Paranormal Blog – “Artifacts, Exhibits, and Apparitions: Six Must-See Museums | Haunted History Trail Of New York State”

In looking for new sites to repost worthy paranormal info and articles from, I found this site that recommends certain places in the New England North of the United States that looked awesome and had some great pictures to go with it. Each Tuesday for a while, I’m going to repost their blog articles here to share along with others.

Haunted History Trail of New York writes:

“Hidden among the historical artifacts in exhibits across New York are the spirits of lives long past. At the Saratoga Springs History Museum, these spirits resemble the elite upper class that once resided in the town. At the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse, NY, these are the orphaned and immigrant children, many of whom died through tragic boating accidents or by drowning in the waters of the canal. And at the Dr. Best House & Medical Museum, you’ll find a time capsule from the earliest form of medicine, with medical apparatuses that will turn your blood cold… 

Six spooky locations along the Haunted History Trail contain these treasured memories. Curious to learn more? The spirits are happy to help you explore their living history.

Historic Palmyra WM. Phelps General Store and Historic Palmyra Museum

Lovingly dubbed “the most haunted place in the Finger Lakes,” over 190 years of activity have been recorded at the Historic Palmyra WM. Phelps General Store and Historic Palmyra Museum. But it should come as no surprise – the stories that come out of this location are tragic, devastating, and downright shocking. One story tells of a fire that ravaged the building just before Christmas, claiming the lives of seven family members, including a mother and her children ages two to eight years old. Another involves a murder, a man stabbed to death – though the details regarding who and why are still unknown.

If you want to learn more, you need only ask. The museum isn’t shy about letting visitors seek out its spirits and offers ghost hunts seven days a week with a minimum of four people. The old General Store is sure to intrigue and fascinate, but it’s only the beginning. Whispers fill the air, guests have been known to feel a touch or poke, and the young family who passed still comes out to play from time to time…

Museum of Wayne County History

Also found in the Finger Lakes is a museum whose reputation proceeds it. William Fee was the only man ever hanged in Wayne County, but to say was laid to rest in 1860 is simply not true. The jail operates today, not as a penitentiary, but as the Museum of Wayne County History. All 24 cells remain, and so does William Fee – his ghost is known to walk the cellblock to this day.

Ghost hunts and paranormal investigations are available by appointment, and guided historical tours are offered daily. See the 13 rooms of exhibition space and immerse yourself in the past, visit a seasonal Carriage House, see the original inmate artwork that still decorates the walls of the jail, and set foot in the very spot where Fee took his last, living breath.

Erie Canal Museum

In Syracuse, NY, things get eerie on the Erie Canal. Listen closely and you might hear a pair of arguing men who never seem to settle their ongoing debate, tromping through the 150-year-old hallways of the Erie Canal Museum. Or catch a glimpse of a woman, killed where the model canal boat now sits. Or see a group of see-through children playing in the courtyard – perhaps happier now in death than they ever were in life.

Docent-led history tours include the recounting of paranormal activity that occurs, or the facility can be rented for private events. Erie Canal history tours are available daily. Whichever way you choose to experience this stop, you’ll be sure to have a tale to tell about this monumental waterway.  

Starr Clark Tin Shop & Underground Railroad Museum

The Underground Railroad is engrained in one of America’s darker moments in history – and its significance comes to life at Starr Clark Tin Shop & Underground Railroad Museum. Abolitionist and tinsmith Starr Clark hosted meetings and gave refuge to African-American slaves in the building where the museum now stands. Many artifacts remain from that era and might just be the cause of the unusual activity that mysteriously happens there. Paranormal investigators have found the site to be “very interesting,” and others have reported shadows, voices, and the feeling of being touched.

The museum is now open by appointments only. Please call 315-963-7853 to book a guided tour or paranormal investigation. 

Saratoga Springs History Museum and Historic Canfield Casino

At the Saratoga Springs History Museum and Historic Canfield Casino, unusual events were once sporadic and infrequent. But after the opening of an antique clothing exhibit featuring garments from Saratoga Springs’ most influential families (now all deceased), activity increased – exponentially. The Walworth family in particular had a tumultuous history and could be the cause of it all – from an abusive marriage, to a scandalous divorce, and eventually, a murder.

