Updated: Apr 6, 2023
Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response
Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response is a neologism for a perceptual phenomenon characterized as a distinct, pleasurable tingling sensation in the head, scalp, back, or peripheral regions of the body in response to visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, or cognitive stimuli. The nature and classification of the ASMR phenomenon is controversial, with strong anecdotal evidence to support the phenomenon but little or no scientific explanation or verified data. (Wikipedia)
I thought I'd step down a somewhat different path of the unknown with this edition of The Booo! Blog. While not the usual ghosts, aliens, monsters and other assorted spookies that I usually deal in, ASMR is still considered an 'unknown', just not the type that will haunt, abduct or eat you. For that reason, we can hammer this slightly square peg into our round paranormal hole. Not a perfect fit, perhaps, but let's expand our minds a bit. So, slip on your headphones, sit back, relax and let the tingles take you away...
A 'Good' Migraine?
It's very possible that you've never heard of ASMR. In fact, your co-worker in the cubicle next to yours may be having intense, daily "braingasms", and you have not even noticed. Before you scream, "Eeeewww! That's disgusting!" in horror because you have occasionally borrowed his/her chair, know that it's become a quiet riot on websites such as YouTube over the past three or four years and, no, it's not what you think. The entire goal of the movement, and of the so-called "ASMRtists" who perform, is relaxation and/or sleep facilitation. Given our increasingly hectic and out-of-control world, it's really a no-brainer as to why it has caught on. Some ASMRtists have even reached star status within the ASMR community and with their fans.
So, in a word, what is ASMR? Tingles. You've probably experienced the phenomenon in fleeting, momentary blips throughout your life, but have been unable to pin it down, let alone assign it a name. ASMR is not a 'one size fits all' experience, as one person may respond to a particular stimuli, and another not at all. The best way to think of ASMR is as a migraine headache, which any sufferer can tell you are unbearably painful, often causing autonomic nervous system symptoms along with throbbing head pain. Yes, I realize that's a bizarre and unpleasant analogy but, in reality, it's actually a very accurate one. Instead of the pain associated with a 'bad' migraine, let's think of the opposite: a 'good' migraine. Instead of pain, a good migraine would cause a pleasurable sensation. Why is this an accurate analogy? Just as with most migraines headaches, ASMR, or good migraines, require a "trigger". And, just as with migraine headaches, these triggers, the stimuli that set off the headache, vary widely from person-to-person.
What Pulls Your Trigger?
The stimuli that sparks an Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response is only for you to determine, but there are some that seem to be common to many people, and they can encompass any of our five senses, either singularly or in combination. Most (but not all) require the person wishing to experience the sensation to be in a passive role. In other words, watching, hearing, feeling, tasting or smelling the stimuli. The following is hardly an exhaustive list, and ASMR triggers are not gender-specific. You may have a trigger or multiple triggers unique to you. Take a moment to think about it because, chances are, you already know what they are. Many can fall into multiple categories depending on whether a person assumes an active or passive role. Among the most common:
Visual: Hair cutting, hair brushing, gentle hand movement, application of hand lotions or gels, painting, page turning.
Auditory: Whispering, foreign accents, rain, tapping, rubbing, music, keyboard clicks, paper crinkling, mouth sounds.
Touch: Massage, application of nail polish, manicure, pedicure.
Taste: Personal and specific to you. It could be the taste of a food that transports you back in time.
Olfactory: Personal and specific to you. It could be a scent that transports you back in time.
John Waters: The Original ASMRtist
For our purposes, let's focus on visual and auditory ASMR triggers, as those are the two senses ASMRtists attempt to tingle and are, by far, the most common. And let's face it...attempting to touch Angelina Jolie's lips through a computer screen is pretty futile (but admit it...you've tried), as is tasting a double-fudge brownie or smelling freshly-baked bread. That's why director John Waters was way ahead of his time. Ever watch his old film, Polyester? If so, you've probably wondered why the numbers 1 through 10 randomly pop up on the screen. You see, Waters had this ASMR thing figured out decades ago. He called it "Odorama". When the film was released, everyone in the theater got a scratch card with the numbers 1 through 10 printed on it. When a number flashed on the screen, much like a lottery scratch ticket, the viewer was supposed to scratch and sniff that number to smell what was being depicted on the screen. Sometimes mild, sometimes really gross but, yeah, he knew about triggers way before most in the ASMR community were even born. Cool, eh?
A Happy Little Accident
Bob Ross. You may not recognize or remember the name, but you can't forget the stark image of a bushy-haired guy on your TV screen. Nothing but a black background and standing, artist's palette in hand, creating painting-after-painting of nature and landscapes. His instructional show was called The Joy of Painting, and ran in the United States on PBS stations from 1983 to 1994. He spent years relaxing and lulling millions to sleep, most never having the intention of ever picking up a paint brush. People would record his 30-minute program on their VCRs (Remember those big, ugly boxes sitting on top of your console TV that constantly flashed "12:00" in your face?) to watch before bed. His gentle brush strokes and soothing voice instructing viewers to apply feather-light pressure on the canvas, "Two hairs and some air" or appreciate their "Happy little accidents" while painting became his trademarks.
Bob Ross died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 1995, but still lives on. Most episodes of The Joy of Painting can be found on YouTube and are still watched by millions, not necessarily for his painting skills, but for Mr. Ross' ASMR talent. And that remains, for many, his happiest little accident.
Enya's Got a Secret (And She May Not Even Know It)
Keep this on the down low, but Grammy Award-winning Irish singer/songwriter Enya stumbled onto the Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response phenomenon years ago, and probably by accident. People tend to either love or be totally indifferent to her music, and the difference seems to be in whether she floats your ASMR boat or not. And she apparently floats a lot of boats, as she's sold millions of records worldwide, her voice and the ethereal acoustics of her recordings being a common trigger. While the same can be said of an individual's response to music in general, most people have a visceral and autonomous response to her music in particular. Not the 'I love that song and sing along' -type response, but an instant relaxation and calming effect. Does Enya know what makes the magic? I have no idea, but she records in her own custom-designed studio, and likely for a reason. Put on one of her CDs (not a crappy, compressed MP3 file), slip on a pair of headphones, and listen to the soaring acoustic signature of her recordings. And notice the dead silence. Nothing but her voice and whatever instruments she chooses to include. Each a sonic masterpiece, the listener is transported into her world and the real world ceases to exist, just like with the best ASMRtists. Of course, just as with any ASMR trigger, her thing may not be yours. If not, you will feel nary a tingle. That's a pity.
