Our Strange World

Eastern State Penitentiary is a former prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that is now a museum. It is considered to be one of the most haunted places in America, and its history is full of stories of suicide, madness, disease, murder, and torture. The prison was built in 1829 and was designed to be a model of rehabilitation. Prisoners were kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day, with only one hour for exercise. The idea was that this would give them time to reflect on their crimes and repent. However, the reality was much different. Solitary confinement was incredibly isolating and psychologically damaging. Many prisoners went insane, and some even committed suicide. The prison also became a breeding ground for disease, and many prisoners died from tuberculosis. Eastern State Penitentiary closed in 1971, and it has been abandoned ever since. However, its history of violence and suffering has left a lasting mark. Many people believe that the prison is haunted by the ghosts o...

If you are looking for a place to experience some paranormal activity, you might want to visit the McPike Mansion in Alton, Illinois. This historic house, built in 1869 by Henry Guest McPike, is considered one of the most haunted houses in the United States. It has been featured on several TV shows, such as Ghost Hunters and Scariest Places on Earth, and has attracted many ghost hunters and curious visitors over the years. But what makes this mansion so spooky? Let's take a look at its history and hauntings. Henry Guest McPike was a prominent businessman and horticulturist in Alton. He owned several acres of land and was famous for developing a new variety of grape called the McPike Grape. He hired architect Lucas Pfeiffenberger to design his dream home, a 16-room Italianate mansion with a wine cellar, a vaulted dome, and ornate fireplaces. The mansion was completed in 1871 and became a symbol of McPike's wealth and status. McPike lived in the mansion with his wife Mary and the...

 The Old Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge is a place that has seen its fair share of death and violence. It is also a place that is said to be haunted by the ghosts of those who died there. The prison was built in 1870 and served as the state's only penitentiary until 1979. During its 109-year history, the prison housed some of the most dangerous criminals in Montana, including murderers, rapists, and bank robbers. In 1959, the prison was the site of a deadly riot. The riot lasted for 36 hours and resulted in the deaths of two inmates and one guard. The riot is said to have left a dark mark on the prison, and many people believe that the ghosts of those who died there still linger. There have been numerous reports of paranormal activity at the Old Montana State Prison. Some people have reported seeing apparitions of inmates and guards, while others have heard disembodied voices or felt unexplained cold spots. There have also been reports of objects moving on their own and doors o...

  If you are looking for a spooky adventure, you might want to visit the Sweetwater Mansion in Florence, Alabama. This historic house was built in 1828 by General John Brahan, a veteran of the War of 1812. The mansion has been the site of many paranormal events, such as ghostly voices, footsteps, doors slamming, and objects moving by themselves. Some of the most famous ghosts that haunt the mansion are the children of General Brahan's son-in-law, Robert Patton, who inherited the house after Brahan's death. Patton had 15 children, but only four survived to adulthood. The rest died of various causes, including yellow fever, typhoid, and a tragic fire. Some visitors have reported seeing the apparitions of children playing in the halls, or hearing their laughter and cries. Another ghost that is said to lurk in the mansion is that of a Confederate soldier who was killed on the front porch during the Civil War. The soldier had been wounded in battle and was brought to the mansion by ...

  Sloss Furnace is a historic landmark in Birmingham, Alabama, that was once the largest producer of pig iron in the world. The furnace operated from 1882 to 1971, and was a vital part of the industrial revolution in the South. However, the furnace also has a dark and tragic history, as many workers suffered and died from the harsh and dangerous conditions. Some of these workers are said to still haunt the furnace today, making it one of the most haunted places in America. The furnace was built by Colonel James Withers Sloss, a railroad tycoon who saw the potential of Birmingham's rich iron ore deposits. He hired hundreds of workers, mostly African Americans and immigrants, to work in the furnace. The workers had to endure long hours, low wages, extreme heat, and constant risk of injury or death. Many workers were burned, crushed, or suffocated by the molten metal or the gases in the furnace. Some workers were also killed by accidents or violence from their supervisors or fellow wo...

 The Stanley Hotel is a historic landmark in Estes Park, Colorado, that was built by Freelan Oscar Stanley in 1909. The hotel is famous for its elegant architecture, scenic views, and paranormal activity. The hotel was also the inspiration for Stephen King's novel The Shining, after he stayed there in 1974. The hotel was originally intended as a summer resort for wealthy guests who suffered from tuberculosis, as Stanley himself did. He believed that the fresh mountain air and sunshine would cure his illness. He also wanted to create a luxurious and comfortable place for his wife, Flora, who loved music and art. The hotel featured a hydraulic elevator, electric lights, telephones, and a concert hall with a Steinway piano. The hotel faced many challenges throughout its history, such as fires, floods, financial difficulties, and changing ownership. It also had to adapt to the demands of modern travelers, who expected amenities such as heating, air conditioning, and television. The hot...

