Ghost Trackers Newsletter - Vol 19 No 1 - 2000 02

Magazine Overview

Title: GHOST TRACKERS NEWSLETTER
Issue: VOLUME 19, NUMBER 1
Date: February 2000
Publisher: Ghost Research Society
Editor: Dale D. Kaczmarek

This issue of the Ghost Trackers Newsletter, the official paranormal publication of the Ghost Research Society (GRS), delves into historical hauntings and paranormal accounts. It features articles on the legendary ghost of the Great Eastern ship and a comprehensive look at the reported spectral activity within The Dakota, a historic apartment building in New York City.

The Ghost of The Great Iron Ship

This article, submitted by Richard Senate, Special Consultant to the GRS, recounts the history and alleged haunting of the Great Eastern ship. Built in 1857, it was a marvel of engineering, five times larger than any ship before it, designed to carry four thousand passengers. Its construction involved over three million rivets and a double hull. During its construction, one riveter vanished and is believed to have been accidentally sealed within the double hull, leading to reports of phantom hammering sounds throughout the ship's career. Passengers and crew alike reported hearing this phantom pounding. The ship, initially named Leviathan and later The Great Eastern, faced numerous financial and operational challenges, leading some to believe it was jinxed. A significant incident involved the ship hitting a rock, later named The Great Eastern Rock, which ripped a gash in its double hull, but the ship survived due to its design. The article also notes that Jules Verne was inspired by the ship's size for his science fiction writings. The Great Eastern eventually found success as a cable-laying ship, connecting continents. In 1890, it was sold for scrap, and during its dismantling, the skeleton of the phantom riveter was reportedly found next to his rusted tools.

Spirits of the Dakota

Authored by Lee Holloway, this section explores the numerous reported hauntings and paranormal occurrences at The Dakota, a luxury apartment building in New York City, which served as the setting for Ira Levin's novel "Rosemary's Baby." The building's German Renaissance architecture, with its distinctive roofline and gargoyles, contributes to its ominous appearance.

The Undertaker's Gate and Early Hauntings

The 73rd Street entrance is known as "the undertaker's gate," opened only for residents leaving the building for the last time, suggesting a high mortality rate since its construction in 1884.

"Rosemary's Baby" and the Frankenstein Monster

The building gained notoriety when "Rosemary's Baby" was filmed there. While no devil-worshippers are known to have inhabited it, the building is considered to have "more than it share of spooks." Actor Rex Reed, a resident, was told by a doorman that Boris Karloff, famous for playing the Frankenstein monster, would "be back" and reportedly materializes on Halloween night.

Dispelling Evil and Smoke and Fire

Melissa Howard, visiting a friend at The Dakota, reported seeing the ghost of Boris Karloff. Her friend's Cuban maid performed rituals to banish evil spirits, using candles and powders. Rex Reed also experienced unsettling phenomena, including the smell of exotic pipe smoke and a fire that broke out in his locked apartment, leading him to remark, "this place really is haunted!"

The Man Who Flips His Wig

Edward Clark, the building's commissioner who died in 1882 before its completion, is said to haunt the corridors, removing his wig and shaking it at people, possibly in anger at modernizations that desecrate the building's original Victorian design.

Not Ready to Leave the Dakota

Jo Mielziner, who loved The Dakota and kept scrapbooks about it, died in a taxicab outside the building in 1976. His spirit is believed to have remained, with reports of a heavy snow shovel being flung across a basement room and a massive metal bar floating. Locked doors opening and closing and elevators moving on their own were also attributed to Mielziner's lingering presence.

The Birthday Gift

In the 1950s, workmen reported hearing a ball bouncing in a 5th-floor apartment, and saw a little blond-haired girl in a yellow dress. Shortly after this apparition, a workman fell to his death, leading others to believe the child was a harbinger of doom. Mielziner reportedly told a neighbor he had also encountered this girl.

Shades of No. 77

Apartment 77, formerly occupied by actress Judy Holliday, is considered particularly dismal and haunted. Frank Andrews, who helped prepare the apartment, described it as depressing and felt it had absorbed Holliday's pain. His friend, Norvin Malone, confirmed the unit was "definitely haunted." They reported seeing a ghost of a boy (around 9-10 years old) in old-fashioned clothing and a young man (early 20s) in Edwardian attire. Strange "vibrations" and a peculiar "outdoorsy, fresh-yet-musty odor" were also noted. Gail Smith, whose children played with a stuffed animal in the apartment, noted that the children had not played with it in their previous home, suggesting the apartment's influence.

