Boo! Givens Castle

 Today we are focusing on a spook in Chicago ion an area where my Aunt Tina lives.  Buckle in for some bumps and scares.  Enjoy – don’t be scared now – BOO!

Givens Castle / Beverly Unitarian Church

The Givens Castle was originally built in 1886 as a residence by Robert Givens. Givens was real estate developer and wanted the house to be a replica of a castle in his native Ireland.  Some say that Givens built the home for his fiancee who died before the house could be finished.  Maybe that accounts for why Givens only lived in the castle for 8 years.

Around 1894, the castle turned into the Chicago Female College. It is reputed to have had a student die in the 1930’s from flu.

During the 1960’s, the castle was turned into the Beverly Unitarian Church.  A janitor once reported that he had a conversation with a woman who disappeared from sight. Their conversation was about the house and how much it had changed over the years.  The janitor saw no footprints outside in the snow and all of the doors were locked.  Where did she go?  Was it the student that passed away from the flu?

The pastor of the church at the time was a woman who claimed she saw a pair of hands touch her husband’s waist.  Even more, the pastor thought the hands were those of a woman.  The husband never felt a thing.  During this time as well, there were reports of a candle being seen through windows when nobody was present in the building.

Unexplained noises have also been attributed to the ghost and a former pastor said that he often tried to track down the source of the noises but was never able to.

The story is courtesy of Chicago Ghost blogger.

 

31 Days of Spook – H.H. Holmes

I know you are asking yourself who in the world is H.H. Holmes and why is he being featured on my 31 Days of Spook?  The name sounds so plain and innocent.  But I assure, it is not.  You see H.H. Holmes is the common name of Dr. Henry Howard Holmes (who was actually born Herman Webster Mudgett – try to figure that out huh?)  H.H. Holmes is considered America’s First Serial Killer.  Does the name sound innocent now?

Most people that want to become a doctor go into the field hoping to prevent death. H.H. Holmes went to school to become a doctor to help him out more in causing death and destruction.  Let’s start from here and let me explain to you what H.H. Holmes actually did.

It starts out in 1886 in Chicago.  H.H. Holmes built a hotel right in town near all of the fair activities.  In the time that he was building it, he often brought in different construction crews to add things and then fired that crew afterwards.  Again the next day hiring a different construction crew to work on something else at the hotel.  That way, not one construction crew or person knew of the intricacies of the hotel.  What intricacies?  Well like 100’s of windowless rooms, doorways that opened into brick walls, stairways leading to nowhere, doors that opened from the outside and don’t forget the fun rooms.  The rooms that had soundproof walls and gas lines in them to asphyxiate the guests.  Or rooms that had walls covered with iron plates and blowtorches to incinerate guests.  Or the secret hanging chamber… or the basement where he would dissect, strip the flesh off guests and then sale their bodies to medical schools.  What a host huh?

The hotel was nicknamed the Castle by the people of the area and it was three stories and a block long.  The name of the actual hotel was called the World’s Fair Hotel.  Yep, you guessed it.  The hotel was right there in the same area of the World Fair in 1893.  Just think of all of the innocent people coming to  Chicago for the World’s Fair.  They see this nice, new hotel and check in thinking they are safe… and then they are never heard from again.  Thus in the end, the hotel was then called the Murder Castle.

In the end, justice was given to H.H. Holmes.  He was eventually caught and although he claimed to have killed 27 people, it is actually thought the count could be well over 200 people!  What’s even more interesting is that H.H. Holmes is even linked to the likes of Jack the Ripper.  Some people even think that they may be one and the same.  H.H. Holmes was actually in London during the killings of Jack the Ripper.  And of course, Jack the Ripper was actually a very clean cut killer – some believe that he had a medical background.  With all of the killing that H.H. Holmes did, I would think he would fit that bill.  Do you?

Picture Mugshot from Wikipedia

 

31 Days of Spook – Givens Castle

 Today we are focusing on a spook in Chicago ion an area where my Aunt Tina lives.  Buckle in for some bumps and scares.  Enjoy – don’t be scared now – BOO!

Givens Castle / Beverly Unitarian Church

The Givens Castle was originally built in 1886 as a residence by Robert Givens. Givens was real estate developer and wanted the house to be a replica of a castle in his native Ireland.  Some say that Givens built the home for his fiancee who died before the house could be finished.  Maybe that accounts for why Givens only lived in the castle for 8 years.

Around 1894, the castle turned into the Chicago Female College. It is reputed to have had a student die in the 1930’s from flu.

During the 1960’s, the castle was turned into the Beverly Unitarian Church.  A janitor once reported that he had a conversation with a woman who disappeared from sight. Their conversation was about the house and how much it had changed over the years.  The janitor saw no footprints outside in the snow and all of the doors were locked.  Where did she go?  Was it the student that passed away from the flu?

The pastor of the church at the time was a woman who claimed she saw a pair of hands touch her husband’s waist.  Even more, the pastor thought the hands were those of a woman.  The husband never felt a thing.  During this time as well, there were reports of a candle being seen through windows when nobody was present in the building.

Unexplained noises have also been attributed to the ghost and a former pastor said that he often tried to track down the source of the noises but was never able to.

The story is courtesy of Chicago Ghost blogger.

 

31 Days of Spook – Givens Castle

 Today we are focusing on a spook in Chicago ion an area where my Aunt Tina lives.  Buckle in for some bumps and scares.  Enjoy – don’t be scared now – BOO!

Givens Castle / Beverly Unitarian Church

The Givens Castle was originally built in 1886 as a residence by Robert Givens. Givens was real estate developer and wanted the house to be a replica of a castle in his native Ireland.  Some say that Givens built the home for his fiancee who died before the house could be finished.  Maybe that accounts for why Givens only lived in the castle for 8 years.

