Houska Castle

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Intro Music

Houska Castle.

Houska Castle is situated in the Czech Republic, and it is one of the most haunted castles, not just in Europe, but in the world. The castle has been the subject of many paranormal investigations, and it is believed to be a gateway to hell.

the story really begins hundreds of years before the castle was built. according to the lore several men stumbled upon a large hole on the ground on the reverse of a mountain as they were exploring the area. they could not see how deep the hole was so they threw rocks down the hole to see how far they would drop, when the rocks did not hit bottom the men believed that they had found a bottomless hole.  however locals would see strange creatures coming out of the hole, and once children began to go missing, locals pointed at the hole and blamed the creatures from inside.  

The castle is believed to have been built in the 13th century. under the patronage of Bohemian ruler Ottokar II of Bohemia. Originally intended as an administrative center to manage the vast royal estates, the castle's distinctive history has since transitioned through the hands of various aristocrats. Castles are  originally designed as  fortresses to protect the surrounding areas from invaders. castles are built in strategic locations, and they are meant to be impenetrable. However, Houska castle is situated amidst dense forests, swamps, and mountains, it stood devoid of external fortifications, lacking a direct water source save for a rainwater collection cistern, and is isolated from major trade routes. it has a unique feature that sets it apart from other castles. It has no outside fortifications, at least not where most people would expect the fortification to be. It has no water source, except for a small collection of rain water and there's no kitchen, this is a big red flag as most castles are usually built in order to house a noble family plus the soldiers protecting the castle, and the staff that is needed to keep a castle up. However Houska castle does not seem to have been built for long term habitation. This has led to many theories about the purpose of the castle, and many people believe that it was built to hide something sinister.

 Interestingly, once the castle was built it remained unoccupied. Notably, it underwent Renaissance-style modifications from 1584 to 1590 while retaining its fortress-like characteristics atop a steep rocky cliff. In the 18th century, it ceased serving as a noble residence and fell into disrepair until its renovation in 1823. Princess Hohenlohe purchased the castle in 1897, and later, in 1924, it came under the ownership of Josef Šimonek, the President of Škoda. Presently, it remains in the possession of his descendants as of 2020.

Houska Castle is a historic castle located in the Czech Republic, approximately 47 kilometers north of Prague. The castle has a unique layout that sets it apart from other castles in the region. The castle is built on a rocky outcrop, and it is designed to look like a Gothic fortress, with high walls, towers, and a moat. However, the castle's interior is quite different from its exterior.

The castle's interior is divided into several levels, connected by a series of winding staircases. The ground floor of the castle is dominated by a large hall, which was used for banquets and other social events. The hall is decorated with intricate carvings and frescoes, and it features a large fireplace and several windows that offer views of the surrounding countryside. 

one of the strangest architectural designs of this castle is that when you look at the outside of the castle you can see that it has windows all round it.  however the first floor does not have any windows. when you are standing in a any of the rooms on the first floor, the windows were border up. some believe that this was in order to prevent anything that might be in the castle to get out. 

The upper levels of the castle are divided into living quarters, with bedrooms, dining rooms, and other rooms designed for daily use. The bedrooms are decorated with ornate furniture and tapestries, and some of them feature for-poster beds and other luxurious amenities. The dining rooms are decorated with elaborate chandeliers and paintings, and they feature large tables that can accommodate large groups of people.

The castle's interior is also home to several unique features that set it apart from other castles in the region. For example, the castle features a large chapel, which was used for religious services. The chapel is decorated with frescoes and statues, and it features a large altar and several stained-glass windows. however one of the frescos in the chapel does not make any sense in regards to where it it. the painting is of a female centaur holding a long sword. this is another red flag for two reasons, the first is that she is holding the sword in her left hand, historically the Christian religion has seen left handed women as witches. the second is that centaurs are historically associated with pagan non chrisitian religions. so by all accounts, it should not be inside of a church. some belief that this is a warning to all who enter the church.  People believe that the church was in fact buildt before the castle, and the church was built over a large hole, which people around the area called the hole to hell. before the church was built locals would see large flying creatures fly out of the hole every night. and there were reports of half human-half beast creatures who would roam the country side. 

eventually the stories reached the king at the time, and he ordered construction of the castle to cover up the hole. before covering it up however, The king was said to have offered pardons to prisoners if they agreed to be lowered into the hole to see what was inside. The first man to go down into the hole was said to have gone mad from what he saw, and he died shortly afterward. The second man to go down into the hole was said to have screamed the entire time he was down there. When he was pulled back up, his haired had turned white, he looked like an old man, and he died shortly afterward.

There have been many reported paranormal instances in Houska Castle over the years. Many people have reported hearing strange noises, such as footsteps, whispers, and screams. Others have reported seeing apparitions, such as ghosts and demons. There have also been reports of objects moving on their own, doors opening and closing by themselves, and strange smells.

