15 with a high in the 20's.
Norma, I think it's safe to say the groundhog won't be coming out of his hole
tomorrow, at least not around here. Weatherman says we'll be getting up to 3" of
snow an hour and No, Sheri I don't want to trade it for freezing rain and ice,
I'd rather dig out. Blizzard warnings starting at 7pm tonight.
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Story by John Zaffis
History by Bob Cahill

Phelps mansion in Stratford, Connecticut has been recognized one of the most
notorious cases of poltergeist activity in recent history. In the 1840's,
psychic investigators came from all over the world to investigate the phenomena
taking place within the home and many stories and articles have been written
about the old Phelps home in the past 158yrs. The stories and legends continue,
this is just one of the many:





In the 1970's, the old house was turned over for use as a home for the elderly
and shortly after its opening, the staff began complaining of strange things
going on. The poltergeist was starting up again. Often, the emergency alarm
would be sounded without reason, by unseen hands. Police and fire officials were
called in to investigate the source of the alarms but were unable to resolve the
issue. Ed and Lorraine Warren were then called in to investigate. They found no
reason for the nightly disturbances, and shortly after that the home caught fire
and was abandoned.


I still can remember going onto the front porch and going down the hallway with
two of my friends. As we were walking, we suddenly heard a loud bang from
upstairs. I can't ever remember running so fast, not ever looking back, out the
front door. Around 1974 the mansion was torn down despite all the efforts of the
Stratford residents to save it. But the history of Phelps still intrigues people
to this day. Reverend Eliakim Phelps was returning to his home on Elm street in
Stratford after Sunday service on March 14,1850. With him was his wife, two sons
ages three and eleven, and two daughters ages six and sixteen. When they entered
the house, they found the interior in shambles. Furniture, food and expensive
china had been strewn around the downstairs rooms, the Rev. Phelps first thought
was that the house was burglarized, until he entered the dining room. He then
concluded that demon spirits had entered his home. Displayed about the room were
eleven life-sized dummies, carefully and cleverly woven from old cloth and
wearing Colonial clothes. Most of the dummies were posed in a kneeling position
on the dining room floor, as if praying to a hideous looking dummy, a dwarf one
that was swinging from the chandelier. The town police were called in, but no
one could explain the reason for such a macabre display in the home.

From that night on, the minister, with the help of friends and neighbors, stood
watch over the room and family. Inevitably, when they dozed off during their
vigil, the dummies would move around the room. Sometimes with new figures being
formed. Skeptical newspaper reporters from all over New England came to witness
candlesticks and fireplace utensils dancing about the dining room. "While I was
there, objects lifted from the table and flew from one wall to another, in my
very presence." A reporter wrote. The elder Phelps boy was carried across the
room by invisible hands and gently deposited on the floor. Also, a supper table
was lifted and tipped over when the room was empty of all people. A month later,
while the Phelps family sat for dinner, they were pelted by fruit, vegetables,
and kitchen utensils, until they were forced to leave the room. When all the
family was present in the room, "strange noises came from the walls all around
us." Said the reverend. "Like the rushing of wind, would force us to part
company. These noises were especially strong when we were seated at the table."

From March through October, hundreds of dollars worth of furniture was smashed,
including marble top tables weighing hundreds of pounds that were lifted from
the floor, with not a person near them, then smashed into pieces as they were
slammed to the floor. By October, 26 windows in the home were broken from
objects thrown by invisible hands, and cloth figures were found hiding about the
house most in praying or reading positions. Reverend Phelps said, "I have
witnessed these manifestations hundreds of times within the walls of my home,
and I know that in hundreds of instances, they took place when there was no
visible power by which these motions could have been produced." After eight
months of fear and agony, the family moved out of the house, never to return.
Apparently the poltergeists did not follow them to their next home, but remained
at the Phelps House.


--- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, "Sheri" <mytwigs@...> wrote:
>
> It's a wonderful house, Norma.  It looks so much like a house out at on the
ridge.  I fell in love with the house.  It sits right across from the cemetery
where George Thomas is buried.  For a minute I thought you had put it up.  I
will love hearing more about this house, Norma.
>
> Weather guys are confused: some are saying 1 - 2 inches of ice, some say ice
then snow and others saying light icing tonight with rain and storms tomorrow. 
I'm hoping for the rain.  We are under the Winter Storm warning. It's going to
be a surprise what we are being warned about.
>
> Sheri
>

I did not live close to this home, however, as I said earlier, It was near my
stomping grounds as a teenager, not far from the River where the gang all met
for swimming.   As many times as I may have passed the house, I never knew
anything was different about it nor do I recall the Haunting stories.   I find
it very interesting to read it today.   Back around 1950, The Shakespeare
Theatre was built in what would be about a block from this haunted home, right
on the water.
I wonder if it was not jinxed from the get-go, since it boomed with New Yorker's
coming in to see the plays, and died less then seven years later from lack of
support?????????

--- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, "Norma" <no2more@...> wrote:
>
>
> Story by John Zaffis
> History by Bob Cahill
>
> Phelps mansion in Stratford, Connecticut has been recognized one of the most
notorious cases of poltergeist activity in recent history. In the 1840's,
psychic investigators came from all over the world to investigate the phenomena
taking place within the home and many stories and articles have been written
about the old Phelps home in the past 158yrs. The stories and legends continue,
this is just one of the many:
>
>
>
>
>
> In the 1970's, the old house was turned over for use as a home for the elderly
and shortly after its opening, the staff began complaining of strange things
going on. The poltergeist was starting up again. Often, the emergency alarm
would be sounded without reason, by unseen hands. Police and fire officials were
called in to investigate the source of the alarms but were unable to resolve the
issue. Ed and Lorraine Warren were then called in to investigate. They found no
reason for the nightly disturbances, and shortly after that the home caught fire
and was abandoned.
>
>
> I still can remember going onto the front porch and going down the hallway
with two of my friends. As we were walking, we suddenly heard a loud bang from
upstairs. I can't ever remember running so fast, not ever looking back, out the
front door. Around 1974 the mansion was torn down despite all the efforts of the
Stratford residents to save it. But the history of Phelps still intrigues people
to this day. Reverend Eliakim Phelps was returning to his home on Elm street in
Stratford after Sunday service on March 14,1850. With him was his wife, two sons
ages three and eleven, and two daughters ages six and sixteen. When they entered
the house, they found the interior in shambles. Furniture, food and expensive
china had been strewn around the downstairs rooms, the Rev. Phelps first thought
was that the house was burglarized, until he entered the dining room. He then
concluded that demon spirits had entered his home. Displayed about the room were
eleven life-sized dummies, carefully and cleverly woven from old cloth and
wearing Colonial clothes. Most of the dummies were posed in a kneeling position
on the dining room floor, as if praying to a hideous looking dummy, a dwarf one
that was swinging from the chandelier. The town police were called in, but no
one could explain the reason for such a macabre display in the home.
>
> From that night on, the minister, with the help of friends and neighbors,
stood watch over the room and family. Inevitably, when they dozed off during
their vigil, the dummies would move around the room. Sometimes with new figures
being formed. Skeptical newspaper reporters from all over New England came to
witness candlesticks and fireplace utensils dancing about the dining room.
"While I was there, objects lifted from the table and flew from one wall to
another, in my very presence." A reporter wrote. The elder Phelps boy was
carried across the room by invisible hands and gently deposited on the floor.
Also, a supper table was lifted and tipped over when the room was empty of all
people. A month later, while the Phelps family sat for dinner, they were pelted
by fruit, vegetables, and kitchen utensils, until they were forced to leave the
room. When all the family was present in the room, "strange noises came from the
walls all around us." Said the reverend. "Like the rushing of wind, would force
us to part company. These noises were especially strong when we were seated at
the table."
>
> From March through October, hundreds of dollars worth of furniture was
smashed, including marble top tables weighing hundreds of pounds that were
lifted from the floor, with not a person near them, then smashed into pieces as
they were slammed to the floor. By October, 26 windows in the home were broken
from objects thrown by invisible hands, and cloth figures were found hiding
about the house most in praying or reading positions. Reverend Phelps said, "I
have witnessed these manifestations hundreds of times within the walls of my
home, and I know that in hundreds of instances, they took place when there was
no visible power by which these motions could have been produced." After eight
months of fear and agony, the family moved out of the house, never to return.
Apparently the poltergeists did not follow them to their next home, but remained
at the Phelps House.
>
>
> --- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, "Sheri" <mytwigs@> wrote:
> >
> > It's a wonderful house, Norma.  It looks so much like a house out at on the
ridge.  I fell in love with the house.  It sits right across from the cemetery
where George Thomas is buried.  For a minute I thought you had put it up.  I
will love hearing more about this house, Norma.
> >
> > Weather guys are confused: some are saying 1 - 2 inches of ice, some say ice
then snow and others saying light icing tonight with rain and storms tomorrow. 
I'm hoping for the rain.  We are under the Winter Storm warning. It's going to
be a surprise what we are being warned about.
> >
> > Sheri
> >
>

Here is another story I found in reference to the Phelps Hauntings:
William Delalley, Stratford, Connecticut, 1972

I was raised in Stratford, Connecticut, home to the legendary Phelps Mansion
reputed "haunted house" on Elm Street in that town. Being residents, we
constantly heard "stories" about the place. Not believing in this stuff much,
the stories were mostly ignored.

One day my high school best friend, Larry and I decided to test our courage and
bravery and enter the house. After some deliberation we decided it would be the
upcoming Friday night. We invited anyone else interested and daring enough to
join us. There were no takers. Instead people said we were crazy and would never
do it. Now we were up to the challenge.

Friday arrived and we thought/talked about what was to take place that evening
all day long making sure neither Larry or myself would chicken out. Night fell
and we were ready. Larry drove and we parked about a half-mile away from the
dark partially dilapidated structure. Armed with only one flashlight between us,
we made our approach. Even until this moment I did not let on about my latent
fear although the closer we got, the harder my heart pounded. We were no closer
than ten feet when suddenly, simultaneously we both saw the backlit image of a
man in one of the open ground-level windows. In what seemed to be a literal
split second we found ourselves back at that car barely being able to speak.
Once we regained our composure we asked the proverbial question: Did you see
what I saw? We concurred, exchanged accounts, and never went back. To this day
we will never know what went on inside that place save the legends found on the
Internet under "The Stratford Poltergeist."


--- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, "Norma" <no2more@...> wrote:
>
> I did not live close to this home, however, as I said earlier, It was near my
stomping grounds as a teenager, not far from the River where the gang all met
for swimming.   As many times as I may have passed the house, I never knew
anything was different about it nor do I recall the Haunting stories.   I find
it very interesting to read it today.   Back around 1950, The Shakespeare
Theatre was built in what would be about a block from this haunted home, right
on the water.
> I wonder if it was not jinxed from the get-go, since it boomed with New
Yorker's coming in to see the plays, and died less then seven years later from
lack of support?????????
>
> --- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, "Norma" <no2more@> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Story by John Zaffis
> > History by Bob Cahill
> >
> > Phelps mansion in Stratford, Connecticut has been recognized one of the most
notorious cases of poltergeist activity in recent history. In the 1840's,
psychic investigators came from all over the world to investigate the phenomena
taking place within the home and many stories and articles have been written
about the old Phelps home in the past 158yrs. The stories and legends continue,
this is just one of the many:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > In the 1970's, the old house was turned over for use as a home for the
elderly and shortly after its opening, the staff began complaining of strange
things going on. The poltergeist was starting up again. Often, the emergency
alarm would be sounded without reason, by unseen hands. Police and fire
officials were called in to investigate the source of the alarms but were unable
to resolve the issue. Ed and Lorraine Warren were then called in to investigate.
They found no reason for the nightly disturbances, and shortly after that the
home caught fire and was abandoned.
> >
> >
> > I still can remember going onto the front porch and going down the hallway
with two of my friends. As we were walking, we suddenly heard a loud bang from
upstairs. I can't ever remember running so fast, not ever looking back, out the
front door. Around 1974 the mansion was torn down despite all the efforts of the
Stratford residents to save it. But the history of Phelps still intrigues people
to this day. Reverend Eliakim Phelps was returning to his home on Elm street in
Stratford after Sunday service on March 14,1850. With him was his wife, two sons
ages three and eleven, and two daughters ages six and sixteen. When they entered
the house, they found the interior in shambles. Furniture, food and expensive
china had been strewn around the downstairs rooms, the Rev. Phelps first thought
was that the house was burglarized, until he entered the dining room. He then
concluded that demon spirits had entered his home. Displayed about the room were
eleven life-sized dummies, carefully and cleverly woven from old cloth and
wearing Colonial clothes. Most of the dummies were posed in a kneeling position
on the dining room floor, as if praying to a hideous looking dummy, a dwarf one
that was swinging from the chandelier. The town police were called in, but no
one could explain the reason for such a macabre display in the home.
> >
> > From that night on, the minister, with the help of friends and neighbors,
stood watch over the room and family. Inevitably, when they dozed off during
their vigil, the dummies would move around the room. Sometimes with new figures
being formed. Skeptical newspaper reporters from all over New England came to
witness candlesticks and fireplace utensils dancing about the dining room.
"While I was there, objects lifted from the table and flew from one wall to
another, in my very presence." A reporter wrote. The elder Phelps boy was
carried across the room by invisible hands and gently deposited on the floor.
Also, a supper table was lifted and tipped over when the room was empty of all
people. A month later, while the Phelps family sat for dinner, they were pelted
by fruit, vegetables, and kitchen utensils, until they were forced to leave the
room. When all the family was present in the room, "strange noises came from the
walls all around us." Said the reverend. "Like the rushing of wind, would force
us to part company. These noises were especially strong when we were seated at
the table."
> >
> > From March through October, hundreds of dollars worth of furniture was
smashed, including marble top tables weighing hundreds of pounds that were
lifted from the floor, with not a person near them, then smashed into pieces as
they were slammed to the floor. By October, 26 windows in the home were broken
from objects thrown by invisible hands, and cloth figures were found hiding
about the house most in praying or reading positions. Reverend Phelps said, "I
have witnessed these manifestations hundreds of times within the walls of my
home, and I know that in hundreds of instances, they took place when there was
no visible power by which these motions could have been produced." After eight
months of fear and agony, the family moved out of the house, never to return.
Apparently the poltergeists did not follow them to their next home, but remained
at the Phelps House.
> >
> >
> > --- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, "Sheri" <mytwigs@> wrote:
> > >
> > > It's a wonderful house, Norma.  It looks so much like a house out at on
the ridge.  I fell in love with the house.  It sits right across from the
cemetery where George Thomas is buried.  For a minute I thought you had put it
up.  I will love hearing more about this house, Norma.
> > >
> > > Weather guys are confused: some are saying 1 - 2 inches of ice, some say
ice then snow and others saying light icing tonight with rain and storms
tomorrow.  I'm hoping for the rain.  We are under the Winter Storm warning. It's
going to be a surprise what we are being warned about.
> > >
> > > Sheri
> > >
> >
>

Ran errands this morning - got some much needed supplies from Jo-Ann's, so I can
do some putterings during TV tonight.
Glad to hear your weather is improved Sheri to rain and no more deep stuff, but
Earline, sounds like you are not going to be so lucky along with a whole lot of
the East Coast, that is going to get another wack of winter.   I don't know how
many years it has been since the Groundhog did not see his shadow, so lets hope
that this will be a good sign of early spring.   It has been a rough winter with
snow fall records.

--- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, Sheri Bush <mytwigs@...> wrote:
>
>
> I have icicles hanging from my trees . . . . . and everything else.  Good news
though, is that the temp has now hit 32.  It will melt here and the rain will
fall.  May even get some thunder.  So I am ok.   At least I am unless the cold
slides this far south.  One weather guy is saying it won't and I've decided to
be his fan.  He's on a local Fox, which I hate, but if the guys right, he's
right!  LOL  I will be real happy watching the shine leave everything out my
window.  Earline is right.  The rodent will not see his shadow around these
parts tomorrow.
>
> Happy February!
>
> I did 208 obits yesterday.  I did not get them uploaded, but they are ready. 
Gets really depressing doing obits.
>
> Sheri aka. FamilyTwigs
> TwigTalk My blog
> Indiana Trails To The Past
> Jackson County/INTTTP
>

It just started snowing here. I just hope the power doesn't go out, my d-i-l has
electric heat. We have a gas fireplace downstairs so we'll just move downstairs
if it goes out.
  Sheri I hope you aren't going to get the tornadic weather on the southern end
of the storm.
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

17 now, we mostly got sleet here so totals are lower than predicted, about 6"-
8" with another 1-2" this morning. It's the first snow day here in 3 years.
Sheri, how is it where you're at?
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Her is another accounting of the Phelps Mansion.   After reading this article, I
don't think I would want to go inside either.   These were not friendly ghosts -
they meant business.   According to that article, it would have been a
Convalescent Hospital during the time that I would have been in the area.
Little is known about the mansion, other than it was inhabited by Dr. Eliakim
Phelps. Phelps was a Presbyterian minister and lived in the house with his wife
and children during the early nineteenth century.

