The Tallman House Ghost

This is a story that was highlighted on the television series, Unsolved Mysteries. The Tallman House Ghost is one of the best-known stories this series aired. It is also considered the most frightening.

It is about a family that lived in the small farming community of Horicon, Wisconsin.

Tallman House

The Tallman’s, Debbie and Alan moved into a one-story home with their children in 1986.

They were excited about owning their own home.

But strange things began to happen to the family once they bought a bunk bed, at a second-hand store.

Tallman bunk bed.

The couple came to believe what happened next was somehow connected to this wooden bunk bed.

They experienced nine months of terror and fear.

Their children had never been sick, even with colds, but mysteriously as soon as this bed was brought into the home—their children, two daughters, and a son, became seriously ill—for no apparent reason.

A clock radio near their son, Danny’s bed began to have a mind of its own. It would turn off and on and switch channels without assistance.

At first, when Danny told his parents about this, they did not believe him. But then strange things began to happen to Alan.

Painting the basement one day, he left his work to eat dinner. When he returned, he found his paintbrush had been turned upside down. The bristles were now sticking up out of the paint gallon.

One depiction of the dark figure.

Their youngest daughter, while sleeping in the lower bunk was startled awake, several times by a dark figure, staring at her, that was surrounded by a red glow.

Several weeks later her brother, Danny, saw the same figure.

The family had their pastor, Wayne Dobratz visit the home, and he told the couple he sensed “something evil” was haunting them.

After this, the whole family began to hear doors slam shut violently. They also heard strange voices.

The children’s visions continued, and Danny, became so frightened, he told his parents he wanted to move.

Allan now frustrated and angry told the entity to leave his children alone, that he was willing to fight it if necessary.

After this, the dark entity focused upon him. Returning home late one night from work, he heard an odd howling sound that evolved into a voice calling, “come here.”

He followed this voice around the house, but nothing was there.

Depiction of garage burning.

When he returned to the garage, it was on fire, so he ran into the house to retrieve a fire extinguisher. But when he returned, everything was calm. There was no damage or sign that anything had burned.

When Alan re-entered the house, he went to retrieve his metal lunch pail, which he had set down earlier, but the entity yanked it from his hands and threw it across the room.

Alan began to sleep in his daughter’s room to provide protection and comfort. One night a fog rose from the floor and surrounded him. He then heard a voice say, “You’re dead.”

Debby called the family pastor, once more. She explained Alan was distraught. Dobratz felt the Tallman’s home had a “Demonic presence.”

Their pastor didn't find any evidence they were fabricating the incidents.

Several weeks later, Alan working late, asked a male relative to stay with his family. This man, a skeptic, did not believe what the Tallman’s had told him about the haunting.

That night he changed his mind.

The same dark figure, glowing red appeared, in the children’s room and screamed. Debby told this relative, who was now in shock, to gather up the children, they were leaving.

The Tallman’s shortly after this had the bunk bed destroyed. This worked, but despite the activity settling down, they moved to a different town. 

Here is the Unsolved Mysteries episode that originally aired in October of 1988, it is the second case highlighted--beginning at the 16:33 minute mark and ending at 28:30. 

I write about another favorite Unsolved Mystery episode entitled, The Tatum Haunting, here.

Transylvania: Vlad the Impaler

Hunedoara or Hunyad is an imposing 13-story castle that sits in the heart of Transylvania. This castle is haunted by a dark and powerful entity.

Vlad the Impaler

By most accounts, it is considered to be the most frightening castle in Europe. It is here where the legend of Vlad the Impaler was born.

Every other castle in the vicinity was destroyed, but Hunyad still stands. It is said it was never invaded because people were afraid to come face to face with the evil presence that lurks in almost every corner of the castle.

Impaling victims.

Hunyad is where the infamous warlord Vladimir plied his sadistic trade. He impaled thousands of people who were imprisoned within the castle's walls.

Hunyad Castle

After, he would often drink the blood of his victims in a sick ritual. For he believed he could harness the devil’s power by doing this.

An old Transylvanian superstition was a belief in paranormal creatures called Strigoi. These creatures were believed to be troubled souls of the dead who return from the grave.

It was believed that Strigoi could transform themselves--into animals or even become invisible. A belief was they would “drain the vitality” of their victims by draining their blood.

