Cryptic Happenings

Live Welles House Investigation

2014-02-14T18:24:00.002-05:00

This weekend, Tim Wood (Lead Investigator/Host of LiveScifi.tv and recent owner of the haunted Welles House in Wilkes Barre, Pa) will be hosting a special 48-hour live investigation of his haunting new abode.

The foreboding home that sits on 46 S. Welles St in Wilkes Barre, Pa is over 150 years old and has a haunting history of suicide, drug abuse, mental illness, and other forms of human tragedy. Its dark past has led many of its more recent inhabitants to report a plethora of paranormal occurrences throughout the home, which include:

Unexplained bangs, and scurrying noises from one end of the house to the other.

Unexplained illnesses and depression.

Nightly visits from a well-dressed phantom man and the appearance of a ghost of a young girl who walks through doors.

Shrieks, moans, and crying that seemed to be coming from the attic and within the house’s walls.

Bloody spots appearing on walls and floors in the living room.

A daughter being pushed down the stairs only to mysteriously float to the bottom of the landing on her feet unhurt.

Unexplained scratches, in groups of threes, would appear on the resident’s bodies.

Sounds of boots tramping up and down the floors and in the walls of the house when there was no one on the stairs.

The discovery of little tin box behind one of the chimney bricks in the basement, which contained human molars wrapped with chicken bones placed in the shape of a cross.

Sounds like something from the Amityville Horror, right? Well, it just so happens that Ed and Lorraine Warren, the famed paranormal-investigating couple who helped write the book on Amityville, had visited the creepy property in 1980, and told the local Times Leader newspaper, "It's haunted. It's definitely haunted."

The property has been sold many times over its long history, and was just recently acquired by Wood for his paranormal interests in December of 2013 after the previous owner died. Here's to hoping he opens tours to the public so we can all get a chance to check out this truly terrifying gem one day.

Be sure to catch the live 48-hour long investigation of the Welles House this Saturday starting at 9PM EST at www.youtube.com/livescifi. For more information on the house check out http://www.welleshouse.com/

Keep it cryptic,

-Shawn

Number Stations

2011-11-04T21:02:00.002-04:00

Spending one of my usual days off stumbling the internet to find anything interesting, I came across something I've never heard of before...

Apparently there's been a great mystery spanning across the world that started during the tension-filled months following World War II. Hidden in the seldom-used static of short-wave radio, something called "number stations" have been broadcasting unknown messages to unknown recipients- no one knows who is generating these waves, why they are sending them, or whom they are meant for. Many speculate that they are government-encoded messages sent out by the military of each major country around the globe to relay secret information or instructions to military personnel or even spies.

One of the most fascinating of these stations is the Russian UVB-76, or The Buzzer, as it's been called by researchers. Apparently, this station has been broadcasting a monotonous buzzing sound 24 hours a day, 7 days a week since 1982, only breaking this pattern 7 known times over it's 29 year run to give a short message in Russian- usually listing numbers or unknown names. Major speculation has surrounded this station in particular since it's discovery, and has been thought to be everything from a Russian weather monitor, to a nuclear weapons robot that was set up during the cold war- armed to launch Russia's entire nuclear arsenal at the United States with just a single signal...

Here are a few creepy clips of number stations that have been recorded over the years through the Conet Project..

And this one is of the infamous UVB-76...

If you're interested, there is a blog set up to monitor UVB-76 for free on the internet at http://uvb-76.net/.

Keep it cryptic!
-Shawn

Are You Afraid of the Dark?

2011-07-31T01:35:00.002-04:00

Being a 90's kid myself, Nickelodeon's recent decision to bring back its shows from the 90's in a new block called "The 90's are All That" on their Teen Nick network was possibly the greatest news that I've heard in a long time. The internet has been abuzz with petitions and Facebook groups begging the kids' station to bring back all of these programs since the day they were cancelled. Momentum has grown over the years and it seems that the channel's executives have finally heard the calls from thousands of fans: "bring back the 90's!"

