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leannareneehieber · 1 month

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HELLO!

(Yes, this is me as Sarah Winchester for Halloween. Also, yes, this is pretty much my general wardrobe give or take a lace layer. Yes, I wrote a long chapter in this book about Sarah Winchester because I really love her and find her to be fundamentally misunderstood.)

I just wanted to drop by and say it's still Women's History Month and it's still a GREAT time to read about historical women and how their stories resonate with us today. BONUS: you can do this through ghost lore! Here's how!

A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN: TRUE STORIES OF AMERICA'S GHOSTS examines women's history by using ghost stories; unpacking how we talk about women, alive and dead. Available wherever books are sold, in paperback, audio and digital! Retailer links here!

Word-of-mouth is so important for books like ours, so if this book interests you, could you please share? Thanks so much and Happy Haunting!

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gotghost · 6 months

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Finding these old historical photos is chilling

#paranormal #spooky season #halloween #haunted history #spooky #ghost hunting #history #ghost hunter #got ghost #ghosts #culture #world history #anthropology

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giftshopofcuriosities · 3 months

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The Hampton Court Ghost refers to a figure seen on CCTV footage near the Hampton Court Palace in October 2003. A strange presence had started being reported by employees and visitors in early 2001 until this "apparition" appeared in court robes opening the door to the building. What is so unexplainable about the images is that the humanoid being doesn't appear to have a face.

Do you believe in ghosts?

read about it here

full video on youtube here

#ghost #ghost sighting #history #historic ghost #paranormal #paranormal sighting #haunting #found footage #security footage #creepy #spooky #haunted #haunted history #hampton court ghost #apparition

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delicatelydeceased · 2 years

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New England Evenings

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mecthology · 5 months

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The Gurdon Light.

There's a somewhat popular tale regarding the origin of this light. According to it, a railroad worker was on duty outside of town one night, had a mishap with a train, and unfortunately met his end. The story goes that because his head got separated from his body, locals believe the light is his ghost wandering with a lantern, on a quest to find his lost head.

Another angle to the Gurdon Light legend ties back to a murder in December 1931 near the railroad tracks. William McClain, a foreman with the Missouri-Pacific railroad, had a heated argument with his employee, Louis McBride, over working hours during the Depression. Frustrated, McBride violently attacked McClain with a shovel, ultimately beating him to death with a railroad spike maul or hammer. Soon after this tragic incident, the Gurdon Light made its first appearance, leading some to speculate that the glowing light is the lantern of McClain's ghost.

Follow @mecthology for more myths and lore.

Pic generated by AI.

Source: encyclopediaofarkansas

#mecthology #creepy #supernatural #gurdonlight #arkansas #ghost stories #paranormal encounters #local myths #haunted history

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ashtrayfloors · 8 months

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—I was getting kinda down on myself because I felt like I’d been really on top of my shit recently but then somehow ran out of money again. So I had to remind myself that being broke doesn’t mean I’m not on top of my shit—it just means we are living in late capitalism, and times are hard. But then I’m not going to let myself stop trying to improve my own/my family’s lives because of it, either. Times are hard but that doesn’t mean I can’t keep looking for more/better work, or that it’s not worth going back to school.

—Saturday evening, P. and I got to go out for a drink. We went to a different bar than the one we usually go to, and had the place to ourselves, so we ended up talking with the bartender. The three of us hit it off immediately. The bartender was a flamingly gay punk dude, and the first thing he said to us was: “You two have the best couple energy I’ve ever witnessed.” He said he could just tell we love each other a lot, and then he commented on the fact that we were even sorta dressed alike. Which I hadn’t realized, but when he said that…we were both wearing Chucks, and jeans, and flannel shirts over old tees. (Love each other so, closer than you know, and all that.) Then we were all talking about our favorite cocktails for a bit, and then Green Day’s “When I Come Around” came on the stereo and me and the bartender were both singing along at the top of our lungs. “I can’t not sing along to this song, you know?” he said, and I said: “Oh my god, same.” And then later somehow the discussion turned to ghosts and he told us the haunted history of the building we were in and some other nearby places, and it was all stuff which I’d never even heard! And I’ve researched that shit! We told him how years ago we went on the downtown ghost tour and it was so boring, we barely even heard any haunted stories, and it turns out that he’s one of the people that now does the ghost tours since the old group folded—and he’s a member of the local paranormal investigation group! He gave us the dates that he’ll specifically be leading the tour this year, so we’re definitely going on one of those dates. Anyway, befriending a gay punk who’s into ghosts and Green Day? 10/10, highly recommended.

