"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12
Living in a Haunted House?
Occasionally, people find themselves living in a home that has a dark history of crime or other traumatic events. At other times, the history of a location may not be immediately clear, but proves to be problematic for the residents nonetheless. In one particular case, a child had dark and disturbing dreams that frequently recurred over many years. During her dreams, the child always found herself standing at the bottom of a steep stairway looking up at a demon that blocked her from climbing to the top of the stairs. She noticed a window in the stairway where moonlight could enter. The faint light in the window seemed to indicate hope and joy but the demon was relentless in preventing the child from taking even one step upward. For the duration of each dream the child tried to negotiate with the demon, but her efforts were futile. For years the child was plagued with the repetitious and terrifying scenario.
Many years later, the now young woman moved to a small town to begin her adult life with a new career. While renting an apartment she became aware of a home nearby for sale. Although the home was in need of repair the price was right. In addition, the home presented possibilities that made it too good to pass up. The home, approximately 90 years old at the time of purchase had been converted into three separate apartments. Rent paid by the tenants provided a source of income that would allow her to make mortgage payments and help pay for renovations. In 1980 the woman purchased the home and moved into the upstairs apartment that consisted of the full second floor and access to the attic.
During her first week in the home she received a phone call at 2:30 a.m. from the tenant living in the lower apartment closet to the alley. The tenant was screaming, "Come help me! There is a male ghost in my apartment. He's throwing my broom back and forth across the bedroom!" Following additional bizarre and threatening paranormal occurrences with the lower-level tenants as well as herself, she concluded that the house was haunted. Unfortunately, however, her deeper connection to the house was yet to be revealed.
It was late that afternoon when she opened the attic door to retrieve a can of paint. When she stepped up onto the landing she became gripped with fear. Her fear was so profound that she was frozen in place; she was standing in the presence of pure evil. Looking up the woman's attention was focused on the small window near the top of the stairway. Instantly and undeniably the woman was standing in the very location that haunted her dreams. With no logical explanation for her dreams as a child or her present circumstance the woman was left with only questions: How could this even be possible? Why is this happening?
Tenants often moved out of the house before their lease expired. The woman, however, endured demonic confrontations and physical attacks for approximately five years then sold the house. No one has ever been able to remain in the house for any length of time. Currently the home remains vacant and in disrepair. The center doorway is the entrance to the upstairs apartment. (Photographs below were taken in September, 2016.)
Many years later, the now young woman moved to a small town to begin her adult life with a new career. While renting an apartment she became aware of a home nearby for sale. Although the home was in need of repair the price was right. In addition, the home presented possibilities that made it too good to pass up. The home, approximately 90 years old at the time of purchase had been converted into three separate apartments. Rent paid by the tenants provided a source of income that would allow her to make mortgage payments and help pay for renovations. In 1980 the woman purchased the home and moved into the upstairs apartment that consisted of the full second floor and access to the attic.
During her first week in the home she received a phone call at 2:30 a.m. from the tenant living in the lower apartment closet to the alley. The tenant was screaming, "Come help me! There is a male ghost in my apartment. He's throwing my broom back and forth across the bedroom!" Following additional bizarre and threatening paranormal occurrences with the lower-level tenants as well as herself, she concluded that the house was haunted. Unfortunately, however, her deeper connection to the house was yet to be revealed.
It was late that afternoon when she opened the attic door to retrieve a can of paint. When she stepped up onto the landing she became gripped with fear. Her fear was so profound that she was frozen in place; she was standing in the presence of pure evil. Looking up the woman's attention was focused on the small window near the top of the stairway. Instantly and undeniably the woman was standing in the very location that haunted her dreams. With no logical explanation for her dreams as a child or her present circumstance the woman was left with only questions: How could this even be possible? Why is this happening?
Tenants often moved out of the house before their lease expired. The woman, however, endured demonic confrontations and physical attacks for approximately five years then sold the house. No one has ever been able to remain in the house for any length of time. Currently the home remains vacant and in disrepair. The center doorway is the entrance to the upstairs apartment. (Photographs below were taken in September, 2016.)
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THE HARTFORD CITY NEWS
HARTFORD CITY, INDIANA, THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1935
(Front page picture)
BEAUTIFUL APARTMENT BUILDING HERE
"The above picture shows the home of the late Dr. H.C. Davisson, just recently remodeled by Mr. and Mrs. Sam J. Farrell and John Farrell, into a beautiful three-apartment building. A description of the structure will be found on page 5 of this edition of The News."
HARTFORD CITY, INDIANA, THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1935
(Front page picture)
BEAUTIFUL APARTMENT BUILDING HERE
"The above picture shows the home of the late Dr. H.C. Davisson, just recently remodeled by Mr. and Mrs. Sam J. Farrell and John Farrell, into a beautiful three-apartment building. A description of the structure will be found on page 5 of this edition of The News."
