Hollow Hill

Haunted Bear Creek Bridge – May 2006 Report

Bear Creek Bridge on Houston’s Patterson Road is haunted.

It may not be as haunted as nearby Langham Creek Bridge, but it’s worth investigating anyway.

At Bear Creek Bridge, we’ve heard the tapping on the outside of the car.

During several other visits, we’ve seen the “sparkle” effect when we’ve taken flash photos. Psychic members of our team sensed energy there, as well. (See our May 2005 reports.)

With the Texas Paranormal Society, we visited Bear Creek Bridge in May 2006. We did not hear the tapping sound this time.

However, the visual anomalies were stronger.

In fact, we felt that the park was far more haunted than during our previous investigations at Patterson Road. More recent reports suggest that’s been a trend over many years.

In May 2006, most of our photos showed minor orbs on the south side of the bridge, and a few other anomalies. All of them had to be discounted due to fleeting mists that night, as well as flying insects.

The sparkles were extraordinary on this evening. The effect was probably enhanced by the bugs, but it’s easy to tell the difference between bugs in real life, and in photos.

Moth in photo at Bear Creek Park For example, that’s definitely a bug – probably a moth – in the Bear Creek photo at right.

Because there were bugs when we were researching, we discount any orbs that look questionable.

(If the orb isn’t a perfect circle, or if it seems to have a solid mass near the center, it’s probably not paranormal.)

In this case, it’s clearly an insect.

Tip: If you’re ghost hunting after dark and any street lights are near, study them for a few minutes. Many insects are drawn to light, and you’ll be able to see them in front of any lamp or street light.

Not sure? Turn on a flashlight and prop it, pointing slightly up, on the ground. Then, walk away, at least a dozen feet. After that, wait and see if the light attracts bugs.

If you see bugs there, they’re probably in your photos, as well.

Orbs at a ‘hanging tree’?

Tree with orbs, at Bear Creek Park, Houston, TX In this next photo, minor orbs seemed to linger around one tree. It’s the wrong shape to be a ‘hanging tree’, but it had that kind of energy around it.

Though the nearest Civil War battles occurred at Sabine Pass and in Galveston Bay, soldiers did march in this area.

Something happened near this tree. The orb isn’t much, but the other, related psychic evidence was compelling.

Our EVP indicated activity, as well.

Most legends related to ghosts in that area describe soldiers who deserted their comrades and were caught… and then hung as traitors.

The area deliberately flooded after the Galveston Flood has its own ghostly history, and those spirits may lurk in the wooded areas of Bear Creek Park.

Nearby, “blue light cemetery” is famous, as well, but not as accessible.

I recommend investigating around Bear Creek Bridge, especially near this tree. It’s on the south side of Patterson Road in Houston, and on the Eldridge side of the Bear Creek Bridge, not the Highway 6 side.

The side of the road slopes steeply, but there is room to park parallel to the road, just off the pavement.

Texas Ghost Hunting

Texas offers many opportunities for ghost hunters. Between Texas’ rich history and its cultural diversity, there is something in Texas for every paranormal enthusiast.

For links to reports from my own investigations, see The Ghosts of Haunted Texas.

The following are some of Texas’ most famous haunts. Some links may not work. (Known broken links are noted with an asterisk.) I’m leaving them here, in case they return to the Internet. If they don’t, check the Wayback Machine for archived copies.

Alpine – Marfa Mystery Lights

These nightly floating balls of light have been seen for over a hundred years. They range from one to over ten feet in size, and appear in a variety of colors including red, orange, green, and yellow. Some viewers report a “tuning fork” sound when the lights appear.

Native legends claim that they are the spirit of Apache Chief Alsate who offended a god and was denied access to the afterlife. Pioneer legends favor a tale about a lost family from the mid-19th century.

The location is about 25 miles west of Alpine, in Presidio County. About eight miles east of Marfa on U.S. Highway 90, look for a plaque about the Marfa Lights. That’s one of the best viewing spots for the lights. Nearby, the Texas Highway Department has provided a paved, slightly sheltered viewing area.

Austin

From the Driskill Hotel’s many ghosts, to the dead who haunt the shores of Shoal Creek, Austin is a great location for ghost hunting. See my articles at this website, and my book, The Ghosts of Austin, Texas.

