Pope Francis, greets Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her husband, Paul Pelosi before celebrating a Mass on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 29, 2022. Pelosi met with Pope Francis on Wednesday and received Communion during a papal Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, witnesses said, despite her position in support of abortion rights. (Vatican Media via AP)
Over the Thanksgiving break, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi requested the assistance from the Catholic Church to exorcize the evil left from last year’s attack on her husband, Paul.
Last October, David DePape, a 42-year-old Canadian who was in the country illegally, broke into Pelosi’s three-story townhouse in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco shouting “Where’s Nancy?” He intended to kidnap the former speaker. Instead, he violently attacked her 82-year-old husband with a hammer. Mr. Pelosi’s injuries were critical. He has since recovered. DePape has been charged with 6 felonies.
Speaker Pelosi reportedly felt great guilt over the attack. She was distressed and sought help from her church.
Pelosi is a devout Catholic. The Catholic Church performs thousands of similar rituals annually. According to Father Vincent Lampert, designated exorcist for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis, he receives thousands of requests at his location every year. The rite consists of various prayers, rituals, and recitations from the Bible. Sometimes the ritual must be repeated.
Father Arturo Albano, St. Vincent de Paul Church, stated his church did not participate.
An exorcism makes sense. She may have had the home re-blessed, foregoing the longer ritual. Whatever course of action, Speaker Pelosi felt the need to re-consecrate her home and protect from any evil that may have been brought in by DePape or attracted to the home from the assault.
A home blessing is common. Clergy can perform the blessing; however, there are online instructions for people to perform themselves. I would caution anyone who undertakes this. Know what you’re doing. All you need is holy water and exorcized salt with a prayer to your God.
In 2015, a strange news story went viral. The Bretzius family of Auburn, PA were renovating their 1930s home to discover animal corpses wrapped in newspaper tucked within the walls. The carcasses were filled with spices and other items. The newspaper wrappings dated from the 1930s and 1940s. The family purchased the 2,320 square foot, 5 bedroom/2 bath home in 2011, which fell far outside the window for recourse from the home inspection. The family was saddled with expensive repairs, spending over $20,000. However, they were curious and wanted to know more about the creatures. Somewhere along the line, they were told the animals were part of Dutch magic, or Powwow.
Unpacking of newspaper stuffing (L) found inside the wall (R).
I became fascinated with the resurgence of the story. As you may know, I’m an avid genealogist and have taken many ancestral lines to the American Revolution. My material line has deep roots in Pennsylvania, with many associated with the Pennsylvania Dutch. I found a lot of information on Barnstars and Hexsigns but nothing about wrapping dead animals in newspaper and stuffing into the walls as protection spells.
Pennsylvania Dutch (PA Dutch) is divided into two categories: The Plain Dutch and the Fancy Dutch. I have ancestors in both. The Plain Dutch are the Amish and Mennonites, etc. They are plain folk, hence the name. And they’re not actually Dutch. Their religion forbids decorations, among other limitations. They did not participate in painting stars or hexes on their barns.
The Fancy Dutch are the German Lutherans and German Reformed people who relocated in America, bringing their Dutch and German culture with them. While in Europe, they did not paint symbols on their barns This is unique to their American lives.
PA Dutch Magic is called Brauche or Braucherei and incorporates the Bible into spiritual healing. Bible verses are woven into folk practices. There are pre-Christian and pagan traditions involved, as well. Early settlers interacted with the Native American Indians and appropriated the Algonquian word “powwow” or “pow-wow” for their ritualistic healing. The word can be a verb implying a trance or divination or a noun for ritualistic procedures. It is still used today.
In the early 1800s, these people sought visual protections and created the Barn Star. These “painted prayers” were large circles with painted geometric images inside. One Barn Star is dated back to the 1850s; a painted star on a stone wall was dated back to the 1700s.
The German saying “Yuscht fer schee” encapsulates the essence of the artform. “Just for nice” connotes a playful take on these pieces. No one really knows the meaning of these brightly colored, simplistic circles; however, the answer to why Pennsylvania is known. Early settlers of the state arrived with open arms and religious freedom. The ability to paint visual spells to ward off evil was acceptable.
