Ghost Hunting Diary
Volume III
T. M. Simmons
***
Copyright © 2012 T. M. Simmons
Cover Design: Angela Rogers
Misadvmom @ yahoo.com
Winter Prey Copyright © 2012 by T. M. Simmons;
Original New Release
Smashwords Edition, License Notes:
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
All rights reserved. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, or used in whole or in part by any means existing now or in the future, without permission from the author. Piracy of copyright works is a crime.
A lot of the characters in this diary are real persons, who have granted permission to use their names. However, a few have asked for anonymity, which has been honored.
***
Discover Other Electronic Books by T. M. Simmons
Writing as T. M. Simmons:
Winter Prey, Dark Paranormal Suspense, published February 2012
Ghost Hunting Diary Volume I, True Ghost Stories
Ghost Hunting Diary Volume II, True Ghost Stories
Ghost Hunting Diary Volume III, True Ghost Stories
Dead Man Talking, Paranormal Mystery
Dead Man Haunt, Paranormal Mystery
Dead Man Hand, Paranormal Mystery (coming soon)
Writing as Trana Mae Simmons:
Forever Angels, Paranormal Time Travel
Witch Angel, Paranormal Time Travel
Spellbound, Paranormal Romance (February 2012)
Southern Charms, Paranormal Romance (March 2012)
Montana Surrender, Historical Romance
Bittersweet Promises, Historical Romance
Mountain Magic, Historical Romance
Town Social, Historical Romance
Tennessee Waltz, Historical Romance
Winter Dreams, Historical Romance
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Dedication:
To Billy and Lucy York,
Founders of North Texas Paranormal
Research Society (NTPRS)
And
Michelle DePaul,
Founder of Mystic Ghost
We've enjoyed a lot of hunts together, and
hopefully will cherish many more
***
Chapter 1: Dear Reader Letter
Dear Reader:
If you've been following my books, you will notice the dates of my diaries jump around a bit. I've been chasing ghosts and other spiritual entities for well over twenty years by now. Some of my experiences happened early in my paranormal life, others over the years, new ones continue to astound me in present day. In this volume, I will try to remember to date the stories, so you as a reader can tell when it happened. Early-on or recent experiences, they all fascinate me, or I wouldn't offer them to you to read.
I have also been asked in reader mail to explain further some of the sensations we feel when we experience a paranormal incident, such as encountering the energy field surrounding a ghost. In addition, some readers want to know how these gifts we possess work, and some even what my belief systems are. Yes, these beliefs can differ from sensitive to sensitive, investigator to investigator. In fact, even the feelings we experience vary from person to person. Aunt Belle and I can be in the midst of the same incident and hear different words, see different things. So you will find in my diaries my feelings and beliefs, as well as any of Aunt Belle's with which I am familiar.
A reader sent me a post recently saying she loved my diaries but did think I was totally crazy at times. She added a smiley face after that comment, but I agree with her, to a point. There are times I become involved in something and look back and shake my head at my own self after it's over. I do even wonder about my common sense once in a while. Actions seem appropriate at times, though, and I have learned to follow my instincts. O.K., I'll admit, only to you: sometimes hindsight even spooks me!
Despite the fascinating experiences I have had, both with Aunt Belle and other investigators, I can't stress enough: Don't mess around in the paranormal world alone or with other inexperienced want-to-be ghost hunters. The last story in this volume, Carl's Country Farm, Banishing a Demon, is an example of the sort of entities you can find on this side of The Veil; entities that can harm both animals and, eventually, people, if you approach them in an unprotected state.
It's a weird and wonderful adventure if you investigate the other dimension touching ours with the proper respect and preparation. Remember, these stories are true, despite nay-saying skeptics whose abilities don't include the deeper facets of the special gifts some of us possess and cherish. There is fun and excitement in the exploration we can do with heightened senses, but also danger and peril for the unwary or foolhardy.