Columbus

This great city is great for ghost enthusiasts, with a 20-year feud in its “wild west” days, an internationally famous artist who creates “ghost paintings” and an annual “Live Oaks and Dead Folks” event. See my report at my ghosts of Columbus, Texas articles.

Galveston

Well known for its famous flood, Galveston, has some profoundly haunted sites. I’ve conducted some casual investigations, and can confirm that the The Bishop’s Palace (1402 Broadway) is haunted. (It’s also called the “bishop’s castle” by people in the area.)

The Bishop’s Palace, the church across the street, and the nearby rectory are all good sites for “ghost orb” photos.

There are many other haunted locations in Galveston, and others are far more knowledgeable than we are about the ghosts of Galveston. We can definitely state that Galveston is worth visiting for its ghost tours and haunted sites.

From the Bishop’s Palace website, as of October 2009:

Rentals The Bishop’s Palace makes a fine setting for wedding photography by arrangement. (Tour visitors are not allowed to take photographs*.) For rental information, call 409-762-3933, or email Vicki.Amundsen@galvestonhistory.org.

*In other words, it looks as if you won’t be able to take photos if you tour the site as part of a regular group. If you want to take “ghost photos” (recommended), you’ll need to make special arrangements. When we visited, the Bishop’s Palace was open to tours as well as religious retreats, and it was maintained by the Catholic church.

Houston

See my articles linked at Real Ghosts of Houston, Texas and vicinity.

Katy

Named after the “KT” in the name of the MKT railroad line, Katy is a quiet town with some fine sites for ghost hunting. I’ve had good results, ghost hunting around the Katy train depot. See my articles about Katy’s ghosts.

San Antonio – The Alamo

TexasEscapes.com: The Alamo and An Alamo GhostEncounter
Legends of America: Ghosts of the Alamo (History is still at that website, but I guess they’d rather not talk about the ghosts.)
Official Site: The Alamo – San Antonio, TX

The Alamo is Texas’ most-visited historic site. Like many famous battle sites, the Alamo is haunted by a variety of ghosts. What makes the Alamo different from many hauntings is that the ghosts appeared almost immediately after the battle, and they’re often described as “grotesque.” Today, those ghosts continue to appear, even in broad daylight.The Alamo is located in downtown San Antonio, Texas.

Spring

Some people claim that Spring, Texas — specifically Old Town Spring — is the most haunted town in Texas. I’m not too sure about that, but the town is definitely haunted and well worth visiting. With over 100 quaint shops and many annual festivals, Spring is a great weekend destination.

My notes begin at Ghost Hunting in Spring, Texas and vicinity.

Links to other Texas ghost hunters:

Lone Star Spirits (Highly recommended)
South Texas Ghost Hunters Alliance (San Antonio area)

Bell Witch, TN – The Murders

Continued from
The true story of the Bell Witch

abandoned house The Bell Witch was real. By the end of 1817, it had been witnessed by most of the Bell family and at least one outsider.

The Bell Witch became a sensation. Neighbors–and even strangers–travelled great distances to visit the Bells, hoping to see evidence of their ghost… or demon.

Even Andrew Jackson–soldier and future President–tried the spend the night at the Bell home, and fled in terror.

This was one of the worst things that could happen to a church-going family in the early 19th century. Now, the Bell family was known far and wide for their possible associations with the Devil.

A court case, and excommunication

In the midst of this unwanted attention, John Bell was accused of usury. Kate Batts and her invalid husband, Benjamin, said that Mr. Bell overcharged when he sold slaves to them.

The church acquitted Mr. Bell, but the local magistrate found him guilty in criminal court. This was what the community needed. Immediately, the church reversed their earlier decision.

They excommunicated John Bell.

The Bell Witch evil spreads

The Bell Witch, who now called herself “Kate,” began bothering the Bells’ neighbors. Her voice was heard within their walls, at church, and even in the streets.

The Witch revealed the private thoughts of anyone and everyone, and usually at the most embarrassing moments.

Some speculated that the Witch was actually “Kate Batts’ witch,” sent to get even with John Bell for his now-infamous business mistake. But, that’s not the only reason why Kate Batt wanted revenge on the Bell family.

Kate Batts jilted by John Bell

Many years earlier, Kate Batts and John Bell had “kept company.”

In fact, Kate considered herself engaged to John Bell. She purchased her trousseau, and boasted that she was marrying the heir to one of the South’s wealthiest families.

