Insanely Haunted Places

[nakedtwister]

I'm with you John. I grew up in a house in Altoona on Howard Ave. and some weird shit went on there too. Same thing with the stairs here!!!!!! I was about 13 and getting ready to go outside to sled ride and at the top of the stairs I felt something push my shoulder and down the flight of stairs I went. Got up totally unharmed. No pain!!!!! Washer and dryer would turn on by themselves. One weekend we came home from Maryland and all but one door of the house upstairs was off of the hinges, the hinge pins being pulled. My mother was giving my baby sister a bath one day and went into the room with her to dress her and I heard a crash. Ran upstairs to see what the hell was going on and they were both under a dresser with all off the drawers and clothes on top off them. Mom got a cut on her foot. My Grandmother was up from Maryland one weekend and stayed in the same room when the antique dresser on the other side of the room went ballistic. The swivel mirror had some how unscrewed itself and flipped over on old vase, never touching it, and ended up on the floor unbroken. The stories are too many to tell, but I read a book about poltergeists on time and alot of the same stuff in the book happened at that house. So you be the judge.

[Punkinhead]

Well, I for one have lived in two haunted houses.

The first was a house I owned in Tyrone on Lincoln Avenue. That house still had the spirit of the old matriarch who died in our bedroom. You could just feel her presence in the house, and on occasion, my wife and daughter caught glimpses of her.

The second one, (I am getting goosebumps just thinking about it) was EXTREMELY haunted. Here are just some of the incidents:

1. Objects constantly being moved.
2. There was a window in the upstairs bedroom were EVERY night (even in the wintertime) there was a pile of dead bees on the windowsill. Clean them up, and then next morning, more dead bees.
3. If you were there alone, you would hear someone walking on the above floor, but no one was there.
4. One day my wife was taking some clothes downstairs to wash, when she felt a hand in the middle of her back PUSHING HER DOWN THE STAIRS!! Once again, no one home.
5. My daughter's bedroom was bone chilling cold, even in the summertime. We tried forcing heat into the room, and it seemed to absorb it like a black hole.
6. My brother Tim was there alone cutting grass, when he saw somebody at the Bee window. He dropped everything, left and never returned.
7. Our dog would NEVER enter the house. If we forced it in, it would sit at the door shivering and piss itself.

I lived in this rented house for less than a year (1974-1975) and I couldn't wait to get out. Now here's the kicker, the house is still standing, and has not been lived in since I left.

If you are interested, contact me and I will give you directions. The house is on route 403 north of Strongstown.

John Homerski Jr,
john@homerski.com

That sounds exactly like my friend's house that he had exorcised...I know there are some creepy places up in that area from Dilltown to Strongstown and around there.

[SpellboundByMetal]

this is getting more and more interesting! and just in time for halloween. i love halloween. the only holiday i care about. i think ill be "that guy" dressed as Michael Myers this year. Those movies kicked ass.

Punkinhead- did the exorcism on your friend's house work?

[Jim Price]

I know Baker Mansion in Altoona usually has some programs with paranormal investigators as Halloween approaches. They also do a program where you can be in the Mansion on All Hallow's Eve (Oct. 31), and the paranormal investigators are usually there conducting a program. I know there is an admission fee that night, and they limit the reservations to 25 or 35 people. You can call Baker Mansion for information about this year; I think their number is 942-3916.

[SpellboundByMetal]

this is going to be great...and hopefully scary. strongstown sounds like a great starting place. go straight for the good shit. thanks again everyone!
anything going on during halloween???

[ThrashKillsYou]

I stopped encountering stuff like this since I was in crumb cemetery with my brother. We stopped the car cause we were busy doing something and out of the blue we heard a little girl scream and something hit the back of the car. We took off out of there like there was no tomorrow. Others were when i was living in the house i grew up in. It was a church built in the 1800's that was later split into two sides (my parents rented out the other side). My brother woke up a few nights screaming that someone was standing beside the bed so he pissed his pants and held the covers over his head. I slept in the room the led to the attic so when I would go up there to play my drums I would get to my drums which were on the other side (huge attic) hear the steps creaking and the door slam shut. So after all this happened my family knew we had to do something so my mom got her friend to come in and see what she could do. What she did was she had a ladder in front of a window with rose pedals covered in holy water on each step. The wondow was open the night she did it and since no one was allowed in the room that night I thought it was really weird that in the morning all the pedals were of the steps and the window was shut.

[Punkinhead]

this is getting more and more interesting! and just in time for halloween. i love halloween. the only holiday i care about. i think ill be "that guy" dressed as Michael Myers this year. Those movies kicked ass.

Punkinhead- did the exorcism on your friend's house work?

It seemed to but, it's hard to tell. I mean, there were no longer cups flying off of walls and clothes being thrown across rooms but, there were still odd things going on there...maybe from the other stuff it's one of those places where after you see shit, it never really feels comfortable again.

