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Michigan Hauntings
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NEW POSTING
This story is to be re-enacted on "The Discovery Channel", on
a series called; "A Haunting" sometime this fall.
The Story Introduction
This is a true story about a haunted house I lived in about 30 years
ago. In Standish, Mi. I was only 22 yrs old when I moved into this, very
innocent looking, but very haunted house. After moving in, sometime
later I had opened doors I could not close. I was to find out I had
awoken the spirits that inhabited a, Native American Indian grave site
under the house. My life turned into a nightmare that would escalate
into a battle between good & evil for many months to come. I then
called upon a professional "White Witch", to help me combat
the spirits of darkness that were hounding my life nightly. When you
read the whole story behind "The House On Church Street", I
believe you will draw the same conclusion, there was a very strong force
drawing me into the world of the supernatural and drawing me to my
"My Destiny.....!"
The History Behind "The House On Church Street"
Many years ago, my dad purchased an old house that was estimated to be
about 100 years old. While digging underneath the house in preparation
to level it with jacks, he stumbled upon some bones. After a little
thought and some dismay, he determined that the bones appeared to be in
human form. He was very upset and dumbfounded by this discovery. Still
in shock and disbelief, he turned the bones over to an unknown official
to be tested. Later, he was told that the bones had been from the body
of a Native American and that there could be more bones under the house.
They believed that my dad may have discovered a Native American burial
ground. At that time no one seemed concerned, as Michigan was known to
have Native American burial sites state-wide. My dad did not wish to
disturb the burial ground any more than he already had. He placed the
bones back under the house and buried them in the same spot he had found
them. He did not continue to investigate, hoping he had not disturbed
any Spirits that were at rest or protecting the burial ground. It was a
well known fact that many burial grounds in the state of Michigan were
thought to have had curses placed on them by the Native Americans years
ago for protection against intruders. While researching for my book
years later, I searched for a reason for the horrifying intensity of my
encounter with the supernatural. I began to collect as much data as I
could find. At the local area Pinconning Library, I discovered an
interesting book about the area’s Native American villages. The Arenac
County historian at the time was Calvin Ennes, the author of the
document titled History of Arenac County, Michigan. The document is a
200-year genealogy of the Arenac County glossary of several Native
Americans. This placed several tribes somewhere within the towns of
Sterling and Augres and the city of Standish over many hundred years,
although their exact location was unknown. The water shoreline at that
time would have brought some of their villages into the city of Standish
today.
This story is now a published book that is sold nation wide over the
internet through many book dealers, as well as in your local book
stores; Walden’s, Barnes & Nobles, B-Dalton books and many others.
This book is now selling in the top 100-180 best sellers in the country.
Story submitted by: Randy Ervin
The Glowing Tombstones of Forest Hill Cemetery ~ Evart,MI. ~
Osceola county
When Jim Crees,Evart Review newspaper editor, investigated the glowing
tombstones in July,1998 he could not find any obvious source for the
lights that could be easily seen in the cemetery at night. Certain
tombstones would shine with a "phosphoresent shimmer"! The
reporter's weeks of checking,observation,triangulation,charting of
angles and other tests have yet to come up with a reasonable explanation
for the phenomenon. Back in the late 1800's,when
the Flint and Pere Marquette railroad was under construction, a man
named Guido Bandura (according to the Tustin Times and the Evart Review)
was employed as the cook for the crew of rail workers. He lit lanterns
along the path from the railbed to the cook's shanty for the men to find
their way when returning from town. During a scuffle in town his
son,Marco was pushed into the Muskegon River. Upon hearing this,Guido
dove in after Marco and neither were seen again. In a 1933 edition of
the Evart Review the now familiar Ghost lights were mentioned,as local
residents believed then that Guido continued his practice of lighting
the way for the rail crew. Could this tale explain the phenomenon
occuring to this day in Forest Hill Cemetery? You decide!!
Info courtesy of:
White Gables Bed and Breakfast, Evart,MI. 49631
&
The Shadowlands ghosts and hauntings
Contributed by Dave at Michigan
Hauntings Investigations
Oak Hill Cemetery ~ Battle Creek, Michigan ~ Calhoun County
Home of Crying Mary. The tale of the statue of the Virgin
Mary has been told here for more than 60 years. It is said that every
Sunday night in the cemetery, around midnight, the statue can be seen
crying. Legend or fact? This tale just won't go
away. You decide!
Contributed by Dave at Michigan
Hauntings Investigations
Huron High School ~ Ann Arbor, Michigan ~ Washtenaw County
In the late 70's, a student named Mary was said to fall to her death
from the catwalk above the stage floor of the Huron High School
theater. She can still be seen walking the catwalk in her
light pink dress! A wall in the prop room where the senior
thespians spray paint their names is Marys name, 17 feet above the floor
and upside down! Some people just can't give up the
spotlight!
Contributed by Dave at Michigan
Hauntings Investigations
Historical White Horse Inn ~ Metamore, Michigan
The White Horse Inn was established in 1850 by Lorenzo Hoard (1816-1888)
in the sleepy town of Metamora, which was then described as "a
beautiful little town in the spring and summer, being blessed with an
abundance of large, shady maple trees." Lorenzo purchased the
existing village store, once a stagecoach stop. The stagecoach period
ended around 1910.
Soon the village store was expanded and refitted it as the Hoard House.
The Hoard House functioned as an inn and restaurant charging 50 cents to
overnight guests.
The late Gilbert Olds bought the inn about 1917 for $2,200 and kept it
until 1922 or 1923. He was remembered by the villagers for going around
without wearing shoes.