One of the most famous paranormal instances in Houska Castle occurred in the 16th century. The castle was owned by a noble family at the time, and they were said to have been plagued by a demon. The demon was said to have been so powerful that it could move objects and cause people to become ill. The family called upon a local priest to exorcise the demon, but the priest was hesitant to enter the castle because of its rumored connection to hell. The priest was said to have been successful. However, the demon was said to have left behind a mark on the wall that can still be seen today.

Another legend tells a similar story, but with some variations. In this version, the noble family that owned Houska Castle during the 16th century was said to have built the castle over a hole that led straight to hell. The family was plagued by strange occurrences, such as objects moving on their own and strange noises coming from the walls. They called upon a local priest to perform an exorcism, but the priest refused, believing that the castle was cursed.

One night, the noble family's daughter was taken by the demon and dragged into the hole. The family called upon the priest once again, and this time he agreed to perform the exorcism. The priest was lowered into the hole, and he performed the exorcism while surrounded by demons and other unholy creatures. When he emerged from the hole, he was said to have been covered in scratches and bruises, and he never spoke of the experience again.

In the 17th century the 30 years war brought soldiers into the woods that surrounds Houska castle. The soldiers were led by a sweedish general called Oronto. At first they thought they would need to fight in order to take the castle, but the castle was empty and so they were able to take it. once they had settled into the castle they began to steal and kill locals surrounding the castle. when Oronto found out about the legends of the castle he began to use blood magic in order to gain power. eventually, the locals got tired of his tyranny and paid two hunters to assassinate him. 

In the 20th century, Houska Castle was used as a Nazi prison camp during World War II. Many people were tortured and killed in the castle during this time, and it is believed that their spirits still linger in the castle today. There have been reports of screams and moans coming from the castle at night, and many people believe that the ghosts of the prisoners are still trapped inside.

It is known that Houska Castle was used as a sub-camp of the larger concentration camp at Flossenbürg. The sub-camp was established in 1944, and it was primarily used to house prisoners who were forced to work in nearby factories and mines. The prisoners were subjected to harsh living conditions, and many of them died from disease, malnutrition, or overwork.

some believe that the nazis used the castle for the liebensborn program,  which translates to fount of life. this was the nazis eugenics program in which women who were found to have pure blood would be used to propregate the german race. the isolated location could have been the perfect settlement for them tp use. 

There are few records or first-hand accounts of the specific events that occurred in Houska Castle during World War II. It is believed that the castle was used as a location for secret experiments, but the nature of these experiments is unclear. Some people believe that the Nazis were conducting experiments on human subjects, while others believe that they were searching for occult artifacts or performing occult rituals.

The reasons why the Nazis chose Houska Castle as a location for their sub-camp are also unclear. Some people believe that the castle's rumored connection to hell made it an attractive location for the Nazis, who were interested in the occult. Others believe that the castle's strategic location near several factories and mines made it a convenient location for a sub-camp.

The nazis had a strong belief in the paranormal.  they believed they could find a powerful supernatural weapon that would give them the upper hand in a war they were slowly losing. Many occult books were transferred to Houska castle, and nazi scientist used science and the occult in their experiments hoping to create anything that would give them power. years after the nazis had vacated the castle, new property owners decided to renovate the courtyard, when digging though the rubble they found hundreds of german soldier's bodies. No one truly knows why they had been executed in this manner, although speculation says perhaps the germans were sacrificing their own officers in order to open a portal to hell. 

There are several stories and legends about the paranormal activity that occurred in Houska Castle during World War II. Some people believe that the ghosts of the prisoners who died in the castle still linger there, and that their screams and moans can be heard at night. Others believe that the Nazis were performing occult rituals in the castle, and that their activities did indeed open a portal to hell.

modern first account stories......

Outro Music

FRANS: That concludes today's episode of "The Supernatural Collective." Thank you for joining us on this eerie expedition.

ADRIANA: Stay tuned for our next installment, where we'll unravel more mysteries from the ethereal realm.  If you like what we do, please like and follow us. 

Frans: It might seem small, but it can really help. and if you have your own story you would like to share, click on the link on the podcast notes, there you can share your story, idea or suggestion, and we would love to feature it in a future episode. 

ADriana: Until then stay safe, and stay spooky

The Missing Sodder Children

I. Introduction

 - Brief explanation of the mysterious disappearance of the Sodder children

on the night before Christmas

in Fayetterville West Virginia, Gorge Sodder and 9 of their children were asleep when a fire broke out at around 1:30 in the morning. The house was set up that Gorge and Jennie slept downstairs with their youngest child sylvia who was 2 years old. Marion was 17 and that night she had fallen asleep on the downstairs couch. Gorge jr, 16 and John 23 also had a shared room upstairs.  

Maurice, 14, Martha, 12, Louis ,9, Jennie 8, and Betty, 5. All slept upstairs in two shared Rooms. 