—The bar we were in is also a high-end liquor store, and I perused their whiskey selection while we were there, and discovered there’s an Irish whiskey called The Legendary Silkie. As soon as I have enough money where I can justify dropping some on it, I’m going to. Because Irish whiskies are my favorite, and also because I’ve been obsessed with silkie/selkie lore since I was a wee’un.

—Sunday, I basically did jack shit. I was having a sinus issue flare-up, plus it was the first day of my period (which always comes with cramps and exhaustion and a general feeling of yuck), so I stayed in bed half the day. And yes, while I am still hustling my ass off to improve my situation, I have to remind myself it’s okay to have days like that. Especially when I physically need it. When I was younger, I would push myself past my limits, and then I’d wind up super ill for weeks or months, unable to do much of anything. I’m not willing to risk that these days, so when I need a day of rest, I take one, if it’s at all possible.

—Yesterday, I felt a lot better. I did school stuff with the kids, dayjob work + side hustle, and writing/submitting stuff. I also took the kiddos to the library for Maker Monday, and they got to mess around with robots and VR and 3D printers. While at the library, I saw the most beautiful trans woman, and I tried hard not to stare at her like a creep. I managed it—I just smiled at her, she smiled back, and I went on my way. And then in the kids’ play area, I encountered an adorable toddler. He was clearly new to both walking and speaking, and one of the few words he knows is ‘bowl.’ He found a plastic bowl in the play kitchen, and was toddling around the room, presenting it to everyone, saying “bowl!” Which he pronounced like ‘buh!’ So obviously I was super enthusiastic when he showed it to me. “That’s right buddy! That’s a great bowl you’ve got there!” And he grinned his little toothless grin and toddled away to present his ‘buh’ to someone else. Aw. I definitely don’t want any more kids, and in many ways I’m glad my kids are past the toddler stage, but it’s nice to interact with teeny kiddos from time to time.

—Today I felt pretty sucky again, physically. My period yuck has passed, but it was a bad allergy/sinus day. I wasn’t able to take the day off, but I rested as much as possible. I did school stuff with the kids, and then made a cup of tea and took it up to bed, and I worked from bed for a couple hours. After that, I felt well enough to do some other stuff. I packed up some zine orders. And then C. and I did some baking—I had a bunch of peaches left over from a meal we made the other night, so we baked a peach and blackberry galette.

—I’m deep in nostalgia these days, as per usual, but right now it’s mainly for September 2003 and September 2008—The Perpetual Motion Roadshow, and Thee Hobo Love Tour. And how the fuck were those tours 20 and 15 years ago, respectively?!

—Today, I found out that Nick Cave is playing in Milwaukee later this month. There is literally no way I can afford to go, but unlike the Blue Meanies show in July, I didn’t freak out about it. I was bummed for about thirty minutes, and then went: “Eh, so I can’t see Nick Cave in concert right now. Instead, I will sit alone in my room, dressed all in black, drinking tea or wine, and listening to Nick Cave while thinking about a girl I once knew, as god intended.”

—Overall, I’ve been better able to appreciate the small moments of contentment in my life than I was earlier in the summer. Like the fact that the weather is turning autumnal. Like lying in bed drinking tea, or sitting in my backyard drinking coffee. Like watching the birds in my backyard. Like listening to jazz while writing or doing chores. (I’ve been on a big jazz kick lately. This is fairly common for me, this cycle—listen to a ton of punk to the point where I’m almost sick of it, then listen to a ton of jazz.) Like cooking with my kids and reading with my kids.