Well, you're probably wondering why I'm posting this on Cryptic Happenings. No, it's not just me gushing over the fact that we'll all get to have Clarissa explain "it all" to us again (while battling her evil, ginger brother of course), or that we'll get to see Doug chase after his beloved Patty Mayonnaise, or even that we'll find out how much Kel actually loves orange soda... On second thought, yeah, I am sort of gushing, but the main point in me even bringing this all up is because Nickelodeon has also said that it will be focusing on bringing back almost all of its classic favorites including "Are You Afraid of the Dark". Who can't recall that creepy show opening that terrified us all as kids, or the weird sand stuff they would throw into the campfire while telling the night's scary story, or even better yet, the infamous clown episode?

Sure, the acting on the show was horrendous and the effects were completely laughable, but as a kid, even I have to admit that show used to scare the hell out of me.

Nickelodeon has yet to comment on when they will be airing this and many of our other classic favorites, but for now we'll just have to sit back on the orange couch with a bottle of orange soda and enjoy reruns of "Doug", "All That", "Clarissa Explains it All", and "Kenan and Kel". You can catch them all weeknights on Teen Nick @ Midnight EST.

Keep it Cryptic!
-Shawn

An Evil Night Together..

2011-07-19T20:06:00.002-04:00

There's just something about Jill Tracy's music that I can't even begin to explain... I would even go as far as to say it's... cryptic? ;)

-Shawn

Creepy Vintage Photography

2011-07-18T20:16:00.000-04:00

Anyone else find old pictures to be strange, bizarre, or just plain... cryptic? Sure, you probably won't find any of these laying around in grammy's attic, but hey... someone did.

We're Baaaaa-aaaack

2011-07-18T14:40:00.003-04:00

Sadly, posts have been slow lately here at Cryptic Happenings, but I plan on changing this very soon... Stay tuned for new surprises coming in the next few days...

Keep it cryptic!

-Shawn

Ghost Adventures Season Premier

2010-09-15T16:16:00.000-04:00

The Ghost Adventures Crew returns this week for an epic season premier in the infamous haunted hot-spot, Gettysburg, Pa. I myself had some awesome experiences there, and of course, being the history freak that I am, started to get more and more excited the more I heard about this episode...

Thanks to the awesome people at the Travel Channel, I was treated to a rough-cut pre-showing of the episode before it airs this Friday, and let me tell you, this was by far my favorite investigation to date! There was so much to investigate in Gettysburg that the team had to break the lock down up into 3 different parts: The Soldiers National Museum, The Jennie Wade House, and the Engine House. I don't want to give anything away so you guys will just have to wait to check it out for yourselves.

Don't miss this 3-part lock down season premier event on the Travel Channel this Friday 9 E/P!

Pennhurst Asylum - "The Fear is Real"

2010-08-05T11:36:00.000-04:00

I woke up to some awesome news this morning.. The Pennhurst Asylum haunted attraction website is now up and running! You can check it out here. As I've said before, this haunt looks terrifying and really promising to say the least.

One thing that caught my eye was the description for Tunnel Terror: "After you visit this amazing haunted house, you are escorted into the bowels of Pennhurst and let loose to find your way home.. through the dank, dark underground labyrinth that surrounds the property. All of the buildings are connected by a tunnel system that is reputed to be haunted, so be careful as you wander home." We know about these tunnels being extremely long, dark, and haunted from basically every single ghost hunting show that has visited Pennhurst... Needless to say, this is probably going to be one of the best parts of the haunt.

Another note of interest is that the Bates Team is going to be using the haunt as a means to not only scare people, but to also preserve the sad history of Pennhurst through a new museum on the property.

Pennhurst Asylum is going to be running from September 24th - November 7th on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30-11, and on Sundays from 6:30-10. Admission is only $25 per "patient."

Be sure to add Pennhurst to your list of haunted attractions to check out this Fall.. I know I'll be there!

Gettysburg Evidence?

2010-07-29T21:17:00.001-04:00

I was in Gettysburg, PA not too long ago taking pictures for a school project when I came across this...

(Click image to make it larger)

It's a picture of the monument in the National Cemetery around the spot where Lincoln is thought to have given his famous Gettysburg Address. If you look at the lower right-hand side, I have circled what I saw when I went back to choose the pictures for my project... I'm not sure if I'm just over excited about possibly catching something cool and it's just a tree limb blurred in the background, or if it really is, like I think, a soldier pointing... or something?