It is thought that maybe Reverend Phelps is responsible for the paranormal
happenings in the house. Apparently, in life, Mr. Phelps liked to dabble with
spiritualism and the

   occult.

It is said that Reverend Phelps held many séances and during one of them he
apparently summoned the spirit of Goody Bassett, a witch that was hanged for
practicing witchcraft in the year of 1661.

The paranormal activity began while the Phelps family lived in the house and it
is said to still occur there today.

One bright Sunday, upon returning from church, the Phelps family reported coming
home and finding the phantom corpse of Goody Bassett, on their dining room
table. Then it vanished.

During that same afternoon, the family claimed that when they entered their
bedrooms, their clothing had been laid out on the beds and posed to look like
the position a person would be lying in if they were in a coffin.

There were other times when they found their clothing stuffed and arranged to
look like life-sized bodies.

Strange puppet dolls (or maybe poppet dolls) were also found in various parts of
the home. These strange little dolls did not belong to the family, but rather,
just appeared throughout the home.

Eventually, the family began to report poltergeist activity; unexplainable
knocking, objects that moved around on its own, furniture being raised off of
the floor and objects being beat against the wall until broken. And then the
inevitable; the children were attacked at night and beaten by this unseen
entity. Furniture would move across the floors or be thrown out of the windows.

The Phelps family was not the only ones to witness these occurrences; many
visitors were witnesses too.

Mr. Phelps and his wife finally sent the children off to boarding school to
spare them the nightly beatings that tormented them. Afterward, the hauntings
stopped.
In 1947, the Mansion was converted into a Convalescent Hospital and the
hauntings started back up again.  For the following twenty years, Hospital Staff
members made reports of the knocks, voices, and doors opening and closing on
their own.
By the year 1971, the Mansion was abandoned.   One day, police officers saw a
little girl inside the Mansion and they chased her up to the third floor, the
girl vanished before their eyes!

--- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, earlinebradt@... wrote:
>
> I would like to think my curiosity would have outweighed my cowardice, but I
would have probably run after seeing a figure in the window. Now I am just
curious.
>
> Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sheri Bush <mytwigs@...>
> Sender: seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2011 16:18:13
> To: <seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com>
> Reply-To: seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [seekingourtwigs] Re: The Phelps Mansion
>
>
> They were chickens!  They ran off after that????  Really, don't wait for
night.  Around here more happens in the daytime.  I don't understand why people
think only night brings out the hauntings.  I guess the night is scarier.  I
would have had to go see.  I think if I were an animal I'd be a cat.  My
curiosity gets me into a mess all the time.
>
> Don't you wish you'd 'gone in' when you were young, Norma?  Hey Earline. 
Would you have gone in?
>
> Sheri aka. FamilyTwigs
> TwigTalk My blog
> Indiana Trails To The Past
> Jackson County/INTTTP
>

Spring has hit the South, we are having spring weather and I am hearing more and
more birds chirping outside.   Did some work on our birdbath and Geo. painted it
yesterday.   Filled it up this morning and it looks beautiful and sparkling
fresh.   He used the leftover Patio paint which is waterproof; a light grey,
almost white.
If the ground hog is right, ya'll should be getting better weather also.   May
this was the last snow and sleet storms for the year.

--- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, Sheri Bush <mytwigs@...> wrote:
>
>
> It rained yesterday evening.  The wind picked up last night and now they are
wicked and it is snowing like mad.  It's just in spurts though.  The wind is
howling at 40 mph and it is cold............. We got lucky.  The wind is going
to die down and the snow is just going to be showers.  Just frozen wet areas are
problems.  Snow like that sounds awful to me but we have had more snow than we
normally get and everyone is tired of it.  If it is your first in 3 years, have
fun!  I think we don't need to ask Norma about her snow...........Is she in the
pool yet??  LOL
>
>
> Sheri aka. FamilyTwigs
> TwigTalk My blog
> Indiana Trails To The Past
> Jackson County/INTTTP
>

Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

13

I hope hubby starts taking better care of his health. The neighbour who had a
heart attack recently has to have a double and possibly triple bypass in a few
weeks and he's only 37, not overweight, never smoked.

More bad news, my d-i-l's mom is sick, she was sick before her husband died two
weeks ago, he was stressed about her health which has only gotten worse since.
Last night was the first night that d-i-l spent at home, her mom insisted. She
has to go for a bone scan and more tests, the doctor suspects that it is bone
cancer. I hope he's wrong.
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

That is not a sound I would like to awaken to in the middle of the night.   I
hope this will be your last storm.   Bad weather in so much of the country.
I am waiting for George's brother and sister in law to arrive.   They are
driving up from West Palm Beach to take Geo. to lunch for his birthday which was
this past Thurs.   No outside work today!!
I did get my desk straightened up - once I filed the taxes, all those supporting
papers, forms etc. went to Georges desk for him to mail and file.
Tomorrow I will have to make up for fluffing off today

--- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, Sheri Bush <mytwigs@...> wrote:
>
>
> Guess what is going on outside my windows?!  Guess what woke me in the night?!
Well ice was hitting the windows hard.  And now. . . . snowing to beat the
band.......<sigh>  There appears to be a theme this winter.  I don't want to
talk about it.
>
> Working on the TTTP.  Lot's to do there.  I did get my Alexander section all
updated on FamilyTwigs this week and just over 300 obits on the county page so I
don't feel it has been a total loss.  I have been seriously lacking in the
research dept. this week though.  Maybe I'll get a lot done this weekend.  I
will be snowed in again.  Lots of time on my hands.
>
> I think what we eat and the amount of stress we have in our lives has more to
do with heart disease nowadays.  It seems to be no respecter of age or size. 
Hope your husband takes care of himself, Earline.
>
>
> Sheri aka. FamilyTwigs
> TwigTalk My blog
> Indiana Trails To The Past
> Jackson County/INTTTP
>

Earline - I will keep them all in my prayers!!!!

--- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, "Norma" <no2more@...> wrote:
>
> That is not a sound I would like to awaken to in the middle of the night.   I
hope this will be your last storm.   Bad weather in so much of the country.
> I am waiting for George's brother and sister in law to arrive.   They are
driving up from West Palm Beach to take Geo. to lunch for his birthday which was
this past Thurs.   No outside work today!!
> I did get my desk straightened up - once I filed the taxes, all those
supporting papers, forms etc. went to Georges desk for him to mail and file.
> Tomorrow I will have to make up for fluffing off today
>
> --- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, Sheri Bush <mytwigs@> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Guess what is going on outside my windows?!  Guess what woke me in the
night?!  Well ice was hitting the windows hard.  And now. . . . snowing to beat
the band.......<sigh>  There appears to be a theme this winter.  I don't want to
talk about it.
> >
> > Working on the TTTP.  Lot's to do there.  I did get my Alexander section all
updated on FamilyTwigs this week and just over 300 obits on the county page so I
don't feel it has been a total loss.  I have been seriously lacking in the
research dept. this week though.  Maybe I'll get a lot done this weekend.  I
will be snowed in again.  Lots of time on my hands.
> >
> > I think what we eat and the amount of stress we have in our lives has more
to do with heart disease nowadays.  It seems to be no respecter of age or size. 
Hope your husband takes care of himself, Earline.
> >
> >
> > Sheri aka. FamilyTwigs
> > TwigTalk My blog
> > Indiana Trails To The Past
> > Jackson County/INTTTP
> >
>

Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Another version of the story:
Little is known about the mansion, other than it was inhabited by Dr. Eliakim
Phelps. Phelps was a Presbyterian minister and lived in the house with his wife
and children during the early nineteenth century.

It is thought that maybe Reverend Phelps is responsible for the paranormal
happenings in the house. Apparently, in life, Mr. Phelps liked to dabble with
spiritualism and the

   occult.

It is said that Reverend Phelps held many séances and during one of them he
apparently summoned the spirit of Goody Bassett, a witch that was hanged for
practicing witchcraft in the year of 1661.

The paranormal activity began while the Phelps family lived in the house and it
is said to still occur there today.

One bright Sunday, upon returning from church, the Phelps family reported coming
home and finding the phantom corpse of Goody Bassett, on their dining room
table. Then it vanished.

During that same afternoon, the family claimed that when they entered their
bedrooms, their clothing had been laid out on the beds and posed to look like
the position a person would be lying in if they were in a coffin.

There were other times when they found their clothing stuffed and arranged to
look like life-sized bodies.

Strange puppet dolls (or maybe poppet dolls) were also found in various parts of
the home. These strange little dolls did not belong to the family, but rather,
just appeared throughout the home.

Eventually, the family began to report poltergeist activity; unexplainable
knocking, objects that moved around on its own, furniture being raised off of
the floor and objects being beat against the wall until broken. And then the
inevitable; the children were attacked at night and beaten by this unseen
entity. Furniture would move across the floors or be thrown out of the windows.

The Phelps family was not the only ones to witness these occurrences; many
visitors were witnesses too.

Mr. Phelps and his wife finally sent the children off to boarding school to
spare them the nightly beatings that tormented them. Afterward, the hauntings
stopped.


--- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, "Norma" <no2more@...> wrote:
>
> Here is another story I found in reference to the Phelps Hauntings:
> William Delalley, Stratford, Connecticut, 1972
>
> I was raised in Stratford, Connecticut, home to the legendary Phelps Mansion
reputed "haunted house" on Elm Street in that town. Being residents, we
constantly heard "stories" about the place. Not believing in this stuff much,
the stories were mostly ignored.
>
> One day my high school best friend, Larry and I decided to test our courage
and bravery and enter the house. After some deliberation we decided it would be
the upcoming Friday night. We invited anyone else interested and daring enough
to join us. There were no takers. Instead people said we were crazy and would
never do it. Now we were up to the challenge.
>
> Friday arrived and we thought/talked about what was to take place that evening
all day long making sure neither Larry or myself would chicken out. Night fell
and we were ready. Larry drove and we parked about a half-mile away from the
dark partially dilapidated structure. Armed with only one flashlight between us,
we made our approach. Even until this moment I did not let on about my latent
fear although the closer we got, the harder my heart pounded. We were no closer
than ten feet when suddenly, simultaneously we both saw the backlit image of a
man in one of the open ground-level windows. In what seemed to be a literal
split second we found ourselves back at that car barely being able to speak.
Once we regained our composure we asked the proverbial question: Did you see
what I saw? We concurred, exchanged accounts, and never went back. To this day
we will never know what went on inside that place save the legends found on the
Internet under "The Stratford Poltergeist."
>
>
> --- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, "Norma" <no2more@> wrote:
> >
> > I did not live close to this home, however, as I said earlier, It was near
my stomping grounds as a teenager, not far from the River where the gang all met
for swimming.   As many times as I may have passed the house, I never knew
anything was different about it nor do I recall the Haunting stories.   I find
it very interesting to read it today.   Back around 1950, The Shakespeare
Theatre was built in what would be about a block from this haunted home, right
on the water.
> > I wonder if it was not jinxed from the get-go, since it boomed with New
Yorker's coming in to see the plays, and died less then seven years later from
lack of support?????????
> >
> > --- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, "Norma" <no2more@> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > Story by John Zaffis
> > > History by Bob Cahill
> > >
> > > Phelps mansion in Stratford, Connecticut has been recognized one of the
most notorious cases of poltergeist activity in recent history. In the 1840's,
psychic investigators came from all over the world to investigate the phenomena
taking place within the home and many stories and articles have been written
about the old Phelps home in the past 158yrs. The stories and legends continue,
this is just one of the many:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > In the 1970's, the old house was turned over for use as a home for the
elderly and shortly after its opening, the staff began complaining of strange
things going on. The poltergeist was starting up again. Often, the emergency
alarm would be sounded without reason, by unseen hands. Police and fire
officials were called in to investigate the source of the alarms but were unable
to resolve the issue. Ed and Lorraine Warren were then called in to investigate.
They found no reason for the nightly disturbances, and shortly after that the
home caught fire and was abandoned.
> > >
> > >
> > > I still can remember going onto the front porch and going down the hallway
with two of my friends. As we were walking, we suddenly heard a loud bang from
upstairs. I can't ever remember running so fast, not ever looking back, out the
front door. Around 1974 the mansion was torn down despite all the efforts of the
Stratford residents to save it. But the history of Phelps still intrigues people
to this day. Reverend Eliakim Phelps was returning to his home on Elm street in
Stratford after Sunday service on March 14,1850. With him was his wife, two sons
ages three and eleven, and two daughters ages six and sixteen. When they entered
the house, they found the interior in shambles. Furniture, food and expensive
china had been strewn around the downstairs rooms, the Rev. Phelps first thought
was that the house was burglarized, until he entered the dining room. He then
concluded that demon spirits had entered his home. Displayed about the room were
eleven life-sized dummies, carefully and cleverly woven from old cloth and
wearing Colonial clothes. Most of the dummies were posed in a kneeling position
on the dining room floor, as if praying to a hideous looking dummy, a dwarf one
that was swinging from the chandelier. The town police were called in, but no
one could explain the reason for such a macabre display in the home.
> > >
> > > From that night on, the minister, with the help of friends and neighbors,
stood watch over the room and family. Inevitably, when they dozed off during
their vigil, the dummies would move around the room. Sometimes with new figures
being formed. Skeptical newspaper reporters from all over New England came to
witness candlesticks and fireplace utensils dancing about the dining room.
"While I was there, objects lifted from the table and flew from one wall to
another, in my very presence." A reporter wrote. The elder Phelps boy was
carried across the room by invisible hands and gently deposited on the floor.
Also, a supper table was lifted and tipped over when the room was empty of all
people. A month later, while the Phelps family sat for dinner, they were pelted
by fruit, vegetables, and kitchen utensils, until they were forced to leave the
room. When all the family was present in the room, "strange noises came from the
walls all around us." Said the reverend. "Like the rushing of wind, would force
us to part company. These noises were especially strong when we were seated at
the table."
> > >
> > > From March through October, hundreds of dollars worth of furniture was
smashed, including marble top tables weighing hundreds of pounds that were
lifted from the floor, with not a person near them, then smashed into pieces as
they were slammed to the floor. By October, 26 windows in the home were broken
from objects thrown by invisible hands, and cloth figures were found hiding
about the house most in praying or reading positions. Reverend Phelps said, "I
have witnessed these manifestations hundreds of times within the walls of my
home, and I know that in hundreds of instances, they took place when there was
no visible power by which these motions could have been produced." After eight
months of fear and agony, the family moved out of the house, never to return.
Apparently the poltergeists did not follow them to their next home, but remained
at the Phelps House.
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, "Sheri" <mytwigs@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > It's a wonderful house, Norma.  It looks so much like a house out at on
the ridge.  I fell in love with the house.  It sits right across from the
cemetery where George Thomas is buried.  For a minute I thought you had put it
up.  I will love hearing more about this house, Norma.
> > > >
> > > > Weather guys are confused: some are saying 1 - 2 inches of ice, some say
ice then snow and others saying light icing tonight with rain and storms
tomorrow.  I'm hoping for the rain.  We are under the Winter Storm warning. It's
going to be a surprise what we are being warned about.
> > > >
> > > > Sheri
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

A little dreary today - rain forcast for later in the day.
Enjoyed our afternoon with family yesterday and looking forward to the super
bowl today.   Shampoo my hair, do laundry so I can iron tomorrow and enjoy the
game!!!   Not much else planned for today!!!!

--- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, earlinebradt@... wrote:
>
> Thanks Norma.
>
> 24 with a high of 30. We got another 6" of snow yesterday, a couple more later
today.
>
> Hubby has a pool tournament today so I don't have to watch football all day,
yeah!
>
> Did you watch WDYTYA on Friday? I think this season is going to be better than
last one.
>
>
> Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Norma" <no2more@...>
> Sender: seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Sat, 05 Feb 2011 23:45:53
> To: <seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com>
> Reply-To: seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [seekingourtwigs] Re: February Weather and Conversation
>
> Earline - I will keep them all in my prayers!!!!
>
> --- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, "Norma" <no2more@> wrote:
> >
> > That is not a sound I would like to awaken to in the middle of the night.  
I hope this will be your last storm.   Bad weather in so much of the country.
> > I am waiting for George's brother and sister in law to arrive.   They are
driving up from West Palm Beach to take Geo. to lunch for his birthday which was
this past Thurs.   No outside work today!!
> > I did get my desk straightened up - once I filed the taxes, all those
supporting papers, forms etc. went to Georges desk for him to mail and file.
> > Tomorrow I will have to make up for fluffing off today
> >
> > --- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, Sheri Bush <mytwigs@> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > Guess what is going on outside my windows?!  Guess what woke me in the
night?!  Well ice was hitting the windows hard.  And now. . . . snowing to beat
the band.......<sigh>  There appears to be a theme this winter.  I don't want to
talk about it.
> > >
> > > Working on the TTTP.  Lot's to do there.  I did get my Alexander section
all updated on FamilyTwigs this week and just over 300 obits on the county page
so I don't feel it has been a total loss.  I have been seriously lacking in the
research dept. this week though.  Maybe I'll get a lot done this weekend.  I
will be snowed in again.  Lots of time on my hands.
> > >
> > > I think what we eat and the amount of stress we have in our lives has more
to do with heart disease nowadays.  It seems to be no respecter of age or size. 
Hope your husband takes care of himself, Earline.
> > >
> > >
> > > Sheri aka. FamilyTwigs
> > > TwigTalk My blog
> > > Indiana Trails To The Past
> > > Jackson County/INTTTP
> > >
> >
>

