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The Haunted Librarian

~ Researching, investigating, and writing about the paranormal.

The Haunted Librarian

Category Archives: Disasters

Mothman Turned 50: Let’s Celecbrate

26 Thursday Jan 2017

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Animals, Conferences, Curiosities, Disasters, Famous Locations, In the News, Paranormal, Road Trip, Special Events, Ufology, UFOs, Uncategorized, Urban Legends

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Tags

cornstalk, gray barker, john a keel, mcclintic wildlife management area, Mothman, mothman festival, point pleasant west virginia, saucer news

flyer

Mothman Turned 50: Let’s Celebrate

Sightings of the red-eyed, 7 foot tall half man/half flying creature turned 50 last November. Although “Mothman,” as he was called, only appeared in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, from November 1966-December 15, 1967, he still captures the imaginations of cryptozoologists, paranormal researchers, and general urban legend fans. He has spawned an entire industry in the small town. There’s a Mothman Museum; TNT Tours to see McClintic Wildlife Management Area, where the first documented sighting occurred; evening U.F.O. sky watches; and the popular Mothman Festival. This year the festival will celebrate the 50th anniversary.

Mothman descended into the quite town of Point Pleasant on November 15, 1966. Two couples were taking a cousin out to the abandoned TNT factory for some night hiking. Upon arrival at the chain-linked fence, the five young adults reported encountering a 7’ feathery creature with large wings (possibly 15 feet wide). They quickly returned to the car and sped off into town. This begins the sightings made more popular by John A. Keel’s The Mothman Prophecies book published in 1975.

The first “Congress,” outdated word for festival, began over Labor Weekend in 1968 when Saucer News editor, Gray Barker, organized a small event. Forty-six people attended and participated in touring the Silver Bridge disaster, learning about Shawnee leader Cornstalk who was murdered in the area in 1777, and a “saucer watch,” whereby people stared up into the clear evening sky searching for U.F.O.s. Apparently, the Congress was a success. Renamed the Mothman Festival, the current event has been running for 16 years.

This year the event returns to downtown Point Pleasant, West Virginia, on September 16-17, 2017. Vendors, live music, food services, and a 5K run are planned. Admission to the Main Street events is free; however, nominal fees will be charged for the TNT tours and other additional events. According to the Official Mothman Festival Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/mothmanfestival/, 1,505 people are interested in attending and nearly 500 confirmed. Quite an uptick from the original 46.

Mothman is truly Americana. Other similar sightings have been reported, but none have the Appalachian appeal that Mothman brings to West Virginia. Definitely worth a visit.

For more information, visit: http://mothmanfestival.com/

End of Uniquely Americana Entertainment: World-Famous Ringling Closing

15 Sunday Jan 2017

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Circus, Curiosities, Disasters, Famous People, Museums, Uncategorized

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Tags

barnum & bailey, circus fire, eleanor emily clark, feejee mermaid, feld entertainment, general tom thumb, jenny lind, jumbo, little miss 1565, pt barnum, ringling brothers bros

barnumandbaileytop

End of Uniquely Americana Entertainment: World-Famous Ringling Closing

 

“There’s a sucker born every minute.”

P.T. Barnum

Feld Entertainment Inc., owner of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, will turn down the lights one last time this May, 2017. The circus had a robust 146 year run. Kenneth Feld, Chairman and CEO, cited several reasons for shuttering the iconic circus: high operating costs, declining ticket sales, changing public opinions, and protesting organizations. Ultimately, the circus industry has lost the battle with motion pictures, streaming services, and game systems. With Ringling closing, the era of uniquely Americana circus curiosities ends.

Phineas Taylor (P.T.) Barnum hobbled together a traveling side show act. In 1841, he bought Scudder’s American Museum, a 500+ collection of curiosities. “The Feejee Mermaid” join in 1842 with “General Tom Thumb,” real name Charles Stratton, following shortly after. Barnum expanded the variety of the show by hiring Jenny Lind, “The Swedish Nightingale,” who hypnotized audiences with her liltingly songs. However, Barnum would soon find his big act.