I have also previously tied the lead-in diary to one of the Dead Man mysteries available for the first time in ebook format. I promised to have the third mystery, Dead Man Hand, ready along with this new volume of true ghost stories. I'm sorry, but it just didn't happen. Rather than make my readers wait for a couple months, I'm publishing this volume. Believe me, there are plenty of diaries left for a fourth volume, even a fifth or more.
As for the next fiction book, for a while now I have wanted to publish a dark paranormal that nagged me until I wrote it. It's completely unlike any of my other stories. The romances always have a happy ending. The Dead Man mysteries are books I myself call quirky comedy/horror. There are some dark stories in my Ghost Hunting Diaries, of course. However, Winter Prey is a full-length novel, and definitely dark paranormal suspense. Be forewarned, the story revolves around a windigo, a monster who was once human and continues his cannibalistic existence after his un-death. The excerpt at the end of this set of diaries will give you an excellent example of the tone of the book and the story. I hope you will still buy it, and enjoy it, if it suits your reading tastes. I will publish it the week following this set of diaries, so watch for it.
As always, read on…if you dare!
***
Chapter 2: Curious Capers of the
Calvert Ghosts — Part One
2003 — 2004
Quite a few residents of Calvert, Texas, don't show up on the census roles. The enumerators wouldn't think to count people they couldn't see, and some long-deceased natives enjoy this small town so much they continue to loiter.
For over twenty years, Aunt Belle Brown and I have investigated hauntings. Since we share a psychic awareness that includes the ability to see and communicate with the paranormal world, we trust our instincts when a place draws us. This happened one fall afternoon in 2003 in Calvert, Texas. Since we discovered Calvert, we have never encountered a town with more active spirits, although we have found a couple that could give it a run for first-place.
"Look at that beautiful building over there," I mused as we turned down one of the side streets in this historic town. The two-story home I nodded towards was just across the railroad tracks. A grand old lady, she stood sparkling in the afternoon sunlight, tall white pillars supporting an upper level with several dormer windows, shorter pillars holding up the roofs over both a front and side veranda. Not one person stirred anywhere in the vicinity, although the gorgeous house was well-cared-for and definitely in use.
"I'll bet you there's ghosts roaming inside that place," I went on.
"And see the sign?" Belle asked in return. "It's a bed and breakfast. Wonder how much they charge to spend the night?"
She didn't have to direct me any further; I pulled up in front and got out of the car beside a sign reading: Calvert Hotel and Restaurant, Bed and Breakfast.
Belle waited in the car while I climbed the steps to see if anyone was around. The main entrance door was locked, but the salon beneath another sign on the other end of the veranda was open. I stuck my head in the door.
Uh oh.
The young man inside was with a customer. A woman wrapped in a rubber apron sat in the beautician chair. The young man hair stylist glanced up with a friendly smile rather than a glare of disgust at the interruption.
"Can I help you?" he asked, although he kept working on the woman's hair. She leaned up a bit in the chair to peer at me, also.
"I was wondering if anyone was around to ask about overnight rates," I said.
"I can call John in just a moment," he assured me. "Would you like to have a chair?"
"It's such a gorgeous day. I'll wait on the porch."
He smiled an acknowledgement, and I closed the door. Before I had time to even stroll the length of the porch, a man I soon learned was John Baribeau, one of the innkeepers, beckoned at the entry. I motioned to Belle, but went on in rather than linger.
Inside, the building confirmed my thoughts of a historic treasure. In the charming lobby, a narrow stairway in a corner led to the second floor. The check-in desk was obviously original, filled with intricate carvings it would take hours to dust. There was a settee and a couple soft lounging chairs, with bookshelves and antiques completing the décor. On the wall hung an oval-framed picture of a lady from another era.
John and I chatted for the few moments it took Belle to join us, and I could tell how much he loved this home. When Belle entered, she suddenly jerked around to stare at the first landing of the stairwell. I knew she'd seen a ghost, but on such short acquaintance, I didn't mention anything to John.
John regaled us with stories of the fascinating history of the building, and after a while, despite how interesting the tales were, I just came out and asked him: "Have you encountered any ghosts?"
