Congratulations to Hank Estrada for publishing this mighty collection of his late husband’s work. Antonio R. Garcez was a big voice in haunted places, especially in the western and southwestern United States. I was honored to write the foreword to this 660-page legacy to Garcez’s life’s work. Unforgettable Ghost Story Interviews by Antonio R. Garcez is now available wherever books are sold.
I recently returned from Sage Paracon in the United Kingdom. First, what a great time had by all! The event was held at the haunted Coombe Abbey in Coventry. The oldest part of this building dates back to 1150. (1150 bears repeating!) 1150! To borrow a British phrase, “Blimey, that’s old!” Back then, this was the largest and most influential monastery in Warwickshire. The monks oversaw the golden age of British wool production. Between 1200 and 1320, sheep farming was the region’s main occupation. Wool left here by the ton. Considering the monks were the spiritual leaders for the region, this made them powerful and wealthy… and also a threat. Historically speaking, monarchs despise competition when it comes to who is in charge. In 1345, an abbot named Geoffrey was sent to Coombe Abbey by King Edward III, to oversee the Abbey and to ensure the King gets his due. As you can imagine, when the King tries to meddle with your operation by inserting his own rat, it’s not taken kindly. We’ll never know what impropriety Geoffrey may have discovered at Coombe Abbey because he was murdered right there in the Cloister. His assailant was never discovered. In short: no one saw nuthin’. Business as usual continues for almost a century, until along comes King Henry VIII who dissolves the monasteries in 1539, shutting down Coombe Abbey as well as the other abbies in England. The King then sold those lands and abbies to his wealthy friends to help him establish a wealthy ruling class who collected taxes from their working class people, sending a generous portion up to the crown, making him more wealthy and powerful. King Henry VIII didn’t like competition from the Catholic church, plus, they wouldn’t allow him to divorce his first wife (or second, or third, or fourth, or fifth, or sixth…) which led to an awful lot of bloodshed when he needed them out of the way. Still, the King understood people were used to serving a theocracy, so he established the Church of England and declared himself the head of it. Problem solved. Easy, right? Time passes, as it does, and England continues its struggle with a monarchy and ruling class, a parliament meant to represent everyone in the country, but often falling short of the common-person’s expectations, and by 1605 a group of radicals decide it’s time for drastic action. Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James I, was living at Coombe Abbey at the time obtaining her education, when Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Treason and Plot came knocking. Not knocking… so much as attempting to kidnap the princess at gunpoint. It didn’t work. Guy Fawkes tried to blow up parliament, which also failed, and now everyone in England remembers the fifth of November with bonfires and fireworks. Today, Coombe Abbey is a haunted hotel. Sure, there’s 900 years of history here, so putting a name on a cold spot or strange knock is tricky. Yet, a common sighting is that of a ghostly monk lurking in corners and the shadows. Near the lobby, a tomb sits with Abbot Geoffrey’s story written on a placard in front. And we got to sleep and dine there among the history, the abbots, the treasonists, and of course the ghosts. It’s why we do this whole ghost-hunting thing, isn’t it? We see the present in the past. Struggles between the common people and the ruling class. Seeing the pitfalls of a theocracy. And hoping these ghosts hold some answer to fixing our own future.
Recently Boston’s ABC affiliate WCVB’s Chronicle program interviewed Jeff Belanger and Frank Grace about the haunted Eunice Williams Covered Bridge in Greenfield, Massachusetts.
In Mission 158 we explore phantom hitchhikers with author and researcher Christopher Balzano! Balzano is the author of numerous books including Dark Woods and Picture Yourself Ghost Hunting. In this mission we check out the White Lady of Easton, The Redheaded Hitchhiker of Route 44, and Resurrection Mary. Plus fairy photos in the news. Don’t miss it!
In Mission 147 we explore haunted streets, bridges, and roadside legends with author and paranormal investigator Dale Kaczmarek! From the Joplin Spooklight to phantom hitchhikers, to ghostly cars stopping by old crime scenes, to suicide bridges, America is full of roadside tales that remind us that we don’t always reach our destination alive. Kaczmarek is the president of the Ghost Research Society and director of Excursions Into the Unknown, Inc. He’s been investigating ghosts since 1975 and is the author of six books. He has appeared on Oprah, Sightings, Encounters, The Other Side, and tonight he’s beaming to the Mother Ship to talk about his latest work, Field Guide to Haunted Highways and Bridges. And don’t miss Bigfoot in the news!
In Mission 140 we explore the case behind the new hit horror movie, The Conjuring with Andrea Perron — a woman who lived through the ordeal for ten years. In 1971, the Perron Family moved into a colonial farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island, with their five daughters. They soon believed they were experiencing something diabolical. Eventually, famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren got involved. In recent years, their story evolved into a two volume book penned by Andrea Perron: House of Darkness, House of Light which served as the basis for the movie The Conjuring. Don’t miss the story from someone who lived through it!
In Mission 137 we explore how the main stream media covers the unexplained. Almost every week some news outlet will cover a paranormal story. Sometimes they do so with a scoff, other times video or photo evidence demands the public’s attention and the clips make it to prime time. Tonight the Oddballs are going to look at some headlines from around the globe and have an open discussion as to why some of these items make the news and how the topic is being covered. Could it be that disclosure is happening all around us all of the time and the media is playing its role? Tune in to find out!
In Mission 131 we explore dark hauntings and Dark Forces with author and researcher Bill Bean. What’s it like living in a home where these entities are haunting and plaguing you day and night? Bill Bean explains and shares some eerie photographs from his childhood. Could these photo anomalies be demons? Bill’s story has been featured in the Discovery Channel’s “A Haunting…” program and tonight he shares his story with you. Don’t miss it!
In Mission 121 we explore American Folklore with author S.E. Scholosser! Stories are how we connect and relate to other people and with our past, but are they more than just stories? We discuss classic legends like John Henry, Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil, The Hook, and more. Schlosser is the author of the Spooky series of books and the founder of AmericanFolklore.net. Also, Dr. Dreck tries his hand at the teleporter again and someone new shows up on the Mother Ship–tune in to see it!
In Mission 90 we explore what it’s like to live with an extreme haunting. In 2001, Steven LaChance and his three children moved into a quaint house in Union, Missouri… he would later learn that the hours was built on the ground of former slave quarters, that the neighbor across the street murdered his wife, that the land was cursed. In this mission you’ll hear the ordeal LaChance went through, plus see the photographic evidence of the haunting and hear some chilling EVP. LaChance’s story has been chronicled in the Discovery Channel show A Haunting: Fear House, and his book: The Uninvited: The True Story of the Union Screaming House. Dr. Dreck also stops by to help you haunt your own home, and don’t miss UFOs and the Titanic in the news!