In 1882 for $10,000, he purchased “Jumbo” an Asian elephant, and the audiences loved him. Since then elephants became the staple of circus routines. Ironically, it was animal protesters forcing the circus to agree to retire all the elephants by 2018 who killed the business. Circus-goers love the elephants; the elephants comprised the bulk of the show. As the elephants were relocated to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation, the circus attempted to reignite the show by updating acts. Ultimately, this could not sustain the circus.

Barnum's Elephant

Five Ringling brothers founded their circus in 1884 in Baraboo, Wisconsin. By 1907, their circus had eclipsed Barnum & Bailey; therefore, the brothers purchased the remaining stocks for $400,000. They ran two separate circuses until 1919, when it became economically advantageous to operate as one. The Ringling family owned the circus until 1967, when they sold it to Feld Entertainment, Inc. It’s been quite a long history.

ringlingfamily

Feld Entertainment released a statement that the existing animals will be placed in “suitable homes.” The company has not stated where the costumes and other props and memorabilia will be housed or sold off. Established in 1948, the Ringling Museum of the American Circus is housed on the Ringling Estate, comprised of the Ringling Museum of Art, Ca’d’Zan, The Historic Asolo Theater, and the Bayfront Gardens. Hopefully, the Circus Museum has the resources to preserve, maintain, and display this uniquely Americana collection.

The circus industry has suffered tragedies and fatalities over the nearly 200 year history. Most notably for Ringling were 1) a horrendous train wreck on August 22, 1889; and 2) a great fire enveloping the Big Top on July 6, 1944. The fire haunts me to this day.

hartfordfire

Hung on a wall, tucked in a corner inside the Circus Museum was an old newspaper article. As a middle school-age kid, I wandered around as the article caught my eye. I still don’t know why since it was in black and white, and yellowed with age. I remember standing in the corner reading about the fatal fire. On July 6, 1944 in Hartford, Conn., the hot, stale air caught fire beside the Big Top. The fire was fast, fierce, and deadly. One hundred and sixty-eight people died. Over 700 injured. At least 50 animals were killed. The article was sad, but it was history. The pictures fascinated me. I stood there staring at them. I continued reading the exhibit documents. Some children were victims of the fire. That made me very sad. I continued to read. There was one female child, a child with blonde hair—between the ages of 6-8 possibly—who sustained fatal burns. The bodies were laid out underneath a large tent for identification. No one came to positively identify this child. This broke my heart. She became known as “Little Miss 1565.” The number was assigned in numeric order to the unidentified bodies in the county. This story haunted me.

littlemiss1565

I dreamt of being under the Big Top when the fire starts. That blonde girl haunted my dreams. She visited for several years. In my dreams, amongst the flames, she stood before me. And we run, run toward the exit. We never made it out.

Some years passed; I grew up. At some point I remembered the girl and started researching. I was relieved when I located an article where on May 8, 1991, she was finally identified as Eleanor Emily Clark. Her remains were removed; she was interred with her family. Finally, she is at peace.

littlemiss

I never returned to a circus after reading the article. They didn’t interest me. I don’t like carnivals, either. However, I’m sad that Ringling is closing. It’s the end of an age where people were willing to open their minds and consider the impossible. To think, well, just maybe, this does exist.

 

Ghosts of Flight 401 Tonight on Archer Paranormal Radio

12 Thursday Jun 2014

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Disasters, Live Paranormal, Radio Show

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archer paranormal radio, flight 401

Ghosts of Flight 401

Ghosts of Flight 401

Tonight on Archer Paranormal Radio at 7 pm EST:

Oops. In the legal field, we call it a conflict. Larry Flaxman will not be on this week. Stay tuned for new date. This week the API Gals are talking all things airline related: Ghosts of Flight 401, Haunted Hotels that the crew stays in, etc. Plus the latest paranormal news.

Tune in to Archer Paranormal Radio every Thursday evening at 7 pm EST on www.liveparanormal.com. Subscribe to our YouTube.com channel: Archer Paranormal. Follow us on Twitter: @JMSpear, @HauntedLib, and @MagnoliaPsychic. Check out The Haunted Librarian, www.thehauntedlibrarian.com.