At 12:30 in the morning the phone rang, Jennie woke up , and picked it up, it was a woman laughing on the other end, perhaps, she thought, the operator had made a mistake. But the woman continued to laugh and then hung up. Jennie tried to go back to sleep, but she couldn't shake off the eerie feeling that something was wrong. Sudd     enly, she heard a loud noise coming from the roof of the house. it sounded like something heavy thumping against the roof and then rolling down the side of the house. about half an hour later, she could smell smoke. SHe woke Gorge up and picked up her young daughter who was sleeping with them in a cot. both Gorge and Jenny yelled for their kids to get up and ran out of the house. Gorge went to wake Mariam up from the couch and helped her outside. Gorge Jr, and John both ran outside after them. However after a few minutes it was evident that the children sleeping upstairs had not woken up. Gorge tried to go back inside but the main staircase was engulf in flames. He went to the side of the house where he kept a ladder, bu the ladder was missing. it would later be found a few feet away from the phone polls, and thrown into a ditch. 

His last attempt to enter the house was thinking he could move his coal trucks close enough to the second floor window in order to climb into the house. However, even though he had used the both trucks fo work the day before that night neither truck started. while this was happening Marion ran to a neighbors house and asked for the to call the firedepartment, unfortunately the operator did not answer. perhaps because the phone lines had been cut. not knowing this, Mariom ran to the next neighbors house and tried again. again there was no response. this time however the neighbor seeing the importance and urgency of the situation got into their car and drove into town to try and find the fire marshall. He found F.J. Morris celebrating Christmas eve at a tabern in town. however, he was able to go to the house byhimself he had to ennact a phone tree so that all of the fire fighters could be called in. It took seven hours for the fire fighters to get to the house. 

By the time the fire fighters got to the house , it was already too late and the house had burned down completely. the firefighters and the members of the family looked through the remains but could not find any evidence of the five children who were supposed to be inside. The family was devastated and hoped that the children had somehow managed to escape. HOwever the fire chief believed that the children had burned up completely due to the fire being so hot. The investigation later revealed that the fire was caused by a faulty electrical wire. This tragedy could have been prevented with proper maintenance and inspection. HOwever, Gorge had had the wires checked by the electrical company only a few months prior when he installed a new appliance in the house.   

II. Background information

 - Sodder family's history and background is important to understand the context of their tragedy and the potential reasons for their children's disappearance. The Sodder family was a large Italian-American family who lived in Fayetteville, West Virginia. George Sodder, the father, had immigrated to the United States from Italy in the early 1900s and had settled in West Virginia, where he worked as a coal miner. Jennie Sodder, the mother, was also the daughter of Italian immigrants.

George and Jennie were married in the late 1920s and went on to have ten children together, eight boys and two girls. The family was known for being hardworking and tight-knit, and they were well-liked in their community.

The Sodders faced some challenges over the years, including discrimination due to their Italian heritage, and George had some run-ins with local officials because of his outspoken views on political issues. However, they were generally well-respected in their community and were known for their generosity and kindness.

George Sodder, the father of the Sodder family, was originally from Italy and had family members who still lived there. He was known to be critical of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and his fascist government, particularly during World War II, when Italy was allied with Germany.

According to some reports, George may have expressed anti-fascist views publicly, which could have put him at odds with some Italian-Americans who supported Mussolini. There are also reports that he may have received threatening letters or phone calls from people who were sympathetic to Mussolini's regime.

It's unclear exactly what led to George's opposition to Mussolini and his regime, but his views may have been shaped by his experiences growing up in Italy and his personal beliefs about freedom and democracy. Regardless of the reasons behind his opposition, it's clear that his views made him a target for some people who supported Mussolini's government. 

 - Investigation and search efforts

The investigation into the Sodder house fire and the disappearance of the five children was conducted by local authorities in Fayetteville, West Virginia. However, the family was critical of the investigation and believed that the authorities were not thorough in their efforts to find the missing children.

Some of the issues with the investigation included the fact that the fire chief did not conduct a proper investigation of the cause of the fire and that the site was not secured after the fire, which allowed people to tamper with potential evidence. In addition, some witnesses who claimed to have seen the missing children after the fire were not interviewed by investigators.

The family also conducted their own investigation and found several pieces of evidence that suggested foul play, including a ladder that had been moved from its usual location and a possible human bone that was found in the ashes of the fire. However, the authorities did not follow up on these leads, and the case remained unsolved.

The Sodder family suspected foul play in the disappearance of their five children for several reasons. First, they found it difficult to believe that all five children perished in the fire, as no remains were ever found despite extensive searches.

Additionally, the family received several reports of sightings of their missing children in the years following the fire, which suggested that they may have been kidnapped rather than killed in the fire. One witness claimed to have seen the children in a car with out-of-state license plates, while another said they saw the children in a hotel.

The family also found some suspicious evidence, such as a ladder that had been moved from its usual location and a possible human bone that was found in the ashes of the fire. The fact that the family's phone line was cut and their car wouldn't start on the night of the fire also raised suspicions.

