I finally have some information about my haunted house! It's actually pretty interesting too. I don't know for certain if I can trust this story with 100% certainty, simply because the source is the old crazy lady across the street. The one who I mentioned before that thinks the neighbor is spying on her with his cable modem. But even if she's paranoid and a little cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, she seemed pretty credible with this story.
I had asked the guy next to her (the spy in disguise) if he knew anything about our house. He's lived there for awhile and I thought he might have insight if anything happened. Although I didn't tell him about the ghost. I was just curiously asking him a question. And he told me the place wasn't always a duplex, but used to be a regular house. And it got torn down and rebuilt at some point in the 1960's. That's all he knew.
But crazy paranoid lady has lived here in the same house since 1963. And when she was outside walking her dog, I decided to talk to her. That was a risk since I worried she'd pull out her shotgun and shoot me. But she was actually really nice. She must have been having a good moment. And I asked her if she knew when the house was rebuilt into a duplex. Just curious small talk.
This is when she told me the story. Apparently there was a house here that was built at some point in the 1930's. And in 1965, some guy bought the place with the intention of completely tearing it apart and redoing it. It was going to be his dream house. He and his wife never moved in, but I guess he started working on the renovation himself. He got the place halfway torn apart and then he fell off a ladder, broke his neck, and died right there at the house!
The house apparently sat for almost 2 years, under construction, and no one touched it. The guys wife was too upset to even go back to the place and she just let the bank take it back or something. And then some other guy came along and bought the property. The house was a total loss for the most part, because it had been vandalized and left exposed to weather, etc. So this person tore it all down except the foundation, and one area towards the middle of the house where the plumbing was.
He turned it into a duplex as an investment, rather than a house. And that was in 1967. Since then, I guess the neighbor's side of the duplex has been steadily occupied for long periods of time. Some couple lived there for 10 years, and another for 13. It was never vacant very long and people stuck around. But our side of the duplex was different. People always came and went. There have been countless tenants, and apparently most of them leave before their lease is up.
That's weird huh? It makes sense though because if some people experienced what we have, they might be too freaked out to live there. And maybe our bathroom is part of the old house? She said it was the middle area with plumbing pipes that was still standing when they rebuilt. And that's right where the spooky bathroom is. And would also explain why the pipes were shot and needed to be redone a few months ago. They're ancient!
Anyway, so that's what I learned. Someone did die there. And I don't think the crazy lady would make that story up. Especially since I never told her about the ghost stuff. I never asked her if anyone died either. She just offered that up to me. It was an interesting story for sure. And if it's true, and this guy is the one in our house, his name was John. She didn't know his last name. Or anything else. But he was in his 40's at the time he died.
It totally fits with the energy I feel in the house. It seems like a masculine energy. But I also think there's something else too. Something younger and more feminine. Like a young girl. But that theory I have no story for. The old lady didn't tell me anything else. And I didn't want to seem like a freak and ask her if anyone else died there. Maybe another time?
But for now, I think I'll see what happens if I call the ghost John....
evil_twin posted on Feb 22, 2008
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Comments
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wombat said on Feb 22, 2008....
As soon as you mentioned the plumbing a little light went off in my head....I wonder if that's the reason you see things around that spot in the bathroom also. Thanks for the update on this! -
quietone said on Feb 22, 2008....
Oh wow, that is pretty fascinating all right! So his name is John! well I can't wait to see what happens when the ghost finds out you now know his name! This could prove to be very interesting...get your camera ready! :) Maybe you and Natalie will be able to help him get unstuck from the middle world. -
uniquely-ironic said on Feb 22, 2008....
I knew there was a good story in there! Good work digging it up, even if the source seems dodgy. With such a tragic story it sure would fit the bill for a haunting. I wonder if the smaller feminine energy might be from the original owners. -
Lucytorial said on Feb 22, 2008....
To find out his details go to your local library and see if you can go back to newspaper clippings to the year he died, you may find a notice then have his full name!
Freaky stuff ET, let us know what happens when you call his name.
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pickersplock said on Feb 22, 2008....
Fascinating! -
evil_twin said on Feb 22, 2008....
wombat--That was the first thing that came to my mind when she mentioned the plumbing in the middle of the house too. The way the place is set up, that corner and that bathroom, are right in the middle of the structure. It's a haunted corner!
quietone--It will be interesting to see what happens if we call him John. If I get any more freaky pictures, I'll be sure and post them up!
uniquely--It is a tragic story and would explain why he's hanging around the house. It was his dream house. And maybe he just doesn't understand that he's not supposed to be there anymore? The feminine energy could be from before or after the renovation. It's really hard to tell. But if I find out any more info I'll share it here.