Guests visiting the museum have seen full body apparitions of a woman in Victorian-era clothing, objects moving on their own, the smell of cigars, carpets pushed against doors in locked rooms, and a hostile presence on the third floor. Just come and see for yourself. The museum offers pre-scheduled ghost tours from June through October and is open year-round for self-guided tours and exploration.

 

Dr Best House & Medical Museum

This Victorian house and office has witnessed many a death in its lifetime, including that of Dr. Best, his beloved son, and young wife. It should come as no surprise that investigators have captured recordings of distant voices, those souls still lingering from the beyond. Visit, and hear the tales of deaths and misfortune in this small, rural community with original obituaries, photos and death certificates.

Guided historical haunted tours as well as professional investigations are available by reservation. Special events are often held throughout the year, sharing the ghostly happenings at this haunted home with guests. 

Explore our website for information on guided tours, ghost hunts, and public and private investigations. Or call these must-see museums directly for tour times or questions about haunted happenings.”

All information and pictures come from https://hauntedhistorytrail.com/blog/artifacts-exhibits-and-apparitions-six-must-see-museums.

 

Paranormal Blog – “Bites & Boos: 4 Spooky Spots to Sink Your Teeth Into | Haunted History Trail Of New York”

In looking for new sites to repost worthy paranormal info and articles from, I found this site that recommends certain places in the New England North of the United States that looked awesome and had some great pictures to go with it. Each Tuesday for a while, I’m going to repost their blog articles here to share along with others.

Haunted History Trail of New York writes:

“At four spooky stops on the Haunted History Trail of New York State, it’s best to make a reservation – but be sure to save an extra seat for an unexpected guest. At our haunted restaurants, the main attraction isn’t always what’s on the menu. It’s the stories behind the buildings – tales of murder, fires, crimes, and more. You might find it hard to enjoy a meal in peace. The spirits are restless, and looking for a little attention…

Red Coach Inn

When The Red Coach Inn, a Niagara Falls USA historic hotel and B&B, opened its doors for business on August 30, 1923, Niagara Falls had finally gained a hostelry befitting its rank as the “honeymoon capital of the world.” 

Red Coach Inn is home to a few ghosts – including the bride and groom who took their lives on their wedding day. Ask the staff about the ghost stories or experience them for yourself; guests of the historic hotel have reported seeing jewelry move across dressers, hearing music playing in the middle of the night, and the sound of people walking and dancing above them when they are already on the top floor.

 

Union Tavern

This New England-style tavern offers delicious food, cold drinks and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Perhaps too welcoming of an atmosphere… as there have been sightings of a ghostly woman standing by the fireplace and men in the building’s basement. The Union Tavern owners have felt cold spots throughout the restaurant and smelled the scent of cigarette smoke in specific parts of the room. Doors open on their own and whistling can sometimes be heard from upstairs. You may even get touched on the arm or shoulder when no one else is around.

Mysteries surround the property, which was originally purchased in 1819 by a rumored ex-pirate. Since then, it has been a leg of the Underground Railroad, a residential summer home, a speakeasy during Prohibition and finally, a few iterations of a restaurant.

While you dine at this haunted tavern, ask the staff for history of the area and the unusual occurrences that have happened in the building.

1867 Parkview Inn

The 1867 Parkview Inn began as a hotel and restaurant and has operated as one or both of these for over 150 years. With so many souls passing through its doors during that time, one can only imagine the stories this historic building has to tell. It was restored to its former glory as a hotel in 2019 and now features nine rooms decorated with a historic theme and furnished with simple amenities for a comfortable stay.

Although most guests rest easy through the night, owner, Beth Johnson, has plenty of stories to tell. Bells ring and objects move in empty rooms in the restaurant. Legend has it that a small girl perished in a fire and a room with evidence of fire damage was uncovered in a sealed room during the renovations. Although the renovations have turned the spooky upper floors into a cheerful place to stay, paranormal investigators and ghost hunting groups have received signs that spirits are walking among the living at the 1867 Parkview Inn.