Let's Play Doctor
Role play is a technique many ASMRtists employ in an attempt to relax you into a semi-conscious state, and it can be very effective. There's no surprise here, as it is just what you think. What is a mystery, however, is how effective it can be.
For this technique, the ASMRtist becomes an actor, assuming the role of another person. This is particularly effective if the person the ASMRtist is portraying is someone who would normally take the active roll. For example, doctors, barbers, masseur/masseuse ...you get the idea. There are an astonishing number of soft-spoken doctor/patient ASMR videos, and they can be surprisingly effective. As with any talent, some ASMRtists seem to be more popular than others, which may be an indication of their skill set. On YouTube, a good (albeit not always accurate) indicator is the number of views an ASMRtist's videos receive. However, keep in mind the person may be very good at a common trigger, hence the largest number of views. You may find that a more obscure ASMRtist employing a more off-the-wall trigger works best for you, so give everyone a try.
Who Needs Drugs?
ASMR is a drug-free zone, but you will need a decent pair of headphones. Listening through speakers isn't nearly as effective and with some ASMR techniques, such as binaural recording, the effect and ASMRtist's intent is completely lost if not listening through headphones. The around-the-ear type (that cup your entire ear) are best for ASMR as they block out most of the distracting noise around you. Other than that, you're good to go; your express ticket to Xanax-free nirvana. My first stop would be YouTube, as that's where most ASMRtists post their work.
Back to binaural recording for a moment, as it is now a huge trend in ASMR videos and recording. While many ASMRtists are employing it, recording with special microphones to facilitate the effect, as a listener I have not found the effect necessary to illicit an ASMR response. However, as ASMR is so highly personal and specific to the individual, you may find just the opposite to be true. On YouTube, the ASMRtist will usually note if his/her video was recorded binaurally.
Superstars of ASMR
The following are a few YouTube ASMRtists from around the globe that I think are excellent. Of course, your mileage may vary as I've stated repeatedly: ASMR is a very personalized response. What works for one person may not work at all for another, so give everyone a shot. Many have PayPal or Patreon accounts if you would like to donate to keep them going. That information can be found on their pages. Enjoy!
ASMRtist: Tabuhan ASMR
Turkey
This guy is amazing. Watching him is a master class in acting and facial expression, and many find his soft-spoken Turkish accent the magic key to stress relief. His personality jumps through the screen, and many of his videos are done with an off-beat sense of humor. He makes it look effortless, which is even more impressive when you know that he does not plan his videos, but makes them up as he goes along. While he hasn't been doing this for as long as some of the others, he's posted a huge collection of ASMR videos, and is definitely a talent to keep your eye on. Truly one of the best.
ASMRtist: GentleWhispering ASMR
United States
Another incredible ASMRtist who has developed a massive following over the past few years. A native of Russia, but now living in the United States, she records ASMR videos in both the Russian and English languages. Her slight Russian accent when speaking English and magical hand movements will relax you in a nanosecond. Also the best fingernails in the business!
ASMRtist: ASMRGAINS
United Kingdom
Here's one that has a huge following, but seems to have fallen off the planet, as he hasn't posted in quite some time. He did have many more ASMR videos posted on YouTube, but has apparently deleted some of them. Still, his videos work well, and still receive a ton of views. Update, September 18, 2015: After a long absence, a new video has been posted on Fred's YouTube channel, so he is apparently alive and well, and hasn't fallen off the planet after all.
Who Says I Don't Bring You Cool Stuff On My Blog and Website?
I'm often asked, "What's the difference between a paranormal investigator and a ghost hunter?". Well, with all my editions of The Booo! Blog, as well as with my connected website, you are seeing that difference firsthand. I do my best to supply solutions and answers to the weird and wonderful for the sole purpose of helping you, the reader, and I try to present it in a lighthearted-but-serious manner. Whenever possible, I will give you the 'how' and 'why', the theory behind what it is you are questioning. I tell it like it is, and I hope I've met your expectations. I'm sometimes introduced as a "ghost hunter" in media interviews and, for sure, ghosts and hauntings are certainly a huge part of what I do, but there's a helluva a lot more out there than just restless dead people.
Until next time, look to the skies, look under your bed, and always keep an eye out for what may be lurking in your closet...
Legal Disclaimer: All information, opinion and theories on this website and blog are published in good faith and for general information purposes only. I do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information on my website and blog is strictly at your own risk, and I will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with its use. All opinion and theories are strictly my own, and should not be construed as fact.
Updated: Apr 6, 2023
The Horsefly Chronicles Haunting: A Book Review
Author Philip Siracusa appears to have ripped a page from the well-worn Ed and Lorraine Warren playbook with his first "true" paranormal literary effort, The Horsefly Chronicles: A Demonic Haunting. As you may know, Ed (now deceased) and Lorraine (still kicking) were paranormal investigators, or so-called "demonologists", that had the incredible fortune and dumb luck of finding demonic entities in virtually every location they investigated. Even more incredible was their talent for turning their incredibly fortunate and dumb luck into best-selling books, along with their almost alchemist-like ability to turn those books into gold. However, by far their most lucrative bit of magic was selling the book rights of their incredibly fortunate and dumb luck to Hollywood. The Warrens were involved with such infamous hoaxes as Jay Anson's devilishly discredited book-turned-movie, The Amityville Horror, where horseflies famously made their first satanic appearance (Hey, if it worked once...) as well as the more recent money-making films Annabelle and The Conjuring. The awkward title of this book originates from Mr. Siracusa's claim of the image of a horsefly appearing to him whenever he is about to experience a paranormal event. Well, I guess it does sound a bit more convincing than an aardvark...
The Warren Playbook: Now New and Improved!
