Rocky’s Nut Brunch

Today let’s talk about something we have heard of – The RMS Titanic.  Such a remarkable ship for its time that had such a tragic ending.  We know the basics the the Titanic:  a British passenger ship that collided with an iceberg on April 15, 1912 on its maiden voyage.  This huge ship could accommodate over 2,453 passengers at one time and had 885 crew members which for the time period was amazing to say the least.  However, due to a coal strike causing many crossings to be cancelled, the maiden voyage had only 1,317 passengers with the crew members.  Out of 2,202 people on board the Titanic, only 710 people survived the aftermath of the sinking.  That’s almost 1,500 people passing at one time – can you believe that?!

But here is something for you to think about.  The Titanic sunk in 1912.

In 1898 – way before the time of the Titanic – author Morgan Robertson wrote a book called Titan or in some places you will call it Futility.  There are so many similarities between the two:

→ Both described as unsinkable.  Both had a shortage of lifeboats.  Both struck an iceberg.  Both when down in the month of April.  The majority of both of the passengers/crew members died.

So there you go – what are the odds?  Did Robertson glance into the future?  Or was a dream of something to take place?  You decide.

 

Boo! Scariest Movie

Oh my friends.  Let’s do a twist today.  Let’s see if you can scare me for a change.  Mom/dad were sitting the living room last night with us anipals.  The room was dark except for the flames of the fireplace.  They were talking about movies they have seen over the years that scared them silly.  Conversation went back and forth until they settled on two.

Dad’s Movie Pick – 1408.  This movie came out in 2007 and started John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson.  You see John Cusack’s character was a so called ‘ghost hunter’.  He went to famous places and would spend the night in haunted rooms.  Most of the time, nothing happened and the places were debunked.  But then while writing his latest book, he travels to New York to stay at the Dolphin Hotel in room 1408, a haunted room.  In fact, it was so haunted that the hotel would not rent the room to anyone.  Through lawyers, he finds out that if the room is vacant, the hotel has to rent it so he makes a reservation to stay.  He checks in and meets with the hotel manager, played by Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson tries everything he can to persuade Cusack’s character not to stay in the room – a room upgrade, expensive booze and even will allow Cusack to look at a book he has made showing over 50 deaths in room 1408.  But in the end, Cusack stays in 1408.  Let’s just say that 1408 is everything you can imagine it to be.

Mom’s Movie Pick – House on Haunted Hill.  This movie came out in 1999.  Mom/dad will usually go to the movies to see comedy’s but for some reason, they saw this movie in the theater.  Don’t ask me why because it’s not like them.  Mom actually watched part of the movies with her hands covering her eyes.  At one time, she even told daddy that she might have to leave – that’s how scared she was.  The entire movie is about a millionaire who offers a diverse group of people $1,000,000 to spend the night in a haunted house with a horrifying past.  “nuff said before I make water from being scared.

So my question to you my friends, what is the one movie that you saw that scared your pants off?

 

Boo! 17 Hundred 90 Inn and Tavern

Today mom and dad helped me by reminding me of a story at their true love – Savannah, Georgia.  One of the must things to do in Savannah if you have never done it is to take a stroll through downtown at night on a haunted ghost tour.  There are walking tours, horse and buggy tours or even a hearse tour if you dare.

Many moons ago, mom/dad went with my mom’s sister and her daughter, my little niece Savannah.  Nice name huh?  Savannah must have been about two and they decided to do a night time horse and buggy haunted ghost tour.  It must have been scary too because little Savannah stayed camped out inside of mom’s hoodie the entire horse and buggy tour.

One of the last places on the tour was a little house called the 17 Hundred 90 Inn and Tavern.  It’s a quaint little place, not so scary during the day but a night – chills.  The 17 Hundred 90 Inn and Tavern is located at 306 East President Street, Savannah. The bottom floors have a restaurant and bar area while the upper floors have 14 suites in the inn.  It has a long history of untimely death and ghosts.  It was originally built in 1820 and is one of the oldest buildings in the Savannah area.

The most paranormal activity revolves around poor sweet Anna who fell from the window of room 204.  There are many stories about poor Anna – we really don’t know which one is the truth.

One story states that she was married to the designer of the home, Steel White, who died in 1790 in a tragic riding accident.  Anna fell in love with a German sailor who went off to sea and promised to return but never did.  Anna found out that she was pregnant and realized that the German sailor never meant to return.  In despair, she jumped to her death from room 204.

Another story similar to the one above with Anna has Anna being a servant at the inn instead of being married to the designer of the home.  The end is the same result though, her untimely death.

