Friday, October 9, 2015

The Amityville Horror


The Amityville Horror
It’s October – my favorite time of year, and with it comes the chance to investigate some haunted places around the U.S. This year, A Grave Interest will focus on haunted houses, and the spirits who are living up to some interesting mischief making …


November 13, 1974 was a chilly night in Suffolk County, New York. In the  early evening hours, Ronald (Burch) DeFeo Jr. ran into a local bar and told patrons that his parents had been shot. So began what would become known as The Amityville Horror.

Nothing about this unassuming 3-story Dutch Colonial home, located at 112 Ocean Avenue gave any indication as to the tragedy that had happened inside. When police arrived that evening, they discovered six members of the DeFeo's family had been shot execution style; all were found lying face down on their beds.

DeFeo
The DeFeo's oldest son, Ronald (Butch) DeFeo, Jr. was charged with murdering his family and sentenced to six concurrent sentences of 25 years to life. At his trial, DeFeo claimed that he had been possessed by the evil that resided in the house. He had heard it use his family’s voices in plotting to kill him, so he killed his family first.

George & Kathy Lutz
In December 1975, George and Kathy Lutz moved into the Long Island house with her three children. The Lutz’s claimed strange things began to happen as soon as they arrived.

It started that evening with a plague of flies inside the house; cold spots were prolific and terrifying sounds would wake them at 3:15 a.m., the time when the murders were committed. Then the paranormal activity increased. Objects were thrown around the house by unseen hands; a green slime oozed from the walls, children were levitated in their beds, and a demonic pig with red, glowing eyes was seen. They moved out 28 days later.

The Lutz’s story was taken and crafted into the best selling book “The Amityville Horror” in 1977. A movie spin-off was made two years later that received an Oscar nomination and spawned several sequels. For over a generation of readers and viewers, The Amityville Horror became America’s best-known haunted house.

William Weber
But rumors spread that the Lutz family had taken a gruesome situation and made up terrifying incidents as a way to gain fame and fortune. Local attorney William Weber claimed that he and the Lutz’s “created the story over many bottles of wine.”


The Lutz’s retaliated by suing Weber, along with a ghost writer, two clairvoyants, the New York Sunday Times, Good Housekeeping magazine and Hearst Corporation for invasion of privacy, misappropriation of names for trade purposes and mental distress. A Brooklyn judge dismissed the claims ruling that “to a large extent the book is a work of fiction, relying in a large part upon the suggestions of Mr. Weber.”  The Lutz’s disappeared from public view.

Daniel Lutz
But others still believed. Daniel Lutz was 10-years-old when his family lived there for that month in 1975. He says the claims of evil forces in the house were true, and blames his stepfather, George Lutz for dabbing in the occult and bringing about the horrifying paranormal encounters. (Both George and Kathy Lutz did pass lie detector tests concerning their ordeal in the house.)

Daniel Lutz remembers books about magic and satanic practices that his step-father kept on his bookshelves, and believes that George Lutz opened a gateway to paranormal forces before discovering that he couldn’t control what he’d let loose.

Jim and Barb Cromarty
Jim and Barbara Cromarty purchased the house in 1977 and lived there for ten years. They reported nothing unusual happened there during that time.

In fact, several families have lived in the house since the Cromarty’s sold it in the 1980s. None have reported any supernatural happenings in the residence.


The truth of the Lutz’s claims may never be known.  Kathleen Lutz died in 2004, and her ex-husband George died in 2006, both still affirming that the paranormal events did happen.

The house has received a face-lift and an address change over the years in order to keep visitors at bay. After almost 40 years without any paranormal reports, maybe its time to find another house more deserved of the attention, and let these tales die a natural death …

~ Joy

Friday, October 2, 2015

Hauntings At The Hannah House


Haunted Houses
It’s October – my favorite time of year, and that means getting to investigate some haunted places around the Midwest. This year, A Grave Interest will take a stroll through some well-known (and not so well-known) haunted houses, trying to discover more about the spirits that keep these places "interesting" …


Hannah House
In Indianapolis, Indiana, "The Crossroads of America," there is a stately old Italianate-style mansion that is said to be haunted by the people who died there when the owner was trying to help them reach freedom.



Hannah House was built in1858 by 37-year-old Alexander Moore Hannah, a prominent Indiana businessman. The brick home is made up of 24 rooms, located on two floors with an attic and a cellar.

Hannah was an abolitionist who stood up against slavery and intensely debated his policies with all who would listen, including President James Buchanan. It is no wonder that he allowed his mansion to become a stop on the Underground Railroad. But this assistance ultimately led to tragedy.

Underground Railroad
One night, several runaway slaves were being hidden in the cellar, awaiting the next "conductor's" arrival, when someone knocked over an oil lantern. Fire ignited quickly in the cramped quarters and in no time the cellar filled with smoke. The blaze swept through the fugitives quickly. It's not known how many slaves were in the cellar at the time, but many died from the smoke; others from burns before the fire could be contained.