The Bull’s Head Inn

The oldest building in Cobleskill, NY has quite the history – one that is well-known by the owners of the Bull’s Head Inn. It was burned twice in battles during the French and Indian War, then served as town hall, courthouse, and meeting space, and eventually, a private residence. But it seems that one person in particular – Mrs. John Stacy – is the cause of all the trouble at this Central New York restaurant. Mrs. Stacy was a fierce anti-alcohol advocate, and has been known to knock over glasses, throw napkins about, and toss silverware off the tables – making her discontent with the operations known. If you’d like to meet her, you need only swing by – grab a bite, schedule a ghost hunt, or call ahead to request a guided tour of the Bull’s Head Inn.

These four stops are not all the Haunted History Trail has to serve – there are actually several haunted dining opportunities across the state to fill your plate. Navigate our website to find information on hours, opportunities, and spooky stories at each of our locations. Call directly to book your reservation or to get answers your questions. But beware, you don’t want to bite off more than you can chew…

All information and pictures come from https://hauntedhistorytrail.com/blog/bites-and-boos-4-spooky-spots-to-sink-your-teeth-into.

Paranormal Blog – “Road Trip: Creepy Corners of the Catskills & Haunted Hudson Valley | Haunted History Trail Of New York”

In looking for new sites to repost worthy paranormal info and articles from, I found this site that recommends certain places in the New England North of the United States that looked awesome and had some great pictures to go with it. Each Tuesday for a while, I’m going to repost their blog articles here to share along with others.

Haunted History Trail of New York writes:

“The Catskills and Hudson Valley areas are known for their serene beauty… and spirit activity. A music hall captivates visitors with its ghostly occurrences. An estate is haunted by the lingering spirits of a former resident. And a mansion with an Attic of Curiosities is a horror movie icon’s favorite place to stay. Explore this area and come away with some unforgettable stories. 

Start your getaway with a stay at one of these haunted inns:  

Burn Brae Mansion | Glen Spey, NY
Stay overnight at the Burn Brae Mansion or work alongside expert paranormal researchers during a private investigation. Uncover mysteries in the Attic of Curiosities, book a night in one of the mansion’s suites or stay in the original stables at the Stables Motel. Everyone will have a unique experience here—just take it from horror movie icon Linda Blair: it’s one of her favorite places to visit when she’s in the area. 

 

Known for its paranormal occurrences, The Shanley Hotel is no stranger to the strange. Book one of two overnight packages—a stay for two in the haunted hotel, a public 4-hr ghost hunt, continental breakfast and time to explore on your own; or a private group hunt and overnight for up to seven people. Visitors have reported cold and hot spots, the sound of voices, music and laughing children… among other things. Book online for package pricing and offer.  

 

King House Mansion at the Tarrytown House Estate | Tarrytown, NY  
Legend has it that Sybil Harris King, daughter of the co-founder of the American Tobacco Company, died on the second floor of the King House Mansion. Her footsteps have been heard in the halls, and strange activity has been reported in room 293—where she took her last breath. Stay overnight at this beautifully restored estate or dine at the Goosefeather restaurant and ask staff to share the mansion’s haunted history.  

 

Enjoy a meal and a spooky tale at this haunted restaurant: 

Silvio’s Villa | South Warwick, NY
Classic Italian favorites are not all that Silvio’s Villa is serving up lately. EVPs, glowing orbs, apparitions and unusual activity are common here—especially for diners at Table 24, said to be the site of a tragic suicide. Stop in for a bite and ask staff to share the tales, or keep an eye out for guided tours, hunts and other haunted special events throughout the year.  

 

Visit this nearby location for strange activity and a unique guided experience:  

Hamlet of Pine Bush: UFO Capital of the East Coast | Pine Bush, NY
There’s nothing abnormal about aliens and UFOs in Pine Bush, NY. In fact, extra-terrestrial enthusiasts have been flocking there since the early 1960s. Over the years, the community has witnessed some serious activities and strange sightings. Pay a visit in June during the Pine Bush UFO Fair & Parade to celebrate all things UFO and aliens or visit the local museum for self-guided and exclusive guided tours.  

 

For private ghost hunts and tours, add these locations to your trip:  

Private Haunted Huguenot Street Tours | New Paltz, NY 
Experience over 300 years of history when you visit Historic Huguenot Street, home to seven 18th-century stone houses, a replica Munsee wigwam, a reconstructed 1717 French church and the original Huguenot burying ground. Take guided haunted walking tours or participate in special programs (summer and fall) to hear stories of past residents who experienced terrible tragedies and encountered apparitions.  