People have reported the ghost of poor Anna leaning over them while they sleep in room 204.  Other stories are of Anna caressing men’s cheeks and as they wake they see Anna crying and then jumping to her death out the window.  Items are also often reported missing – wallets, jewelry, keys – all of which are later found mysteriously in a planter or behind a shelf.

Stories were so rampant at one point in room 204 that the 17 Hundred 90 Inn and Tavern required any patron staying in the room to sign a waiver stating they would not request their money back should they not stay the entire night.  Nowadays, it is no longer required because most people wanting room 204 are hoping for a little ghost sighting of poor sweet Anna.

So this story was told on horse and buggy ride late at night through the streets of Savannah.  Mom, Dad, my Aunt Tina and two year old niece Savannah who was taking up shop under mom’s hoodie.  The mood was set.  It was dark, a little misty.  All you could hear was the clickey-clack of the horses feet, an occasional snarl from the horse and the soft tale of Anna coming for the tour guide.  That’s when my niece Savannah decided to poke her head out to the world and say in her little child like voice, “Poor Anna”.

So do you believe in ghosts, spooks and things that go bump in the night?  Do you have a little adventure still left in you?  Want a weekend trip at a haunted inn – I’ve heard that the 17 Hundred 90 has open reservations…. if you dare my friends.

 

Boo! Flirting with Death

 

Boo! Myrtles Plantation

Hello my little horror fans. Thank you for staying with me during this 31 Days of Spook.  Today, let’s talk about haunted houses.

When I think about the most haunted house here in the United States, the first one that always comes to mind is the Myrtles Plantation in St Francisville, Louisiana.  Today, it’s a quaint little bed and breakfast.  But before, there was an ugly past that took place that made it the spook fest that it is today.

Back in the day of plantations, there was a despicable thing that southern plantation owners did and that was called having slaves.  It was a horrible act to ‘own’ another person just because of the color of your skin.  Thank goodness that those days are long behind us and we have progressed to the point of not ‘owning’ someone ever again.

But back in the day of the Myrtles when Mark and Sara Woodruff owned the plantation, they had many slaves, one in particular was Chloe.  Chloe was caught eavesdropping on a conversation of the Woodruffs.  For punishment, one of Chloe’s ears was cut off and she wore a green turban to hide it.  Chloe, to say the least, was very upset over having one of her ears cut off.

In order to get even, Chloe baked a birthday cake containing the extract of boiled and reduced oleander leaves, which are extremely poisonous.  Her plan was to make Mr. Woodruff sick but it backfired.  Only Sara Woodruff and her two daughters ate the cake and all three of them died from the poison.  All of the other slaves were very upset over Chloe doing this and supposedly they hung Chloe and then threw her body into the Mississippi River.

To this day when the circumstances are just right, you can see Chloe wearing her green turban walking through the Myrtles Plantation or the grounds.  And, if you look closer, you can see the Woodruff children playing on the front porch just like they did when they were alive.

And there are rumors about a mirror in the plantation.  Shivers.  This one had my fur standing straight up on edge.  Back in the day, when there was a death in the family, people covered all of the mirrors in the home.  Perhaps with everything going on with Chloe and the three deaths, a mirror that hangs in the foyer got forgotten.  It’s rumored that this mirror holds the spirits of Sara Woodruff and her two children.  So if you are visiting the plantation and primping in this mirror, give it a close look.  You might see some little hand marks on the glass.

But let’s now stop here with Chloe.  There are still others that haunt the plantation.  The house itself is reported to be built over an Indian burial ground.  Legend is there is a ghost of a young Indian woman that can be seen around the grounds.

And during the Civil War, the house was overtaken by Union soldiers.  It’s claimed that there were three soldiers killed in the house in the doorway.  There in the doorway is a blood stain  where the three soldiers were killed roughly the size of a human body that will not come clean.  Legend states that people that try to use a mop or broom on that one particular area are unable to push the mop or broom in that one spot.

Have you had enough of this plantation yet?  Is your fur standing on edge?  Let me end with one more story of the Myrtles Plantation.

There is also the ghost of William Winter.  He was shot on the front porch of the plantation.  He came back inside and crawled up the stairs to the 17th step where he collapsed dead in his wife’s arms.  Often, you can see a ghost walking or crawling up the stairs and disappearing on the 17th step.  Doesn’t this make you want to go ghost hunting now?