Ghosts With a Story
A profound paranormal experience is described in the following excerpts from the book, Haunted Lovers: Ghosts of Castillo de San Marcos (M.Jordan, 2013).
Haunted Lovers: Ghosts of Castillo de San Marcos
"......Do we see because we believe, or do we believe because we see?"
Haunted Lovers: Ghosts of Castillo de San Marcos
"......Do we see because we believe, or do we believe because we see?"
Something seemed a little “odd” about the doorway but sensing nothing specific I approached the room slowly, peered through the doorway, then seeing no one, I walked in. I only stepped into the room approximately a foot or two. I simply could not move forward because I had an overwhelming sense of a presence there in the room with me.
The thick coquina stone walls absorb all sound so the room was extremely quiet. Having no windows or openings other than the interior doorway, the room was really dark. It was also very narrow and deep with a high arched ceiling. I opened my eyes as wide as possible to see if there was something in the room with me. I could not confirm with my eyes what I was feeling so I continued to stand silently trying to analyze what I was sensing.
Within approximately 20 seconds I felt something move “into” the full length of only the left side of my body. It felt like someone was leaning into me or hovering over me but only just on my left side. Whatever it was, it felt much larger than me and it was ice cold. Accompanying this presence was a cold and swirling breeze. If felt like a light weight scarf was blowing around my neck. As the breeze blew around my neck I could hear a soft “whooshing” noise near my ears. Not only did I feel as though I was about to be frozen in place, my entire body also felt like it had a low-voltage charge flowing through it. My skin felt like it was buzzing.
Even through my long sleeve shirt, I could feel every hair on my arms stand straight up. Goose bumps completely covered my body. I pulled my sleeves up to look at the goose bumps and hair on my arms. All the while, my teeth were chattering from the frigid temperature encompassing my body. Although this was completely startling both physically and emotionally, I knew immediately what was happening. Something or someone not made of flesh and blood was standing right next to me.
The thick coquina stone walls absorb all sound so the room was extremely quiet. Having no windows or openings other than the interior doorway, the room was really dark. It was also very narrow and deep with a high arched ceiling. I opened my eyes as wide as possible to see if there was something in the room with me. I could not confirm with my eyes what I was feeling so I continued to stand silently trying to analyze what I was sensing.
Within approximately 20 seconds I felt something move “into” the full length of only the left side of my body. It felt like someone was leaning into me or hovering over me but only just on my left side. Whatever it was, it felt much larger than me and it was ice cold. Accompanying this presence was a cold and swirling breeze. If felt like a light weight scarf was blowing around my neck. As the breeze blew around my neck I could hear a soft “whooshing” noise near my ears. Not only did I feel as though I was about to be frozen in place, my entire body also felt like it had a low-voltage charge flowing through it. My skin felt like it was buzzing.
Even through my long sleeve shirt, I could feel every hair on my arms stand straight up. Goose bumps completely covered my body. I pulled my sleeves up to look at the goose bumps and hair on my arms. All the while, my teeth were chattering from the frigid temperature encompassing my body. Although this was completely startling both physically and emotionally, I knew immediately what was happening. Something or someone not made of flesh and blood was standing right next to me.
Photo #21. The white glowing mist arose from the ground forming the silhouettes of two lovers who died chained to the walls lying face-to-face.
Something was definitely happening. I began seeing thousands and thousands of tiny orbs. They were forming a thick blanket of little glowing pinpoints that slowly rose out of the dirt floor then just stopped. This sight was even more peculiar than other things going on in the room. It seemed that something important was happening. As the thick glowing pin-point sized lights emerged from the soil I wondered if something horrific was about to come out of the ground....With my head slightly bowed I continued trying to hear, feel, and discern. Who were these spirits? Why were they presenting themselves in this manner? As I stood there I became totally overwhelmed with a deep sense of sadness, but I also felt a very intense love. This didn’t make much sense as there was no logical reason for me to have these two emotions simultaneously. I thought about the information on the sign, telling about the many things that were buried in the room and the legend of the two lovers who died. Then I clearly recall thinking to myself, “I am so sorry. I am so very sorry for whatever happened to you.” I felt so sad.
Then with my head still bowed and teary eyes, I heard a soft, sustained, and whisper-like male voice say, “T-e-l-l t-h-e-m.” This really startled me. Whoever this was had my full attention. In response, I thought, “Tell them what?” I stood silent again thinking, “Tell them what?”. Within just a few seconds, the same male voice whispered, “w-h-a-t h-a-p-p-e-n-e-d.”