 

The Tarrytown Music Hall Tarrytown, NY 
This historic venue was the performance home to some of the most talented actors and musicians of its time—and today is home to lingering spirits who believe, “the show must go on!” Book a guided “balcony to backstage” ghost tour to learn the music hall’s history or participate in a small-group paranormal investigation led by the Gotham Paranormal Research Society. 

 

Old Dutch Church Cemetery Kingston, NY
Dating back to 1658, the Old Dutch Church Cemetery is the final resting place for many – Revolutionary War heroes, politicians, notable Native Americans, and more. Each year, Theatre on the Road brings the stories of the departed to life with an hour-long haunted history program following guides through the cemetery lit by candlelight. Private group tours are also available year-round.”

All information and pictures come from https://hauntedhistorytrail.com/blog/road-trip-creepy-corners-of-the-catskills-and-haunted-hudson-valley.

Paranormal Blog – “9 Spine-Chilling Road Trip Spots Near Syracuse, NY | Haunted History Trail Of New York”

In looking for new sites to repost worthy paranormal info and articles from, I found this site that recommends certain places in the New England North of the United States that looked awesome and had some great pictures to go with it. Each Tuesday for a while, I’m going to repost their blog articles here to share along with others.

Haunted History Trail of New York writes:

“In the heart of the state lies the Greater Syracuse Area, a spooky centerpiece to our terrifying Trail. Settle into your downtown hotel and start to explore the “frights” of the city—from a haunted theatre to an abandoned quarry, the untold history of the Erie Canal to an offbeat Irish Pub. There’s no telling what you might find.  


Start your getaway with a meal and a spooky tale at this haunted restaurant:  

Wayside Irish Pub | Elbridge, NY 
Sip on a favorite beverage, enjoy delicious pub fare, and make room for guests from somewhere beyond. Staff will tell you all about the ghostly activity found here—apparitions of Sara or Squire Munro, poltergeist-like pranks, shadow figures in the basement, strange touches or pokes. Dig in but hold on to your glass, it might go flying.  


Visit these nearby locations for a guided tour or seek out the spirits on a ghost hunt: 

The 1890 House Museum | Cortland, NY 
According to local legend, the spirits of the 1890 House Museum are the former inhabitants of Cortland’s castle—historical figures who lived and died there. Arrange for a late-night rental of the museum, or a guided ghost-hunting experience. Will you see the silhouettes of figures in the windows or see shadows move about the rooms? 

Erie Canal Museum | Syracuse, NY 
Docent-led haunted history tours include the recounting of paranormal activity that takes place at this 150-year-old building, also the last existing Weighlock Building in America. Visit, and in addition to stories of the canal’s important past, you may find translucent children playing in the courtyard or hear a pair of men arguing near the replica canal boat.  

Seneca Falls Historical Society | Seneca Falls, NY
This 23-room Victorian Mansion was once a grand residence that today houses the Seneca Falls Historical Society. Several spirits are believed to still call it home though—including original owner Edward Mynderse, a former nanny, and a young Irish girl. One-hour guided ghost tours are available by reservation, and group ghost tours are held each October.  

13 Curves on Onondaga Hill | Syracuse, NY 
Haunted by a bride that was killed in a tragic car accident, 13-Curves shares the story of a Woman in White. According to legend, a newlywed couple died along Cedarvale Road on their wedding night, over 60 years ago. Motorists claim to see her still searching for her groom to this day. Take a drive to see if the tale is true. 

Split Rock Quarry | Syracuse, NY 
An unexpected explosion in 1918 brutally killed more than 50 men just outside of Syracuse, at the site of a hazardous munitions plant called Split Rock Quarry. Today, the site sits abandoned in the woods… yet visitors claim activity, including the sound of footsteps, voices, and the revving of the long-gone Crusher’s engine. Explore at your own risk… 

Fingerlakes Mall | Auburn, NY 
The Fingerlakes Mall has been a hotspot for ghost investigators who have recorded over 200 top-notch EVPs (electronic voice phenomenon), and footage of entities roaming the property. Those on-site claim to have been pushed, touched, spoken to, and more. Why are spirits attracted to this mall? Schedule a private after-hours investigation and find out. 