Lucy--When I have some time, I would like to research this further. I'm sure a story like that had to make the local paper back then. Or at least an obituary. He died in the summer, but the lady wasn't sure which month. Just that it was hot outside. So that narrows it down.
Pickers--It was pretty cool!
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Mamie said on Feb 22, 2008....
oh wow! That is too coincidental! You crack me up with the cocoa for cocoa puffs line!! thanks for the laugh!! mamie -
the_infernal_optimist said on Feb 22, 2008....
Well now a major piece is in place, eh? That poor guy. Maybe the ghost would be glad someone knows his name, that he's not just some faceless wisp of energy?
~Infernal
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Mr_Box said on Feb 22, 2008....
Wow. That's just cool. It sounds plausible to me too. It would make sense that this dude was stuck there if he died tragically like that. Plus he still thinks it's his house.
Hopefully he's cool with you living there. It seems like he is. Maybe if you call him by his name, he'll feel more comfortable too.
I bet you're the only one who's bothered to figure out who he might be. But it's a good sign if this is the ghost. Because then you can bet he's not malicious. He's just lost and doesn't want to leave his house.
You'll have to keep us updated what happens next. Or if you ever learn more.
And just so you know, sometimes the crazy people know a lot. Especially someone who's paranoid and prone to watching everyone around her. She probably knows everything!
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evil_twin said on Feb 22, 2008....
mamie--Glad I made you laugh :-P And the story is really coincidental huh?
Infernal--I'm hoping that if this is the ghost, he'll feel comforted if we call him by name. I'm not going to ask him to leave as long he plays nice. I don't mind sharing the house with John :-P
Mr. Box--You're right that sometimes crazy people know stuff. Especially this lady. She's really nosy because she doesn't trust anyone. So I'm sure she knows all kinds of things about the neighbors. So far, John the ghost seems okay with us there. He's never done anything harmful, so I assume he doesn't hate us. I think he likes our cat Misty. She's the only one who seems to play with him. And when she walks through the house crying, it's almost like she's looking for something/someone. So if he likes cats, then he must be okay!
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brit said on Feb 22, 2008....
This is seriously cool stuff! -
CreativeWoman said on Feb 22, 2008....
That is really something, et. Do you like him there or do you think about helping in to cross over?
CW
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allswell said on Feb 22, 2008....
Oh that's so cool...i can't wait to see if the ghost reacts to you calling him John!
Good luck
alls:)
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botoni said on Feb 22, 2008....
I have a feeling John maybe helping you track some of this. It seems to me he isnt agressive or difficult just somehow caught in the house. Do give a go at talking to him and see what you get. Cool stuff. -
nursecutie said on Feb 22, 2008....
Since I already know the story I just wanted to stop by and say hi baby!! I hope the ghost does something else soon so we can see if that's his name......of course he probably won't answer us anyways but maybe he'll make a noise or something? We need to get a tape recorder! I want to see if we can pick up a voice.......xxoo natalie xxoo -
Battycat said on Feb 22, 2008....
That's really interesting, could explain a lot. -
merlin said on Feb 22, 2008....
Fascinating, cant wait to hear what happens when you say his name. All this is a little spooky for me -
hotaka said on Feb 23, 2008....
That's really interesting to hear that story. I sure does explain a lot. Unless of course the lady across the street has heard of ghost stories about the house before and now just says those things anytime someone asks. But I'd like to beleive it's true.
It's funny what you mentioned about the child spirit. Friday night I mentioned your story to a student of mine who claims he has felt strong energy from a spot on the earth before and who is an accupuncturist who claims he can sense people's troubled area before actually examining them. After hearing my version of your stories he said he suspected it was a child spirit. He said it's harmless and maybe up to few pranks now and again. But basically child spirits just lie in bed and go about their routines. He said spirits don't actually think much and just do things as usual because they don't know they are dead yet.
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minniemouse said on Feb 23, 2008....
Whoa....I guess since he seems to be a friendly "spirit" you won't need to have Jennifer Love Hewitt come over and send him into the light...lol...
Interesting story...I think you are brave to want to know! (You know how I feel about ghosts!!!)
:-) Minnie
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FutureGoddess said on Feb 23, 2008....
I still think you should contact the Los Angeles Paranormal Research societySee what they can "dig" up - pun fully intended :)FG -
dailyachesandpains said on Feb 23, 2008....
YES! I'm so glad you got something to work with!Hit the library and look for an obituary in the old papers! Or, the story could be in the old newspapers.Could the wife still be living?I can't wait to see what's next to come.daily -
evil_twin said on Feb 23, 2008....
brit--It is pretty cool huh?