There is much debate on whether the Barn Stars are, in fact, magic. Practitioners remain secretive about the Dutch magic practices and rarely disclose any aspect to non-Dutch people. Unfortunately, it is dying off.
In 1923, Wallace Nutting coined the term “hexafoos,” or witch’s foot, to describe this distinctly and uniquely Pennsylvania folk art in his book Pennsylvania Beautiful. He attributed them to witchcraft and spell work.
In the 1940s, the term “Hex Sign” was created for travelogues. These painted wooden disks ranged in size from 8 inches to 4 feet and provided a tourist destination for Americans to embark. Quite a few survive today with contemporary artists creating hexes painted directly onto the barn or crafted from pre-cut wooden disks that are painted and then hung using screws. Search online at Etsy or individual artists for pricing.
Interestingly, many people associate hexes with evil. This is most certainly not the case. Barn Stars and Hex Signs grew from strong biblical beliefs. The state of Pennsylvania embraces this history; there is even a trail that you can take to view them.
So, you may be wondering how I jumped from stuffed carcasses to Hex Signs. That’s just how my mind works. I’m conducting further research on PA Dutch magic and may come up with the link. In the meantime, plan your road trip and view these beautiful representations of German American heritage.
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Ghost Education 101 has an impressive 2023 schedule. Check them out on Facebook. Make sure to tune in on Wednesday, February 15th when I present “Haunted True Crimes.” I will highlight 3 true crimes that have evolved into active hauntings. All are well documented; however, I will share some curious details you may not know.
Mark your calendar for Wednesday, February 15th at 9PM on the Ghost Education 101 Facebook livestream.
One of my favorite cozy mystery series is the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mystery series by Kirsten Weiss. The murders surround a small paranormal museum set in the fictional town of San Benedetto. Who wouldn’t love to own a paranormal museum? A haunted one is even better! In Deland, Florida, you can visit one.
In 2018, Corinne Kenner purchased a quaint vintage shop and turned it into the Haunted Antique Shop and Paranormal Museum, located at 612 W. New York Avenue, Deland. Objects vary at every price point, and the shop offers psychic development classes, tarot readings, and special events. Kenner’s experiences at the store spawned a book titled Gently Haunted: True Stories from the Haunted Antique Shop.
While the store contains vintage items for sale, the intrigue is in the museum. Interact with the store’s guardian, the haunted Charlie doll. Become mesmerized by items in the Cabinet of Curiosities (continue reading for a short explanation). Contemplate whether you would like to own a haunted object. That’s the point. In a world of overpriced theme parks and crowded museums/zoos/aquariums, enjoy the kitsch of roadside attractions. They’re the true essence of Americana.
Side note: Cabinets of Curiosities date back to the Italian Renaissance where wealthy people collected items of the macabre and stored them in containers of varying size. Drawers and shelves contained an assortment of items, providing the owners an opportunity to regale in the stories of acquisition. Today, items in cabinets are often purchased rather than found. (See my forthcoming blog “A Brief History of Cabinets of Curiosities” for more information.)
Deland’s Haunted Antique Shop and Paranormal Museum
One of my favorite cozy mystery series is the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mystery series by Kirsten Weiss. The murders surround a small paranormal museum set in the fictional town of San Benedetto. Who wouldn’t love to own a paranormal museum? A haunted one is even better! In Deland, Florida, you can visit one.
In 2018, Corinne Kenner purchased a quaint vintage shop and turned it into the Haunted Antique Shop and Paranormal Museum, located at 612 W. New York Avenue, Deland. Objects vary at every price point, and the shop offers psychic development classes, tarot readings, and special events. Kenner’s experiences at the store spawned a book titled Gently Haunted: True Stories from the Haunted Antique Shop.
While the store contains vintage items for sale, the intrigue is in the museum. Interact with the store’s guardian, the haunted Charlie doll. Become mesmerized by items in the Cabinet of Curiosities (continue reading for a short explanation). Contemplate whether you would like to own a haunted object. That’s the point. In a world of overpriced theme parks and crowded museums/zoos/aquariums, enjoy the kitsch of roadside attractions. They’re the true essence of Americana.
