A Few More Hauntings

Mount Misery Road, West Hills, New York - Not far from the populated built up areas of Long Island, the small hamlet of West Hills sits quietly in an amazing country setting surrounded by a nature preserve. The community is filled with very old well-to-do homes, hidden behind groves of trees, along with horse farms and paddocks. There are no street lights, telephone poles or cable lines; and roads are narrow, including that of Mount Misery Road. Though residents have long tried to change the name of the road, most likely to stop the late-night tourists, hey have been unsuccessful due to resistance by historical societies. There have long been paranormal legends along this historic and narrow path including ghostly faces seen in the trunks of trees, strange lights playing over the woods, and misty apparitions that appear to drivers. Reports of the "Lay in White" are often told, where visitors have seen her walking on the side of the road, but when they turn around, she is gone. There are other reports of a phantom hanging from a bridge, the result of a long ago suicide. Others report a phantom demonic-like dog that lurks in the wood a a group of men dressed in spotlessly clean black suits. A graveyard ghost named Mary allegedly haunts an old cemetery along the side of the road.
Myrtles Plantation, St. Francisville, Louisiana	Myrtles Plantation, St. Francisville, Louisiana - Built in 1796 by General David Bradford and first called Laurel Grove, the antebellum plantation near Baton Rouge operates as a bed and breakfast today and offers historical and mystery tours. Said to be one of the most haunted homes in America, an number of theories abound as to why it is so haunted. But, when one learns the history of this old building, it becomes more clear. First, it was allegedly built on the site of an ancient Indian burial ground and after the house was done, ten murders were committed within her walls. There are number of strange events that occur within the mansion including handprints in the mirrors, the sound of footsteps on the stairs when no one is their, strange smells and objects that move or disappear. there are allegedly a number of spirits that remain within the building including a French woman who wanders from room to room, a ghostwho sits at the grand piano playing the same chord over and over again, and a young girl who only appears just before thunderstorms.
But, the most famous apparition of the home is a woman named Cloe. A slave, she became her master's mistress, and when he tired of her, she began to eavesdrop on the family. When she was caught, she had her ear cut off and sent to the fields to work as punishment. As revenge, she poisoned a family birthday cake, which killed the family's two children and the mother. The other slaves, fearful of the plantation owner's wrath, dragged Cloe out of the house and hanged her. The spirit of Cloe, as well as the two children and the mother are said to remain within the house. THE QUEEN MARY Beach Harbor is the HMS Queen Mary, a colossal ship that was bigger, faster and more powerful than the Titanic. The 1,000-foot ship began her life when the first keel plate was laid in 1930 at the John Brown shipyard in Clyde, Scotland. The depression held up her construction between 1931 and 1934, but she was finally completed, making her maiden voyage on May 27, 1936. After 1,001 successful Atlantic crossings, she was permanently docked and soon became the luxury hotel that she is today. Today, the museum-hotel ocean liner is said to be called home to a number of ghosts including ghostlychildren playing by the pool and the spirit of a seventeen-year-old sailor killed while escaping a fire. More odd occurrences have been made in a number of first-class staterooms. Here, reports have been made of a tall dark haired man appearing in a 1930’s style suit, as well as water running and lights turning on in the middle of the night, and phones ringing in the early morning hours with no one on the other end of the line. In the third class children’s playroom, a baby’s cry has often been heard, which is thought to be the infant boy who died shortly after his birth. Other phenomenon occurring throughout the ship, are the sounds of distinct knocks, doors slamming and high pitched squeals, drastic temperature changes, and the aromas of smells long past. Saint Augustine Lighthouse, St. Augustine, Florida - First build by Spanish settlers during the 1600's, ghost stories about the lighthouse intrigued visitors for decades. The present lighthouse was built in 1874, replacing the first one, which was about 1/4 mile away, that was lost due to tidal erosion. In 1824, it became an official U.S. lighthouse. Today it serves as a museum preserving and interpreting Northeast Florida's rich maritime history. Several ghosts are said to haunt the historic lighthouse including three young girls who died while playing in a rail car used to bring supplies up the hillside during construction of the new lighthouse. While five children riding in the car, something happened and all of them fell into the water. Two were saved but three drowned. Visitors today often report hearing a female crying, "Help me!" Several other people died at the lighthouse over the years and a number of strange events occur today that suggests some of them might remain. These include mysterious light, footsteps from unseen people, the apparition of a man, and cigar smoke. Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado - This old hotel was built in the early 1900's by F.O. Stanley, who created the Stanley Steam Engine -- a steam powered horseless carriage. The majestic Georgian style hotel opened in 1909, catering to the rich and famous. In addition to its regular guests, the hotel is also said to play host to a number of other worldly visitors. The most notable is F.O. Stanley himself who is most often seen in the lobby and the Billiard Room, which was his favorite room when he was still alive. Not to be left out, his wife, Flora Stanley also haunts the hotel, continuing to entertain guests with her piano playing in the ballroom. Employees and guests have reported hearing music coming from the room, and when they take a peek in there, they can see the piano keys moving. However, as soon as someone walks across the thresh-hold to investigate further, the music stops and no more movement can be seen upon the keys of the piano. There are tales of other ghosts as well including that of a small child, who reportedly Stephen King saw when he stayed at the hotel and wrote The Shining. Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Louisville, Kentucky - The Waverly Hills Sanatorium opened in 1910 as a two-story hospital to accommodate 40 to 50 tuberculosis patients. Though considered the best site at the time for treating the disease, the procedures were primitive, doctors experimented, and used illegal drugs. Tuberculosis sometimes ravaged the mind, causing patients to go insane. More than 6,000 patients died during the time that the Sanatorium was open. It closed in 1962. Currently, there are plans to turn the historic building into a hotel even though it is said to be one of the most haunted hospitals in the United States. Visitors experience cold spots, disembodied voices, and ghosts roaming the halls. The spirit of a little girl has been seen on the third floor solarium playing hide and seek with visitors, a small boy has been spied playing with a ball, and an old woman has shown herself  running from the front door with her wrists bleeding screaming: “Help me. Somebody save me!”  Other phenomenon includes rooms lighting up when there is no power in the building, doors slamming of their own accord, cries and screams, and at least one report of a ghostly hearse driving up to drop off coffins. Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado - This old hotel was built in the early 1900's by F.O. Stanley, who created the Stanley Steam Engine -- a steam powered horseless carriage. The majestic Georgian style hotel opened in 1909, catering to the rich and famous. In addition to its regular guests, the hotel is also said to play host to a number of other worldly visitors. The most notable is F.O. Stanley himself who is most often seen in the lobby and the Billiard Room, which was his favorite room when he was still alive. Not to be left out, his wife, Flora Stanley also haunts the hotel, continuing to entertain guests with her piano playing in the ballroom. Employees and guests have reported hearing music coming from the room, and when they take a peek in there, they can see the piano keys moving. However, as soon as someone walks across the thresh-hold to investigate further, the music stops and no more movement can be seen upon the keys of the piano. There are tales of other ghosts as well including that of a small child, who reportedly Stephen King saw when he stayed at the hotel and wrote The Shining. Winchester Mansion, San Jose, California - The Winchester Mystery House is a well-known California mansion that was under construction continuously for 38 years, and is reported to be very haunted. It once was the personal residence of Sarah Winchester, the widow of gun magnate William Wirt Winchester, but is now a tourist attraction. An extravagant maze of Victorian craftsmanship, visitors can wander through 110 of the 160 rooms of this Victorian mansion, designed and built by the Winchester Rifle heiress Sarah Winchester. Under Winchester's day-to-day guidance, its "from-the-ground-up" construction proceeded around-the-clock, without interruption, from 1884 until her death on September 5, 1922, at which time work immediately ceased. Over the years numerous strange events have been reported such as ghostly footsteps, banging doors, mysterious voices, cold spots, and Sarah Winchester herself, has been spied many times.