—Plans for the next week or two include: getting the new CoViD vaccine/booster, home visit with the director for the community program we’re getting D. into, more printing/collating/packing up zine orders, submitting work to more contests and magazines, a field trip with the kiddos to our favorite nearby park/stretch of woods, and performing at 100 Thousand Poets for Change.

#ashtrayfloors #dear livejournal #personal #capitalism ruins everything around me #alcohol #encounters #mirror image see no damage see no evil at all #when i come around #haunted history #rest #illness #i love my local library #baking #i wanna tell you about a girl #small good things #plans

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abra-macabre · 5 months

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Neighbors house burnt down last night. It was one of the oldest houses in my town and it was huge. When my parents moved to the town it was between this house and the one they ended up picking. There were rumors that there were underground tunnels that ran from the old distillery to this house when al capone bootlegged alcohol during prohibition

My best friend growing up lived a block away from the distillery in the opposite direction and her house used to be a butcher shop.

The whole house was creepy, but the basement was terrifying. It still had a meat chute and a meat freezer room w a door about 6 inches thick. In one of the rooms you could see the outline of where the tunnel used to run through and if you knocked anywhere else it was solid but knocking on that part you could clearly tell it was hollow. You'd hear noises coming from the tunnel and what sounded kind of like soft whispers. One night, my friends older sister was having several of her friends over to spend the night and one girl woke up in the middle of the night bawling her eyes out saying there was a woman staring at her in the archway. She made her parents pick her up and she never went back to that house.

One night there was a bad storm and y friends dad was on call working downtown at a hospital so it was just me, my friend, her older sister and her mom and her baby brother Tony. Me and my friends sister were brave enough to venture downstairs to get to the fuse box. We had a big flashlight that had brand new batteries in it. The second we got to the bottom of the stairs, the light pointed at one of the far walls and I swear to God, there was a face in the wall. It looked almost contorted. The second we both see the face, the flashlight goes out. We stumbled over each other running back up the basement steps and the second we got back upstairs, the flashlight turned back on. It wasn't loosely screwed where it could come in and out the way flashlights can do, it wasn't one of those kinds of flashlights, it had a big button on it. It was terrifying.

The house that burnt down also had reports of hauntings dating back to the 1800s since it was built. My town has the largest working limestone quarry in the world and running between those buildings is then creek which goes all the way to Lake Michigan.

Ive read that running water, limestone and native american spirituality can account for hauntings. Then you add the violence of s gangster bootlegger and its like a recipe for disaster.

There is also a history of a lot of native Americans living in the area and surrounding forest preserves. I've heard several people who never spoke to each other who saw a native American on horseback in the woods.

In high-school we would hangout and party in the woods and sometimes the boys would camp out there and on multiple occasions you'd hear drumming and chanting. Friggin creepy af.

There would sometimes be an animal hanging from a tree completely gutted. One time we found bags of blood that you'd get at a blood bank in a hospital. Idewk what that was doing there.

*** This story ended up being way more than I initially intended. Hopefully someone finds it interesting***

#ghost #haunted #victorian house #history #haunted history #fire #al capone #thornton #illinois #chicago #sweet woods #my story

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letsgethaunted · 5 months

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Let's Get Haunted Episode 166: Haunted Disneyland feat. Chilluminati

It's known as "The Most Magical Place on Earth", but is it also the most haunted place on Earth? This week Nat takes Aly and the Chilluminati Podcast on a disturbing ride through some of the strangest paranormal lore surrounding Disneyland. Join us as we discuss some of the darkest things about Disneyland, and even uncover some new ghostly video evidence that cannot be "debunked" by skeptics. Listen to become a haunted Disney Adult!

