A few years ago, my friends Courtney and Whitley and I went down to a place called Crybaby Hollow (or Holler, if you're a true Ozarkian) near Crocker, Missouri. We’d heard the legend that years ago, a young mother had lost her baby in the hollow during a storm, and could hear it crying, but couldn’t find it. Some say to this day you can still hear the baby’s cries if you stop along the road that passes through the hollow. Others say that if you stop your car in the hollow, small handprints show up on your windshield. Needless to say, we were psyched to check the place out.
Near the hollow, my friend Whitley’s grandparents have some land, and on it is an old house. Whitley told Courtney and me that creepy things had been known to happen in the house and surrounding area, like people repeatedly seeing and hearing a little girl, and a guy had been found dead in a nearby cave.
When we made it out to Crocker, Whitley’s grandpa told us stories of his experiences with the paranormal, and led us just before dusk down to the old house. We walked within maybe 300 yards of it, and her grandpa told us he would go no further, which took us by surprise. He made his way back to his own house after wishing us luck and telling us to be careful and not do anything stupid.
We approached the house, and it was in much worse condition than I had expected. It was dilapidated, and the roof looked about to fall in. In the nearby woods, the trees looked ominous, and daffodils were blooming. The whole place looked eerie at best.
We took pictures with our disposable cameras and explored the grounds as dusk fell. We pulled out our flashlights, including a crank light, and kept exploring. At one point, most of our flashlights died, even the crank light, while Whitley was cranking it. Thus, we decided to get the heck out of there. Once we were several feet away from the house, our lights worked again.
As we headed home, we stopped Whitley's Saturn in the hollow, and she shut off the engine. We sat almost motionless. We heard nothing. But when we got back home to Lebanon, it looked like there were a couple of small almost hand-looking prints on the back glass of the car....seriously.
Just a few weekends ago, Whitley and I were visiting, and she showed me for the first time the pictures from Crybaby Hollow. She had gotten them developed finally, after nearly four years. Before she showed me one picture in particular, she asked, “None of us went into the woods, right?” Of course we hadn’t; we were too chicken. Sure, we had taken pictures of the eerie trees, but certainly hadn’t gone very near them. This picture was of the trees, but there was a glowing figure in the photo as well. It looked like a blue-white shoulder and head peeking out from behind a tree. I was immediately intrigued and petrified.
Needless to say, I want to venture back to the Hollow, just to see what will happen. But, I’m kind of glad I never developed my photos from our excursion.
Just a sidenote: Once I get a copy of the pic, I'll definitely post it!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
My big break! Hopefully...
This weekend, I found myself watching the most recent episode of Ghost Hunters as I put off my homework. As I watched Jason, Grant, and the crew investigate a Titanic exhibit in Georgia (I think it was Georgia, at least….) I noticed an advertisement at the bottom of the screen.
I immediately started screaming when I saw what it said, which was something to the effect of “Apply online to be a part of the next Ghost Hunters crew.” I literally ran to my computer and logged on to the Sci Fi channel's GH website and tracked down the scoop.
Apparently, the producers are looking for new ghost hunters to be in a series called Ghost Hunters: Next Generation. Sign me up!
I quickly and eagerly sent in my application, and am now crossing my fingers! I know they’re probably going to receive about a billion applications, and my chances are slim to none, but I’m still hoping that they’ll pick me! A girl can dream, right?
My ghost hunting mentors, Grant and Jason.
I immediately started screaming when I saw what it said, which was something to the effect of “Apply online to be a part of the next Ghost Hunters crew.” I literally ran to my computer and logged on to the Sci Fi channel's GH website and tracked down the scoop.
Apparently, the producers are looking for new ghost hunters to be in a series called Ghost Hunters: Next Generation. Sign me up!
I quickly and eagerly sent in my application, and am now crossing my fingers! I know they’re probably going to receive about a billion applications, and my chances are slim to none, but I’m still hoping that they’ll pick me! A girl can dream, right?
My ghost hunting mentors, Grant and Jason.Monday, April 13, 2009
Making grey jumpsuits kinda cool
Believe it or not, I watched Ghostbusters for the first time ever this weekend. I’m not sure how a girl born in the 80s and interested in the paranormal made it two decades without watching this film, but I did.
