Graveyard Trouble

I got this story from the Observer Reporter. A reader sent it in for their Halloween Stories special, and I thought it was something perfect to share!

Original Link — Halloween in a Graveyard

Halloween was never the same after my night of walking.

I was an average teenager. One of my good friends was just able to drive. We wanted to have fun on the night of the dead. We heard of a party that was going to happen out in an open field, but the trick was you had to drive thru a graveyard roadway to get to the party. As a group of teenagers nothing could stop us from doing what we wanted to. We got into the truck and away we went.

It was a peaceful fall night as the three of us, in the cab of the truck, found our way to the graveyard. We got a good little ways into it when the truck went dead. It lost all power and the lights went out, nothing would work. There was no light, nothing just dark and all the sounds of the night. We had one flash light and it would not work. One person did smoke, it was the cool thing to do in those days, but even the mighty Zippo lighter would not light at all.

With fear starting to take over everyone’s thoughts, our idea at the time would be walk the rest of the way to the party. We started to walk and found out that maybe, walking in a graveyard at night without light was not a good idea. We wanted to stay on the grassy roadway but that was not the case for long. We found out that tripping over headstones and markers hurt in the dark. Wow, the night air was full of noise and the wind seemed to be laughing at us every time one of us would trip or fall down.

After the long trip across the graveyard, we found our way where the party was going to be and nothing was going on. There were no people and no party. It was just one big field and the night was cold. This was before the cell phone and there was no police, just cows, open fields, and that graveyard. We did not want to walk back thru that place again so we took a hard right turn and walked for a while thru the field. We came across another group of kids and found out that they had the same things happen to them and their car in the graveyard.

After two hours or so of walking we came to a farm and we got the farmer out of bed. We told him what happened that night and he told us to sleep it off in the barn. He thought we were drinking, though the true be told we did not have a drop. All seven of us just wanted to sleep. The next morning the farmer drove us to the graveyard, we would not let him drive into it. He walked in and drove both vehicles out to the side road with no problems. We thanked him and went home with a new respect of being in a graveyard on Halloween.

I Saw Paranormal Activity

I (obviously) was very excited about this movie, and even more excited when it’s demand to play in all theaters became fulfilled. Most of the reviews that I’d read all described the movie as terrifying. I was actually a little bit leery, even though I LOVE this stuff! But, I knew that I HAD to see it no matter what. It wasn’t until earlier yesterday afternoon that a friend told me a few of his friends said the movie was terrible. They were bored. “Nooo! It can’t be!” I wailed. I didn’t let it discourage me. Like I said, I HAD to see it no matter what.

I was disappointed. The only part worth seeing was the last 15-20 minutes. Let me make that even more clear: the last 15-20 minutes until the last 5 seconds of the movie.

Here’s some quotes from Rotten Tomatoes I thought were worth sharing:

“Does no one else see that the few genuinely creepy and original moments here are so few and far between that this would have been far more intriguing as a YouTube short…?” -MaryAnn Johanson

“Far more effective during its nighttime scenes.” -Sean O’Connell

“While a welcome respite from classic horror movie remakes and gory torture porn, I can’t cosign on the Paranormal Activity hype. Is this the scariest film ever made? Not in the least.” -Diva Velez

Though, I do have to add that there were some comedic parts to the movie, too. And on purpose (meaning that these comedic parts weren’t meant to be scary and instead came off as funny; they were truly bits to make you giggle). They lightened up any tension, and actually made the whole situation come off as being more real.

I did hear that at a local theater, a couple of people urinated themselves…and a couople of people vomited. Though there were a handful of genuinely creepy moments, that seems a little much. It’s more likely that those people just drank too much fountain pop, and ate too many chili cheese dogs.

 

Demon House

Demon House

Thursday I’ll be going to Demon House, in Monongahela. I’ve wondered about the place for a very long time. Now, I’ve made the decision to go and I’m pretty excited!

Supposedly, the place really is haunted…

Bill McCue (the owner) said:

“Ghost hunters and paranormal groups have long considered Demon House to be a major center of supernatural activity in the region and invites paranormal groups to come visit.

“The mansion is a hotbed for paranormal activity,” McCue said. Investigators have encountered curious phenomena, including a mysterious girl who appears and vanishes at random.

(From the Pittsburgh Trib)

Check out the Demon House website for information such as admission times, rates, and directions…or if you just wanna hear some creepy music.

The D.A.R. Mansion

This past Saturday, I spoke at a Daughters of the Revolution (D.A.R.) meeting for the Pittsburgh chapter. They were really excited to hear some spooky stories in the spirit of Halloween (no pun intended)!

One of the stories I shared with them, I’m about to share with you. It’s about the D.A.R. mansion aka The Warden Mansion in Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County. Samuel Warden was the original owner of the mansion that was built in 1886, located on Church Street.

Anyways, some members of the D.A.R. (none of which were at this meeting) had experienced some paranormal phenomena. They assumed it was the spirit of Samuel’s wife, Margaret Warden. Yet, when they had a psychic come in, they were informed that the spirit’s name was Rebekah, and it was believed she used to be a housekeeper there. Most of the activity happens on the 3rd floor, which used to be the servant’s quarters. Rebekah is said to have been seen wearing a long Victorian dress. Members of the D.A.R. even made up a pamphlet about spirit. Rebekah does not cause any harm as she’s friendly and seen as a protector of the mansion.