In an edition of The Booo! Blog a few years ago, I wrote what had always been the Ed and Lorraine Warren formula for success: Demonologists + Imaginary Demon + Rogue Catholic Priest = Books and Movies. A Catholic priest was always thrown into the mix to give the air of legitimacy. However, while obviously still successful, I admit that it now seems somewhat dated. While active in the '60s, the Warrens really hit their stride of national notoriety in the 1970s; a decade when such demonically-themed spookfests as The Exorcist and The Omen (as well as The Amityville Horror) were packing the public into bookstores and theaters. Just as all products continually go through an evolutionary 'improvement' process to reflect the culture and to appeal (read "sell") to consumers, I now present what appears to be Mr. Siracusa's updated take on the Warrens' leisure suit-era equation: Amateur Ghost Hunters + Imaginary Demon + "World-Renown" Psychic = Books and Movies. Deserved or not, after more than a decade of scandal, Catholic priests just don't hold the moral weight and authority they once did with the public. We now look to "reality" TV ghost hunters and media-savvy mediums to feed us the tweets and give us the lowdown to satisfy our fascination with the other side. And make no mistake, reading The Horsefly Chronicles, it was obvious to me that the book was conceived and written with hopes that Hollywood would come-a-callin'. While scores of 'demonic haunting'-genre books have been written over the subsequent decades since The Amityville Horror, there seems to be a concerted public relations effort to anoint The Horsefly Chronicles as the natural successor to that 1970s landmark, a rather dubious distinction indeed.
That's My Story and I'm Sticking to It Like Flies On...
The Horsefly Chronicles is a plodding and incomplete telling of Mr. Siracusa's life, and his personal journey with his 'gift' of connecting with the other side. Following this yellow brick road, we visit his visions of Heaven and Hell, which I found the only interesting part of the book, as he does describe what he claims to have witnessed in colorful detail. We find him working as a bouncer and for the Mafia, the latter of which would sensibly only be revealed posthumously by an author, a big, red flag due to my law enforcement training, and one of the credibility issues, aside from the subject matter, that I have with the book. Spelling and grammatical errors abound in The Horsefly Chronicles, made even more tedious by the book's length. Maybe I'm just anal about such things, but how can we take Mr. Siracusa's account seriously if even the grammatical basics are overlooked? Tight budgets are no excuse, even with self-published titles. A good spellcheck application, free with all computer operating systems, can do much of the work of a human editor if diligently applied.
Oh yes, I mentioned that even at a snooze-inducing 334 pages, Mr. Siracusa's tome is "incomplete". Incomplete as in 'Screw you, you thought you bought a complete story, but you'll just have to wait for the next book' incomplete. The author plays his audience as suckers; not until you buy the book and dive into the text of The Horsefly Chronicles is the reader told that not all answers will be forthcoming until future volumes. The telling of the story was apparently conceived as a trilogy, which makes perfect sense if we are to assume that Mr. Siracusa had dreams of the New York Times Best Seller list and Bradley Cooper portraying him on a 3D Imax screen. Think the Harry Potter series or The Lord of the Rings trilogy, both infinitely better-written, and which may be based in more reality than The Horsefly Chronicles. After all, why not extend the life of a potential cash cow? The problem with that bit of marketing wisdom is, unlike Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, I have serious doubts the reader of the first volume of The Horsefly Chronicles will be sufficiently interested to stick around for the second.
The Horsefly Chronicles Family: Summon the Psychic! Gather the Ghost Hunters!
It is said that, "It takes a village to raise a child", but apparently it takes a "family" to promote a book, especially if you don't have a publisher behind it. What the public needs to understand about this business is there are individuals and groups that will hitch their wagons to just about anything if they think it will bring them even an ounce of notoriety. Remember the updated Ed and Lorraine Warren formula mentioned earlier? Here is where it comes into play. The magic is in the marketing! Gather a few amateur ghost hunting groups willing to attest online for the authenticity of The Horsefly Chronicles. Summon Karissa Fleck, lead paranormal investigator and described by some as a "world-renown" psychic medium, to spend four months in Mr. Siracusa's haunted horsefly hacienda, a modern home in Easton, Pennsylvania that just happens to have the incredible fortune and dumb luck of having four bedrooms, two baths and a portal to Hell and...BINGO! You've hit all the right Paramount...uhhh, I mean Poltergeist...uhhh, I mean paranormal, notes. To be fair and to my knowledge, the author has never referred to Ms. Fleck as "world-renown", but the title is already out there, floating in the ether of the Internet, apparently placed by those promoting the book. In reality, while possibly a gifted sensitive, Ms. Fleck is a twenty-something woman and just a member of Eastern Pennsylvania Paranormal Society, a local ghost hunting group that Mr. Siracusa contacted when things in his home purportedly became demonically dicey. It is curious to ponder why the author felt it necessary to contact a small town ghost hunting group and its resident psychic to corroborate and validate events in his home when he had already enthralled us with his road trip to Heaven and Hell, not to mention his stint acting as a middleman between the Mafia and the great beyond. Call me naive, but it seems to me that Mr. Siracusa would be the person better-equipped to handle demons in his home. After all, he claims to have already been to theirs.
Mr. Siracusa and Ms. Fleck, together and individually, have been on The Horsefly Chronicles promotional circuit since 2014, talking to anyone and everyone who will have them. They naturally hope people will buy the book, as does any author. However, as the book is self-published and has little marketing muscle, one gets the impression when listening to their interviews that the true goal is to make so much noise that The Horsefly Chronicles gets optioned.
Faults and Final Thoughts
Did I enjoy reading The Horsefly Chronicles? No, I didn't. Do I believe it to be nothing more than an elaborate hoax, likely conceived and written as the vehicle to drive to a movie deal? Yes, I do.
For all its many faults, my issue is not only with the story, but with what I believe was Mr. Siracusa's motivation for writing the book and his insistence on presenting himself as the protagonist in what he claims to be true. In essence, his claim is that The Horsefly Chronicles is his autobiography. However, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, especially when charging the public to read such claims. The question I found myself asking over-and-over while persevering through the pages? Why would Mr. Siracusa go to the trouble to write such a lengthy, implausible tale, then go to the expense to self-publish such a lengthy, implausible tale, without a much larger motivation and goal in mind than simply selling a few books and making a few bucks? Couple that question with the relentless self-promotion surrounding The Horsefly Chronicles, and the red flags begin to fly. By all accounts, the author is leading an otherwise normal life: gainfully employed, raising a family of four, a truly 'move along, there's nothing to see here' -type of existence. All of which makes his role as some sort of lifelong closet paranormal superhero even more difficult to swallow. While the basic structure and mundane facts of Mr. Siracusa's strange saga may, indeed, be autobiographical, it is my opinion as a paranormal investigator with years of experience under my belt that his yarn, if not completely fabricated, is at the very most a work of semi-fiction. There have been many instances of such literary hocus-pocus, one recent example being James Frey with his 2005 bestseller, A Million Little Pieces. You may remember him as the author Oprah Winfrey first praised and recommended for her book club, and later verbally eviscerated in a televised interview when it was discovered that a large part of his memoir was fabricated. There is a common thread of misplaced ego in the creation of such works, but Mr. Siracusa is probably well-aware that, unlike Mr. Frey, but just as with Ed and Lorraine Warren, Jay Anson and countless other predecessors, he will largely be protected under the paranormal umbrella. It is hard to be pinned-down to black and white in a world that consists of more than fifty shades of grey. The singular reason authors dealing in paranormal storylines sometimes go the 'true story' route is the belief that it will make their work more commercially viable. That said, I believe Clive Barker, Dean Koontz and that unsuccessful, starving author from Maine...jeesh, I can't remember his name...Stephen something...would tend to disagree.