Oops, in the Legal Field It’s Called a Conflict

12 Thursday Jun 2014

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Disasters, Famous Locations, Hotels & Motels, Paranormal

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Tags

airline disasters, flight 401, gunter hotel

Ghosts of Flight 401

Ghosts of Flight 401

This week on Archer Paranormal Radio at 7 pm EST:

Oops. In the legal field, we call it a conflict. Larry Flaxman will not be on this week. Stay tuned for new date. This week the API Gals are talking all things airline related: Ghosts of Flight 401, Haunted Hotels that the crew stays in, etc. Plus the latest paranormal news.

Tune in to Archer Paranormal Radio every Thursday evening at 7 pm EST on www.liveparanormal.com. Subscribe to our YouTube.com channel: Archer Paranormal. Follow us on Twitter: @JMSpear, @HauntedLib, and @MagnoliaPsychic. Check out The Haunted Librarian, www.thehauntedlibrarian.com.

The Shat Is Back!

09 Friday May 2014

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Conspiracy Theories, Disasters, Famous People, Paranormal, Radio Show, UFOs

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

archer paranormal radio, haunted librarian, UFOs, weird or what, william shatner

Weird or What? with William Shatner

Weird or What? with William Shatner

The Shat is Back!

I adore William Shatner. It’s true. I grew up watching Star Trek re-runs when you could only get 3—yes, 3—TV channels. Shatner has been able to parley the role of Captain James T. Kirk into an enduring career. Not bad for the 80-year-old pitchman. He is a fixture in the paranormal community. And he deserves every bit of kudos he can muster. Shatner’s TV show Weird or What? is a hoot, just like him.

Weird or What? airs on the National Geographic Channel. It delves into “mysteries and strange phenomena.” It also allows Shatner to interject his pithy humor. The episodes vary and run a full gamut of subject-matter. The API (Archer Paranormal Investigations) gals discussed one of the topics on our weekly radio show, Archer Paranormal Radio. The case involved the mysterious disappearance of three fishermen off the Australian coast in 2007. While the final determination is unknown, several theories have been bandied about: 1) They all fell overboard; 2) A giant squid attacked them; and 3) A USO (unidentified sea object) abducted them. This is good television, my friend!

This case is fascinating. The catamaran Kaz II was found drifting 5 days after the party set sail. All were experienced sailors. When officials boarded the boat, nothing seemed amiss—except the missing crew. I don’t think a giant squid attacked them. There would be noticeable signs on the boat. Nor do I believe in USOs. I do, however, believe that a UFO can submerge like a submarine. But a USO? Pass. So what really happened? I don’t think anyone will know. That is unless they pop up out of the blue like Travis Walton. Unfortunately, I think all three men are lost to the sea. But, thanks to Shatner’s show, I learned something: People love to make up their own acronyms. And Shatner ROCKS!

Tune in Thursday, March 20th

16 Sunday Mar 2014

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Artists, Books, Disasters, Famous Locations, Farms, Ghost Hunting, Live Paranormal, Media, Paranormal, Prisons, Radio Show

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Tags

archer paranormal radio, atlanta prison farm, mh 370

Laundry at the Atlanta Prison Farm

Laundry at the Atlanta Prison Farm

This week on the Archer Paranormal Radio:

1. Abandoned in the ATL: The Atlanta Prison Farm. Is it haunted?

2. In the News: Conspiracy theories and lost airplanes. The latest on Flight MH 370.

3. There are a ton of paranormal books out there. What are the API Gals reading and what do they recommend?

Tune in to Archer Paranormal Radio every Thursday evening at 7 pm EST on www.liveparanormal.com.

 

Train Rules and Darwin

15 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Camp Creek, Disasters, Equipment, Orbs, Paranormal, Train Wreck, Train Wrecks

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Tags

camp creek, orbs, ovilus III, train wreck

Orbs at Camp Creek Train Wreck

Orbs at Camp Creek Train Wreck

Train Rules and Darwin

Trains run around the clock. On weekends. At night. And trains come from both directions. Conductors only blow train horns at crossings. In Georgia, horns do not sound at Quiet Zones, locations were silent crossings have been established. These are hard learned lessons to learn on an investigation. Darwinism may get the best of you. That is, if you aren’t paying attention.

