The only troubling sound I heard the night I spent in the Jailer’s Inn in Bardstown, Kentucky was the sound of a cell door closing. There are two reasons I found that disturbing. First, the jail was shut down late in the twentieth century, so there are no inmates, and it’s unlikely the staff was … [Read more...] about A return to Bardstown, Kentucky: Spending the night in a cell at the Jailer’s Inn, a haunted jail in a town known around the world for its ghosts
Haunted Houses and Buildings
The haunted house is the bedrock of gothic horror. Luckily, historic homes that are open to the public often have their own ghosts. With others you can be content standing outside in the dark of night, peering up at the darkened upstairs corner window. Public buildings of the past aren’t without their own charms, and quite often their own spirits.
Old Wardour Castle … a splendidly haunted ruin in the British countryside
Top: Old Wardour Castle, Tisbury, Wiltshire “On the south western border of Wiltshire about half between Salisbury and Shaftesbury and in the parish Tisbury stand the ivy crowned remains of the old castle Wardour.” The Antiquary, Volumes 3-4 Front Cover.W. Allen, 1873 Old Wardour Castle was … [Read more...] about Old Wardour Castle … a splendidly haunted ruin in the British countryside
Ghost stories and supernatural occurrences from Avebury circle and henge
Entrance to the Avebury henge Hair stands high on the cat's back like a ridge of threatening hills. Sheepdogs howl, make tracks and growl --- their tails hanging low. And young children falter in their games at the altar of life's hide-and-seek between tall pillars, where Sunday-night … [Read more...] about Ghost stories and supernatural occurrences from Avebury circle and henge
Living With Ghosts, Part One: The Downstairs and Restoring This Old Gothic House
Author's Note: This is the first in a series of pieces on my childhood home. It's my own story, more or less. I did fudge a few details to protect the innocent. I'm in the process of whipping it into shape, to stay or to sell it and go. It's like This Old House with ghosts, and if anyone has any … [Read more...] about Living With Ghosts, Part One: The Downstairs and Restoring This Old Gothic House
A historic home in Salem finds its way into Lovecraft’s fiction
The Crowninshield Bentley House c.1727-30. Click here to view larger and more images from Salem, Massachusetts. Part of the Peabody Essex Museum and available for tours, June through October126 Essex Street at Washington Square “I lied when I said she had gone away. I killed her. I had to. It was … [Read more...] about A historic home in Salem finds its way into Lovecraft’s fiction
Confronting the ghosts of my soul and of the dead in Avebury henge, and Churchyard Cottage
The Cove in Avebury World Heritage Site. Click here to view more images from Avebury or to order a print from the Wytchery It’s about 11 p.m., January 12, 2016. I’m sitting on the ring stone near the southern entrance of the great circle of Avebury henge. It’s fucking cold. I’m fucking drunk. … [Read more...] about Confronting the ghosts of my soul and of the dead in Avebury henge, and Churchyard Cottage
A True Ghost Story for Christmas: Abigail of Montauk Point Lighthouse
Montauk Point Lighthouse, c. 1796, Montauk, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York It’s a curious phenomenon that people who live far from the ocean are obsessed with lighthouses. Here in southern Illinois, my mother collected lighthouses. At an art fair a while back where I sold my wares, the only … [Read more...] about A True Ghost Story for Christmas: Abigail of Montauk Point Lighthouse
Roaming the night in Mt. Vernon, Indiana on the trail of Black Annie and a haunting ghost story from my childhood
MT. VERNON, INDIANA IS A RIVER TOWN. Set on the Ohio river near the place where it is fed by the Big Wabash River, its past and present depends heavily on river traffic. It’s a warm autumn night, but the breeze from the river puts a chill in the air as I get out of the pickup truck and start up the … [Read more...] about Roaming the night in Mt. Vernon, Indiana on the trail of Black Annie and a haunting ghost story from my childhood
Yorktown Ghost Stories: Colonial era ghosts still haunt the streets of this landmark village of the American Revolution
The Nelson House is an imposing edifice by anyone's standards. Three stories tall and on a hill overlooking the York River, the house was believed to be for a time, the headquarters of British General Cornwallis during the American Revolution, and was a frequent target of American and French cannon … [Read more...] about Yorktown Ghost Stories: Colonial era ghosts still haunt the streets of this landmark village of the American Revolution
The best haunted hotels and inns: Lemp Mansion – A house built on beer, brought down by suicides and debauchery makes for a great ghoulish destination
Ann Barrett: What did he do to make this house so evil, Mr. Fischer? Benjamin Franklin Fischer: Drug addiction, alcoholism, sadism, beastiality, mutilation, murder, vampirism, necrophilia, cannibalism, not to mention a gamut of sexual goodies. Shall I go on? Ann Barrett: How did it end? Benjamin … [Read more...] about The best haunted hotels and inns: Lemp Mansion – A house built on beer, brought down by suicides and debauchery makes for a great ghoulish destination
Rockcliffe Mansion: A haunted house legend in Hannibal, worthy of Twain himself
They had started down the hill by this time. There in the middle of the moonlit valley below them stood the "ha'nted" house, utterly isolated, its fences gone long ago, rank weeds smothering the very doorsteps, the chimney crumbled to ruin, the window-sashes vacant, a corner of the roof caved in. … [Read more...] about Rockcliffe Mansion: A haunted house legend in Hannibal, worthy of Twain himself
The Bell Witch Cave and Cabin: An American haunting in the hills of Tennessee turns up tales of Kate, Betsy and old John Bell
"When we were kids, Jerry used to make fun of Herbie Bell, making different names up based on Bell. Hell's bells. Herbie's belly, shit like that. Anyway, one day here comes Herbie and his dad, who informs us that Herbie is going to kick our asses for making fun of his name, and afterwards he was … [Read more...] about The Bell Witch Cave and Cabin: An American haunting in the hills of Tennessee turns up tales of Kate, Betsy and old John Bell