A Few Hauntings

                              Hauntings at Famous Places

Alcatraz, San Francisco, California - With its centuries old history from ancient Native Americans, to Fort Alcatraz, to a Military Barracks, and most often known service as one of the toughest federal penitentiaries in the Nation, it is no wonder that this place is said to be one of the most haunted in the nation. Often described as a portal to another dimension, Alcatraz is filled with the energy of those who came to the "Rock” and seemingly never left.
Today, these spirits that continue to lurk in the shadows of the often fog-enshrouded island have been heard, seen and felt by both the staff and many visitors to Alcatraz. The sounds of men’s voices, screams, whistles, clanging metal doors and terrifying screams are said to be heard within these historic walls, especially near the dungeon.

Bachelor's Grove Cemetery, Midlothian, Illinois - Largely abandoned since the mid 1960's, this 1800s-era cemetery is well-known for its haunted stories and ghost sightings. The small cemetery in the Chicago metropolitan area, is located near Midlothian and Oak Forest, Illinois in the Rubio Woods Forest Preserve at 143rd Street & the Midlothian Turnpike. Victim to vandals over the years, many of the tombstones are toppled and rumors circulate that the cemetery has been the location for satanic and occultist groups performing ceremonies. Over the years, numerous stories have been told of glowing balls, sightings of apparitions; strange noises being heard including moans, squeaks, and groans; and  voices. Paranormal investigators report  strange photos, anomalous recordings and sightings of unbelievable creatures. Near the cemetery is a quarry pond that is also said to be haunted. The foul, dark, algae covered pool is said to have been used by Al Capone and other gangsters as a dumping place of their murder victims. Other reports tell of the ghosts of a farmer and his horse who were drowned in the pond as well as another unknown "two-headed" ghost.

