Why are people afraid of dolls? Is it their likeness to something real—their fake smiles and glassy, still eyes? Is it their lack of animation or the way they seem to watch you no matter where you move? For some…
A Ghostly and Ghastly Tale Told by John C. Calhoun
An article in The Vidalia Advance, dated October 12, 1921, recounted the ghostly and ghastly tale once told by John C. Calhoun, the seventh vice president of the United States, serving from 1825-1832. In the article, the author, T. Larry…
“The Unquiet Grave” by a 19th-Century Anonymous
Do you ever seek out haunting poetry some mornings to soothe your melancholic heart? Oh no, just me? Ah well, it does my little gothic heart good to read a lovely spooky poem, and this one does not disappoint. Without…
The Headless Nun of French Fort Cove and Beaubears Island
Sister Maire Inconnue (which means “unknown”) was born in France in the 18th century. Sister Marie traveled from France to Canada to help tend to the Acadian refugees during the French and Indian War. This turned out to be a…
The Monomoy Island Ghost Horse
On Monomoy Island, located off the coast of Cape Cod, a ghostly black stallion is said to sometimes appear swimming around the island. The sightings and legend are most likely inspired by the island’s dark history. Mooncussers, or land pirates,…
The Mirror Haunted by Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens is known for one of the most beloved ghost stories of all time, but what if I told you that he was known to have his own ghost story in Boston, Massachusetts? During the author’s second tour of…
The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall
The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England, is the ghost of Lady Dorothy Walpole. Unlike many other haunted tales, we have photo proof of Lady Dorothy’s ghost on the stairs of Raynham Hall, taken by Captain Hubert C….
The Ghost Bus of London
Some paranormal tales are more unbelievable than others. The Ghost Bus of London is one of those odd stories that may leave you scratching your head. Dating back to the 1930s, a red double-decker ghost bus would drive recklessly in…
The Legend of Franklin Connecticut’s Bloody Apple Tree
The Legend of the Bloody Apple Tree A legend is a tale that has been passed down, often by many generations, and is told as if it’s true even though it’s unauthenticated. Such is the case with the legend of…
Historic Poetry: Memory Haunted by Luther G. Riggs
One of my favorite things to do is peruse old newspapers. There’s such a wealth of fascinating tales in them, along with short stories and poetry. Today I stumbled across this hauntingly beautiful poem that I couldn’t help but share….
Pretty Poison: Aconite, Monkshood, Wolfsbane
Aconite goes by many names—Devil’s Helmet, Wolfsbane, Monkshood, blue rocket, woman’s bane, etc. To butcher a Shakespeare quote, “A poison by any other name would kill as quick.” Until the 20th century, aconite was the deadliest of poisons. Historical Case…
The Ghost Who Emails His Friends and Family
We’ve all heard about ghosts trying to send messages to their loved ones, but what about a ghost who emails his friends and family? On June 10, 2011, Jack Froese died from a heart arrhythmia when he was only 32…