Here is that spot zoomed in:

Please comment with your opinions, I would love to hear what you think!!

Pennhurst Asylum

2010-07-28T20:41:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure if many of you were watching last October, but the Travel Channel had a show called America Haunts that ran in multiple segments and showed off some of the best haunted attractions in the country. One that caught my interest was a new haunt located not too far from my house, in Spring City, Pennsylvania. Many of you are probably familiar with Pennhurst and its depressing history, and most notably, its ghosts- made famous by TAPS, the Ghost Adventures Crew, etc. and quietly revered as the epitome of abandoned places by "urban explorers" alike. Ever since I had seen Pennhurst on T.V. I have wanted to explore it, but the hefty fines in place to keep trespassers out has made me think twice about doing so...

Thankfully, Randy Bates (owner of The Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride in Gradyville, PA) has purchased the crippling Pennhurst, and decided to turn it into one of the newest and most terrifying haunts in the country. In the Pennhurst segment of America Haunts, not much info was given- just a name, "Pennhurst Institute of Fear," which has seemingly since been changed, a vague opening date of October, 2010, and a brief walk through with some teenage girls who were in tears by the end of their short venture.

After this segment aired, all information about this haunt seemed to disappear off the face of the earth... I never heard about it again, never saw an online ad, never saw that segment of America Haunts ever again, and all Google searches lead me to forums where people were searching for the answer to the same question I had, "WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS HAUNT??!!!"

Well, after long endless searches to the farthest ends of the internet, I found my answer. Apparently, the name of the haunt was changed to "Pennhurst Asylum" (which sounds a lot more ominous in my opinion). I found this out through facebook (of all places) after I came across their page here. This lead me then to their official site, which can be found here. Not much info is given, as their website is still under development and their wall postings on facebook consist mostly of ads to hire actors...

I will be sure to keep a close eye on all developments with "Pennhurst Asylum," so stick with us to learn more about this amazing haunt and many of the others as we get closer to this Halloween season.

Abandoned Memories: Defunct Amusement Parks

2010-07-24T12:56:00.000-04:00

Usually when we think of an amusement park, it brings on fond memories of nostalgia: funnel cake, people laughing, the smell of cotton candy, etc. But once an amusement park is defunct, it's hard to imagine that place ever having been a place of happiness...

Note: All images are property of their respective owners.

Ghost Adventures Live Rewind

2010-01-14T16:11:00.000-05:00

The Ghost Adventures crew will be taking a look back to their live event from last October at the Trans- Allegheny Lunatic Asylum this Friday. If you weren't able to catch their live show, be sure not to miss this recap January 15th at 9 E/P on the Travel Channel!

New Site

2010-01-10T02:36:00.000-05:00

The main site for Cryptic Happenings is now up and running! Please stop by, and check it out here.

Wolfe Manor

2010-01-10T00:45:00.000-05:00

In case you missed last night's episode:

In it's 70 years of operation Wolfe Manor became the final resting place for thousands of people. The originals owners lost the home in the great depression. After sitting vacant for years, Wolfe Manor was turned into the Clovis Sanitarium. Former employees tell numerous stories about poor conditions, mistreatment, and abuse of patients.

Wolfe Manor housed 100-150 patients at a time until it was closed in 1997. Overcrowding was a constant problem, making it difficult for any patient to receive proper care. The rooms were so overcrowded that some patients slept in the hallways. With so many patients and a shortage of staff, there were a lot of deaths inside the mansion. Since there was no local coroner to come for the deceased the bodies had to be stored in the basement. They were sometimes there for days at a time.

The spirits are Wolfe Manor are very "hands on." While researching some of the history behind the mansion Zak asks paranormal investigator Terry Campbell if he has ever been physically touched. "All the time. That is the most frequent thing that happens here," Terry responds.

The guys hear voices and feel strange energy even before the lockdown begins. Wolfe Manor is sure to be a hair-raising investigation.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T16:29:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to take the time to say Merry Christmas everyone, and thank you for reading my blog! I look forward to sharing all things cryptic with you guys into the next year!

