Arguably the most prominent historic landmark in Stockbridge, MA, the Red Lion Inn has been in existence since 1773 when Silas Pepoon first established a tavern there.
Over the course of more than two centuries, it has gone from being a smoky saloon for fomenting revolution to one of the most famous and well-regarded historic lodgings in the region. It has been through 20 proprietors and three name changes, and it even has burned to the ground and been rebuilt. It has accommodated presidents, dignitaries and many celebrities.
Turns out, it may accommodate even stranger denizens.
I first encountered rumors of a haunting at the inn a couple of years ago, through some reviews on the popular site tripadvisor.com that referred to unusual activity in room 301. The first, in August 2004, was from a man who said he felt something touching his head and tugging the bed sheet. Almost one year to the day later, a second reviewer reported several times waking up to the feeling of having their toes being pulled on, as well as the sound of footsteps and the sensation of an unseen force fluffing up the comforter.
A month later, a third review described the guest being woken all night by cover-pulling from the foot of the bed. When the man turned to look, he saw a man in a top hat and "olden day attire," who then vanished in a white mist.
This, it seems, is not the only part of the inn said to be haunted. Guests have told staff of unusual sightings in other rooms, and one former housekeeper stated there had been rumors among some of the cleaning staff going back at least a decade about the whole fourth floor being haunted. In addition to the man in the top hat, there are vague rumors about a ghostly young girl carrying flowers.
One intriguing story can be found in the current edition of the inn's "Stories," a courtesy booklet of anecdotes penned by former guests recalling their experiences staying there. In it, one Sheryl Ciccarelli recounts an incident taking place in Room 424. One night in April 2003, she awoke quite suddenly to an overwhelming feeling that someone - or something - stood over her bed. Looking at the clock as she woke her husband, she noted the time: 1:35 a.m. In the morning, they discovered that their daughter had left them a message to tell them that a rainstorm had knocked the power lines out to their house, causing a shower of sparks and a great commotion in the neighborhood. The time of her call? 1:35 a.m.
Other miscellaneous incidents have been mentioned in various other parts of the complex. The most significant involves a gentleman who asked to be relocated from his room, he said, because of the sheer number of "spirited" guests he encountered. The gentleman turned out to be celebrity medium James van Praagh.
Last year, Joseph Flammer and Diane Hill, a pair of ghost-hunters from Long Island, spent the night in room 301, bringing with them a variety of sophisticated equipment. In addition to a pervasive cold spot at the foot of the bed, they reported knocks coming from within the armoire adjacent to it. They also claim to have captured video recording an amorphous "something" sweeping across the room to bang into the camera tripod.
Intrigued, I wanted to see for myself what oddities room 301 might hold and made arrangements to rent the room. I arrived on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and quickly checked in. Room 301 is a bright, cozy little room at the southernmost end of the main building, with nothing overtly spooky about its appearance.
I immediately turned on a digital recorder and started snapping photos. I didn't expect anything terribly dramatic. Over the years I've visited more allegedly haunted places than I can count, and only a handful of times have things gotten very weird. It may be ghosts just don't like to deal with the press.
The only particularly curious thing observed during my stay involved certain electrical fluctuations. I'm not a professional "ghost-hunter" by any means, but I did happen to have an EMF detector on loan from a friend. In a nutshell, what this does is measure electromagnetic field fluctuations. Typically, these are emitted by electrical appliances, wiring and other such equipment. However, in one area of the floor between the foot of the bed and armoire, I got persistently high spikes, much higher than those closer to the TV and other electronics.
It would be difficult to completely rule out wiring or other mechanical emissions coming from under that area of the floor as a cause of these readings, but given the fact that most reports of odd phenomenon in 301 seem to involve that part of the room, it seems worth consideration.
So who or what might haunt the inn? My first thought was to look into the fire that leveled the building in 1896, but this is said to have resulted in no loss of lives. In 236 years of history, though, the inn has had many thousands of visitors and staff, and there's no real agreement on what era the alleged ghosts of the inn might hail from.