Bell Witch Cave, Adams, Tennessee - The Bell Witch Cave, located near where the Bell Farm once stood is said to be associated with the Bell Witch, a sinister entity that allegedly haunted the Bell Family between 1817 and 1821. The story became so famous at the time that even General Andrew Jackson decided to visit and allegedly experienced the antics of the witch himself. Local legends say that the Bell Witch has haunted the area surrounding the caves for hundreds of years. The area has a long history of pioneers and Native Americans, many of whom were said to have been buried in the cave. The Trail of Tears, which forcibly relocated the Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Choctaw, and other tribes from their homelands to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) went through the farm. Numerous visitors have told of seeing her apparition, as well as odd shadows, and hearing voices in restricted areas of the cave. visitors who take anything from the cave, such as a rock, will be cursed and many have returned items quickly. Today, the privately owned Bell Witch Cave and former Bell Farm offers tours.

Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - This former prison operated from 1829 to 1971 and its revolutionary system of incarceration was the first to establish the policy of separate confinement, emphasizing principles of reform rather than punishment. However, the confinement was severe, locking inmates in their cells 23 hours per day and prohibiting any communication among inmates. Punishment was harsh, including subjecting them to water baths, where inmates who broke the rules would be  dunked in a bath of ice-cold water then hung from a wall for the night. They were also
punished in what was called the "Mad Chair," so named because it was not uncommon for an inmate to go mad before his punishment ended. During this punishment, inmates would be strapped into the chair so tightly that it was impossible for them to move at all while sitting for days without food until the circulation in their body almost stopped from the tightness of the straps and the lack of movement. For consistently refusing to obey the no communication rules, an iron collar was sometimes clamped onto the tongue of the inmate, then chained to his wrists which were strapped high behind their back. Called the Iron Gag, any movement would result in the tearing of the tongue and severe bleeding, from which many died before their torment ended. Notorious criminals such as bank robber Willie Sutton and Al Capone were held  within its walls. Today it is currently a U.S. National Historic Landmark, which is open to the public as a museum for regular tours as well as haunted tours. Today, visitors and staff report hearing unexplained eerie sounds throughout the prison, as well as whispering, laughing and weeping and seeing tormented faces in the cells.

Gettysburg Battlefield, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania - Over ten thousand men died in the battle of Gettysburg. The most violent battle of the Civil War, over 10,000 men lost their lives in July, 1863. Cited as the war's turning point, the Battle of Gettysburg effectively ended Confederate General Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North. A National Historic site today, not only does it offer a wealth of history, but is also said to be one of the most haunted places in the nation. Visitors often report ghostly encounters, many of whom initially believe they've seen Civil War re-enactors, only to find out later that no such groups are at the park. There are allegedly a number of ghosts that lurk within the park, especially at a place called Devil's Den where hundreds of men lost their lives. Many have also reported hearing disembodied screams and numerous others report malfunctioning cameras.

Lemp Mansion, St. Louis, Missouri - Said to be one of the ten most haunted places in America, the Lemp Mansion in St. Louis, Missouri, continues to play host to the tragic Lemp family. Over the years, the mansion was transformed from the stately home of millionaires, to office space, decaying into a run-down boarding house, and finally restored to its current state as a fine dinner theatre, restaurant and bed and breakfast. The scene of triumph and tragedy, with a background of intrigue, scandal and suicide, visitors have reported a wide range of phenomena at the Mansion. Tales of phantom guests sitting on chairs and misty white apparitions appearing throughout the mansion are often told. Candles are said to mysteriously light of their own accord and the smell of cigar smoke fills the area in the non-smoking environment. Guests have claimed to have felt someone stroking their hair in the night and receiving phantom phone calls. Personal items have been known to disappear or be moved. More ...

Lincoln Theater, Decatur, Illinois - The grand old Lincoln Theater was built in 1916, but the haunting history that surrounds the building goes back beyond the theater’s construction. Prior to the theater being built, the site was home to the old Priest Hotel, which opened in 1880 and stood until it was burned down in 1904. Said to be haunted by several ghosts, the most well known is one that is called Red, who is thought to have been a former employee of the theater. After falling from the catwalk he died and allegedly remains. Others report having seen the ghost of a young woman and a male figure standing on the stairs. Paranormal activity includes ghostly footsteps, cold spots, sounds of people walking on stage when no one is there, and phantoms sitting in the seats of an empty audience. The historic theater has been undergoing a restoration project since the 1990's but continues to be open and host live entertainment

On a quiet residential street in the small town of Villisca, Iowa, a horrible tragedy occurred a century ago that continues to leave its effects on this small town. The walls of this pristine home still protect the identity of a murderer who bludgeoned to death the entire family of Josiah Moore and two overnight guests on June 10,1912. What's more, not only do her walls hold the secret of the killer these many years later, they also continue to house a number of paranormal entities.