I don't watch the Ancestry program anymore.   I don't like the way they show the
research - cut corners and make it sound too easy.   Also, I can do without the
celebrities.    I like the advertising that Ancestry is doing to push the
program, because it ups the stock and is making money.   We bought a couple of
hundred shares of stock when the IPO (initial offering)  first came out last
Nov. and so far it has gone up $22.00 a share since.  That covers all the years
I have paid for Ancestry to use it, plus a little extra.
Sheri - do you think the snow will ever end?????    The early spring we enjoyed
is over.   Today we had no sun and it was cold again.
I worked on my Gedcom's today and replaced one I had on Rootsweb that was two
years old and another one on Tribal Pages.   Then had to go back and delete the
living people.

--- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, Sheri Bush <mytwigs@...> wrote:
>
>
> I saw the show.  I don't like Williams, but she has a couple of lines, chosen
because of their outcomes I'm sure, that was interesting.  Very interesting.  I
did laugh about the gloves.  The big thing everyone talked about last time.  Now
they can't touch themselves without gloves.  LOL  I don't care for the line up
this year and have no interest in any of the "stars" trees.  O'Donnell is not a
big mystery. . . . ummmm, let me take a whack at it....Irish?  LOL  This show is
a long advertisement for Ancestry.  That's it.  It is not realistic nor
informative.  No one is going to learn anything from it.  Newbies will think
they need a sub to Ancestry and that is the point.  Lucky for them there was
nothing else on at that time.
>
> It is dreary and going to snow again.  Yesterday it snowed all day but luck
was with us.  The temp hovered in the 30 - 33 degree range and it melted mostly.
Only left in sheltered places.  Today the same.  Not a terrible thing as long at
it melts.
>
> No sports in this house.  To me the superbowl is just an excuse for people to
get drunk and hurt themselves or others.  Now my favorite Uncle (from Milwaukee)
was a rabid Packers fan.  I think the Packers are in this thing.  I think of him
when I hear the word Packers and it has been thrown about a lot lately.
>
> Sheri aka. FamilyTwigs
> TwigTalk My blog
> Indiana Trails To The Past
> Jackson County/INTTTP
>
>
>
>
>
>
> To: seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com
> From: no2more@...
> Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2011 14:02:47 +0000
> Subject: [seekingourtwigs] Re: February Weather and Conversation
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>       A little dreary today - rain forcast for later in the day.
>
> Enjoyed our afternoon with family yesterday and looking forward to the super
bowl today.   Shampoo my hair, do laundry so I can iron tomorrow and enjoy the
game!!!   Not much else planned for today!!!!
>
>
>
> --- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, earlinebradt@ wrote:
>
> >
>
> > Thanks Norma.
>
> >
>
> > 24 with a high of 30. We got another 6" of snow yesterday, a couple more
later today.
>
> >
>
> > Hubby has a pool tournament today so I don't have to watch football all day,
yeah!
>
> >
>
> > Did you watch WDYTYA on Friday? I think this season is going to be better
than last one.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
>
> >
>
> > -----Original Message-----
>
> > From: "Norma" <no2more@>
>
> > Sender: seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com
>
> > Date: Sat, 05 Feb 2011 23:45:53
>
> > To: <seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com>
>
> > Reply-To: seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com
>
> > Subject: [seekingourtwigs] Re: February Weather and Conversation
>
> >
>
> > Earline - I will keep them all in my prayers!!!!
>
> >
>
> > --- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, "Norma" <no2more@> wrote:
>
> > >
>
> > > That is not a sound I would like to awaken to in the middle of the night.
I hope this will be your last storm.   Bad weather in so much of the country.
>
> > > I am waiting for George's brother and sister in law to arrive.   They are
driving up from West Palm Beach to take Geo. to lunch for his birthday which was
this past Thurs.   No outside work today!!
>
> > > I did get my desk straightened up - once I filed the taxes, all those
supporting papers, forms etc. went to Georges desk for him to mail and file.
>
> > > Tomorrow I will have to make up for fluffing off today
>
> > >
>
> > > --- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, Sheri Bush <mytwigs@> wrote:
>
> > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > > > Guess what is going on outside my windows?!  Guess what woke me in the
night?!  Well ice was hitting the windows hard.  And now. . . . snowing to beat
the band.......<sigh>  There appears to be a theme this winter.  I don't want to
talk about it.
>
> > > >
>
> > > > Working on the TTTP.  Lot's to do there.  I did get my Alexander section
all updated on FamilyTwigs this week and just over 300 obits on the county page
so I don't feel it has been a total loss.  I have been seriously lacking in the
research dept. this week though.  Maybe I'll get a lot done this weekend.  I
will be snowed in again.  Lots of time on my hands.
>
> > > >
>
> > > > I think what we eat and the amount of stress we have in our lives has
more to do with heart disease nowadays.  It seems to be no respecter of age or
size.  Hope your husband takes care of himself, Earline.
>
> > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > > > Sheri aka. FamilyTwigs
>
> > > > TwigTalk My blog
>
> > > > Indiana Trails To The Past
>
> > > > Jackson County/INTTTP
>
> > > >
>
> > >
>
> >
>

Milder today, 29, snow showers

Another distant cousin and genealogy contact is gone, she had a massive stroke
Saturday night and was taken off life support yesterday.