#let's get haunted #haunted disneyland feat. chilluminati #haunted disneyland #disneyland #podcast #chilluminati podcast #chilluminati #disney adult #haunted history #Spotify

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honeygloom · 4 months

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Check out my site, Honeygloom! I have lots of 100% Plant-Based Horror fiction and horror poetry, I write about weird science and macabre history, and I share the secret writings of a witch as found in her spell books and journals.

#dark #horror #goth #creepy #spirits #ghosts #horror fiction #horror poetry #occult #tarot #macbre #haunted history #50% off #50% discount #witch #witchcraft

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spiderblog-mcu · 1 year

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I genuinely believe that Ryan feels more haunted by that puppet than by any ghost he has ever encountered.

#ryan bergara #shane madej #haunted history #watcher #shaniac #boogara

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beyondthebizarre · 1 year

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Ireland's Biggest Haunt - Leap Castle

Hey there, are you looking for a place to scare yourself silly in Ireland? Well, look no further than Leap Castle! Located in County Offaly, this old castle is said to be one of the creepiest and most haunted places in the country. If you're into the paranormal, this place is definitely worth checking out.

So, what's the deal with Leap Castle? Well, it's got a long and violent history dating back hundreds of years. Legend has it that two brothers were fighting for control of the castle in the 16th century, and one of them, Thaddeus O'Carroll, was a real sadist. He apparently had a secret dungeon built in the castle, where he'd torture and kill his enemies. The dungeon was so nasty, with spikes on the floor and walls, that prisoners often died from their wounds.

Even after Thaddeus was long gone, the castle seemed to have picked up some bad vibes from all the violence that had taken place there. People have reported seeing all kinds of freaky stuff over the years, from ghosts to unexplained noises to just an overall creepy feeling.

One of the most famous ghosts at Leap Castle is the "Elemental," which supposedly hangs out in the castle's chapel. This thing is supposed to be super malevolent and has been known to attack people who go into the chapel alone. Apparently, the Elemental was created by a previous owner of the castle who was into black magic and used the chapel for his rituals. So, you know, it's probably not a good idea to mess around in there by yourself.

But the Elemental isn't the only freaky thing at Leap Castle. People have reported seeing a lady in a red dress, a phantom drummer, and even a little girl who died tragically in the castle. So, basically, there's no shortage of spooky stuff to see and feel at this place.

Despite all the creepy vibes, Leap Castle is still a popular spot for tourists and paranormal investigators. If you're brave enough, you can even spend the night there! Just be warned, you might not get much sleep with all the ghosts and ghouls hanging around.

So, if you're into the paranormal or just looking for a good scare, Leap Castle is definitely worth checking out. It's got a crazy history and plenty of freaky ghosts to keep you on edge. So, why not give it a shot? Just make sure you bring a friend – you don't want to mess with the Elemental by yourself!

#podcast #horror #history #ghost stories #paranormal #horrorpodcast #creepy #blog #ireland #leap castle #castles #haunted history #supernatural #haunted locations #haunted

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leannareneehieber · 1 month

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Today is the anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. This horrific event opens A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN. Read the chapter Andrea Janes and & I wrote about the avoidable carnage. Child Labor & Union-Busting remain despicably timely these days and attacks on labor law are constantly in the news. Never forget. Please share and please advocate against child labor and ANY rollbacks of labor and building safety codes! Labor law saves lives!

More about A HAUNTED HISTORY OF INVISIBLE WOMEN here. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Please never, ever, take Labor Law for granted.

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weirdwisconsin · 1 year

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The legendary Christmas Tree Ship may have sank into the depths of Lake Michigan more than 100 years ago, but that doesn’t stop her from trying to finish her trip every year.

Read more: Ghost of the Christmas Tree Ship

#wisconsin #weird wisconsin #ghost ship #paranormal #haunted #shipwreck #christmas #lake michigan #history #haunted history #wisconsin history #wisco #oddities #curiosities #travel #explore #travel wisconsin #discover wisconsin

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1day2dreamer3 · 2 years

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Me: ooh let’s watch a documentary about Rasputin even tho he looks disturbing

The video: this video may contain disturbing images…

Me: yeah no thank you

What do i do? I go to rent to my friend! Who is pissi-

I was saying, i went to rent to her but then back alone with my ipad and nothing to do at 11:35 pm

I chose to watch the video.