Overall, the Sodders believed that the authorities had not conducted a thorough investigation and that there were many unanswered questions about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of their children. Their suspicions of foul play were fueled by the lack of concrete evidence and the many strange occurrences that took place on the night of the fire.

IV. Evidence and clues

 - Eyewitness testimonies

There were several eyewitness testimonies in the Sodder case that suggested that the five missing children may not have died in the fire but rather may have been kidnapped. Here are some of the most notable eyewitness accounts:

1. On the morning after the fire, a woman reported seeing the missing Sodder children peering out of a passing car while the fire was still burning. She later claimed that the car was driving towards Charleston, West Virginia.

2. In the weeks following the fire, a woman reported seeing the missing children at a hotel in South Carolina. She claimed that she saw the children with several adults and that the children seemed fearful and were accompanied by two men.

3. In the early 1950s, a woman in Texas claimed that she overheard two men talking about the Sodder children and said that they "would never be found."

4. In 1967, a woman contacted the Sodder family and claimed to be their missing daughter, Martha. She said that she had been kidnapped by a group of men and taken to Mexico but was now living in the United States. However, the family was unable to confirm her identity, and the woman eventually stopped contacting them.

None of these eyewitness accounts were ever confirmed, and it's unclear whether they were accurate or not. However, they did add to the sense of mystery and suspicion surrounding the case and helped fuel the family's belief that their children may have been kidnapped.

 

 - Strange phone calls and sightings after the disappearance

The Sodder family received several strange phone calls and sightings in the years following the fire that suggested that their missing children may have been alive and well. Here are some of the most notable examples:

1. In the months following the fire, the family received a letter with no return address that claimed that the missing children were alive and well and living in Florida. The letter was postmarked from Kentucky, and the author claimed to have seen the children in Florida.

2. In 1949, a woman in St. Louis claimed that she saw a picture of a young boy in a magazine that she believed was one of the missing Sodder children. The magazine was from a children's home in Houston, Texas, and the boy in the picture had a striking resemblance to one of the missing children.

3. In the 1960s, the Sodders received several anonymous phone calls from a man who claimed to know what had happened to their missing children. The man never identified himself or provided any concrete information, but his calls added to the family's suspicion that their children may have been alive.

4. In 1967, a woman claiming to be the missing daughter Martha contacted the family. She said that she had been kidnapped by a group of men and taken to Mexico but was now living in the United States. However, the family was unable to confirm her identity, and the woman eventually stopped contacting them. The fourth point refers to a woman who contacted the Sodder family in 1967, claiming to be their missing daughter, Martha. According to the woman, she had been kidnapped by a group of men and taken to Mexico, where she lived for several years before returning to the United States.

The woman's story was intriguing to the Sodder family, which had never given up hope of finding their missing children. They arranged to meet with her, but the woman never showed up. When they tried to contact her again, they were unable to reach her.

The family hired a private investigator to try to track down the woman, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Some people have speculated that the woman may have been a hoaxer or a fraudster trying to take advantage of the family's grief. However, others believe that the woman may have been telling the truth and that she was either too scared or too traumatized to follow through with meeting the family.

Ultimately, the true identity and motives of the woman who claimed to be Martha Sodder remain a mystery, and the case of the missing children has never been solved.

None of these sightings or phone calls were ever confirmed, and it's unclear whether they were credible or not. However, they did add to the family's belief that their children may have been alive and helped keep the case in the public eye.

possible conspiracy theories

The case of the Sodder children's disappearance on Christmas Eve in 1945 has remained a mystery for many years, and no one knows for sure what happened to the children. However, there have been several theories and possible culprits in the case. Here are some of the most notable ones:

1. The Italian Mafia: Some people have speculated that the Sodder children may have been kidnapped by the Italian Mafia, who were known to operate in the area and may have been angered by George Sodder's anti-fascist views.

2. The Ku Klux Klan: The Sodders were Catholic and of Italian descent, and some people have suggested that they may have been targeted by the Ku Klux Klan, who were known to be active in the area.

3. A neighbor or acquaintance: It's possible that one of the Sodders' neighbors or acquaintances may have been involved in the disappearance of the children, either through kidnapping or by covering up evidence.

4.  The children themselves: Some have suggested that the children may have run away or staged their own disappearance, either because they were unhappy at home or because they were being mistreated.

One of the theories about the Sodder children's disappearance involves an insurance salesman named J. Edgar Hoover Smith, who had visited the Sodder home a few months before the fire.

According to some reports, Smith had been trying to sell George Sodder life insurance, but George had declined. Smith was reportedly angry about the rejection and had made some threats against the Sodder family.

After the fire, Smith allegedly made some suspicious comments to George Sodder that suggested he may have had something to do with the disappearance of the children. However, when questioned by police, Smith denied any involvement in the case.

