IS THERE A PORTAL IN THE BASEMENT OF THIS TEXAS HOSPITAL? SEE THE PHOTO THAT SUGGEST THERE IS!!!

I don't think you would find it to hard to believe, that a portal might exist in the basement of a hospital, right?  And think about all the emotions tired to a hospital....sadness, anger, joy and confusion are just some of the emotions that may tie spirits to a location.  And this Texas Hospital may have just MORE than emotions tired to it.  I believe there is actually a Portal in the basement.

Now, sorry I can't say at WHAT hospital this picture was taken  at because I had to sign a "non-discloser agreement" with the hospital.  But I can tell you it is one of the "older" hospitals in Sherman, Tx.  It is a fairly large hospital and it has strong ties to Choctaw Nation.  It does have an interesting past on how it got its name.  If you do a little digging it won't take you long to figure it out.

I did this investigation many years ago.   The night I was contacted, I was told about tons of paranormal activity which included: things moving by themselves, voices, lights going on and off in vacant rooms when no one was present.  The employees of the hospital had even said, they thought there could be "a portal" somewhere because of all the apparitions they had seen.  Some of the employees were starting to get a little "freaked out." 

So, one night around 11:00pm (at the request from hospital employees) to see what was going on.    After following procedure of signing in for security purposes, I began my investigation. For security reasons, I had to be assigned a security guard to follow me around the hospital.

Now, when your in a hospital you just can't walk around taking pictures and using EMF meters because you would scare people and the LAST THING a hospital wants is for it to get out that their hospital was HAUNTED!!!!!   I could just hear me asking the patients in the rooms "excuse me....I know your sick and all...but do you have anything strange going on in your room.....like things moving on their own or seeing dead people?" lol  Like that WOULDN'T STRESS YOU OUT!!!!!!!!So, trying to be discrete, I talked to several of the nurses and employees and they began to tell me about some of their experiences.  One of the stories that they told me was the night before I was there, they had to move two patients out of a particular room because they both complained of a "little girl" bouncing a ball in their room.  Now, this was two different patients that knew nothing of each others claims.  One man said that he had a package of "chicklets" gum sitting by his bed and the box began to shake all by itself!!!  It scared him so bad, that he requested to be moved IMMEDIATELY!!!!  But the night I was there, they had already put another patient in the room so I could not go in. Dang it!!!

After doing some research, I found out that there had been a family, a father, mother and daughter all killed in a drunk driving accent and they were brought to the hospital.  All were put on the same floor and the mother was placed in the room where these two patients had been, and both reported seeing a little girl bouncing a ball and playing.  In this room is where her mom would pass away.  Down the hall on the same floor, the father and little girl also died.  So, I think that the little girl is coming down to her mother's room and playing.

Instead, the security guard and I started beneath the hospital, in the basement.  You could go down to the basement of the hospital and actually go underneath where the floor was nothing but dirt and you could see the beams of medal and wood the hospital was built on.  The hospital was built back in the early 1800's and had even been reported to have been built on an "old Indian burial".  First, let me say, going underneath this giant hospital that looked so nice from the outside but below was nothing but dirt floor and wood, it really did feel like walking over sacred ground.

While down in the basement, there were some employees sitting around a table on break.  I was asking them about some of the claims. They told me they believed the hospital was DIFFIDENTLY haunted! Not only did they believe beyond a shadow of doubt (no pun intended) this hospital was haunted, they believed there was a portal down underneath the hospital.  They all would just have these creepy feelings and see shadows. I can tell you, I have interviewed many people but these four TRULY believed they had seen ghosts.   One of the employees offered to show me around and share with me some of his experiences.  I think there were four employees that night on break and all four brought up having a portal under the hospital.

Now, here is where it gets good.  I wanted to take a picture of my "guide" so this was the first picture I took.  I was really just taking HIS picture before we began our tour. By now, it's like 2:00am in the morning. Nothing interesting to take a picture of, just him standing in front of a solid concert wall.  I blacked out his face and badge to protect him.  He was standing in front of the concert wall right in front of the door that went into the underground part of the hospital.  There was not a SINGLE thing on the wall......it was just a wall.

When I got finished and went back to review the evidence....I COULD NOT BELIEVE what I saw in the very first picture!!!!  It looks like an "open ended tunnel"!  You can see that it looks that you could just walk right through it and be outside.  You can see how it appears to have the sun shining down on the other end.  It also looks like "greenery" to the left of some stairs.  Do you see that?  Another thing, the little carts over to the left, I know this is hard to believe, but they weren't there!  I took the picture, there was nothing there but a man standing in front of a wall.  I drew a line above where I believe the wall was and I do remember seeing that big pipe going across, but that was it!  Everything else in this picture WAS NOT THERE!!!