Could be there's just something in the name. In the process of scouring for data on the Stockbridge haunt, I was intrigued to find a profusion of haunted Red Lions. The 17th century Red Lion Inn of Avebury, Wiltshire, is widely held to be haunted by a former innkeeper, and the Red Lion in Gloucestershire has been said to feature the ghost of Anne Boleyn. Then there's London's Red Lion Square, where the shade of Oliver Cromwell is said to hang about, and the be-spooked Red Lion Hotel of Pontefract, Yorkshire. Back on this side of the pond, Chicago's Red Lion Pub is said to be frequented by half a dozen former patrons from various eras.
Is our Red Lion really haunted? According to Carol Cosco Baumann, director of marketing and communications, "Every now and then, we hear about a guest that has had an experience that they attribute to a ghostly presence. In the past four years, I can count the number of such instances on one hand. That said, we keep our minds open to the possibilities!"
Perhaps the best way to assuage your curiosity is to go see for yourself. I recommend room 301... just keep an eye on that strange spot at the foot of the bed.
by Joe Durwin, advocateweekly.com
Keywords: queensland night gallery reeves home hunters boone tavern researchers ghost vancouver british house seemed haunted ufo shut circle photo
Driving to and from Southern California most of us have taken the mountain pass commonly referred to as the Grapevine. As we drive on Interstate 5 we pass through the small town of Valencia and the theme park Six Flags Magic Mountain. If you have ever had the chance to visit the park you'd know that it contains some of the most thrilling rides on the West Coast. But did you know it has it's share of paranormal activity? Three rides in general seem to be haunted and coincidentally enough all three rides have had deaths reported on them.
The first ride is the giant wooden roller coaster Colossus. In 1978, a 20-year-old woman was ejected from the Colossus ride, and fell to her death. Interestingly enough it's not the woman's ghost who is seen, but that of a young child wearing a striped shirt. He is usually seen at night running underneath the support structure underneath Colossus's tracks. Also sometimes at night the lift chain that pulls the coaster up the track can be hears running even though the ride has been shut down for the night.
The next ride that has a death associated with it is the roller coaster Revolution. In 1996, a part-time employee was killed while crossing the tracks of the ride. She was struck by a train full of park visitors as it returned to the station; both passengers and those waiting in line for the ride saw the victim fly into an area beneath the coaster and she was pronounced dead at the scene from major injuries. It's rumored that on a certain part of the ride (assuming the part where the worker is killed) you can sometimes hear the woman screaming, as if her death is being replayed over and over.
The final ride to have a death associated with it is the mega coaster Goliath. In June of 2001 a 28 year old woman died of a brain aneurysm while on the ride. At night, after the park closes is when the activity is supposed to occur. The security office will get a call from the the ride. When answered there is nothing but static on the other end. A group of guards investigated once but when they got to the ride there was no one around. They did report of an uneasy feeling and quickly left.
Ghostly encounters aren't the only strange thing that is going on at Magic Magic. A UFO was seen over Santa Clarita and was reportedly seen from one of the tower rides at the park. The type of sighting is unknown as I was unable to find the actual report, just mention of the sighting.
So next time you take a trip to Magic Mountain, don't go for just the rides. Check out some of the legends this place has. After all the park has been around for over 40 years and is bound to have some secrets.
Keywords: titanic ghost haunts meter essential ghost how report sighting hunting world ghost back hunters search alien plant discovered anomalies absurdities adams conference new
A police force has revealed a catalogue of more than 150 supernatural and paranormal cases which have been reported to them in recent years.
Details of investigations involving ghosts, UFO's, aliens and fairies were released by Devon and Cornwall Police after a Freedom of Information request. In some examples people have called the police force to deal with spooks in their houses, or even to a field infested with fairies. However, most of the paranormal reports revolve around UFO sighting, and peaked in 1996 when a variety of strangely shaped spaceships were spotted.
In odd news the 1996 peak also coincided with the release of the movie Independence Day and the popularity of the X Files on TV. Other odd examples reported to Devon and Cornwall Police include someone who said they had encounters abusive aliens in a field and another who claimed to be one.
Eminent paranormal collector John Zaffis returns for a second season in Syfy's popular series Haunted Collector on Wednesday, June 6th at 9PM (ET/PT). Zaffis and his team of investigators respond to SOS calls from around the country by individuals and businesses who've been terrorized by items that have been taken over by paranormal spirits and/or energy.