Nestled in the hills of southwest Iowa, Villisca is a small rural community of about 1,300 people today; but, in the early 1900's, it was a bustling railroad town with about 2,500 people.

At that time, more than two dozen passenger and freight trains stopped at the depot each day and the town sported several hotels, restaurants, stores, theaters, and manufacturers. Within this thriving environment lived Josiah B. Moore, one of Villisca's most prominent businessmen. The owner and operator of the Moore Implement Company (a John Deere Company franchise), he was a solid competitor with other area businesses. On December 6, 1899, Josiah married Sarah Montgomery at the home of her parents and the couple would have four children – Herman, Katherine, Boyd and Paul.

“J.B.”, as Josiah was familiarly called, and his wife, Sarah, were well-liked in the community, active in Presbyterian Church, and described as being friendly and helpful to their neighbors. On Sunday, June 9, 1912, the Moore family as well as the Stillinger family attended church. An annual event was also held Sunday evening called the “Children's Day Program,” which had been coordinated by Sarah Moore. That evening, 9 year-old Katherine Moore invited her friends, 12 year-old Lena Stillinger, and her sister, 7 year-old Ina May for a sleepover. The girls accepted and the after the program ended at 9:30 pm, the Moore family, along with the Stillinger sisters, walked home from the church, arriving about 9:45 and 10:00 pm.

The next morning, Moore's neighbor, Mary Peckham, noticed that the Moores were not outside taking care of their regular chores and that the house was unusually still. Between 7:00 and 8:00 am, she knocked on the door but, received no answer. When she tried to open the door, she found it locked. Concerned, she called Josiah's brother, Ross Moore. When Ross Moore arrived, he knocked loudly on the door and shouted, attempting to raise someone inside the house. He then tried to look through the windows but found all of the curtains drawn 

or the windows covered. He then produced his keys and entered the house, quickly returning to the front porch and instructing Mary Peckham to call the sheriff.

What he had seen was shocking. The entire Joshiah Moore family had been murdered, as well as the two young overnight guests – all bludgeoned with an axe while they slept. In the upstairs master bedroom lay 43 year-old Josiah Moore and 39 year-old Sara Moore, both bludgeoned in the head, their bed linens stained heavily with blood. In the adjacent upstairs bedrooms, were the Moore children, 11 year-old Herman, 10 year-old Mary Katherine, 7 year-old Boyd, and 5 year-old Paul, who had also been bludgeoned in the head while they slept. In the main level guest room, the bodies of Lena Stillinger, age 12 and her sister Ina, age 8, were also found dead, killed in the same manner as the family.