Side note: Cabinets of Curiosities date back to the Italian Renaissance where wealthy people collected items of the macabre and stored them in containers of varying size. Drawers and shelves contained an assortment of items, providing the owners an opportunity to regale in the stories of acquisition. Today, items in cabinets are often purchased rather than found. (See my forthcoming blog “A Brief History of Cabinets of Curiosities” for more information.)
Logging onto my Twitter, @HauntedLib, I saw a story from February 2022 about a haunted pet shop in Coventry, England. The story includes 2 video clips of items falling from shelves and one clip about a battery-operated vacuum that wouldn’t turn off. The clips were too good not to comment on.
Purdy’s Pet Shop opened in January 2020. The shop is adorable. They “believe in a world where every pet, or garden animals should get the best that their owners can give them.” Staff reported strange events beginning two months later. Customers mentioned tugs on clothing, pets appeared apprehensive in the store. The store mascot, Purdy the Border Terrier, sits and stares at empty space.
Owner Rebecca Harrington called in Hideous History Walking Tours, which held a séance to ascertain who or what was haunting the establishment. (The séance was for charity.) The group claims it is a male entity, former tenant in the building, who is upset that there are people in his space.
Hideous History is Coventry’s oldest paranormal guided tours. They offer 6 public guided tours and private tours. Their website, https://hideoushistory.co.uk/, has links to several stories of tours with video evidence.
The two clips of items falling from shelves do not appear to be staged. In one clip, Harrington is assisting a customer when a bag of treats falls from a shelf behind her. It does not appear that the bag was teetering on the shelf.
In the second clip, a toy falls from atop a shelf that looks to be overly stuffed. This may have been caused by having too many items packed together. Further, the shop is on a busy street. Vibrations from trucks may have caused the items to shift. Again, this does not appear to be staged.
The vacuum, or hoover as the British call them, may be easier to explain. Batteries are temperamental. Sometimes battery-activated devices start on their own. I’ve been this in investigations. What would be more convincing would have been if the batteries were removed and the vacuum turned on.
The videos are compelling to conduct further research. Anecdotal evidence should be logged, as well. Additional investigations would help legitimize the haunting. I hope they press on.
Looking for a spooktacular ghost story for the Halloween season? Here are a few top fiction selections. Support your local library by checking them out.
On July 6, at approximately 4 a.m., a bomb exploded destroying the Swahili/Hindi slab of granite of the Georgia Guidestones. Also known as America’s Stonehenge or Georgia’s Stonehenge, the 19’ 3” monument was a popular tourist attraction outside Elberton, Georgia, on Highway 77. The monument was deemed unsafe and was demolished later that day. Many questions still surround the structure.
In June 1979, a well-appointed man calling himself Robert C. Christian commissioned the structure from Joe Findley of the Elberton Granite Finishing Company. The construction costs are unknown; however, Findley reportedly exaggerated the estimate in hopes to dissuade Christian from building. It was to no avail.
The 20-year vision was to become a reality. A 5-acre plot was purchased on October 1, 1979, from Wayne Mullenix. The monument was unveiled on March 22, 1980. Four stones surrounded a capstone. Ten “guidelines” contained messages written in twelve different languages to instruct humans after some unknown catastrophic event, possibly nuclear war. The messages were controversial, even if intended for future generations. A legend was erected with reference to a possible time capsule buried underneath.
Many have theorized and postulated the origins of the “small group of loyal Americans who believed in God,” as the messages were not exclusively Christian. Slightly troubling was the admission that none of the members actually resided in Georgia. Mr. Christian claimed to have a great grandmother who did; however, this is unsubstantiated. According to local tales, only the manager of the local bank knew Mr. Christian’s true identity, and he never disclosed.
Ownership passed to Elberton County, which publicized the roadside attraction. The website Explore Georgia removed all mention of the monument on July 7, 2022.
The documentary film The Georgia Guidestones Movie was released in 2012. The film can be viewed on YouTube from http://guidestonesmovie.net/.