Through careful research, Zaffis works with the owner to find the best solution to the ghostly problem, either returning the item, burying it on site or bringing it to his paranormal museum in Stratford, Connecticut. There, Zaffis ensures they are specially stored to keep their powers at bay. Zaffis has also buried certain items in the foundation of the museum to neutralize the negative energy that can emanate from these haunted objects.
On the season premiere of "Haunted Collector", Jason Gates and Jesslyn Brown join the team as new investigators, heading to Warsaw, Kentucky, where two steamboats crashed in a fiery collision which killed more than 60 people in 1868. A woman whose home is near the site says that her house has suffered hauntings. During the night investigation, Zaffis's team captures startling footage.
Next, "Haunted Collector" travels to Huron, Ohio, where an abandoned grain silo is scheduled to be destroyed in 48 hours, sending the team on a race against the clock to identify and remove any potentially dangerous energy. The crew preparing the demolition has experienced apparitions walking by, objects moving and manholes opening and closing by themselves. - "Haunted Collector" on Syfy
Interview: Click here - Listen to John Zaffis on 'Beyond The Edge Radio'
John Zaffis' Museum of the Paranormal
Paranormal Research Society of New England
John Zaffis has over thirty-six years of experience studying and investigating the paranormal. He has had the opportunity to work for and with his aunt and uncle, Ed and Lorraine Warren. This sent John beyond looking for ghosts and hauntings and into studying demonology under the Warrens. This led into John's involvement with cases of possession and exorcism and working with prominent exorcists in this field. Roman Catholic priests, monks, Buddhists, rabbis and ministers. John has assisted and worked with well-known exorcists Bishop Robert McKenna, Malachi Martin and the Rev. Jun.
Shadows of the Dark
His research has taken him throughout the United States, Canada, England and Scotland covering several thousands of cases. Through hands on investigating with other investigators and clergy, he has obtained a great deal of knowledge and understanding of the paranormal and is considered one of the foremost authorities in the field today. For more information on John, visit his website www.johnzaffis.com or check out the second season of the hit show "Haunted Collector" on the Syfy Channel. Check local listings for times and dates.
Keywords: detect presence spirits cell phone call bromwich link paranormal contact spirits side 1903 house ghost systems found ten theories number project online
We have found the solutions to several of life's mysteries, except that of death. The only evidence of life after death is ghosts. However, there is nothing to prove that ghosts are real and not the products of human imagination.
In spite of the fact that ghostly appearances have been spotted and recorded for centuries, the existence of ghosts hasn't been proven once and for all either by science or by any other branch of study. Although theories are in abundance, the concrete evidence required to prove these theories is lacking. Some people firmly dismiss the idea of ghosts as fantastic, unreal, and unbelievable. Some people, however, not only believe in ghosts, but also have classified them into a number of categories.
Here are some of the most popular types of ghosts.
1. TRADITIONAL
Traditional ghosts are those apparitions that interact with the living for a variety of reasons. They hide things, terrify unsuspecting people, hurl objects, or beg for assistance. They are souls of people who cannot move on owing to some unfinished work. They might be souls of people who died suddenly in unfortunate circumstances. They seek the help of human beings to solve their problems, so that they can leave the earth for higher realms. These spirits are intelligent beings, who are not only aware of their surroundings, but also of the fact that they are dead.
2. CRISIS G HOSTS
These spirits put in a sudden appearance to warn you of some impending danger. While some of them are solid in appearance, others are transparent.
3. ANNIVERSARY GHOSTS
These spooks appear on the day they died or met with some other unfortunate accident. You can spot them in ancient, haunted houses and castles. Most of them feature in some legend woven around a tragedy that took place hundreds of years ago.
4. MESSENGERS
Banshees come under this category. They suddenly appear to inform the family about the death of someone else in the family.
5. POLTERGEISTS
These are mischievous ghosts who create odd sounds and play all sorts of pranks on unsuspecting members of the family. Usually, they make use of troubled teenagers to play their pranks.
6. SPECULATIONS
Speculations are the souls of people who have passed away from earthly life. They resemble orbs, appear on several occasions, and are separate life forms that are very difficult to see owing to the fine energy tissues they are made of. There is a large body of writings on ghosts, yet there is nothing that can prove that ghosts are real. Scientists, skeptics, and rationalists still claim that ghosts are the products of human imagination blended with the emotion of fear.
