Conclusion: "Unexplainable, but interesting...."

 In conclusion…

The search of deeds and census records coming to an end, the focus of research moved in part to maps – maps of migration routes for early settlers and Indian trails.  Along with these considerations are written reports of the Andaste Giants to consider and their possible relationship to a burial mound of extremely large bones found near Elgin, PA – just a few miles from my property as the crow flies.  Some of the research gets a bit carried away on this subject …  even considering the possibility of horned extraterrestrials.  Hmmm…  As interesting as that theory is, I am thinking that the Andaste were very tall Native Americans, perhaps with deer antlers attached to their head dresses, but what do I know?  The first Europeans were very short, after all.  Even 6’ would seem giant.  But I digress….  Who knows where I will end up?  This research leads a person in multiple directions at once, but there are some complications….

There isn’t much information on this little pocket of NW PA. Even today it is relatively sparsely populated.  (I must mention here that I like being the only vehicle at the stop light.)  Most of the early settlers’ migration activity was further South around the Pittsburgh area or Northwest along the shores of Lake Erie.  That is why the discovery of The Forbidden Path (Native American) is so exciting.  On one map I came across, it looks like it goes right through what is now Wayne Twp. and - most exciting to me – directly across my small parcel of land. The Forbidden Path was supposedly a shortcut and secret trail for Native Americans – most likely Iroquois – who were in a hurry traveling west for whatever reason.  Their path traveled through and along the southern edge of Iroquois country and, for their security purposes, use of the trail was forbidden to other unfriendly or undesirable Indian tribes and … especially forbidden to all white men. The penalty for being caught on the trail is reported to have been death – being burned at the stake or roasted.  Yes… you read that correctly.  Roasted. The Iroquois were serious about and possessive of their shortcut.  Obviously not all Native Americans appreciated sharing a Thanksgiving table with the White Man.

To summarize a bit and to continue on the Forbidden Path -- online research resulted in many interesting tidbits of lore and history. In addition to the findings of giant prehistoric bones of the Andaste Indians mentioned earlier, the tales of The Forbidden Path … and the activities of Mad Anthony Wayne in making the North West Territory safe for settlers, this part of Erie Co. is very near to what was considered, at that time, to be the frontier and was heavily populated by various Native American tribes.  The Native American tribe that is the most interesting to me and further inland than those who lived and hunted closer to the Lake Erie shoreline are the Iroquois who are closely linked to the Forbidden Path previously mentioned.  To be clear though, I have also seen maps of the Forbidden Path that show it running in what is now New York State as well - sort of bypassing what is now Wayne Twp.  Bummer.  Apparently, there has been a bit of a feud between New York State and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, both of which like to claim the path.  Pennsylvania, at one time, even had those fancy historical road signs designating its location.  Historians disagree as to its exact location—some thinking that NY Route 5 pretty much follows its course.  Others place it a bit further south moving into Pennsylvania through what is now the Bradford area and then continuing to head west and passing through Wayne Twp. – right across my bit of land.  For my purposes here I am going to claim it.  I checked with two of my New York State relatives and they are totally okay with this. Nothing I have found totally disproves it and, placing it, at least in part in Pennsylvania, explains why everyone who has investigated my property speaks of a strong presence of Native Americans… and… the passing through part also supports their opinion that entities here on my land are here on their way to someplace else. The two natural spring ponds on the property would have made it an attractive stopover place as well.  I also think this theory nicely explains the strong smell of tobacco from time to time. 

In summary of this series – it is difficult to find reasons to explain the unexplainable. The movement along the Forbidden Path predates the movement along the Underground Railroad (early to mid-1800’s), but both are interesting to consider.   Also – it is not surprising that there is not a lot of information on our small section of the country that would help explain anything … settlers tended to use more established routes in heading west.  The government even tried to encourage settlement of what was then the nearby Northwest Territory by offering land grants to soldiers in payment for their service during the American Revolution, but this was met with limited success. It wasn’t really until the railroad ran through this area and the first oil well was built in the late 1850’s (Drakes Well in Titusville, PA) that settlers found their way here in any number. So in conclusion – I simply do not have any definitive explanations. I am okay with that.

I have come to the realization now that I am nearing the end of this project that there is something about this land that calls to me.  For the past 50 years of my life, I have lived in four different homes all within less than 1/8 of a mile radius – most less than that – more like a few hundred feet.  I am hoping to live here for the rest of my life.  It feels right.  What is it that draws me here? What are the layers of human life that are held within this land? What is it that makes it so easy to put up with the taps, smells, bangs and creepy occurrences that happen here? What is it that grounds me here within such a sense of belonging?  Is it that it seems comfortable to be in one place after moving around so much during the first twenty years of my life or – is it something else?

