Continued Activity in Mom’s House

Hello, guys. I know it’s been awhile since I offered you an update — well here’s one for ya. I visited my mother around Christmas, only to be updated with news of activities not only in her house, but our neighbor’s across the street.

I’ll start with my mother’s most recent experience. I wrote of the fire alarm flying across the dining room — whatever entity was so possessed as to hurl it has once again taken it upon itself (or herself, as I like to think of the lady who passed away in the house) to throw objects around. My mother and stepfather were sitting in the living room, as usual, and watching tv when they heard something fall off the little wire shelf they have near the bathroom and kitchen (a mere two-three feet away from the fire alarm). Surprised, my mother got up and walked into the dining room to see what had caused the noise. What did she fine? My little brother’s baseball trophy laying on the ground. While falling objects can be easily explained, the condition of the trophy cannot. The trophies that had been ordered for my little brother’s baseball team that year were pure, solid metal. They weren’t hollow like a lot of them are. The figure of the man with the baseball bat had been twisted beyond recognition to a point that is utterly beyond simple human strength. Confused, my parents brought it up to my little brother who said that it had appeared just fine a few hours prior to the incident.

This had occurred shortly before I visited her. While I was there, I did hear some strange noises, but nothing truly remarkable. However, my mother did relay some information regarding an issue across the street. Like I’ve said before — my mother lives in a small neighborhood and her house was built pre-1940s. The house across the street is much newer — in fact, it’s a mobile home. However, that hasn’t stopped a spooky figure from appearing to its tenants. The lady living there had awoken one night to find a figure standing over her bed, holding a knife. If I remember correctly, the figure resembled a confederate soldier (the area is near a former confederate headquarters in the Civil War). Although, the description of the Hatman also seems a bit appropriate — who knows. Either way, the woman chose to keep this experience to herself into the next night when her young daughter came running into her room crying — she had seen the same apparition.

Part of me feels that it was this same presence that made himself known to the people who live behind my mother — however, in their experience, the figures eyes were glowing a bright red and it peered out at them from the doorway of their closet.

The Dover Lights: Arkansas

Located deep in the foothills of the Ozarks rests yet another phenomenon. About seventeen miles out from Dover, Arkansas there is an overlook that allows visitors to peer down into a valley. A valley with a creek running through it and absolutely no electricity. Here, at night, orbs of light (presumed to be ghosts) sometimes appear and hover over the valley. Various attempts are made to debunk these lights, and some seem like they make sense. The reflection of light on the surface of the creek, campfires made by curious hikers. Flashlights in a camp. While all of these are viable counter arguments, one thing remains true: even now the story of the Dover Lights (also known as spooklights) still draws many Arkansans to the lonely overlook.

One day, late last year, my mother and I, along with a few friends, decided to investigate the Dover Lights on our own time. We packed up my car with sodas, cameras, and cigarettes and we drove out to one of the more secluded overlooks. Here we lingered until shortly before dark — as by this time a group of drunks showed up and decided hitting on one of those friends was a good sport (ironically, she is a lesbian.) At this point we left and drove up to one of the more popular places where people watch and settled there. We waited, waited, and waited. We saw nothing.

It began to storm so we prepared to leave. It was at this point that we did have a strange incident occur — though it easily could have been lightening playing tricks on our eyes. My sister and I were walking over to my mom’s Santa Fe in order to bring it up to the restrooms for her. When we neared the car, we saw a tall, dark figure bent over it. It started us. My sister screamed and thus triggered my reaction — I screamed too. When we got closer to the car, however, there was nothing there.

Also, at various points during our stay at the overlook, my mom’s car would lock itself and arm its security system. Thinking someone hit the keys, I picked them up, unlocked the car, and then set them on top of a pedestal that had a plaque on it. Again, the car locked itself. We finally gave up trying to keep it unlocked after the third or fourth time this incident occurred.

Another Belated Update

Once again, I apologise for the lack of juicy posts. After moving, I got my interests caught up in another hobby of mine: gaming. I did however purchase a note book and a pen so that I can better organize the places I wish to write about.I intend to write an article eventually that will feature an old hospital located in Central Arkansas. A hospital that my mother herself made the mistake of going into while it was abandoned. Now, this hospital is a retirement home for the elderly. Eager to learn more? Just have a little bit of patience. I want to do a lot of research into this one. In the meantime, there will be other posts. =)

Devil’s Hole Cave: Boone County, AR

Nestled in yet another secluded location in rural Arkansas lies a town named Self. Within this town is a small cave — a cave with something frightening residing deep inside it. Rumors abound about Devil’s Hole Cave — some say that vegetation does not grow around it. Unfortunately, I was unable to find photos of this location. Nor is there a large amount of information regarding it. The stories about Devil’s Hole date back to the 1900s.

Anyways, rather than ramble on about something I know little of, I will instead provide my readers with this link so they may read what little information I have found about the strange cave.

