Haunted by Gender and Phantoms...

Dark spirits can be buried deep inside the darkened corners of our psyche. What we hide within is often more terrifying than shapeless forms in an old spooky house. When you're gay, lesbian, bisexual, or even transsexual there's an invisible reality within your life, only revealed when you intentionally show your true self to other people. Before that moment you're a hidden ghost haunted by your sexual identity. Perhaps, as one author revealed, you can be haunted by real ghosts at the same time.

In Jennifer Finney Boylan's book I'm Looking Through You: Growing Up Haunted: A Memoir the transsexual English professor writes about her early life in the Lemuel Coffin House outside Philadelphia. Coffin and his business partner Joseph B. Altemus purchased 400 acres around 1881 to create the town of Devon along the Pennsylvania Railroad route. Lemuel passed away in 1895. Boylan's family moved there in 1972. I'm looking Through You chronicles her early life in the haunted house as well as a 2006 return visit to what remains her mother's home with a paranormal investigator named Shelly from Batty About Ghosts whom she found on Meetup (where, as we know, all knowledgeable ghost busters can be found).

In her youth (then known as "James"), Boylan had experienced several unexplained phenomena in the house. The tower, removed in 1944, had been the sight of the death of "some kid" according to a neighbor. There were footsteps coming from the creepy attic, a woman she dubbed "Mrs. Freeze" who appeared in the bathroom mirror before impending disasters, foggy forms, and doors opening and closing by themselves. As a teenager it proved less frightening than humiliating to explain to friends staying overnight, "Now don't worry if you see a blob come out of that closet. Usually it will go away if you whistle Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. If that doesn't work, try the Ninth."

During the revisit with the ghost hunter they may have discovered the ghost of her father in the bedroom where he passed away. Even with all she has experienced, Boylan does not believe in ghosts. "You don't have to believe in ghosts to know what it means to be 'haunted.' I think we all have ghosts of one kind or another. When we're young we're haunted by the people we may become; when we're old we're haunted by the children we used to be." Her book draws parallels between growing up a gender-confused youth seeking acceptance internally as well as societally and the ghostly glimpses from the past making their presence known to a few people. It's a look at what "haunted" truly means.

I'm Looking Through You is a delightfully humorous and fascinating read. For many of us who know less about transsexuals than we do about hauntings it proves to be very educational as well. Watch a brief video tour from the author here:

Peeking Through the Lens...

Those of you who know me well know that I love photography. I may not do it as often as I'd like, but I enjoy being behind a camera. I did fight the digital revolution (and still prefer 35mm), but digital is easier when you're dealing with the internet. Scanning regular images, as well as all the expense involved, makes it something I save for what I deem most important. Some sightseeing and paranormal adventures require tangible photos worthy of frames. The rest, well, I'll settle for a digital.

I've been a member of Flickr for a few years now, I think. It was only recently that I actually bothered uploading any photos onto the site. It's easy and a good way to get some exposure for any images you've captured... and, for some, a way of sharing other people's photographic work. For me, it's a way of sharing some of the things I've photographed (and bothered saving the images for) with new people, friends, and anyone else. I'm very picky about what I place on it.

But today, I finally uploaded some new images from this past weekend. I had the great pleasure of going to a small family gathering (not my family) in Valley View at one of the "haunted" places in the Cuyahoga Valley: Edmund Gleeson House. I was invited by a Gleeson family descendant who still lives nearby, and took the chance to get a sneak peek inside the rehabilitated home. I met the owner, listened sheepishly as the Gleeson descendant went on and on about my book to everyone (she even gave they mayor of Valley View a copy... I shook his hand), and poked around the old farmhouse. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I went for it.

Everyone was pleasant. A few of the teenagers in the room immediately wanted to know more about the "ghost". The other Gleeson house down the road (occupied by the descendant) is also haunted, apparently. I maintained my usual speculative distance from any firm answers about the hauntings. I've never experienced anything nor have I investigated anything, therefore it could just be legend. We had an interesting discussion of local legends, like "Hell Town", as well.

I didn't overstay my welcome and had plans, so the visit was brief. But I did get to snap a few photos inside before leaving. I gave the owner a copy of the book as well, for curiosity's sake. The National Park Service did an incredible job on the home. I would have taken more photos, but the place was packed with guests and family and I didn't want to intrude too much.

To see these and some of the other photos from the Cuyahoga Valley (as well as other random images from the past few years), just go to my Flickr photostream.

In the Spirit of Giving...

This is the season of giving. While we all appreciate ribbon-adorned packages beneath a shimmering Christmas tree, there are many other ways of giving heartfelt presents. If you're looking for a positive way to give and make a difference, I ask those who are able to pass along the gift of charity to help save a piece of queer paranormal history.

The historic Villa Montezuma in San Diego is an incredible piece of Queen Anne architecture. For a brief time, it was home to pianist, author, and medium Jesse Shepherd who still haunts the dwelling to this very day. Built in 1887, the structure suffered damage in a fire in 1986 and its foundation needs repairs. A non-profit organization, Friends of Villa Montezuma, has worked tirelessly since the 1970s to renovate the structure and return it to its former glory.

Structural concerns have closed the home to tours, though the society hopes it isn't permanent. While I'm sure they do appreciate gracious, larger donations, they gladly accept whatever the public can offer. In these troubling economic times, our pockets are lighter, but the same applies to non-profit organizations. Without a helpful hand, so much of our history will disappear from the landscape. The past is more fragile than you may think.

If you feel this house is worth saving, you can make a donation or become a sponsor for a restoration project. It can be as simple as becoming a member or, if you live in the San Diego area, you can donate your time and aid the society at events.

And remember: not all presents can be bound by bows. Sometimes the best benefactions are those which warm the soul and come without benefit of reciprocation.

