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?
Today is one that is close to our hearts here at the Hotel Thompson. Today, we focus on one of the all time greatest movies, “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken”. What, you don’t believe me when I say it’s scary? Let’s discuss shall we. What is a hero – snorts.
This movie came out in 1966 and starred Don Knotts as Luther Heggs. It starts off with Luther driving down the street and hearing screams of, “Murder, murder” from a neighbor. He takes pictures, gets the story from the neighbor and then goes to the local police station to report the crime. While he’s reporting the crime, who walks in but the local ‘victim’. The town thinks he’s a laughing joke. And to top everything off, the full time writer for the paper, Ollie Weaver, lives in the same boarding house as he does and tells everyone over breakfast the next morning about what Luther did the night before. This is also the time that you get to meet Ollie’s girlfriend, Alma Parker, who Luther has a secret crush with.
Poor Luther. He works as a newspaper typesetter and wants to be a reporter so bad. The staff of the newspaper want to increase sales and sees an opportunity for Luther to help out…even if it’s a joke Ollie challenges Luther to spend the night in the local haunted Simmons mansion on the 20th anniversary of the murders that took place in the home. The story was that Mr. Simmons murdered his wife and then jumped to his death from the organ loft of the home. Legend says that you can still hear the ghost of Mr. Simmons still playing the organ at night, a haunting macabre tune. Luther takes the bait and accepts the challenge of staying in the haunted house all by himself.
So the night comes and Luther goes into the haunted Simmons mansion. He looks around and you visibly see that he’s scared by his shaking. He settles down on the sofa in his sleeping bag for the night. At midnight, it starts. Luther hears the old organ begin to play from the loft. He goes up to the loft area and sees the organ playing the haunting melody by itself. He runs down the stairs and sees the painting of Mrs Simmons on the wall with hedge clippers sticking in it and ‘blood’ like material dripping out of it. The newspaper starts flying off the shelves of Luther’s story of his night in the haunted Simmons mansion. So much so that Nicholas Simmons (the nephew of the deceased couple) sues Luther for libel. When it goes to court, the judge orders the courtroom to the Simmons mansion at midnight to prove Luther’s story. Nothing happens and Luther looks like a fool.
Everyone leaves the house except for Luther who is moping around feeling sorry for himself. Soon after, the organ begins to play the haunting macabre tune from the loft area again. Luther runs upstairs and behold he sees Mr. Kelsey (who is the newspaper janitor) playing the old organ.
Mr. Kelsey and Luther talk about what happened and guess what? They confront Nicholas Simmons and we learn that he was the one that killed his aunt and uncle and have been trying to cover the story all of these years. How did he get away with the murders you ask? There was a secret passage from the study up to the organ loft that had been his alibi. Mr. Kelsey knew the secret and wanted Luther to be the one to open the case wide open. Just by luck, Luther knocks out Nicholas Simmons with a body slam and becomes the local hero.
And yes. Luther even got a girl out of the ordeal. He marries his secret crush, Alma Parker. As they say their “I do’s”, the organ starts playing all by itself the haunting macabre tune that was being played in the Simmons mansion.
It’s a great movie, one that is watched many times here at the Hotel Thompson.
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?
Hello friends. Are you spooked yet? Well today I continue with my guest submission by Angie Deptula. Wasn’t her submission earlier today just chilling? Well, your in for a extra treat with her final submission. Happy reading my spooks.
There once was a boarding school for delinquent girls, named Martha Washington Institute or Martha Washington School for Girls. It was located at Brighton Beach on Lake Washington in Seattle. It functioned from 1900-1971, and at one point became known as “Martha Washington School for the Insane Girls.” Prior to this, Judge Smith had owned the house. Smith built the home with a nursery and a boathouse, with a hollow stairway to a madrone tree on the property, a location that plays a role in today’s hauntings. Rumors of violence, murder and suicide are associated with the school while it was opened. It is thought that a janitor of the school had raped and killed a girl by hanging her on the tree. Whether this hanging was done on the madrone tree or not, I’m not aware of that.
In 1971, after the school closed, a satanic group utilized the building for rituals and sacrificed animals on the property. Because this is within a residential location, the general community became uneasy with the building so the city council decided to have the building demolished and turned into a park. Today, without knowing the history of the location, one would think nothing of it.