The guidestones are not without criticism. Online conspiracy theorists have attempted to link the messages to Satan, claiming them to be the ten commandments of the antichrist. Some have even speculated some New World Order involvement. It is doubtful that either are true.
What remains factual is that vandals have targeted the monument in the past. Graffiti was spray painted onto the slabs in 2008 and 2014. Security cameras were erected and caught the latest criminals. Video footage shows a silver sedan leaving the area shortly after the blast. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) are investigating. It is unfortunate that someone took it upon himself/herself to ruin an attraction that brought 20,000 annually to this rural community. The economic impact will be felt. It has not been reported if the structure will be replaced since it is probably cost prohibited. And that’s a shame.
Historic Designation for Jack Kerouac’s St. Petersburg Home
Beat pioneer Jack Kerouac lived in the Disston Heights home less than 2 years before he died. Located at 5169 10th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, Florida, the home passed down via Probate to Kerouac’s third wife Stella’s brother’s son, John Sampas, Jr. It was quite the journey! William Kennedy (Ken) and Gina Burchenal purchased the 1750’ home for $360,000 in 2020. They prepared the application for historic designation, which was approved this month.
American literary writer Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac (simply called Jack) was an enigmatic traveler whose estate was valued at $91 when he died at the age of 47 from cirrhosis of the liver. His paralyzed mother, Gabrielle, remained in the home, along with Stella. When Gabrielle died, she left her estate to Stella, who died in 1990. Stella’s brother Sebastian was a lifelong friend of Jack’s. Her other brother John inherited her estate. Since then, Kerouac’s estate has only grown—upwards of $10 million dollars.
The Kerouacs initially resided in the home next door, 5155 10th Avenue N but bought the #5169 home, situated on a corner lot, in 1968. It’s a modest home. However, the architectural features were enough for the St. Pete City Council to vote 6-0 (with 2 members absent) to approve the application.
Although Jack and Stella did not have any children, Jack did have a daughter, Janet Michelle “Jan” Kerouac (1952-1996), for whom he had only seen twice. In fact, it wasn’t until Jan was 10 years old that Jack learned and tested as her biological father. This did not stop Jan from contesting Gabrielle’s will in an attempt to collect on the fortune. Her attempts failed when she also died at a young age.
The Burchenals do not reside at the home. It has been preserved and is open for special events by the operating non-profit 5169 10th Ave, LLC. Another non-profit, The Friends of Jack Kerouac, previously hosted events to help support the home. They no longer support the home, but they do sponsor an annual Tour de Kerouac bike tour, along with the self-walking and self-driving tours. The tours include Haslam’s Bookstore, a favorite haunt of Jack’s.
Haslam’s has been an institution in St. Pete.
Local legend is that Jack does in fact haunt the bookstore. Unfortunately, Haslam’s closed shortly into the pandemic and has not reopened—nor is it likely to.
Jack and Lucien.
One aspect of Jack’s life falls to the sideline. He was arrested as a material witness in a murder case. On August 13, 1944, Jack and fellow Beat Generation member Lucian Carr attempted to sail to France. They were kicked off the ship prior to its departure. They proceeded to spend the evening drinking, with Jack heading home before Carr. On his way, Jack met up with David Kammerer, an older man who had a complicated relationship with Carr. There is much speculation about the nature of the relationship, but what remains clear is that Kammerer followed Carr across the nation in a stalking manner. On that night, Carr and Kammerer ending up walking to Riverside Park in Manhattan. Something happened (Carr testified that Kammerer attempted to sexually assault him), and Carr stabbed Kammerer with his Boy Scout knife. Carr disposed of the bound body in the Hudson River. He ran to his Beat friends for help, and Jack obliged. After Carr confessed, both were arrested. Jack’s family refused to post bond. He spent 2 days in jail until his then girlfriend Edie Parker’s family posted bond on condition that they marry. The marriage was annulled a few years later. Carr spent 2 years in jail before being released. Kerouac turned the tragedy into two fictional stories. In total, Jack penned 15 novels and 4 short stories/novellas, with On the Road (1957) as his most famous.