And that's a wrap for this edition of The Booo! Blog. Let's fade to black, and would someone please get those damn flies off the set...
Legal Disclaimer: All information, opinion and theories on this website and blog are published in good faith and for general information purposes only. I do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information on my website and blog is strictly at your own risk, and I will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with its use. All opinion and theories are strictly my own, and should not be construed as fact.
Update, August 27, 2015: In response to my book review of The Horsefly Chronicles, the following is the transcript of a 'conversation' lead paranormal investigator Karissa Fleck initiated with me on Facebook on Thursday, August 27, 2015. It should be noted that I never once used in my book review, nor did I ever refer to Ms. Fleck or anyone in my review as "fake". On the contrary, I stated that "she may perhaps be a gifted sensitive". As for the title she states I used, I believe she is referring to "World-Renown", which has been used by her promotional people online to describe her. I also note in my review that Mr. Siracusa, to my knowledge, has never used that term to describe Ms. Fleck, nor do I state that, again, to my knowledge, she has ever used the term "World-Renown" to describe herself. However, she does believe herself to be "famous", as you will read below. I believe this short exchange speaks for itself, and also speaks volumes. I apologize to my readers for Ms. Fleck's poor grammar and use of profanity:
Karissa Fleck: Hello Anthony I read your little article and I feel the need clear somethings up. First off I'm not in eastern pa paranormal I am a freelancer and I work with some bigger names in the paranormal, second the title as you so kindly referred me too I've never called myself that. Third who are you again? I've never heard about you once in my life. Fourth so I guess your calling myself, Dave Spinks. Jeff Leeper, Sean Austin, Scott Gerhart, Erik knapp bob baines and about 60 others fakes? You should invest in a life because clearly you don't have one if you feel the need to bash strangers you don't even know
Karissa Fleck: Fucking loser
Karissa Fleck: You bring up the first team I ever worked with and act like I still work with them journalism skills
Anthony Duda: Can't take the constructive criticism of a book review? And your language. Wow. I read the book. I gave my opinion. I suggest you grow a thicker skin and get over it.
Anthony Duda: As for still working with EPPS, I also suggest you visit their website. You will see your photo and bio on their team members page. So your argument is not with me, it should be with them.
Karissa Fleck: Your right you know when your famous you get critics and crazy jealous people attacking you all the time I should be use to it by now have a good day
Anthony Duda: You're famous? Wow...news to me. Jealous? Hardly. I was in this field years before you were even born. You know what they say, "If you can't take the heat..." Have a good day, Ms. Fleck.
Update, September 16, 2015: Well...surprise, surprise! Alerted by reader "GinainTX" (see post below), it seems there was already a possible movie deal in the works for The Horsefly Chronicles, according to Movieplot.com, dating all the way back to January 2015. I cannot sum it up better than another reader, "Tanner", so astutely did below: "Mission accomplished, Mr. Siracusa".
Update, September 18, 2015: Please note that I have decided to close comments for this edition of The Booo! Blog, as I have found it necessary to reject many profanity-laden posts.This blog is simply a review of the book, The Horsefly Chronicles, and the author, nor anyone connected with the book, should be subjected to such language. Quite frankly, I have no desire to read such comments. Therefore, while I do not have the ability to stop submissions, any future comments will not be posted, and will be rejected and deleted unread. Thank you for your understanding and expected cooperation.
Update, October 13, 2015: The harassment and intimidation campaign by The Horsefly Chronicles lead paranormal investigator Karissa Fleck after my review of the book continues unabated. On September 30, 2015 and continuing on October 1, 2015, Ms. Fleck initiated the following conversation with me. This was completely unprovoked. Actually, I was on the road doing research for an unrelated future blog, when my cell phone alerted me that someone was posting about me on Facebook. As you will read, she has stooped to a new low on public social media, accusing me of being a sex offender, stalking her online, giving out her home address, as well as having a criminal record, all totally false accusations without an ounce of truth. I am not a mental health professional, therefore I do not make or pass judgement on Ms. Fleck in that professional capacity. However, based on her off-the-wall rants, wild accusations and seemingly paranoid delusions, I will withhold my personal opinion and allow you, the reader, to form your own. Keep in mind that Ms. Fleck has been widely credited as the lead paranormal investigator in The Horsefly Chronicles saga and has done and continues to do scores of promotional media interviews in that role. Thus, she figures prominently in the paranormal investigation aspect of the story, as was detailed in a companion book that Mr. Siracusa has authored, The Curse of the Horsefly Chronicles. In truth, as lead paranormal investigator, the responsibility would have ultimately fallen to Ms. Fleck to objectively verify the paranormal claims of the story, which is the entire crux and premise of this "true" paranormal trilogy, and she claims to have spent four months living in Mr. Siracusa's home doing just that. Okay, now think about that for a moment and let it sink in, because not only did that claim, which Ms. Fleck and Mr. Siracusa repeat in nearly every media interview, raise the red flags in my mind, it caused them to wave wildly. Four months. 120 days, give or take a day or two. Now that you, an intelligent and practical human, have allowed that to saturate your brain cells, extrapolate that scenario to your life, or even the lives of people you know. Under what circumstances could you, an adult, pack up and move into someone's home for that length of time? Would you break the lease at the apartment where you currently reside? If married, would you tell your husband or wife, "See ya, honey! I'll be back in four months. Gotta hunt for demons!", as he/she stands in the doorway, holding your Pug, and waving goodbye? And what about income? Would you, as an adult, be able to survive without income for four months, or 120 days, give or take a day or two? No? Then, how? Were you employed at the same time? If not, were you collecting unemployment benefits? Disability? Money has to come from somewhere for the occasional Mickey D's run, or even the basic necessities. Are you independently wealthy? If not, then who would support you to undertake such a protracted paranormal investigation and, more importantly, why? I do not question whether Ms. Fleck did move into the Siracusa home, only the somewhat murky circumstances which brought that about. "Just the facts, Ma'am", as Sgt. Joe Friday is often misquoted as saying in the über-old Dragnet TV series. Ms. Fleck has been described as a "family friend" of the Siracusa family. Was she already a family friend before moving in, or did she become a family friend after? Was she a "famous" psychic medium who just happened to need a place to crash and who just happened to be friends with an author who just happened to have a gateway to Hell in his home? Incredible fortune and dumb luck? I certainly do not imply knowledge, or even suspicion, of nefarious motivation or collusion, but am simply trying to understand the facts. As lead paranormal investigator of The Horsefly Chronicles case, the facts surrounding not only Ms. Fleck showing up on the Siracusa family doorstep like Mary Poppins (or, more accurately, Nanny McPhee), but then moving into their home for four months, or 120 days, give or take a day or two, to conduct a marathon paranormal investigation, is central to the very premise of this "true" paranormal account. While taking the lead, Ms. Fleck was not the only paranormal investigator involved in The Horsefly Chronicles case. How did the others come on board? Did they meet or know each other beforehand? Or were they collectively drawn to this mysterious location in Easton, Pennsylvania by some unknown metaphysical force, like in Close Encounters of the Third Kind?