No one knows if there was really an agreement between John Bell and Kate Batts. However, he abruptly married Lucy Williams instead of Kate. Miss Batts never recovered from the embarrassment.

More than one Bell Witch?

At least four other spirits acted on behalf of “Kate.” Their names included “Blackdog” and “Jerusalem.”

Some of these spirits seemed very Christian. They quoted Scriptures and sang hymns. One even helped John Bell’s wife, Lucy, with her household chores.

“Kate” remained the most active among the spirits… and the most vocal.

The Bell Witch regularly interfered with the Bell family’s lives. For example, when Betsy Bell became engaged to Joshua Gardner, the Bell Witch objected loudly and often. After repeated attacks by the Witch, Betsy broke off the engagement.

The Bell Witch kills John Bell

Soon after Betsy ended her engagement to Mr. Gardner, John Bell had a relapse. His tongue and jaw problems returned. His doctor prescribed medicine, but it only helped for awhile. The Bell Witch proclaimed that she was killing Mr. Bell. On December 20, 1820, she succeeded.

At John Bell’s burial, the Bell Witch was heard cackling at her evil deeds. As John Bell’s family and neighbors stood in the cemetery watching as his body was lowered into the ground, they were surrounded by eerie winds and laughter by the Bell Witch.

After the funeral, the Bell Witch remained in the area for a few weeks. Then she left, and promised to return in seven years.

Did she make the Bell family rich?

She appeared as she’d promised. She spoke to John Bell, Jr. with his friend, Frank Miles. The Witch told the men about the upcoming Civil War, and about World Wars I and II. She predicted many things which later came true.

Did the Bell Witch help these men to succeed financially? Many people believe so. John Bell r. seemed to have an uncanny business sense after this, and became wealthy almost overnight.

According to some stories, John Bell Jr. left a document in his safe. It was to be opened after he died. If it was ever found, the family did not say what the paper revealed.

According to both Bell and Miles, the Witch left and promised to return again in 107 years (1935).

In 1886, the following story was published in The Goodspeed History of Tennessee.

A remarkable occurrence, which attracted widespread interest, was connected with the family of John Bell, who settled near what is now Adams Station about 1804.

So great was the excitement that people came from hundreds of miles around to witness the manifestations of what was popularly known as the “Bell Witch.”

This witch was supposed to be some spiritual being having the voice and attributes of a woman. It was invisible to the eye, yet it would hold conversation and even shake hands with certain individuals.

The freaks it performed were wonderful and seemingly designed to annoy the family. It would take the sugar from the bowls, spill the milk, take the quilts from the beds, slap and pinch the children, and then laugh at the discomfiture of its victims.

At first it was supposed to be a good spirit, but its subsequent acts, together with the curses with which it supplemented its remarks, proved the contrary.

A volume might be written concerning the performance of this wonderful being, as they are now described by contemporaries and their descendants. That all this actually occurred will not be disputed, nor will a rational explanation be attempted. It is merely introduced as an example of superstition, strong in the minds of all but a few in those times, and yet not wholly extinct.

The return of the Witch

According to legend–and as she predicted–the Witch returned to “her” cave around 1935. This cave was on the original Bell plantation. It’s the same cave where the Bell children had played, and sometimes encountered her in the early 19th century.

In 1935, she appeared to several soldiers who were camping in the cave for the night.
According to one story, the skeptic in the group eventually died from the injuries caused by the Bell Witch. Those who survived her attack were never the same afterwards.

Next, read the rest of the story, Bell Witch – An American Haunting to find out what happened to the Bell family.

Houston, TX – Ghosts (Links)

Houston is one of America’s largest cities, and it has dozens–perhaps hundreds–of haunted sites. These are just a few that I’ve investigated, with a research partner or with a group.

Glenwood Cemetery (a Washington Ave. Cemetery)

An early investigation of this cemetery shows good EMF readings but no daytime orbs.

Woodlawn Cemetery (across the street from IKEA)
Woodlawn is a charming, mostly modern cemetery, privately owned and managed by a Houston family.Generally, this location is not suited to ghost hunting. It is carefully maintained, with gates that close at night, and security cameras watching the property.

However, for daytime (and respectful) explorations, we found some good (albeit brief) EMF recorded as 40+ degree compass swings, in the vicinity of the matching military headstones.