The belief in these creatures was so intense at one time that most Transylvanians would treat their dying relatives with extra respect afraid they might return as Strigoi and wreck their revenge on the living-- as either a vampire or werewolf.

This superstition drove Romanian residents to go to cemeteries after their deceased loved ones were buried. They would drive a stake through the coffin right into the ground as a preventive measure. For it was believed, “the corpse had to be nailed to the earth” to lift the curse of the Strigoi.

This belief explains why legends about vampires became so prevalent in this part of the world.

The superstition states that some are more prone than others to become Strigoi. If a person lived a life filled with sin, then they would become a Strigoi. Vlad the Impaler fits this category.

The belief that Vlad became a Strigoi was reinforced when several people went to his grave to drive a stake in it. They found animal bones in his coffin, but his body was gone.

Strigoi return to places that they remember fondly. This is the reason why people feel that the evil presence that haunts Hunyad Castle is that of Vladimir.

click to enlarge

Renovations of this castle have been started more than once. All these workers have fled before the work is finished. A dark bloodstain has appeared each time that cannot be removed.

Mediums that have visited the castle all agree that this dark presence seems to haunt every room in Hunyad. Numerous exorcisms have been attempted, but it appears this evil presence is too strong to banish.

Andrew Jackson Encounters the Bell Witch

A multitude of articles and books have been written about the Bell Witch haunting. This legendary tale is one of America’s most enduring ghost folktales.

M.V. Ingram’s 1894 book Mysterious Spirit: The Bell Witch is an excellent source to read more about this story.

Bell Farmhouse

This legend involves John Bell and his family who experience a frightening haunting on their 1000-acre farm in the 1800s, located in Robertson County in northern middle Tennessee.

The most often told version states that a neighbor of the Bell family, Kate Batts * having been wronged in a land deal that involved John Bell swore as she died that she would return to haunt him.

It is said she did exactly this. Kate known as the “Bell Witch” tormented the family for years. John’s daughter Betsy was a favorite target.

Betsy Bell

This poor young woman was physically abused-- she was pinched, slapped and scratched. Her hair was pulled, and she was even beaten.

The witch eventually prevented her from marrying a neighbor named John Gardner.

In December of 1820, John Bell died. He had suffered a prolonged illness caused by poisoning, which the legend states the Bell Witch caused.

Betsy eventually married her former schoolteacher and settled in Mississippi.

* Mary Catherine “Kate” Batts was married and not a poor woman but since she used “the wrong words” when she spoke many in the county believed a rumor that she practiced “Black Magic” or other forms of the occult.

She did get involved in her brother’s dispute with John Bell, but it was not over the sale of land but the purchase of a slave.

She could not have threatened to get even with John Bell on her deathbed because she outlived him by 27 years--she died in 1847. Several of her descendants still live in Robertson County.

So this means the Bell Family was not haunted by Kate Batts.

If parts of this story are real, it was probably not a traditional haunting but a more evil entity that plagued the Bell family. One recent story states it was a poltergeist connected to Betsy.

A Hero

Andrew Jackson won fame as a Major General during the War of 1812. His victory at New Orleans made him the greatest military hero since George Washington.

He served as a territorial governor and then as a senator representing Tennessee from 1823-25.

He was elected the 7^th president of the United States in 1832. He died at his beloved cotton plantation--The Hermitage near Nashville in 1845.

Andrew Jackson hearing of the Bell Witch haunting like many others decided to travel to northern Tennessee to see for himself.

As he and his men neared the Bell farm legend states one of their wagons got stuck--but not in the mud. Instead, it appeared to be an unseen unfathomable force that caused it.

Jackson’s men then checked the wagon's wheels for damage-- there was none. They whipped the horses, but they refused to budge. The men then tried to push it, but this did not work either.

Jackson's stuck wagon

Frustrated, Jackson then exclaimed, “By the eternal boys, this is the witch.”

To which a disembodied female voice replied, “All right, General, let the wagon move on, I will see you tonight.”

The wagon then started of its own accord, and the party was able to continue their journey.

A Second Encounter

That night their tents pitched the men listened to a man who was a self-proclaimed “Witch layer” or “Witch Hunter.” He had with him a silver bullet.

He regaled the group with stories of how he had hunted and then shot other witches.

Andrew Jackson leaned in and whispered to one of his men, “I bet this fellow is an arrant coward. By the eternal, I do wish the thing would come, I want to see him run.”