It is often the case that the backstory is more interesting than the story itself, and the backstory of The Horsefly Chronicles is certainly no exception. As you will read below, Ms. Fleck seems very interested that you see my public record so please, by all means, feel free to go to any of a number of online sites that facilitate public record searches and enter my name. These records are in the public domain and it is perfectly legal. What will you find? Nothing. No criminal record, no arrests, just a traffic ticket from 1977 which probably dropped off the report years ago, if it was even on it to begin with. I'm such a nerd that I've never smoked weed. I've never even smoked a cigarette. I don't drink. Plain vanilla. Nuns think I'm boring. Now, while you're at it and since Ms. Fleck 'went there' and broached the subject, enter the name of Karissa Fleck, lead paranormal investigator of The Horsefly Chronicles case and central to the very premise of this "true" paranormal account. Yes, indeed...often the backstory is more interesting than the story itself.
What is the point of all of this and what does it boil down to? The point is that I believe the public has a right to dig beyond the claims and media hype, especially if they are being asked to shell out their hard-earned money. Once individuals willfully place themselves in the media spotlight, whether it be via books, movies, claims of psychic abilities or anything else, they are then open to public scrutiny. What this boils down to is the fact that I have been a paranormal investigator for well-over two decades. In that time, I have never taken a penny from a client for my services, nor do I ever intend to do so. I read The Horsefly Chronicles. I had many doubts about the paranormal claims in the book. I read a lot of books. Most are not about the paranormal, as I sometimes just need a break from the spooky stuff to clear my head. I write a paranormal blog. I wrote my review of the book on that blog. It was simply my honest opinion as someone in the paranormal field. I had already written my next blog on a completely unrelated subject. That was the end of it...or so I thought. Until, of course, Karissa Fleck, lead paranormal investigator of The Horsefly Chronicles case, began making wild, unfounded and untrue accusations about me on social media in retaliation for my review. I could have just blown it off considering the source and would have preferred to do so, but Ms. Fleck's accusations became too vile to ignore. So, here we are...
What follows is yet another unedited public Facebook 'conversation' initiated by Karissa Fleck, self-proclaimed "famous" psychic medium and, yes, as lead paranormal investigator of The Horsefly Chronicles case, central to the very premise of this "true" paranormal account:
Karissa Fleck: Your a sex offender posting my address on facebook. I would watch yourself if I was you.
Karissa Fleck: All your doing is digging your own grave with your obsession my lawyers have and are looking into you and so are the police.
Karissa Fleck: Karissa, what are you talking about? I have never posted anything about you on Facebook. The only thing that I wrote was my book review on my site. Feel free to have the police and lawyers contact me all they want. What you don't seem to understand is this person on Facebook isn't me. He tried to get over on me, too.
Anthony Duda: Why on earth would I have an obsession with you? I even stopped all comments on my book review because they were too negative towards you guys. Feel free to call me to discuss if you want. My # is very easily found on my website.
Karissa Fleck: Tried calling you and you didn't answer.
Anthony Duda: Was away from my cell. Saw # when I got back but didn't know it was yours.
Karissa Fleck: You didn't call me back or answer the second time I called you. What you state is a book review (which my name isn't even in the first book) is resulting in threats towards me from people who follow you if not you yourself. For someone who has never met me you are the lowest of the lows to do something like this to someone else. You block me from my other account and you act lik... (Anthony Duda: Ms. Fleck's paragraph ended mid-sentence. I have no idea what "other account" she is talking about. I have blocked her from nothing).
Karissa Fleck: Infact you know the article isn't true because you put a disclaimer up. Why would you do that other then the fact that you know you lied and you know you have lawyers watching you. (Anthony Duda: My website and all of my blogs have had the same legal disclaimer since 2011. The primary reason is liability. If someone visits a haunted location that I may mention, they do so at their own risk. It is quite astounding that most paranormal websites actually do not have such a disclaimer, which is why I consulted my attorneys before creating my site).
Anthony Duda: I'm in bed. Long day tomorrow. If you look at all of my blogs going back to the very first in 2011, you will see the same legal disclaimer. It is also on my website written by my attorneys. It was a book review. An opinion. It is what I thought of the book. There was no malicious intent.
Anthony Duda: As for lawyers watching, accusing someone baselessly of being something as vile as a sex offender on social media will not be tolerated again by my lawyers. Although you may have deleted it, I have the screen grab.
Karissa Fleck: Yea I have the screen shot of you posting my address and other things that will also not be tolerated by my lawyers so keep it up and I'll see you in court if you want to keep playing these childish games I also have the iP addresses from all the fake accounts you use to harass me.
Karissa Fleck: Fine, then take it to your lawyers and the police. It's not me. I'd be happy to answer any questions they may have. I have no idea who this person is, but I do know that when he tried to dupe me and others on a paranormal page on Facebook, he was going by the name of "Joe Para".
Anthony Duda: Furthermore, I have no idea what your address is, or even what state you now live. I suppose if someone was determined or cared, it could easily be located on the Internet.
