HAUNTED NEW JERSEY SCHOOL BEING DEMOLISHED TO KEEP OUT GHOST HUNTERS

LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. - October 5, 2012 (WPVI) -- After a long fight, a dilapidated former high school in New Jersey is being demolished.

Heavy machinery ripped into the old Lambertville High School on Friday, and those who live nearby say it's just in time.

They say the spooky building attracts visitors around Halloween, despite the fact that its condition makes it a danger to anyone who goes inside.

If you look beneath the graffiti you can see it was built back in 1854. The school was closed in the late 1950s and sat abandoned for decades until a fire gutted it in 1992.

Local legend has it the place is haunted.

"I went up there in high school with some friends and just poked around. It's a dark and scary place," said Patrick Kahney of Yardley, Pa.

Paranormal bloggers have named Lambertville High #1 on the list of the 10 most haunted schools on the east coast and it's been featured in Weird NJ Magazine.

There are stories of visitors who've heard the sounds of footsteps, bloodcurdling screams and seen the ghost of Buck, a football player who supposedly died when his neck was broken during a game here.

"If you go up there at night and go onto the field burning eyes appear and a ghostly voice says run!" said library director Harold Dunn.

"I don't know if I believe that but I know it's a big attraction and a lot of people go in there that aren't supposed to," said Joan Marriott of Lambertville.

After years of legal wrangling and fines for the property owner, demolition on the haunted school house has finally begun. A big claw is tearing down walls and, perhaps, shaking loose some of the ghosts that haunt the classrooms.

Just in case, the demolition crew is being cautious.

"I'm going to be checking my machine and my truck before I leave, I can tell you that," said demolition worker Steve Vierbuchen. "I don't want to bring them home with me!"

Story and Video: 6ABC

WHITE LADY GHOST CAUGHT ON QUEEN MARY OR A HOAX?

A MYSTERIOUS woman floats at the end of a corridor - in a photo said to depict the ghostly inhabitant of a famous cruise ship.
Spook hunter Valentina Lomborg is convinced her snapshot features the Lady in White, who has 'haunted' the Queen Mary for more than half a century
The ship was once a luxury liner, ferrying the rich and famous between London, Southampton and New York.
Retired in 1967 it's now a hotel, moored in Long Beach, California.

As well as a regular influx of paying guests, the hotel is rumoured to be home to a string of phantoms - including a Lady in White, who can sometimes be seen dancing in what was once the first class lounge.
Dane Valentina, a former model, checked into the floating hotel to search for the ship's spooky squatters - and she was stunned by what she discovered.
While onboard, the glamorous ghost hunter felt compelled to start taking photographs. When she later studied the snaps, she spotted the ghostly figure standing in a doorway.
Valentina said: "She wasn't visible to the naked eye. It was only when I got home and looked at the photos I picked it up.
"It could only be the Lady in White. She is often seen by workers, but as far as I'm aware nobody has captured her on camera in this kind of detail."

Is this the `Lady in White`?

The Queen Mary's other ghostly inhabitants are said to include an 18-year-old engineer who was killed during a fire drill, a young girl who drowned in a swimming pool and a young woman who was murdered in a changing room.

Source: The Sun

My view:
The Sun (a British low brow newspaper) have been sharing hoax ghost photographs for some time. Some were obvious `Ghost Capture` app creations, or photoshop fakes (all verifiable).
Regardless of whether or not they are aware,  I personally would treat this photograph with caution, as the credibility of the taker and circumstances cannot be verified.

THE MOST HAUNTED PLACE IN BRITAIN?

Author: Chris Halton

There are many places in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland that lay claim to being the `most haunted`.

Indeed for many, Pluckley village in Kent is a favourite haunt for paranormal investigators and is `officially` - according to Guinness World Records, `the most haunted village in England`. But in truth the appellation is less subjective and more personal in preference. After all, how can any of us truthfully say that one town or village is more or less active spiritually than another?

Pluckley - England`s Most Haunted Village?

To be able to claim one over another, you would be in a very tiny minority to say you have visited them all. But of course, the minority is so small that I have never met a living soul who can claim this achievement.
So generally speaking, most of us are drawn to one place because of what others believe and have shared. As a filmmaker and investigator of the paranormal, I have travelled across England and Ireland filming activity wherever it has occurred.

Leap Castle, Eire

My most favourite location is undoubtedly Leap Castle in the Irish Republic. My experiences in the `Bloody Chapel` were to say very interesting. I heard a person dragging something across the ground towards me, and was impressioned to believe that it was a person with a club foot.
I later discovered through my friend and cameraman on that night, Jason Figgis, that a young girl with a clubfoot is said to haunt the chapel. Two other investigators alone in the chapel actually fled when they heard a disembodied female voice call out.

 I later left a camcorder to run on its own and over a 20 minute period it picked up the sounds of a wooden door being repeatedly bolted and unbolted, and the sound of people walking around inside.

Chris Halton with Leap owner, Sean Ryan

I also left a K2 EMF to run on it`s own, and in full view of the camcorder, but despite all that was happening around the camera, it failed to react and indicate activity.
The wooden door that was in situ was incapable of making any of the noises caught on cam, and I certainly do not recall the door having bolts or a latch that could have contributed the noises captured.

