Ghostlore from the Golden State
Written: Apr 26 '04 (Updated Aug 19 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: New information and research on familiar haunt spots, introduces new ghostly locations
Cons: Overlooks any cases in the Sacramento region
The Bottom Line: For anyone looking for a good book on California ghost folklore, this volume of true stories is the best currently in print.
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| adriennefoster's Full Review: Haunted Houses of California: A Ghostly Guide to H... |
As California is the most populated state in the union, culture shock can hit people moving from one part of the state to another. There has been half-hearted talk about splitting it, but not simply in half. Some believe it should be divided three ways: South California, North California, and South Oregon. Haunted Houses of California also splits the state up to tell some of the nation's best known ghost stories, which take place in the Golden State. It introduces new ones in a spooky and entertaining manner without overrelying on previously published work.
The stories are classified by their sites, then by what section of the state they are in, including Northern California, San Francisco, San Francisco Bay Area & the East Bay, Peninsula & Monterey Coastal Areas, South Bay & Central California, the Mother Lode, and the Los Angeles & San Diego areas. Each chapter is devoted to a single site, providing some of its background, as well as reporting its phenomena. In some cases, Author Antoinette May and her team do hands-on investigation. This book provides several black and white photos to illustrate the sites and some even show apparitions or spirit energy. Most of the chapters end with the haunted site's address and any visiting information if open to the public.
For decades motorists have been uncomfortable crossing California state highway 152, otherwise known as Pacheco Pass. It has been the site of many fatal car accidents. Decades ago, at one arced curve a little west of Casa de Fruita, a large billboard was erected saying something like "Motorists died here—don't be next" and even provided the body count (which some believe grew into the 40s). This sign was removed during the 80s just before a $7 million project to redesign this dangerous area began. This 1993 edition explains that the Los Baños area was one of vigilante justice and used as an escape route by Native Americans who ran from their captors. Because of the local reservoir, it made a good rest stop ...and it still stores some negative energy from injustices occurring there during past centuries. It also details some of the clairvoyant visions of the conflicts that had occurred there seen by Medium Sylvia Brown while she traveled through the gulch.
During the 1850s U.S. Senator David C. Broderick and State Supreme Court Justice David S. Terry were in such violent dispute over what stand California should take over the slavery issue they had a duel. Broderick spent the night before in the San Francisco home of his close friend and second, Leonides K. Haskell, and when Broderick lost his life in the conflict, many subsequent occupants believe they still hear him pacing in the house.
When one investigator booked into San Diego's Hotel Del Coronado, he had to scrutinize public and hotel records to determine exactly where Lottie A. Bernard, a guest who committed suicide outside the hotel in 1892, stayed (now room 3312). Once there, an eyes and mouth appeared on the TV screen and it turned on by itself without any buttons being pushed.
Anyone who believes all ghosts are benevolent will be disappointed at the Red, White and Blue beach. Campers there have seen a gruff, middle-aged man dressed as a captain walking around the beach, then seen his image disappear, without any warm and fuzzy feelings arising from the sighting. Many years before, the family currently residing in the house found the remains of a young woman buried in their garden.
This 1990 book is the best on ghostlore of the Golden State one can currently find. The writing is clean and easy to follow. Author Antoinette May provides background stories as well as accounts of the phenomena. The stories that are the most compelling are the ones that include impressions by the Bay Area's nationally renown medium Sylvia Brown. The 1993 edition revises and expands on what was given in the first.
Since the focus of this book is on California cases, it includes the obligatory coverage of its most well known haunted sites, such as the Winchester House, Whaley House, and Queen Mary. While the story of the Winchester Mystery House has received more paranormal exposure than any other haunted building in the USA, it is almost required in a book about California ghosts. Most of the information on it repeats the history many others have conveyed. May, on the other hand, includes a first-hand account of her own experience that she and four others shared staying overnight there. The stayover did lead to witnessing some phenomena. What meager psychic ability I have is to pick up on strong emotions and can vouch for the both the Winchester and Whaley Houses. On a trip to the estate that Sarah Winchester called Llanda Villa, I picked up a feeling of humiliation while browsing in its gift shop. It is much bigger than absolutely necessary and exploits the eccentricities of Sarah Winchester. No wonder this intelligent woman avoided the company of adults. The only difference between her and them was that she had the money to indulge her fancies. She never harmed others. A few years later, when I was lucky enough to attend a séance Brown presided over in the Winchester House, she said Sarah hated the gift shop....
On my visits to the Whaley House, I feel frustration more than anything else. Not surprising, when one considers the Whaleys' misfortunes and how they had to rent out portions of their home to make ends meet. Anna Whaley's image turns up considerably frequent in pictures taken with digital cameras. On my most recent visit, the staff claimed they heard a baby crying even though no children had been there all day.
Those who are heavily read on regional ghostlore will most appreciate the more obscure California hauntings this volume contains. However, between the small and old mining towns and more recent violent incidents, there are still many more stories that remain untold. The biggest criticism that can be made of May's collection of stories is that it overlooks the Central Valley region of the state. There must be some cases in the Sacramento area, especially since politics can create so much trauma amongst its players.
All in all, Haunted Houses of California is an excellent introduction and guide to the state's ghost folklore. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in regional ghost tales and to tread Sacramento with respect. It would be more than culture shock if this section of the Golden State misses the one thing all the others seem to have.
10 June 2006 update: A third revised edition of this book was released in April 2006. This is a review of the second edition.
More California ghost folklore:
The Incredible World of Gold Rush Ghosts (The Big Picture), by Nancy Bradley and Robert Reppert
Ghost Hunter's Guide to the San Francisco Bay Area, by Jeff Dwyer
Ghost Stories of California's Gold Rush Country and Yosemite National Park, by Antonio R. Garcez
Ghost Hunting in Mother Lode Country, by Hilber H. Graf
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977542028&nav=MyGather
Haunts of San Jose, by David Lee
San Francisco Ghosts, by Mark Lyon
California Ghost Notes, by Randall Reinstedt
Ghost Notes, by Randall Reinstedt
Ghost Stories of California, by Barbara Smith
Ghosts of San Francisco, by Kathryn Vercillo
Documentary:
Ghosts of California
Recommended:
Yes
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