The Atco Ghost Story Website and Blog

Archive for the ‘Folklore’ Category

By: Jakob Jelling

According to legends, it is one of 9 sons of a dragon, which can distinguish between good and evil. It is sometimes included in the list of four noble animals, along with the Chinese dragon, phoenix and tortoise – instead of the tiger.

As a rule this animal is depicted having a few horns, green and blue scaly skin, hooves of a deer, the head of a dragon and a bear’s tail. In some aspects it resembles Western unicorns. Like the European unicorn, Chi Lin symbolizes longevity and prosperity. It is believed to live for at least 2000 years.

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Mothman – Alien from another world, or a being from the spiritual realm

Mothman remains one of the most paranormal of all the creatures of Cryptozoology.

More than a film or the 12 foot tall, stainless steel sculpture on display in downtown Point Pleasant in West Virginia, Mothman is a strange creature seen in the United States between November 1966 and November 1967, appearing several times in West Virginia, on the border with Ohio. Artist Robert Roach portrayed the creature in his sculpture as people reported the sightings, a man-sized beast with wings and large reflective or luminous red eyes, that scientist tried to associated with owls, but due to the size and characteristics, it is believed that Mothman was a paranormal phenomena, mostly seen during the 1966-69 years.

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Poltergeists and Things That go Bump in the Night

Poltergeists are rare, but they do exist. For those that aren’t in the loop, a poltergeist is a spirit that moves through inanimate objects like cups, TVs, furniture, and windows.

Noises – like bumps, thuds, kerplunks – yes kerplunks is a dictionary word, knocks, scratching at the window, and banging at the door are all examples of poltergeist activity. Of course, these are natural phenomena when a human or natural cause is to blame. However, the wind, a person, the rain, or a cat or dog aren’t the cause in these occurrences. A poltergeist could be at fault.

In Ancient Egypt, bed-shaking and the raining down of stones were reported. However, a skeptic could conclude that mud slides or earthquakes were to blame. It’s no wonder that all cultures have reports of spirits interfering in our lives – even to this day.

Parapsychologists have put forth one explanation that suggests that poltergeists originate in a person, and the lingo for that person is an agent or focus. They suggest that the psycho-kinetic effects originate in the individual, and manifest as the result of psychological trauma in that person.

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Ghost Hunting on Oregon’s Coast
by: Andre’ Hagestedt

The winds cut deeper and make progressively louder noises as the days shorten. Fog creeps in from the sea more often. And then Halloween shows up, as if to really remind us about things otherworldly. It’s no wonder Oregon’s northern coast has a load of ghostly tales swirling about. It’s no wonder the remake of “The Fog” currently in release is set in a fictional North Oregon Coast town. From flying pots and specters who’ve moved from one building to another in Seaside, the ghostly legends of a hotel in the Nehalem Bay, to the myriad of hauntings in ancient Astoria – there’s plenty for the ghost-hunting tourist in this pristine and stunning area.

SLEEPLESS IN SEASIDE

Tales of things creepy abound in Seaside – but they’re hard to find. It’s almost as if they’ve been swept under the carpet.

For almost 100 years, the old Hotel Seaside (later named The Seasider) was a grandiose, beautiful building that was a sort of centerpiece to Seaside, at the Turnaround. So it’s no surprise that place acquired tales of apparitions and otherworldly guests over the years. There were numerous spirits that purportedly haunted it.

These days, the Shilo Inn sits in that spot. But when the old hotel was torn down, the spooks moved to Girtle’s Restaurant, just down the street on Broadway, according to owner Bob Girtle. He recounted numerous stories of otherworldly happenings in the restaurant, having seen them himself or coming from various employees who tell their own tales. They talk of seeing the mysterious shadows of feet walking behind the door of a closed-off area of the kitchen, visible from the small space between the floor and the door. This happens when it’s not possible anyone else is in there, say Bob and his crew. They don’t even check that room anymore when they see the shadows.

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Over the years there have been many Jersey Devil stories and sightings. The name Leeds is in all the stories. The time period is about the same and the area is about the same. There have been documented sightings since about 1735. More recently it was sighted in 1951 in Gibbstown and in 1960 near Mays Landing. In more recent years, the Jersey Devil is seen haunting the cemeteries, coastal wetlands and churchyards of Howell Township. Appearances of the Jersey Devil are often accompanied by the disappearance of local pets.

Leeds Point – The Jersey Devil – Around 1735 Mrs. Shrouds was heard to have said that if she were to have another child she wanted it to be a DEVIL. She got pregnant and the baby was born very deformed. She hid the baby from everyone until one stormy night when it stretched it’s arms out and they turned into bat like wings. It crawled up the chimney and flew off into the night.

Estelville – The Jersey Devil – In 1735, Mrs. Abigale Leeds was about to give birth to her 13th child. She was in so much pain she screamed for the DEVIL to take the child. She got her wish as it was born a very deformed creature. It had the head of a horse, with horns, wings like a bat and a serpentine body with a pointed tail. It came back to visit her everyday until she stood outside and told it to leave and never come back.

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