 Some people believe that Smith may have been a red herring or a distraction from the true culprit, while others believe that he may have been involved in some way.

According to some reports, J. Edgar Hoover Smith made some suspicious comments to George Sodder in the aftermath of the fire that suggested he may have had something to do with the disappearance of the children.

One of the comments that Smith allegedly made was that the Sodder children "were going to be taken off" if George didn't stop talking about Mussolini. This comment was seen as particularly concerning given George's outspoken opposition to Mussolini and his fascist regime.

Additionally, Smith reportedly told George that his house would "go up in smoke" and that his children would "be destroyed" in a similar manner to the fire that had destroyed the Sodder home.

The brown lady

The Haunting Tale of the Brown Lady

As a dedicated paranormal researcher, I have delved into countless eerie stories and encountered my fair share of supernatural phenomena. However, one particular case that has captured the imagination of many is the legend of the Brown Lady of Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England. This ghostly apparition, known for her distinctive brown silk dress, has become an iconic figure in the realm of British ghost stories.

According to popular belief, the Brown Lady is said to be the spirit of Dorothy Walpole, who lived from 1686 to 1726. Dorothy was the sister of Robert Walpole, often regarded as the first Prime Minister of Great Britain. She found herself entangled in a scandalous affair with Lord Wharton, much to the dismay of her husband, Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend. In a fit of rage, Townshend locked Dorothy away in a room at Raynham Hall, the ancestral family home, where she remained until her untimely death from smallpox in 1726. 

however a less tragic story claims that In 1725, Charles died unexpectedly, leaving Dorothy a widow. She moved back to her family home in Houghton, but her life continued to be plagued by tragedy. Her brother, Robert, was accused of corruption and impeached by Parliament, and her other siblings also suffered financial and personal setbacks. Dorothy's own health began to decline, and she became increasingly reclusive. She died in 1726 at the age of 40, and her body was buried in the churchyard of St. Martin's Church in Houghton.

The legend of the Brown Lady of Raynham Hall emerged several decades after Dorothy's death. According to the legend, Dorothy's ghost haunts the halls of Raynham Hall, wearing a brown dress and a veil over her face. The ghost has been reportedly seen by numerous witnesses over the years, including Captain Frederick Marryat in 1836.

While there is no concrete evidence to support the idea that Dorothy Walpole's ghost haunts Raynham Hall, her tragic life and untimely death have contributed to the enduring fascination with the legend of the Brown Lady.

The first recorded sighting of the Brown Lady took place in 1835 during a Christmas party at Raynham Hall. Lucia C. Stone, a witness to the ghostly encounter, recounted the chilling experience. Stone and other guests, including Colonel Loftus and Hawkins, reported seeing the apparition dressed in an antiquated brown gown, haunting the hallways. Loftus, in particular, claimed to have been captivated by the ghost's hauntingly empty eye sockets, which contrasted sharply with her luminous countenance. This sighting caused several staff members to leave Raynham Hall, frightened by the supernatural presence they had witnessed.

In 1836, Captain Frederick Marryat, a renowned author and close friend of Charles Dickens, had his own chilling encounter with the Brown Lady. Marryat, determined to debunk the tales of ghosts and attribute them to smugglers, volunteered to spend a night in Raynham Hall's most haunted room. However, his experience took an unexpected turn. Marryat, armed with a loaded revolver under his pillow, initially saw no sign of the apparition. On the third night, as he prepared for bed, Marryat was joined by two of the baronet's cousins who requested his opinion on a newly acquired firearm. Laughingly, Marryat jokingly remarked, "In case you meet the Brown Lady," as they set off together.

As the trio made their way down the dimly lit hallway, they noticed a faint glow emanating from the other end. The young Townshends whispered to Marryat that one of the ladies must be visiting the nurseries. Seeking to avoid an awkward encounter, Marryat slipped into one of the rooms, followed by his companions, concealing themselves until the lady passed by. Peering through the crack in the door, Marryat observed the figure drawing nearer, gradually discerning the details of her attire, which resembled the famous painting of the Brown Lady. Marryat, finger poised on the trigger, prepared to confront the intruder when she abruptly stopped in front of the very door behind which he hid. The ghost held up a lit lamp, a sinister grin etched upon her face. Overwhelmed by anger, Marryat burst out of hiding, firing his pistol directly at the apparition. The ghost vanished instantly, while the bullet pierced through the outer door and into the panel of the inner door. From that night on, Marryat never dared to cross paths with the Brown Lady of Raynham again.

Captain Frederick Marryat, who was a naval officer and a popular author in the 19th century, visited Raynham Hall in 1836. He was skeptical of the ghostly stories surrounding the house and wanted to investigate them himself. Marryat, along with two other companions, stayed in the house for several days and nights, but nothing unusual happened.

However, on the fourth night of his stay, Marryat encountered the Brown Lady. He saw her floating down the corridor and approaching his room. Despite his skepticism, Marryat was terrified and fled from the room. He later recounted his experience to Charles Dickens, who used it as inspiration for his novel "The Haunted Man."