If you’re using a compass, be sure to rule out interference from metal pipes and grave markers.

Alief Cemetery (at the corner of Bellaire and Dairy Ashford) This cemetery is NOT recommended for investigations at this time, due to its location. See our report for additional information.

Patterson Road – Page 1: Langham Creek bridge – Page 2: Bear Creek bridge / Bear Creek bridge is a more likely site for the legendary tapping, but we found good compass anomalies at Langham Creek bridge.

A year later, both bridges seemed haunted:
Bear Creek Bridge – May 2006
Langham Creek Bridge – May 2006

Bear Creek Park – Bordered by Patterson Road and Highway 6, Bear Creek Park is a popular park for hiking, riding, picnics, and sporting events.

Bear Creek Park is also the site of one of Houston’s most famous “blue light” cemeteries. (According to many local ghost investigators, that cemetery is tiny, disappointing, and not worth visiting. That part of the park is closed after dark.)

We weren’t planning to see any anomalies in a last-minute photo, but we did, anyway. See it at Houston – Bear Creek Park orb

During our return visit in May 2006, we saw little evidence of hauntings at nearby Addicks Bear Creek Methodist Cemetery.

More Haunted cemeteries near Bear Creek Park include Beeler Cemetery, Houston, TX.

The West Oaks Phantom Walker appears regularly by the West Oaks Mall, on Richmond near Westheimer. He appears to be a uniformed Spanish soldier, and possibly headless. He’s a quirky ghost, and one of our favorites.

Also, a reader reports that there is a haunted house in back of the zoo. It’s a white house with a black fence, surrounded by a moat. We’re noting this for further investigation, but haven’t heard other reports about this site.

DOWNTOWN

Spaghetti Warehouse in downtown Houston is just one of many haunted Spaghetti Warehouses. (Austin’s Spaghetti Warehouse is even more famous for its colorful ghosts.) The staff will share many great stories with you. During our visit, we were fascinated with what we called “the scary guy’s portrait.”

Also downtown, be sure to visit haunted Market Square. For more information about Market Square ghosts, read my stories in the book, Weird Hauntings. (Sterling Books, 2006)

KATY, TEXAS

25 miles west of downtown Houston, this historic town features remarkable orbs. See Ghosts of Old Town Katy, TX, part one and part two. I was the first to report ghosts at the depot. Since then, many others have confirmed them.

My first follow-up visit did not produce good photos, but the ghostly impressions were vivid. Read more about the ghosts of the Katy, Texas train depot.

Romantic ghosts at the Katy depot may have manifested as twin orbs in several locations on January 2nd, 2006. (At the very least, it’s a sweet idea.)

I also captured more vivid orbs and a great “jack-o-lantern” orb nearby, at Ghost Orbs in Katy, TX (1/06).

SPRING, TEXAS

About a half an hour north of Houston, the town of Spring (and vicinity) offers considerable paranormal activity.

See Ghost Hunting in Spring, Texas and vicinity – page one and page two.

Also see my reports about ghosts in Old Town Spring. (It’s a popular, quaint shopping area in part of Spring.) Here’s a partial list of my articles.

Old Town Spring – haunted bank

Old Town Spring – ghost in the bank

Old Town Spring – ghost photo detail

UNIDENTIFIED SITES

Sometimes I check locations that are only mildly haunted.

Sometimes, they’re on private property or otherwise restricted, so I don’t identify them online.

Here’s a typical report: Houston – private cemetery – August 2005 – a two-part article, with photos.

Bell Witch, TN – An American Haunting

The Bell Witch story was as sensational in the 19th century as it is today.

However, many people wonder what happened to the remaining Bell Family and others related to the story, after the “Witch” left their home.

The Bell family

After 1821, the John Bell family generally lived normal lives, had many children, and died of old age.

Among the most famous children from the Bell Witch story:

Drewry Bell, who’d shot at the Witch at the start of the story, was never quite normal after these events. He became reclusive, and never married.

John Bell Jr., who’d received help from the Witch, became a prosperous farmer and businessman as the heir apparent to the Bell plantation.

Betsy Bell, who was so tormented by the Witch and broke her engagement to Joshua, has been the subject of much speculation.

Nandor Fodor, a psychoanalyst and parapsychologist, interpreted the Bell Witch as a poltergeist, acting on behalf of Betsy Bell. He speculated that Betsy had been sexually abused by John Bell, and the events were manifestations of an active alter personality of Betsy’s.