I sent this picture back to the hospital and ask if they knew if this could be a reflection of something? They were FLOORED!!!!!  They just couldn't believe what was in the picture because of the employees watching us just before we went under the hospital.  I ask them to please go down to where we were and see if they could see ANYTHING that might cause it to look like this.  They sent me an email back saying there was nothing of ANY KIND that would have made this kind of a reflection or a reflection of any kind!  And the carts were not there either!  They could provide me with no reasonable explanation for this photo.  And let me remind you, I was way underneath the hospital and it was around 2:00am in the morning.  How could there possibly be light or sunshine?  If you look close it looks like an open ended tunnel you could just walk through.  You can see "the sun" or a light source shining down causing the ray of light to reflect on the bottom.  It looks as if there is a stair walkway leading upward. You can see "greenery" all around the stairs leading up. And it almost looks like one of the old timey wheel chairs over to the left.  Possibly, even some kind of maybe stone arch over to the left.  This is AMAZING!!!!!  Because there was absolutely nothing behind this man but a concert wall!!!!!

I believe this to be a TRUE picture of a portal.

What do you think?????

RE-POST-MCPIKE MANSION-THE SPIRITS HERE LOVE TO BE SEEN!!! DARK PAST...CREEPY FUTURE

   This is McPike Mansion in Alton, Il.  I had a great time here.  For a small town, it is covered with haunted history.  So much to do here.  

 

OMG!!!  It's time of year when I head up to Alton, Illinois for the Annual Haunted American Conference!!!!  I have made so many good friends that I only get to see once a year at this conference!  I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

One of my FAVORITE haunted "hot spots" in Alton is the VERY HAUNTED McPike Mansion.  I go to McPike every year and it has yet to disappoint me!

So, let me tell you how I first met...will "visited"  McPike Mansion.....

It was one of the very first times I went up to Alton.    I went up for one of the annual American Ghost Society's Conferences (that's what it used to be called).  At the conferences you can register for "after hours" events which is usually an investigation at a haunted location.  Well I registered late, and therefore, I missed out on an investigation of the famous "McPikes" mansion.  I was soooooo bummed!!!  So, on my way to the airport, returning from my trip, and I was talking to the cab driver.  He asked me if I got to do everything I wanted and I said "no".  I missed out on an investigation at the old McPikes Mansion.  He said, well no problem.  I know where it is,  and if you would like to go there before catching your flight I'll take you.   ARE YOU KIDDING!!!!! YESSSS I would love to go!!!!!!!!!!!! 

So, off we went. After a short drive, we pulled up in the driveway of the McPikes Mansion.  This is an abandon mansion so no one was there. It sits quietly just a little ways back from the street and I can honestly say that even just passing it or pulling up to the house.....you definitely feel this house is NOT EMPTY!!!!  When we pulled up in the driveway I noticed the cab driver didn't pull up very far.  He turned and looked back at me and said "this is as far as I go".  The funny thing is that he said it sooooo seriously that I just died laughing.  As I started to open the door his eyes got so big and he said "your NOT getting out are you"???????  I said "of course I'm getting out".  Are you CRAZY!!!  I got out of the cab and could not take my eyes off the mansion!!!!  It was almost as if IT was staring back at me or "wondering" who was in "their" front yard.  Now there are NO TRESPASSING signs posted everywhere.  So I respected that and just kinda walked around the front yard taking pictures.  I could hardly pull myself away.....but I knew if I didn't I would be late for my flight so I got back in the cab and said my goodbyes to the McPikes and off I went.  Needless to say......THAT cab driver got a GREAT tip!!!!!

When I got home I downloaded my pics and my last pics were of the mansion.  My first thought was, wow what a beautiful old mansion and what it must have been like to live here.  THEN.... I looked at my pictures again and couldn't believe my eyes!  I believe there are two people, well one man and a young girl in the window on the second floor.  I could see them clearly!!! So the feeing that someone was staring back at me......well you tell me!!! I was sooo excited!!!

If you look close, (may have to enlarge) you can see a little girl's face and to me, appears to be screaming... or with her mouth open.  And right behind her, standing up, looks like a man, maybe with a beard, one of those that goes around the sides of a mans face up to his sideburns.  I don't know.  What do you think?  Mr. McPike or another resident ghost?