If in St. Pete, take the Jack Kerouac driving tour. Even though Haslam’s is closed, park and walk around. It is a reminder that bookstores, and reading, are still popular. Who knows? Maybe Jack’s ghost will pull at the paper coverings on the extra-large windows. Let me know if he does.
In June 2022, Silvia Moreno-Garcia published Mexican Gothic. It was met with much acclaim and sits on many reading lists including those of shortlisted titles for best book of the year. And it deserves it! Moreno-Garcia weaves Mexican folklore with modern gothic genre motifs.
Set in the 1950s, Noemí Taboada is dispatched to evaluate her recently married cousin, Catalina. The orphaned cousin quickly married with her husband, Virgil, sweeping her from the social circles of Mexico City to the isolated Mexican mountains. High Place is the decrepit family mansion of the Doyles, a proud British family relegated to live outside the small town El Triunfo without the wealth generated from the now-shuttered silver mine.
Noemí finds her cousin profoundly changed and tries to unravel the creepy family history of the mysterious and strange Doyle clan.
The story incorporates Mexican culture and the newly expanding paranormal research of the decade. If you skim, you may miss the references! The hybrid fantasy/horror tale evolves slowly with the writing more literary than genre fiction. In the end, it remains a modern retelling of a gothic fairytale.
An 8-10 episode limited series was commissioned by Hulu after Milojo Productions (Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos) secured the rights. (Note: There are reports that the show may be a continuing series instead of a limited series.) The author will serve as an executive producer.
One of the best museums in the New Orleans is located at 514 Chartres Street. It was purposefully selected to rehabilitate a vacant building that was historically confused as “Napoleon House.” (The building that supposedly was the “Napoleon House” was located on the corner.) In the mid-1900s when the city was transitioning from a morally decadent center to a more inclusive travel destination, the citizens of the Quarter sought to include the vacant house located situated between street numbers 514 and 516. Through extensive research and historical maneuvering, the Pharmacy Museum was born.
The Dufilho family arrived in the Crescent City from France in the early 1800s. The father and two brothers fashioned themselves druggists. Louis J. Dufilho, Sr. opened an apothecary in the French Quarter. During this time, Louisiana was enacting legislation to regulate the pharmaceutical industry. In 1804, the legislature enacted a law requiring all pharmacists to pass a 3-hour oral exam. According to historical documents, two men competed to become the first man to pass.
Louis J. Dufilho, Jr.
Either Francois Grandchamps or Louis J. Dufilho, Jr. are America’s first registered pharmacists. A third person, Jean Peyroux, was ruled out as his license was granted under Spanish rule and not a North American governing body. Peyroux’s contribution to the industry has been lost.
However, an argument for either Grandchamps or Dufilho holds. The organizers for the museum would have tourists believe that the argument is settled. It isn’t. But this issue is irrelevant to the wonderful museum.
According to the museum. Dufilho was the first person pass and to receive certification. He passed the exam in 1816. In 1823, Dufilho opened his own pharmacy at 514 Chartres. It was called La Pharmacie Françoise, alternatively Pharmacie Dufilho. Dufilho ran a pharmacy, soda fountain, hardware store, and post office out of the business.
The house was a Creole townhouse. The building housed a pharmacy on the first floor off the street. A courtyard led to slave quarters and horse stables. The family resided on the upper floors.
Dufilho sold the property to Dr. J. Dupas in 1855 for $18,000. Here is where the interesting stories begin. There is much speculation about what “medical” procedures Dupas conducted. Little is known about him; however, I am working on a follow-up blog that expands on his sinister activities.
The museum is interesting and unique for the city. It houses a vast collection of items and stretches beyond pharmaceutical items. It is more of a museum of medical practices. The first floor is a replica of the original pharmacy. The second floor is divided into 4 rooms, each highlighting an area of medicine.
Is the museum haunted? Honestly, I don’t know. While I did not conduct an investigation or activate any equipment, I did read of the various stories posted online. After you read of the nefarious acts conducted by Dupas, you may see how it could be haunted.
For more stories about New Orleans, watch the recorded session from Ghost Education 101, https://www.facebook.com/GhostEducation101/, recorded on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
The Haunted Librarian 
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