The park is a popular spot for people to walk their dogs at, or relax and picnic on a nice sunny day. However when nighttime comes, the empty park has an ominous atmosphere. Paranormal activities occur frequently. The old madrone tree is still present and is thought to have ghostly energies attached to it. And the area where the stairway Judge Smith once built is still there and is thought to be a portal. Visitors often feel a presence or become uneasy in that area like they’re being watched. Disembodied footsteps and screaming have also been reported in the park. Teenagers who visit in odd numbers have had a spirit follow them home. A mom who was once visiting the park one evening took a picture of her son and noticed behind him an apparition of a girl looking right at her. Sightings of a girl have been reported multiple times by different sources as well.
One in particular is from a good friend of mine, Pam. One day Pam and her two friends visited the park early in the morning. The girls walked around the empty park. Pam was walking with one of her friend, while the other was off somewhere else. Pam caught movement from her peripheral and turned, noticing a female apparition of a girl in a white nightgown walking, coming up side-by- side to her and her friend. She choked up, froze, the blood rushed out of her face as she realized this girl was translucent. Pam’s friend quickly realized why: Her friend acknowledged the ghostly girl too. They ran and called for their other friend, hurrying to the car. Inside the car, the new car would not start. The girls panicked, feeling ice cold, squealing and squirming in their seats. After a few minutes, the car finally started and they sped away. Pam and the girls have never returned since.
I have been to the park too, with friends, but have never experienced anything like that. I never explored the park long enough, probably because I was too chicken from all the spooky stories I’ve heard of. However, I did feel uneasy, overcome with chills as I felt like invisible eyes were on me the whole time. It’s indescribable, but the place really does feel ominous at night. I wonder if this girl in the white dress or nightgown is the same girl who was killed or murdered at the school, and if she’s the same apparition seen over and over by others? I can imagine there being other spirits on site as well if the place was once used as a satanic gathering. The mysteries of this place are left unknown, but the uneasiness it provokes onto visitors still remains.
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?
Today is one that is close to our hearts here at the Hotel Thompson. Today, we focus on one of the all time greatest movies, “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken”. What, you don’t believe me when I say it’s scary? Let’s discuss shall we. What is a hero – snorts.
This movie came out in 1966 and starred Don Knotts as Luther Heggs. It starts off with Luther driving down the street and hearing screams of, “Murder, murder” from a neighbor. He takes pictures, gets the story from the neighbor and then goes to the local police station to report the crime. While he’s reporting the crime, who walks in but the local ‘victim’. The town thinks he’s a laughing joke. And to top everything off, the full time writer for the paper, Ollie Weaver, lives in the same boarding house as he does and tells everyone over breakfast the next morning about what Luther did the night before. This is also the time that you get to meet Ollie’s girlfriend, Alma Parker, who Luther has a secret crush with.
Poor Luther. He works as a newspaper typesetter and wants to be a reporter so bad. The staff of the newspaper want to increase sales and sees an opportunity for Luther to help out…even if it’s a joke Ollie challenges Luther to spend the night in the local haunted Simmons mansion on the 20th anniversary of the murders that took place in the home. The story was that Mr. Simmons murdered his wife and then jumped to his death from the organ loft of the home. Legend says that you can still hear the ghost of Mr. Simmons still playing the organ at night, a haunting macabre tune. Luther takes the bait and accepts the challenge of staying in the haunted house all by himself.
So the night comes and Luther goes into the haunted Simmons mansion. He looks around and you visibly see that he’s scared by his shaking. He settles down on the sofa in his sleeping bag for the night. At midnight, it starts. Luther hears the old organ begin to play from the loft. He goes up to the loft area and sees the organ playing the haunting melody by itself. He runs down the stairs and sees the painting of Mrs Simmons on the wall with hedge clippers sticking in it and ‘blood’ like material dripping out of it. The newspaper starts flying off the shelves of Luther’s story of his night in the haunted Simmons mansion. So much so that Nicholas Simmons (the nephew of the deceased couple) sues Luther for libel. When it goes to court, the judge orders the courtroom to the Simmons mansion at midnight to prove Luther’s story. Nothing happens and Luther looks like a fool.
Everyone leaves the house except for Luther who is moping around feeling sorry for himself. Soon after, the organ begins to play the haunting macabre tune from the loft area again. Luther runs upstairs and behold he sees Mr. Kelsey (who is the newspaper janitor) playing the old organ.