I have included below some information about the McPikes Mansion.  And a video of one of the best EVP's I have ever heard!!! Get ready to feel that "chill run down your back" as you can plainly hear in the CREEPIEST voice ever say the word HENRY after the guy ask "what is your name?".  Don't miss it.

 The house was built in 1869 by architect Lucas Pfeiffenberger.  Original owner of the Mansion was Henry Guest McPike.  The McPike family owned 15 acres of land, then known as Mount Lookout Park.  Here McPike, a horticulturist, perfected his McPike Grape.  The family lived in this, their country home, until 1936.

Original photo of faces

The house has changed hands several times since its original owner Henry McPike.  The building has been home to Browns Business College and was later owned by Paul Laichinger, who rented rooms in the house to other occupants.  The house has not been occupied since the 1950's.  Before weather and vandals brought extensive damage to the structure, it was a regal addition to the Illinois town of Alton.  There is even two small tombstones that are located at the back of the house .  Who they belong to or who may call them "home" is unknown.

The mansion featured 11 marble fireplaces and beautifully carved stairway banisters, all of which have been stolen during its abandonment. Intricate carved trim still border the ceiling in one of the front rooms.  McPike Mansion today is owned by Sharyn and George Luedke who have been trying to nurture this great house back to its regal state.  It is readily known today for its hauntings in paranormal circles. The grounds are often visited by ghost hunters and haunted tour groups in the area.  It is not uncommon to find in photos of the mansion, orbs, balls of light, even figures appearing in the windows that were not seen by the human eye when the photo was taken.

This Grand Ole House is thought to still house many of the spirits that once lived here.  Many Psychics and Mediums have felt the presence of what they believe to be McPike family, servants, as well as some of those who resided in and owned the house since 1936.

Can't wait to get back and write about my next trip!!!!  See you next week HENRY!!!!!!

GHOST HUNTERS PHOTOBOMED BY A GHOST!!!!!

GHOSTLY FACE AT NEWSHAM HOSPITAL

This picture was taken at Newsham Park Hospital over the weekend. There is an extra guest on here that all who attended did not see during the event. Very strange but can you spot her?

Just to point out that this photo was taken by a team member and forwarded straight to us at HH. We have the exact same photos with no time to affect them in any way. Not that we would anyway. We don't know what it is any more than you or any photographic or image expert. If you know exactly what it is then show us how you know but please don't just accuse us of doctoring the photo as we have no interest whatsoever in doing so.

BUYING A HAUNTED HOUSE? WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE HAND.

 

So, you can't STOP SMILING because you just moved into the house of your dreams!  You can't wait to start building new memories in this wonderful place.  The kids love it and the dogs are running a-muck in the backyard.  All is right in the world................or is it?????

 

It's getting closer to summer and lots of people make moves to new homes in different areas for all kinds of reasons.....better schools, closer to work, closer to family and friends.  Whatever the reason, I would bet that very few of those people (if any) would say to their families... "hey, let's pick up and move into a haunted house so our lives can be turned upside down".  Would you agree?  I read this article about a family that moves into a haunted house and the realtor KNEW IT but didn't say anything.  Should we be told about spirits that inhabit our new home before we buy it???   You decide...

 

Written by Ilona Bray

 



If you're in the home buying market and have your eye on a certain house, you probably want to know whether plates tend to fly around the kitchen, a bloodstain reappears nightly on the staircase, or houseguests have been know to flee the back bedroom screaming, right? But you aren't likely to see the word "haunted" in any home-listing advertisements. (A few people might be fascinated by the prospect of buying a haunted house, but real estate marketers don't yet consider spectral activity to be as big a crowd-pleaser as, say, granite countertops or a remodeled master bathroom.)

No matter what you believe about ghosts and the afterlife, it seems like some houses just have a lot more odd, unexplained activity than others. And such activity seems to ramp up at night, just when you're trying to get some shut-eye.                                                                                                         So how would you find out about any such propensities in a house you'd like to buy?
Step one is to check the seller's disclosures. Most U.S. states require sellers to fill out a standard form, revealing what they know about the property's physical condition. No, you're not likely to see a "haunted" box ready to be checked off on any state's disclosure form. Nevertheless, sellers are, in many states, obligated to disclose things that affect a house's marketability, which the oddities described above certainly could. Smart sellers would describe exactly what they've observed, without drawing conclusions.
Another useful step is to ask the neighbors what they know about the house. It's best to start generally, of course, with open-ended questions like, "Do you think that house would be a desirable place to live?" or "What can you tell me about the house's history?"
A Google or other Internet search may also turn up relevant information. Too bad Jeffrey Stambovsky wasn't able to do a little Web-surfing before he bought a turreted turn-of-the-century Victorian in Nyack, New York in 1990. Being from New York City, Stambovsky wasn't familiar with local legends, and the seller hadn't disclosed to him that the lovely riverfront home came with its own family of Caspers. According to reports by the previous owner, Mrs. Helen Ackley:

