Owl’s Head Lighthouse, Part l

Owl's Head Lighthouse

Owl’s Head is considered one of Maine’s most beautiful Lighthouses. It is at the south entrance to Rockland Harbor and is surrounded by water.

This lighthouse was built in 1824 and sits on seventeen and a half pine-covered acres. The tower is only 15 feet high, but its light can be seen for 18 miles because it sits atop a high cliff.

The original tower was replaced in 1895.

It is still in use today with an automated light. To reach the top of the tower, visitors must climb a 50 step steep staircase, but this climb is worth it for the 360-degree view from this vantage point is spectacular.

Opposite view of Owl's Head.

Owl’s Head like many lighthouses has several fascinating stories connected to it. The following are two of my favorites.

One involves a man and woman found encased in a block of ice.

In the winter of 1850, a small schooner was anchored in the harbor, was caught in the worst snowstorm of the season. The captain had gone ashore leaving his mate, Richard Ingraham, a crewmember, Roger Elliot, and Lydia Dryer, Ingraham’s’ fiancée aboard the ship.

Photo of Owl's Head taken in 1932.

As this storm intensified, the schooner was torn from its mooring and was dashed against the rocks at Owl’s Head. As the boat broke apart, the 3 occupants huddled under blankets to keep warm.

Elliot managed to swim through the frigid water and climb ashore. A keeper, out riding a sleigh found him half-dead and carried him into the lighthouse, where he was able to briefly revive him.

Elliot managed to choke out that two others needed help and then lost consciousness. A search party was formed.

Ingraham and Dryer were found frozen in a block of ice. Their rescuers at first thought they were dead but decided to not give up. They chipped the ice away and poured cold water over the couple.

They then massaged their limbs as they slowly poured warmer and warmer water over them. After one hour, the couple began to show signs of life. After two hours, Ingraham opened his eyes, and in a confused daze started to ask questions.

Months later, the couple regained their health. They married and had four children. As for Elliot, who had alerted the keeper to their whereabouts, he sadly didn’t recover.

Another favorite story of mine involves a dog, named Spot, and a fog bell.

From 1935 to 1945, Gus Hamor was the keeper at Owl’s Head, but it is his springer spaniel that is remembered fondly.

Gus’ two daughters, Pauline and Millie trained Spot to pull the rope that rang the fog bell. Whenever a boat would pass Spot would ring the bell, and then the vessel would respond by blowing their horn.

Spot’s favorite visitor to the lighthouse was, Stuart Ames, the skipper of the mail boat. Ames always gave Spot a special treat when he delivered the mail.

Spot anticipating these visits learned to recognize the sound of Ames’ boat engine and then he would pull the bell.

During one awful winter blizzard the snowdrifts were so high on the cliff they muffled the sounds of the fog bell.

Ames on his boat in the harbor was trying to deliver the mail to the lighthouse, but he couldn’t hear the fog alert, because of this he wasn’t able to determine the position of his vessel. He was afraid his boat would be smashed against the rocky cliff.

Spot heard his engine through this storm and whined and scratched at the door to be let out. When the door was opened, he dashed to the shore and barked loudly until the mail boat’s whistle replied.

Ames, through Spots’ persistence found his way and delivered the mail safely.

In Part ll of Owl’s Head Lighthouse, I share two hauntings connected to this lighthouse.

Scary History of Ouija Boards

In 1890 a group of businessmen came together to form the Kennard Novelty Company.

They had noted an instant interest in talking boards. These boards had been developed by spiritualists to contact/ communicate with spirits in a more efficient way than tapping on tables.

These businessmen decided to mass market this new phenomenon in America, and cash in on its success. Their first hurdle was what to call this board. One of the men’s sister-in-law was a medium.

Helen Peters and the group decided to ask the board what was its name? Peters led the session and told the group the boards’ response was “Ouija.” She then asked the board what this word meant—its response was “Good Luck.”

Ironically, most who have gotten real responses from Ouija boards have not experienced what they consider good luck.

The group patented the board in 1891. This newly named Ouija board became an instant success and has continued in popularity since.

William Fuld factory.

By 1893 one of the stockholders, William Fuld took over ownership of the company—he guided the company through its boom years. 

He fell off the roof of one of his factories and was killed—he sadly was up there following the advice of a Ouija board. Fuld’s company was sold to Parker Brothers in 1966.

In the 1960s the board gained more notoriety with a rising interest in the occult. By this time, the sale of boards brought in millions of dollars.

