I feel slightly inspired after reading some of your experiences that just MAYBE you won't think I am a fruit cake.
Let me give you some background. We lived in a regular house, that at some later date, someone decided to make a second floor. They never finished it, so it became an attic. No real insulation, no heating/cooling vents, etc. It was literally as big as the old house, with no walls upstairs. You could walk from one side to the other, but when you got close to the edge, the ceiling slanted to a point where you couldn't walk any further without ducking. At the farthest points, there were no floor boards at all there, just the pink insulating material.
SEVERAL things happened in that house, and I will try to mention all of them here. These things were experienced by myself, my older sister, and my older brother, and some of his friends as well at various times.
Whew... ok, here we go:
One of the first and main things I remember, was that at night, my sister and I heard all sorts of things. Scratching on the wall, walking upstairs, etc. My parents said "it must be some sort of bird or raccoon, something like that. All I can tell you, is that was one big ass raccoon...lol.
One night in my brothers room, we were listening to loud music. We heard what sounded like someone hitting the wall. Assuming it was my father, we all ran out to go see what he wanted, figuring he wanted the music to be turned down. He looked at us like we all had grown a third eye right in the middle of our foreheads, and asked what we were staring at (my father was very paranoid as it was). At that, we all make jokes about our "ghost", but none of us really at this point believed that was what we were dealing with. We went back to the room, but as soon as the door shut, we heard it again, but this time we could tell it was coming from upstairs. My brother said it had to be my father messing with us. He said he must be doing it, so we waited until we heard it, and ran out to catch my father in the act. He was still seated in the same position, working on some papers at the type writer. This time we didn't bother to close the door, and while we could still hear my father clacking away on that old typewriter, we again heard the thumping. My brother ran out and grabbed the broom, came back in and hit the ceiling with it really hard, 3 times. At that point, there was silence for about 20 eerie seconds, and then we heard the 3 taps back at us, followed by what sounded like someone running from one corner of where his room was all the way to the other. When we went upstairs to look into it, we could then see according to where he room was that it wasn't possible for anyone to have run like that with that much noise because of the ceiling lowering over his room. They would have had to crawl on all fours, but I swear to you, it was the sound of two feet.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I still believed it was my brother or my father making the noise, somehow to scare me.
Here is another:
A few weeks after that, my brother went into the kitchen to make a sandwich. I always followed him around everywhere he went, so naturally I went into the kitchen and leaned against the wall. There was a pane of glass propped up against the wall, a small one, slightly to my right. My foot was propped well above it and I never moved. My brother had been talking and just stopped. I watched as all the color drained from his face and he was looking toward the door that led to the diningroom. I saw the tail end of a dress, like something straight out of gone with the wind, the huge hoop skirts they wore. It wasn't just like a corner of the eye thing, it lingered for a moment, like it was swaying as she walked, it was there long enough to KNOW beyond a doubt that you saw it, but it was still transparent enough to make you think you were dreaming. It wasn't like the movies, it is very hard to describe, even now. I could see the texture of the material, yet I could see the desk through it. At that moment, I nearly screamed, but the shattering of glass broke my concentration. Even my brother admits I would have had to contort in an odd way to break that glass with where it was. Anyway, my brother dropped the butterknife he was using to put mayo on the bread and just RAN, amazingly before I could even get my legs to move, and I was actually closer to the door.
We saw that woman again a few times, always at that same location, but in full view. She would walk past the door to my mothers room, pause to look in the kitchen, but not at us...more like she saw right through us more than us through her, and then she would continue walking. She didn't look angry or evil, she looked sad. You could feel the sadness in the air just about, before you saw her.
This lead up to an event I already posted about...The night in the attic. We decided to spend the night in the attic to see what we could see. My brother drug a mattress up there with blankets and pillows, a carton of cigarettes for himself and an ashtray, some drinks and a radio. After we had been up there a while, my father decided to scare us. As I said before, I watched, and all 3 of us saw it, the 2 crates lifted into the air and then turned over, just before the bolted down the stairs directly at my father. We got into tons of trouble because he said we threw them at him, no way they could have just "fallen", but I maintain to this day, I saw what I saw. No one can convince me otherwise. I was not an over imaginative child seeing things, nor were my siblings, and that memory is burned in my mind to this day.
So now we come to the moment of truth so to speak...my brother had some friends over, my parents had been out of town (I think, or they could have been at work, I don't recall, just that they were gone all day long), and we told his friends about all the odd things. Of course they thought we were imagining things, that our fear caused our minds to play tricks on us, but they all soon became believers. One of my brothers friends went up first, the big mouth. Then me, then my siblings, then the rest of his friends. As we walked up the stairs he turned, and then I turned, and what we saw literally scared us half to death. We could see this...ghostly thing...I can't really describe it, you kind of had to be there, really...it was definately a woman. She looked like she had a green light reflecting on her from some place, which there was none (curtained windows didn't let in much light, and the window was very small on both sides), but it kind of looked like it was coming from within her. It was the same woman, but now she looked angry. I never felt like she meant to do any harm to me, or to the group, she never looked EVIL, just ANGRY. I always tell this story by saying that she stepped out from behind the water heater, but it was more like she glided out, almost like the whole house moved instead of her, and we could see all of her, the large dress, her pale skin, her very long fingers, black shoes, somewhat like boots, her tiny waist above that huge skirt, her dark hair with a bonnet tied on her head with a ribbon, but to this day I only remember 2 colors...her shoes which looked to be black, and the green light that seemed to be around her...or in her...or something like that. I hope that makes sense, that is the best I can do to explain it really. The next thing I know, the guy in front of me lept over my head. He put his hand on my head and just dove over me, almost tumbling down the stairs, and of course we all followed. I actually clawed at people to get out, I was so afraid. Never in my life had I seen anything that scared me this much, and this time there were at LEAST 5 people that could see all or part of the woman. Well, the 2nd big mouth of the group, didn't get all the way up, so he saw nothing, and thought we were all hallucinating. He threw open the door, stuck his head in and said "You hear that ghost? Im not scared of you! F*** THE GHOST!" and he laughed, but cut that short real quick when he heard something falling down the stairs. He said at that point he felt like he couldn't move, probably due to fear, but he swears someone held him there until the candle holder hit the ground in front of us. It SHOULD have broken, but it was whole and not even scuffed, yet we heard it hitting several steps before resting at Jay's feet. He slammed the door, and we didn't move. He stood there for a long time, still holding the door, like he was afraid to let go, and my parents showed up a few minutes later. My father at that point investigated every inch of that attic and found nothing. The strangest part he could find was that the box that the candle holder had been in was under 2 other boxes and still taped up. He set some rat traps and then came back down and nailed the door shut. Several times we had found the nails bent away from the door, and he had to nail it back shut, and we always got in trouble for doing it.
When we finally moved, we were upstairs packing, and a tennis racket flew past my brothers head, missing him by no more than an inch. I ducked when he did, so it missed me too. When other things lifted into the air and spun, then flew at us, we dove down the stairs, running out and slamming the door. My brother would not go back in after that.