Villisca City Marshall Hank Horton arrived quickly, soon followed by other officers. In the meantime, the gruesome news spread like wild fire and within no time, neighbors and curious onlookers converged on the house. Law enforcement quickly lost control of the crime scene and it is said that as many as a hundred gawkers traipsed through the house before the Villisca National Guard arrived around noon and cordoned off the home. The investigation tells that the eight victims were killed shortly after midnight, and all but Lena Stillinger were thought to have been asleep at the time of their murders. It was concluded that Lena was the only victim that had attempted to fight off her attacker, as she appeared to have had a defensive wound on her arm. The attack was so vicious that the ceilings in the parents' and childrens' bedrooms showed gouge marks apparently made by the upswing of the axe.  The axe was found in the guest bedroom, indicating that the Stillinger girls were the last to be killed. It was bloody but, an attempt had been made to wipe it off. The axe belonged to Josiah Moore. All of the curtains in the house had been drawn. Two windows that didn't have curtains had been covered with clothing. All of the victims faces were covered with bed linens or clothing after they were killed. Other evidence showed that a pan of bloody water was discovered on the kitchen table as well as a plate of uneaten food. No one could imagine who could possibly commit such a heinous crime and the townsfolk were first convinced it must be a deranged tramp. Expecting to find the blood-drenched killer hiding somewhere in the area, a number of posses were formed on horseback and in autos, searching alleys in the city and every barn, shed, and outhouse in the vicinity. But, they returned empty-handed. With darkness came the fear that a madman was on the loose and might strike again. Families partnered with their neighbors to stand shotgun guard all night and windows were nailed shut. In the ensuing days, every lock in town was sold out, residents openly carried weapons, neighbors looked with suspicion upon neighbors, and rumors and accusations ran rampant. Soon, newspaper reporters and private detectives flooded the streets. Bloodhounds were brought in and law enforcement agencies from neighboring counties and states joined forces. The murders began a chain of events that split the small town and forever changed the course of the lives of its residents. One of the earliest thoughts by investigators was the possibility of a serial killer. The previous year, a series of horrible murders had taken place in the Midwest. In the fall of 1911, every two weeks whole families had been slaughtered in their beds without apparent reason. These included the families of the Burnhams and the Waynes in Colorado Springs in September, the killing of a family in Monmouth, Illinois two weeks later, a culminated in the murder of the Showman family in Ellsworth, Kansas on October 15, 1911. The next year, another similar murder occurred in Paola, Kansas on June 5, 1912, just four days before Villisca. Though there were similarities in these gruesome killings, interest in the serial killer theory soon faded and was largely forgotten. Every stranger or transient to the small town were also suspects. One such man was Andy Sawyer. A transient that moved from job to job, he gained temporary work for the Burlington Railroad on the very morning of the murder. According to the rail crew,  he purchased a newspaper which headlined the murders and w "was much interested in it." The crew also complained that Sawyer slept with his clothes on with an axe close by and was a loner. Afterwards, he talked much about the Villisca murders and whether or not a killer had been apprehended. He also told the crew foreman that he had been in Villiscathat Sunday night and was afraid he may be a suspect which was why he left. The crews foreman, Thomas Dyer, was suspicious and turned him over to the sheriff on June 18, 1912. The foreman would later testify that before he turned Sawyer over to authorities, that he walked up behind him and Sawyer was rubbing his head with both hands, then all of the sudden jumped up and said to himself "I will cut your god damn heads off," while making striking motions with his axe and hitting the piles in front of him. Though Sawyer's name often came up often in Grand Jury testimonies, he was eventually dismissed as it was found that he was actually in Osceola, Iowa on the night of the murder. The alibi was extremely tight as he had been arrested for vagrancy at 11:00 pm that evening. As the investigation continued, the focus turned to locals in the community and a number of possible suspects emerged. The speculation of the townspeople caused them to identify themselves by who they believed committed the crime. Friendships became strained and in many cases, irretrievably broken. One of the first suspects was Sarah's brother-in-law, Lee Van Gilder, who was the ex-husband of her sister, Mary. A man prone to violence and having previous brushes with the law, there was bad blood between him and the family. Van Gilder; however, was later cleared. Looking at motive, the authorities began to investigate Frank F. Jones, a prominent businessman and Iowa State Senator. For years, before he opened his own business, Josiah Moore had worked for Frank Jones as a top salesman in Jones of Villisca, a hardware and implement store. In 1907, Josiah left the company and started a competing business, taking with him the coveted John Deere franchise. The two became bitter enemies, so much so that by 1910 they wouldn’t speak and would cross the street to avoid meeting each other. Not believing that Jones would commit the crime himself, investigators began to look at a man by the name of William Mansfield, who from a “tip,” had learned he may have been hired by Senator Frank F. Jones  to murder the Moore family. In July, 1916, Mansfield was arrested in Kansas City, Kansas and extradited to Iowa to face a Montgomery County Grand Jury. Though local opinion anticipated Mansfield would be bound over for trial, the jury refused to indict him on grounds that his alibi checked out. In the meantime, Frank Jones lost his re-election as senator, but, was never charged with a crime. Some thought that Senator Frank F. Jones, who was bitter enemies with Josiah Moore, might have been involved in the crime. Another suspect was the Reverend George Kelly, who was a traveling minister who happened to be teaching at the Children's Day services at the Presbyterian church, which the Moore family attended on June 9, 1912. The tiny, nervous, bird-like preacher had a reputation of being unbalanced and perhaps a pedophile and had left Villisca very early on the day of the murder. It was not these facts; however, that led to his being investigated. Rather, it was an obsession that he had with the murder that turned law enforcement's eyes on him. His obsession resulted in a stream of long, rambling letters sent to state and local investigators, private detectives, and relatives of the victims. On his next preaching visit to Villisca two weeks after the crime, he arranged to stay over on Monday and visited the murder house. Within a month, officials began to investigate him finding out that he had been seen peeking into a woman's bedroom just days before the murder and had been observed in several towns prowling streets late at night. He had also made specific requests that young women pose nude for him on at least three occasions. They also cited a disturbed mental state including his sexual obsession and a bloody shirt he sent to be laundered the week after the murder. Kelly was arrested in April, 1917. As the trial drew near, state officials decided on one final all-out effort to get him to confess. After a long evening of interrogation, Kelly dictated a confession on August 31, 1917. The confession stated that he had difficulty sleeping the murder night and went for a walk, during which he spied the Stillinger girls getting ready for bed through the window. He then went on to say that he heard the Lord’s voice commanding him to “suffer the children to come unto me.” The trial began on September 4, 1917 but was dismissed on September 28th as the jury was deadlocked eleven to one for acquittal. A second trial in November resulted in Kelly being acquitted for all charges. By the time the trial began, a majority of Montgomery County citizens were convinced that Kelly was being framed as part of a conspiracy led by Frank Jones. They believed that Jones had tried to use his money and influence to pack the jury. Another suspect was Henry Lee Moore (no relation to Josiah Moore), who was thought to be a serial killer. Several months after the Villisca murder, Henry was convicted of the murder of his mother and grandmother with an axe. He was also suspected of the killings in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Ellsworth and Paola, Kansas. The cases were similar enough that all were committed by the same person; however, this was never proven. In the end, the police and investigators gave up in 1917. The murders remained unsolved and the killer unpunished. Today, the remains of those murdered by the mysterious axe-man lie in the Villisca Cemetery. The “Murder House” continues to stand. The house where the murders took place was originally built in 1868 and the Moore family purchased it in 1903. After their deaths, the house went through the possession of eight people, until it was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Linn in 1994. The Villisca Murder House today, Kathy Weiser, September, 2011. By that time, the house had deteriorated badly and was close to being condemned. However the Linns restored the old house to its original condition and in 1998 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it is open for tours and overnight sleepovers. And, it should come as no surprise that it is haunted, so much so, that it is consistently rated in the top ten most haunted places in America. Over the years, there has been a long history of paranormal happenings in the house. Previous tenants have said they have spied a shadowy man with an axe standing at the foot of their bed, images of bloody shoes, closet doors that open of their own device, the sounds of children crying, and clothing taken from dressers and closets and strewn about the room. In one instance a man reported that while sharpening a knife, it suddenly turned around and stabbed him in the thumb. He explained that it felt as if someone had a grip on his wrist. One family who reportedly ran out of the house screaming one night, moved out that very day. Since the house was opened to tours and overnight stays, a number of paranormal investigations have been conducted, which have allegedly provided audio, video and photographic proof of paranormal activity. When the house was investigated by the Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures Crew, they captured a recording of a man who said "I killed six kids." Yet others, who have toured the house, have reported hearing children's voices when none are present, whispers, banging sounds, falling lamps, and objects that move of their own accord. Some have reported feeling an evil presence in the attic where it is thought the murderer hid while waiting for the family to fall asleep. One story alleges that as one an individual tried to enter the attic, an unknown force prevented her from doing so. Though there are many that say that the house is truly haunted, there are many who say it is not, including some who actually lived in the house without ever experiencing any mysterious activities. You can judge for yourself, by making a visit to the home, which is open for tours.