Where is Liry?

Hey guys, I know I haven’t posted an article in a few days. I’m just letting you know that more will be coming very soon — and those more MAY just include photos from a ghost town near me! For those who don’t know, I just moved back to Oklahoma and we do have our own town that has a similar background to Centralia. I hope to get out there and photograph it before too long.

Once again, I’m sorry there hasn’t been anything. I will have more for ya’ll in the very near future! Tomorrow, I intend to write and article on Devil’s Den, also located in Arkansas. It’s one of their “haunted” areas.

Hashima: Japan’s Battleship Island

Hashima — better known as the Battleship Island — began as a project by Mitsubishi in 1890 in order to allow the mining of coal beneath ground. While at that time it was a wonderful idea, the island’s glory did not last long. The city was nicknamed because of it’s appearance — the walls built around it led to a resemblance to one of Japan’s battleships. Hashima was, at one point in time, considered to be on of the most densely populated islands. It was also home to the first largest cement building in Japan. Apartments were later built for inhabitants. Unfortunately, most of the coal miners were forced to do their job.

Aside from that, there isn’t anything terribly amazing about the island aside from the photos of its ruins. When petroleum became much more valuable and coal spiraled down in value, the mines at Hashima were one of the many closed down.

Until April 22, 2009, visitation to the island was illegal. Shortly before tourists were allowed on the island, a young journalist for Viceland (some site that I know absolutely nothing about) and his friend took the risk and crossed into Hashima. This article on the Viceland website contains AMAZING photos of the Battleship Island. Because I’d rather not be accused of copyright infringement and I’d rather not do citations just yet (I’m not doing this for classes, I’m doing it out of my own enjoyment), I suggest all of my readers check out the photos. =)

Centralia, PA: The Real Silent Hill

Silent Hill is a name everyone knows — it is by far one of the more well-known settings for a series of video games that are aptly named Silent Hill. What many do not know is that the inspiration from Silent Hill came from a real situation. That coal fire burning beneath Silent Hill for so very many years? It’s true. While Silent Hill may be fictional, the story behind the fictional town is every bit as real as you and I. The real town? It is known as Centralia, Pennsylvania.

In 1962, near Memorial Day, workers set fire to garbage. It was something they did annually in order to clean up the area near the graveyard on one of its busiest days. What workers did not know was that below their fire pit lay an exposed vein of anthracite coal over eight miles long. That vein ignited and started an underground fire that would last for many years. In fact, Centralia still burns today, after 48 years. Experts say it could easily burn for two and a half centuries.

Today there are approximately eleven residents remaining within Centralia — the town itself has been removed from most updated maps and the highway that originally led through it to Ashland has been destroyed and a detour created. Nature has reclaimed many parts of the city and in photos the damages areas and the warnings posted are clearly visible. Passersby are advised not to drive through Centralia, or to even walk. Merely treading upon the land can lead to a sink hole due to the fire underground.

The government spent large amounts of money to try and quell the fires — they even promised that residents would not have to move. Unfortunately, they lied.

While Centralia is not yet fully abandoned (thus it isn’t technically considered a full blown ghost town just yet), the town is quickly on its way down.  And it was because of this town that Silent Hill was born.

Personally, I want to visit Centralia. I want to photograph it. I want more information on it. I’ve begun to watch the documentary entitled “The Town That Was” which can be found here at Hulu. More information can also be found via David DeKok’s (author of Fire Underground: The Ongoing Tragedy of the Centralia Mine Fire and Unseen Danger: A Tragedy of People, Government, and the Centralia Mine Fire) website.

On an entirely different note (mostly anyway) a sequel to the Silent Hill movie has been confirmed.

The Truth About Sweeney

We’ve all heard about Sweeney Todd. Many of us are in love with the musicals and the movie. But what many do not know — or in many cases refuse to accept — is that there really was a Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Sweeney Todd — and his accomplice, Mrs. Lovett — are real.

Sweeney was born a single child and was raised by alcoholic parents who, during his teen years, vanished from his life. He became an apprentice, but when he was caught stealing, he was jailed. Upon release, he began to take part in the very hobby that he would become famous for.

Many of the details in the play are accurate — such as there being a Mrs. Lovett and the murder of the Beadle. Todd really did dump his victims via a swinging trap door, and he really did dispose of their bodies in an underground catacomb. Mrs. Lovett really did use the meat from human bodies in her meat pies and they were the talk of town. However, some details — such as Sweeney being Benjamin Barker, having a wife and daughter, the barber shop being above Mrs. Lovett’s pie shop, etc. are not true.

Mrs. Lovett was a widow and, as hinted at in the plays, she really was Sweeney Todd’s lover (and such a cute couple in the movie.) In the play, she tells Sweeney that his wife killed herself by drinking poison. While Todd was not truly married, it was by drinking poison that the real Mrs. Lovett committed suicide after being arrested upon the discovery of her helping Todd dispose of his bodies.