A Rose for a Neglected Mistress

One of the oldest reported ghosts is that of a young dark-haired lady holding a red rose. She is rumored to have been the mistress of a married man in the building who did not leave his wife for her. Heartbroken, she took her own life, and her apparition appeared at the moment of her death. Her ghost is said to appear to married men who are neglecting their mistresses.

Ghost Research Society Information

The newsletter provides details about the Ghost Research Society, founded in 1978 by Martin V. Riccardo and published since 1982. It is edited by Dale D. Kaczmarek. The GRS offers various membership levels, including Regular ($20/year), Sustaining ($25/year), and Contributing ($30/year), each with different benefits such as discounts, a GRS button, and a newspaper clipping service. Back issues of the newsletter are available for purchase. The GRS actively seeks photographs, clippings, and personal encounters for publication, offering credit and a free issue to contributors. The current chain of command includes Dale D. Kaczmarek as President & Editor, Tom Perrott as Area Research Director, and Lee Holloway, Maurice Schwalm, and Richard Senate as Regular Columnists.

Upcoming Events and Activities

The GRS is planning several outings for active members, including attending the AGS Conference in July 2000 in Alton, Illinois, and potentially investigating the haunted Lemp Mansion in St. Louis. They also plan to investigate the former Civil War prison in Alton. The society has been involved in haunted house investigations, including one in Franklin Park, Illinois, which reported animal reactions, tinkling glasses, whispering, and a shadow figure. Future investigations are planned for a Crystal Lake theater and a private home in Morris, Illinois. The GRS also plans public field excursions and bi-monthly meetings. Stan Suho is upgrading GRS equipment, including a Spectrum Analyzer and an analog-to-digital converter. Dale D. Kaczmarek is working on two new books, one on Spooklights and another on Chicago ghosts.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on paranormal investigations, ghost stories, and historical mysteries, particularly those with a supernatural element. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into the paranormal, presenting documented cases and personal accounts with an aim to inform and engage members. There is a strong emphasis on the GRS as a research organization, encouraging participation and contributions from its members. The publication also highlights the society's activities, membership benefits, and upcoming events, fostering a sense of community among paranormal enthusiasts.

This issue of THE GATE magazine, a publication focused on the paranormal, features a collection of articles and reader submissions detailing various supernatural encounters and investigations. The magazine's cover art and title, "BATS IN THE BELFRY: WHAT LANGUAGE DO GHOSTS SPEAK?", set a tone of inquiry into the nature of ghosts and spectral phenomena.

The Crying Lady and John Lennon's Ghost at The Dakota

The issue begins with an account of the "crying lady" apparition reportedly seen at The Dakota, the New York City apartment building famously inhabited by John Lennon. Lennon himself is quoted as having seen "this weirdness around" outside his seventh-floor apartment and later learned about the ghost. The identity of the crying lady remains unknown, but she is described as appearing in a grey, diaphanous gown, enveloped in a grey aura, and sobbing uncontrollably before disappearing quickly. She has reportedly been seen in various corridors but has never entered an apartment.

Following John Lennon's assassination outside The Dakota in December 1980, numerous claims of seeing his spirit emerged. The article notes that The National Enquirer and other publications have covered Lennon's ghost extensively, with books written about his "postmortem babblings," suggesting his spirit is "quite loquacious."

Shawn Robbins, reporting for The National Enquirer, recounts sitting outside The Dakota in 1985 hoping to contact Lennon's spirit. She claims to have seen "energy waves like a body" and "it where he was shot." Robbins also states she has seen Lennon's ghost at other times, describing a "fleeting image that looks like John Lennon." Further reported sightings include Lennon's phantom staring out his ground-floor studio window, crossing to the "Imagine" mosaic in Central Park, flashing the peace sign, and a hot dog vendor hearing the wraith singing "Give Peace a Chance."

John Lennon Lives! - at the Dakota

This section details an event in 1975 when John Lennon and Yoko Ono purchased their seventh-floor apartment at The Dakota. They conducted a seance, during which the spirit of Jessie Ryan, the previous owner, responded. Ryan's spirit informed Lennon and Ono that she still considered the apartment her home and had no intention of leaving, though she would not interfere in their lives. Yoko Ono reportedly telephoned Jessie Ryan's daughter, Lisa, to relay this information. Lisa Ryan was not amused, stating, "If my mother's ghost belongs anywhere, it's here with me - -not with them!"