A House as Famous as Its Owners...

Anyone interested in owning a piece of haunted New Orleans may finally have a chance. The historic LaLaurie Mansion, known by many as "the Haunted House", is up for sale. It is located in the French Quarter on the corner of Royal Street and Gov. Nicholls Street.

The house has seen a bizarre past. It was purchased by Madame Delphine LaLaurie and her husband in either 1831 or 32. Delphine's parents were believed to have been murdered during a slave uprising in the late 1700s and she apparently harbored ill will toward slaves ever since. She was known to have tortured and mutilated countless slaves in the house: a fact which was uncovered after a fire in 1834 set by a slave to avoid further torment. A secret attic room held nude male and female slaves, surrounded by torture devices and body parts.

Since LaLaurie's death in 1842, the house has been known for its ghosts. It served as a music conservatory, apartment building, and furniture store over the years. In 2007, it was purchased by actor Nicolas Cage who currently lives in the adjacent building with his family.

Cage has been well aware of the building's haunted history and attended a few ghost tours to learn more about the sordid history. Just recently, the actor placed the home on the market again. The asking price is a chilling $3.9 million.

How Much Is That Specter in the Window...

This weekend, a long-time friend of mine contacted me with an interesting tale. A friend of hers has looking into buying a home in northeastern Ohio. She paid a visit to a nice old century home in a small town and snapped a few photographs of the outside. She decided against going inside, because there was a foreboding sense to the house. Her four-year-old son told her he didn't want to go inside because of "the monster" in it. He described a ghoulish-looking figure in the window. Later, on reviewing the photos, a face exactly as he had described turned up in one of the windows.

Here's a cropped close-up of the window:

Apparently, the Realtor admitted that the house was, in fact, haunted. The current owners were selling it at a loss because they didn't want to live with whatever paranormal activity was occurring. Interestingly enough, I did a little digging (figuratively-speaking) and found a very rough date of construction (within 10 years; the real estate estimate was off by two decades) and a very old cemetery bordering the back yard.

Honestly, the house is gorgeous and has many original features that would make it a wonderful investment for any homeowner. But then, there's the spook issue. Is it genuinely haunted? I can't say for sure. Is the photo genuinely paranormal? Windows are always a tricky and touchy subject, but it doesn't appear to be a reflection from the apple tree.

It is quite coincidental to be looking at homes this time of year and happen upon a haunted house. It's also not very common for a real estate agent to openly admit the supernatural qualities without any reservation. If it were me, I would take the house. But then again, I wouldn't mind a little paranormal roommate. I'm sure there's an interesting story in here somewhere, but we shall see if it reveals itself...

Low Mortgage, High Spirits...

In the market for a new home? Looking for that unique one with curb appeal? Historical interest?

Ghosts?

You may want to think twice before saying 'no' to the latter. In fact, haunted houses and properties known to be "stigmatized" could be quite a bargain of you're in the market for a new lot.

Often, they are broken down into two categories: physically damaged (i.e. underground sinkholes, eroding coastline, etc.) where the house might be in tact yet faces imminent danger and psychologically damaged (i.e. ghosts, murder sites, etc.) where the past might be erased but something just isn't quite right with the atmosphere. Laws regarding disclosure vary from region to region, so you might not know until after the fact.

Or if the house is a steal.

If you do find a bargain, don't be afraid to ask about its history. Some agents might be honest enough to mention anything unsavory. And feel free to do your own research on the property. Don't think it's that easy? Just contact your county auditor or local government and faster than you can say "foreclosure", you'll have at least a basic history of your home. Archives and libraries contain a fount of research and information, just waiting for you to discover it.

Or, you could take the easier approach: check out the Haunted Real Estate Blog! you never know what you might stumble across on there!

But remember, if a house is a bargain, you might find yourself with an extra roommate who won't be leaving any time soon...

Three Bedroom, Two Bath, One Demon...

After three long and agonizing years, homeowners Gaetano and Stefania Bastianelli of Spoleto, Italy have decided to sue the previous owners for failure to disclose certain problems with their house on Santo Chiodo Road. The foundation, plumbing, and structural details may be fine, but the haunting has been quite a nuisance.

The house was a steal at €120,000 in 2005. The previous family had even left all their furniture and belongings there... including the coffee cups! Not thinking twice about it, they purchased the dwelling immediately. Unfortunately, starting on the first night they spent in the house, they noticed peculiar things happening.

The hot water turned on in the bathroom, flooding the floor. By morning, the walls were coated in a "luminous green mould". Later, his daughter was awakened by rattling chains in the hallway. Both the lawnmower and Mrs. Bastianelli's car caught on fire on separate occasions for no known reason.

It seems the house is situated near an abandoned cemetery and an exorcism was performed in the house in 1977. Vatican officials cannot confirm that this was indeed the house, but local news reporters remember the incident. Pope John Paul II prayed for the young girl, which finally ended the nightmare.

Antonio Francesconi, the homeowner's attorney, says he expects the case to be settled out of court. Let's hope so, just in case Satan can't be reached as a material witness...

...And the Price Isn't Out of This World

The housing market is down in the United States. There just aren't enough buyers for homes, so houses tend not to sell for high prices. Even if that house happens to look like a UFO.

That was the case for the 38-year-old "Space House" perched on the side of Signal Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee when it went up for auction on March 15th. The winning bid was $135,000 which surprised the auctioneer, Terry Posey. The new owner is a woman from Cincinnatti, Ohio.

The house sits atop six supports intended to look like landing gear. The staircase leading to the three-bedroom dwelling is fully retractable and there is enough space for at least two vehicles underneath.

These features apparently came in handy for a previous owner. During an argument with her husband, she left the home, raised the stairs, and parked his truck directly underneath, trapping him inside.