In 1973, with the release of the film The Exorcist, the boards gained a reputation with the general public as being evil—a portal to hell. In this film, the main character, a girl named Regan, used a Ouija Board and connected with a spirit named Captain Howdy, who was actually the demon who possessed her.

This fictional film brought to light something that many already knew. People felt the Ouija should not be used as a parlor game, for they knew how dangerous playing with one could be.

In John Harkin’s book, Ouija Board Nightmares he gives many examples that support the fact these boards are not toys.

Early on in his book he shares several stories of how Ouija boards have caused mental distress, and even insanity in people who played with them.

Throughout the 1920s and 30s there are several documented cases of people who committed murders—they claimed their Ouija boards told them to do it.

One vivid example Harkin shares happened in 1930, in Buffalo, New York. Two Native American women were put on trial for murdering the wife of the famous sculptor Henri Marchand.

They beat Clothilde Marchand to death with a hammer. One of them told the authorities, they had communicated with her husband while using a Ouija board. He described to her that Marchand was a witch who had killed him.

Another example Harkin shares involves an entire town.

In the 1920s over a few short weeks, the police in El Cerrito, California arrested seven people. All were driven insane after playing with boards. A national headline at the time read, Whole Town Ouija Mad.

A 15-year-old girl was found naked and acting crazy, after communicating with the spirits. In the following days, this madness spread. It even affected a local police officer that ran naked into a bank screaming.

As a result the town officials banned Ouija boards within the city limits.

John Harkin goes on to share numerous modern-day stories of how Ouija’s have scared and caused danger to those who have used them.

Note--I don't know what to make of these stories, but I do find them interesting.

Haunted London App

Now this is my kind of app . . .

Make it Digital Ltd has created a very fun app for those interested in haunted spots in London.

This app can be bought in the iTunes app store for 99 cents.

The first thing that pops up is a “Featured Haunted Location” where the user can read a short overview of one haunted spot in London.

The user then from this window can hit the “map” button and this goes to Google Maps, which pinpoints the exact location of where this haunting occurs--all the haunted locations featured on the app are integrated with Google Maps

This app highlights the ghosts from London’s darker past and provides short descriptions and stories about each haunting.

Its main menu lists various haunted locations, which include: Possessed Pubs, Ghostly Graveyards, Haunted Buildings, Jack The Ripper and Haunted Underground—the Tube.

One of my favorite sections highlights the various sections along the London Underground where ghostly activity has been reported.

Under each description is a “Report a Disturbance” button where the user can report activity on the apps’ Facebook or Twitter accounts.

The app also has an ”Extras” section where users can find spooky sounds with sound effects or suggest a story that should be included on the app.

This is a great way to experience a virtual tour of London’s haunted hot spots.

The developers of this app also have a “Haunted Edinburgh” app that is available for purchase on iTunes. These two apps can be found here.

Do Young Children see Ghosts?

This question was posed on a forum recently. The woman who started the thread had the Saturday before been assigned to watch two 2-year old toddlers at her church while their parents volunteered in the community.

Her church was new so they used a local community center.

As she rolled a ball on the gym floor to these two young children she felt that someone was watching them.

The boy asked if they could throw the ball. She agreed and the three stood up. The boy went to throw the ball to her but threw it just out of her reach. She did not hear the ball bounce.

Both children giggled and pointed. She turned around and saw the ball suspended in midair then it dropped straight down to the floor as if someone was holding it.

The kids just kept laughing and pointing. They repeated several times, “The man! The man!”

She admitted it freaked her out but she wasn’t scared. She also mentioned that she had never believed in the paranormal but now she had to wonder.

She asked if others knew if small children are more prone to see ghosts.

Her story and question elicited quite a response.

Many responders told their own stories. One overriding theme of this thread was that very young children and even infants do see ghosts but as they get a little older it stops.

Here are just two of the stories from this thread.

One mother recalled when her daughter was just a few months old she noticed her baby would look over at something and start giggling. She said it was like something was making her laugh.

Her babies’ eyes would follow it around the room. She often herself sensed this presence. When she felt it behind or next to her then her daughter would look in that direction and smile.

She was never afraid, in fact she stated that sometimes when her daughter was upset she would look over and start smiling or laughing.

This mother also mentioned that during this time when her or her husband could not find something they really needed it would all of a sudden appear right in front of them. It was always in a place they had checked a hundred times.

She stated that by the time her daughter turned 2 she no longer interacted with this presence.

One reply she received to her story questioned if this might have been a loved one who had passed away.

