Haunted Calculator?

This past fall—2015-- an American couple became engaged. It was after this that their desktop calculator began to act strangely.

Was this calculator celebrating their engagement? One article written in England seems to thinks so.

Soon after Fran Lussier proposed to his girlfriend, she was at home alone one afternoon when she noticed something strange. Their desktop calculator turned on without assistance and printed out a “diamond symbol” on its tape.

Lussier’s fiancé was surprised, to say the least. She told Fran what she had seen, and the evidence was clear for there was the tape rolled off the machine with the diamond on it.

The couple then sat down and tried to replicate this diamond by using the calculator’s keypad but they couldn’t.

The couple flabbergasted could not come up with a reasonable explanation of what was happening. Was this machine haunted?

In the following days, the calculator printed out 5 more diamond symbols on its own.

After this, the couple was getting ready to go out when Lussier’s fiancé sat down at the desk were the calculator is placed to put on her shoes. The machine began to print.

The fiancé asked the machine to print one more diamond, which it did without hesitation.

This time, Lussier pulled out his phone to record the activity. As seen in the video below the couple proceeds to talk to and coax the calculator.

At first, the calculator does not respond, the couple then asks if it will print once more if they turn the camera off. The fiancé tells it they have turned the camera off.

But Lussier continues to record—at which point the calculator begins to print. The couple jumps backs and screams, and then they laugh. The printer produced another diamond.

This proves the old adage: Be careful what you ask for, you might just get it. So did this actually happen?

Haunted Object: The Pupa

The word Pupa is Latin for doll. Pupa is considered haunted, she was made to look like her future owner in the 1920s. This was a common practice during this period. Pupa even has hair that was taken from the little Italian girl who was to own her.

This trend is still done today—minus using the owner’s hair—the American Doll line called Just Like You makes dolls to look like their owners.

Pupal is 14 inches tall and her head, arms and legs are all made of felt. She still wears her original blue suit and has a large blue bow attached to her hair.

Here is the owner her baby
brother and her doll in
1928.

The little girl that was to become this doll’s owner cherished Pupa so much she kept her close her entire life. She eventually moved from Trieste, Italy to America.

The owner told her grandchildren that her doll “had a mind of her own.” She confided that the doll talked to her and that at one point Pupa even saved her life. The details of this story have not been shared.

In 2005 when the doll’s owner died, her family placed Pupa in a glass display case in order to preserve her. However, the family reports this doll does not like her new home.

Shortly after being placed in this case the family found it steamed up with a thick fog. They noticed what appeared to be a child’s fingertip pressed into the glass and the words, “Pupa hate” written on the glass.

They have observed that if items Pupa does not like are placed to close to her she pushes them away.

The family states that this doll has moved on several occasions. They have heard what sounds like tapping on the case only to find Pupa’s hand pressed against the glass.

Pupa 

At other times they have found the doll’s legs crossed when she was not left in this position. They also state her facial features change expression.

This is similar to two other haunted dolls: Mandy and Robert which stories are told here and here.

Creepiest of all, was one member of the family watched as Pupa got up and walked around the glass case. He videotaped this but when he went to upload this video—it was masked in a thick white fog and the words, “Pupa no” appeared.

Victorian Era: The Rebirth of the Ghost Story

By the Victorian era, in 1837, ghost stories had fallen out of favor with the public in both America and England. Before the 1840s most ghost stories were passed down orally from one generation to the next, but this was about to change.

This change in interest was reflected in an 1887 book entitled, The Rippling Train by Mary Louis Molesworth. 

A female character named Mrs. Snowdon in this story bemoans the presence of so many ghosts when she states, “One hears nothing else nowadays.”

So why did this character have to complain about so many ghost stories? Many historians state the rise of the “periodical press” as the main reason.

Before the Victorian era, most ghost stories were not published in the written form. But with the rise of periodicals ** both in England and America the need arose for mass content. Ghost stories were a good match.

Ghost stories were short, which made them easy to cut to the needed length, they were also plentiful and cheap.

*  In another post I talk about American periodicals--The Pulps--here.

Writers such as Charles Dickens and MR James were already publishing their ghost stories at Christmas--Dickens even published a periodical called, All the Year Round, in which Wilkie Collins and Elizabeth Gaskell contributed stories.

Now everyone could curl up by the fire at night and share spine-tingling ghost stories. They told of creaking floorboards, murmurs in the basement or even better yet fleeting shadows that might appear at one's elbow.

Mysteries were presented along with these stories. Had the ghost been horribly burned in a fire or was the face seen on the wall a murderer condemned to walk the earth forever?