Seward House Museum’s Haunted History Tours | Auburn, NY
Death was a returning and unwelcome guest of the Seward Family during the time of William H. Seward, a prominent 19th-century politician, and Secretary of State to President Lincoln. Join a museum guide as they share chilling true tales of the area and take you down the darkened streets of historic Auburn. Tours are held each October or by appointment.  

The Landmark Theatre | Syracuse, NY 
The Landmark Theatre is one of the most impressive area venues for live productions. It is also known as the home of Clarissa, a young woman who fell from the balcony to her death and still haunts the theatre to this day. Take a guided tour and see if she may come out to greet you. Group investigations are also available by appointment.

All information and pictures come from https://hauntedhistorytrail.com/blog/9-spine-chilling-road-trip-spots-near-syracuse-ny.

Paranormal Stories – “True Stories of Monsters and Cryptids”

I found a series of allegedly “true” Cryptid sightings and stories from https://www.liveabout.com/cryptids-monsters-and-weird-creatures-2594778 that I wanted to post a few of here. See the original website for the full set, these are the ones I was particularly interested in reposting:

Cornfield Creature

I used to work at a cheese factory on the edge of a cornfield in southwestern Minnesota. There were a series of days in the summer of ’04 or ’05 where it was so hot that the milk being delivered to us in trucks would evaporate before we got it. It made work easy; the dearth of milk denied us any actual labor, but management wouldn’t let us not come to work, so we would show up and mess around all shift.

I was working nights at the time. It was 2 or 3 a.m., and I was out on the loading dock watching bats fly around the floodlights, because I liked being out in the cool night air. The corn was about as high as my shoulder, so about 5′ 10″.

As I was watching the bats, I looked down at the edge of the cornfield. Something was moving there. It was the size of a small child and very, very skinny. Pale, with something that looked like a head of straight, black hair. It moved in a sort of jerky gait, like someone dancing “the robot” badly. It moved in chunks: legs, then hips, then torso, shoulders, neck and finally head. It was looking back into the cornfield, or at least I felt like it was.

I felt prickly all over. I didn’t know what it was. I thought it was a heron or something at first, but it looked too much like a person. It didn’t move like a person, though. Gradually, step by step, it moved toward me. Letting my curiosity better my fear, I moved toward the edge of the dock, which was raised a few feet off the ground. When I got within a few feet of the edge, the thing looked at me. I was paralyzed. I could have run, but I was stuck somewhere between terrified and intrigued.

It moved, its “face” still pointed at me. It ratcheted its body in that disconcerting, jerky movement toward the cornfield and went into it. I tried to watch where the field moved as it passed, but the corn remained perfectly still. I noticed that all the crickets were silent. After a few minutes, nothing happened. I stood out there for an hour, but it never came back. I never saw it again.

— Frank Semko

 

Florida Sea Monster

This story takes place, I think, in the summer of 1995, making me 9 years old. Practically every other year, my family would take a trip to Florida. We would usually go to Disney World, but my mother was getting sick of that, so that year we actually didn’t go to Disney World to my sister’s and my dismay.

On one of these days, we were on a beach. I don’t remember what the beach was called, but the people sitting next to us mentioned it being the bottom tip of Florida. After a while of nothing happening, everybody was either in the ocean or sunbathing silently. A woman sitting to the left of us pointed past us, to our right, asking, “What is that?” We all turned and looked to a surprisingly vacant corner of the beach. There were no people down there, but what was there was something really strange.

We all got up to get a better look, very quickly forming a crowd around it. If I had to describe the creature we saw in one word, that word would be “cartoonish.” I will never forget what it looked like. It was green and looked like a ball of slime about the size of a basketball. It had tentacles resting on the ground around it with two longer tail-like tentacles sticking out of its back. The thing that was the most bizarre and made it look cartoonish were its eyes, which were on stalks that stood about a foot off its body. The eyes looked creepily human and just looked at us in an almost disinterested way. The other strange thing about it was its mouth, which never seemed to close, and where you’d expect teeth were tooth-shaped fleshy protrusions. No one, not even the creature, seemed scared, and after a while it lazily slithered back into the ocean.

