Hello, I am new here, having been onsite only a few times since being invited to join. I joined here because I live in a haunted house; not something I say lightly. I did not believe this house was haunted when I bought it, because every house that has been vacant for a number of years gains such a reputation. The villiage claims it was built circa 1820, though we found no record of it until 1850. It was the magistrate's house, and is listed as one of the houses in this state used in the 'Underground Railroad'. The 1st day we came here I and another person saw a woman walk out of the house and into  the barn that used to be behind the house. I pursued the woman because the barn itself was rickety and dangerous, and I wanted to know what a stranger was doing in my home. Of course, when I got into the barn no one was there. That marked the beginning of a lot of strange sounds, attacks on sleeping visitors (twice) and sights within this house.

I am quite comfortable with the weirdness of this place, and don't care if I see a little girl on the staircase every now and then. She seems happy; I don't bother her, and she only plays 'peek-a-boo' with me and others who have come here. I do not tell people who come here the place is haunted until they come to me and tell me about something they saw or heard here... like voices in an empty room, or footsteps across the upstairs floor when no one is upstairs. I've never wanted to violate the privacy of the remnants of people in this house.. apparently they liked it here enough in life to stay here after life passed from them. Maybe one day I will be added to their company. No psychics thusfar have been able to stay here long.. or for a full night. I do not understand why.  The place is not spooky, nor is there any violence associated with it with perhaps the exception of one room in the back. There are other peculiarities in this house, but it would take too much time and space to list them all. Over all the years this place has stood, it has gathered much.

One day I would like however to catch something on audio, or maybe even video - just to possibly find out 'who' remains here. The front staircase seems to be the focal point sometimes. My dog has been known to park herself at the foot of the stairs and bark or growl, and not allow anyone past her up the stairs. I think perhaps the little girl must have died there.. for she has never been seen anywhere else. The servant's staircase in the back is where I would have expected such a disaster, for it is so steep even I have fell down it once myself and nearly broke my neck. That I fell at all is something I do not understand. I was holding the rail at the top of the stairs and was not even going down them. It felt as though I were pushed down them. The top of the stairs ends abruptly at a wall, where once there was another portion/room upstairs. This part is long gone, having burned off the house. I can find no record of this happening, though evidence of a fire was found there when I was rebuilding the house. The servant's staircase was closed off at that time by previous owners; for how long, I do not know.

My own history is that of a researcher. I have spent the past 30+ years studying the supernatural, occult, world history, the history of religions and customs of ancient man, including witchcraft, paganism, and occult sciences. Some consider me a demonologist, but I do not agree with the modern definition of that term. I have in the past helped people with situations that have arisen out of the abusive uses of the occult, and sometimes even hostile entities evoked by those means. I do not consider it 'adventurous' or a hobby. It is not a past time like playing horse shoes or collecting books on the subject. I take my studies seriously, as well as the information I have found over the years. It is my very studies that caused me to disbelieve the haunting of my own home bought only 12 years ago, until I had experienced enough proof for me to concede that it was indeed haunted. I always approach any such matter sceptically with no expectations to remain unbiased until all facts are in. This is called having an 'open mind' rather than having a 'biased mind'.

Well, I've ost you enough of your time reading this. Thank you very much for taking the time to read it. Nice to be here. I love discussions.

FC Townsend