CW--I don't really know how to help him cross over. Maybe I need to get a Ghost Whisperer at my house? :-P But so far, I don't mind him being there. He's not hurting anything. He just makes life a little interesting sometimes!
alls--So far nothing new has happened. So we're still waiting to see what might occur if we call him by name. I'll let you guys know!
botoni--He does seems stuck in the house. I guess because it meant so much to him. But hopefully he likes us and doesn't mind us living there!
cutie--We do need to get a tape recorder. I'm really curious what we might hear. Maybe we need to get one of those today?
batty--It does seem to explain things.
merlin--It is a little spooky, but it's interesting!
hotaka--I never considered the old lady had heard ghost stories from other people. That is something to think about. I guess I need to look up records and see if I can find proof of the story. And I do agree with your friends assessment that some of the spirit activity seems like a child playing. Especially holding the door closed on me. It didn't feel malicious, but playful. But the shadow I saw in my hallway and the whistling I heard, that was definitely male. So I think there is more than one spirit in there.
minnie--We do need the Ghost Whisperer! I know you find the whole thing scary, but so far, I just think it's cool!
FG--Thanks for the link! I'll have to check that out and see if I can contact them.
Daily--I tried to figure out if the wife could still be alive and I don't know. If the guy was in his 40's I'll just assume she was too. So if she was 45 back in 1965, she'd be about 88 now. So it's hard to tell!
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bugeyes996 said on Feb 23, 2008....
that was awesome about diging up thepast -
bugeyes996 said on Feb 23, 2008....
hi this is awesome that you aree diging up a whole to the past
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theobjectionist said on Feb 23, 2008....
I live in a house that has some strange things happen. A few times, books on my book shelf and flown across the room and windows open in the dead of winter when no one else is in the house. -
evil_twin said on Feb 23, 2008....
bugeyes--it was pretty awesome, thanks.
objectionist--We've never had any books fly off shelves, but we've had all sorts of weird stuff happen. Did that stuff freak you out or are you okay with it?
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brit said on Feb 23, 2008....
evil, ghosts and spirits and the like fascinate me to no end!!! Good thing John seems ok with you living in his diggs. If he didn't, I imagine he'd be pissed! -
dailyachesandpains said on Feb 24, 2008....
I SO want to research this!
Registry of Deeds in your county
Keep tracing back all names involved through the deeds
Look up their names in old newspapers around the times a deed transfer took place.
Then, find their family!
Daily
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evil_twin said on Feb 24, 2008....
brit--This type of stuff fascinates me too! I guess that's why it doesn't scare me too much, because it's just so interesting. I'm glad that John seems okay with us living here too. So far, so good!
daily--I will try and do some more detective work :-) I at least want to find out if I can find proof of the story the neighbor gave me!
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brit said on Feb 24, 2008....
That's totally gnarly evil! Please let us know what you find out from your detective work! -
evil_twin said on Feb 24, 2008....
brit-- I'll let you know what I find out :-) -
brit said on Feb 24, 2008....
Cool!!!! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-P -
dailyachesandpains said on Feb 24, 2008....
Yeah, me too! I'd be happy to help and you know where to find me. It could take my mind off things, lol!
Daily
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dailyachesandpains said on Feb 24, 2008....
Oh yeah, and if she is still alive...she may have remarried and changed her name. Don't forget that little detail when you're researching. -
kruuyai said on Feb 26, 2008....
This is intriguing. I once lived in a house where our landlady's husband had died of cancer. He haunted our house too. I seriously could hear footsteps upstairs when no one was home. And we didn't have creaky floors. He also was a good mechanic. If we had car problems, all we had to do was park the car in the garage overnight, and the problem would disappear. And he liked cookies (although I suspect that might really have been one of my housemates). -
silverwhisper said on Feb 27, 2008....
dude, that's wild! so you braved a conversation w/ the crazy neighbor lady--and got some really neat info. it's kinda like you just completed a quest in a game, isn't it? :D
i think tobi-lee had some good advice re: the library and newspaper clippings. give the matter some thought?
ed -
evil_twin said on Feb 27, 2008....
daily--I haven't done any further digging just yet. But I'll keep you posted!
kruu--That's a cool story. I'd like to be able to park my car in the garage and have it be magically fixed in the morning. That'd be awesome!
silver--It was pretty cool that I got info from such an unlikely source. I do want to check it out, but I have no idea when I'll make it to a library. Someday!
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rmuxagirl said on Mar 03, 2008....
Holy wow I go away for a couple and come back to this interesting story! I cant wait to see what further research turns up or what happens if you call the ghost John.
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