In Britain and then in America slightly later, this renewed interest in ghost stories was fueled by several interesting factors.

With the invention of the camera during this time--came an interest in “spirit photography.” This type of photography became the craze in part because of William Mumler--who was a well-known spirit photographer. 

In another post here, I share information about what a spirit photographer does.

Another reason for this rise in popularity was related to economic changes. The Industrial Revolutions in both England and America caused mass migrations. People moved from rural setting into towns and cities.

These cities--their noises and their different environments caused people to jump at every creak heard--their imaginations ran wild. The result was an interest or a belief in ghosts.

A strong middle class formed with this migration--now more people could read and afford to buy cheap periodicals.

It was during the 19^th Century that the Spiritualism movement took hold. It began when the Fox sisters in New York (1848) claimed they were talking to a male spirit through a series of taps. I tell more of their story here.

The rise of Table Tilting and mediums and séances became a fad on both sides of the Atlantic after this.

And most surprising was when the telegraph was invented-- and now people could talk to each other long distance--this fueled the belief in ghosts--for with every new scientific invention--people felt anything was possible.

London’s Haunted Bushy Park

Chestnut Ave
 Hampton Court

I discovered this story recently. This haunting occurs in Bushy Park, it is heard not seen. 

What is usual is this activity has been witnessed only in recent years--but its cause probably happened sixty-five years ago. 

Bushy Park encompasses 1,100 acres and is London’s second largest Royal Park. It is located north of Hampton Court in southwest London. American servicemen, not Brits haunt this park.

During the Second World War Briton’s allies--including Americans--converged upon London for it was here the partners set up their military headquarters. Most of these operations were established in central London. 

But General Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe, being cautious did not want to place his high command officers in the center of London’s Blitzes. Central London was being bombed regularly at this time.

Eisenhower Memorial
Photo: John Cardy

Instead, Eisenhower chose Bushy Park because it is located on the outskirts of London. In 1942 Camp Griffiss was established in this park. 

It was at this location where Eisenhower planned the D-Day landings. 

This camp remained in use after the Allied victory in 1945. Camp Griffiss was a home away from home for American serviceman until it was decommissioned and demolished in 1963. 

Bushy Park has a memorial that honors all the allies that fell on D-Day. Another monument in honor of Eisenhower stands on the spot where his tent was located.

Today, nature has reclaimed the area where Camp Griffiss stood. The park has a beautiful water garden, and it hosts, the Teddington Rugby and Hockey Clubs. It was at Bushy that field hockey was first played. The park also hosts four cricket clubs. 

The locals walk their dogs here because it considered a very peaceful place except for the occasional autumn stag attack. * 

But many people feel that the park is still inhabited by ghostly servicemen who stayed at Camp Griffiss.

One family, a father, and his son were walking their Labrador in Bushy Park in 1976 when they reached a clearing. As they crossed this grassy area, they were all of a sudden surrounded by a loud noise. 

The father later described it as if they had walked into a party. They heard laughter, cheering, and the clinking of glasses. Confounded, they saw no one in the area. They quickly picked up their pace, and within moments, all was quiet again.

Nine years after this first encounter in 1985, a similar incident was reported in the news. 

This time a group of joggers experienced a fright when they found themselves in the middle of a loud discordant mixture of sounds that they could not explain. One of these joggers, successful businessman James Blythe, stated he felt that what they were hearing was very unworldly in nature. 

One sound he picked out from this cacophony of noise was the faint American tune The Battle Hymn of the Republic. These joggers encountered this “noise” on May 10^th just two days after the 40^th anniversary of the Allied victory in Europe.

Could this be a residual haunting? Did these witnesses hear soldiers at Camp Griffiss celebrating the Allied victory in 1945? Considering Bushy Park’s history, this possibility cannot be ruled out.

* With London having a population of over 8 million with another 2 million commuting into the city daily people forget that London also has impressive areas that are still very much natural. Here is a Daily Mail story that illustrates this point:

In 2011 a woman, a young girl and a swan had all been attacked by rutting stags “running rampant” in Bushy Park.

“An unidentified man in his fifties has become the latest victim. He was knocked off his feet when a male red deer charged him from 200 yards away. This 16-point deer threw the man back, sending his water bottle flying. He was saved by passers-by who ran to his aid and scared the animal away.”

A previous article written about the swan attack was entitled, "Pick on someone your own size." The stag that attacks is known as "The Beast of Bushy Park."

Here are links to these two stories, they have photos of these attacks.

The attack on the older gentleman.

The attack on the swan.

Ghost Ship: The Young Teazer

The story of the Young Teazer inspired one of the best-known ghost ship stories in Eastern Canada. 