Karissa Fleck: Yea just like I found your records online things can be easily traced.
Anthony Duda: Fine. I'd be happy to tell you where I live. Is that some type of veiled threat?
Karissa Fleck: Nope not a threat whatsoever you leave me alone I leave you alone but charges stay on record for a long time and it seems yours isn't clean.
Anthony Duda: Fine, Ms. Fleck, and please feel free to trace all of the IP addresses you may have. You will find none connected to me or, as far as I know, anyone I have any connection with. It's very strange that you have created all of this about me when I literally have not given you a second thought. You were simply part of the story of The Horsefly Chronicles, which I reviewed. Before that, I had never heard of you. I hope you catch this elusive person you say is harassing you. Actually, I honestly do. No one should be harassed. Have a good night, Ms. Fleck.
Karissa Fleck: Yea it also seems strange to me that you have done nothing but attack me since reading a book I'm not even mentioned in lol. But it's ok like I said you leave me alone I'll leave you alone. You google me and you leave your shit little blog on other things about me you are the one following me not the other way around bye anthony if I hear from you again your charges will be out for all to see (Anthony Duda: Apparently, Ms. Fleck had somehow forgotten that she was the one who initiated our 'conversation' on this day, not the other way around. While true that Ms. Fleck is not mentioned in the first volume of The Horsefly Chronicles, she has been doing extensive media interviews since 2014, aggressively promoting the book and her role in the story. As mentioned previously, Mr. Siracusa has also authored a companion book to The Horsefly Chronicles, The Curse of The Horsefly Chronicles, which details Ms. Fleck's lead role, as well as the roles of others).
Anthony Duda: Please post my "charges", Ms. Fleck. I'd love to see them. Other than a traffic ticket in 1977, there are no "charges". Really, please post these "charges" that you have. I really would love everyone to see what you supposedly have, Ms. Fleck.
Charming, isn't she? At that point, Ms. Fleck ended her attack. I'm still waiting to see the "charges" that I supposedly have, which will be news to everyone as I was a law enforcement officer on a state level for many years, licensed to carry weapons and have passed numerous criminal background checks. Apparently, they didn't care about my 1977 traffic ticket. Lucky for me, as sliding on an icy road and hitting a mailbox in my '66 Volkswagen Beetle was such a heinous crime.
Update, November 11, 2015: Unfortunately, she continues. Yes, Karissa Fleck, lead paranormal investigator of The Horsefly Chronicles case, appears to have reached an all-time low. What she has now publicly accused me of in her October 21, 2015 interview with Paranormal Herald Magazine in apparent retaliation for my review of The Horsefly Chronicles goes beyond disgusting. It goes beyond vile. There are simply no words.
I am currently out of the Boston area on an investigation in another region of the country. While in my hotel room doing research for an upcoming case, I happened upon Evan Jensen's online interview with Ms. Fleck. Mr. Jensen is the owner of the Paranormal Herald Magazine website and the person responsible for its content. Apparently, none of Ms. Fleck's interview statements or accusations were fact-checked by Mr. Jensen, nor did he or anyone associated with his website contact me. Had he bothered to do so prior to publication, he would have discovered that none of Ms. Fleck's accusations against me have any factual basis. Her tale is a complete fabrication. He and Ms. Fleck apparently believe that using the word "allegedly" absolves them from the responsibility of the truth, as if I have been accused of such disgusting charges in the legal nomenclature. That is not the case, as the only person making these wild, untrue accusations is Karissa Fleck.
Am I angry? Not at all. Am I upset? Not in the least. However, I am determined, and I will end this. I did not pick this fight, I simply reviewed The Horsefly Chronicles and Ms. Fleck's role in the case, a role that has been discussed extensively by both Ms. Fleck and Mr. Siracusa in their numerous media interviews, as well as documented in Mr. Siracusa's published companion book, The Curse of the Horsefly Chronicles.
What follows is an email sent to Evan Jensen, owner of the Paranormal Herald Magazine website and the person responsible for its content. I have been very patient throughout Ms. Fleck's libelous rampage, choosing to refrain from legal action considering the source. However, today that patience ended. I now hope both Ms. Fleck and Mr. Jensen retain excellent counsel. I will keep you, the reader, updated as advised by my attorneys.
Hello, Mr. Jensen,
My name is Anthony Duda. I just finished reading with interest the interview with Karissa Fleck that you posted on your website.
Please be aware that none of Ms. Fleck's allegations are true. According to Ms. Fleck, there is someone stalking her online, and perhaps that is the case. However, that person is not me, nor is it anyone I am familiar with to the best of my knowledge. I have never been contacted by the police, nor have I ever seen or posted any photos of Ms. Fleck, indecent or otherwise. The only thing that I have posted is my review of The Horsefly Chronicles, the updates to that review, and the email response to the review. I have never seen and am not familiar with the screen captures that you have attributed to me in your article/interview.
Ms. Fleck's accusations apparently stem from my August 25, 2015 review of the book, The Horsefly Chronicles, on my blog. As you probably know, both Ms. Fleck and the book's author, Philip Siracusa, have been heavily promoting the book and Ms. Fleck's role in the case in media interviews since 2014. In fact, Mr. Siracusa has published a companion book, The Curse of The Horsefly Chronicles, documenting her role as lead paranormal investigator in the case, as well as the roles of others. I have read both books, but only reviewed The Horsefly Chronicles on my blog, and had many doubts of the paranormal claims detailed in the book. Since posting my review of The Horsefly Chronicles on my blog, it seems that I have become the subject of an intimidation campaign by Karissa Fleck, of which I am only aware when I happen to come across websites and articles/interviews such as yours, as well as being mentioned in social media and contacted via random texts by Ms. Fleck, of which I have full documentation. You have apparently deemed it appropriate to allow Ms. Fleck to libel me with truly vile and untrue accusations on your website without bothering to perform due diligence in confirming the facts, or even extending the courtesy of contacting me to obtain those facts. In doing so, you are complicit in that libel and defamation of my character. If you had bothered to read my review of The Horsefly Chronicles, as well as the updates posted to the same review, you would have noticed that there are no accusations directed towards Ms. Fleck or Mr. Siracusa, only my opinion of the book and questions about the validity of the paranormal claims and Ms. Fleck's role in the investigation, which both have discussed extensively in media interviews while promoting the book. Ms. Fleck was only mentioned briefly in my review of The Horsefly Chronicles. Only after her 'conversations' with me did I post my opinion of said conversations and have further questions.