Many factors make this 1984 movie oh-so-memorable, and it’s impossible to pinpoint only one. First, there is the comedy of Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. The premise of parapsychologists losing their university grant and opening a ghost-disposal business opens a world of possibility for humor, which Murray and Aykroyd take full advantage of. Murray’s deadpan humor as Dr. Peter Venkman is perfection, and Aykroyd is a lovably goofy Dr. Ray Stantz.
Then, of course, there is the theme song. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, I guarantee you can answer the following question: “Who ya gonna call?”
Directed by Ivan Reitman and written by two of the movie’s stars, Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, this movie definitely has some memorable scenes. My faves include the sighting of the blobbish green ghost snacking on the food on a room service cart, and the part where the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man is walking Godzilla-like down a Manhattan street. Of course the special effects--like the beams from the proton packs and the food-guzzling green ghost--look amazingly cheesy by today’s standards, but were cutting edge a couple decades ago.
Of course there are also a few objects that will forever be linked in my mind with the film, especially the grey jumpsuit/proton pack ensemble, white hearse-turned-ghostbusting vehicle, and the Ghostbusters logo (the red circle and slash, with the white ghost in the middle).
So, this movie doesn’t portray paranormal investigation realistically. Although it would be cool if I really could get a hold of a proton pack to capture ghosties…. But since the villain turns out to be a gigantic Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, this film is great in my book!
Many factors make this 1984 movie oh-so-memorable, and it’s impossible to pinpoint only one. First, there is the comedy of Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. The premise of parapsychologists losing their university grant and opening a ghost-disposal business opens a world of possibility for humor, which Murray and Aykroyd take full advantage of. Murray’s deadpan humor as Dr. Peter Venkman is perfection, and Aykroyd is a lovably goofy Dr. Ray Stantz.
Then, of course, there is the theme song. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, I guarantee you can answer the following question: “Who ya gonna call?”
Directed by Ivan Reitman and written by two of the movie’s stars, Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, this movie definitely has some memorable scenes. My faves include the sighting of the blobbish green ghost snacking on the food on a room service cart, and the part where the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man is walking Godzilla-like down a Manhattan street. Of course the special effects--like the beams from the proton packs and the food-guzzling green ghost--look amazingly cheesy by today’s standards, but were cutting edge a couple decades ago.
Of course there are also a few objects that will forever be linked in my mind with the film, especially the grey jumpsuit/proton pack ensemble, white hearse-turned-ghostbusting vehicle, and the Ghostbusters logo (the red circle and slash, with the white ghost in the middle).
So, this movie doesn’t portray paranormal investigation realistically. Although it would be cool if I really could get a hold of a proton pack to capture ghosties…. But since the villain turns out to be a gigantic Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, this film is great in my book!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Leaving a light on
Joplin, Missouri has some claims to fame. It’s been mentioned in the script of The Music Man, on The Beverly Hillbillies, and it’s the filming location for Trick My Truck.
But it’s also been home to a unique legend for more than a century.
Now known as the Joplin Spook Light, a small “ball of fire” was first spotted by Indians traveling the Trail of Tears in 1836. In 1881, a publication titled The Ozark Spook Light made the first “official” report.
The Spook Light is still reportedly seen to this day, and is often described as an orange glowing ball ranging from the size of a baseball to the size of a basketball. It is said to spin or dance down the center of the road, hover above treetops, and then retreat. Others have said it appears to swing side to side, like a lantern being carried. Locals say that the time between 10 p.m. and midnight is prime Spook Light viewing time.
The light is said to be seen along a four-mile stretch of gravel road called Devil’s Promenade by many locals. Although it’s most widely known as the Joplin Spook Light, other nearby communities also lay claim to the enigma. Some in Quapaw, Oklahoma have claimed to have seen the light. The light is also known as the Hornet Spook Light; Hornet is a small community near Joplin.
For years, people have been trying to find out just what the Spook Light really is. Countless paranormal investigators, scientists, and even curious locals have gathered on the gravel road near Hornet to try to catch a glimpse. Even the Army Corps of Engineers has tried to find an explanation for the mysterious light.