A Cellar Floor
Hannah feared punishment if it was learned that his home was being used as a stop on the Underground Railroad, so the truth of the fire and deaths of the escaped slaves had to be hidden. Those who died in the blaze were quickly buried under the cellar's dirt floor - their names and identities lost forever ...

Hannah continued to live in the house until his death in 1895. The home sold in 1899 and immediately, reports of shadows, screams and strange happenings began.

There were rumors that the stench of burning flesh would drift through the house from time to time, followed by the scent of gangrene, and there were also the shrill screams of a woman in agony.

Objects moved around of their own accord, especially in the basement, and items were thrown about by unseen hands throughout the house; whispering can still be heard but the words are unintelligible. Cold drafts will suddenly permeate a room when no door or window has been opened, and shadowy figures still  move about the mansion; some claim one of them is Mr. Hannah.

If you’d like to experience what the Hannah House has to offer, plan on taking a tour of the house and grounds on selected dates. The next event is scheduled for this Sunday, October 4th from 1 to 4 p.m. eastern time. To check on other tour dates, email the Hannah House or call (317) 787-8486.

Happy Hauntings!

~ Joy


Friday, September 25, 2015

Book Review: Next Door To The Dead by Kathleen Driskell


Cemetery poetry may be an odd concept for mainstay readers, but for those of us who are “tombstone tourists,” this genre offers a refreshing look into our clandestine indulgences and interests.

Next Door To The Dead is Kathleen Driskell’s latest book; one I found to be irresistible. It takes an understanding of the taboos associated with writing about death, along with true empathy and respect for those living and dead to write poems brimming with thoughtfulness, heartbreak and humor. Driskell introduces us to her “neighbors” in a very matter-of-fact way because after 20 years of living next door to the cemetery, they are indeed the neighbors she’s gotten to know.


Driskell does what many of us do, wanders the cemetery in search of solace, solitude, and stories that may or may not be true, but her offerings tug at our heartstrings just the same. The poem Infant Girl Smithfield leaves the reader aching to comfort a stillborn child while the waiting tension in What Haunts is something most of us have felt when viewing the desecration cemetery vandals have left behind.

We listen in to Tchaenhotep, an Egyptian mummy whose every-day existence was thwarted in death by an odd fame; she is now on display in a local museum.

In Lament for the Crow, Driskell bids us to pause beside her, considering the demise of a crow and the affect it has among his resident flock.

The author is an expert at unraveling the secrets and stories buried in the local graveyard, and by invoking the voices of the dead, she shares her personal folklore about them in prose that will return to haunt you as you meander through a graveyard.

Next Door To The Dead will entice those who have no interest in cemeteries to hesitantly tag along, and in the process, captivate their imaginations. Taphophiles will find the fact that Driscoll can put into words those thoughts we’ve all had while searching and reflecting in a quiet cemetery, extraordinary. And most tombstone tourists will agree, that is both enlightening, and enchanting.

~ Joy
About the Author:
Kathleen Driskell
Kathleen Driskell is associate editor of the Louisville Review and professor of creative writing at Spalding University, where she also helps direct the low-residency MFA in Writing program. She is the author of numerous books and collections, including Laughing Sickness and Seed across Snow.

Book Details:
Next Door To The Dead by Kathleen Driscoll
Published by University Press of Kentucky (2015)


Friday, September 11, 2015

The 9/11 Memorial – Remembering The Day


Today marks the fourteenth anniversary of the terrorists attacks on the United States – September 11, 2001.  On that day, our lives, indeed our world, changed in ways we could never foresee.

One way we Americans have commemorated the day is with the 9/11 Memorial. Completed in 2011, the memorial is one of the largest in the world.

The purpose of the memorial is to commemorate the lives of the 2,977 who died on that September day: at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and aboard commercial airliner Flight 93 that crashed in a Pennsylvania field killing all on board.

9/11 Memorial
The memorial is made up of a museum, performing arts center, and a park with two pools and the largest man-made waterfall in the world.



Inside Founders Hall
Museum exhibits are divided into three categories: the events leading up to September 11th, an in-depth look at the actual day from historical, memorial and physical perspectives, and the aftermath including immediate rescue and recovery, and now, how our world has been forever changed.


But another aspect of the 9/11 Memorial is to also remind us to step forward and volunteer. We can do so by honoring first responders, memorializing those who were killed, educating children on the events that happened on that day. Or in a broader scope by showing appreciation to our troops, sponsoring a tribute to local EMTs, honoring search and rescue dogs for their service to the community; donating time at a shelter, nursing home, or at a local park or cemetery. There is always something we can do to give back and say “Thank You” for sacrifices made.

If you’re interested in finding out more ways to volunteer and serve, visit the Corporation for National and Community Service website.

