When thinking about public parks, certain standard features come to mind: green space, walkways, benches, and perhaps even some commemorative statues. In Chicago’s Lincoln Park, you’ll certainly find all this, but there’s something else that seems a little out-of-place. On the grounds sits a lone mausoleum, dating back to the mid-19th century. Stranger still is one particular incident that occurred in this park … a vampire hunt! Continue reading →
Crystal skulls have been the subject of curiosity and debate for decades. Are they ancient artifacts, modern hoaxes, or maybe even mystical conduits? A few of these enigmatic objects are held by major museums, while others are in private collections. During a visit to the British Museum in London, I made it a point to view the skull they have on display. Whatever its origins, it’s certainly striking. Continue reading →
In North London you’ll find a cemetery with a powerful atmosphere and striking architecture. There are Egyptian style tombs, a Gothic style chapel, and winding paths that allow for quiet reflection. Strolling among the Victorian stonework is reason enough to visit, but this place also is noteworthy for something else – it holds an interesting place in vampire lore. Continue reading →
In a rural cemetery by an old wooden church lies the 19th century grave of a supposed vampire. Various paranormal stories have circulated about this site and it has generated some public interest for a number of years. However, any vampire lore surrounding the deceased may simply be a 20th century case of mistaken identity! Continue reading →
The coastal town of Newport, Rhode Island is famously known for its Gilded Age mansions. Lesser known is a structure that looks like it came right out of the Middle Ages. Sitting in a small park, it’s the remnants of a round tower built of stone. The origins of the Newport Tower have been a source of public debate since at least the first half of the 19th century. A variety of theories exist, many asserting that the tower predates the arrival of Columbus. Continue reading →
In an out-of-the-way cemetery in Jewett City, Connecticut, you’ll find the burial plots of the Ray family. Tragedy struck this family in the mid-1800s when a number of its members were lost to consumption (now known as tuberculosis). People started thinking that the illness was due to something supernatural. Suspicion fell upon the dead and drastic actions were taken. Continue reading →
In the town of Dedham, MA there is a historic house of great distinction – it is, in fact, the oldest wood frame house in North America. Built between 1637 and 1641, the Fairbanks House provides an amazing view into history. Although the last resident moved out over 100 years ago, some spirits may still call it home. Continue reading →
Once a major attraction, the Bear Dens at Boston’s Franklin Park now sit silent and obscure. The old enclosures are tucked away in a wooded area outside the modern boundaries of the zoo. Walking around it, you can sense the former grandeur of the place, which somehow makes it all the more eerie. Continue reading →
Abandoned places often have a strange allure. Locations once filled with activity, now slowly and silently decaying. Of course, the nature of what the place once was often adds to the atmosphere. With that in mind, let’s turn to the town of Medfield, MA. Nestled among trees and fields, you’ll find a large, abandoned campus populated by redbrick buildings. Although it may be reminiscent of a college, it is actually a former insane asylum. The public is permitted to walk the grounds, and I found the site to be both fascinating and somber. Continue reading →
On the Massachusetts coast, in the town of Gloucester, sits a building that appears to be, quite simply, on the wrong continent. It’s as if a medieval castle were plucked out of the Old World and dropped in the New World. The creation of a wealthy and eccentric inventor, Hammond Castle Museum is filled with antiques, ancient artifacts, and (as far as some are concerned) ghosts. Continue reading →