 

Boo! – Cemeteries

Cemetery Hill

When I think of places that a lot people died during a lot of fighting, one of the places that come to mind is Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  Cemetery Hill had so many people that died during the Battle of Gettsyburg that it’s hard for me to wrap my mind around it.  There were so many bodies that it was hard to bury everyone in a timely manner.  You can imagine the smell that overcame the land.  There are still reports today of people smelling death.  And you know what they say about unrested bodies, they become ghosts forever looking for redemption.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

A famous cemetery that mom would  like to visit is in Los Angeles, California.  (I know – she’s weird like that.  She finds walking through the cemeteries as calming as walking on a beach.  Go figure – she’s my mom.)  Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the final resting place of many celebrities over the years.   I’ll need to break down a listing of more important graves here later on in the month.  For now though, let’s concentrate on some hauntings of the cemetery.  A famous person known to haunt here is Clifton Webb.  People at the cemetery claim to hear voices and lights near the Abbey of the Psalms Mausoleum.  A story that intrigues me that I’ve seen on television numerous times is the crypt of Rudolph Valentino.  For years on the anniversary of his death, a lady dressed in black would be seen wearing a veil to cover her face at his crypt leaving a single red rose.  No one really knew for sure who this person was and still today the tradition of leaving a single red rose continues on his anniversary.

Bonaventure Cemetery

And I must end this stroll through the cemeteries at one of mom/dad’s most famous places in Savannah, Georgia at Bonaventure Cemetery.  Did you know that this cemetery had the “Bird Girl” statue that is the photograph of the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?  I say had now because it has since been moved to a museum nearby but there are still some amazing tombs and headstones left.  Mom/dad have spent multiple days and hours strolling through and visiting with the folks still there.  One of the famous haunts is of little Gracie Watson who died of pneumonia when she was only six years old.  Currently they have her grave fenced off… is that to keep people from touching her little statue or from keeping little Gracie from touching you?   There’s also the hell hounds that local legend have talked about.  People claim to hear them snarling but no one ever sees them.  Perhaps they feel the hot breath of a dog on their ankles letting them know they need to step back.  You think?

 

Boo! Exton Witch House

This abandoned house is called the Exton Witch House and is located in Pennsylvania.  It is said that this house holds some dark mysterious secrets.  According to legend, there was a family of four witches that are buried on the property.  Their graves are positioned next to each other and it is believed that their corpses are buried in the upright position.  Why do you ask?  Supposedly witches were buried in this custom as to prevent them from causing trouble after their death.  There once was actual tombstones to mark their graves but vandals have since ran off with them.  Those that visit, so that the location is eerie and quiet.  Some even experience strange occurrences.  Would you be willing to go and explore the house with me?

Story/Picture courtesy of First to Know

 

Dear Bacon

Dear Bacon – I’ve made a grave mistake.  There was a hole in the back of this contraption.  I crawled in and when I did, it shut closed.  Now I’m stuck… I feel like a squirrel on display for the world to see.  The birds are pointing and laughing at me.  What am I to do?  Help?  Signed Mannequin Squirrel

Dear Mannequin Squirrel – WOW!  What can I say?  You do look awesome with your mannequin display.  I can say perhaps you should enjoy what you can… maybe take a seat and a quick bite of that delightful feed.  By the time you get done with your dinner, maybe the owner of the house will see you in your tight spot and help you out.  If not, can you jump and push the top off for a quick escape?  And don’t worry about the birds pointing and laughing.  Might you remind them that you have plenty of food to eat while you wait unlike them – snorts.

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Dear Bacon – We like to put the warning out there for the humans.  If you cross the metal gates leading into our kingdom, be warned.  You will experience a death like no other from the ankles down.  We may be small and short but we have sharp teeth like a shark.  Just sayin’.  Does your little brother do the same?  Signed Harley and Davidson

Dear Harley and Davidson – Awesome idea my friends.  Truth is in the advertising.  If peeps are dumb enough to cross that warning, their ankles deserve what they get.  And yes.  Houdini has the sharpest teeth that I’ve ever felt.  That’s right – I said felt.  I feel them when he tries to hang off of my piggy tail and swing back and forth like I’m an amusement park.  The little guy has no respect for this pig – he thinks I’m his personal jungle gym.

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Dear Bacon –  Honestly.  I was asleep the entire time that the master was away.  Really I was.  When I woke up, the front room cushions exploded.  I didn’t hear a thing!  Exploded I tell you.  Of course, I’m getting the blame.  But really it wasn’t me.  Signed Lab Shredder

Dear Lab Shredder – Darn those dust bunnies for striking again!  I believe you my friend.  I really do.  Dust bunnies sound cute and look kind of cute but all alone they can be little vultures that wreak havoc all over the house blaming us anipals.  Shakes and shivers from fear.  They can’t be trusted at all.  No way!  I say you need to hunt them down one by one and take care of them.  As far as you getting the blame for this.  If it wasn’t on video and there is nothing concrete showing you did it, I say they have to let you walk my friend.  No evidence means NOT GUILTY.  Lowers my hammer in my court room and says dismissed.