AND GOSH WHY DOES HE LOOK LIKE THAT IN THE PICTURES

He literally like 👁👁 “i see you bitch” LIKE I SEE YOU TOO BITCH AND I WISH I DON’T!!

LIKE LOOK

#bored af #rasputin the mad monk #grigori rasputin #buzzfeed unsolved #haunted history #help pls

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dr-archeville · 2 years

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If you ever find yourself driving down Mimosa Street near downtown Raleigh after midnight, be aware: You might find yourself in the presence of a ghostly apparition.

At first, it appears to be a typical Raleigh neighborhood – with 1900's houses and grassy yards. Then, from behind a veil of antique oaks, it comes into view: A towering, pillared home older than the city itself. The Mordecai House has been on its foundation since before Raleigh was established, and as with many homes of that age, it's garnered its share of haunted legends.

Some say when the moon is high, they can clearly see a ghostly figure standing on the high balcony, shrouded in a gray 1800's dress.

Others, who have been inside the home alone at night, say they've seen a similar figure wafting down the stairwell inside.

One of the most popular tales -- that the antique piano in the parlor comes to life, playing a somber melody although no one is at the keyboard. Some say a gray mist hovers over the keys.

"There's a strong belief the house is haunted," says Joshua Ingersoll, director of historic sites for the City of Raleigh.

The paranormal legends are so well-known that they've appeared in countless magazines, as well as a nationally-televised episode of the Sci-Fi Channel's Ghost Hunters series. The Ghost Guild, a local paranormal investigation team, works regularly with Mordecai Historic Park.

Mordecai House: A history older than Raleigh itself

The oldest section of the Mordecai House was built by Joel Lane, who many consider to be the 'Father of Raleigh.' Lane had the home built for his son Henry. When Henry died, a man named Moses Mordecai, who married Margaret Lane, moved into the home – which is now named after him.

While today the home sits on a grassy square park surrounded by a semi-modern neighborhood, the towering home was one at the the center of one of the city's largest plantations. While many historic homes have been moved for their own protection, the Mordecai house has remained on the same patch of ground, as the city grows around it. Five generations of Mordecai family members spent their lives within those walls – and thousands of artifacts remain inside. In essence, the home is a preserved pocket of Raleigh history – both the good and the bad.

“A lot of history in that space itself – covering most of the country's history, if you think about it," says Ingersoll. "Being that it's an old building, there are plenty of ghost stories that have popped up over the years -- mostly revolving around a couple of family members."

Portraits of the family members peer down with life-like eyes from all around the antique house – giving the impression they could come to life at any moment.

"Today, many people view houses as a commodity. But back then, many built their own homes, and they passed from generation to generation. You had a connection to the home. It was part of you," says Nelson Nauss, executive director and co-founder of The Ghost Guild.

Could it be this deep connection to their family home of five generations that causes the Mordecai House to attract such eerie stories?

Even Ingersoll acknowledges some of the faded photographs and Victorian-era portraits add an eerie sensibility to the large home. It almost feels like five generations of family are watching as you stroll through their old belongings. One photo, in particular, is known for flying off the shelf if a passing visitor says something rude.

Ghostly apparitions: The woman in gray

Some people believe ghostly apparitions are real spirits of the departed, who have unfinished business. Others believe, however, that ghosts are really just moments in time that 'play' like a video, imprinted in time and space. Three of the most commonly-seen apparitions center on key spaces around the home: The stairwell, the piano and the balcony.

According to most tales, the apparition and ghostly pianist is likely Mary Willis Mordecai Turk, who lived from 1858 until 1937. Is it possible the apparitions of a woman in gray is really just a replaying of these daily moments in her life?

“Mary Turk lived in the home the longest. She was the matriarch. She was responsible for the home. Maybe she’s just continuing that duty," says Nauss. "She may feel that responsibility – even in death."