Today is Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at 2:56 AM and, as stated, I have just read your posted article/interview. In fact, I am away from New England, in another region of the country, on an investigation and happened upon it online while doing research for a case I am working on. I will be contacting my attorneys in Boston as soon as their offices open later this morning.
Regards,
Anthony Duda
Boston, Massachusetts
857-247-7503
www.AnthonyDuda.com
Oh, and here, again, is that notorious legal disclaimer that you'll see on each of my blogs...
Legal Disclaimer: All information, opinion and theories on this website and blog are published in good faith and for general information purposes only. I do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information on my website and blog is strictly at your own risk, and I will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with its use. All opinion and theories are strictly my own, and should not be construed as fact.
Updated: Apr 6, 2023
A Tale of Two Salems
Located and landlocked in the heart of Essex County, Danvers, Massachusetts is an unassuming town, much like many others. The familiar juxtaposition of strip malls and rural New England dominates the landscape. It's acceptably pleasant, even very nice, but "Nothing to see here..." might be the initial reaction of a casual visitor, especially when compared to New England's more scenic opportunities. No, there aren't too many 'Kodak Moments' in Danvers. Unless, of course, you happen to be a paranormal investigator...
"Oh Shitteth! We Should Not Have Donneth That..."
Whether due to lingering shame or aggressive marketing on the part of its seaside neighbor (or a bit of both), a frequently-ignored fact is that Danvers voluntarily entered history's version of the Witness Protection Program. You see, until 1752, the Town of Danvers did not exist, and had a completely different identity: Salem Village. Yes, that Salem. Shortly after hanging nineteen innocent people and crushing another, the townsfolk collectively realized they had screwed-up big time and, hoping to bury the past, save their butts and dispense with the stigma attached to the witch trial mess they created, came up with "Danvers" as the slick, guilt-free new name for their village.
The oft-ignored dirty little secret, however, is that most of the witch hysteria did not happen in Salem Town (what we now know as Salem) but in Salem Village (now Danvers). While Salem Town certainly did have some craziness going on back in the day, the bulk of the name calling and finger pointing actually happened in Salem Village. In fact, even the hangings and the "pressing" (a quaint,17th century term to describe crushing someone to death) occurred outside the limits of Salem Town.
Today, Salem is flocked to as the 'Witchcraft Capitol of the World', even though it suffers from a touch of Dissociative Identity Disorder. The business owners embrace all the spooky stuff but, by and large, the permanent residents of Salem do not. For a variety of reasons, they would prefer their city not be invaded every October, available parking not the least among them. Even within the city ranks there is a whiff of conflict, as some would prefer Salem to be known for its rich maritime history instead of black cats and broomsticks, let alone its darker side.
Even though it's actually deeper in witch trial history than Salem, Danvers has, for the most part, successfully deflected all of the hoopla and publicity. It's amazing what a simple name change and some Teflon can do. Sometimes, however, things still stick. And, yes, sometimes, the buried refuse to remain dead...
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead
Rebecca Nurse was one of the twenty innocent people put to death, 'convicted' of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials. Stoic and dignified to the end, she was hanged on July 19, 1692, her story probably the most well-known of the unfortunate victims.
I have heard and read numerous reports of odd sensations and occurrences from people visiting The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, her original home meticulously maintained by the Danvers Alarm List Company, a dedicated group of living history reeanactors in the Danvers, Massachusetts area, and finally had the time to quickly grab some equipment and spend a few hours there.
Date of Visit: Friday, July 24, 2015
Time of Visit: 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM EDT (Time approximate)
Location of Visit: 149 Pine Street, Danvers, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA
Coordinates of Visit: N42° 33' 30.094", W70° 56' 53.885" (WGS84)
42.558359,-70.948302 (GPS)
Weather Conditions During Visit: Sunny, 78°F
Equipment Used During Visit: 1) Moditronic Deep Infrared Camera 2) Spectercam Full Spectrum HD Camcorder
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead is open varying hours depending on time of year. Please call 978-774-8799 or visit the website for further information. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and super-pleasant, and are happy to answer any questions you may have. Admission: Adults: $7.00, Seniors (65 and older): $5.00, Children 16 and under: $4.00, Children under 6: Free. Guided tours begin at 10:30, 11:30, 1:00 and 2:00 and last 40 minutes to an hour. All information is believed accurate at the time of this writing.
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead
Danvers (Salem Village)
Massachusetts
The Buildings
All of the structures on the grounds of The Rebecca Nurse Homestead look as though they belong, but only the house itself is original to the land. The barn and shop were located at another homestead, and re-erected on the property in 1983 to replace the original Nurse barn that burned down in 1964. The Shoemaker's Shed and Dairy Shed were brought from other locations as well. The impressive Salem Village Meeting House is an exact reproduction of the 1692 Salem Village Meeting House, and was built in 1984 for the film Three Sovereigns for Sarah, which was filmed on the location.
The Grounds
Sitting on 25-acres of grassy fields and woodlands, I can't say that I blame whomever or whatever for wanting to hang around the place past their mortal expiration date. Not only are the grounds saturated with history, they also drip with atmosphere. One gets the impression that the centuries-old trees are the silent sentinels of the property, watching over the Homestead.
The Graveyard
So far, I've sounded much more like a tour guide than a paranormal investigator, but here's where things take a turn for the creepy: Welcome to The Nurse Graveyard...
Family graveyards presented somewhat of a problem for the early settlers, and it went something like this: Uncle Ezekial dies. Uncle Ezekial is placed in a wooden box. The wooden box containing Uncle Ezekial is planted in the ground. The wooden box eventually rots and, well...so does Uncle Ezekial. Uncle Ezekial seeps into the ground water. Before long, Uncle Ezekial is with you in your bathtub (creepy). And in your tea (beyond creepy). And suddenly, the chamber pot becomes the most valued and fought over possession in the 17th century New England home. Yes, the entire family has come down with a screamin' case of "Uncle Ezekial's Revenge". Or worse.
To avoid all this unpleasantness, family graveyards were located as far away on the property as possible from the house and ground water supply, so as not to contaminate the well. The Nurse Graveyard is located in the back of a field, far from the living area.
"At The Corner of Happy and Healthy"?