Another fallacy in the movie is how Todd died. The real Sweeny Todd was hanged.

Nevertheless, the true story of Sweeney Todd is fascinating. It was passed on from generation to generation and it became a legend. And, like most legends, it morphed, it changed, it became what it is today. Many haunts in London claim to be the inspiration for the Broadway play — however every claim is false. The inspiration for

the play came from none other than the real Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett.

More information on the real Sweeney Todd can be found in a novel written by Peter Haining entitled Sweeney Todd: The Real Story of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. This novel, if available in your library, will be found under the Non-Fiction section. Haining dug up all the history he could find in order to reveal to fans the truth about Sweeney.

The Crescent Hotel

One of the most historic haunts in Arkansas stands in Eureka Springs (and supposedly one of the top ten haunted hotels in North America in 2008 by some). It is a majestic, gorgeous hotel known as The Crescent Hotel. Built in 1885, the hotel was already said to be haunted by a death during construction. In 1937, the hotel was bought by a man named Norman Baker. Baker took advantage of how willing people were to believe anything and convinced others that the spring water had miracle properties and so he turned the hotel into a home for cancer patients who needed treatment. He also repainted the hotel in some rather hideous shades — black, red, orange, yellow. Using his claimed cures, he tricked the sick into coming to the hotel where it is said he would kill them.

Some say bodies have been found inside the walls. Others say body parts can be found in jars.

While I personally cannot confirm or deny anything in regards to the hotel, I can say that I do intend to take a trip there — hopefully in the near future.

Information on the Crescent Hotel, its haunts, and its history, can be found on the hotel’s official webpage (Click here…).

My Mom’s House

Nestled within Central Arkansas is a small town — one of many small, rural towns that sprawl across the Natural State. Here, my mother’s house is located. And all is most definitely not as it seems.

When my mother moved into the house, she was under the impression it had been built in the 1960′s. Little did we know how off that was. When her family began to remodel the house a few years ago, it was soon discovered that the house was actually built during the World War II Era, as was discerned from a drawing of a stick figure flying a kite. The drawing, clearly by a child, was dated in the year 1943.

Originally, the house had roughly one room, one bathroom, and then the kitchen/dining area — the newest additions to the house being the master bedroom/bathroom. These rooms can be seen on the left side of the photo. The kitchen had to be rebuilt after it was burned down in an accidental fire (no fatalities.)

Things seemed perfect for a long time. There were no strange occurrences. It wasn’t until the remodeling began that the house’s ghost started making appearances. (At this time, I lived with my mother and I witnessed some of the strange happenings myself.)

The remodeling started in what was, at that point in time, mine and my little brother’s bedrooms. His room had been the only only bedroom in the house prior to the construction of additional rooms (which was not done by our family.) My room had been part of the kitchen and dining room before someone closed it off and turned it into a room.

The first occurrence that I personally recall (which I know remember it being prior to remodeling) took place early one morning. My step-father and my brother had left to go hunting so I went into my parent’s room and laid on the bed with my mom. We were sitting there talking when suddenly a shadow passed along the wall in the dining room. It was tall and pitch black — and the only light on was in the kitchen. The direction from which the shadow came was entirely impossible with the lighting.

I also remember the stove seemingly to jump at my mother. It lurched as if it had its own mind. I’ve sought possible explanations and decided that perhaps the fact that the house still runs on gas may have something to do with it. However, the next morning, the television in the living room turned itself on — there was no one else in the house aside from my grandfather and I — we were in the kitchen.

At one point, late one night, my grandmother was laying on the couch watching tv (she had been staying with us for a little bit.) She heard someone giggling — a child — and turned down the tv. She knew that my cousin and my little brother were sound asleep — they had been for a while. She could hear foot steps approaching the couch, too. However, once the giggling walker reached the couch, they promptly quieted. It started her and she told us about it immediately the next morning.

Another strange happening took place while my mom and my siblings were sitting at the dining room table. They were talking (likely preparing food as well) when suddenly the fire alarm shot off the wall and landed on the floor underneath the table.

My little brother and my cousin have also reported the lights in my old bedroom turning themselves on and off.

There was also a time that I stayed the night and slept in my old room. I had brought my dog with me. While laying there and trying to sleep, she got off the bed, went to the window, put her front paws on it and began to growl so viciously that the hair on the back of my neck raised. I got up to look out the window. There was absolutely no one outside and she was still growling.

We’ve had other occurrences too, but the exact details escape me. We have confirmed at least one death in the home — that of an elderly woman who died from an aneurysm. Continued investigation into the house’s history has proved, aside from this information and the original floor plan of this house, unfruitful.

Should other occurrences or evidence of our haunting show up, I will gladly share it with my readers.

This is Liry from Six Below, signing out.