…he took possession of the room in which the portrait of the apparition hung, and in which she had been often seen, and slept each night with a loaded revolver under his pillow. For two days, however, he saw nothing, and the third was to be the limit of his stay. On the third night, however, two young men (nephews of the baronet), knocked at his door as he was undressing to go to bed, and asked him to step over to their room (which was at the other end of the corridor), and give them his opinion on a new gun just arrived from London. My father was in his shirt and trousers, but as the hour was late, and everybody had retired to rest except themselves, he prepared to accompany them as he was. As they were leaving the room, he caught up his revolver, “in case you meet the Brown Lady,” he said, laughing. When the inspection of the gun was over, the young men in the same spirit declared they would accompany my father back again, “in case you meet the Brown Lady,” they repeated, laughing also. The three gentlemen therefore returned in company.

The corridor was long and dark, for the lights had been extinguished, but as they reached the middle of it, they saw the glimmer of a lamp coming towards them from the other end. “One of the ladies going to visit the nurseries,” whispered the young Townshends to my father. Now the bedroom doors in that corridor faced each other, and each room had a double door with a space between, as is the case in many old-fashioned houses. My father, as I have said, was in shirt and trousers only, and his native modesty made him feel uncomfortable, so he slipped within one of the outer doors (his friends following his example), in order to conceal himself until the lady should have passed by.

I have heard him describe how he watched her approaching nearer and nearer, through the chink of the door, until, as she was close enough for him to distinguish the colors and style of her costume, he recognised the figure as the facsimile of the portrait of “The Brown Lady”. He had his finger on the trigger of his revolver, and was about to demand it to stop and give the reason for its presence there, when the figure halted of its own accord before the door behind which he stood, and holding the lighted lamp she carried to her features, grinned in a malicious and diabolical manner at him. This act so infuriated my father, who was anything but lamb-like in disposition, that he sprang into the corridor with a bound, and discharged the revolver right in her face. The figure instantly disappeared - the figure at which for several minutes three men had been looking together – and the bullet passed through the outer door of the room on the opposite side of the corridor, and lodged in the panel of the inner one. My father never attempted again to interfere with "The Brown Lady of Raynham".^[4]

Harry Price, a famous paranormal researcher who investigated the haunting of Raynham Hall in 1936, almost a century after Marryat's encounter believed believed that the Brown Lady and other ghostly apparitions at Raynham Hall were actually the work of smugglers who used the house as a base for their illegal activities. He speculated that the smugglers used trickery and illusions to scare people away from the house and avoid detection.

However, Price's theory has been widely criticized and dismissed by paranormal researchers and historians. There is no historical evidence to support the idea that Raynham Hall was ever used as a base for smuggling activities, and the ghostly sightings at the house date back to long before the era of smuggling.

In fact, the legend of the Brown Lady predates the 19th century and was already a well-known ghost story by the time Marryat visited Raynham Hall in 1836.

Marryat's encounter with the Brown Lady is often cited as one of the most credible sightings of the ghost. His reputation as a respected naval officer and author lent credibility to his account, and his initial skepticism made it all the more convincing.

Lady Townshend, the wife of the then-owner of Raynham Hall, claimed that the last sighting of the Brown Lady occurred in 1926 when her son and his friend spotted the ghost on the grand staircase. Their description of the ethereal figure perfectly matched the portrait of Lady Dorothy Walpole displayed in the haunted room at the time. Since Marryat's encounter, the number of reported sightings has diminished, and some believe the Brown Lady now roams the nearby Houghton Hall and Sandringham House, extending her spectral presence to new locations.

The fame and notoriety of the Brown Lady reached its pinnacle in 1936 when Captain Hubert C. Provand, a photographer working for Country Life magazine, captured a remarkable image of the ghostly

apparition. Alongside his assistant, Indre Shira, Provand was conducting a photo shoot at Raynham Hall when they claim to have witnessed the gradual materialization of a vaporous form resembling a woman descending the staircase. Shira swiftly removed the lens cap, while Provand, responding to his assistant's urgent gesture, triggered the flash. When the negative was developed, the world was introduced to the now-famous photograph of the Brown Lady. The eerie image, along with the eyewitness account of the encounter, was published in Country Life magazine in December 1936, captivating readers' imaginations and sparking a renewed interest in the haunting of Raynham Hall.

Naturally, skeptics emerged, questioning the authenticity of the photograph. Some suggested that Shira may have tampered with the lens by applying grease or similar substances to create the illusion of a figure. Others proposed that accidental double exposure or light leakage within the camera could have produced the ethereal image. Notably,

Finally, critics pointed out that the woman's face bore a striking resemblance to statues of the Virgin Mary found in Catholic churches, highlighting similarities in pose, lighting, and the platform upon which the apparition stood.