Paranormal Activity Movie

Click to demand this movie to be shown in the Burgh!

UPDATE: This movie has been demanded all over the country! The counter hit ONE MILLION, so now this movie will supposedly be playing nation-wide! Check your movie listings!

Paranormal Fundraiser

Unity A Journey of Hope is an organization “changing 1 life, 1 wish at a time”. They help in granting wishes of those 18 & up with a terminal illness. Now, they’re teaming up with Peace of Mind Paranormal Society for a fun event on November 20th & 21st.

The event is being held at the Stone House Inn, which is located at 2023 National Pike Road in Farmington, PA. It includes dinner and a ghost investigation in the old part of the Inn. Seats are limited, so click here for more event information and pricing. All proceeds benefit the Unity A Journey of Hope.

Pittsburgh: Ghosts in the Woods

I found a story from GhostVillage today that someone submitted here in the ‘Burgh!

My friend, my little sister and I, were on a walk in our back woods. What I can tell you is that, yes, I have seen and heard things back there, but just passed them off to be the Nature Spirit and the Native American Chief. Well, yesterday was different. We had gone down farther than I ever wanted, and I knew the way to get back. We were walking and all of a sudden I saw something up ahead of us and asked, “Did you guys see that?”

My one friend, Sarah said, yes she did. That got Kim, my little sister, frightened, and she wanted to go back. We were heading back until Kim reached behind her and grabbed her back. I asked her what was up and she said, “It feels like I just got bit, look to see if there is a spider on my back.” So I lifted her shirt and saw no spider, but three long scratches down her back.

Now, all my life I have had strange “powers” to see, feel, and talk to the dead. Well, I said, “Okay, everyone out of the woods.” But something followed us. I got infuriated and screamed, “Get out of here, this is our property now! We are alive you are the dead, you have no right to be here!” That sort of got it mad, and so that whole day things kept happening. I took some EVPs and I have some straight responses.

Now Sarah can also see and hear the dead, and we both picked up on more than five spooks; two were Edward the first, and Edward the Third (we have a story behind both of them at the foot note), we had a gentleman from the Civil war era, and the Indian Chief, and at least two demonic. I have the EVPs and asked what is your name and I got, “Edward.” I asked are you here to help or harm, I got, “Help.” I asked how many more are there and I got, “Many.” Now to tell you the truth, I got freaked out to get so clear responses like that. Now back in the woods… there was a pile of rubble and I was climbing on it and walking on it. I Later found out from my dad that there was a burned down house back there, and that freaked me out more. I think that not all the remains of the people that once lived there is out of the ground yet. I am still frightened of what might happen.

*Foot note: Edward and Edward are grandfather and grandson, they are Edward the First and Edward the Third. They were playing ball when the ball got stuck in a tree, Edward the third climbed the tree and fell out, he broke his neck, he died, he was 6 years old. His grandfather Edward the First looks like he is probably 50-55, more of less. I have the EVPs and they are still with us, I learned that day, don’t get ghosts mad at you, you will get hurt.

Eastern Panhandle Paranormal Conference

APG Conference LLC is hosting another paranormal event! This one is on August 29, 2009 at the Apollo Civic Theater in Martinsburg, WV.

 Schedule

 

9:00	Doors Open
9:55	Conference Welcome
10:00	Shawn Kelly: “Do Spirits Exist?”
10:45	Sharon Kincaid: ”Improving the Study of the Paranormal”
11:30	Vince Wilson
12:15-1:30	Break For Lunch
1:30	Rie Sadler: “Overlooked on the Paranormal Map: The Historic Haunts of the Old Line State”
2:15	Joey Ward
3:00	Russ Noratel
3:45	Susan Sheppard: “Psychic Sensing, How is it done?
4:30	John Sabol: “The Re-haunting of Gettysburg”
5:15-7:00	Lectures Conclude/ Break for Dinner
7:00-9:30	Victorian Séance/Message Circle with Psychic Medium Susan Sheppard

Click that link above to register and/or find out more information!

Michael Jackson’s Ghost at his Ranch

Michael Jackson’s ghost spotted (8:20)

There’s been some speculation surrounding this video of the Neverland Ranch. First, I’d heard about the video on the radio, so I decided (of course) to check it out for myself. The first couple versions that I saw were the 51 second clips that all had added in some “scary movie” music towards the end.

Enough of that, I went on a search to find the real footage. From CNN’s website I went all over the place to find a video that did NOT have the terrible add-ins. I’d found shorter versions than the one I’ve posted here, too, but this one captures it all. Here, at 8:20, is the REAL footage with no music to overlap the sound, etc.

What do you think? Is this legit?

There’s also talk all over YouTube in the video’s comments section of viewers spotting some spiritual activity in other parts of the video, too. Do you see anything? I caught a couple things, but I think they’re actually real people, not spectres (boring!).