Frank Peters, owned the inn during most of the Prohibition Era. He made
the White Horse a financial success by promoting breakfast specials. It
was Mr. Peters who changed the name from the Hoard House to the White
Horse.
The "big event" of daily life during that period was when the
passenger train's whistle would blow. Once the villagers heard that
6:10pm whistle the town would seem to "come alive". Everyone
would go to the train depot to see who would board and also come off the
train, watch them unload milk cans and they would follow the mail up to
the Post Office and sit around visiting and waiting for their mail to be
distributed.
After the mail, they would go down to the White Horse Inn, sit in the
captain's chairs and talk until bedtime.
The History of the White Horse includes the names of some of the
earliest pioneers. Daniel Ammerman built the Inn in 1850. After several
changes of ownership, it passed to the Hoard family. By 1858 Hoard was
paying $50 a year in taxes on the Inn.
About 1872, the Michigan Central Railroad built its line through
Metamora and Hoard received a franchise to feed and house overnight
passengers. By 1874, Metamora had 271 residents.
The Hoard House was listed in the 1876 Atlas of Lapeer County as having
"good accommodations for travelers. Feed and stabling for
horses."
Lorenzo Hoard died in 1888. Family managed the Hoard House until it was
sold in 1906 to William Detter and Samuel Miller. This partnership
presented the sale of liquor to their customers.
Since 1906 the White Horse Inn has passed through over a dozen owners
hands. All committed in keeping the first building erected in Metamora
in tact. A portion of the town's early wooden sidewalk still remains as
part of the Tavern room floor. Today it is owned by restaurateur Tim
Wilkins who added Historic to the Inn's title. Trading his years of
experience in the metropolitan Detroit restaurant industry for the
challenge of maintaining a 155 year old local tradition. It is still
family run. At his side is his wife Lisa and daughters Jennifer and
Ashley. Over the years, the building has been enlarged and modernized
while maintaining it's country and historic charm. The Wilkins Family
believes that with 155 years of changes, some things remain the same:
our commitment to the community, good food, a lot of it, and often
returning friends.
Ghost Lorenzo Makes Frequent Appearances Since Tim & Lisa Wilkins
purchased the Historic White Horse Inn two years ago, the restaurant has
been full of activity, not only with business but also with the
paranormal. Tim Wilkins explains, “When we bought the restaurant local
residents and staff kept asking me ‘Have you met Lorenzo?’ I have to
say for the first 6 months, I was skeptical. I tried to explain
occurrences away, because I have never been much of a supernatural
believer. At least not until now.”
Although, the restaurant has had the reputation for being haunted for a
long time it was in Wilkins first year of ownership that Tim not only
believes the White Horse is haunted, but also accepts it. “Lorenzo is
a friendly ghost. He lives peacefully upstairs and visits when we have
entertainment and when customers are the liveliest. We think he likes to
dance.”
The White Horse Inn is a two -story building. The upstairs level has a
number of private party rooms and offices and downstairs is the
restaurant and tavern. A pair of antique riding boots that are rumored
to be Lorenzo’s, are always positioned at the top of the stairs. It is
believed that Lorenzo puts on his riding boots every once in a while to
walk the halls and roam the village. Not only are the boots found moved
from their home position, but staff also has reported hearing footsteps
in empty rooms. It is also common for upstairs doors that are shut at
closing to be found open in the morning.
Lorenzo also turns up once in a while as an image in an antique mirror
at the end of a long dark hallway. At the end of this hallway is a
storage room. So as you are walking to the room, you see yourself
walking towards the mirror. It has been reported by staff to not only
see a friendly image in the mirror standing behind them, but also the
feeling that they are not alone.
Lorenzo is known to have fun and play games. At times, the lights will
flicker for no apparent reason. Tim explains, “This is a 156-year old
building. When we are hit with bad weather, our power is not affected.
But on a sunny day or calm starry evening our lights will flicker. It
doesn’t make any sense to me, but we have fun with Lorenzo. Typically
when unusual things happen around here staff and customers will welcome
his presence with a friendly “Hey Lorenzo!”
Lorenzo Hoard (1816-1888) bought the White Horse Inn in 1850. It was a
time of horse drawn transportation, farmers bring produce to town to be
ground or shipped and women bringing their butter and eggs to be traded
or sold to the merchants. Lorenzo purchased an existing village store,
once a stagecoach stop, and expanded and refitted it as the Hoard House,
now known as the White Horse Inn. The Hoard House functioned as an inn
and restaurant charging 50 cents to overnight guests. Over the 156 years
a number of White Horse owners have come and gone, Lorenzo has decided
to stay. Wilkins added, “ I think he enjoys being around the energy of
the staff and customers. I like to believe he stays around to ensure
that I maintain the historical charm of White Horse Inn and the Village
of Metamora. Lorenzo likes to keep an eye on me.”
Over the years the building has been enlarged and modernized while
maintaining it’s historical country charm. Wilkins adds, “With 156
years of changes, we would like to think that some things remain the
same: our commitment to the community, great food (a lot of it), and
returning friends”.
The Historic White Horse Inn is located at the corner of Oak and High
Street (Dryden Road) in downtown Metamora, one mile east of Lapeer off
(M-24) and seven miles west of Rochester Road. Live entertainment every
Saturday night beginning at 7:30pm. Hours are Monday thru Thursday from
11:30am to 9:00pm. Friday and Saturday 11:30am to 10:00pm. Sunday dinner
is served from 11:30am to 8pm. Dinner reservations are recommended.
Private party rooms are available. Off premise custom catering to homes
and businesses is also offered. For more information call the Historic
White Horse Inn at (810) 678-2150.
This story brought to our attention by Carol Yunkes. Full story courtesy
of Historic
White Horse Inn
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