While debates surrounding the legitimacy of the Brown Lady photograph continue, her haunting presence at Raynham Hall remains embedded in the annals of paranormal lore. Whether the tale of the Brown Lady is a chilling testament to the afterlife or a blend of legend and human imagination, her enigmatic story continues to captivate those drawn to the mysteries of the supernatural.

The Haunting of conneticut

 The Haunting in Connecticut: A True Story

When you click the play button to start watching a movie, you see the four words "based on a true story." You first have reservations. How could someone genuinely experience something so horrible and paranormal? How much of it is genuinely factual, and how much of it is fiction created for amusement? You wouldn't be the only person to doubt the veracity of this movie. Because the family involved in this occurrence reportedly remained in the eerie house for two years after the hauntings, and because their accounts frequently diverged, many people have questioned how trustworthy they were to news organizations and reporters. Let's start at the beginning before delving further into this. 

Carmen and Allen Snedeker, their three boys, their daughter, and two nieces move into a house in Southington, Connecticut, at the start of this tale. After learning that the eldest Snedeker kid had Hodgkin's lymphoma, the family decided to relocate to Connecticut to be closer to his doctors and save money. They had no idea that the house they had hired had originally been a funeral home, with the equipment and bloodied furnishings still in one of the basement rooms. 

The Snedeker's moved into the house despite learning of this horrific and depressing modification. Many people think they decided to remain because it was more cost-effective to do so than to acquire a new home large enough to accommodate everyone while yet being affordable. 

The mother first noticed objects disappearing from various parts of the house, which was when strange things at the house began to happen. Then the kids began to mention unexpected visitors to their house, notably a man with long black hair. The oldest son then underwent a dramatic personality change, complete with violet outbursts. He suddenly attacked members of the family and didn't appear to be himself. He had schizophrenia, according to doctors, but his family wasn't convinced. They thought that the atmosphere and the spirits in the house were to blame for his bizarre and frightful behavior. The parents' accusation that they had been "raped and sodomized" by something in the house was probably the oddest incident the family reported. People assumed that the family's experiences were all made up because, as I indicated earlier, they didn't understand why they would stay at a place where they had gone through such horrific things. The family continued to live there for two more years. 

The family invited two paranormal investigators to help them purge their house of the evil inside it when things didn't improve in the house. 

Lorraine Warren and Ed

Ed and Lorraine Warren were a contentious Connecticut-based team of self-taught paranormal investigators. Lorraine was the medium and clairvoyant, while Ed was the demonologist, lecturer, and author. The Haunting in Connecticut inquiry was joined by Ed and Lorraine, who stayed in the house for weeks to have the "full demonic experience." They concluded that the morticians who worked in the house when it was a funeral parlor engaged in necromancy and had "infused the home with a deep evil." To banish the evil and make the house safe for the family to return to, the Warrens executed an exorcism. 

Dispute the Story

Let's go back to the prior discussion. Many people who were familiar with the Snedeker family's narrative expressed skepticism regarding what actually took place in their home. First off, the home's proprietors categorically denied the allegation, insisting that it had never been a funeral home or been haunted by malevolent spirits. This one is simple to debunk because it doesn't make sense for rental property owners to support a tale that deters potential tenants from renting their property. Later, as author Ray Garton was working on his book In a Dark Place, he observed that the family's accounts did not match up as he was interviewing Ed and Lorraine Warren and the Snedeker family. When he told Ed about the issue, Ed reportedly responded, "Oh, they're insane... You already know a portion of the plot; use what works and make up the rest. Just invent something terrifying. It is odd that Ed would tell this person to fabricate parts of the accusation rather than making an effort to clarify the facts. 

Despite efforts to disprove this tale, many book and movie fans continue to hold the belief that what happened to the Snedeker family was a true story. Whether you want to believe the Snedeker's or not, it is still a terrifying movie that will entertain horror enthusiasts of all kinds. 

Three hours after moving into a new house, this should be at the top of your list of things you don't want to hear your teen say: "Mom, this house is evil." Right away, we had to leave this place.

One day, Carmen Reed would regret not taking her son's counsel. Exactly, she remarked.

), a surprise smash film, was inspired by the time she and her family spent at the eerie old house on Meriden Avenue in Southington, Connecticut, many years later.

In the 1980s, Reed's family lived in a former funeral home for two years while her son had cancer treatment at a local clinic. "It has been very emotional for me seeing that time in my life play out on the big screen," said Reed.

The Black Man With Long Hair

When Reed, her then-husband, her three children, and her two nieces resided in the house, she claimed that they occasionally experienced a malicious presence that would slap, grope, threaten, or generally terrify the hell out of them.

It started the evening they moved in. According to Reid, "my son started seeing this young man with long black hair down to his hips." He would regularly communicate with my son. He would threaten him occasionally, but other times, he would simply stand there and mention his name, which was enough to frighten him.

Phillip's cancer underwent treatment and entered a full remission. However, when he started insisting that someone or something was attempting to speak with him, medical professionals gave him a schizophrenia diagnosis.