Apart from that, I always felt a menacing unpleasantness following me around, and earlier during the day whilst enjoying the owner Sean Ryan`s hospitality, I clearly heard a deep growl from behind me. A strange experience indeed, and of course, Leap is regarded as Europe`s most haunted castle.

The Prince Rupert Hotel, Shrewsbury

Watching recently an episode of `Great British Ghosts` which focussed on (amongst others) The Prince Rupert Hotel in Shrewsbury, I was intrigued by the frequency of hauntings there.

The part of the hotel where much activity occurs was originally a private dwelling once occupied by Prince Rupert, the grandson of King James I, and dating from the 1150`s.

There are allegedly over 500 reported ghostly incidents in the town of Shrewsbury, and the Prince Rupert has many reported sightings.

Room 6 of the hotel which is now a conference suite is said to be haunted by the spirit of a jilted bride who hung herself on her wedding night, Witnesses have seen her hanging form, and the room is renowned for low level poltergeist activity.

Room 7 apparently has a similar ghost of a young man who killed himself after his girlfriend left him for another man.

Pillows have also been taken from guests and some of the guests themselves have even captured the apparitions on camera. Follow this link - `Ghostly Cavalier?`

Apart from the hotel, Shrewsbury hosts a number of haunted places. These include the Victorian railway station - which is reputedly haunted by a local coal merchant who was killed at the station when a roof laden with snow collapsed on to him. Locals believe he can still be seen making his way to platform 3, as he did on that fateful day in 1887.

Shrewsbury Castle

Shrewsbury Castle - although not the original structure, apparently hosts a particularly evil spirit in the form of `Bloudie (Bloody)  Jack` who was the castle keeper in the 12th century.
`Bloudie Jack` was an early reported serial killer, and had murdered at least 8 young women before he was sighted by a young woman who caught him dragging the bloodied body of her sister across the drawbridge.
For his crimes he was hung, drawn and quartered, and his ghost has been seen on many occasions across the years. No doubt still looking for young female victims.

The stories do not end here however, even nearby St. Alkmund's church hosts the ghost of a 15th century steeplejack who fell to his death on a wager to climb the church tower. His ghost has been seen carrying out his ill-fated late night dare.

And lastly, a local inn, `The Dun Cow` dating from the 11th century also has a history of hauntings. Two of which are reputedly a monk and a Cavalier murdered in the Inn`s stables.

The Dun Cow, Shrewsbury

A curious tale ends this article at `The Dun Cow`.
In 1980 a former landlady, a Mrs Hayes was awakened in the middle of the night by a hooded figure of a monk whose habit was decorated in patches of bright colours.
He appeared to be fascinated by Mrs Hayes baby, and was leaning over her cot studying her.
He then disappeared, to appear 2 years later and again before the now little girl who reported being woken by the same monk in her room. Again the ghost was witnessed also by Mrs Hayes although many other guests also report seeing him and other spirits, some of whom have been seen walking through walls.

Here is a video from `Great British Ghosts` where the presenter, Michaela Strachan visits The Prince Rupert.

THE LEGEND OF `THE WHITE LADY OF KINSALE`

Here is another great story from the work, True Irish Ghost Stories, by St. John D. Seymour and Harry L. Neligan, [1914]. Charles Fort is famous for `The White Lady of Kinsale`, who allegedly still haunts this ancient ruin in the Irish Republic.

Charles Fort - Haunted by `The White Lady`

Charles Fort was erected in 1667 by the Duke of Ormonde. It is said to be haunted by a ghost known as the "White Lady," and the traditional account of the reason for this haunting is briefly as follows: Shortly after the erection of the fort, a Colonel Warrender, a severe disciplinarian, was appointed its governor. He had a daughter, who bore the quaint Christian name of "Wilful"; she became engaged to a Sir Trevor Ashurst, and subsequently married him. On the evening of their wedding-day the bride and bridegroom were walking on the battlements, when she espied some flowers growing on the rocks beneath. She expressed a wish for them, and a sentry posted close by volunteered to climb down for them, provided Sir Trevor took his place during his absence. He assented, and took the soldier's coat and musket while he went in search of a rope. Having obtained one, he commenced his descent; but the task proving longer than he expected, Sir Trevor fell asleep. Meantime the governor visited the sentries, as was his custom, and in the course of his rounds came to where Sir Trevor was asleep. He challenged him, and on receiving no answer perceived that he was asleep, whereupon he drew a pistol and shot him through the heart. The body was brought in, and it was only then the governor realised what had happened. The bride, who appears to have gone indoors before the tragedy occurred, then learned the fate that befell her husband, and in her distraction, rushed from the house and flung herself over the battlements. In despair at the double tragedy, her father shot himself during the night.

The above is from Dr. Craig's book already alluded to. In the _Wide World Magazine_ the legend differs slightly in details. According to this the governor's name was Browne, and it was his own son, not his son-in-law, that he shot; while the incident is said to have occurred about a hundred and fifty years ago.