There were roughly 10 witnesses to this thing, and we all spent most of our time talking about what it must have been. One idea was that it was a parasite organism for a much larger creature, one also possibly never identified.

— Adam G.

 

The Kitsune (Fox Spirit)

Back in September of 2004, I was hiking in the Arashiyama area outside of Kyoto, Japan. I had decided to leave the touristy area and set off alone in a random direction toward the mountains. I found myself on an old trail through the forest.

After a while, I encountered an old man with a long white beard. He carried a staff and was dressed in coarse blue robes, like a peasant out of a Samurai movie. He saw me and told me to follow him. Being more curious than anything, I walked after him as he led me further into the forest.

He spoke at length about the beauty of nature, how people cut down forests and polluted the Earth, and told me that humans must learn to protect and respect nature. During the whole exchange he never spoke about himself or asked any questions of me. After a while he said he had to leave and showed me another trail, saying I should take it when I wanted to go back to the city. He then left by that trail.

I happened to pass the same place on the way back that evening, so I took the trail the old man showed me. Only minutes later, I ended up completely lost and couldn’t even find the trail itself to retrace my steps. It was getting dark out, and as I shone my flashlight around I noticed an old white fox watching me from nearby. I could have sworn it was watching me with an amused look on its face, but as soon as I shone my light on it, it ran off into the bushes.

I remember reading all sorts of old Japanese stories and legends about fox spirits that can take human form, and I feel like I may have seen one that day.

— Bryan T.

 

Invisible Sprinting Humanoids

Working as a police motorway patrol-woman in Portsmouth, England, I’m frequently confronted with situations that are both bizarre and unnerving. However, the incident that occurred on the 25th of November last year is by far the most unusual of them all. During a routine speed camera set up in the city, around 6.30 pm (at which time it was completely dark,) our speed trap picked up random tracings of nonexistent objects hurtling past at 30 to 40 mph.

The devices are not actually known to malfunction, so we trained the camera on the road surface to see what we picked up. Sitting in the back of the patrol van, we were shocked to discover on the screen that the camera was picking up what can only be described as human figures, running up and down the street approximately 40 ft away from the vehicle, only barely visible through the night vision filter. They were of average height, had a silvery hue, and were sprinting up and down the central reservation (the dividing surface between two opposite lanes on a motorway) repeatedly, and very fast.

I admit I did not exit the vehicle to investigate, but apparently I didn’t have to. Only about 10 feet away, at the side of the road, one of these silvery entities just appeared on the screen. Female, approximately 6 foot, and standing motionless facing away from the van. She was dressed in scantily clad clothing, not unlike that a young woman on an evening out may wear. I was extremely freaked out, especially considering that leaning out of the window, there was absolutely no evidence of anyone standing that close to the vehicle. As the first vehicle only five minutes from the first sighting drove past, all visible evidence of the entities had vanished. Nothing occurred from that time till the end of my duty at 9 p.m., and yet, when I played back the footage from the camera, the silvery objects and the woman are not on the tape!

Obviously, I did not report the incident, but friends and fellow officers agree that it is highly unusual, and none of them had experienced anything of the like before.

— Cassandra J.

Paranormal Article – “The Spookiest Ghost Stories You’ll Ever Hear” (Buzzfeed)

Posted a few days ago in time for the Halloween season, Buzzfeed has compiled 40 stories from Redditors and their ghost experiences onto a conveniently single article that you can see here.

Excerpts include:

“I had a one-bedroom apartment once, and as soon as it got dark enough outside, this old dude would walk from the bedroom to the bathroom all night.

I would have to warn people the first time they came over: “You are gonna see a ghost.” Mid-conversation, people would stop talking and be like, ‘HOLY SHIT, I just saw a ghost!’ Yeah, no shit, I warned you.

One time, I was in the bathroom when he attempted to walk in and just dissolved into a mist that dissipated very quickly. My current house I share with my wife is a three-bedroom and we sleep on a futon in the living room because the ghosts in this house were chainsmokers in the main bedroom. We wake up every night between 3 and 3:30 a.m. if we sleep on the second floor, coughing our lungs out because the room is full of cigarette smoke.”