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 Dear Bacon – It’s really not what it looks like.  Me and my friend were playing leap frog.  We see frogs do it all of the time and we thought we would try it.  We turned on the camera and started.  We posted this on Instagram and everyone went crazy saying that we were multi-flying.  No honestly we weren’t.  We were just playing a game.  What do you think?  Signed Doris and Rock

Dear Doris and Rock – Snorts with piggy laughter.  Whatever you kids are calling it this day, sure.  Just be safe my friends.

 

 

Boo! Bells and Coffins

Did you know that around 1829, they had bells attached to coffins?  I didn’t either until I stated doing some research.  You’ll never believe what those little bells were for.  Evil snort.  People in this time often got smallpox, diphtheria and cholera and doctors hastily pronounced they were dead and signed death certificates.  Sometimes they did this without even seeing the bodies themselves – just by the word of family.  Medical procedures were nothing like they are today.  Often with such, people were buried and and would wake up in a casket – shivers – the fear of that!  Patents were put out on caskets that had a hole drilled the coffin through which a chord was run that would be attached to a bell that was mounted above the grave.  The chord handle was placed in the ‘dead’ person’s hand just in case they ‘woke up’ from the dead.  They could ring the bell in hopes that someone would hear above and dig them back up.  It was an unfortunate time to live through, you think?

 

Boo! Winchester House

Today, I’m focusing on the Winchester Mystery House.  Have you heard about this mansion that is located in San Jose, California?  Have you been there?  It’s claimed that some people are there and they have never left.  The Winchester Mystery House is just that – a mystery.  It was the residence of Sarah Winchester.

In 1862, she  married William Winchester – who came from the family that created the famous Winchester guns.  Everything seemed like it was grand and wonderful …for a while.

In 1866, the Winchester’s infant daughter, Annie, passed away from a childhood disease called marasmus.  (Marasmus is a form of severe malnutrition and causes a child to look emaciated.)  Losing her child caused Mrs. Winchester to fall into a deep depression.

In 1881, Mrs. Winchester’s husband, William, passed away from tuberculosis.  Can you imagine watching two of your very close loved ones pass away so early in life?  Mrs. Winchester was beside herself and sought help from a spiritualist.  Through consulting with the spiritualist, Mrs. Winchester believed her family and her fortune were haunted by the ghosts of the people who had fallen victim to the family Winchester rifles.  She was advised that the only way she could appease the ghosts was to move west and build them a house.  Not just a house but to continuous build them a house.

In 1884, Mrs. Winchester moved west to San Jose, California and bought an unfinished farmhouse .  Work began immediately.  Mrs. Winchester  would hold nightly seances to speak with the spirits to help guide her in how the house would be worked on the following date.  In the morning, she would meet with her construction workers and give them the plans.  Did the plans make sense?  You decide.

• There are roughly 160 rooms, including 40 bedrooms;
• 2 ballrooms (one completed and one unfinished);
• 47 fireplaces;
• Over 10,000 panes of glass;
• 17 chimneys (with evidence of two others);
• 2 basements with three elevators.
• It has gold and silver chandeliers and hand-inlaid parquet floors and trim;
• There are doors and stairways that lead nowhere and a vast array of colors and materials.
• The home’s conveniences were rare at the time of its construction. These included steam and forced-air heating, modern indoor toilets and plumbing, push-button gas lights and Mrs. Winchester’s personal (and only) hot shower from indoor plumbing.
• The number 13 is repeated frequently in the home – whether in stairs, candles, wall hooks, stained glass windows or even 13 holes in the drain covers.  Also every Friday the 13th, the large bell on the property is rung 13 times at 1300 hours in tribute to Winchester.   Mrs. Winchester even signed her will 13 times leaving everything to a niece and personal secretary.

Construction continued every day around the clock until Mrs. Winchester died on September 5, 1922.  Upon her death, all hammering ceased.  When they looked in Mrs. Winchester’s safe they found the things that meant the most to her.  Not money.  Not diamonds.  Not riches.  It was two pieces of hair – one from her husband and one from her daughter.

And until this day, it is said that you can still hear the construction work taking place, that you can see the workers inside and outside of the home.  And, people still say that Mrs. Winchester herself is still in the home.