Category Archives: Famous Locations

For Sale (Actually Lease): Poveglia Island—Ghosts Included

19 Saturday Apr 2014

Posted by in Diseases, Famous Locations, Ghost Hunting, Haunted Houses, Hospitals, Real Estate

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Haunted Poveglia Island Up for Auction

Haunted Poveglia Island Up for Auction

 

For Sale (Actually Lease): Poveglia Island—Ghosts Included

Seventeen prime acres of island property are up for sale in Italy—complete with ghostly hauntings. Poveglia is Italy’s most haunted island, and if you have millions of dollars sitting idly by you can be its new owner.

The island is public property owned by the Italian government. The sale is an effort to reduce the country’s public debt. In the 18th century deceased plague victims were dumped on the grounds. In 1922, a doctor conducted lobotomies on mental patients using crude tools. The mental hospital closed in 1968 amid rampant rumors of abuse. The island is reportedly haunted by tens of thousands of distressed spirits. The most notable ghost is that of plague victim Little Maria. Although the island’s access is restricted, paranormal investigators have conducted investigations on the island.

Several buildings remain on the main island including a hospital, church, bell tower turned lighthouse, prison, and administration buildings. A canal divides the main smaller island with a larger, mostly undeveloped island. The third island has some remains of a fort. Plague pits are scattered there as well. An estimated 10,000 people died on the island throughout its illustrious history. That alone should caution any potential buyer.

Italy isn’t really selling the island. Instead, it is offering a 99-year lease of the property with a starting bid of 350,000 euros (approximately $490,000 US). Not a wise investment decision!

However, it begs the question as to whether anyone would purchase the island. Personally, I would not. This location is steeped in possible paranormal drama. It’s a literal quagmire. There is simply too much going on. Although I would purchase an historic property, even with the possibility of hauntings, this island is out of the question. Some places are not meant to be owned but to be admired. From far, far away. But, if anyone asks me to investigate, I am all in!

Povelgia--Interior

Povelgia–Interior

The Not-So “Haunted” Pillar of Augusta

07 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by in Famous Locations, Ghost Hunting, Statues and Monuments, Urban Legends

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Haunted Pillar Augusta

The historic marker for the “Haunted” Pillar in Augusta, Georgia.

The Not-So “Haunted” Pillar of Augusta

Urban legend claims that an unknown preacher was denied the right to sermonize at the location. He demanded that the city pay to build him a church in order for him to speak to the masses. When the city refused to give into his demands, the preacher cursed the location. Some versions claim he cursed the pillar specifically. According to local legend, the preacher vowed that anyone who attempted to move the pillar would be killed (or struck down). This reportedly occurred in 1829.

Built in 1830, the “Haunted” Pillar once stood at the Market House on Broad Street in downtown Augusta, Georgia. The Market House stood strong until February 7, 1878 when a tornado leveled the market leaving only the one pillar. Additional stories claim that the pillar was the sight of multiple lightning strikes and an alarming number of automobile accidents.

The pillar has been moved several times. In addition, it may have undergone significant cosmetic enhancement (i.e., been rebuilt). It begs the question: Is it haunted?

Doubtful. The Internet is ripe with tales of people hearing footsteps around the pillar. People turn to the “curse” and claim the preacher is responsible. However, the story is murky. The supposed “curse” was done one year before the pillar was built. In addition, the lone surviving pillar has been moved a number of times. And it has been rebuilt and restored numerous more times.

Currently, the pillar sits at a precarious intersection, which may be the cause of all of the car wrecks. And, despite the contrary, lightning does strike the same place twice. Don’t fall it. It’s a good story, but not a haunted location.

The Actual Pillar

The Actual Pillar

 

Duke University. What happened?

30 Sunday Mar 2014

Posted by in Famous Locations, Famous People, Research, Universities

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ESP Duke Parapsychology Lab

Participants are tested for ESP at the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory.

Duke University. What happened?

With Mercer’s Cinderella performance against Duke University in college basketball, I wondered: What happened? March Madness aside, I’m still curious. How did one of the most prestigious parapsychology laboratories lose favor? However, public interest still grows.

Duke Parapsychology Lab

Original home for the lab.

Starting in the 1930s, major colleges and universities in the United States and Great Britain opened research laboratories focusing on different aspects of parapsychology. One of the most well-known was the facility housed at Duke. In 1935, J.B. Rhine and William McDougall started the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory. For the next three decades the lab received substantial private funding and enjoyed the support of the university. However, by the early sixties, funding sources dried up and academic scrutiny displaced the lab and it moved off of the college campus. Seems the heyday of parapsychological research ended. But had it really?