Reed recalled seeing her son begin to tease her family members, such as trapping his younger sibling in a chest, and then quickly forgetting about it. He stopped hearing voices as soon as mom sent him to live with family, she claimed.

Reed asserted that once Phillip left the house, the evil spirits focused on her 18-year-old niece. "Aunt Carmen, can you feel it coming?" my niece asked me one night. Reed claimed that in dread, her niece clutched to her. She remarked, "I peeled her back, and I saw the impression of a hand going up under her nightgown.

According to Reed, "That is when I knew for sure that what I was dealing with was supernatural."

The local archbishop, her parish priest, and numerous paranormal specialists were all called by Reed. According to paranormal phenomenon researcher John Zaffis, "the other cases I had been involved with were like dealing with Casper the Friendly Ghost compared to that house." Zaffis claimed to have witnessed a ghost descend the main stairs one particularly memorable summer night and ask him, "Do you know what they did to us?"

told PEOPLE, "All I wanted to do was get my car keys and get the hell out of that house."

A re-exorcism?

Two priests reportedly went to the house but fled after getting scared, according to Reed and Zaffis. After a three-hour exorcism, a third, whom they did not name, was ultimately able to permanently purge the house of its evil, according to Reed. (However, the neighborhood Roman Catholic archbishop claimed no legal exorcism was performed at the property, according to a 1992 Hartford Courant report.)

The members of Reed's family claimed to have all developed a sensitivity to paranormal energies as a result of their stay in the eerie Connecticut home. They benefit from it occasionally, Reed added. "I sold real estate for a while," she admitted. You can guarantee it was because I knew it was haunted if I wouldn't sell you a house.

The Snedeker family rented an old property in Southington, Connecticut, in 1986, and their experience is chronicled in the recent movie "The Haunting in Connecticut." With their daughter and their three young sons, Allen and Carmen Snedeker moved in. While investigating their new house, Carmen discovered some odd stuff in the basement: morticians' gear.

The family soon learned, to their dismay, that their house had once been a morgue, and the eldest son started having horrific visions and ghostly encounters. The events spread to other family members and worsened: Carmen's water one day while mopping the kitchen floor became blood crimson and smelled like decomposing flesh; both of her parents said they were raped and sodomized by demons.

When Ed and Lorraine Warren, two self-described "demonologists" and "ghost hunters," arrived and claimed the Snedeker home was possessed by demons, the family finally contacted them.

The scariest aspect? All of it is apparently true.

Numerous times, including on national talk shows and in a Discovery Channel TV program, the Snedekers have shared their experience. The top of the movie's poster declares in capital letters that the film is "based on true events." Some people aren't sure, though.

The landlady of the Snedeker thought the entire tale was ludicrous, according to investigator Joe Nickell's article in the May/June issue of Skeptical Inquirer. She mentioned that the Snedeker family lived in the home for more than two years before deciding to leave, and that no one else had ever before or since seen anything strange there.

Evidently, being beaten and sexually assaulted by Satan's minions for weeks on end wasn't sufficient enough for breaking the contract.

In a Dark Place: The Story of a True Haunting, written by horror author Ray Garton in 1992, is where the Snedeker's tale originally surfaced. Garton talked about how the "true story" behind "The Haunting in Connecticut" came to be in an interview with "Horror Bound" magazine.

Ed and Lorraine Warren hired Garton to collaborate with the Snedekers and write the authentic account of their "house from hell." All of the family members were questioned about their personal experiences, and he quickly discovered that something was wrong: "I noticed that the individual Snedekers' tales didn't exactly fit. Their narratives became jumbled. I brought this issue to Ed. He said, "Oh, they're crazy." You already have part of the story; use what works and make up the rest, says the teacher. Make something up, and make it scary.

Garton did what he was instructed: "I used what I could, made up the rest, and tried to make it as scary as I could." He had accepted the job expecting to have an actual "true story" to base the book on.

Even though the Snedekers stand by their account, it appears that there is little to no evidence to support any paranormal activity at the house. The Snedekers stood to profit financially from the book contract whether or not they genuinely believed their own account. They knew that the Lutz family, from Amityville, New York, had made a tidy profit from selling the rights to their "true story" of a haunted mansion. Investigator Ric Osuna and others have long since disproved "The Amityville Horror" as a myth. The Warrens had an interesting connection to the Amityville case.

Fiction misrepresented as memoir or true tale is nothing new, as seen by James Frey's bestselling novel "A Million Little Pieces" and William Peter Blatty's "The Exorcist" book and movie. Moviemakers have a long history of claiming that their works are inspired by true events when in reality they have little to no link to any actual occurrences.

The movie "The Haunting in Connecticut," according to Garton, "will probably start with the words: 'Based on a true story.'" Beware of anything that starts with this sentence or any version of it since it's definitely trying a little too hard to convince you of something that isn't true.