• The ghosts periodically left gifts of baby rings for the owner's grandchildren (and then took them back).
• One ghost woke the owner's daughter every morning by shaking her bed (until the girl loudly informed the poltergeists that she wanted to sleep in because it was spring break).
• While she was painting the home, Mrs. Ackley (according to what she told The New York Times) saw a ghost, sitting in midair, rocking and back forth. "I was on an 8-foot stepladder. I asked if he approved of what we were doing to the house, if the colors were to his liking. He smiled and he nodded his head."
• Another ghost was a Navy lieutenant during the American Revolution who confronted the owner's son "eyeball to eyeball outside the basement door."

Once Stambovsky got wind of all this, he wanted out of the purchase. He took the seller and real estate agent to court, claiming fraudulent misrepresentation. The lower court was not sympathetic and ruled that the seller and agent had no obligation to disclose ghostly presences. But a New York appellate court made the astonishing ruling that the house was haunted:
"Whether the source of the spectral apparitions seen by defendant seller are parapsychic or psychogenic, having reported their presence in both a national publication (Readers' Digest) and the local press (in 1977 and 1982, respectively), defendant is estopped to deny their existence and, as a matter of law, the house is haunted."
Apparently the seller had sold her story to Reader's Digest for $3,000 and made a "verified" claim to the magazine that the house was haunted. As one contract lawyer pointed out, "If the seller now claimed in the litigation that the house wasn't haunted, the seller would have been caught in a $3,000 lie to Reader's Digest."
Stambovsky was allowed to back out of the $650,000 purchase. But don't feel too bad for the sellers. Once word got out that the house was legally haunted, a new group of buyers were attracted to the property, including the well-known mentalist, The Amazing Kreskin.

BLOOD DRIPPING FROM THE CEILING ONTO THE TABLE...THIS IS ONE THANKSGIVING STORY YOU WON'T SOON FORGET!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! I wish each and everyone of you a very happy holiday and have more blessing than you can count!!!  Please know how THANKFUL I am for all of you that take the time to read my blog and take the time to write me and share your experiences. YOU GUYS ROCK!!!  I love you guys! And please, say a little prayer for Paris as I can only imagine how sad this Thanksgiving will be for them.

Now how about a scary story for Thanksgiving???  Well check out the one below.  It's a little long but worth the read. :)


This strange account was first published in the Brooklyn Eagle on December 5, 1891:

The little hamlet of Oakville, lying seven or eight miles east of Statesborough, Ga., on this Savannah River, is much agitated at present over a ghostly sensation which appears to be more substantial than is usual with such excitement, to use a paradoxical expression. About three weeks ago the family of a small farmer named Walsingham began to be annoyed by certain disturbances in their household matters, which they at first attributed to the malice or mischievous propensity of some outsider. These disturbances generally took the form of noises in the house after the family had retired and the light was extinguished. Continual banging of the doors, things overturned, the door bell rang and the annoying of the hound dog, a large and intelligent mastiff.

It was the conduct of this animal that first caused the Walsinghams to believe there was something more in these occurrences than appeared on the surface, though they were reluctant to attach any supernatural significance to them, being a family of education, practical persons and avowed skeptics on the subject of spooks, etc.

 

Don Caesar, the mastiff, would be seen to start suddenly from a nap and run at full tilt as if from some one, or start suddenly back while walking leisurely down a path, as if he again met with some one. But he soon lost his temper and varied these pacific proceedings by snarling at every door, as if he expected an enemy to enter, and often drawing back with a threatening bark and displaying fangs to warn his unseen annoyer from him. One day he was found in the hallway barking furiously and bristling with rage, while his eyes seemed directed to the wall just before him. At last he made a spring forward, with a hoarse yelp of ungovernable fury, only to fall back as if flung down by some powerful and cruel hand. Upon examination it was found that his neck had been broken.

