I’m doing some research for Dead Last, the second in my series about a medium who does crime scene clean up. Doing paranormal research is always fun, interesting and, yes, more than just a little weird. For me, it can be difficult to distinguish fact from fantasy when reading the accounts of various, shall we say “unique” people. Sometimes I laugh out loud. Other times I get a case of the heebie jeebies.
I’ve been focusing my research on Washington State hauntings since my novels take place in Seattle. Today alone I’ve read about:
The McAlmond House: A mansion built around 1861 that is haunted by a poltergeist that has a problem with teen-age girls.
A Cemetery in Maltby: Supposedly the cemetery was built long ago by Satanists. There are 13 steps, called the steps to hell that appear to lead to nowhere. Legend has it that if you walk the steps you'll die.
The Bush House: Supposedly haunted by a young woman named Alice who hanged herself there when she thought her lover was killed in a mining accident. It is told that her lover hadn’t been killed but came home to discover her dead. She's been walking the halls ever since.
There are thousands of people who attempt to add credibility to these types of happenings by adding their own claims. Some of these people appear relatively normal. So my question to you is this, are you a believer? Have you experienced any supernatural happenings in your own life or do you scoff and move on?
14 comments:
Wow, Wendy! Creepy post today! I personally haven't, but I think it's possible--you never know. And I'd be totally freaked out by it...
Ann
Yes, very creepy, Wendy. I remember when I was little, walking very loudly down the stairs to the basement to be sure the ghosts knew I was coming and had time to hide...does that count? I love paranormal concepts, but I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I thought about them too much. When I think ghosts, I don't automatically think about Casper, the friendly one.
If you find my post creepy, I'm sure glad I toned it down from what I originally typed LOL. I guess that's what y'all get for asking a paranormal/mystery author to join the group. I promise not to post any scary links or freaky pictures. At least, not today ;)
I know of enough people who have experienced "supernatural" events that I'm a believer.
No question.
I'm a believer. The old building that the Michigan theatre dept. used to be in was haunted by at least one ghost. He enjoyed walking in on people working in the light lab or in the theatres late at night. More than a few people saw him, including me, I think! Working in theatre you have to be more than a little superstitious! Too bad the ghost light can't keep all of the ghosts away!
Colleen, I'm intrigued. How many drinks must I buy you to hear the details?
Cosmic, wow did the ghost appear to more than one person at a time? I've known some very superstitious theatre people, so you're right about that. I might to be too chicken to work at the place you mentioned LOL!
Wendy-The ghost usually scared only one person at a time, but there are numerous stories of how 2-4 people were in the lab or theatre and lights shut on or off (theatrical lights even), things falling, and things completely disappearing and reappearing in strange places. The ghost would come to the light lab if you were working really late (2-3am)...maybe just to make sure you weren't sleeping on the job? haha. He'd also come visit who ever was the last person to be in the theatre. This theatre is 100 years old and the building used to be a high school so there's plenty of rumors about the ghost. Supposedly the name "The Trueblood Theatre" is because a student hung himself in the theatre a long time ago...but that's just what one of the Profs claims...
Colleen probably knows what building I'm talking about too!
I'm definitely a believer; I know too many people who have had unexplainable experiences, myself included. My grandmother died when I was 5--in the middle of the night, before we boarded a plane to get to her bedside (she had cancer; I knew she'd been 'sick' but didn't know that she was going to die). Anyway, she'd died in the night, and no one called us and told us before we got on the plane that morning. While changing planes in Atlanta, my mom called an aunt to check in, and the aunt immediately said, "I'm SO sorry!"--which was how she found out. Apparently (and I do vaguely remember this), my mom hung up the phone and I immediately patted her hand and said, "It's okay. I know Grandma died last night." When my mom asked how I knew, I told her that she'd come and sat on the side of my bed in the night and told me goodbye, promising to always keep watch over me. My entire childhood, I always remembered those words (was it a dream? her ghost?), and always really did feel like she was keeping watch over me.
hello, i wandered over here from colleen's blog just to see...i don't actually know what i believe but i grew up in a house that was "haunted" and have seen many things that i would describe as "ghosts" and had a few unexplained experiences BUT...well, i kind of think of it more as a movie clip. More like it's the image of a person's energy playing out something that happened years before. not so much a "contact" sort of thing. who knows? maybe i am wrong.
i do know, however, that every theatre has a ghost. beacuse...why wouldn't they with so much drama already going on? (and it gets the actors in a tizzy!)
ok, i'm not a writer, but there is my two cents.
Cosmic, I'd love to be a fly on the wall when someone who's half asleep is visited by a ghost in that theatre!!
Kristina, you made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Definitely heebie jeebie time!
Ren, I like how you explained it as "the image of a person's energy playing out something that happened years before". That sounds more comforting somehow.
Oh yes, I'm a believer. It's freaky stuff, but I've experienced it. That's probably the only reason I'm a believer.
I also know that there are some cemetaries I don't mind at all. There are others that you can't get me away from fast enough.
Wow, Spyscribbler, you've experienced it? If you ever post details on your blog, come by and let us know!
I've definitely run across a few ghosts in my time. Once, I was home alone for a long weekend and at 3 o'clock in the morning something HUGE and heavy slammed down on to the floor above me. When I went to go investigate (I was scared sh**less, by the way), I found nothing. Not a thing was out of place, nothing had fallen over, and there was no one there.
I was actually more scared because the next door neighbours were obviously crack dealers, and I was worried someone had broken in to steal something. So I took a beer bottle with me. But after I found nothing, I scuttled back to my room and called my boyfriend, whom I then made stay on the phone with me until sunrise.
Also, my old university was definitely haunted. "Following the funeral Patterson confided to friends that while accompanying the choir on the organ, he suddenly heard a voice singing two octaves above the normal range. No explanation for the mysterious voice was ever found; but some people wondered aloud: "Was Peakie holding on?"
Over the years other unexplained events become commonplace, especially following the demolition of Allison Hall. Ghosts never like to be disturbed! There are those who claim that operatic arias still float down the staircase of Hart Hall. Unexplained footsteps are heard on creaking wooden floors; doors mysteriously open and close and noises that could be the tinkling of costume jewellery fill the air. Legend has it that a Mt A football player was studying in a room in Hart Hall. He saw an "apparition" approach, and in his terror to leave, fell down the stairs fracturing both his legs." (link: http://www.billhamiltonflashback.ca/listnews.php?id=2&cid=&searchtext=hart%20hall&offset=0)
Meardaba, wow those are interesting unexplained experiences and you've certainly had your share!
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