Keywords: houswives hunters demon hunting ghost haunting 1903 house ghost drive out ghosts space hitler being 26th september elected public office updated website
Father Sacrifices Newborn Daughter to Satisfy Deity
dnaindia - In a shocking incident, a father scarified his newborn girl child to keep his promise to his family deity Kitotarmata. The man, Narottam Mana Devipujak, threw his child in a drain near his house in Sundarpuri, a busy slum area of Gandhidham.
"We have arrested the accused for this heinous crime," said MK Jadeja, police inspector of A-division police station, on Monday. "Narottam Devipujak was produced before the magistrate in Gandhidham court today."
According to the details of the case, the incident took place on Janmashtami night. Narottam, who sells vegetables from a kiosk, had vowed that he would offer a male goat to the goddess if a son was born to him. But if a girl child was born, he had sworn that he would straightway offer the child to the deity.
When his wife gave birth to a baby girl a day before Janmashtami, he decided to give her as an offering to the goddess. When everyone was glued to the TV watching the birth of Lord Krishna, he slipped away with the baby and threw her in a gutter close to the temple of the deity. Then he returned home, pretending as if nothing had happened.
Later, however, he did tell about what he had done to his wife and his in-laws. His neighbours sensed something amiss when they did not see the newborn baby for three consecutive days. On finding out what had happened, they reported the matter to the police. After a thorough search, the police recovered the body of the baby from the drain.
This last Friday night I had the privilege to have the chance to do a ghost hunt at the Fresno County Central Library in downtown Fresno. This was one of the events that the library was putting on for the Halloween season and the investigation was lead by several members of Central California Paranormal Investigators. There were about fifty people that showed up to the library at 7:00 and after a brief overview of what to do on an investigation, the group was broken up into three smaller groups of about 17 per group. I decided to go with the group that had my friend Jen leading it as she's sensitive to things and have always had good luck when I've investigated with her.
We started on the first floor and decided to go to the children's section as Jen had felt something there. An EVP session was started as she wanted to show the group how one was done. I shot a few photos at this time as well as did some video of the rest of the first floor. At this time we ran across one of the night custodians, Jackie, who said she works alone. She has felt a presence there several times and said she even saw books flying off shelf (ala Ghostbusters).
After that I decided to wander off on my own and went near the front entrance when I felt a strange presence. As I've said in the past I'm not sensitive in the least, but was feeling pressure on my chest. And in the past when I would feel that, it usually meant something was near. I went and grabbed Jen and she said she felt the same thing. We did a bit of EVP there, but to my knowledge nothing was heard.
We next went to the second floor. Here we were told that one of the employees had recently passed away after working at the library for several decades. His former co-workers felt he was still around, though to be honest I don't know how valid this was. I was told this from one of our group guides who had heard it from someone else. Still, while taking some photos I heard something being moved or knocked over in the distance. Upon investigating the noise, I felt the same heavy presence I had felt on the first floor. Now I'm not saying this could be the same thing, but still interesting.
I was able to wander off again and shot some more video. Unfortunately I was "scolded" for going off on my own. So I had to join the group again. Which is fine since we were headed to the basement and I had heard there was a bomb shelter down there in case Fresno was nuked (who knew it was a target?).
I was excited to be heading to the basement. The idea of a Cold War era bomb shelter was just too good to pass up. Plus this is where some of the archives are kept.
I'll be honest, when we got down there I was a bit disappointed. It was well lit (mostly) and didn't seem as spooky as I had hoped. Still I shot a bit of video, though I had to stay near the group as I didn't feel like getting reprimanded again.
After that we headed towards where the bomb shelter was at. Now here's where it got creepy. Long hallway barely lit and the air was very heavy. Here one of the devices that measures the electromagnetic field starting going off. Some thought it was a ghost, but I personally believe it was due to being near so much electrical equipment.
After that all three groups met back to discuss what they had seen, if anything. Most agreed that the large number of people made it hard to investigate fully, but all had fun. And that was what this investigation was really about, just having fun and showing people who never had been looking for ghosts what it's like.
Keywords: too real should maclaine downton abbey tips prevent dressed ghostly set haunted versailles time slip grey portrait obama search life