Suddenly the gathering heard light footfalls prancing, at the same time the female voice from earlier announced, “Alright general, I am at hand and ready for business.”

The voice then demanded the Witch Hunter shoot but when he tried his gun did not fire.

The braggart was then struck by an unseen force, as he twisted around, he shouted that something was sticking painful pins into him. He then cried out that something had him by the nose.

All were silent as he was forced about then they watched as he ran from the tent.

The witch chimed in once more, “How the devil did run and beg. I bet he won’t come through here again with his old horse pistol to shoot me.”

The gathering then heard, “I guess that’s fun enough for tonight general, and you can go to bed now. I will come tomorrow night and show you another rascal in this crowd.”

It is said that after this Jackson was eager to stay but his men having enough insisted they move on. Jackson’s party then returned to Nashville.

Shadow People

Have you ever seen a shadow of a human figure out of the corner of your eye that once you turn your head just disappears? If so, you might just have seen a form of an entity that is labeled a “Shadow Person”. This phenomenon, which has been around a long time, has gained more attention in recent years.

 I first heard this term while listening to an Art Bell’s Coast-to-Coast radio show. This topic was discussed on several of his shows.

Shadow People are considered spirits or entities that often appear at night. They have a human form and are most often seen flickering on walls or ceilings of structures. They are often described as being evil or malevolent in nature. It is said they inhabit places where evil things have taken place. 

Others though describe them differently. They state these entities are actually neutral in nature and some even believe they are extra dimensional inhabitants of another universe.

One encounter with Shadow People happened to a family who were visiting Florida. The father had just finished taking group pictures of the family in a park when a storm hit. He stated the thunder claps quickly got louder and there were flashes of lightning so the family took shelter in a three-walled enclosure. As it started to rain the father continued to snap photos.

To his surprise a human shadow figure appeared in his camera lens moving across the eastern wall of the structure. He pointed it out to his family and they all watched as this figure climbed up the tall wall. The father was baffled considering the sun was hidden behind storm clouds. 

In the next moment as there was another flash of lightning and a loud boom of thunder the whole family saw a second and then a third human shadow on the same wall. Needless to say, rain or not the family left the park in haste.

Another family witnessed a similar phenomenon. A father leaving his wife to take a nap took his dog and toddler son for a walk. He carefully set the families’ home alarm since their had been burglaries in their neighborhood recently. 

When they returned home and entered the father noticed the afternoon sun cast their living room in odd shadows. But immediately he spotted a dark shadow figure sitting in one of the chairs in the room. His dog started to bark at this figure and his son frightened grabbed his leg and pointed to the chair. He immediately yelled out, the figure that was faceless seemed to be surprised by their presence. It got up and went through the dinning room and into a back bedroom moving along the walls.

The father went quickly to awaken his wife and then searched the house but found nothing. He told his wife that the figure was a shadow as opposed to a black mist. She told him that it was strange because she had not had a peaceful nap. She stated she had woken up several times to see a black figure on the wall in their bedroom. 

The house alarm had not gone off. The father stated afterwards that he didn’t know whether this figure was evil or just a ghost but the memory of it still disturbed him.

Researchers have attributed sightings of Shadow People to hallucinations, sleep deprivation, sleep paralysis, or a side effect to medication. In some cases one of these very well might be the cause. But in the two witness accounts above they don’t seem to have been factors. 

One interesting note in many Shadow People sightings people report seeing these entities in their peripheral vision but in the two cases above the witnesses saw these figures right in front of them.

Heidi Hollis’ appearances on Coast to Coast helped make the phenomena of Shadow People popular. She describes them “as dark silhouettes with human shapes and profiles that flicker in and out of peripheral vision.” Hollis shared stories from witnesses that had contacted her that stated that these dark figures even jumped out at them, attempting to choke them.

Here is Hollis’ advise to people who may encounter one of these Shadow People--her point of view is religious and she feels these entities are evil in nature. She state, "let go of your fear, stand your ground, deny them access to your person, focus on positive thoughts, use the name of Jesus to repel them, envision a light surrounding yourself, and bless the room with spring bottled water."

If you want to do more research into shadow figures I suggest you get a subscription to the radio show Coast-to-Coast archives--there are several witness accounts on this site.

The following link is to an hour plus video that presents a variety of people talking about "Shadow People" including Art Bell, George Noory and Stephen Hawking etc.

Shadow People, Hat People...