What a beautiful and fitting way to "remember the day that changed us forever."

~ Joy



Friday, September 4, 2015

Shine On Harvest Moon


Although the moon is estimated to be 400 billion years old, man’s fascination with it has never waned. Down through the ages, we have worshipped the moon, given it human attributes, created folklore around it, and given it a different name for each month of the year.

Moon Phases
The moon passes through eight phases each month and has numerous stories and folklore connected to each phase. Our ancestors used the moon phases as a guide for planting, and many farmers still do today.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac:
  • Moonrise occurring in the evening brings fair weather.
  • The New Moon and first quarter, or waxing phases, are considered fertile and wet.
  • The new and first-quarter phases, known as the light of the Moon, are considered good for planting above-ground crops, putting down sod, grafting trees, and transplanting.
  • From full Moon through the last quarter, or the dark of the Moon, is the best time for killing weeds, thinning, pruning, mowing, cutting timber, and planting below-ground crops.
  • The time just before the full Moon is considered particularly wet, and is best for planting during drought conditions.
  • The Moon also affects our weather and our emotions.

The Chinese believed that instead of one moon there were twelve, one for each month so each was given a different name.

The Native Americans also had different names for each month based on the seasons. Today, these full Moon names include:

January = Wolf Moon (Wolves are hungry and go in search of food now)
February = Snow Moon (Heaviest snows happen during this month)
March = Worm Moon (The ground thaws and earthworms return)
April = Pink Moon (Wild flowers begin to bloom)
May = Flower Moon (Flowers are now abundant)
June = Strawberry Moon (Strawberries are ripe)
July = Thunder Moon (Thunderstorms are frequent)
August  = Grain Moon (Grain is becoming ripe)
September = Harvest Moon (Farmers harvest later by moonlight)
October = Hunter’s Moon (Wild game is getting ready for winter)
November = Frosty Moon (Frost is now a common occurrence)
December = Long Nights Moon (These are the longest nights of the year)

Most religions and traditional festivals are scheduled to occur during certain phases of the Moon.

Man’s Interaction with the Moon
Galileo Galilei
In 1609, Galileo Galilei was the first person to use a telescope to look at the moon. With 20-fold magnification, he saw valleys, hills and seas.







Luna One
It wasn’t until 350 years later, on January 2, 1959, that the Soviet Union launched Luna 1 and man made his first fly-by, only to discover that the Moon didn't have a magnetic field.

On February 3, 1966, the Soviets landed Luna 9 on the Moon’s surface. Although this was sixth spacecraft the Soviet Union had sent to the Moon, it was the first to actually land on the surface.

Then, just three years later, the United States not only landed Apollo 11 on the Moon, but on July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong made “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” as he set foot on the Moon’s surface.

Most recently on December 11, 1972, Gene Cernan walked on the Moon as part of the Apollo 17 mission.

Moon Folklore
Several ancient cultures worshiped the Moon and a Moon Goddess connected with birth and reproduction.

The Chinese believed that Chang’e, their Moon Goddess, had only one companion living with her on the Moon, the Jade Rabbit. The Moon Rabbit can be seen pounding the elixir of life for Chang'e with a mortar and pedestal. Interestingly enough, Buddhists, Aztecs and Native Americans also handed down a version of this myth.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Man in the Moon is seen as a human face in the full moon.

Thanks to poet English John Heywood, for centuries people thought that the Moon was made of green cheese -  "Ye set circumquaques to make me beleue/ Or thinke, that the moone is made of gréene chéese."

It is also believed that the moon can affect your emotions. It has been rumored that a full Moon can lead people into madness  (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde); cause an increase in murders, and can be the catalyst that turns people into werewolves.

Another rumor is that the United States never really landed on the Moon – it was all a hoax to scare the Soviet Union into thinking we were more powerful than we were. But then, rumors that the Nazis had a base located on the Moon lasted for several years after WWII ended ...





Maybe Robert Louis Stevenson summed it up best in his poem
The Moon.


The moon has a face like the clock in the hall;
She shines on thieves on the garden wall,
On streets and fields and harbour quays,
And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees.

The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse,
The howling dog by the door of the house,
The bat that lies in bed at noon,
All love to be out by the light of the moon.

But all of the things that belong to the day
Cuddle to sleep to be out of her way;
And flowers and children close their eyes
Till up in the morning the sun shall arise. 
~ Robert Louis Stevenson


And this year, during our Harvest moon in September, you’ll also have a chance to see it become a Blood Moon; this is another name for a total lunar eclipse. This eclipse will be visible in North America, South America, Europe, west Asia and parts of Africa.

The eclipse is scheduled to take place the evening of September 27 – September 28, 2015 and last for several hours.  To find out what time this will occur in your region, click here: Total Lunar Eclipse, and make plans to enjoy it now!

~ Joy