Home
Library
The Barn
For sale or trade
The Gardens
The Dreaded Hallway
Bedrooms in the Old House
Breaking Ground!
Foundation and Framing
Addition Interior
The History of the House
A Brief History of Clermont County, Ohio
Our Old House In Modern Day Clermont County, Ohio
H A U N T E D ??
PHOTOS
INDIAN LORE
Trials! Triumphs! Tribulations!
Our (Very) Old House
H A U N T E D ??

WE GET STORIES FROM THE FAMILY

As you would imagine, in a house nearly 200 years old, there are "stories" coming back to us about "unexplained mysteries" in the house.

My favorite story is one that a son-in-law of the former owner relates. He was down in the celler one afternoon making repairs to a water pump. He was finishing up soldering his final two joints when he noticed that a piece of copper tubing, bent in a U shape and hanging on a wall nail, was swinging back and forth. As he looked around to see if a cat or "something" had bumped into it (or even if he had bumped it) it started to swing faster and faster. He quickly finished his soldering and high-tailed it out of the basement!

Apparently none of the incidents were ever mean-spirited, mostly things that, if "invisible," someone might do to get a good laugh.

Like the time the family Victrola came on of its own accord and started playing Christmas music. Or the many times that someone could be heard coming down the stairs from the second floor, but no one ever appeared at the foot of the steps.

"They" say that none of these things have happened in many years, at least since the youngest child moved from the house.

Hmmmmm............

Here is a picture of those steps.

Picture of haunted steps.

Smith Gravestone

This is the headstone of William Smith (located next to his wife's (Lucretia) headstone) marking his grave overlooking the creek that flows through the property. It is located in the back yard of the former owner's daughter and son-in-law. Their property was once part of the original Smith acreage.

Now, I have to admit that I am not real thrilled to be sharing my life with past owners. I mean, what if they don't like what we are doing to their house? My wife thinks it will be cool. I think she is nuts.

I grew up in an old house in the heart of Cincinnati. It was built by a member of the Jergens family (the hand lotion people). I had a lot of unexplained things happen in that house. I heard things and "felt" things I really don't want to experience again.


Just before Christmas we were doing some work in the house, my wife upstairs, me down. I yelled up that I had to run up to the horse barn to get a tool and would be right back.

When I got back, my wife came rushing up to me, "Well, I've been initiated, I heard voices, like a child crying." She said, obviously excited about her experience.

She went on to describe the sounds and how long they lasted.

Later in the day, the son-in-law of the former owner pulled into the driveway to say hello and to better tie down a Christmas tree he had cut from the woods. Of course, my wife could not wait to tell him and his family of her experence with the occult.

They listened and then started laughing.

"You didn't hear a ghost, you heard our daughter crying and yelling for help when she got trapped in a raspberry patch! She was right across the street from your house searching for us and crying."

You could see the disappointment in my wife's face (and the relief in mine!).

But now in March 2004 maybe things have changed. My husband has been telling all the stories but now it's my turn...
Our kitchen is next to a room in the old house. Since it's being remodeled, there is a sheet of plastic over the doorway to hold down the dust. It's also close to where we keep our outside shoes. A few times I've been putting on my shoes and I've heard a dog bark. I walked to the door to let her in and she was asleep by the door. This has now happened several times, each time our dog was oblivious. I didn't mention anything to my husband because he would laugh at me and then freak and say he won't live in the house. The other day I was putting on my shoes and there was the bark! But before I could say anything my husband asked something about hearing the dog bark and where was she! He heard it too!! I told him the story. We both have agreed that it wasn't the neighbors' dog. It was definately coming from the old house! Hmmmmm....