'Well, It Wasn't Wilson Castle

21 April 2026 

1154

R. Linda:

Who'd a thunk it, a ghost hunter in the family. Well, I would have, because I've had me share of strange happenings and even wrote about most of them for you. Well, me eldest, that would be O'Hare Alloysious O'Sullivan, the redheaded genius who is known for his logical thinking, seems to have a quirky side where that logic goes out the window and in comes wild imaginings of ghostly spectres, and such. Yes, indeed, I didn't just discover this side quirk, no, I've seen it coming for a while now, so I'm not surprised.

The young ghostbuster has a group of ghostbusters he does. They have gone to Wilson Castle in Proctor, Vermont, a few times and have got some weird stuff like blinking lights, beeping machines, and bells ringing on their equipment. Oh, and the equipment be top-of-the-line in ghost-hunting circles. There is a bell that tinkles when a ghost touches it or comes near; there is a radio receiver of sorts that lets ghosts answer questions; there are laser lights that detect motion and sound; and I could go on about magnetometers and such, but you get the picture. 

The last venture out was a 7-hour drive to Hinsdale, New York, to the Dandy House, said to be haunted, and, like Wilson Castle, you can rent the place, set up your ghost-detecting equipment, and spend the night! Yes, a wonderful idea. 

Why Hinsdale? It is said that the Dandy family experienced "severe demonic oppression" whilst living there (1970 - 74). There was even a priest sent for who performed several exorcisms, but still the family fled the house, too many bumps and knocks in the night and other crazy things going on, they couldn't take it anymore. 

Unlike Wilson Castle, which is considered the most haunted location in Vermont, it is tame. There have been reported sightings of "shadow people" in Castle Wilson, figures in windows, disembodied voices, music, and cold drafts everywhere (probably because ghosts don't need the heat turned on, and after all, aren't castles drafty?). 

Anyway, after the many visits to graveyards, the visits to Wilson Castle, Hinsdale, was ripe for investigation. Yes, most of the team were up for a long, long drive into the further reaches of New York State; they even rented a car to make sure they got there without any breakdowns. I was asking all kinds of questions, and finally, a frustrated O'Hare said, "Why don't you come with us?" 

Well, why don't I? I had nothing pressing on me plate, so I accepted, which I think surprised the hell out of O'Hare and his team, because I don't think they truly meant the invitation, and me accepting ... well, who'd a thunk it?

Yes, there I was with three young gents, me, the old guy. Now, R. Linda, I do think as an Irish person I have some psychic abilities. I offered these up, and they laughed like it was a joke on me part. I gave O'Hare the "remember the time" stories he's heard throughout his young life, but he wasn't taking any of me history as truth, just blarney. After all, they were the professionals, and I was what? I was a dad who had no wisdom or knowledge like they do. OK.

These newfangled ghost hunters have "scientific" equipment now. They don't go on gut feelings or "seeing things" no one else does, or ghostly voices in one's head with a "message from beyond." 

Cutting to the chase, we started off with one more ghosthunter than I thought was going. They packed all the equipment in the trunk, and I say "packed" because this was a compact car with little trunk room, so they bungied the thing shut (I tell ya, they are creative), not to mention the leg room inside, which I am mentioning. Four in the backseat, and me, long-legged self, in the passenger and O'Hare the designated first driver. 

I could feel the resentment of me taking up space in the shotgun seat by one equally long-legged ghostbuster sitting directly behind me with his knees around his ears. If he had lasers for eyes, he would have penetrated me brain with "messages from beyond," I be sure. The drive was LONG and BORING. The talk was non-stop chatter for about 40 miles, then it drifted off to occasional spurts and finally died. Well, mostly for the snoring in the backseat. 

We all took a turn at driving the ghostbuster vehicle, and finally, in the late afternoon, with the long shadows falling and not without a few rainstorms, we arrived, knackered and unenthusiastic. And why? Hinsdale was not Wilson Castle. Oh no, the beautiful architectural facade of a brownstone castle that these guys were used to was met with this:

1850s  farmhouse. Yup. And I have a picture of this (unknowingly in me house, hanging over the TV)

The picture, similar 

The first thing that was noticeable to me, at least, was the caged-in windows. Was that to keep something inside, or prevent someone like me from getting out in a hurry?

The house was depressing, the weather was depressing, we were knackered and found that depressing. It was like, forget setting up equipment, let's find a Dunkin' and go get coffee and something to eat. But no, we trudged inside and got things set after "walking the house" with a tour guide to see what was what. I helped unload the car, helped where I could, but felt mostly in the way because I was the odd man out. However, I enjoyed watching the equipment being tested, the chatter between ghosthunters, and made meself comfortable in a corner until I looked up and saw this: 

The doll on the right is possessed, it is said

The doll supposedly moves around, but I didn't see any of that. Her friend was placed with her for a spookier effect, and does nothing, supposedly. Anyway, I thought it better not to have me back to her just in case she decided to fly at me face or do something equally heart-attackish. 