[grimmbass]

The Knickerbocker in Altoona is full of strange energy....and it's also listed in Boos and Brews. Boos and Brews is a GREAT book written by a couple of PA ghost hunters (who are, incidentally, friends with the "Ghost Hunter" guys from the Sci Fi channel) which lists the great haunted bars and taverns in our state.

These guys also did a free presentation at the Lilly Borough Building last year...I'll find out if they're coming back this year. Stay tuned for further announcements.

Great thread, btw!

Kent

[bassist_25]

(who are, incidentally, friends with the "Ghost Hunter" guys from the Sci Fi channel)

Did anyone see the episode where TAPS came to Altoona? They checked out a resident's home and also a theatre in Toon Town.

One house here in Houtzdale is suppose to be very haunted. A number of my friends have experience with either being in the place or living there for a while. Supposably, it was a small hospital about a century ago. Since mental retardation was thought to be the work of the devil back then, a lot of the people with mental handicaps were locked in the closets. One of my friend's daughter has an "imaginary" friend named Amy that lives in the house. One Christmas, my friend's daughter started opening presents and when she was asked why, she responded by saying that Amy said it would okay. Every child who goes into that house winds up playing with a girl named Amy. Some people did some investigations on the records, and it turns out that there was a girl named Amy who was a patient there. I think they told me that she died of thyphoid fever or something.

I've been in the house a few times and never experienced anything strange. I'm not a skeptic and I'm not a believer either, just objective about any information that comes about. Eitherway, the house if fucking creepy to look at.

[YankeeRose]

I've seen, heard and sensed stuff all of my life...what is the address of the place in Houtzdale? My daughter saw something in the place we're living in, earlier this year...I had been in the basement doing laundry and when I came up, she looked at me with an odd expression on her face and asked me how long I'd been down there - I told her, "1/2 an hour or so" and asked, "why?" "Because about 5 minutes ago, I thought I saw you walk from the hall into the living room, that's why and it WAS a woman!", was her slightly shocked reply. "Unless it was a dude with long hair?" and "COOL!", was my reaction. She wasn't afraid though and I was happy about that...I've never been afraid of that stuff, either. I'll jump during a "good" scary movie though, go figure? I saw the show on Sci-Fi with the house in Altoona, very cool. I taped it, as a matter of fact. I missed the following one with the Theatre, though.






Peace,
Donna

[Tallyn]

Haunted Places, let's see...

Becky's Grave on Mt. Airy can't be found anymore. The cemetery that sits there, Snavely, isn't very active, but it's pretty foreboding. I (along with a friend) searched the cemetery and the woods surrounding it for the grave, and we never found it. Since the story began, it was a spot for everyone in town to go to try to find it. The stone has been destroyed, and the cemetery itself is vandalized constantly.

Livermore is very fun place. It's out near Blairsville. There's a cemetery up on a hill, where supposedly (I've never found it) there is the grave of the real killer from the 1800's who was actually named Michael Myers. This is the cemetery from "Night of the Living Dead," however, they never filmed inside. They only filmed the sign that said "Livermore Cemetery" and it was only in the old black and white version. At the bottom of the hill of the cemetery, if you ducked under the gate, you'll find the water that covers the old town of Livermore.

Ages ago (I can't remember the year, but it can be found on the internet), Livermore was a small town. The state decided they wanted to put a resevoir where the town was. There was a lot of discussion over it, and in the end, they flooded the town, with everyone in it, and called it an "accident." I have been here several times, and each time something different happens. There are several stories about the place, and I can only share my own. If you go into the cemetery, be careful. There are stories that dogs guard it. I have seen them, and had the shit scared out of me. If you go during the day, and the water over the town is low enough, you can see the chapel of the church. The one night I was there, walking across the walkway over the water, I could hear moaning, and screaming, and splashing... but I couldn't see anything. Granted, the splashing could have been fish or animals, but it was pretty loud, and I should have been able to find what it was with my flashlight. It's definitely an experience.

[bassist_25]

what is the address of the place in Houtzdale?

It's the white house straight across from the firehall. My friend's mother's friend (wow, that's a mouthful) owns it, but nobody lives there right now.

[YankeeRose]

what is the address of the place in Houtzdale?

It's the white house straight across from the firehall. My friend's mother's friend (wow, that's a mouthful) owns it, but nobody lives there right now.

That place is in my neighborhood. It's actually a very light Green paint, isn't it, as well as Blue and several other hues on the sides? The only strange vibe I get from that place, are from the Pigeons living in the eaves!

[Staceman]

A good read, dispelling the legend of Livermore:

http://www.pittsburghnewage.net/ghosthu ... ermore.htm

[Tallyn]

A good read, dispelling the legend of Livermore:

http://www.pittsburghnewage.net/ghosthu ... ermore.htm

You burst my bubble... **pout** But it still doesn't debunk the things that I experienced. I hope they finish up their investigation soon.