—u/Beware_of_Horses

 

“I watched one of our cats being pulled backward about 5 feet by her tail.

She was walking through the dining area and suddenly was sliding backward, as if someone was pulling her by her tail. Only there wasn’t anyone. She freaked out and tried to run, but couldn’t immediately as something held on for a brief second before letting her go. I tend to think that was the handy work of a 4- or 5-year-old girl ghost who hangs out, and she just wanted to play with the kitty.”

—u/MTSwagger

“My grandfather was in bed, reading before going to sleep, and he saw my grandmother (his wife) walk past the bedroom in a nightgown.

He thought that was odd because she never wears a nightgown. A couple minutes later, she walked in the room from the same side of the hallway that she walked from earlier and got in bed. He asked why she changed into those clothes out of her nightgown right before bed. She said, ‘Hon, I don’t wear nightgowns.’

The other story he told me was a computer they had that was in the middle of a large circular table in the basement. They heard a big crash from the basement and naturally ran down to check it out. He computer was on the floor, broken. To this day he insists it could not have fallen on its own, as it was in the middle of the table.”

—u/Fried_Fart

“My wife claims she also had a doppelgänger event with her brother.

She said that she was pissed off at him because he didn’t walk the dog, so she was taking the dog out when she ran into her brother downstairs in the building lobby or parking lot, and he was with a friend she never met. Her brother asked her for the house keys, and she said no because she was mad at him. He told her he was thirsty and she walked away.

When she got back home, he was not anywhere. As soon as she walked in, she got a call from a hospital that her brother was having an asthma attack and wanted her to go keep him company. What freaks her out the most is thinking… What would have happened if I would have given him the keys? Would they have gone through his hands or what?”

—u/TheCaptainhat

 

Paranormal Folklore – “I Visited a Notoriously Haunted Doll, and Bad Luck Followed Me Everywhere”

It’s not every day that MSN posts an article on a paranormal experience like this. I’ve had it for a little while and got my opportunity to post it. Here it is in full:

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I’m a relatively superstitious person. I would never walk on someone’s grave in a cemetery, I believe in ghosts, and I’m careful to not walk under any ladders. So while I was on my honeymoon in Key West recently and heard about a ghost tour that involved Robert the Doll — a famously haunted doll that brings bad luck to those who visit him — I was pretty intrigued.

For an inanimate object, Robert is pretty well-known. He’s been featured on several TV shows and is even toted around to various conventions that center on the occult. Eager to see what all the fuss was about, my husband, Chris, and I booked a tour with a company called Ghosts & Gravestones, which included a stop at the Fort East Martello Museum where Robert resides. While the tour was awesome, our brief encounter with Robert was . . . less than ideal. Why? Well, because he “haunted” me for about 36 hours afterwards.

In order to understand the full extent of this, it’s important to know Robert’s sordid past. Originally given as a gift to Eugene Otto, an author and painter, by his grandfather in 1904, the two were instantly inseparable. It’s said that Robert the Doll’s outfit was even modeled after one Eugene wore. As a boy, Eugene would often blame the doll for accidents and misgivings, claiming, “Robert told me to do it.” Seems like somewhat normal little kid behavior, right?

According to our tour guide, the real trouble started when a woman who worked for the Otto family was fired abruptly without cause. But rather than packing her bags and leaving, she reportedly used voodoo to put a curse on the doll as a form of revenge. And while it may seem pretty far-fetched to some, others believe it actually worked.

“Once he was put on exhibit, cameras and electronic devices malfunctioned in his presence, and soon letters began arriving addressed to the doll offering apologies for disrespectful behavior or asking forgiveness.”

As an adult, Eugene became an artist. Considered by many to be “eccentric,” Eugene returned to his family home in Key West with his wife, Annette Parker, after they got married in 1930. And despite being an adult, Eugene’s love of Robert never wavered (legend has it that Robert sat right next to Eugene while he painted). Annette obviously wasn’t a huge fan of her husband’s best friend, and vice versa, so once Eugene died in 1974, Annette left Key West. She left Robert behind in the attic of the home, where he was found years later by the home’s new owners. While strange things had often happened in Robert’s presence before – people hearing voices, noises, and other unexplained sounds – it wasn’t until he was donated to the Fort East Martello Museum in 1994 that his less-than-kind attitude went full-scale.