At one point, with everyone and everything set, I asked the about-to-leave tour guide about the abode. I was told that apparitions have been seen, things move inside the house, eerie screams, smells come and go, footsteps, and that there are said to have been 7 murders committed in the house. After many paranormal peeps tried to "cleanse" the house of its weird and bizarre activity, the activity picked up instead of disappearing. Oh well, one can try, right?

The kicker is the usual explanation for these things: the house is built over a Native American burial ground. Yup. It became an inn (how? I don't know that's true, it's smaller than a shoebox, but I was given another explanation, which I will reveal in a mo), and awful things occurred during that time. What awful things, maybe the 7 murders? The story goes that the family that lived in it (no names provided or remembered, hum) told travellers the house was an inn of sorts, and they could stop there on their travels and have a good hot meal. But this family would murder their "guests" and steal the goods they had on them. Truth or fiction? I dunno, no one does. However, I was told there are mass graves behind the house. Oh goody.

Well, one of us did feel some kind of touch on his face. Wasn't me, I wasn't "blessed" enough, I guess. There were no indistinct voices floating around; I saw no spectres in the other room, and the haunted doll stayed in place with her companion. No wolf howled outside, but an owl did unhinge all of us for a short time with its hooting. 

After about an hour, the equipment started doing "stuff." Yes, lights blinked, the bell went off, it was like suddenly someone turned on the power because things were "happening." No one got any sleep with all this going on. They did their best to "hunt" down these mysterious occurrences, though. Everyone had been very busy for a long time.

I didn't help matters much when I was out in the first section of the house, where there is no second story, and we all heard thumping above us.

"Let's get up there!" Someone said.

"Uh, pardon the intrusion, but there is no second story on this part of the house." I reminded.

"Then it has to be on the roof!" The same undeterred person told me.

They trooped outside (two of them) and saw, as I thought, notta.

That gave me an idea. I know I should have stayed home because I cannot behave, but they were prime for the taking! As they all went upstairs in the other part of the house with a second story, I volunteered to stay with the equipment downstairs. As soon as I heard them walking around up there, I got on tiptoes and, with me fist, knocked on the ceiling. Oh me gosh, the ruckus that caused. I was down there snickering to meself as they came running down, asking me, "Did you hear that?"

"Well, no, what was I supposed to hear?" I asked, putting on an innocent face.

I will say there were some unexplained happenings that are too many to list and have no plausible explanation. There were times when I felt like I would just go out and wait in the car for sunrise, but I had heard what the tour guide had said about long-gone Native Americans walking the property and how they probably weren't happy to have the house built on their burial and hunting grounds. I found that last perplexing. I don't think Indians would hunt on their burial grounds, so maybe he misunderstood the term, happy hunting ground, which is what Native burial sites are sometimes referred to. 

Early the next morning, just as the sun was rising, O'Hare went outside with the bell and sat by the pond in the back, admiring the countryside (it is beautiful), then the bell suddenly began ringing. He put on his headphones for communication, and someone named Mildred spoke to him. When she stopped, the heavens opened up and drenched him. When she came back, it stopped, and when she left, the same thing. Odd, but I knew downpours were expected; it was just odd they came and went when they did. 

Even the pond water was doing odd things, like a shark was circling closer and closer. O'Hare didn't stay around for whatever it was under the water to get near him. This last had unnerved me more, and I did go sit in the car, yes, the shotgun seat. I knew the other guy was going to be pissed off that I had taken that seat again, but oh welly, as the Weasil would say. However, all the way back I had the hair on me neck rise more than once, as if I felt we had brought back a ghostly presence. O'Hare is very exact in making sure he does not give spirits permission to accompany or possess him, but the other three don't take that seriously, so who knew?

Did we bring back something with us? Well, let me tell you the return was spookier than being in that house. That night in me own abode, I heard footsteps, heard sounds and voices, and there was an owl outside on the porch railing hooting! O'Hare heard nothing, but he was exhausted and slept deeply. Meanwhile, in the next town over, one of the investigators went into his bedroom, and the door slammed behind him. No one in the house but him! So while we got nothing but someone named Mildred at the Dandy House, we sure did bring some leftover activity to our own homes.

OR, so we all thought until they went through their infrared photos and other photos a few days later. Yes, they certainly conjured something, and I'd be glad not to still be at the Hinsdale abode. If you look closely, you will see a hooded figure to the left of the ghosthunter.

Look closely, he's wonderfully oblivious at the time. Can you imagine if he "saw" that thing? 

Would I go on another of their ghost adventures? Nah, I was a fifth wheel and was in the way most of the time, and after that photo, the answer is a resounding NO! I even thought while they were upstairs looking for phenomena, I'd close me eyes and see what came to me, but then I had that brilliant idea to knock on the low ceiling, so glad I did, can you imagine THAT thing standing in front of old Gabe? Well, be a lot of activity goin' on downstairs, I can tell ya that much!

Gabe

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