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Demonic Hauntings The Anneliese Michel Story

Demonic Hauntings

The Anneliese Michel Story

Demonic Hauntings have recently gained in popularity due to the release of movies such as "Paranormal Activity", "The Exorcism of Emily Rose", "Constantine" and television shows such as "A Haunting", "Ghost Hunters", "Ghost Stories" and "Supernatural".

roughout these movies, television shows, and other types of media, such as documentaries, it appears that those involved in paranormal research have established evidence that demonic possession and different types of paranormal residual energy hauntings that are directly related to demonic hauntings have happened, do happen, and continue to happen among the general population.

Throughout history, those that practice religion professionally and paranormal researchers have been 

introduced to real demonic hauntings that have provided us with information on what happens when this takes place. We were introduced to the real story of a demonic haunting when the movie "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" was released in the year of 2005. While many parts of the movie were enhanced to add to the storyline, the real story occurred to a girl by the name of Anneliese Michel who was born in the year of 1952 on September 21st in Germany. She died on the 1st day of July in the year of 1976. Her cause of death was considered to be dehydration and complete malnourishment. She was only twenty four years old.


It is believed that Anneliese Michel suffered from a very personal demonic event. In the year of 1968, she started to experience unexplained convulsions. The following year, she was diagnosed with a condition called "Grand Mal Epilepsy". She was quite a religious young woman, but soon after her diagnosis she would pray and experience hallucinations that were quite ominous. Soon thereafter, she heard voices that were very negative often informing her she would face damnation for her sins. By 1973, she had become so depressed that she considered taking her own life. In the year of 1975 her family believed that she was suffering with a possession by a demon and elected to have a priest come in for a religious exorcism.


The family did not reach the conclusion that the young woman was experiencing a demonic possession on their own. One time, Anneliese attended a religious pilgrimage with a woman who was part of the church that the family attended. During the event, she recognized many unusual characteristics in the young woman. First, she would not walk in close proximity to an image displayed of Jesus. There was a Holy spring of water and the girl did not want to drink from it. The family requested an exorcism but they got told"No" on two different occasions. Eventually, the Bishop of the time gave in and permitted it to be performed.