The Young Teazer, a typical sailing schooner of its day was a privately owned ship—a privateer, which exploded in Nova Scotia during the War of 1812. A year after this, strange sightings of this ship began to be recorded. 

The “Teazer Light” as it has become known has been seen for over two centuries and is described by witnesses as a fiery ship seen in Mahone Bay.

It was a common practice among countries to allow privateers in times of war to attack enemy merchant ships and claim any loot they found. This was a big help because it robbed the enemy of needed supplies. It also gave naval ships more time to fight battles. 

Privateering was a hazardous way to make a living, but many ship owners participated for it was a quick way to make a fortune. During the War of 1812, many American privateers chased down British ships along the the southeastern coast of Nova Scotia.

HMS Hogue

In June of 1813 one of these American privateers, the Young Teazer, became the hunted instead of the hunter. 

On June 27^th the HMS Hogue encountered the Young Teazer and forced her into Halifax Harbour (spelled: Harbor in the U.S.) but the Young Teazer managed to escape. 

A few days later the frigate HMS Orpheus chased the Teazer into Luneburg Harbour. But the Orpheus lost her near Mahone Bay due to light winds. The Hogue then picked up the chase again, after 18 hours she was able to trap the Young Teazer in Mahone Bay. The Hogue began to fire upon the Teazer viciously. Soon the Orpheus joined in.

That evening the Hogue readied five boats to board the Teazer. 

Meanwhile, Captain Dobson on board the Young Teazer discussed plans to defend his privateer with his 38-man crew. * 

Lieutenant Johnson known for erratic behavior on previous cruises, argued with the captain and then disappeared below. The schooner exploded a few minutes later. 

Johnson, who was a British deserter knew that once his identity was discovered, he would be hanged. So in desperation, he threw a lit torch into the ship’s supply of gunpowder.

Of the few Teazer men who survived the explosion, several were severely burned. They were found by local residents clinging to the burning spars and bow of the shattered hull of the schooner. Approximately, 30 of the Teazer crew died. 

The local militia secured the survivors including the captain. 

These men were sent to the Melville Island prisoner war camp in Halifax. Most were eventually returned to America in a prisoner exchange. 

The locals buried the dead in unmarked graves in the St. Stephens’ Anglican cemetery in Chester. They also took charge of the Young Teazer’s wreckage. **

Mahone Bay
Nova Scotia

Almost a year later to the day a ghost ship was first seen near Chester in Mahone Bay. This was the first of many appearances. 

Hundreds have seen a burning ship out on the Bay. Many witnesses state this ship just appears out of nowhere. Others have reported seeing this flaming ship head right for them. Terrified, they felt it was about to run them down-- only to see it vanish at the last second. 

Sometimes this ship would pass so close to the shore witnesses on the beach can even make out seamen up in its riggings.

In most documented reports it is stated the ship appeared to be on fire. This is why people believe that it is the ghost ship of the Young Teazer. 

Some have  even stated they heard the tortured cries of the men who were trying to escape this flaming ghost ship. 

The Young Teazer is most often seen near the anniversary of when it exploded and in the exact spot where it exploded. Most witness reports mention that once seen this ship just vanishes into thin air.

In recent years there haven’t been as many sightings. A possible reason for this being the encroachment of civilization—lights from homes, marinas, etc. make it much harder to see out over the bay. 

Others claim that they have debunked these sightings. They state that when a bank of fog covers the moon as it rises over the horizon, it causes the illusion of a ship on fire.  ***

*  The number of the crew members and how many were killed in the explosion are not known, so approximate numbers are given.

** Some of the wreckage salvaged was used for building materials. One store near Mahone Bay was built from this salvaged wood. Other materials were turned into souvenirs. 

A piece of the keel was used to build a cross--this cross is inside the St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in Chester. Another fragment of the scorched oak wood keel is displayed at the Maritime Museum of the Atlanta in Halifax.

*** A folklorist, Helen Creighton spent two decades collecting maritime ghost stories. She was first inspired to do this when she encountered a couple by the name of Enos in the community of Hartlen’s Point on the eastern side of Halifax Harbour. 

When she expressed an interest in a deserted house near the Enos property she was informed, “That’s our ghost house.” The house was partly constructed using wood from the Young Teazer wreck. They then told her that it was haunted, strange knocks and footsteps were heard regularly.

Creighton who wrote a book entitled Bluenose Ghosts mentions that several witness accounts that she collected about the strange sightings of the Young Teazer could be explained by an optical illusion during full moons, but others could not be so easily explained away. In her book, she includes numerous eyewitness accounts of the Young Teazer.