I have found no conclusive or provable answers to any of the questions regarding the haunting of this land.  Not one. This writing, after all, is not to be a source of accurate information for history buffs… if there even is such a thing as accurate recording of history. This writing is to be a record of what I have found and of what I am thinking.  Point of interest -- actually, most of the written accounts of this area that I have found are personal journal accounts – each with its own unique perspective and point of view. Is that the “truth” of history? One must always consider who is telling the story, but, ultimately, what do we know of them?

Obviously, I cannot say with guaranteed accuracy what all may have happened in the past on this land that may be “tapping” in on the present – only speculation and gut feelings.  Sometimes that just has to be enough.  Native Americans on the move West? Runaway Slaves running North to freedom? Both? Spirits of those with whom I shared part of my life? A portal to another dimension? In answer to those and to other questions that have come up in this process … who knows?  I tried…   and it was fun. I originally began this research journey strictly for my family, but then decided to share….  These days a lot people seem to be interested in the unexplainable. A lot of people enjoy a good mystery.  Perhaps these kinds of the unexplainable but interesting things offer a pleasant diversion.  It seems obvious to me that we can all use a bit of diversion now and again. 

One last minute addition...  while we are on the subject, I, for one, would like to know what fell somewhere in my house at 1:54 this very morning, waking me out of a sound sleep. After a thorough walk through in the dark, I cannot find a single thing out of place. Maybe once the sun comes up....  And here I thought I had taken all the things off the walls that don't seem to want to stay there. Silly me. 

Having read all this rambling -- anyone out there have a theory? I am listening.

Part IV: Unexplainable, but interesting...

So – if you have been following this series about the unexplainable, but interesting, you probably have some idea of why I felt compelled to do some research on the land on which I currently live.  I want to figure out what is going on.  But before I can tell you about that research, I have to share with you that all of my family except for my 23-year-old grandson who had to work, were with me for most of this past week (party on), and they all mentioned things that they felt I should have included in my recounting of events.  For example, my daughter, who has really been in the thick of things with all of the activity here, agreed that I should include the recounting of the crying baby – so I am going to do that now. 

One of the times that the paranormal investigators were here, we went to my small barn – after dark, of course.  Darkness is apparently a part of the “fun” of paranormal investigation. I find it a bit creepy. Along with the investigators and me were my good friend who happens to be a medium, and I think my daughter was with us as well.  I know for sure that she was there earlier in the evening when other monumental things were going on. Anyway -- while in the barn the ghost hunters were running an EVP recorder to try to capture EVP’s (Electronic Voice Phenomenon). These are unexpected voices/sounds that are not readily heard by the living -- unless you are special.  Anyway -- activity was high in one of the horse stalls in particular.  My friend and I, lanterns in hand, were waiting quietly in another part of the barn, when she said: “Ask them if they have a baby with them.” Long story short, when the hunters checked the EVP recorder later on – there was a baby crying and then my friend’s voice saying -- you guessed it – “Ask them if they have a baby with them.” My friend has special gifts for sure.  So --- just add that occurrence to the list of the unexplainable, but interesting. Do you see now why I feel compelled to figure out what is going on with this land? (Must mention that activity was ramped up a bit while my family was visiting this past week -- even one of their dogs had a couple of rough nights. One never knows what it will be. Picture a trembling Basset Hound.

Moving on…

A bit of background info -- I had my home built on this land in 2001 and, at that time my parents lived on another portion of the land where they had lived from the late 1960s until their passing in February 2005. Inheriting the original parcel of land, I eventually had it subdivided after which I sold a small parcel of the original land that included my parents’ home and barn. One of the visiting mediums I mentioned earlier stood in my yard looking across the pasture at what had been my parents’ barn, and we had a hard time getting her to focus on my land.  She went on and on about how haunted their big white barn is -- going into some detail about the mischievous young boy who liked to hang out there.  I don’t think the current owners know the full extent of the goings on on my property, but apparently, they may have their own “activities”. Perhaps I will share the results of my land research with them if it amounts to anything.   Perhaps not.  This may be a good time to mention again that at another time ... another of the visiting mediums told me, with a most serious expression on her face, not to dig too deeply in my sun garden.  I have never felt quite the same way about weeding that garden and when Luna, my grand dog, digs there, I find myself holding my breath. I can go without knowing some things. Sometimes choosing ignorance is okay.

To continue …

My hope is to figure out who is passing through my home and to find a way to politely ask them to stop tapping and grabbing people on their way to wherever it is they are going. That familiarity is unnerving to those who are not used to it and is sometimes embarrassing to me as a hostess.  Oh – and also, I would like to figure out how to get them to stop smoking and stinking up my house while they are here. Quite frankly I don’t think that is too much to ask.  They can smoke and do whatever else they want to do outside.  At times I find myself wondering if they even know that they are passing through my home.  Then again – they must know if they pause to tap my granddaughter on the head, to grab sleeping people, or to rattle hangers in a clothes closet… not to mention that some think there is a harmless old fellow who just sort of camps out in the basement. That gives one pause.  Think about it. Sometimes these entities even talk to people.  I may skip telling you about all of those episodes. It’s a bit much.

