For Sale: Modernized Converted Chapel

03 Sunday Feb 2019

Posted by in Cemeteries, Churches, Real Estate, Uncategorized

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For Sale: Modernized Converted Chapel

In the market for a converted chapel? Don’t miss out on this modernized 2,245 square foot 2-story detached home in North Lopham, Norfolk, England. Current price of £490,000 has been slashed nearly £100,000 since listed last April. This 3 bedroom/2 bathroom home features a state-of-the-art kitchen and en suite (master bathroom); oak flooring; underfloor heating on the first (ground) floor; and unobstructed light entering through the wrap-around windows on the second floor. This home is a rare find!

The former Methodist Church was built in 1810 and boasts 36 front yard gravesites, with an additional 14 along the side. The graves date back to the 1870s, when the small cemetery reached capacity. The church closed in 2014 and was sold to a developer in 2016. The building has been completely modernized.

Title excludes the graveyard, which is owned and maintained by the Church of England. Translation: The church will mow the front yard. However, the leasehold is for 999 years. Plan accordingly. Although interest is minimal, someone will snatch a piece of British history at a fantastic price.

10 Things to Know about the Black Dahlia

03 Sunday Feb 2019

Posted by in Famous People, Hauntings, Uncategorized, Unsolved Murders

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10 Things to Know about the Black Dahlia:

Wanted Information poster
Image from the new limited series I an the Night
Crime scene photograph appearing in the newspapers.

Follow this link to read: https://www.hauntjaunts.net/10-things-to-know-about-the-black-dahlia/.

Home Exorcism Leads to Medical Diagnosis

20 Sunday Jan 2019

Posted by in exorcisms, In the News, Uncategorized

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Home Exorcism Leads to Medical Diagnosis

An Albuquerque, New Mexico, man thought his wife was possessed by the devil. Stephen Gutierrez performed a home exorcism dousing his wife, Lorina, with holy water before taking her back to the hospital, where doctors finally diagnosed her with a rare disease.

Initially, Lorina was diagnosed with the flu. However, she began to suffer from paranoia, memory loss, and the inability to speak coherently. After a brief stay in a psychiatric hospital, Lorina was sent home. Her behavior worsened, leading Stephen to believe she was possessed by a demon.

Stephen took matters into his own hands. He attempted to perform an amateurish—and ill-advised—home exorcism. It didn’t work. Stephen then returned Lorina to the hospital.

Doctors diagnosed the 39-year-old mother of three with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, a newly discovered disease where antibodies cause the brain to swell. Tumors are associated with half of all cases. Doctors located and removed a 6” tumor from her ovary.

This is another case where a premature exorcism was performed before a person was competently and completely examined. The Gutierrez family is incredibly lucky. Although Lorina’s disease cannot be cured, it can be treated.

 

Snowstorm Goals 2019: Snow Nessie

20 Sunday Jan 2019

Posted by in Famous Animals, Famous Locations, Loch Ness, Uncategorized

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Photo by: Derek Brizendine

Snowstorm Goals 2019: Snow Nessie

Although it will barely break freezing tomorrow, the Atlanta area isn’t projected to get any measurable amount of snow in the coming weeks. That’s too bad since I’ve decided on my 2019 snowstorm goal: Snow Nessie.

A family in Warrensburg, Missouri, created a giant Loch Ness Monster (a.k.a. Nessie) with their recent snowfall. The “Snow Nessie” took 4 days to create and measures 6’ at her highest point. Creator Jessica Nicholson stated that inspiration came from the 2007 film The Water Horse. Snow Nessie is incredibly popular, as people stop to have their picture taken with her.

I’m fascinated in mysterious creatures that financially support towns. (See my articles on Mothman.) Further, Nessie holds a special place in my heart. Even after the 1934 “Surgeon’s Photograph” was deemed a hoax in 1994, hordes of people descend annually on Loch Ness in hopes of capturing an authentic photograph. Now that’s dedication.

surgeonsphotograph

Infamous “Surgeon’s Photograph”

Hopefully, one day I, too, will travel to Scotland in search of Nessie. In the meantime, I’ll have to build my own snow version—a very, very small version.

Historic Dun Glen Hotel Site Soon Accessible

02 Wednesday Jan 2019

Posted by in Famous Locations, Historic Places, In the News, Paranormal, Uncategorized

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Historic Dun Glen Hotel Site Soon Accessible

A new recreational trail built by the National Park Service is expected to make a long-lost historical site accessible to hikers. The Dun Glen Hotel was lost to a fire in 1930; however, it remained a popular, albeit inaccessible, hiking destination for history buffs and paranormal investigators. Soon, this may change.

The Dun Glen (Dunglen) Hotel was dubbed the “Waldorf of the Mountains.” Alcohol flowed freely in this 4 ½ story, 100-room hotel situated on the New River, across from the dry town of Thurmond, Fayette County, West Virginia. Thomas (Tom) Gaylord McKell built the hotel intending to take advantage of the highly profitable adjacent coal mines and railroad. Opening in 1901, the hotel boasted three floors of guest rooms, a wrap-around verandah, and basement showrooms. And the wealthy guests arrived.

TMcKell

Within a few years, Tom McKell opened the New River Banking & Trust Company on August 11, 1904. Sadly, McKell died shortly thereafter on September 7, 1904 at the age of 59. His son William McKell took over operations.

On July 22, 1930, a devastating fire broke out and destroyed the hotel. Although no guests were injured, George Richardson and Stephen Thomas suffered minor burns. According to the Raleigh Register, the fire consumed the building, including the Earl Nichols grocery and soda counter, located in the terrace basement. Faulty electrical wiring was blamed. Damages totaled $100,000, roughly $1.5 million in today’s dollars. William McKell did not rebuild and abandoned the property.

Today the property sits within the New River Gorge National River park. The park service owns and operates the town of Thurmond as a national historic location. However, the Dun Glen area was left to nature. The new trail has been enthusiastically received. Next summer I will travel back up to Fayette County to check on the progress. I’ll keep you posted.

 

Krampus, the Christmastime Monster

25 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by in Christmas, Holidays, Uncategorized

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Krampus, the Christmastime Monster

Stories of the dark half-goat, half-demon monster terrorizing unruly children pre-dates Christianity. Its roots come from Central-European folklore with the exact specifics unknown. His name is derived from either Dutch krampen, meaning “pick” or “iron,” or the Austrian “pickax.” Some rely on the German translation of “cramp.” Krampus is a Christmastime monster.

The consensus is that the story of Krampus was a pagan morality tale appropriated by Christians. The cautionary tale of Krampus lives on today as a warning to all children contemplating bad behavior, for their “reward” will be living in the underworld (i.e., Hell) for one full year where they will be tortured or possibly eaten. The punishment is severe enough to whip young children into their best behavior.

Krampus Night, or Krampusnacht, begins on December 5th. The saltier companion of Joly Saint Nicholas comes above-ground seeking devilish children. His beverage of choice is Schnapps (a fruity Brandy), go figure, as he swats at misbehaving children with gold painted birch branches.

The unfavorable kidnapping tale alarmed communities in the mid-1900s; therefore, towns were encouraged to tone it down or outright ban such celebrations. However, popularity rose again when the film industry started cranking out Krampus and Krampus-like movies. The 2015 movie Krampus was filmed on a $15 million-dollar budget and grossed over $61 million worldwide. Krampus sells.

While Krampus is NOT the anti-Santa Claus, he is the dispenser of bad news (no presents for you) and discipline. Although the tales mention his eating children, no purported cannibalistic rituals involving Krampus and children have been reported. Maybe the threat of visit was all that was needed.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! And…be on your best behavior.