A father shared another story in this thread. He stated that when his daughter was 2 or 21/2 she slept in a crib in a room next to their bedroom.

One night she was restless and crying. The father feeling she was frightened went to check on her. His daughter did not calm down so her brought her into his and his wife’s room.

She was wide-awake but no longer scared. He noticed she was fixated on something at the foot of the bed. She said, “Look at the lights. They sparkle.”

She kept mentioning the lights and clapping. Then she said, “Daddy, who’s that man?” She pointed directly at the foot of the bed.

The father mentioned it was upsetting but they managed to get to sleep. He and his wife had moved into an apartment where the original owners, an elderly couple had both passed away a few months before they moved in.

A poster replied to his post with the statement that he would not have been able to sleep after this.

There were many similar stories on this thread. One poster stated her baby would stare at someone they couldn’t see and if they blocked her line of vision she would move or stretch so she could continue to see what she was looking at.

Another man mentioned he and his sibling when they were 2 would see a man in their house and an old lady at their grandmothers. As they grew up they didn’t remember this but their mother reminded them.

One poster mentioned that children are more open but at some point they lose this ability. I think this is true in most cases but not in all.

Ghosts of Dug Hill, Part l

In years past settlers in the interior of southern Illinois used a rough “cut” through the hills near Jonesboro, Illinois to reach the Mississippi River. This cut was known as Dug Hill Road.

Dug Hill Road
1928

Today this road located 5 miles west of Jonesboro on State Highway 126 has lost its rustic appearance but in the 1860s it was a dark secluded spot that posed many dangers to both the locals and travelers that used it.

For this reason Dug Hill gained a reputation as being one of the haunted roads in southern Illinois. Stories of strange sights were often told and with each telling these legends grew.

Here are two of these stories.

The Murder of Marshall Welch

In April of 1865 near the end of the Civil War, a Marshall by the name of Welsh arrested 3 deserters from the Union army. He did not treat these men kindly. He took them to Jonesboro and turned them over to the authorities.

A few days after these men were jailed word reached Illinois that the war had ended--General Lee had surrendered at Virginia. These 3 men were then released.

They were bitter and angry at how Welch had treated them and they set out to get revenge. One late evening as Welch passed through the cut heading home these men lay in wait. They shot and killed him as he rode by. They left him lying in the middle of Dug Hill Road.

Welch’s body was found quickly but these 3 men were never arrested or punished for this crime.

Soon after Welch’s death local farmers and travelers who passed through the cut started to report unusual activity. Welch’s ghost was seen walking along this road wearing bloody clothing.

Several witnesses stated that he pleaded for help--as they approached he just vanished. More often his ghost was seen lying in the center of the dusty trail.

One wagon driver traveling through the cut spotted a man lying facedown in the road. He stopped his team and climbed down to see if he could help.

When he leaned down to turn the man over, his hands passed right through him. He tried once more but his hands only touched the dirt beneath the body.

Terrified, he ran to his wagon. He urged his horses forward. As he reached the spot where the body lay he felt a bump as his wagon wheels went over the phantom corpse.

He looked back and saw that the body was no longer there.

The Spectral Wagon

Yet another strange sight seen along Dug Hill Road is that of a ghostly wagon.

One cold dark snowy night in December a farmer named Bill Smith was driving his team of horses through the cut. He had to stop because the harness had slipped off one of his horses. As he repositioned it he heard a disturbing sound approaching him from down the road.

He heard the loud crushing sound of wagon wheels in the crusted snow approaching his position quickly. A chill ran down his spine. The wagon was approaching too fast and he knew the narrow road would not accommodate both wagons.

If he could not move his wagon or call out a warning both drivers would be killed.

He yelled loudly into the darkness but he feared the other driver had not heard him over the racket. He was right for the other wagon drew closer. In a panic, he attempted to move his wagon.

At any moment the two wagons would crash but then the farmer saw a shocking sight. The other wagon did crest the hill but the noise was no longer coming from the road. He looked up to see a man fiercely whipping two black horses.

“The horses’ hooves pounded the air and the wagon wheels spun as if they were on the ground. This eerie sight soared above the farmer’s head headed for the next hill.”

  --taken from The Big Book of Illinois Ghost Stories by Troy Taylor

This flying wagon then disappeared from view and its loud crushing noises slowly faded away.

Yet another legend connected to Dug Hill Road I first read about in Troy Taylor’s book. This legend is about a mythical creature or boogeyman. Read about it in Ghosts of Dug Hill, Part ll.