An Investigation by Maurice Schwalm

Maurice Schwalm reports on two incomplete investigations. The first concerns a house where a master bedroom bed reportedly moves and "chicken tracks" appear. The investigation also noted "hot and cold running tennyboppers" and vague rustling sounds. The strongest impressions were in the basement, described as filled with "spirit vermin," and references to animal sacrifice. Schwalm perceived a man in his fifties engaging in "theatrical activities that somehow relate to power."

The second investigation involved a teenage girl who repeatedly saw a translucent girl resembling herself at her dressing table. Schwalm identified this as the spirit of a farm girl who committed suicide after her husband died in a hunting accident. The spirit sought acceptance from the teenager.

Remembrances of Bachelor's Grove Cemetery by Nancy Sena

Nancy Sena recounts her experiences visiting Bachelor's Grove Cemetery, a location known for paranormal activity. Her first visit was as an eleven-year-old Girl Scout, where she heard about a "phantom house" appearing on the trail to the cemetery. Her second visit in October 1999, nearly twenty years later, occurred near Halloween. She describes the cemetery as infamous and haunted, a place for drinking teens, vandals, and cult members.

During her visit, Sena observed people of various ages calmly strolling among the headstones, some leaving memorials. She found a note on a headstone politely asking vandals to respect the sanctity of the place. She also witnessed a headstone marked "Infant Daughter" with toys and a plastic figure, which evoked personal sadness due to a recent miscarriage. The article mentions the adjacent lagoon was fabled to be a dumping ground for mob enemies in the 1930s.

Sena and her companions took many pictures, and upon leaving, she felt a sense of compassion for the forgotten people buried there. She concludes that the people of Bachelor's Grove would not be forgotten as long as the legends of strange lights and spectral figures persist.

Bats in the Belfry by Richard Senate

This is a cartoon by Richard Senate with the caption "WHAT LANGUAGE DO GHOSTS SPEAK?" The answer provided is "TRY LATIN... IT'S A DEAD LANGUAGE." The cartoon features drawings of bells and bat-like figures.

A Haunting Around the Corner? by Mark H. Gordon

Mark H. Gordon details a small cemetery located on the southeast corner of Saint Charles Road and Taft Street in Berkeley, Illinois. The plot of land was set aside as a cemetery in the mid-1800s and was once part of the Bohlander Family's farm. Mrs. Joan B. Otis, who lived nearby for nearly 20 years, brought the cemetery to Gordon's attention.

Mrs. Otis' interest was sparked by a 1968 cleanup effort where neighborhood teens were seen clearing debris and stacking monuments. She later witnessed a pile of markers stacked about four feet high. Youths were told to put them back but didn't know which graves belonged to which markers. She also overheard adults mentioning that the soil was not to be disturbed for 100 years due to people dying of a "fever."

According to local history, Daniel Diebert originally purchased the land grant, and Peter Bohlander purchased a portion in 1835. Bohlander set aside part of his land as a cemetery in 1848, known as the Bohlander Family Burial Ground. In 1934, Mrs. Bader and Mrs. Thomas copied the cemetery records, noting that the generosity of Bohlander didn't seem to interest his own town's people, as many buried there were from York and Addison Townships, not Proviso Township. The records were placed with DuPage County.

No patterns of death suggesting an epidemic of "fever" were apparent, and the local library had no records of such an event. The article notes that around the 1850s, Chicago had a smallpox epidemic, leading to the relocation of some cemeteries near Lake Michigan due to water contamination. This included cemeteries moved to Chicago's Graceland Cemetery.

In 1927, the President of Berkeley, Frederick Falhauber, banned future burials. A locked fence has always surrounded the cemetery, with only groundskeepers allowed entry. The cemetery had fallen into disrepair, with some hoping it would be abandoned. In the early 1980s, a developer was interested, but the bodies could not be relocated. Developing the lot would require moving approximately 71 graves, most without stones. Local stories mention vandals were paid to destroy the property to encourage abandonment. Mrs. Otis is unaware of any ghosts at this location, except for its fence being hit by cars in the 1970s.