Before walking into the museum to get a peek at Robert, the tour guide gave us some strict rules to follow: you must greet and introduce yourself to Robert; if you want to take a photo of him, you must ask first; and you can’t leave the museum without saying goodbye. While a bit weird, that all sounded doable to Chris and me, so we did as we were told. After snapping a few photos, we learned about what happens to people who don’t follow the rules or poke fun at Robert. A nearby TV showed thousands of letters from people from around the world who experienced terrible luck after rubbing the doll the wrong way.

According to some of the letters, visitors have been met with all kinds of misfortune, from getting burned by hot water to missing their flights to — yep — even getting divorced. “Once he was put on exhibit, cameras and electronic devices malfunctioned in his presence, and soon letters began arriving addressed to the doll offering apologies for disrespectful behavior or asking forgiveness,” says the website. “Letters continue to arrive daily.”

As a respectful visitor, I thought I was off the hook. I followed the rules and was genuinely interested in learning about him. But boy, was I wrong. I made ONE comment about a grown man carrying around a doll, and my fate was sealed. As soon as I woke up the next day, the bad luck began. First, our flight home was delayed. Then, we were forced to rebook our flight because the plane was too heavy, resulting in us having a five-hour layover and getting transferred to another connecting flight. While both of these things were annoying, I also knew they happen sometimes. It couldn’t have been because of a doll, right?

I realized that Robert might actually have had it out for us when we finally landed back home around midnight. The problem? Our luggage never showed up. We were told to go home and that the suitcase was probably on the next flight in. Fast forward to the next morning — still no sign of the bag. And no one on either airline that we used could locate where the suitcase was. It was simply missing without a trace. Frustrated and near tears, we decided to give into our superstitions and write letters to Robert in the hopes of reversing whatever bad luck he gave us and finding our lost bag.

My Letter

jhjgfdh

 

Chris’s Letter

mmbnvbndfgh

After sending them, we went to bed and promptly called the airlines at 9 a.m. when they opened. And guess what? We were immediately told where our bag was: back in Key West with an airline we didn’t fly with. While things were still somewhat up in the air, our luck seemed to completely change as soon as we apologized to Robert. Coincidence? Maybe. But do we regret writing letters to a doll just to be sure? Absolutely not!

I had heard of something similar called Pele’s Curse, which is the belief that if you take anything natively Hawaiian ⁠— like a rock or sand —

out of Hawaii, you’ll have bad luck until it’s returned. And if you look into it, you’ll find thousands of accounts from people who did just that and experienced such severe bad luck that they sent the lava rocks back to the island immediately. So, we knew we couldn’t be too careful.

Although I might be pushing my luck writing this story —God knows I don’t need anymore bad juju! ⁠— it’s been said that Robert loves to be the center of attention. Fingers crossed this keeps me in his good graces!

This article comes from https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/i-visited-a-notoriously-haunted-doll-and-bad-luck-followed-me-everywhere/ar-AAFO0ef?li=BBnbklE#image=1.

3,500+ Occult Manuscripts Made Available Online For Free

http://www.openculture.com/2017/12/3500-occult-manuscripts-will-be-digitized-made-freely-available-online.html

From the article: “Many a writer, like Brown, has found inspiration among the Ritman’s more accessible works (though, sadly, Borges, who was blind in 1984 and died two years later, could not have appreciated it). Now, thanks to the Da Vinci Code author’s magnanimity, a new generation of scholars will be able to virtually access, for example, the first English translation of the works of 17-century German mystic Jakob Böhme, which librarian and director Esther Ritman describes as “travelling in an entire new world.”

In an introductory essay, the Ritman notes that academic interest in occult and hermetic writing has increased lately among scholars like W.J. Hanegraaff, who tells “the ‘neglected’ story of how the intellectual community since the Renaissance has tried to come to terms with ‘esoteric’ and ‘occult’ currents present in Western culture.” That those currents are as much a part of the culture as the scientific or industrial revolutions need not be in doubt. The Hermetically Open project opens up that history with “an invitation to anyone wishing to consult or study sources belonging to the field of Christian-Hermetic Gnosis for personal, academic or other purposes.” Look for the digitization project to hit the web in the coming months.”