I have Courtney from Haunt Jaunts to thank for it. The rules for this one are the same as before: 1. Thank the person who gave you this award. 2. Share 7 things about yourself. 3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic! 4. Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know about the award. 7 Things About My Horror/Paranormal Side 1. My interest in horror began when I was a kid watching a Halloween movie marathon on Halloween 2. While most horror writers may have discovered Bram Stoker or Stephen King first, R.L. Stine's Fear Street series popped my genre cherry. I still own a few of them. 3. I began Ghost Stories after watching various paranormal related specials on the Travel Channel. I translated my interest in to research and BOOM! A blog is bor

This Historic Grand Dame Resort was opened in 1909. A majestic, Federal-style structure with an imposing front portico supported by massive 30-foot columns, The Otesaga was designed by Architect Percy Griffin and was named for the Iroquois word for “ A Place of Meetings.” This magnificent hotel occupies 700 feet of lakefront on the southern shore of Lake Otsego (also known as the “Glimmerglass” lake of James Fenimore Cooper’s Leatherstocking Tales) in Cooperstown, New York. Avid golfers, vacationers and others have been drawn to the resort for its beautiful scenic surroundings, elegant accommodations, and enjoyable resort atmosphere since it first opened its doors. Some believe it has also drawn the attention of a few ghosts. Guests have reported hearing children playing and/or giggling in the third floor hallway (From 1920 until 1954, the hotel was a private girl’s school known as the Knox School for Girls.). Voices have been heard in the Glimmerglass Room. Apparitions have been

What do you think current paranormal reality shows lack? What kind of show would you like to see on TV?

On September 11th, our country came together to remember the almost 3,000 lives who were lost due to the terrorist attacks. Some remembered the lives of about 120 men, women and children who also lost their lives in on that day in 1857. Mountain Meadow Massacre began on September 7th and extended to September 11th. The Fancher-Baker wagon train led by Captains John T. Baker and Alexander Fancher left Arkansas for California. Along the way, they picked up several families and by the time they entered the Utah territory, there were roughly 140 members. The wagon train stopped in Salt Lake City to replenish their supplies. These emigrants picked the wrong time to travel, especially through Utah. Since the founding of their church, Mormons had been heavily persecuted and fear of war hung in the air. Theocratic leader Brigham Young allegedly told his Mormon brethren not to sell supplies to non-Mormons, especially guns and ammunition. When the emigrants attempted to buy supplies in Salt La

A man named John Hart Crenshaw set up a sort of a reverse “underground railroad” in 1842. Back then, slavery was against the law in Illinois. However, a law stated that slaves could be leased from other states to work in dangerous salt mines. Crenshaw took major advantage of that. He kidnapped free slaves and forced them to work in his salt mines. He also sold these people back to slave owners in the south. Crenshaw kept slaves locked up in the attic and some say he brutally tortured them. Crenshaw devised another plan, this one to create slaves of his own. He selected a slave for his size and stamina and set him to breeding more slaves with the females that could bear children. This man, known simply as "Uncle Bob" was said to have fathered as many as 300 children. He lived until the age of 112 and died in 1948. The attic at Hickory Hill was a chamber of horrors. A dozen cells opened off a wide corridor. They were small rooms with bars on the windows and with iron rings

If La Isla de La Munecas has showed us anything, it is that a benign child's toy can be the subject of nightmares. Stories of haunted dolls is not uncommon but one stands out above the rest. In the late 1800s, Thomas Otto and his family moved in to a mansion at the corner of Eaton and Simonton streets in Key West, Florida now known as the Artist House. The Ottos were known to be stern with their servants sometimes even mistreating them. It was the treatment of one such Haitian servant that provides a twist in this story. This woman was hired to take care of their son Robert. One day, Mrs. Otto supposedly witnessed her practicing black magic in their backyard and fired her. Before she left, the woman gave Robert a life-like doll which stood 3ft tall, button for eyes, human hair (believed to be Robert's) and filled with straw. Dolls that resembled children were not unheard of during this time, but this one proved to be special. Robert named the doll after himself and often dresse

What location do you feel is the most haunted in the world?

Dream Books LLC, November 2009 eBook, 382 pages; Paperback, 414 pages ISBN: 978-1616580827 Adult Ordering Information: Amazon.com | Dream Books LLC Store After 20 years working at Weaver Oilfield Tool and Supply, the need to alleviate stress hits Texas resident Mike Hanson hard. A relaxing vacation in the New Mexican mountains provides a chance to also refocus on his family. However, an explosion of a gasoline tanker truck eliminates all mellow plans. Mountain updrafts sends Hanson, daughter Jojo, Paradise Mountain Resort owner Katy and her son Josh up Grant Peak in to a 19th Century gold mine for refuge. As they fight for survival, they soon learn the explosion was no accident. Hanson is being targeted for elimination. Will they make it off Grant Peak alive? Daniel Lance Wright's Paradise Flawed sends the reader on a wild ride of survival, conspiracy and gold. However, I'm not sure how much of the story I, as a reader, can believe. First of all, why rig a gasoline tanker e

Many of you know of the Aokigahara Forest in Japan as the location to take their lives. Here in the United States, we have The Colorado Street Bridge a.k.a. The Suicide Bridge in Pasadena, California. Since being built in 1913, over 150 people have relinquished their lives from this structure. The bridge spans 1,486 feet over the Arroyo Seco and sits on the original Route 66. It's known for its distinctive Beaux Arts arches, light standards, artistic supports and railings. A suicide barrier was added to reduce the number of suicides. After the Loma Prieta earthquake in Northern California of 1989, the bridge was declared a seismic hazard and closed to traffic but reopened in 1993 after a substantial retrofit. The Suicide Bridge was thrown in to the spotlight thanks to film, music, and TV. It's first onscreen appearance was in Charlie Chaplin's The Tramp and was later used in Alias, Seabiscuit, NCIS and The Mentalist. A monument with so much history makes one wonder, wh

Who is your favorite paranormal author?