 

The house cat, on the contrary, seemed rather to enjoy the favor of the ghost, and would often enter a door as if escorting some visitor in whose hand was stroking her back. She would also climb upon a chair rubbing herself and purring as if well pleased at the presence of some one in the seat. She and Don Caesar invariably manifested this eccentric conduct at the same time, as though the mysterious being was visible to both of them. This kept up until no doubt could be entertained that the animals saw something of a supernatural character, which was also making itself very disagreeable to the Walsinghams.

 It did not long content itself with petty annoyances, but finally took to rousing the family at all hours of the night by making such a row as to render any rest impossible.

This noise, which consisted of shouts, groans, hideous laughter and a peculiar, most distressing wail, would sometimes proceed apparently from under the house, sometimes from the ceiling and at other times in the very room in which the family was seated. One night Miss Amelia Walsingham, a young daughter, was engaged at her toilet, when she felt a hand laid softly on her shoulder. Thinking it her mother or sister she glanced in the glass before her only to be thunderstruck at seeing the mirror reflect no form but her own, though she could plainly see a man’s broad hand lying on her arm.

She brought the family to her by her screams, but when they reached her all signs of the mysterious hand was gone. On another occasion the girl was startled by beholding the knob of her door turn softly, the door open and then close as if someone had entered and shut it behind them. She strained her eyes trying to make out some form or the cause of the phenomenon, but nothing appeared. She vacated the room, however, feeling sure nothing was in it with her. Mr. Walsingham himself saw footsteps form beside his own while walking through the garden after a light rain.

The marks were those of a man’s naked feet and fell beside his own as if the person walked at his side. After some minutes the steps left him and led toward the house, where Don Caesar was lying on the front piazza. The dog sprang up, barking furiously, but retreated as the steps approached him.

Matters grew so serious that the Walsinghams became frightened and talked of leaving the house when an event took place that confirmed them in this determination. The family was seated at the supper table with several guests, who were spending the evening, when a loud groan was heard in the room directly overhead. This was however, nothing unusual, and very little notice was taken of it until one of the visitors pointed out a stain of what looked like blood on the white tablecloth, and it was seen that some liquid was slowly dripping on the table from the ceiling overhead. This liquid was so much like fresh shed blood as to horrify those who watched its slow dripping. Mr. Walsingham, with several of his guests, ran hastily upstairs and into the room directly over the one into which the blood was dripping.

A carpet covered the floor and nothing appeared to explain the source of the ghastly rain, but, anxious to satisfy themselves thoroughly, the carpet was immediately ripped up and the boarding found to be perfectly dry and even covered with a thin layer of dust. And all the while the floor was being examined the persons below could swear the blood never ceased to drip. A stain the size of a dinner plate was formed before the drops ceased to fall. This stain was examined next day under the microscope and was pronounced by competent chemists to be human blood.

 The Walsinghams left the house the next day and since then the place has been apparently given over to spooks and evil spirits, which make the night hideous with the noise of revel, shouts and furious yells. Hundreds from all over this county and adjacent ones have visited the place, but few have the courage to pass a night in the haunted house. One daring spirit, Horace Gunn of Savannah, however, accepted a wager that he could not spend twenty-four hours in it, and did so, though he declares that there is not enough money in the county to make him pass another night there. He was found the morning after by his friends with whom he made the wager in an insensible condition and was with difficulty brought out of his swoon. He has never recovered from the shock of his terrible experience and is still confined to his bed suffering from nervous prostration.

His story is that shortly after nightfall he endeavored to kindle a fire in one of the rooms and to light the lamp which he had provided himself, but to his surprise and consternation found it impossible to do either. An icy breath which seemed to proceed from some invisible person at his side extinguished each match as he lighted it. At this peculiarly terrifying turn of affairs Mr. Gunn would have left the house and forfeited the amount of his wager, a considerable one, but was restrained by the fear of ridicule and of his story not being believed in. He seated himself in the dark with the calmness he could and awaited developments.

For some time nothing occurred, and the young man was half dozing when, after an hour or two, he was brought to his feet by a sudden yell of pain or rage that seemed to come from under the house. this appeared to be the signal for an outbreak of hideous noises all over the house. The sound of running feet could be heard scurrying up and down the stairs, hastening from one room to another, as if one person fled from the pursuit of a second. This kept up for nearly an hour, but at last ceased altogether, and for some time Mr. Gunn sat in darkness and quiet and had about concluded that the performance was over for the night. At last his attention was attracted by a white spot that gradually appeared on the opposite wall from him.