Mr. Kelsey and Luther talk about what happened and guess what? They confront Nicholas Simmons and we learn that he was the one that killed his aunt and uncle and have been trying to cover the story all of these years. How did he get away with the murders you ask? There was a secret passage from the study up to the organ loft that had been his alibi. Mr. Kelsey knew the secret and wanted Luther to be the one to open the case wide open. Just by luck, Luther knocks out Nicholas Simmons with a body slam and becomes the local hero.
And yes. Luther even got a girl out of the ordeal. He marries his secret crush, Alma Parker. As they say their “I do’s”, the organ starts playing all by itself the haunting macabre tune that was being played in the Simmons mansion.
It’s a great movie, one that is watched many times here at the Hotel Thompson.
Beware my friends. We have been watching the ID (Investigative Discovery) channel all weekend. I’ve picked up a few things from the shows.
1 – There is never a perfect murder.
2 – Never leave DNA, spit, hair follicles, blood or other known sources of bodily fluids at a crime scene.
3 – Never go back to the crime scene.
4 – Pick one story and stick to it. The least you make up the more you will remember and not get tripped up when and if you get interviewed.
5 – Never fall for the bad cop good cop routine.
6 – Never fall for it when the cops say they have proof or someone saw you. Tsk-Tsk Who says cops have to tell you the truth when you are being interviewed.
7 – Knowing all of this, don’t commit any murders or crimes. I don’t know about you but this pot belly doesn’t look good behind bars dressed in orange sharing a space with Bubba – snorts!
8 – If all else fails, blame daddy – double evil snorts!
Okay I admit it. We watch a LOT of shows on the Investigative Discovery channel. I mean a *LOT*. I guess it intrigues mom in her line of work. We just can’t get enough of murder and mayhem and trying to figure out who did it before the end of the show.
But I have to admit that there is one situation that repeatedly happens in the shows we watch on this channel. One thing that is the common denominator that people do in real life. One thing that simply amazes and blows our minds here at the Hotel Thompson.
And maybe we are thinking way too hard or we are always seeing the possibility of something that could happen. Maybe it’s just us? With that in mind, I come to you my friends to ask this all knowing question.
In most of the shows we watch, the common factor is that people don’t lock their doors to their house. Really? In this time and day with all of the bad out there looking for a place to visit, you really would leave your house door unlocked at night… let alone during the day?
Maybe it’s just us here at the Hotel Thompson that are the Chicken Little’s of the world? We don’t just lock the doors here. We have deadbolts and an alarm system! Oh, and don’t forget Smith & Wesson who lives with us. And daddy, rolls piggy eyes, he has the sign up at the Hotel Thompson. He’s such a funny man.
So what say you? Do you keep your doors locked or unlocked?
Okay I admit it. I’m addicted. I’m addicted to the ID channel. You know – investigative discovery. It could be a worse. I could have a gambling problem. I could have a money problem. I could be addicted to the ladies. Nope – I’m addicted to Investigative Discovery. I can’t help it.
Behind Mansion Walls, Disappeared , Catch My Killer, Dateline, Nightmare Next Door, On the Case with Paula Zahn, Homicide Hunter, Redrum, Swamp Murders, Southern Fried Homicide – these are just a few of the shows that get my piggy blood pumping!
Some people ask what is in my Netflix que or recorded to tape on my television – now you know. I love a good who did it show. I put on my Sherlock Holmes hat, get out my Columbo cigar, my pencil and notebook. Yep, I’m addicted. Do you know else is addicted right there with me? Nods head up and down, yep my mommy.
Daddy says we watch too many of these shows. I don’t think so. I look at it as an educational research program for me and mom. It keeps us on our hooves and toes. But I guess I can admit there are times when maybe – and I stress that maybe – we are watching too much. You be the judge.
10 Signs You’re Watching the ID Channel Too Much
1. After watching the ID channel, you double check and then TRIPLE check to make sure all of your locks are set on every door and window in the house.
2. You find yourself screaming at the television, “Don’t do it!”; “Turn around!”; “Don’t open the closet door!”; “Don’t get in the car!”; or my favorite, “Are you crazy!?!” and mom’s favorite, “Has she seriously not called the cops yet?!”
3. You’ve thought about doing a background check on your significant other because you just never know who you’ve married.
4. When your spouse brings you a drink without asking, you automatically want to switch glasses with them just in case.
5. When going on vacation, the first thing you ask is, “Do you have the ID channel?” followed by “What about free WifI?”
6. When passing a hitch hiker, you just know in your mind’s eye that he has a hatchet or some sort of torture device in his back pack.