Reader's Stories

This section contains several reader submissions:

• Chauntelle reports experiencing clicking sounds emanating from the walls of her bedroom, occurring nightly around 11 p.m. The noises change position, speed, and tone. Her cats also act strangely in the bathroom area where the noises originate. She has ruled out mechanical explanations.

• Heather describes an incident where her two-year-old son heard another voice saying "MINE" when he was alone in his room. She took pictures, which showed a bright white light and a blue mist under her older son's bed.

• Dale recounts a stay at the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island where she and three friends saw a "slightly glowing" woman of slender build walk slowly through their hotel room. They were able to draw exact pictures of the woman. The hotel staff became angry when asked about ghosts and adamantly denied the hotel was haunted.

• Laura follows up on Dale's story, asking if the Grand Hotel is known to be haunted, mentioning it was where Christopher Reeves filmed "Somewhere In Time." Her boyfriend also heard stories about the hotel being haunted but not publicized.

• Don shares a story about an abandoned house in the woods. He and a friend saw a dark figure through the window. After his friend shot at the figure with a slingshot, it dropped to the ground. Investigating inside, he saw an old woman looking out the same window. Months later, the house was gone, replaced by a thorn bush. Don also mentions hearing "SHSHSHSHSH," swhooshing sounds, seeing a glowing dot, and shadowy people in the woods.

• Jim describes a haunting experience in a friend's home in Chicago's northwest suburbs. He heard a howling sound, which he initially dismissed but later found to be coming from outside the second-floor bedroom window. The sound persisted for hours. The next night, a stuffed animal appeared at the top of the stairs, and later moved to the middle of the floor. The animal was a donation to a missing children's fund. Other strange occurrences included a person being locked in a bedroom and a thumping sound in someone's ear. The drywall in an upstairs wall had been dug into.

Editor's Notes

The editor responds to reader submissions, offering possible explanations for some phenomena and advice for further research. For the Grand Hotel, the editor suggests trying to get the same room on a return visit and researching local libraries for newspaper articles. For unexplained noises in homes, the editor suggests natural explanations like rodents or chimney sounds and advises researching a home's past history through local city hall, historical societies, or old neighbors for information on previous owners, events, or possible problems.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are hauntings, ghost sightings, and paranormal investigations. The magazine presents a variety of accounts, from celebrity hauntings at The Dakota to local cemetery lore and personal experiences shared by readers. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting these accounts for the reader's consideration and encouraging further investigation into the unexplained. The inclusion of reader submissions suggests a community-focused approach, valuing personal testimonies in the exploration of the supernatural.

This issue of Ghost Trackers, identified by its page numbering as issue 25, focuses on paranormal phenomena, primarily ghost stories and hauntings, alongside book reviews and a section on spirit photography. The content is primarily in English and appears to be from the late 1990s based on publication dates of reviewed books.

Personal Accounts of Hauntings

The issue begins with personal accounts of paranormal experiences. One reader, Beverly, writes about moving into a house in Midland, Maryland, in August 1999. After a quiet initial period, she experienced a sensation of being pushed on the bed and later felt a hand patting her hip. Her husband also reported an incident where his arm was slapped. Beverly also mentions her mother's house in Midland, Maryland, which she describes as very haunted, with moving objects, lights turning on and off, and items being hidden. She seeks reassurance that these experiences are indeed ghosts and not imagination, noting her mother's house was the first built in the area, surrounded by apple orchards.

Another reader, writing anonymously via email, recounts buying a house where a woman had recently died. This reader has experienced a push on the bedcovers near their feet, causing intense fear. They also mention taking photographs while painting, which revealed "smokey things" not present in other photos. The reader describes an increasing sense of unease, with daily flashes in their peripheral vision.

Spirit Photography Page

This section features an account from Tom B. of Interlachen, Florida, who was inspired by a Discovery Channel program on spirit photography. During a primitive camping trip in the Osceola National Forest, he took several photos with a 1.3-megapixel digital camera. Upon returning home, he noticed strange orbs in two of the photos and what appeared to be figures beginning to take shape. He hopes the magazine can shed light on this mystery.

A separate brief mention describes an attempt to capture a meteor storm in November 1998 using a throw-away Kodak 400ASA camera, with no clouds present and the time being around 7 p.m.

Book Reviews

The majority of the magazine is dedicated to book reviews, primarily focusing on paranormal and ghost-related literature. The reviews are predominantly written by Dale Kaczmarek, with some contributions from others.

