Skip to main content

A Haunted House


I'm sure you've heard plenty of whispers around the little town that the big old house is haunted. People have seen faces peeking out from behind the partially boarded windows. They haven't been inside but I'm sure some would say with certainty that there is a constant presence inside the seemingly lifeless house.

I have been inside and I must say that I agree.

A chilly breeze causes me to hastily close up my jacket. Dust drifting down from the rafters falls upon my head, creating gray streaks in my hair. I roam from floor to floor trying to trace footsteps that suddenly disappear. It seems that I am always searching for something. I examine the floorboards, check around the fireplaces whose blazes died out years ago, sweep away cobwebs to see what the spiders have been hiding. I stare out the windows looking for clues. To be honest with you, I have no idea what I have been looking for but know with certainty that I will find it, even if it takes an eternity.

During my search I've encountered a number of strange phenomena. I've heard the most bizarre flapping noises coming from within the brick walled chimneys. I've stumbled upon a pile of bones in the basement. I've been startled by things that suddenly take flight in the attic. My favorite part of the house, the tower, has been overtaken by a plague of flies.

Despite all of this the strangest thing of all is what occurs when I peer out the windows that are no longer boarded up. I look down below and the people down on Main Street glance up. I know they are looking right at my hiding place, but for some reason it feels as if they are looking straight through me. I've been here for so long now that I would almost expect for people to be looking for me by now. Perhaps the whispers I've heard are wrong, maybe the ghost isn't in here with me. Maybe all of the ghosts are outside roaming the streets, unable to acknowledge me since they have already departed.

Happy Halloween!
-H


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Perfect: A Rant

     The F. W. Knox Villa, better known locally as the Old Hickory, has been seen by thousands of people. I’m sure many of them have only ever seen it in photos. I know some of them have never been to the United States, or never to Pennsylvania, or never to Potter County or who have never made it into the small yet charming town of Coudersport. These people have seen the house because someone thought it was worth seeing, they shared a photo.  I absolutely love that. I’m thankful for that, that so many people can see the beauty in an old house. They saw that beauty years ago when it was really not looking it’s best. I’m thankful that they saw potential like we did. I hope more people keep seeing the potential in these amazing buildings wherever they live.       There is one thing that I don’t like. The comments about our location. It’s far from everyday but I sometimes get comments that we are in a bad area because we are downtown. You might not be...

Silence

     I am aware that many of you have noticed that it has been quiet on our social media lately. I had wondered if anyone would notice the digital silence. Sometimes out of sight is out of mind but this house has a presence that is difficult to ignore. The house is not being ignored. I don’t think it would be possible for us to ignore it. I just wanted a break from all the noise that the house creates. Winter is definitely an easy time to take that break.       Due to the snowy weather and cold temperatures we can’t accomplish nearly as much in winter. This fall provided enough of a chill that my favorite activity of painting had to be put on hold earlier than usual. I was finally getting the chance to remove the blue paint which has plagued the porch for far too long. Even though we are located on Main Street it was often quiet enough to hear the tiny bristles applying paint to the house. That silence would be quickly interrupted by a generator r...

Completion Date: ????

     I have    recently gotten a lot of inquiries into our completion date for the house. This is a question that I always avoid answering. I know a lot of it simply stems from curiosity but I also feel like a small portion of it stems from doubt in us ever being able to complete such a task. I’ll be honest with you, we don’t have a completion date and the house will never be finished. This isn’t a term paper that we will submit. It’s more like a pet that we will need to care for throughout its lifespan. I guess you might not even call it a project then, you would call it a commitment. As long as we are successful with our care, one day someone else will begin the continuous task of caring for the house because it will still need someone to help it along once we are gone. The house was listed in the local newspaper as completed in May of 1880. That wasn’t really true, in that instant the paint was already starting to wear away and the shingles beginning to age. ...