The thing about research into the history of this land is that there are interesting fingers of information that push one in a lot of different directions – each one holding perhaps a tidbit of information that could be an important piece of the puzzle. It is sometimes a bit of a jumble -- difficult to untangle. Who were these early people in what is now Wayne Twp., Erie County, Pennsylvania?  Can they give me a clue as to what is going on here?  Earlier I mentioned the Beaver Dam Columbus Turnpike and the Abolitionist activity with the Underground Railroad.  Turnpike Road is very close to my land – easily within a few minutes’ walk.  It is hard not to speculate that some travelers may have made their way to the natural springs on my property as they headed north to freedom.  No evidence… just speculation. Perhaps there is a type of residual haunting here. I just don’t know….

 

But – there are other possibilities to consider as well.

Part II

 

… to continue …

There was a certain level of ESP or telepathy that I witnessed between my Mom and my sister. I observed this tender, and at times poignant connection, my entire life.  They knew what the other was feeling… and thinking. They finished each other’s sentences. They communicated with their eyes.  This ESP was a firm given in our family dynamic.  It was comfortable.  I didn’t realize that not everyone had that sort of communication somewhere in their lineage.  It’s a nice thing really. Wish I had paid closer attention.  Wish I could have figured out how it worked.  But there is more…

As far as other single incidents of the unexplainable go ... and I am not thinking of all of them at the moment … I have a couple of favorites.  They both occurred at the corner of Wayne Street and Columbus Avenue in Corry, PA in a home where I lived from age 8 to age 20. (It was in a house across the road from a home that was a part of the Underground Railroad… our section of the county having been a bit of an Abolitionist hot bed thanks to the good people of Beaver Dam, PA.   A slight digression here… runaway slaves are thought to have moved along what was called the Beaver Dam/Columbus Turnpike (currently Turnpike Road) and on toward Canada and freedom. I discovered this important tidbit of information when researching the small parcel of land that I own in Wayne Twp. PA (more on that later).  Anyway -- we came home from church one Sunday morning to our locked home only to find that someone/something had been sitting on the couch in the living room – reading the Sunday newspaper. It was spread out all over the place.  Now we know this was an intruder of some sort because my Mom would never have allowed anyone to read a newspaper while sitting on that couch.  Back in those days, newspaper ink smeared off on everything.  You could smell the ink and you needed to wash your hands after even a glance at the “funny papers” section. 

The second incident that comes to mind at this location was the case of the missing a sewing project.  The material, pinned to the pattern, cut and ready to sew, disappeared and then reappeared several years later.  I found it wrapped in an old towel in a built-in drawer in the attic of that home. Very weird.

Hmm – then moving to relatively current times….  These at home episodes call to mind the framed print of Santa Claus that has been missing now for over 15 years in the home where I currently live.  I wonder where and when that will be found?  Hope it is soon. I miss it.  It belongs on the mantle in the living room during the holiday time, or perhaps on my Mom’s easel for Christmas Eve celebrations.   Every year now for the past few years, I have offered an ever-increasing reward and mounted an in-home search – to no avail... even though I have to say that my grandkids who live nearby are outstanding snoops -- definitely of the highest caliber. I have trained them well.  I sometimes call them when I can't find something, and they usually know where it is. I love that about them. Anyway -- I have no doubt that Santa will miraculously show up when I least expect it. 

I sometimes wonder if the same mischievous presence that I recall from my days as a young child, then in the Wayne Street house and on to where I am now has moved with me from place to place all throughout my life.  To continue and to backtrack a bit – It occurred to me when I was a freshman in college that this Wayne Street house “presence” had gone to Allegheny College (Meadville, PA) with me Freshman year.  By then I had named it JJ, and was totally comfortable with it hanging around.  My roommate?  Not so much.  She left after freshman year.  She said it was because she didn’t get into the sorority she wanted, but I always thought that JJ might have had something to do with her departure.  She was particularly annoyed, perhaps freaked out is a more apt expression, when, for one thing, the window blinds would go up and down slowly -- by themselves.  When you are used to something, you tend to forget that certain things bother other people.  I honestly don’t recall much activity when I was finishing my undergraduate studies at Skidmore College, but then again, I seriously think most of the town of Saratoga Springs, NY is haunted in some way… lots of historical activity there, including perhaps lingering "memories" of the bloody battle that insured the American victory over the British in the Revolutionary War in 1777.  Yep – that Saratoga. I could even feel "it" when walking down the sidewalks in the center of the town. Not creepy -- just sort of an atmosphere of something hanging around like an invisible light mist... sort of there, but nothing you could really put your finger on.

 Unexplainable, but interesting…  More next week….