7. When at a restaurant and the table next to you asks to borrow your salt shaker, you give them EVERYTHING on your table because you know people have been killed for less.
8. When a friend asks you to ‘go for a ride’ and doesn’t tell you where ya’ll are going, you call everyone in front of him to let them know who you are with, start the recording device on your Smart phone and leave bread crumbs as a trail to find you…. just in case.
9. You’re friends give you a surprise birthday party and the first thing you do when the lights come on and everyone yells surprise is take cover behind the sofa in a fetal position.
10. Just the sound of any of the shows on the ID channel sends chills up and down your spine and you begin to wonder how the show is going to end this time.
Tell me my friends that I’m not the only one addicted to a channel that you just can’t get enough of…. please 🙂
Welcome back my spook friends, Count Baconula here. Today is one that is close to our hearts here at the Hotel Thompson. Today, we focus on one of the all time greatest movies, “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken”. What, you don’t believe me when I say it’s scary? Let’s discuss shall we. What is a hero – snorts.
This movie came out in 1966 and starred Don Knotts as Luther Heggs. It starts off with Luther driving down the street and hearing screams of, “Murder, murder” from a neighbor. He takes pictures, gets the story from the neighbor and then goes to the local police station to report the crime. While he’s reporting the crime, who walks in but the local ‘victim’. The town thinks he’s a laughing joke. And to top everything off, the full time writer for the paper, Ollie Weaver, lives in the same boarding house as he does and tells everyone over breakfast the next morning about what Luther did the night before. This is also the time that you get to meet Ollie’s girlfriend, Alma Parker, who Luther has a secret crush with.
Poor Luther. He works as a newspaper typesetter and wants to be a reporter so bad. The staff of the newspaper want to increase sales and sees an opportunity for Luther to help out…even if it’s a joke Ollie challenges Luther to spend the night in the local haunted Simmons mansion on the 20th anniversary of the murders that took place in the home. The story was that Mr. Simmons murdered his wife and then jumped to his death from the organ loft of the home. Legend says that you can still hear the ghost of Mr. Simmons still playing the organ at night, a haunting macabre tune. Luther takes the bait and accepts the challenge of staying in the haunted house all by himself.
So the night comes and Luther goes into the haunted Simmons mansion. He looks around and you visibly see that he’s scared by his shaking. He settles down on the sofa in his sleeping bag for the night. At midnight, it starts. Luther hears the old organ begin to play from the loft. He goes up to the loft area and sees the organ playing the haunting melody by itself. He runs down the stairs and sees the painting of Mrs Simmons on the wall with hedge clippers sticking in it and ‘blood’ like material dripping out of it. The newspaper starts flying off the shelves of Luther’s story of his night in the haunted Simmons mansion. So much so that Nicholas Simmons (the nephew of the deceased couple) sues Luther for libel. When it goes to court, the judge orders the courtroom to the Simmons mansion at midnight to prove Luther’s story. Nothing happens and Luther looks like a fool.
Everyone leaves the house except for Luther who is moping around feeling sorry for himself. Soon after, the organ begins to play the haunting macabre tune from the loft area again. Luther runs upstairs and behold he sees Mr. Kelsey (who is the newspaper janitor) playing the old organ.
Mr. Kelsey and Luther talk about what happened and guess what? They confront Nicholas Simmons and we learn that he was the one that killed his aunt and uncle and have been trying to cover the story all of these years. How did he get away with the murders you ask? There was a secret passage from the study up to the organ loft that had been his alibi. Mr. Kelsey knew the secret and wanted Luther to be the one to open the case wide open. Just by luck, Luther knocks out Nicholas Simmons with a body slam and becomes the local hero.
And yes. Luther even got a girl out of the ordeal. He marries his secret crush, Alma Parker. As they say their “I do’s”, the organ starts playing all by itself the haunting macabre tune that was being played in the Simmons mansion.
It’s a great movie, one that is watched many times here at the Hotel Thompson. I’m attaching a clip of the movie for you take a look at for yourself. What do you think?
Miniature pot bellied pig and friends - Bacon, Houdini, Hemi and all of the Rock Clan with Journalist Rocky the Squirrel all out looking for adventures from the Hotel Thompson.
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.
1 – There is never a perfect murder.
. I’m addicted. I’m addicted to the ID channel. You know – investigative discovery. It could be a worse. I could have a gambling problem. I could have a money problem. I could be addicted to the ladies. Nope – I’m addicted to Investigative Discovery. I can’t help it.
Piglove 