According to Glen McDonald’s article “Whatever Happened to Parapsychology?” (http://news.discovery.com/human/psychology/whatever-happened-to-parasychology-1306241.htm) public interest remains high. Further, research continues. The Rhine Research Center (current name of the former lab) continues Dr. Rhine’s mission but works with substantially less staff, funding, and academic support. The skeptics are incredibly vocal and better work the media than the parapsychology academics. And academic skeptics are particularly pesky. They claim that since experiments cannot be consistently repeated in controlled conditions, ESP and the like cannot exist. It’s plain tomfoolery to them.

Dr. Rhine died in 1980 without any breakthrough in research. This week news outlets reported that scientists had established “mind reading.” Brain scanners were used to recreate images that participants were thinking. Gee, that sure sounds closely related to ESP.

Duke Parapsychology Lab

Group photograph of the staff at the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory.

Duke University made a mistake pushing Rhine and his research off the college grounds. Had the school rode the 60s wave and ignored the naysayers, parapsychological research would be further along. As it is, fewer institutes are making strides in the field. Yet, some of cable television’s highest rated shows have some paranormal or parapsychological aspect. The public craves more. We shouldn’t leave it up to “reality tv” to advance the field.

Side note: Stacy Horn has penned a wonderfully dense book about the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory titled Unbelievable: Investigations into Ghosts, Poltergeists, Telepathy, and Other Unseen Phenomena, from the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory (HarperCollins, 2009). It’s not beach reading; however, it effectively captures the essence of lab’s history and parapsychology’s place in modern science. Worth the read!

For those seeking the “quick” version, see Horn’s blog http://www.echonyc.com/~horn/unbelievable/. It is chalked full of information and pictures.

 

Book Review: Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery

26 Wednesday Mar 2014

Posted by in Books, Cemeteries, Famous Locations, Historic Oakland Cemetery, Photography, Statues and Monuments

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Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery book

Cover Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery by Ren and Helen Davis

Book Review: Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery: An Illustrated History and Guide

By Ren and Helen Davis

Every book about cemeteries should be this stunning. (Actually, every cemetery in America should strive to be this tranquil.) Visually appealing, this book matches the actual cemetery. It is well organized into four distinct sections. Each section begins with an illustrated map denoting the gravesites discussed and important structures. A brief overview provides the reader with enough information to pique her interest. The authors pack as many stories into the book as possible. The final chapter details the importance of the cemetery and its role in the Atlanta community. And quite a role it has. History lives on while visitors stroll through this beautiful cemetery. Preservation is paramount. Through annual events and memberships, funds are reinvested into maintenance and education. Oakland Cemetery is more than the final resting place to Atlanta’s population. It exemplifies the garden cemetery plan prevalent in the nineteenth century. The Introduction by Timothy J. Crimmins details the popularity of rural garden cemeteries and their importance in American history. The book does justice to the numerous mausoleums and statuary located throughout the grounds. Stories of great wealth, and sorrow, reside within this cemetery.

Nuts and Bolts: This book contains everything that makes a good book great. It is well-researched. Crisp photographs are accompanied with historical images. The writing style is casual and appealing. The Appendices are clearly structured and relevant to the content. Although not a proper bibliography, the Notes section does provide enough information for the reader to continue on. Finally, the Index is thorough.

Conclusion: Visit Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery. It is a subtle reminder of our history and challenges us to honor the dead. Before you leave, stop in the adorable gift shop (the former bell tower) and purchase this book.

Amityville Horror = HOAX

19 Wednesday Mar 2014

Posted by in Conspiracy Theories, Famous Locations, Famous People, Hoaxes, Live Paranormal, Radio Show

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Crowd Outside 112 Ocean Avenue

Crowd Outside 112 Ocean Avenue

Amityville Horror = HOAX

Amityville was a hoax. There. I said it. I only wished that potential clients believed it and would stop trying to equate their experiences with those of the Lutzes.

Coroner Removes Dead DeFeo Family

Coroner Removes Dead DeFeo Family

The Amityville Horror story was promulgated to solidify the defense for Ronald “Butch” DeFeo, Jr. Mr. DeFeo was accused of slaughtering his family on November 13, 1974. Suspicion quickly turned to DeFeo, who was 24 years old at the time. The motive was simple: life insurance money. DeFeo’s defense attorney William Weber concocted the demonic possession defense in an effort to prove DeFeo was insane. It backfired. However, it propelled George and Kathy Lutz into the international spotlight—thanks to writer Jay Anson.