Around 1894, the castle turned into the Chicago Female College. It is reputed to have had a student die in the 1930’s from flu.

During the 1960’s, the castle was turned into the Beverly Unitarian Church.  A janitor once reported that he had a conversation with a woman who disappeared from sight. Their conversation was about the house and how much it had changed over the years.  The janitor saw no footprints outside in the snow and all of the doors were locked.  Where did she go?  Was it the student that passed away from the flu?

The pastor of the church at the time was a woman who claimed she saw a pair of hands touch her husband’s waist.  Even more, the pastor thought the hands were those of a woman.  The husband never felt a thing.  During this time as well, there were reports of a candle being seen through windows when nobody was present in the building.

Unexplained noises have also been attributed to the ghost and a former pastor said that he often tried to track down the source of the noises but was never able to.

The story is courtesy of Chicago Ghost blogger.

 

Dear Bacon

Dear Bacon – They know me in the wild as the guy to go to for back adjustments.  We all have problems with our backs from time to time.  You know with all of the jumping, running and playing with our buddies.  So I’m here to offer you my services dude.  When your giddy up has gone and went, give me a call for an adjustment.  Signed Crack Doctor

Dear Crack Doctor –  WOW.  I’m at a lost for words.  Really.  By the looks of that purr thing that you are “adjusting”, I would take a gander and say they are as well.  Back adjustments… hhhhmmm… I think I’ll pass.  You know the little tyke here Houdini has great paws for massages.  I think I’ll call him for a massage.  But hey, I appreciate the offer.  You carry on and flourish with your business my friend.

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 Dear Bacon – Let’s understand each other okay.  You show respect to us purr things and I won’t have to call that elf of yours Don Juan.  Capice?  We have ways of making our communication brutal.  Just one phone call from Hemi or Mouse Girl and I will drop a line to elfy.  We wouldn’t want that now would we?  Signed Enforcer

Dear Enforcer – gulps.  Understand my friend.  I understand completely.  No reason to call Don Juan.  We are all family here.  Love your coloring and by the way have I told you that purr things rock?  They really do – honestly.  Creeps out of this letter….slowly and silently.

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 Dear Bacon – Sometimes the best things in life is just sitting back to watch the animals and humans.  You can see some amazing things in the household when you do this.  Just be quiet and observe.  Have you ever done this?  Signed Voyeur

Dear Voyeur – YES I agree 100% my friend.  One time, I watched daddy come out of the shower.  My eyes!  What has been seen can not be unseen.  And hey, he jumped pretty high when I snorted – rolls with laughter.  Carry on watching and let me know what you see next. 🙂

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 Dear Bacon – I *almost* got caught in this picture.  I mean dude it was a close call for sure!  The barky thing is so loud and loves to pick on us purr things when the humans aren’t lucky.  I had it with that mutt up to my forehead.  So, he came by and I was just about to flick my nails out when I saw the humans out of the corner of my eye.  Thank goodness I saw them looking so I did what all cats do best – I looked disinterested and innocent.  You know the look I’m sure.  But it definitely was a close one.  Have you ever been almost caught in action?  Signed Wolverine

Dear Wolverine – Squeals!  That was a close call my friend.  Thank goodness your spidey senses were working and you noticed the humans.  I hope that you did get even with the barky thing when it was more convenient – snorts.  I’m sure he had it coming his way.  Snorts – have a great one!

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 Dear Bacon – Really?  This is the juvenile behavior I have to put up with at my own castle.  My little brother doesn’t get his way so he acts like a small person wearing diapers and sticks his tongue out at me.  Really?  What is he two?!  What am I to do?  Shakes head.  Signed – Beyond Irritated

Dear Beyond Irritated – Just walk away.  My best advice my friend.  Unless you want to contact the Enforcer up above or Wolverine from up above.  I’m sure they can tell you a few pointers.  I certainly couldn’t.  Cause you know I’m just so cute and would never do anything to anyone. 🙂  Right Enforcer?  Snorts.

 

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Remember friends – keep your pictures and questions coming.  Send them to my email address.  Have a great day!

 

31 Days of Spook – Givens Castle

 Welcome my friends to 31 Days of Spook.  Today we are focusing on a spook in Chicago ion an area where my Aunt Tina lives.  Buckle in for some bumps and scares.  Enjoy – don’t be scared now – BOO!

Givens Castle / Beverly Unitarian Church

The Givens Castle was originally built in 1886 as a residence by Robert Givens. Givens was real estate developer and wanted the house to be a replica of a castle in his native Ireland.  Some say that Givens built the home for his fiancee who died before the house could be finished.  Maybe that accounts for why Givens only lived in the castle for 8 years.

Around 1894, the castle turned into the Chicago Female College. It is reputed to have had a student die in the 1930’s from flu.

During the 1960’s, the castle was turned into the Beverly Unitarian Church.  A janitor once reported that he had a conversation with a woman who disappeared from sight. Their conversation was about the house and how much it had changed over the years.  The janitor saw no footprints outside in the snow and all of the doors were locked.  Where did she go?  Was it the student that passed away from the flu?

The pastor of the church at the time was a woman who claimed she saw a pair of hands touch her husband’s waist.  Even more, the pastor thought the hands were those of a woman.  The husband never felt a thing.  During this time as well, there were reports of a candle being seen through windows when nobody was present in the building.

Unexplained noises have also been attributed to the ghost and a former pastor said that he often tried to track down the source of the noises but was never able to.

The story is courtesy of Chicago Ghost blogger.