There are several demons that were said possessed Anneliese. Her demonic based haunting got so bad that she eventually came to believe that those around her were evil entities. She named the following as part of her possession:


· Lucifer
· Hitler
· Judas Iscariot
· Fleischmann
· Nero
· Cain
· And, several others


While the people in Anneliese’s life tried diligently to assist her in overcoming her demonic haunting, they were unsuccessful. These people included a Father named Arnold Renz, a Pastor named Ernst Alt, as well as her parents who were named Anna and Josef. In the end, all four of these individuals were found guilty of a charge called"Negligent Homicide" and ordered to do time in the local prison for six months and ordered to probation that lasted for three years. Despite the fact that local government officials often observed her bizarre and uncontrollable behavior such as screaming for hours at a time, tearing her clothes from her body, licking her own urine, and consuming arachnids and insects they were still convinced that the four individuals were guilty of her death.


It is believed that most demonic hauntings are often labeled as a case of mental illness such as schizophrenia. Unfortunately, many feel that there are a number of individuals that are, in fact, possessed but are not given the right to blessing and exorcism due to the fact that it is believed that they suffer from a mental illness. While the story of Anneliese is just one of the many demonic haunting cases and considered one of the most well documented recorded events of demonic hauntings, many still considerdemonic possession to be one of the world’s greatest unsolved mysteries.

Poltergeist and Demonic Hauntings Explained

There are many different types of hauntings that may occur. Here, you will be introduced to two of the types of hauntings that individuals experience the most fear from. These are the poltergeist and the demonic hauntings. The hauntings or ghosts that are experienced in these types of hauntings are especially terrifying! If you are interested in ghost hunting, you must know and understand the types of hauntings that you may come in contact with. No two spirits are created equally. By reading the information here, in Poltergeist and Demonic Hauntings Explained, you will learn just that!

The Poltergeist Haunting 

Poltergeists or “noisy spirits” are a type of haunting that individuals all throughout history have claimed to experience. It is important to note that, no two poltergeist spirits are the same. These spirits are able to completely manipulate the environment that they frequent in a physical manner. Physical interruptions to the environment that they are a part of include the possibility of physical attack, objects that appear to be moved or are observed moving with no physical assistance, and even severe cases of combustion that is considered to be spontaneous. It is believed that if there is a teenager who is female in the home, poltergeist activity is more likely to occur. 

Individuals, who are young, open to psychic abilities, and those who are extremely fearful seem to attract poltergeist hauntings more than others. This is simply because these individuals have a higher level of energy surrounding them. It is believed that these types of spirits will actually draw their energy from the person who has a high level of energy. Energy is an essential component for a spirit to operate once they are in the spiritual world. The more energy that these spirits are introduced to, the more energy that they feed off of. Poltergeists are not all bad. In some, playfulness and general mischief is all that is experienced. However, there are some situations in which a poltergeist may be very ominous and frightening. 

The Demonic Haunting

The demonic haunting is especially frightening to the individual that experiences it. There is absolutely no “good” when it comes to demonic spirits. Naturally, the spirit that haunts in this type of haunting will not be human. In many instances of haunting that fit into this category, it was noted that the paranormal events were relatively small. However, as time progressed, so did the hauntings and various types of paranormal and unexplained activity. Careful case studies of the demonic haunting have concluded that these types of spirits like to attack individuals that are experiencing weaknesses on a psychological and emotional level. 

Signs of Poltergeist and Demonic Hauntings 

There are a number of signs of poltergeist and demonic hauntings. Listed below are some of the most common signs associated with these types of spirits: 

1. Many will experience noises that cannot be explained. These noises may include knocks, banging, and similar types of noises. 

2. Many may find that things are moved from the location that they originally put them. 

3. Seeing objects, such as dishes, levitating and moving in and around the structure that is considered to be haunted. 

4. Electrical complications, such as blinking lights and appliances turning on and off, may be experienced. 

5. Animals may begin to act in an odd fashion. This may appear to be either fear or anger towards something that cannot be seen. 

6. Feeling as if you have been touched, or are being watched is a common sign of a haunting that is poltergeist and/or demonic in nature. 

7. If you see streaks of light, dark shadows, and other visual signs out of the corner of your eye, it may be a haunting. 

8. If you smell something that is particular strange, or cannot identify it, you may have a poltergeist or demonic haunting. 