This kind of abuse could be part of the unspoken prejudice of the community, in excommunicating John Bell from the church. However, this does not explain the tales of mind-reading in the community.

Richard Powell was Betsy’s schoolteacher. She eventually married him. But, there are some odd “coincidences” about Powell, and he may have been responsible for some of the Bell Witch phenomena.

Here’s one version of the story:

Powell’s father built many of the homes in the Adams area, including the Bell family home. In them, Powell built hidden corridors with separate entries, through which the younger Powell traveled to gain secret knowledge of the Bell family and their neighbors.

With this information, Powell–who knew both hypnosis and ventriloquism–threw his voice to sound like the Witch. He also used his access to the Bell home to torment the family, intercede in Betsy’s romance (since he wanted her for himself), and eventually poison John Bell as retribution for the father’s abuse of Betsy.

Powell’s wife also died in 1821, shortly after the death of John Bell, who was opposed to Mr. Powell’s interests in Betsy. This left Powell free to court his student.

The most significant flaw in this story, is how the elder Powell could have had the time, money, and secrecy necessary, to add these extra corridors to the houses.

Richard Powell and Betsy married in 1824, and they eventually had eight children. Despite her unhappy and short first engagement, Betsy claimed that her marriage to Powell had been happy. Events would suggest otherwise, but Betsy was loyal to her husband even after he lost his money and became a long-term invalid.

Betsy died at her daughter’s home in Hatton, Mississippi, where she had lived for many years after becoming a widow.

The Bell Witch today

By some accounts, both the Bell Witch and her victim, John Bell, haunt the Bell Witch Cave in Adams, Tennessee. The cave is the site of unexplained events.

The most recent published account of the Bell Witch was in 1973, when a group of soldiers thought it would be fun to visit the cave. Here is the story:

One particularly loud member of the group stood in the cave and announced that he didn’t believe in the Witch. He was thrown to the ground by an invisible force, and could not lift himself to his feet. His companions thought it was all pretense, and laughed heartily. Then they got tired of the joke and left him there.

After a couple of hours, the men had second thoughts about what they’d witnessed. They returned to the cave to help their fallen companion. However, no matter how they struggled, they could not lift him.

Eventually, the Witch became tired of the prank and the man was able to stand up.

The men ran from the cave, and never returned to the area again. There are some lingering rumors that one of the soldiers–probably the skeptic–died shortly after this encounter.

To visit the Bell Witch, and the scene of the movie, An American Haunting

The Bell Witch Cave is opened to the public from May through November, with tours given by the owners of the cave. Take Highway 41 and, in Adams, turn onto Bell Chapel Road. Then follow the signs.

Call ahead for more information, as days and hours of the tours can vary: (615) 696-3055. At last report, the tours were about $5 each.

Houston, TX – Haunted Alief Cemetery

Alief Cemetery (pronounced “A-leef”), near Houston, Texas, has a wide reputation for being haunted.

I haven’t had time to do much research, and I don’t intend to return for a formal investigation.

Here’s the legend:

This pioneer cemetery was either unknown or ignored when an apartment complex was built on adjoining (and perhaps overlapping) property. As a result, the apartments are rumored to be haunted.

No one claims that the apartment buildings are actually on top of graves, but I’m not sure that anyone is certain, one way or the other.

During our visit at dusk, I caught several orbs, some dramatically large, with my camera. (See photos below.) Because of the fast-fading light, I did not check for EMF with a compass. And frankly, the later it got, the more uneasy I was in that neighborhood. I definitely stood out and caught looks of resentment from a few (not most) people.

I’m sympathetic. I believe that certain communities have the right to unspoken boundaries. They shouldn’t feel as their residential areas are being invaded, investigated, and treated like a sideshow by ghost hunters.

Had I realized the situation beforehand, I wouldn’t have explored the site at all. I didn’t feel threatened, but definitely uneasy, especially as most of the young families seemed to go indoors as dusk fell.

Even in the daytime, I don’t recommend visiting this site alone. (Since posting this, several readers — one a former gang member — warned us that no one should go ghost hunting there at night, even in a group.)

Also, wear sturdy shoes or sneakers, even during daylight hours. The ground isn’t treacherous, but it is uneven in spots and difficult to see where the grass has not been trimmed.