A few details I left out:
Several times I would be swinging on the tree swing in the front yard, and me or me and friends would see someone looking out the curtain, just peeking usually, but once or twice standing in full view of the window. I heard other stories in the neighborhood of various things, phantom dogs, apparitions, strange occurances, etc, especially in the field across the road, and a house right around the corner, about a block away.

Sorry so long. If you have a similar experience, or just want to share your opinion, feel free. Also, ask any questions you have, I don't mind them.

Carrie Anne,

Great story. Where abouts in Tennessee is this home ?. Judging by your desciption, it sounds like an old farm house, or something along those lines. After all of this, did you think to look up the history of the house, the previous owners ?, and what might of happened to them ?.

How long ago was this ?, 10 years perhaps ?, and how long did you live at the house for ?. Once again, good story.

This was in Memphis Tennessee, off of Summer Ave. a few blocks from the street my mother grew up called Berclair rd. The street name was "Novarese Ave." but I don't remember the house number. I never did any research on it, but that is something I should really look into. I am really going to have to dig because I don't recall the house number, and they have since leveled the entire neighborhood, although I'm not sure what they built there. I will hopefully be going back to Tennessee this year, and I plan to visit the area again. Here is a map of that area. http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formt...E5OrwQKBSjms%3d
As you can see looking at the map, there was Novarese steet and Novarese Ave. where we actually lived.
I have a feeling the entire area was haunted to an extent, but I won't know for sure unless I look deeper. This was...wow I'm old.... almost 20 years ago! LOL GOSH it doesn't seem like that long ago, but it was....sheesh.

dude, that would scare the crap out of me.

It is EASY to talk about it very matter of factly and calm now... it was 20 years ago.
I can remember with the attic deal, my heart was pounding so hard I thought it would pop right out of me. When I heard things, didn't see anything with it, it was creepy, but I would laugh...a nervous laugh, but a laugh all the same but when actually seeing it before my eyes, it was so scary, you cannot even imagine....ugh...
While it is on my mind, does anyone have any clue why I cover my ears when something scares me? I have done this since I was very young, even at 2 and 3 years old according to some. Does anyone else do this? Or am I the only freak...?

Carrie Anne,

The reason you cover your ears, is not much different from when people cover their eyes, it's psychological. If you believe you cannot hear or see the image, then it cannot harm you.

That makes sense. Still, it always seemed silly to me later, like what sort of protection would it provide? Maybe next time I should try sticking my head in the sand...

WoW that scared the hek out of me!!
i have a attic and the door up to that attic is in my room .... no sleep to me tonight

BTW nice story!! i've would like to one of u friends at the time!!