9. If you have bruises and scratches on your body that you cannot explain, this may be a case of a haunting. 

10. Visibly seeing an apparition definitely indicates a haunting. 

Conclusion 

Poltergeist and demonic hauntings are not favored among those that experience them. In most cases, these hauntings are considered to be intelligent and work to manipulate their environment. This can be a terrifying experience for the individual that is suffering through this type of haunting. You should learn as much as you can if you suffer from a haunting, or are interested in studying hauntings about the poltergeist and demonic hauntings. To learn more on demonic hauntings and possesstion visit:

Hauntings

The ghost of Betsy Bell, said to have haunted Tennessee a family between 1817 and 1821.

Definition: Occurrences of paranormal activity associated with a particular location or structure and usually attributed to the activities of an anomalous entity1

The rattle of chains that send a steely chill through the night time air, steps that gasp under ghostly weight, and spectral visions that seem to be lost in time—these are just a few of the types of hauntings that folks and folklore have reported through the ages. As many types of hauntings as there are, they generally fall into two categories: 2

Intelligent hauntings

Intelligent hauntings involve a ghostly presence, a sentient spirit that interacts with its human counterparts such as the ghosts in Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, ghosts Alan and Barbara in the movie Beetlejuice, or Sam Wheat in the movie Ghost— all departed souls who continue to interact with the living as if caught between this world and the next.

Residual hauntings

Also called “imprint” or “energy” hauntings, parapsychologists believe that residual hauntings are the product of stored energy from spirits or events, caught within their earthly environment and replayed like a video in a never-ending loop. Footsteps continually ascending the same flight of stairs or spirits seemingly caught in a time warp where they must continually repeat an event from their lives.

In the comedy “High Spirits” ghosts Martin and Mary Brogan begin as residual haunters, forever caught in a vicious fight that ends in Mary’s death and Martin’s damnation but later are proved to be intelligent(?) haunters that interact with the guests in Peter Plunkett’s Irish castle.

The Folklore of Most Cultures Contains Stories of Hauntings.

Borley Rectory, one of England's most famous haunted houses

The "Amityville Horror" house in Amityville, NY, USA

Britain teems with tales of hauntings where nearly every castle or manse is home to a resident ghost.3

One of the earliest documented hauntings took place in ancient Athens, described by Pliny the Younger (c. (50 AD) in a letter to Licinius Sura.

The philosopher, Athenodoros Cananites (c. 74 BC – 7 AD), rented a large, Athenian house, to investigate rumors that it was haunted. Just as the rumors foretold, Athenodoros was confronted by a house that night, and, sure enough, an aged apparition whose rattling chains bound him at hand and foot. The spirit seemed to beckon Athenodoros, but as he approached the ghost, it vanished. The next day, Athenodoros reported the sighting and summoned the magistrates to dig at the spot where he had last seen the apparition. However, it took three years to recover the man’s shackled bones. As the tale goes, after the bones were properly buried, the hauntings stopped and the spectre was never again seen.4

Americans have long enjoyed telling stories of hauntings. From the ghost of Abigail Adams doing her laundry in the East Room to the spirit of Dolley Madison tending the Rose Garden, legends of hauntings fill the corridors and chambers of America’s Presidential estate, the White House, including sightings of President Abraham Lincoln’s Ghost.5

Skeptics attribute hauntings to a number of ordinary physical explanations that range from air pressure changes that cause doors to slam to super-sensitive peripheral vision that they attribute to sightings of ghosts. Yet skepticism aside, according to a 2005 Gallup Poll, about 32% of Americans believe in the existence of Ghosts.6

About one out of ten people relate an experience with some type of haunting or ghostly phenomena. Their reports include the appearances of apparitions, sensing an unseen presence, or encountering an unexpected or offensive odor or sudden change in room temperature.7

Although skeptics decry hauntings as hallucinations or outright hoaxes, many areas have legislation that specifically addresses hauntings. For instance, in several American states, a real estate agent or homeowner must disclose incidences of paranormal activity or an occurrence of death in a home that is for sale.

In one notable instance, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division ruled on a case that was brought to rescind a purchase. Helen Ackley had reported poltergeist activity to both her local newspaper and the Reader’s Digest when her home was included on a five-home tour of the city.

Although the story was widely known, coming from New York City, buyer Jeffrey Stambovsky was unaware of the report. Neither the realtor nor Ackley disclosed the haunting to Stambovsky before he entered a contract to purchase the property. Upon learning of the legend that surrounded the house, Stambovsky filed an action to rescind the contract for sale and a request for damages due to what he claimed was fraudulent misrepresentation. A New York court dismissed the action and Stambovsky appealed. In its majority opinion, the Appellate Court concluded, “Having reported [the poltergeists’] presence in both a national publication... and the local press... defendant is estopped to deny their existence and, as a matter of law, the house is haunted."8

*Many Parapsychologists prefer to use the word “apparition” instead of ghost since the latter is “insufficiently precise”. 9