This spot continued to brighten until it seemed a disk of white fire, when the horrified spectator saw that the light emanated from and surrounded a human head which, without a body or any visible means of support, was moving slowly along the wall at about the height of a man from the floor. This ghastly head appeared to be that of an aged person, though whether male or female it was difficult to determine. The hair was long and gray and matted together with dark clots of blood, which also issued from a deep, jagged wound in one temple. The cheeks were fallen in and the whole face indicated suffering and unspeakable misery. The eyes were wide open and gleamed with an unearthly fire, while the glassy balls seemed to follow the terror stricken Mr. Gunn, who was too thoroughly paralyzed by what he saw to move or cry out. Finally the head disappeared and the room was once more left in darkness, but the young man could hear what seemed to be half a dozen persons moving about him, while the whole house shook as if rocked by some violent earthquake.

The groaning and wailing that broke forth from every direction was something terrific, and an unearthly rattle and banging, as of china and tin pans being flung to the ground floor from the upper story, added to the deafening noise. Gunn at last roused himself sufficiently to attempt to leave the haunted house. Feeling his way along the wall, in order to avoid the beings, whatever they were, that filled the room, the young man had nearly succeeded in reaching the door when he felt himself seized by the ankle and was violently thrown to the floor. He was grasped by icy hands which sought to grip him about the throat. He struggled with his unseen foe, but was soon overpowered and choked into insensibility. When found by his friends his throat was black with the marks of long, thin fingers armed with cruel, curved nails.

 The only explanation that can be found for these mysterious manifestations is that about three months ago a number of bones were discovered on the Walsingham place, which some declared even then to be those of a human being. Mr. Walsingham pronounced them, however, to be an animal’s, and they were hastily thrown into an adjacent limekiln. It is supposed to be the outraged spirit of the person to whom they had belonged in life that is now creating such consternation.
 

THE BEN LOMOND BANSHEES-OGDEN, UTAH-TAKING A BATH AT THIS HOTEL COULD BE DEADLY!!!

Some hotels can claim to have one or two resident ghosts.  The Ben Lomond Suites Hotel has at least six!  The hotel has been around in one form or another for more than 200 years!  Don't you just love hotels that have been around for hundred's of years?  I always think about the walls.  I know, I know....but I do.  I think about what the walls must have seen over the years and if they could talk what would they tell us.  Would they say..."hey, I remember the day that a man shot his wife and blood splattered all over me!" LOL  Ok....that's a little weird...but anyway..... :)


Mr. Ben Lomond

Trains, trains and more trains that's all Jay ever thought about. (kinda' like us ghost hunters, all we ever think about are ghosts and more ghosts. LOL)  Anyway to say that Jay LOVED trains was an understatement.  His life long dream was to travel to west Utah to stand on Promontory Summit, where back in 1869 a ceremonial golden spike was driven in to link the United Pacific and Central Pacific rail lines, creating the first transcontinental railroad.

After thirty-five years with the same company, Jay retired and the next spring started on his DREAM vacation to travel across the nation by rail.  His last stop would be on May 10, the anniversary of the date on which the fabled spike had been driven, when there would be a reenactment of the ceremony, including two steam engines meeting nose to nose on the same track.

He had been on the train headed to the Summit for quite a long time, when Jay welcomed a much needed break to spend a couple nights in a REAL BED in a luxury hotel in Ogden, the Ben Lomond Suites.

In 1891, E.A. Reed built a four-story hotel, which he named after himself, at the corner of Washington Boulevard and Twenty-fifth Street.  A. Perry, the president and cofounder of the Ogden Bank, felt that with a rapidly growing city like Ogden it needed a first-class hotel, so in 1926 he formed a corporation with three hundred stockholders to purchase the Reed Hotel and completely remodeled it.  Included in the remodel would be an eight-story L-shaped tower with 350 guest rooms attached to the rear of the original hotel. 

The newly remodeled hotel rechristened Bigelow Hotel opened instantly to being ranked as one of the top hotels in the state in 1927.  In 1933, Marriner S. Eccles, another Utah banker, purchased the Bigelow and added a two-story penthouse, and changed the name to the Ben Lomond Hotel.  For more than 40 years it remained a city favorite.  After 40 years, and changing hands many times, the
 Radisson chain in the 1980's purchased the property and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Jay was so glad to be in a hotel, he decided to pamper himself and stay in one of the condo's at the hotel located on the upper floors.  Room 1102.  Once inside he showered and feel asleep as soon as his head hit his pillow.

