Haunted House Playlist: Lair of the Vampire by Nox Arcana

Off of their 2005 album, Transylvania, Lair of the Vampire is one of Nox Arcana's most epic masterpieces.

The Gray House

The Gray HouseLisbon, NH
With Special Guest NEPI

(Please Note: Do NOT email me or NEPI asking where this location is. I can understand looking for a midnight fright, but we need to protect the clients privacy. I mean, honestly, who wants strangers snooping at their house?)

Typical houses could bore someone, they just look like every other house on the block, but sometimes, you get that typical house that isn't so ordinary inside. Case in point is the Gray House located on one of the many back roads in Lisbon. When Nancy Fortin, one of the co founders of NEPI, was a caretaker at the house, NEPI was able to use this house as sort of a training area: test out new equipment, try new techniques, kind of like the way my garage is now (will write on that one at a later time). The Gray House was a perfect spot to hone NEPI's skills, because the best part is that the house is very much active with ghostly activity.

Some residents who stayed at the house (which at the time was a house to rent) said they would see ghostly faces looking out the window, the cellar door opening by itself, and a lady in white has also been seen. A tragedy of any sorts has never been uncovered or revealed to NEPI prior to their investigations there. But they have had a few unique memories at the house:

-One such experience is a favorite among Anthony Ardolino, co founder/lead investigator of NEPI, to tell: one investigation, the power got knocked out, so the place was pitch black. They were up in the master bedroom, doing an EVP and Pendelum Session, when something told Anthony to look up. He sensed that something/someone was in the doorway as he looked at that direction, a car went by and it's headlights illuminated what looked to be a white figure standing in the doorway. Anthony, upon natural human instinct, did what he likes to call "The Scooby-Doo Reaction" where his feet was moving, but he was NOT.

-Another experience happened to Nancy when the cellar door kept on opening by itself. Every investigator, whether a amateur or a pro, should always try to debunk any evidence like this. Doors can open by themselves whether because of a slight breeze or maybe even the residence isn't leveled enough. But when they tried debunking this by closing the door, the door was latched tightly to the point where it wouldn't open by itself.

-Some EVPs, or Electronic Voice Phenomena ("Ghost Voices"), have been recorded in the house a few times. One such EVP was when they asked if they minded them being in there and they got a "No" back as a response. They seem to enjoy company, at least.

You can live in a typical, American house, but sometimes it's the typical ones that are the most suspicious. If you have a haunted residence, give NEPI a call at 444-7142 and we will gladly (and for FREE) come in and investigate your place. Don't be shy, we love the business!

The Cathouse-Bethlehem, NH

Note: Although I have done this story before for a newspaper back in 2009, I thought the story was long winded. I decided since it was my one year anniversary writing for the White Mountain Shopper to write about my first personal ghost experience and decided to take the time and edit the previous version. 

Throughout a whole year here with the White Mountain Shopper you have read about my most favorite ghost stories, you have joined me (word-wise) on my adventures with Northeastern Paranormal Investigations; but one thing you have not read is my first encounter with the paranormal. Until now... The story takes place in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, located on [Redacted due to now being a private residence]. I first heard about the Cathouse from my cousin who was a frequent visitor of the not so famous ghost destination back when the paranormal didn't fascinate me as much as it does now. 

The Cathouse is a run down home that has been abandoned for more then thirty-five years (so I've been told). Back then, I was told that two women lived there, a mother and a daughter, and they "mysteriously disappeared." Not really. In reality, the older lady is (or was) in a nursing home and I have not heard of the supposed daughter's whereabouts. One thing is for sure though is that the older lady had a lot of cats. Some would estimate well over one hundred. Now, I’m a cat lover myself(mostly cause I‘m allergic to dog hair), but that’s just ridiculous. I’d hate to see the cat food/litter bill even for it being that long ago. But fast forward years later and the house is abandoned. 

I got an email roughly a year ago, from a reader telling me she was actually inside the house and that it was a disaster. Papers, gross smells, and even a mummified cat were found in this home, but after my experience I strongly believe that there is something more there. I've never been inside the house myself, but an outside glance would show that the house is run down, and vandalized. Most of the windows are smashed, the front door looks to be kicked in, there was an old car out front, but that's recently been removed. 

Did I believe it was haunted when I first saw it? No. I just thought it was just an abandoned home, and the kids breaking in have given it that haunted/scary look. One night, when I was about sixteen or seventeen, me and my cousin went to Hell(you can find more about Bethlehem's version of Hell on my website), and after we went to Hell, we went to the Cathouse. This was an experience that I soon not forget, and probably will take it to my grave. 

We drove up beside the house, my cousin looking for her digital camera and me just looking at the house. The house itself had this glow to it. Not a ghostly glow, but as if the house was alive. My mind started to play tricks on me (or did it?); I started to hear a cat’s meow as if it was right next to me. I looked and there was nothing there, but the cracked pavement. My cousin found the camera, but no batteries. As we were looking for batteries, I remember that I looked into the glove compartment and something made me look out my cousins window as the house is on the left side of the road. 

Standing in the door way was an old lady. She had a dress on(looked early 20th century to me), and I couldn’t really make out the face. The thing that got me though, was her eyes, or where her eyes were suppose to be. They were bright blue, as if someone took her eyes out and replaced them with blue ruby’s. It was both fascinating and frightening all at the same time. The only problem was, she was still there. Even after a minute of me staring at her. She was still there, like she didn’t care that the living saw her. After snapping a few pictures we left, but what I saw has been on my mind for quite some time after that. I have had plenty more experiences thanks to my time with NEPI, as well as other times as well, and I hope it never stops. But if I ever make a book on the paranormal, the first person I am thanking, or well I'm sorry...the first GHOST I'm ever thanking is the Cathouse Spirit in Bethlehem.