[YankeeRose]

BUMP for Ram Z. It doesn't matter if anyone "believes" us or not...
Those of us who have seen or literally felt things don't care what others think or believe, it doesn't change what has happened.

[ZappasXWife]

Has anyone ever been to the Baughman cemetary in Tyrone? Is it scary? Think its really haunted? I'm going there this week-end...my daughter told me some bizarre story about circus freaks on a train that wrecked there and now they haunt the area, as well as it being an ancient burial ground. And her friend's mom took pics that contained lots of orbs. Anxious to hear if anyone knows anything...

[Trucula]

I never heard of it being haunted but I can tell you the train wreck thing is true. I am a train buff and have a small book at home that tells the story of the train. It lost brakes coming down the mountain and jumped the rails near Tyrone and alot died, animals too. I don't have the book here but can re-read it for more details...It was long ago and it took the news like 2 hours to reach town before anyone could come to help and alot were buried near the town. Alot had to stay till they could get another train or whatever to leave.

[Fan4all]

Patty Wilson is great. Anyone should buy her books. Here is a list of haunted places I have been:

1. Baker Mansion (Altoona) - Never witness the dancin' dress but I have seen it several times. However I always have camera trouble in the house, alot of my pictures don't turn out at all or they have what appears to be smoke (although u can't smoke in the buildin') or light dots everywhere. Last time I went, only 2 of my pictures turned out. The very last 2, which were of the mansion itself.

2. The Royer House (Williamsburg) - Spooky! There is always this unexplained smell there. Not perfume, but definately a woman smell. It only lingers for a couple seconds. I have witnessed this 7 times. Also there is a cold spot near the stairs which I walked into the 3rd and 4th time I was there (too scared to do it again!)!

3. Gettysburg Battlefield (Gettysburg) - This is really illegal but I will tell u about it anyway. If u would like 2 experience a haunting then go do this. Rent a hotel near the battlefield, wear black, and go onto the battlefield anywhere at night! We witnessed the sounds of cannon's going off, gun shots, screams, and smells of gun powder. The freakest was on little round top we looked down the hill and saw flashes of light followed by the sounds of gunfire! Do NOT do this if u are faint of heart because u go on the battlefield at night u will experience ALOT! I told a couple other friends and they went experiencin' the same things. It is a hell of a rush. If u never experienced a ghost, do this and u will here.

4. The Regal Country Club (Huntingdon) - This place has been torn down 4 a couple years now but when I was in school we would go there at night. It was located on Cold Springs Ave. near the high school. In 1 of the upstairs rooms, u could hear a woman laughin'. I heard it 2 times. This was my first experience and it still sends chills down my spine.

5. The Old Oak Tavern (Corncrop's Mills) - My girlfriend had something touch the back of her neck and sent a chill down her spine. I heard someone say "hey" like right in my ear. There was only 6 other people there when this happened.

6. The Old Tin Factory (Near Jim Thorpe) - This factory was in the middle of no where. Something happened that caused the factory 2 explode around the 1920's. They say it was built on an Indian Burial Site. U go down there at night, u see light orbs floatin' around and hear thumpin' sounds and loud booms. We ran out of that place FAST! I would never go back there. EVER!

I have been 2 a couple other's but never experienced anything like, 4D's Lounge, US Hotel, and a couple others. Remember do the Gettysburg thing but don't get caught! If u c light's, run for the wooded area's and get down (this would be the Battlefield Rangers). I can promise u that u will experience something. Another little note about Gettysburg, on a couple place on the battlefield, my camera wouldn't work at all, even puttin' in a new battery right there, I got nothin'. I took the pictures durning the day never at night. Let me know what u guys think!

[YankeeRose]

A Bartender at the White Lady Tavern said she owns a book about local hauntings and that the haunting at the U.S. Hotel is due to, or "from", a murder that took place in an upstairs room...does anyone else have info on this?

[RAM Z]

Thanks for the bump Yankee! I totally forgot about this thread.