On a brighter note, my nephew has to do a report about migration, where his
ancestors came from, reasons for migrating  and the hardships endured. I think I
may have gotten his mom interested in finding out about her family history. She
had nothing to tell him about her side.
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Sorry about the distant cousin, with a history like you have in your family and
now your husbands side of the family, I hope you are taking a Baby aspirin every
day.   A baby aspirin thins the blood enough to keep the blood from clotting and
causing strokes.  Men can take a full regular aspirin, but for women they
recommend 81 mg. which is a baby aspirin.
Have my chores finished for today and now it is time for me to get on my soap
box.    I am writing my Senator and Congressmen to complain about the disgrace
yesterday, with the National Anthem that was sung for the Super Bowl.   Not only
did she flub the words, the rendition she sang was not even recognizable as our
National Anthem.   It is time we went back to the way it was written and
intended.  Standardize the song.   I say we just play an old record of Kate
Smith singing it - she was the best and it could bring a tear to your eye.  
This one yesterday brought tears to my eyes ok, but in disgust.
Earline, can you just imageine some pop singer singing "Oh Canada" with their
own tune?

--- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, earlinebradt@... wrote:
>
> Milder today, 29, snow showers
>
> Another distant cousin and genealogy contact is gone, she had a massive stroke
Saturday night and was taken off life support yesterday.
>
> On a brighter note, my nephew has to do a report about migration, where his
ancestors came from, reasons for migrating  and the hardships endured. I think I
may have gotten his mom interested in finding out about her family history. She
had nothing to tell him about her side.
> Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
>

Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

hehehehe - I know, that's all I need is to fall off and break some bones.   I
still think it is a disgrace!!!!!

--- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, earlinebradt@... wrote:
>
> Norma, just be careful getting off the soapbox, lol.
>
> Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Norma" <no2more@...>
> Sender: seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:22:08
> To: <seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com>
> Reply-To: seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [seekingourtwigs] Re: February Weather and Conversation
>
> Sorry about the distant cousin, with a history like you have in your family
and now your husbands side of the family, I hope you are taking a Baby aspirin
every day.   A baby aspirin thins the blood enough to keep the blood from
clotting and causing strokes.  Men can take a full regular aspirin, but for
women they recommend 81 mg. which is a baby aspirin.
> Have my chores finished for today and now it is time for me to get on my soap
box.    I am writing my Senator and Congressmen to complain about the disgrace
yesterday, with the National Anthem that was sung for the Super Bowl.   Not only
did she flub the words, the rendition she sang was not even recognizable as our
National Anthem.   It is time we went back to the way it was written and
intended.  Standardize the song.   I say we just play an old record of Kate
Smith singing it - she was the best and it could bring a tear to your eye.  
This one yesterday brought tears to my eyes ok, but in disgust.
> Earline, can you just imageine some pop singer singing "Oh Canada" with their
own tune?
>
> --- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, earlinebradt@ wrote:
> >
> > Milder today, 29, snow showers
> >
> > Another distant cousin and genealogy contact is gone, she had a massive
stroke Saturday night and was taken off life support yesterday.
> >
> > On a brighter note, my nephew has to do a report about migration, where his
ancestors came from, reasons for migrating  and the hardships endured. I think I
may have gotten his mom interested in finding out about her family history. She
had nothing to tell him about her side.
> > Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
> >
>

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHERI.................Hope you have a nice day!!!!

--- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, "lizziemaude" <no2more@...> wrote:
>
> hehehehe - I know, that's all I need is to fall off and break some bones.   I
still think it is a disgrace!!!!!
>
> --- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, earlinebradt@ wrote:
> >
> > Norma, just be careful getting off the soapbox, lol.
> >
> > Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: "Norma" <no2more@>
> > Sender: seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com
> > Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:22:08
> > To: <seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com>
> > Reply-To: seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [seekingourtwigs] Re: February Weather and Conversation
> >
> > Sorry about the distant cousin, with a history like you have in your family
and now your husbands side of the family, I hope you are taking a Baby aspirin
every day.   A baby aspirin thins the blood enough to keep the blood from
clotting and causing strokes.  Men can take a full regular aspirin, but for
women they recommend 81 mg. which is a baby aspirin.
> > Have my chores finished for today and now it is time for me to get on my
soap box.    I am writing my Senator and Congressmen to complain about the
disgrace yesterday, with the National Anthem that was sung for the Super Bowl.  
Not only did she flub the words, the rendition she sang was not even
recognizable as our National Anthem.   It is time we went back to the way it was
written and intended.  Standardize the song.   I say we just play an old record
of Kate Smith singing it - she was the best and it could bring a tear to your
eye.   This one yesterday brought tears to my eyes ok, but in disgust.
> > Earline, can you just imageine some pop singer singing "Oh Canada" with
their own tune?
> >
> > --- In seekingourtwigs@yahoogroups.com, earlinebradt@ wrote:
> > >
> > > Milder today, 29, snow showers
> > >
> > > Another distant cousin and genealogy contact is gone, she had a massive
stroke Saturday night and was taken off life support yesterday.
> > >
> > > On a brighter note, my nephew has to do a report about migration, where
his ancestors came from, reasons for migrating  and the hardships endured. I
think I may have gotten his mom interested in finding out about her family
history. She had nothing to tell him about her side.
> > > Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
> > >
> >
>