Since Rebecca Nurse was convicted and executed for the charge of witchcraft and cavorting with the Devil, she was not allowed a Christian burial. In fact, none of the twenty men and women found 'guilty' were allowed such burials, their bodies simply and unceremoniously thrown into a ditch after the party was over. It is believed that Rebecca Nurses' son, Benjamin, secretly retrieved her body from Gallows Hill under the cover of darkness and buried her somewhere on the Nurse Homestead grounds. The grave was not marked in case the 'good' people of Salem Village got curious and decided not to let Rebecca rest in peace. There is a memorial that was erected in The Nurse Graveyard in 1885 but, the truth is, no one knows for certain where her remains are buried. To avoid the ground water contamination issues mentioned above, it's a safe bet to assume that she was buried on the grounds as far away from the house as possible, and that probably would have been the area that is now the family graveyard.
Speaking of Gallows Hill, the 'official' Gallows Hill, located in Salem (Salem Town) in what is now known as Gallows Hill Park, is one of those big, fat lies of history. The real Gallows Hill, where the carnage took place, is likely located on what is now private property abutting a Walgreens on Boston Street, a location known as Proctor's Ledge. It's ironic their sales slogan is that their stores are located "At The Corner of Happy and Healthy". My guess is that Rebecca and the gang would beg to differ.
Blast from the Past
Twice while walking through the house, I felt a very noticeable cold breeze hit me while taking pictures. There is no air conditioning in the original section of the structure, and the indoor temperature averaged 80°F. I could find nothing to account for the sensation.
(Click on image to enlarge)
Cold Breeze Photo #1
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015): A blast of cold air hit me while taking this shot in the kitchen of The Rebecca Nurse Homestead. I saw nothing unusual when taking this photo, yet the camera recorded this image. These are not blurred images caused by the movement of a handheld camera. While EXIF data shows that the shutter speed was, indeed, slow (1/20 sec.), the camera was securely tripod-mounted. Whatever this was, it was moving and blurring the image, not the other way around. Taken with the Moditronic Deep Infrared camera.
Cold Breeze Photo #2
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015): Another 'cold air' shot taken in the kitchen of The Rebecca Nurse Homestead. Again, I saw nothing unusual. Taken with the Moditronic Deep Infrared camera.
The Macabre Mosaic
There is something not quite 'right' about The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, as the photographs seem to indicate. During my visit, the kitchen seemed to be the focal point of activity and photographic anomalies. In particular, the back kitchen windows seemed to almost tell a story. Life sucked back in 1692 New England and, other than the Church (and Rebecca would soon discover in the worst way that they had no sense of humor), any type of social life was frowned-upon. Perhaps she spent much of her time sitting at her kitchen table, gazing out those windows. And Rebecca Nurses' kitchen is as good a place as any for a dash of common sense and a pinch of caution: Our brains often try to make recognizable shapes out of random patterns, a phenomenon known as apophenia, so we always have to be mindful of 'seeing' things that are not really there. Still, taking everything into account, the following photographs definitely fit into the 'high weirdness' category, which is why I present them here. There have been some interesting online comments concerning these particular windows, and I was determined to get to the truth. I'm not sure that I have, but this may be the first time they have been photographed and examined using deep infrared and full spectrum technologies. The soft focus is inherent in both technologies. No manipulation was done on these images except minimum contrast enhancement and black and white conversion. So, without further adieu...
(Click on image to enlarge)
Rear Kitchen Windows (Deep Infrared)
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015).
Rear Kitchen Windows (Full Spectrum)
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015).
Enlargement: Left Kitchen Window (Deep Infrared)
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015): Enlargement of left kitchen window.
Enlargement: Left Kitchen Window (Full Spectrum)
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015): Enlargement of left kitchen window.
Enlargement: Right Kitchen Window (Deep Infrared)
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015): Enlargement of right kitchen window.
Enlargement: Left Window, Top Half, Top Right Pane (Full Spectrum)
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015): Writing? What does it say?
Enlargement: Left Window, Top Half, Top Right Pane (Deep Infrared)
The Rebecca Nurse Homest. ad, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015): Writing? What does it say?
Enlargement: Left Window, Lower Half, Upper Left Pane (Deep Infrared)
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015): Is that a woman hanging from a tree?
Enlargement: Right Window, Top Half, Lower Right Pane (Deep Infrared)
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015): Who's this satanic-looking little fellow?
Enlargement: Left Window, Top Half, Lower Right Pane (Deep Infrared)
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015): This was barely visible in Full Spectrum, so I didn't post it. See the cross? There is no cross inside the home in that location. And what's with the hunched, Nosferatu-like figure?
Enlargement: Left Window, Top Half, Center Pane (Full Spectrum)
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015): Lynch mob scene in lower portion of window?
Enlargement: Right Window, Upper Half, Lower Right Pane (Full Spectrum)
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015): Head and shoulders shot of a hooded figure?
Enlargement: Left Window, Lower Half, Center Pane (Full Spectrum)
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015): Is that one evil-looking face or what?
Enlargement: Right Window, Lower Half, Upper Left Pane (Deep Infrared)
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015): Hello, Kitty! Is this a profile of an animal head?
Left Window, Upper Half, Upper Center Pane (Deep Infrared)
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015): Apparently, an evil pig demanded equal face time. He's such a ham!
Enlargement: Left Window, Upper Half, Lower Center Pane (Deep Infrared)
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead, Danvers (Salem Village), Massachusetts (2015): Another shot of the 'mist', this time in the window. And finally, what you've all been wondering. Witches? Admit it, you know it's crossed your mind...
...What About Donatella??
Seriously? Do you have any doubt? I'm just sayin'...
Is The Rebecca Nurse Homestead Haunted?
I will leave that question for you to ponder while examining these photographs late at night. Come to your own conclusions. Time for bed? Perhaps you should leave the nightlight on, just in case...
Until next time, pleasant dreams...
Update, January 12, 2016: There has long been a debate concerning the actual location where the hangings took place. A group of researchers, using scientific methodology and process of elimination, today announced the results of the work they began in 2010. As mentioned in my blog, the actual location was not the 'official' Gallows Hill, but the unassuming, rocky location next to the Walgreens at 59 Boston Street in Salem known as Proctor's Ledge.
Legal Disclaimer: All information, opinion and theories on this website and blog are published in good faith and for general information purposes only. I do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information on my website and blog is strictly at your own risk, and I will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with its use. All opinion and theories are strictly my own, and should not be construed as fact.