Some theories have been presented to attempt to explain the light’s origin, such as escaping natural gas, reflections of car lights, and even rotting organic matter. Even atmospheric electrical charges have been offered as an explanation.
But local legends were used to explain the light years ago. One of the oldest legends tells of a Quapaw Indian woman who fell in love with a brave, but her father wouldn’t let her marry him. The two eloped, but were followed by warriors. They joined hands above the Spring River and leaped to their deaths. Legend has it that shortly after this event, the light began appearing, and was attributed to the lovers’ spirits.
Needless to say, I find the Spook Light incredibly interesting, and about a year and a half ago, I set out with a friend to try and catch a glimpse. We traveled all the way to Joplin, with directions we printed off the internet.
We eventually were led past the tiny town of Hornet, and to the four-mile stretch of road where the light is usually seen. We parked at a dip in the road, because our directions told us that was the best kind of place to see the light.
We quickly realized that we weren’t the only ones looking for the light. I guess I expected a desolate gravel road, with only my car searching for the Spook Light. But that’s not what we got. There were cars parked along both sides of the road, people standing out in the October chill with binoculars, and little kids running around with flashlights. A couple of times, I thought for a moment I saw something, but it was just a car coming over a hill maybe a mile away.
Although I didn’t get to actually see the Spook Light, I don’t think I can count it out as swamp gas or something. And I really want to get back out to Joplin and try spotting the Spook Light again sometime soon. If you’re ever in the area, it could be a fun adventure, and you can decide for yourself what the Spook Light might be.
But it’s also been home to a unique legend for more than a century.
Now known as the Joplin Spook Light, a small “ball of fire” was first spotted by Indians traveling the Trail of Tears in 1836. In 1881, a publication titled The Ozark Spook Light made the first “official” report.
The Spook Light is still reportedly seen to this day, and is often described as an orange glowing ball ranging from the size of a baseball to the size of a basketball. It is said to spin or dance down the center of the road, hover above treetops, and then retreat. Others have said it appears to swing side to side, like a lantern being carried. Locals say that the time between 10 p.m. and midnight is prime Spook Light viewing time.
The light is said to be seen along a four-mile stretch of gravel road called Devil’s Promenade by many locals. Although it’s most widely known as the Joplin Spook Light, other nearby communities also lay claim to the enigma. Some in Quapaw, Oklahoma have claimed to have seen the light. The light is also known as the Hornet Spook Light; Hornet is a small community near Joplin.
For years, people have been trying to find out just what the Spook Light really is. Countless paranormal investigators, scientists, and even curious locals have gathered on the gravel road near Hornet to try to catch a glimpse. Even the Army Corps of Engineers has tried to find an explanation for the mysterious light.
Some theories have been presented to attempt to explain the light’s origin, such as escaping natural gas, reflections of car lights, and even rotting organic matter. Even atmospheric electrical charges have been offered as an explanation.
But local legends were used to explain the light years ago. One of the oldest legends tells of a Quapaw Indian woman who fell in love with a brave, but her father wouldn’t let her marry him. The two eloped, but were followed by warriors. They joined hands above the Spring River and leaped to their deaths. Legend has it that shortly after this event, the light began appearing, and was attributed to the lovers’ spirits.
Needless to say, I find the Spook Light incredibly interesting, and about a year and a half ago, I set out with a friend to try and catch a glimpse. We traveled all the way to Joplin, with directions we printed off the internet.
We eventually were led past the tiny town of Hornet, and to the four-mile stretch of road where the light is usually seen. We parked at a dip in the road, because our directions told us that was the best kind of place to see the light.
We quickly realized that we weren’t the only ones looking for the light. I guess I expected a desolate gravel road, with only my car searching for the Spook Light. But that’s not what we got. There were cars parked along both sides of the road, people standing out in the October chill with binoculars, and little kids running around with flashlights. A couple of times, I thought for a moment I saw something, but it was just a car coming over a hill maybe a mile away.
Although I didn’t get to actually see the Spook Light, I don’t think I can count it out as swamp gas or something. And I really want to get back out to Joplin and try spotting the Spook Light again sometime soon. If you’re ever in the area, it could be a fun adventure, and you can decide for yourself what the Spook Light might be.
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