Recently, API conducted a follow-up investigation at the Camp Creek train wreck site in McDonough, Georgia. In 1900, torrential rain storms caused a train truss bridge to fail and the Southern No. 7 plunged into the creek. At least 36 people died (See previous blog). Reported hauntings abound in this area. At API that translates into follow-up investigations.

The sky was clear and the temperatures hovered in the mid-forties. All in all it was a beautiful evening for an outdoor investigation. Upon arrival we observed the predictable animal bone. Found some last time, too. After setting up our equipment we waited for the first train to pass. I captured lots of orbs. Further, I was able to distinguish between condensation images and anomalies. Some of the pictures are fabulous.

My father was fascinated with trains. He built model trains. He traveled by rail back in the day when it truly was an adventure. He even founded a train hobby club. I know trains. I also know to respect them. Alternatively, Jenn has not lived near train tracks. If she had, she would know that 1) trains run at night; 2) trains run on weekends; and 3) trains come from both directions. However, Jenn was eager to test out the hiking shoes and use the climbing rope. There was no stopping her. Well, there was, but it came later. Jenn marched across the tracks toward the bridge. She situated herself and began an EVP session. She even considered (albeit briefly) scaling the ravine. Thankfully logic caught the better of her. When she saw the train light she was able to collect her equipment and to shout out a warning to me. And then she ran. (It’s actually quite comical when you listen to the tape)

I was farther down and still on solid footing. I turned and hustled toward safer ground. When I saw the light, I scurried down an embankment and starting taking pictures. My Ovilus III was running. It produced the following words: saw, paranormal, although, water, down, main, and foliage. This seemed clear to me. There was water down the embankment that was heavily lined with foliage. And I was too close!

After the train passed, I saw a light hovering along the tracks. It wasn’t coming from the brush and it wasn’t from a car. I captured a few pictures of it. The anomalies are dense and some show movement. The night produced a lot of laughter, a few prayers of thanks, and at least one life insurance policy subscription. Hopefully Jenn remembers the train rules since I’m sure we will be going back for more evidence.

 

Orb after Train

Orb after Train

 

The Presbytere

23 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by The Haunted Librarian in Disasters, Ghost Hunting, New Orleans

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Tags

Cabildo, Fats Domino, Hurricane Katrina, Mardi Gras, new orleans, Presbytere, St. Louis Cathedral

The Presbytere flanks the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

The Presbytere flanks the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

The Presbytere

Originally called the “Casa Curial” (Ecclesiastical House), the Presbytere was built in 1793 to house the Capuchin monks who ran the St. Louis Cathedral. Designed to complement the Cabildo which buttresses the cathedral on the other side, the Presbytere has been used for commercial purposes and as a courthouse. The State purchased the building in 1911 and converted it into a museum. Currently, it houses the “Living with Hurricanes: Katrina & Beyond” exhibit that captures the devastation endured by Hurricane Katrina and the elaborate “Mardi Gras: It’s Carnival Time in Louisiana.” Visit http://www.crt.state.la.us/museum/properties/presbytere/ for more information.

Observations: A stunning art installation of hanging soda bottles reflecting colored light welcomes you into the building. Straight ahead you see the Fats Domino’s piano, recovered following Hurricane Katrina. The “Living with Hurricanes” exhibit is eye-opening for anyone who has never lived in a hurricane-prone area. I especially liked the faded blue jeans with one man’s personal information. He used a Sharpie marker to write his Social Security Number, address, and wife’s contact information just in case he died during the hurricane’s aftermath.

The second floor is festive with an extensive historical analysis of Margi Gras. The collection includes float designs, costume designs, costumes, pageantry, and everything related to the early days of Mardi Gras. Anyone visiting New Orleans should visit. It is well worth the price of admission—which is cheap!

Photographs did not capture any irregularities. My Ghost Radar wasn’t that active either. I would love to go back for a full-on night investigation, though.

The used soda bottles reflecting colored light.

The used soda bottles reflecting colored light.

Fats Domino's piano recovered after Hurricane Katrina.

Fats Domino’s piano recovered after Hurricane Katrina.

It's Mardi Gras every day.

It’s Mardi Gras every day.

 

 

 

 

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Archer Paranormal Investigations

Archer Paranormal Investigations

The Haunted Librarian

Gainesville, Florida

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