-Shawn

La Purisima Mission

2009-06-18T21:38:00.012-04:00

Hey everyone, don't forget to catch the new episode of Ghost Adventures tomorrow night! According to the Travel Channel,

"The Ghost Adventures crew investigates the haunted occurrences at the La Purisima Mission in Lompoc, California. The former Spanish residence of padres, soldiers and the native Chumash is beautiful, but the air around it is heavy with the tragedy of disease and war. At La Purisima the sounds of flutes and the voices of the long-gone inhabitants still linger. Trapped within its white-washed walls, the spirits seem bound to this land, forever locked in their struggle with each other."
Here's a video preview from the Travel Channel:

Check out the new episode Friday, June 19 @9 E/P on the Travel Channel!

Ghost Adventures Season 2 Episode 2

2009-06-11T17:45:00.005-04:00

Episode two of the Ghost Adventures second season will be on this Friday night on the Travel Channel! Zak, Nick, and Aaron are raising the spirits yet again this week, and this episode looks even better than the last. Tomorrow night, they will be exploring the Castillo de San Marcos, and according to the Travel Channel,

"The Castillo de San Marcos was built in the 1600s by Spanish settlers in St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest city in America. More than 300 years later, the fort is still defended by the spirits of soldiers and haunted by the prisoners once locked inside its walls."
Here's a preview given to us by the Travel Channel:

Just watching Zak scream Spanish words at the long dead inhabitants of the
Castillo de San Marcos makes this episode definitely worth watching. You can
catch the team this Friday night @ 9 E/P on the Travel Channel!

P.S. The crew will be conducting an online chat @ 10 E/P
right after Friday night's show, so stop by and ask them all your questions!
Click here for more details.

Get Outta Here!

2009-06-05T22:21:00.005-04:00

I know you've all heard it before. That lame story that one of your friends tells you about a time they were at their sister's friend's uncle's second cousin twice removed's poker buddy's house, which of course is said to have more ghosts than a level of pacman and be more horrifying than dinner at Rosie O'Donnell's house, and they insist that everything that they are telling you is the honest-to -God truth. We hear these stories all the time; at family gatherings, lunch with friends, emails, etc. Whether they are true or not will most probably always remain a mystery, but let's face it, we like to tell interesting stories. We have all done it before; exaggerating a bit, and pushing the envelope so far on the facts that its shredding at the seams. Who doesn't want to come across as the fearless ghost hunter who stood up to the unknown and lived to tell about it?! This brings me to my point. I want to know the most bogus story of the paranormal you've ever been told, or you yourself have told. Please comment us and share your story!

My Paranormal Space

2009-06-03T17:55:00.003-04:00

There is a relatively new paranormal social site out there known as My Paranormal Space. I joined when it just got started, and I have to say it's pretty impressive. The site is filled with many active members who have a passion for the paranormal just as yourself. The basic idea behind the Space is to promote your own opinions and ideas on the paranormal, and to share your findings with the world. Anyone can join, and since it's free and easy, why not? The founder, PARA4, is a very welcoming member of the community, and im sure if you have an interest in all things unexplained you will fit in quite well over there. Click here to join today!

Ghost Adventures Season 2 Premiere

2009-06-03T16:49:00.004-04:00

Ghost Adventures is finally back with new episodes! Join Zak, Aaron, and Nick on their investigation of Preston Castle. It looks to be an interesting investigation, given the history of the ill-fated school. Click here to find out more information about Preston Castle, and be sure to check out Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel this Friday @ 9 E/P!

Bear With Us...

2009-06-02T20:47:00.001-04:00

I know the blog has been very boring lately and slow on the updates, but please bear with us as we are trying our hardest to get this thing kicked into shape! Look for weekly updates starting next month!

Ghost Hunters ep. 4

2009-04-01T17:27:00.004-04:00

Don't forget to join Jason and Grant tonight @9 on SciFi. They will be investigating a Cuban club, and the commercials look promising.

Paranormal State Returns!!

2009-01-05T21:30:00.003-05:00

Paranormal State returns to A&E on January 19th at 10 P.M!!! Be sure not to miss it! The previews look good.