'Ghost Hunters' and Sun Inn
A Paranormal Pop Culture investigation of The Sun Inn by Dr. Spectre.
(Editor's Note: This is a submitted summary originally published in March 2011 of TAPS Paramagazine of a team investigation by a Paranormal Pop Culture contributor. Paranormal Pop Culture cannot verify the accuracy of any these claims or findings.)
The Location
The Historic Sun Inn built 1758 in downtown Bethlehem, PA. Built in 1758, the Sun Inn has a guest list that reads like a who’s who of founding fathers, generals and statesmen of Revolutionary War-era America. John Hancock signed his John Hancock at the front desk, members of the Continental Congress met here in September 1777, John Adams and his wife checked in and 51 chiefs and warriors of the Six Nations Confederation visited. Yes, even George Washington really did sleep here. For its time, the Inn boasted the latest and greatest innovations in comfort and style.
The Claims
Because of the many uses the building has had over the years, there are a variety of paranormal claims associated with it.
In the the basement, there is supposedly an energy vortex, although the origins of these reports are uncertain. There are full body apparitions seen guarding the entrance to a rumored tunnel system, which myth says once connected some of the local buildings and kept townsfolk safe during attacks. The existence of this tunnel system has been disputed by historians.
On the first, an entity has been said to occupy the chair next to the fireplace. There have also been sounds of disembodied conversations and mysterious footsteps on the second floor. Strange light anomalies have also been seen, as have apparitions of women in period clothing and soldiers in uniforms.
In the attic, there have been reports of shadow people accompanied by feelings of being watched. There are further reports of something staring out of a back window, which is visible from the street. In the dining room on this floor, a photo was taken that appeared to show an image of a spectral elderly woman who may resemble a dedicated Sun Inn volunteer who had passed away.
Christmas: A supernatural season of mainstream belief
BY AARON SAGERS
The fog is thick in the graveyard, enveloping headstones and trees like a foreboding, gray Snuggie. The old man, tired and afraid - and still in his nightgown and cap after a long night of reminisces and travel – protests, pleads and negotiates with the silent escort clad in a black robe and hood. A lone phantasmal finger extends from the faceless escort and points to one particular, neglected grave with the man’s own name upon it.
“No, Spirit!” he cries. “Spirit, hear me! I am not the man I was.” Still, the finger points, as if signaling the old man to enter the grave he dug with his selfishness.
Of course the brief scene described above is from Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella, “A Christmas Carol.” The tale of a miser who meets with four ghosts - and picks up tips about living charitably from the inhuman entities of Christmases Past, Present and Yet-To-Come - so impacted society that it helped re-shape how Western culture celebrates the holiday with generosity, family gatherings, parties and lots of food and booze.
So move over, Halloween, because with all its ghosts and monsters Christmas is the better supernatural season.
Whereas October clearly revolves around the world of the unexplained and mysterious, it is largely just used as an excuse to play dress up and enjoy some cheap thrills. Children celebrate it and but are told the ghouls are just people in rubber masks; adults goof on common fears and superstitions with slutty/silly/scary costume parties or trips to haunted attractions.
Conversely, Christmas is a source of joy and jubilation. Belief is mainstream, and skepticism is actually considered crass (especially around kids). Even many of the most secular holiday celebrants admit to picking up on the ambient magic of the season populated with ghosts, spirits, cryptids, elves, psychics and sorcery. We even sing carols, along with Andy Williams, about December being the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” where we celebrate “scary ghost stories.”
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| The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come 1843 John Leech illo. |
“No, Spirit!” he cries. “Spirit, hear me! I am not the man I was.” Still, the finger points, as if signaling the old man to enter the grave he dug with his selfishness.
Of course the brief scene described above is from Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella, “A Christmas Carol.” The tale of a miser who meets with four ghosts - and picks up tips about living charitably from the inhuman entities of Christmases Past, Present and Yet-To-Come - so impacted society that it helped re-shape how Western culture celebrates the holiday with generosity, family gatherings, parties and lots of food and booze.
So move over, Halloween, because with all its ghosts and monsters Christmas is the better supernatural season.
Whereas October clearly revolves around the world of the unexplained and mysterious, it is largely just used as an excuse to play dress up and enjoy some cheap thrills. Children celebrate it and but are told the ghouls are just people in rubber masks; adults goof on common fears and superstitions with slutty/silly/scary costume parties or trips to haunted attractions.
Conversely, Christmas is a source of joy and jubilation. Belief is mainstream, and skepticism is actually considered crass (especially around kids). Even many of the most secular holiday celebrants admit to picking up on the ambient magic of the season populated with ghosts, spirits, cryptids, elves, psychics and sorcery. We even sing carols, along with Andy Williams, about December being the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” where we celebrate “scary ghost stories.”
Vampire-Human 'Twilight' baby has origin in folklore
Say what you will about the Twilight Saga (and there is admittedly a lot to be said), but you can't dismiss that Stephenie Meyer's epic does get a few things right about vampires. In fact, Twilight has some support from none other than that high-brow institution, the National Geographic. Depending on how well you know you're Twilight, you may be aware that the new film Breaking Dawn, Part 1 has heroine Bella getting preggers with vamp Ed's undead spawn, and culminates with her having a gruesome birth. Well, after speaking with vampire expert George Gutsche of the University of Arizona, Nat Geo reveals that folklore from the Balkan region of southeastern Europe spoke of vamp-human offspring.
Gutsche says kids with vampire baby-daddies do possess some supernatural powers, but they are not vampires themselves, and have no more affinity for the night than normal humans. Then again, early vampires myths never said the undead couldn't hang out in the day anyhow, although there isn't any talk about lame sparkling in the sunlight.
Also, the children of vampires are typically male -and are carried to term in a normal manner - but some folklore about female kids exists.
So there you have it: Vampire children are people, too. And we can all learn a little something from Twilight - beyond the fact that Jacob is really opposed to wearing shirts.
Chupacabra heads to the Midwest
Not content to stay in the warmer climates of the Southwest, good ol' Chupey has made his way to Missouri. Based on this local news report from THV11, it sounds like the "goat sucker" has snagged a goat along with some chickens. Then again, Rancher Tim managed to shoot Chupey, and the creature was hung from a tree (as is apparently the fashion in Missour-eh). Although area conservationists say the animal is just a diseased or mangy coyote, History Channel's MonsterQuest has shown an interest.