I know for a fact that ghosts , spirits, or whatever ya wanna call them are real cause I've personally witnessed some. The old house I lived in in Rockhill had a ghost in it. People who lived near there said we were the first ones to live in that house in maybe 20 years or so.Since I'm always up late at night, I always heard stuff that my wife didn't. She used to wake up in the middle of the night and I would be either sneek'n around the house with a flashlight or sitting on the edge of the bed listening to the strange sounds from the attic ,which at times sure did sound like someone talking.One time I was up late watch'n t.v. and I thought I saw "something" in the front doorway.
I got up and looked around and nothing was there so I just figured it was the reflection from the t.v. About 2 or 3 weeks later the same thing happens except for this time I could've swore it was a person. I got up and proceeded to sneek out the back door hope'n to catch some young kids screwing around and once again nobody was around.One of the strange things to me was, there should have been some kind of ruckuss cause everyone had dogs ,but there wasn't any! This happened several times after that and each time I would seem to get a better look at this image that was in the doorway. One of the last times I saw it ,I got a rather good look and it appeared to be a tall thin old man with nice clothes on. It was very detailed to the point where I thought I could even make out his facial features. I didn't get freaked out or anything I just sat there in awe and then after a couple of seconds it slowy disappeared as if it were fading away. I never told my wife about any of these things cause she gets very freaked out about stuff like that and I didn't want her to be afraid to stay there when I was away at work. Well strangely enough, she was sitting in the living room talking with some friends and one of them said she thought they heard my daughter cry'n ,who at the time was 1 or 2 years old and they would check on her to see what was wrong. "My daughter isn't here tonight " she said and they just kinda looked at each other like WTF. A little time passed, her friends went home and she settled down for the night and all of the sudden a very clear voice started to sing "You Are My Sunshine" and it was come'n from my daughter's bedroom! She jumped up and ran into that room, turned on the lights and nothing was there. When I got home from work that week she started to tell me what had happened. She told me that she heard an "old man's" voice singing that song and that her grandfather used to sing it to her when she was a little girl when she got scared. I started to laugh and right away she said " what the hell is so funny? Don't you dare tell me you heard it too?" I just smiled and she said" You saw something didn't you?"
I told her what had been going on at the doorway late at night and she got really freaked out! The funny thing was we never told each other about what we saw or heard untill that day and it seemed to be very strange when we did. I never did see that ghost again but the strange things always happened after that. We moved out after 2 years and never really told too many people about it cause of the you're crazy factor involved with ghost stories. That house was later rented by someone else and within a couple of month's they had a priest come in and bless every room cause they said it was haunted! I honestly belive we are not alone in this life and that there is spirits all round us good and bad it's just a matter if you want to see them or THEY want you to see THEM!

Happy Halloween everyone!

[Fan4all]

YankeeRose:
Quote from Patty Wilson's book The Pennsylvania Ghost Guide Vol.II:
"Now I am a careful person when it comes to such things. I want the truth only and I must say that despite my best efforts I can find no verification of such a sensational crime. Of course, I may also add that the information on the hotel in the local archives is very sketchy. They offer only a brief biography of the owners and nothing more. Much of the rest of the history of the building has only remained alive because of the owners and their desire to learn more about the building they have invested so much in.
One of the problems that we encountered was that we have virtually not time frame for this murder--if it ever really did happen. The only point of reference we had was the type of slip the young woman was wearing. It was from around 1900 in style. Of course, that does not mean very much. It is possible that she was wearing something out of style or that it was not really a slip but a filmy nightgown based on a popular design. It would literally take years of research through the newspaper archives to find any proof one way or the other. You would think that such an important event, if it were true would have come down in the oral history of the building, but it did not.
The only oral stories associated with it were that at one time a couple prostitutes used to work out of the hotel. This would not be surprising, as it was a bustling hotel in a wharf district. The hotel catered to all sorts and it would not be a large leap of logic to think that at least a few prostitutes plied their trade there through the years.
I have always maintained that I have no psychic ability and I really don't. However, when Scott, Mike and I returned to that bedroom to check it out again, I felt a terrible war going on in my head. At one point I had to stop because I had lost my equilibrium due to the confusion. I felt strongly that this woman had been a prostitute and that this man hated her for it. I kept hearing two voices in my head. A woman kept screaming "Run!" I felt like she was trying to protect me. Another voice was lower, deeper, a male voice and he kept muttering to himself, "I'll teach that bitch!" Now these impressions, and that's all they were, came before I knew about the possible prostitutes."
She is talkin' about an incident where she went into a room with Mike and they saw a woman on the floor hunched over. She was wearin' the "slip" that Patty is referin' 2. The woman had slash marks across her abdominal area. Mike said goin' down the stairs he saw what appeared 2 be a man carrin' an axe. So they think that this woman was killed by the man carrin' the axe. Pretty grotesque murder if u ask me. I hope this helped u out YankeeRose.

Buy Patty Wilson's books they r all great! Here is a list:
1. Haunted Pennsylvania
2. The Pennsylvania Ghost Guide Vol. I
3. The Pennsylvania Ghost Guide Vol. II
4. Boos And Brews (Hauntings of Pennsylvania's Bars and Taverns)
5. Where Dead Men Walk (this 1 isn't about Pa though, it's about other places said 2 b haunted around the US)

[YankeeRose]

Wow...thanks, Fan4all!
If a woman of ill repute was
murdered there, it's not too hard to believe it could have been kept as quiet as possible...being so brutally murdered, a prime condition for "activity".