Haunted White House
Time for a little Halloween spirit. It's the only holiday remaining to me which hasn't been politicized, mercantilized, or otherwise -ized by some group with an agenda.
Anyone who knows me is aware that I am secular and scientific to a fault. As Churt once quipped, "mysticism makes my teeth ache." But I must confess that I have one weakness where unscientific things are concerned: haunted houses. I don't mean the fake ones with hired winos hiding in corners, trying to charge you twenty clams to scare your children. I'm talking about "real" haunted houses; old homes which are rumored to have very permanent residents. If I could find one in which to retire, (preferably Victorian or Plantation in style), I'd jump at the opportunity -- though Mrs Jar(egg)head might have a very different opinion on the matter. Even though I know intellectually there are no real ghosts, my over-active imagination could supply all the spookiness I'd ever want. The decor would be "Addams Family revival," of course! Great fun.
Anyway, the White House is apparently one of the most haunted in the country. Here's an amusing anecdote of political afterlife, though I doubt the veracity of the story; Churchill was well known for his "creative license":
Mental floss has more stories of the haunted White House here.
Anyone who knows me is aware that I am secular and scientific to a fault. As Churt once quipped, "mysticism makes my teeth ache." But I must confess that I have one weakness where unscientific things are concerned: haunted houses. I don't mean the fake ones with hired winos hiding in corners, trying to charge you twenty clams to scare your children. I'm talking about "real" haunted houses; old homes which are rumored to have very permanent residents. If I could find one in which to retire, (preferably Victorian or Plantation in style), I'd jump at the opportunity -- though Mrs Jar(egg)head might have a very different opinion on the matter. Even though I know intellectually there are no real ghosts, my over-active imagination could supply all the spookiness I'd ever want. The decor would be "Addams Family revival," of course! Great fun.
Anyway, the White House is apparently one of the most haunted in the country. Here's an amusing anecdote of political afterlife, though I doubt the veracity of the story; Churchill was well known for his "creative license":
Winston Churchill had a famous encounter with Lincoln in the Lincoln bedroom. After a hot bath with a Scotch and a cigar, Churchill climbed out of the bath naked (obviously) and went back into the bedroom to get ready for bed. To his surprise, the room was already occupied by our 16th president. Churchill managed to quip, “Good evening, Mr. President. You seem to have me at a disadvantage,” before Abe disappeared.
Mental floss has more stories of the haunted White House here.
posted by Jar(egg)head at 12:44
1 Comments:
I didn't find you a haunted house, but I found one I think you may like:
The St. Louis Exorcism House
Price: $169,900 (asking)
Location: 8435 Roanoke Drive, St. Louis, Missouri
The boy who inspired the novel (and subsequent film adaptation) The Exorcist resided at this two brick two-story brick colonial house. Father Raymond Bishop, one of several priests who exorcised the boy, kept the house out of the diary, chronicling the exorcism activities in an attempt to conceal the boy's identity as much as possible. But neighbors are sure that the house in question is The One: "Oh yeah, that's the house," said one. Gary Stafford, who as of 2005 owned the house and was attempting to sell it said, "It's certainly not something we'd need to disclose to the future buyer—that, some 50 years ago, a boy who stayed in the house may or may not have been possessed."
Since you don't believe in the big guy, when the wife starts levitating and spitting green pea soup, you can chalk it up to a bad pot pie or the coming of Gozer
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