The "White Lady" is the ghost of the young bride. Let us see what accounts there are of her appearance. A good many years ago Fort-Major Black, who had served in the Peninsular War, gave his own personal experience to Dr. Craig. He stated that he had gone to the hall door one summer evening, and saw a lady entering the door and going up the stairs. At first he thought she was an officer's wife, but as he looked, he observed she was dressed in white, and in a very old-fashioned style. Impelled by curiosity, he hastened upstairs after her, and followed her closely into one of the rooms, but on entering it he could not find the slightest trace of anyone there. On another occasion he stated that two sergeants were packing some cast stores. One of them had his little daughter with him, and the child suddenly exclaimed, "Who is that white lady who is bending over the banisters, and looking down at us?" The two men looked up, but could see nothing, but the child insisted that she had seen a lady in white looking down and smiling at her.

On another occasion a staff officer, a married man, was residing in the "Governor's House." One night as the nurse lay awake--she and the children were in a room which opened into what was known as the White Lady's apartment--she suddenly saw a lady clothed in white glide to the bedside of the youngest child, and after a little place her hand upon its wrist. At this the child started in its sleep, and cried out, "Oh! take that cold hand from my wrist!" the next moment the lady disappeared.
One night, about the year 1880, Captain Marvell Hull and Lieutenant Hartland were going to the rooms occupied by the former officer. As they reached a small landing they saw distinctly in front of them a woman in a white dress. As they stood there in awestruck silence she turned and looked towards them, showing a face beautiful enough, but colourless as a corpse, and then passed on through a locked door.

But it appears that this presence did not always manifest itself in as harmless a manner. Some years ago Surgeon L---- was quartered at the fort. One day he had been out snipe-shooting, and as he entered the fort the mess-bugle rang out. He hastened to his rooms to dress, but as he failed to put in an appearance at mess, one of the officers went in search of him, and found him lying senseless on the floor. When he recovered consciousness he related his experience. He said he had stooped down for the key of his door, which he had placed for safety under the mat; when in this position he felt himself violently dragged across the hall, and flung down a flight of steps. With this agrees somewhat the experience of a Captain Jarves, as related by him to Captain Marvell Hull. Attracted by a strange rattling noise in his bedroom, he endeavoured to open the door of it, but found it seemingly locked. Suspecting a hoax, he called out, whereupon a gust of wind passed him, and some unseen power flung him down the stairs, and laid him senseless at the bottom.


White Lady Of Kinsale from LB Frames on Vimeo.
Wilful Warrender is said to haunt Charles Fort by floating around the fort in her wedding dress. She is known as the 'White lady of Kinsale', it is said that the soldiers stationed at the Fort were scared of the ghost and would lock doors throughout the fort in order to try and contain the ghost, this did not work though.

THE GHOST OF ROMNEY PAST HAUNTS ENGLISH PUB

Assistant manager Hennie Kuger and (inset) presidential candidate Mitt Romney

A GHOST that is a distant relative of American presidential candidate Mitt Romney is believed to be haunting a newly-refurbished pub.

The mischievous spirit of Agnes Romney has been sighted by staff at Romneys, in Kendal, and has knocked drinking glasses off tables, opened drawers and closed doors.

Her brother is believed to be the great great grandfather of  Mitt Romney, the Republican Party nominee running against Barack Obama.

She was also the first cousin, once removed, of the famous Kendal painter George Romney.

Assistant manager Hennie Kuger, of Kendal, said he had seen the early 19th century ghoul in window reflections and believed she was ‘hanging around her old home’.

The 32-year-old thought sightings of Agnes would end once renovation work at the hostelry on Milnthorpe Road was completed but she ‘keeps making her presence known’.

“I came to England in 2002 and worked here when it was the Kendal Arms,” he said.

“That’s when I first heard stories about Agnes. I’ve never been a believer in ghosts myself but one evening when I was having my meal upstairs in the function room I saw a reflection of an old woman in the window “It was dark outside and in the reflection she looked like a little lady, a bit like my grandma.

“When I looked behind me there was no one there. Agnes used to live up in the top of the building with her sister.”

Mr Kuger said other staff had also reported mysterious goings on at Romneys. He added: “Quite often, late at night, we hear footsteps and sometimes you hear creaking.

“Glasses just fall off the shelf. Once, we filled a bin to prop a door open and when we came back to it the bucket had moved and the door was shut. She also opens drawers.

“I think she’s just hanging around in her old house.”

Martin Orrom, of the Romney Society, said Agnes’ links with the Kendal pub were unclear, as was much of her life.

He said: “I can’t see any link between her and the house in Kendal, although George Romney’s house, where he lived after retirement, is quite close on Milnthorpe Road.”

Source: Westmorland Gazette

My view:
Is this story more than a coincidence as Romney - a non-drinking member of the Mormon Church , seeks Presidential election? There is a link in the area to the Romney family, but as can be read, not one that is proven with this pub. On the other hand, renovation work on some old properties does tend on occasions to stir up activity from disgruntled former residents. I think the reports are genuine, although the attribution to a Romney ghost is to say, somewhat tenuous.