Everything else
“We’d be happy to have you!” read the email from US Ghost Adventures, but having received a formal invitation, I have to admit I got cold feet. “If we pull up and I feel any kind of bad juju or something, we’re bailing!” I informed my husband, as I reluctantly followed him out to the car. I knew right away that my visit to 92 Second Street in Fall River, Massachusetts would be far different from any other historical home…
Along a small stretch of Old North Carolina Highway 86, between Prospect Hill and Hightowers, sits a miniature metropolis masterpiece. Shangri-La is the pixie-sized stone town that evolved from the creative mind and artistry of Henry L. Warren, a retired tobacco farmer. Warren began creating the small village back in 1968 using blasted rock from his property, designing and constructing each piece himself. It was said by those who knew him that as long as Henry had a cigarette and…
As the birth month of American writer Edgar Allan Poe draws to a close, I thought it particularly fitting to pay homage to one of my all-time favorites. The Romantic-era author’s but mere forty years of life tells of an orphaned youngster, an academically excelling student, an army soldier, a highly-respected literary critic, an instantly successful poet, and a heartbroken widowed husband rumored to have struggled with addiction issues. Contrary to his troubled times, Edgar Allan Poe was known as…
To everything, there is a season… And I totally stick to this. Completely. Meaning, I’m the type that doesn’t even want to think about Christmas (the decorations, the carols, the movies, even shopping) until well after the turkey has been carved. This year, I passed a house with a roof trimmed in lights and a decorated tree proudly displayed in the front window. It was October. A little excessive, don’t ya think? But this is socially acceptable. Someone puts up…
An actor. A poet. A writer. A tour guide. A storyteller. A paranormal investigator. Denny O’Rourke considers himself an “old soul” and a “Renaissance man of sorts” as he likes to have his hands in a little bit of everything, now adding to the list, a podcast. But there’s a little more to Denny, or “D.C.” as he’s known on his paranormal podcast, than meets the eye. Basically, he sees dead people. According to Denny, it…
“You’re going to the beach with us. Period.” This came from my father in a firm and direct tone. “Please, Dad! No! I’ll do anything! I promise! Anything!” When he disregarded me, I knew my pleading would get me nowhere. I took a deep breath and tried the calm, cool, and collected approach. “Dad. I really think that you and Mom are just overreacting.” He said nothing. I took this as a good sign. “I already explained that all this,…
Little River South Carolina is one of the oldest communities in Horry County. This quaint fishing village dates back to the early 18th century and derives its name from what local Indian tribes called “Mineola,” meaning “little river.” Early fishermen and farmers, dating back even further to the late 1600s and 1700s, utilized the narrow waterway that empties into the inlet and onto the Atlantic Ocean. Being somewhat of a secluded port, Little River, as legend has it, was known…
At 207 East Charlton Street, just across the way from the beautiful Lafayette Square in Savannah, Georgia, sits a quaint 19th century Greek Revival townhouse that’s more than one hundred and sixty years old. Being somewhat of an aficionado of old homes, I often reflect on their history, thinking about the people that have passed through their thresholds and the lives they’ve nurtured day after day, year after year, within their brick and mortar confines. But this particular home, here…
At the end of Commerce Street and along the historic James River Waterfront sits a most unique hotel in Lynchburg, Virginia. While the historic buildings that make up this hotel originated back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it has only been hotel-hospitable to guests since 2007. Once upon a time, in this very spot, stood one of the largest shoe companies in the world. The Craddock Terry Hotel, now a 44-room boutique hotel and event center, shares the…
Savannah, Georgia, is considered to be one of the most haunted cities in America, and rightfully so. Established in 1733, Savannah’s haunted history includes secrets of sea-weary pirates, romantic tales of forbidden lovers, and prominent inhabitants that simply refuse to leave their gorgeous Georgian mansions. Fairly harmless and “Casper-friendly,” right? Right. Or so I thought. Within the city’s beautiful backdrop of brick-paved streets, breathtaking architecture, moss-draped oaks, and perfectly polished squares harbor quite an eccentric past. You’d be hard-pressed not…