 If you are looking for a creepy adventure, you might want to visit the most haunted cemetery in America: Bachelor's Grove Cemetery in Illinois. This cemetery has been abandoned for decades and is the site of many paranormal sightings and legends. Some of the ghosts that have been reported here include a woman in white, a phantom farmhouse, a two-headed man, and a black dog.  The cemetery is also known for its mysterious orbs of light that appear in photographs and videos. Some people believe that these orbs are the spirits of the dead, while others think they are caused by natural phenomena or camera glitches. Bachelor's Grove Cemetery was established in the 1840s by a group of settlers from New England. The cemetery was named after one of the families that lived nearby, but some historians claim that it was actually a misspelling of Batchelder, another family name. The cemetery was used until the 1960s, when it became neglected and vandalized. Many of the tombstones were sto...

Have you ever felt a cold breeze in your house, even when the windows are closed? Have you heard strange noises, like footsteps, whispers, or banging doors, when no one else is around? Have you seen objects move by themselves, or disappear and reappear in different places? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be living in a haunted house. A haunted house is a place where spirits of the dead linger and manifest themselves in various ways. Some spirits are harmless, and may just want to communicate with the living or relive their past memories. Others are malevolent, and may try to scare, harm, or possess the living. Either way, living in a haunted house can be a terrifying and stressful experience. But how can you tell if your house is really haunted, or if you are just imagining things? Here are some signs that may indicate that your house has some unwanted guests from the other side: - You feel a sudden change in temperature. One of the most common signs of a haunt...

Haunted Cemetery in Fond du Lac  Rienzi Cemetery is home to several haunted legends, and may be one of the most haunted cemeteries in Wisconsin. Local lore suggests a gateway to Hell resides inside the old receiving vault, and the Witches Circle in the back of the cemetery is a mass grave for excommunicated nuns from nearby St. Mary’s Springs.  Rienzi Cemetery History  Rienzi Cemetery was once the home of the Tallmadge family – devout Spiritualists who believed they communicated with the dead there on that land. Nathaniel P. Tallmadge bought the land and moved his family from New York in 1844 when he was appointed the third governor of the Wisconsin Territory. Tragedy soon struck the following year when Nathaniel’s oldest son William died unexpectedly at the age of 19. Nathaniel buried him in his favorite spot, the top of the hill overlooking the property that he had named Rienzi Hill (after noted 14th-century Roman leader Cola di Rienzo) just two weeks earlier. The ent...

History: Ashmore Estates was built in 1916 and was once part of Coles County Poor Farm. It operated as an almshouse until 1959 where the residents or “inmates” grew their own food, butchered and smoked their own meat, made their own butter and all worked hard to take care of each other. As many as 200 people died while the building operated as a poorhouse and were buried on site. Paranormal Activity : There is a vast amount of folklore about Ashmore Estates, evidenced by the large number of people who illegally entered the property looking for ghosts and spirits during the 20 years in which the property was abandoned. Some believe that cults used to meet at this location for satanic rituals. There are reports of black masses, full body apparitions, disembodied voices, hot and cold spots, you name it.   The old building is considered by many to be “massively haunted” and there are rumors that an investigation of the building will be aired on Ghost Adventures later th...

 The small town of Stull, Kansas is home to one of the most infamous urban legends in the United States: the Gates of Hell. The legend claims that the Stull Cemetery is one of seven gateways to Hell, and that the Devil himself appears there twice a year, on Halloween and the spring equinox. The legend of the Gates of Hell in Stull can be traced back to the early 1970s, when a student newspaper at the University of Kansas published an article claiming that the cemetery was haunted. The article quickly spread, and soon Stull became a popular destination for thrill-seekers and paranormal investigators. Over the years, the legend of the Gates of Hell has only grown more elaborate. Some people claim that the cemetery is surrounded by a barrier of invisible energy that prevents people from leaving once they enter. Others say that the Devil has been seen appearing in the cemetery, sometimes accompanied by demons and other creatures. Of course, there is no scientific evidence to support th...

The derelict building in the photo above is not a place to enter lightly. Though the small village of Borley, near Sudbury, UK, is not the sort of place one would associate with ghosts, it has an awful reputation because it was the site of the infamous Borley Rectory, reputedly the ‘Most Haunted House in England’. Built in 1863 for the Reverend Henry Bull, it sits on the site of an ancient monastery. The ghost of a mournful nun who patrolled the so-called ‘Nun’s Walk’ had often been seen there. An old tale claimed that she had fallen in love with a monk from the Borley Monastery – to much outrage – and the two had tried to elope together but had been quickly tracked down. The monk was executed and the nun bricked up in the cellars of the monastic buildings. The ghost stories began to surface when the Daily Mirror ran a story in 1929 titled “Tales of Headless Coachmen and a Lonely Nun”. It was shortly after that a soon-to-be famous paranormal researcher named Harry Price ...