Newspaper Story

Newspaper Story

Melvin Harris aptly explains the plot in his non-fiction book Investigating the Unexplained. I’ll hit the high notes:

  • Long Island Press interviewed George Lutz for an article published on January 17, 1976.
  • The article detailed “tame” subjective experiences.
  • Good Housekeeping published an article in April 1977.
  • That article claimed a Roman Catholic priest warned the family about a bedroom.
  • The article also stated that Kathy’s aunt, a former nun, berated George for over 3 hours.
  • Jay Anson’s book was published in 1977 declaring “A True Story.”
  • The movie based on the book opened in 1979.
  • Paranormal investigators deemed the incident uninteresting and declined to investigate.
  • Police Sgt. Cammorato later denied visiting the house, contrary to what George stated.
  • Father Pecorara also denied entering the home.

George’s original story morphed into a tall tale of demons and levitations. Little has been corroborated. Even less has been authenticated. The real victims are the house at 112 Ocean Avenue and the subsequent owners, who successful settled a lawsuit related to these events.

I’m amazed at the number of people who contact Archer Paranormal Investigations (www.archer-pi.com) and report similar occurrences. It is almost as if there is a checklist for demonic possession. Black flies? Yep, by the hundreds. Glowing eyes in the windows? Yes, looks like a pig. Or a boar. Or maybe even a hog. Clergy warn you about the house? How did you know? Just after we had it blessed.

The point is: Don’t believe the hype. Most of the stories are just that—stories. However, there is a small percentage of cases that are real. Every case is different. Treat them that way.

Tune in this Thursday, March 20 on Archer Paranormal Radio on www.liveparanormal.com as we discuss Conspiracy Theories.

Movie Poster for The Amityville Horror

Movie Poster for The Amityville Horror

 

Have I Been Scared? Short Answer: Yes, But…

16 Sunday Mar 2014

Posted by in Cemeteries, Famous Locations, Ghost Hunting, Orbs

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Cemetery Orbs

Cemetery Orbs

Have I Been Scared? Short Answer: Yes, But…

A couple weeks ago I was participating in a career talk at the local high school. I’m a Rotarian and love, love, love my club. I also like talking—I am a lawyer after all. So, basically the Rotarian sits in a circle with 8-10 students. We share how we got to where we are. For me, that’s difficult. Professionally, I am taking time off. I am enjoying my hobby—ghost hunting. And that’s what I told them: Everyone needs a hobby.

The question came up if I’ve ever been scared. I have. But there is more to the story. I’ve previously blogged about a cemetery not far from me that is supposed to be pure evil. Urban legend has it that satanic ceremonies were held there back in the 80s. Maybe even longer. Visitors are warned not to wear anything religious. No crosses or crucifixes. If you do, beware: You may be burned! This location is so evil that no one will disclose the locations for fear of injury.

I’m a former librarian. Further, I’m a researcher. And I’m nosy. It didn’t take me long, but I found the cemetery. Our team API scheduled an investigation. Our cameraman grew up in the area. He had heard the stories and he wasn’t going to risk bodily harm or anything else. He backed out. Jenn and I went.

We were so amped up from the stories, and there are plenty of them in print, that we were extra diligent in our protection. Our plan was to scout out the location. No attempted communication. Observation was the goal. We were going to walk around and to record anything that occurred.

Immediately upon entering, the orbs were everywhere. I have never seen so many orbs. Nearly every picture had something. Our Ghost Radar was running and very busy. It was identifying lots of energy blips, and quite a few were “red.” DEREK, our digital voice recorder, was recording. All was good. Jenn and I walked 20-30 feet in and then Jenn stopped. (Here is where I point out that Jenn is by far more experienced in exploration and she knows a lot about demons and the like.) My heart is racing. Remember, my mind is overrunning with tales of devil worship and human sacrifice. Jenn has stopped and she hears something. I don’t know this at the time, but the band with my cross that she is wearing is heating up. I about catch up to her when she asks: “I’m good. How about you?” (Hell, to the yes.) I reply: “Yep. I could leave.” I turn around and hustle to the road.

At the road, Jenn shows me her wrist. I feel it. Yep, it was warm. However, I think all of the outside influences—the stories and mystery—made me more afraid then the actual event. I was already pumped up to be scared. And scared I was. Reflecting back, I realized what happened. I talked myself into it. Ultimately we went back and did a daytime investigation. Our conclusion: Urban Legend. Life Lesson: Mind really is over matter.