Jay awoke the next morning a new man.  Ready to take on the sites of Ogden and particular the things having to do with the railroad...off he went.  After a long day of site seeing, Jay decided he needed a nice, long, hot bath.  Yes, that's what he needed!  As he opened his condo door, he immediately knew something was wrong.  Water was already running in the bathroom!!!!!! He rushed in and sure enough, the water was running in the bathtub.  Thank goodness the drain was open!  With a little confusion....had he leave the water on or had house keeping been in and left the water running.... oh well....no real harm done.  So he pulled the drain pug up so that the water would fill up in the tub.  In just a few minutes, Jay got in and leaned back to immerse himself into relation!  Drifting back on his perfect day.....all the sudden he feels something pushing on his back.  Was he imaging things????  Then not 10 seconds later...he felt invisible hands grab his arms and hands as to pull him out of the tub.  SOMETHING or SOMEONE wanted him OUT of the tub!!!!  He took the hint....he jumped out and dried off and laid on his bed trying to figure out....what just happened??????

Stories like Jay's are frequent at the Ben Lomond Hotel.  Rumor has it that a women on her honeymoon drowned in the tub in room 1102.  No known dates or names have been given to this story, but ever since, people have experienced coming into their rooms and the water is running, feeling hands on them in the tub and sometimes trying to PUSH THEM UNDER!!!!

Another spirit is said the be the drowning victim's son who after coming to the hotel to pick up his Mother's things decided to stay in the room right next to the room where his Mother drown.......room 1101.  Overcome with despair.......he committed suicide. 

Mary Eccles

Reports from the hotel staff include, phantom voices coming from both rooms when know one is staying in them.  The housekeepers report that sometimes after making the beds, they turn around and there are indentions as if someone is laying on the bed.  And there's another room that seems to be giving the hotel staff trouble.......room 1106.  Legend has it that a Mother checked into room 1106 to wait for her son to return from World War II.  Upon learning of his death, she stopped eating and starved to death in that very room.  The desk clerks say that they will get phone calls from that room and when they answer the line goes dead.........not to mention.....know one is checked into that room.

Mary, Eccles's first wife whom he was married to when he bought the hotel, is said to roam the corridors, the fifth floor, the top floor and in the elevators.  They say you will know it's Mary because you will smell her lilac perfume.  Another spirit is said to be that of a sixty-five year male clerk that was stabbed to death late at night while being robbed in 1976 by a fifteen year old boy.  Although he has not been "seen" he is felt by turning on the music in the foyer and fiddling with the phone cords. 

Other sightings and experiences include, a female apparition on the third-floor gymnasium, guests in room 212 have felt hands pushing them, cold spots, footsteps, doors opening and closing by themselves, elevators acting up and stopping randomly at the fifth and tenth floors when know call button has been pushed.

So, if you DARE to stay at the Ben Lomond Hotel, don't take a bath....I suggest a shower!!! LOL

THE EXTREMELY HAUNTED MCPIKE MANSION-A FAMILY THAT LIVES TOGETHER...STAYS TOGETHER...EVEN AFTER DEATH!!!

 I can't wait!!!  Headed to Chicago in a couple days and off to the American Ghost Society Conference with our affiliate White Dog Paranormal and close friends Anthony and Michele!   We are doing an overnight investigation at the EXTREMELY haunted McPike Manson!!!!  You can Youtube and Google tons about this mansion.  I visited the house several years ago, so that I would do a re-post of my experience.  Not to mention this is one of the places that I believe to have captured two of the most awesome apparitions ever!!!...


RE-POST:  

So, this is McPike Mansion in Alton, Il.  I had a great time here.  For a small town, it is covered with haunted history.  So much to do here.  

Now, here's my story.  I went up to Alton, Il for one of the annual American Ghost Society's Conference.  I registered late, and therefore, missing out on an investigation of the famous "McPikes" mansion.  I was soooooo bummed!!!  So, on my way to the airport, returning from my trip, I was talking to the cab driver.  He asked me if I got to do everything I wanted and I said "no".  I missed out on an investigation on the old McPikes Mansion.  He said, no problem.  I know where it is, if you would like to go there before catching your flight.  ARE YOU KIDDING!!!!! YESSSS I would love to go there.

So, off we went. After a short drive, he pulled up in the driveway of the McPikes Mansion.  No one was there because it is abandoned and most people go at night.  I got out of the cab and walked just a little ways up in the front yard, because there are NO TRESPASSING signs posted everywhere. I just kinda walked around the front yard taking pictures.  I got back in the cab just feeling awesome that I got to at lease see the outside of the mansion.  Of course, that cab driver got a GREAT tip!!!!!