The Mason Children’s Home, was a house that was built in the early 1920’s. It is located east of Highway 77. This home was built by the Masons to provide a comfortable warm place for children whose parents no longer could care for them. It ran until 1978 when Oklahoma voted to have a foster care system. There are rumors of children being beaten to death, staff committing suicide, and other horrible incidents at this home.  No one knows exactly what happened within this house during the time it housed hundreds of children but now there is definitely unrest. Many people have seen a girl begging to be rescued, There is also a woman who walks down the main hallway and many people report hearing crying and screaming, probably from the children who were abandoned by parents.   You can read more about the hauntings and history at the link below: https://www.kgou.org/post/how-curious-haunted-childrens-home

  Henryton State Hospital, located in an isolated section of Patapsco Valley State Park, on Henryton Road, in a dis-remembered part of the Eldersburg region. Instituted in-the beginning of the early-1920s, Henryton was inaugurated for two diverse reasons: the nursing of black patients writhe with tuberculosis, and the instruction and treatment of mentally ill adults. Henryton then changed from taking care of those ill with tuberculosis in 1963, and shut their doors in 1985. Finding information on the history of Henryton is difficult. This very dilemma is what adds to its mystique and declaration of haunting experiences. There are those who have tried in vain and have only been met with a stonewall. For instance, the Maryland Department of General Services, who today retains the building, and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene were contacted; but mysteriously have no information concerning the history of Henryton. In addition, the Carroll Country Department o...

 Waverly Hills Sanatorium is a former tuberculosis hospital located in Louisville, Kentucky. It opened in 1910 and was one of the most advanced tuberculosis treatment facilities in the world. However, the sanatorium also had a dark history. Thousands of patients died there, and many of them are said to still haunt the building today. The sanatorium was designed to resemble a castle, with turrets and towers. This was done to give patients a sense of hope and optimism, as well as to keep the sanatorium isolated from the surrounding community. The sanatorium was also equipped with the latest technology for treating tuberculosis, including a "skylight room" that was used to expose patients to sunlight. Despite its advanced facilities, Waverly Hills Sanatorium was not a pleasant place to be. The treatment for tuberculosis was often brutal, and many patients died from the disease. The sanatorium was also overcrowded, and the conditions were often unsanitary. Waverly Hills Sanator...

Annie Palmer arrived in Jamaica from England in the 18th century. She married a landowner and became the mistress of a large plantation. The reason why she became so cruel is unknown but she ruled the plantation with an iron fist, punishing her slaves with public whippings, torture in her dungeon or death.   Eventually she started to sleep with the male slaves. Her slave lovers were doomed though. When she grew bored of them she would murder them while they slept and it wasn’t long before her husband shared the same fate. Out of boredom she demanded that her slaves teach her voodoo. Annie then took to threatening them with black and sacrificing babies to use their bones for spells. The overseer of the plantation was a voodoo user himself and when Annie started sleeping with his daughter’s fiancé he started to worry for the young man’s fate. When the daughter’s fiancé was murdered the overseer decided that he had had enough and killed Annie. He placed her body in a speci...

The Northern part of Summit County in Ohio is known by its eery name, Helltown. In the 1970’s, Boston Township was the site of a government buyout and subsequent mass eviction of citizens of the area. The houses were intended to be torn down and the land used for a national park, but the plans never quite manifested. Legends spawned wildly. Driving through the dark, wooded landscape was enough to give chills even when it was populated, but now the drive is by boarded up houses standing next to the burnt out shells of others. The persistent legends of Helltown add to its scary, abandoned status. The steep Stanford Road drop off, immediately followed by a dead end, is aptly named The End of the World. If you get stuck at this dead end for too long, you may meet your end at the hands of the endless parade of freaks supposedly patrolling the woods. Satanists, Ku Klux Klan members, escaped mental patients, abnormally large snakes, and mutants caused by an alleged chemical spill ...

Dorney Park is a historic amusement park located in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, just outside of Allentown. The park was founded in 1860 by Solomon Dorney, who built a trout hatchery and summer resort on the property. In 1870, Dorney decided to open the park to the public and added a variety of attractions, including rides, a petting zoo, and games. By 1880, Dorney Park was a popular destination for families and thrill-seekers alike. Ghostly Legends of Dorney Park Dorney Park has been a popular amusement park in Pennsylvania for over 160 years. Throughout the years, the park has been updated with new rides and attractions, but some things have remained the same. One of those things is the legend of the ghost that haunts the park. The ghost is said to be a man who was killed in a mining accident in the 1800s. His body was never found, and his spirit is said to wander the park, especially near the Dominator, a roller coaster that was built on the site of the old mine. Th...

Poveglia Island is a small island in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy. It has a long and dark history, and is said to be one of the most haunted places in the world. The island was first inhabited in the 4th century AD, and was originally used as a quarantine station for ships arriving in Venice. In the 14th century, it became a dumping ground for victims of the Black Death, and is estimated that over 160,000 people died on the island during this time. In the 18th century, Poveglia was used as a mental asylum. The conditions on the island were said to be horrific, and many patients died there. There are also rumors that a doctor who worked at the asylum performed lobotomies on patients without anesthesia, and that he eventually went mad and threw himself from the bell tower. The island was abandoned in 1975, and is now off-limits to the public. However, it is still said to be haunted by the ghosts of the people who died there. Visitors to the island have reported seeing apparitions, he...