 

Tune in Thursday, March 20th

16 Sunday Mar 2014

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

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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.

 

This Week on Archer Paranormal Radio

11 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by in Conferences, Famous Locations, Ghost Hunting, Hospitals, Hotels & Motels, Live Paranormal, Paranormal, Radio Show, Universities

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Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Waverly Hills Sanatorium

This week on the Archer Paranormal Radio:

1. Owners of Waverly Hills Sanatorium want to convert it to a 4-star hotel. Would you book a room?

2. In the News: Lost to History. University discovers 2,000+ unmarked graves in construction expansion.

3. Parting thoughts from GhoStock 2014.

4. Why attending paranormal conferences enhances your education.

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

Tonight on The Archer Paranormal Hour

06 Thursday Mar 2014

Posted by in Famous Locations, Famous People, Ghost Hunting, Hotels & Motels, Live Paranormal, Media, Paranormal, Radio Show

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Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Tonight on the Archer Paranormal Hour:

1. Zak Bagans (Ghost Adventurers) purchases “demon” house. Are the “Portal to Hell” House claims falling apart?

2. Owners of Waverly Hills Sanatorium want to convert it to a 4-star hotel. Would you book a room?

3. Final thoughts from Jenn before her session “Demonic Possession as Defense to Murder” at GhoStock 2014.

Tune in tonight at 7 pm EST on www.liveparanormal.com

 

Abandoned GA: Atlanta Prison Farm

04 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by in Famous Locations, Farms, Ghost Hunting, Orbs, Prisons

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Atlanta Prison Farm Graffiti

Atlanta Prison Farm Graffiti

Abandoned Atlanta: Old Atlanta Prison Farm

In the Metro-Atlanta area sits approximately 400 acres of abandoned land. The Old Atlanta Prison Farm (APF) operated as a correctional facility from 1945-1995. The APF was a 700+-bed detention facility housing minor criminals with the potential for vocational training. The area included a large main building with a smaller administration building. The land was used for agricultural purposes. At its peak, the APF housed 1,000 inmates. The working farm ran a dairy, raised livestock, and canned vegetables. There was also a commissary and barber shop on the grounds.

In 1940, a bumper crop of 7,000 bushels of corn was harvested. Further, Superintendent H.H. Gibson is pictured calling the hogs and stating: “…this year 12,954 pounds of fresh pork have been consumed and 44,609 pounds have been sold to packing houses, while 240 pigs are being fattened on kitchen waste and corn.” Every able-bodied incarcerated person was required to work on the terraced farm and pasture land. Operations ceased in 1995.

Atlanta Prison Farm Crop

Atlanta Prison Farm Crop

Superintendent H.H. Gibson

Superintendent H.H. Gibson

 

Today the predicament is that the land is owned by the City of Atlanta (Fulton County); however, the acreage is situated in DeKalb County. Apparently, neither governmental entity wants to take ownership. When a fire broke out in 2009, it was reported that the DeKalb Fire Department refused to respond and let the fire rage until it burnt itself out.

With any abandoned property, the rumors and half-truths run rampant. According to an Atlanta Journal Constitution article an elephant named Maud and Willie B., an early gorilla, both from the Atlanta Zoo are buried on the property. There is an unsubstantiated claim that an unnamed giraffe is also buried on the property.

Plans for a possible green space have stalled. And that’s unfortunate. If realized, the green space total more than Piedmont Park (189 acres), Grant Park (131 acres), and Centennial Olympic Park (21 acres) combined!

Investigation: The weather was extremely cooperative the day I visited. There were other people walking through the buildings as well. It seems to be a popular place for photo shoots. Limiting our time to the two main buildings, we were able to capture some orbs down in the back hallway where individual cells are. My Ghost Radar was extremely active in the main entrance and stairwell. I collected 25 words. And the radar detected over 240 signals!

The best part of the investigation had nothing to do with the paranormal. Some of the graffiti is stunning. Some humorous. Most juvenile. Delve deep to find the true gems—and maybe the homeless man sleeping on one of the metal bunks.

Visits: The Old Atlanta Prison Farm is located on Key Road SE. Depending on your point of entry, two large spooky trees sit by a dirt road. This is the road that leads to the main buildings. I recommend going during the daytime since there is a great deal of debris on the ground.

 

Atlanta Prison Farm Orb

Atlanta Prison Farm Orb