THE GHOSTS IDENTIFIED
In 1784, Colonel Marti, a Spanish officer, was ordered to oversee military operations at the Castillo de San Marcos. As assigned, Colonel Marti and his wife Mari relocated to St. Augustine, Florida. Some time thereafter, Mari had an affair with one of the officers named Captain Manual Abela. Unfortunately, the Colonel discovered that his wife and his officer were having an affair (or so it is alleged). Then, in a jealous rage, Colonel Marti had Mari and Manual chained to the dungeon walls where they were abandoned and left to die.
There are alternate and biased versions of this story, no doubt embellished by their authors over many decades. These embellishments may have contributed to the notion that the tale is mere legend. For example, in one version of the story, Mari Marti was said to have had a “roving eye” for all the men in the fort. She supposedly lured Captain Abela with her charm until he was completely ensnared. Once discovered by a soldier loyal to his Colonel, the soldier informed the poor Colonel of his unfaithful wife’s transgression.
In yet another version of the story, Colonel Marti was said to be much older than Mari. Because the Colonel was consumed with his military career, he had no time for his beautiful young wife. Lonely and far from her family ties in Spain, Mari took comfort in the arms of Captain Abela.
Without specific historical details, the true nature of Mari and Manual’s relationship will remain a mystery. Yet, one thing is absolutely certain - Colonel Marti was raging with jealousy. Consequently, the manifestation of negative behaviors relating to the Colonel’s rage were predictable; “…for jealousy arouses a husband’s fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge” (Proverbs 6:34, NIV). Overflowing with such an intense burning jealousy, Colonel Marti swiftly ordered his wife Mari and Manual Abela to the dungeon where they were shackled to the wall.
There, in dark and impenetrable walls of the Castillo dungeon, Mari and Manual died. The couple suffered excruciating physical pain from dehydration and starvation. They were further forced to endure the emotional torture of watching each other suffer. Yet, in spite of this horrific final chapter of their lives, Mari and Manual took comfort in each others’ arms as they passed from life into eternity.
If the couple initially hoped for some merciful reprieve it never came. Since no one rescued the lovers, one might assume the Colonel issued an order against it. In fact, “for a long time, screams could be heard coming from the couple as they called for help. Eventually, the screams stopped”(www.ghostreport.com/states/florida/CastilloDeSanMarcos.htm).
It should be noted that according to Bloomfield’s Illustrated Historical Guide of the late 19th century, “Under the northeast bastion we find a dark, gloomy dungeon twenty feet long, six feet wide, and nearly five feet high, where not a ray of light can penetrate. This was once built up, and cut off from all communication with the rest of the fort.”
For over a hundred years there were individual reports of moans and crying coming from the dungeon area of the Castillo, but with no tangible indication of the source. Then, on the “21st day of July in the year 1833, a canon actually cracked a floor. When this happened, the depths of the fort were exposed. Upon investigation, the room in which the lovers had been placed was exposed and the skeletons were found, holding each other” (www.hauntedflorida.com/haunted.htm).
The haunted lovers were not the only ones who died in the Castillo, however. Later, in 1836, a former resident of St. Augustine who was said to have witnessed the terreplein of the northwest bastion falling in stated:
“I stood upon the edge and looked down into this dungeon, and there saw the complete skeleton of a human being, lying at full length apparently on its back; the arms were extended from the body and the skeleton fingers were wide open; there appeared to be a gold ring upon one of the fingers. Encircling the wrists were iron bands, attached to which were chain fastened to a hasp in the coquina wall near the entrance to the dungeon” (Bloomfield, 1883, p. unknown).
Other historical accounts indicate there may have been some form of strategic ignorance regarding of the deaths and burials that occurred in the dungeon. Bloomfield (1883) goes on to note that iron cages containing human bones were recovered from the dungeon after 1836 then later secured by the Smithsonian Institute at Washington.
Conflicting accounts from “credible” sources regarding bones in the dungeon at the Castillo continued. The Florida Press quoted a lecture given by medical doctor J. Hume Simons. The quote reads:
“The broken cage, with all the bones, except those which I hold in my hand, were buried in the sand mound to the north of the fort. I recognize these as portions of the tibia and fibula (or leg bones) of a female.”
However, the rebuttal was provided by Joseph Henry of the Smithsonian to John L. Edwards, of Jacksonville, Florida in a letter where he states:
“Sir: In reply to your letter of July 20th, we have to say that no objects such as those said to have been found in the dungeon of the old fort at St. Augustine have ever been received by us, although we are aware that the impression is otherwise.”
A notation from Bloomfield (1883) states:
“The finding of any bones is denied by Major W.H. Benham, U.S.A., on the authority of a Mr. Ridgely, Lieutenant Tuttle’s overseer. Major Benham took charge of the work upon the fort in January, 1839.”