Nauss, however, is skeptical about some parts of the legend – specifically the ghostly piano player.

"You always hear people talking about hearing the twinkling of the piano keys," says Nauss. "But here's the thing: A train goes by regularly and sometimes the vibration makes the keys vibrate and twinkle by themselves."

Other hauntings in the Mordecai House

While the woman in gray is one of the most talked about apparitions in the Mordecai House, there are other stories.

Many have claimed to hear creaking footsteps coming from upstairs when working alone late at night.

Nauss recalls investigating alone in the house one night, when he unexpectedly heard heart-stopping sound. One thump. Then another. Then a voice.

"To me, it sounded like someone falling," he says. "Falling to their knees and then falling to the floor. Then it sounds like someone saying 'Get up!'"

Nauss says he didn't just pick it up on the recorder, he also heard it with his own ears.

Here's a YouTube clip of the audio Nauss captured.

He believes he could have found a residual haunting, and he hopes to go back on the same date at the same time in future years to see if he'd hear it once again.

The staircase where the lady in gray is often reported has also triggered strong reactions from paranormal investigators. During one of their first investigations in the home, before knowing the history of the staircase, one of the investigators said she felt intense emotional energy while climbing the stairs.

"Right before she got to Ellen's room, she had a feeling of overwhelming grief and couldn't go further," says Nauss. "Afterwards, the assistant director shared there had been a death in the house."

Nauss says the investigator believes she felt the grief of that loss.

"We can’t prove that, but it’s certainly interesting to have that experience without the knowledge – then to find out it actually does connect to the history."

Ghostly humming in the park

While the Mordecai House is the centerpiece of the historic park, the land also holds several other historically significant structures -- including the birthplace of President Andrew Johnson, which also has ghostly lore surrounding it.

Nauss shared a YouTube clip of what sounds like a little girl humming playfully, which they captured in an EVP during an investigation.

Cemetery tours and haunted trolley tours

The history of Mordecai Historic Park goes far deeper than the spooky tales that emerge each October around Halloween.

"We deal with some very serious historic information. Mordecai Historic Park is a former plantation site, which enslaved over 100 individuals," says Ingeroll. "We do deal with a lot of hard history."

The site works hard to recognize and tell the stories of everyone who lived on the Mordecai plantation. Similarly, the Joel Lane House has worked to compile stories and narratives from the men and women enslaved there.

However, Ingersoll acknowledges that the ghost stories and legends can attract and entertain people, encouraging them to learn more of the city's history.

"I also think sometimes it's okay to let our hair down and play a little bit with some of the haunted stories when we get to October," he says.

However, he encourages people to remember that as we tell ghost stories, we also remember to respect the space and the real family who lived there.

The Mordecai Historic Park recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. The City of Raleigh saved and preserved the home in 1972. Since then, people have been allowed to come tour the home for themselves. The park also offers haunted trolley tours and, for the first time this year, cemetery tours.

On October 29, the park will host a Pumpkin Picnic with inflatables, free pumpkins, crafts and activities and a costume contest for kids and pets.

"Pretty adorable puppies show up in outfits, which warms my heart quite a bit," says Ingersoll.

More information about their haunted trolley tours, cemetery tours and Pumpkin Picnic can be found on the Mordecai Historic Park website.

The Ghost Guild is also sharing tales of North Carolina hauntings throughout October. They'll be offering a virtual presentation for the NC Museum of History on Oct. 6 and for Wake County Public Libraries on Oct. 25.

They'll also be part of a movie viewing of Ghostbusters: Afterlife in Moore Square on Oct. 27.

But be warned – with all the ghostly tales floating around Raleigh, you never know what you'll see out there.

(photo taken ~1895, from the NC Museum of History)

(some more contemporary images)

#NC #Raleigh #ghosts #Mordecai House #Ghost Hunters #history #Haunted History

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ryanmckern · 4 months

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#parishistory #paris catacombs #haunted history #the wicked webs we weave podcast

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