Mississippi Hauntings

• Ghosts! Personal Accounts of Modern Mississippi Hauntings by Sylvia Booth Hubbard (1992) is reviewed as the first book devoted exclusively to ghost stories from Mississippi. It features photographs by the author's husband, Robert, and covers locations like Vicksburg, Hattiesburg, Columbus, Jackson, and Philadelphia. Rated 7/10.

• Spirits of Frederick by Alyce T. Weinberg (1992) is a second edition including nine additional stories. The author died in 1987. The book covers stories related to the Civil War and local legends, including the snallygaster. Rated 6/10.

Missouri Ghosts

• Missouri Ghosts: Spirits, Haunts & Related Lore by Joan Gilbert (1997) is reviewed. The book is divided into chapters covering neighborhood ghosts, country ghosts, Springfield, the Ozarks, Columbia & Boone County, Riverside Ghosts, and more. It visits famous ghost locations like St. Charles, the Epperson House, and the Lemp Mansion. The author also touches on the Patience Worth phenomena and Mark Twain and ghosts. Rated 5/10.

Minnesota Ghosts

• Ghostly Tales of Southwest Minnesota by Ruth D. Hein (1989) is described as a small but interesting book focused on a specific region of Minnesota. It includes tales from pioneer times, the Underground Railroad, historic buildings, ghost towns, and cemeteries, as well as contemporary accounts. Rated 6/10.

Chicago Ghosts

• Graveyards of Chicago by Matt Hucke & Ursula Bielski (1999) is presented as a definitive work on Cook County cemeteries, covering their people, history, art, and lore. The book is praised for its excellent photographs and detailed information, with a recommendation for cemetery enthusiasts. Rated 10/10.

Illinois Ghosts

• Haunted Illinois: Ghost & Hauntings from Egypt to the Windy City by Troy Taylor (1999) is lauded as a top-notch, in-depth look into Illinois' paranormal history, from its beginnings to present-day hauntings. It includes fascinating details about Abraham Lincoln's burial and reburials, and covers various regions of the state. Rated 9/10.

Kansas Ghosts

• Haunted Kansas: Ghost Stories & Other Eerie Tales by Lisa Hefner Heitz (1997) covers various types of hauntings, including house ghosts, fort ghosts, graveyard ghosts, and the most haunted town in Kansas: Atchison. The reviewer found the stories new and presented in a way that encourages a trip to Kansas for investigation. Rated 6/10.

San Diego Ghosts

• San Diego Specters: Ghosts, Poltergeists and Phantasmic Tales by John J. Lamb (1999) is described as a remarkable and fascinating book by the Area Research Director in California for the GRS. It acts as a guidebook to haunted sites in Southern California, providing directions and addresses, while also emphasizing respect for property owners' privacy. It includes numerous photographs and a primer on ghost encounters. Rated 8/10.

Historical and Philosophical Look at Ghosts

• Ghosts: Appearances of the Dead & Cultural Transformation by R.C. Finucane (1996) is a philosophical and historical examination of ghosts and apparitions across different eras, including classical ghosts, Christianity, Purgatory, Reformation, the Baroque period, Enlightenment, and 20th-century ghosts. It explores the progression of ghost beliefs and their impact on society. Rated 5/10.

Classifieds

The classified section includes listings for various paranormal and New Age resources:

• Weird New Jersey is published twice a year and covers strange items in and around New Jersey.
• CATALYST is a New Age Directory listing networking newsletters, publications, and products.
• STRANGE MAGAZINE is described as a credible magazine exploring unexplained phenomena with a level-headed style.
• An Annual GRS Book Sale is advertised, offering paperbacks, hardcovers, and back issues of paranormal publications.
• GRS CAPS and GRS and Excursions Into The Unknown T-shirts & Sweatshirts are available for purchase.
• SeedKing offers exotic and unusual houseplant seeds.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are ghost stories, hauntings, and paranormal investigations, with a strong emphasis on book reviews that catalog and analyze these phenomena across different regions of the United States. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded exploration of the paranormal, presenting personal accounts and detailed research from various authors. There is a clear interest in documenting local legends and historical hauntings, encouraging readers to engage with these topics, whether through reading or potentially visiting the locations themselves. The inclusion of classified ads for related publications and merchandise suggests an aim to connect readers with the broader paranormal community.