Cazee OuT

Awesome! Let me know if she has any information, cause I would love to hear it. Also, while its on my mind, you should ask her about the Bell Witch stories (NOTHING to do with BWP by the way, the Bell witch is a story from the 1900s, seriously), I bet she has at the very least HEARD of them at some point living in Tennessee.
If it will help, tell your friend that the exact location where I lived (if it is still just a field and they haven't built anything there) was directly behind the huge pharmacy (it used to be called Super D, not sure if it still is), there is a field. If you walk through it and cross the street, my house was right there. We used to cut through that field to go to Super D and get penny candies by the sack full.

I have had many experiences since then, I won't try to cram them all here, but I will get started posting now. I will have to throw in some stuff that has happened to my family as well. My parents have both told me some pretty scary tales that I just GOTTA bring up, especially the haunted locations my mom visited on vacation.

Wow, TY for the compliment!
As for haunted places in Memphis, I have heard LOTS of stuff about the area around S. Parkway called "Midtown". They have lots of really big, really old houses there. It is beautiful to see them. I would LOVE to live in one again, now that I have a bit more experience under my belt

Very interesting site!! I saved it to my favorites.
I don't know if you noticed or not, but I looked at a bunch of the pictures on their site, and some of them I thought were more than likely coincidences...like all the orb pictures, and especially one with the "nurse" I thought looked more like someone's hair got in front of the camera. Did you look at the pics too?

I finally read this, and I'm going to read it to my nephew as a bedtime story one day. I kow I'm a mean uncle, but someone's gotta do it. Great story, sounds much like a residual haunting on the woman looking into the kitchen but not seeing you.

Oh and BTW you are a fruitcake! Just like the rest of us.

Edit: There is no need to quote the entire original text. Just a small quote will suffice for the poster to recognise your question. Your co-operation is appreciated. Thanks, Lottie

Oh Bummer I was SO HOPING I was the ONLY fruitcake I guess its nice to be part of the crowd from time to time.
This reminds me of a quote I see here, and I dearly love it (even though I can't remember who has it in their signature) "You laugh at me because I am different. I laugh at you because you are all the same".
Rings quite true I think

That's my sig.

Someone please pass the coffee here. I am aparently either not awake, or losing my mind. I can't believe I could not remember it as being yours. Just when I think I am smart, the BLONDE in me strikes again... :::ducking my head in shame:::

Considering you were replying to something I said and the sig was right there, a full blown blonde moment I'd say.

I can't say anything in my defense....you are so right... The only thing I CAN say is that I am allowed 1 full blown blonde moment per month :-D

No argument there

the type of ghost you have encountered was called a poltergist, a ghost able to lift stuff.Be sure to research the area for murders and stuff.interview people that lived there.go into the house with some friends so you're backed up.get equipment to prove that the ghost is accually really and not a prank

Unfortunately this house was torn down, so I cannot go back to it:( I really wish I could. This was 20 years ago.
I do however plan to go back to this area to visit my family this year, and I plan to go back to the area to see if there is anything unusual going on there that I can see.

Also, does anyone have advice about how I could dig up more information? I am not sure where to start. It doesn't seem like a simple google search would be enough. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

go to google, go to the tennesee home page...or just someting that's a official page for tenessee.than search for ghosts...hope that will "crack" the mystery

here's a link to the homepage(search yourself): http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/

Thanks! I saved that to my favorites, and will look it over in a bit after my IMing happy friends go to bed. I will post anything I find of intrest after I look it over.
I appreciate it :-D

You can go to the county courthouse and get any information from the clerks office pertaining to information about the land, if it's still in the family. They keep information as to who's owned it, who has lived and died there. Also most areas have a historical society, which can be helpful in finding out info about poeple who lived in particular places, how they lived, did they have slaves, were there murders, were they accused of witchcraft and things like that.

P.S. you're still a fruitcake!

SHHH!!! Don't tell anyone I'm a fruitcake!!!

When Justin gets his vacation, if we get to go to Tennessee I am so on my way! I will of course post anything I find out. That will be awesome. I wonder if my brother would go with me, since he was there when this happened.

ok, I won't tell anyone else.

what's a fruit cake? A poltergist(ghost you have encontered) is a spirit that usally haunts stressed out kids or teenagers, the only case where someone died form a poltergist is during the "Bell Witch" case

Where, in Tennessee, do you live? I used to live in Lafayette, and, had some strange experiences of my own.


Edit: There is no need to quote the whole text, just a little will suffice for the poster to recognise your question. Your co-operation is appreciated. Thanks, Lottie

Really? My brother lives in Lafayette, GA! Cool.

She says on the first page: "This was in Memphis Tennessee, off of Summer Ave. a few blocks from the street my mother grew up called Berclair rd. The street name was Novarese Ave."
But I think she also says that she doesn't live there anymore and the house was torn down at some point.

Christina

I just now came across this thread...Carrie Ann, you're a great writer! Very good story too, I would have flipped out if it had been me. Sounds like you were pretty young at the time too. Looking forward to reading your next post, and I hope you find something out about the history of that place