Since historic records are limited we are left to assemble what pieces we can to create a better picture of what happened. Given that less-than-flattering information often disappears from the record books, it is reasonable to conclude the legend of the lovers demise has real historic merit. Likewise there may also have been an attempt to conceal details of other deaths at the Castillo. At the very least, it is also possible that this type of recordkeeping was not viewed as important hundreds of years ago. We do know, however, the prisoners of the Castillo were shown no mercy. In fact, the military inflicted extremely cruel and gruesome punishments on prisoners for all types of crime. For example, prisoners were often suspended by chains or tortured by a rack “separating their joints and possibly tearing them literally apart” (www.ghosthearse.com/the-fortress-of-misery-st-augustine-florida).
Shadow Figures
Shadow figures are believed to be a perceived dark mass in the shape of a human-like figure. In particular, shadow figures are said to be blacker than black, even in a dark room. Shadow figures are interpreted by paranormal investigators as the presence of a demonic entity. Sightings of these figures are often accompanied by reports of other other paranormal manifestations that include a strong feeling of 'being watched'.
Photographs below were taken mid-afternoon on a sunny day. The residents and their children reported feeling 'uncomfortable and fearful' in the room. The children did not want to go into their room alone because they felt they were being watched by something. The first photograph shows two luminescent apparitions - one above the bed and one moving left to right across the bed. The second photograph shows two luminescent apparition moving within the bedroom, one moving directly toward the camera. Subsequent photographs show a black mass shadow figure standing against the curtain on the right-hand side. Comparisons of the two photographs indicate movement of the shadow figure against the curtain from left to far left.
Photographs below were taken mid-afternoon on a sunny day. The residents and their children reported feeling 'uncomfortable and fearful' in the room. The children did not want to go into their room alone because they felt they were being watched by something. The first photograph shows two luminescent apparitions - one above the bed and one moving left to right across the bed. The second photograph shows two luminescent apparition moving within the bedroom, one moving directly toward the camera. Subsequent photographs show a black mass shadow figure standing against the curtain on the right-hand side. Comparisons of the two photographs indicate movement of the shadow figure against the curtain from left to far left.
Good news...God wins!
Familiar Spirits (Ghosts) are not your dead relative!
Question: "What are familiar spirits?"
Answer: The word familiar is from the Latin familiaris, meaning a "household servant," and is intended to express the idea that sorcerers had spirits as their servants ready to obey their commands. Those attempting to contact the dead, even to this day, usually have some sort of spirit guide who communicates with them. These are familiar spirits.
Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27; and Deuteronomy 18:9-14 refer to “mediums and familiar spirits” and forbids being involved with them, as they are an abomination to the Lord. A medium is one who acts as a liaison to supposedly contact or communicate with the dead on behalf of the living. In reality mediums are contacting demons who convince the mediums that they are “familiar” and can be trusted and believed. The practices associated with mediums and familiar spirits were banned in Israel, and the punishment for practicing such things was death.
Familiar spirits and spirit guides are under the control of their master, Satan. They influence people to spread lies and deceit in order to thwart the kingdom of God. To knowingly open oneself to the work of demons is an evil thing: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in [a] fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD" (Deuteronomy 18:10-12a).
Some avenues through which demons or "familiar spirits" can gain entrance into a person's life are divination, transcendental meditation, visualization, necromancy, witchcraft, drugs, and alcohol. These are all activities that believers are exhorted to avoid. Instead, we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, with love, with joy, and with the fullness of life that comes from Jesus Christ. We are also to be on guard, "for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).
Answer: The word familiar is from the Latin familiaris, meaning a "household servant," and is intended to express the idea that sorcerers had spirits as their servants ready to obey their commands. Those attempting to contact the dead, even to this day, usually have some sort of spirit guide who communicates with them. These are familiar spirits.
Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27; and Deuteronomy 18:9-14 refer to “mediums and familiar spirits” and forbids being involved with them, as they are an abomination to the Lord. A medium is one who acts as a liaison to supposedly contact or communicate with the dead on behalf of the living. In reality mediums are contacting demons who convince the mediums that they are “familiar” and can be trusted and believed. The practices associated with mediums and familiar spirits were banned in Israel, and the punishment for practicing such things was death.
Familiar spirits and spirit guides are under the control of their master, Satan. They influence people to spread lies and deceit in order to thwart the kingdom of God. To knowingly open oneself to the work of demons is an evil thing: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in [a] fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD" (Deuteronomy 18:10-12a).
Some avenues through which demons or "familiar spirits" can gain entrance into a person's life are divination, transcendental meditation, visualization, necromancy, witchcraft, drugs, and alcohol. These are all activities that believers are exhorted to avoid. Instead, we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, with love, with joy, and with the fullness of life that comes from Jesus Christ. We are also to be on guard, "for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).