When I got home I downloaded my pics and my last pics were of the mansion.  My first thought was, wow what a beautiful old mansion and what it must have been like to live here.  THEN.... I looked at my pictures and little closer and couldn't believe my eyes!  I believe there are two people, well one man and a young girl in the window on the second floor.  I could see them clearly!!!  I was sooo excited!!!

If you look close, (may have to enlarge) you can see a little girl's face and to me, appears to be screaming... or with her mouth open.  And right behind her, standing up, looks like a man, maybe with a beard, one of those that goes around the sides of a mans face up to his sideburns.  I don't know.  What do you think?  Mr. McPike or another resident ghost?

I have included below some information about the McPikes Mansion.  And a video of one of the best EVP's I have ever heard!!! Get ready to feel that "chill run down your back" as you can plainly hear in the CREEPIEST voice ever say the word HENRY after the guy ask "what is your name?".  Don't miss it.

 The house was built in 1869 by architect Lucas Pfeiffenberger.  Original owner of the Mansion was Henry Guest McPike.  The McPike family owned 15 acres of land, then known as Mount Lookout Park.  Here McPike, a horticulturist, perfected his McPike Grape.  The family lived in this, their country home, until 1936.

The house has changed hands several times since its original owner Henry McPike.  The building has been home to Browns Business College and was later owned by Paul Laichinger, who rented rooms in the house to other occupants.  The house has not been occupied since the 1950's.  Before weather and vandals brought extensive damage to the structure, it was a regal addition to the Illinois town of Alton.  There is even two small tombstones that are located at the back of the house .  Who they belong to or who may call them "home" is unknown.

The mansion featured 11 marble fireplaces and beautifully carved stairway banisters, all of which have been stolen during its abandonment. Intricate carved trim still border the ceiling in one of the front rooms.  McPike Mansion today is owned by Sharyn and George Luedke who have been trying to nurture this great house back to its regal state.  It is readily known today for its hauntings in paranormal circles. The grounds are often visited by ghost hunters and haunted tour groups in the area.  It is not uncommon to find in photos of the mansion, orbs, balls of light, even figures appearing in the windows that were not seen by the human eye when the photo was taken.

This Grand Ole House is thought to still house many of the spirits that once lived here.  Many Psychics and Mediums have felt the presence of what they believe to be McPike family, servants, as well as some of those who resided in and owned the house since 1936.

Can't wait to get back and write about this next trip!!!!

LYCEUM RESTAURANT-SALEM MASSACHUSETTS-IS WITHCRAFT INVOLVED IN THIS HAUNTING???

First, let me say I am sorry for posting a day late.  I have been at a conference for my "day job" as an HR Manager and just flat couldn't get the time to post.

Being out on the road and having to eat out a lot, I thought I would write about a VERY haunted restaurant. So here is a short post about the Lyceum Restaurant in Salem Massachusetts.  PLEASE if you have visited this restaurant I would love to hear from you!!!

This haunted Salem restaurant was built upon the former site of Bridget Bishop's apple orchard.  It's believed that Bridget's restless spirit haunts the building to this day!  In 1692, that's right.....1692.....she was accused of witchcraft.  Found guilty, Bridget spent the next year in prison, until the fateful day that she was led to the gallows and hanged.

Sadly for Bridget, she would come to be memorialized for being the first witch to have been executed in the Salem witch trials.

Years later, a historic lecture hall was built on the site of the apple orchard; it would host such notables as Hawthorne, Thoreau, Emerson, and the prominent inventor, Alexander Bell.  In fact, in 1877, history was made from this location, as Bell demonstrated his invention here and made the first public phone call.

In 1989 George Harrington purchased the building, and the Lyceum Bar & Grill soon opened.  Ever since, employees and patrons alike have witnessed scores of unexplained phenomena.  Above the hectic activities of a bustling restaurant, many people have heard a female voice whisper in their ears.  Shocked patrons have given George countless photos depicting unexplainable light anomalies.  Some employees have seen the ghostly image of a woman starting out a second-floor window, only to have her vanish upon their approach.  And there are those that have caught the sweet, succulent scent of apple blossoms in the air.  When the staff are questioned about the origin of the floral aroma, they state that it's a gift from Bridget.



No comments please!!  This was
a long...long...time ago!!! LOL

 

Now, I have been to Salem and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!  But I went before the Lyceum Restaurant was opened.  If you get the chance to go to Salem DON"T PASS IT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!  For ANYONE interested in the paranormal....this is a gold mine!!!!  And hey....stop in and say "hi" to Bridget for me. :)