John didn't hesitate at all. "Yes, the hotel's most definitely haunted. We've had a lot of experiences."
I turned to Belle and asked, "What startled you when you came into the lobby? I saw your reaction."
"A ghost," she admitted. "A man stood on the staircase landing. He was dressed in period clothing from the late 1800's."
John frowned. "That man is a problem now and then." But before he could explain further, another man came out to join us. He was about the same age as John, but not nearly as tall. I glanced at Belle, but I could tell she didn't see the short male ghost following this other person. There are indeed times when each of us experience different things. I hadn't noticed the ghost on the stairwell, as she had.
"This is my brother Ron," John introduced. "He's the other innkeeper, and the cook. He and I bought this place a few months ago."
In for a penny, in for a pound, and all that. As soon as we all knew each other's names, I said to Ron, "Did you know there's a ghost following you around?"
Instead of Ron, John answered, "What did you see?"
"He's rather short, even shorter than Ron. Definitely male."
"John has told me about him." Ron spoke up this time. "But although John sees ghosts, I don't. And I have no idea who he could be."
Right then, we didn't feel comfortable enough with our new acquaintances to delve further into the paranormal world, so both of us just nodded. Ron brought us each a glass of iced tea, and we chatted for another hour or so, as John took us on a tour of the house.
The next room past the lobby was the dining room, tables set with snowy white linens and beautiful silverware, crystal glasses at each place setting. To the left was a smaller dining area, with wooden booths and tables. The kitchen was blocked by a wall, and from the delicious odors, Ron was already busy at work on the evening meal. Against the rear dining room wall was a fireplace, not huge but adequate to make the room feel cozy on a cool night. A restroom was beside the dining room, again on the left, and windows on the right side of the room outlined a view of the side veranda and quiet street. A large room with a sign over the doorway indicating it was the Drummers Room occupied the entire rear area of the building.
John led us upstairs, where there were five bedrooms. Each had a name, although only three were available for overnight guests: the Atkins Suite, the Gottlieb-Dirr Suite, and the Robert E. Lee room. One other room was Ron's, and we learned that John and the young man who was the beautician, Nelson, were partners, so they shared another room.
The furniture was very authentic, at least in the guest rooms, since John informed us his room and Ron's were private. Two suites each included a second, smaller bed in what was probably a sitting room when the house was used as a family home. Each suite had its own private bath. The Robert E. Lee room contained a bed suitable for a couple rather than someone with an extra child or guest in their party. John informed us guests in this room used one of the hallway baths, a separate one for ladies and gentlemen. Across the hall from the Atkins Suite, a rear servants' stairwell led downstairs, a common characteristic in historic homes.
Back downstairs, we reluctantly refused an invitation to stay for dinner and assured the two men we would return for an overnight stay as soon as we could make arrangements. Since our deer camp and Belle's home were within a half-hour's drive, we spent a lot of time in the area.
John showed us to the door to the side veranda. As he reached for the doorknob, we all drew back in surprise. The knob turned when John's hand was six inches away. With a sound indicating it normally fit tightly, the door opened on its own. Ever so slowly, it swung wide enough for us to exit.
Belle and I quickly recovered and laughed at the shocked look on John's face. "That happens a lot around us," I told him. "It's just one of your ghosts, being a gentleman."
John shook his head and grinned agreeably. "I'm glad you know I'm not just embellishing tales about more than one or two ghosts here."
"No problem with that," Belle assured him. "We've been aware of several during the tour. We just didn't mention all of them to you."
Inwardly, I immediately decided to clear my schedule and make reservations for an overnight trip at the earliest possible opportunity. Belle glanced at me as we walked down the veranda steps, and I could tell her thoughts ran along the exact same lines.
On the drive back to Belle's house, I recalled the history John had related, hoping to commit it to a file on my laptop, which was back at our camper.
The Calvert Hotel has a fascinating past. The building began life as a residence in 1872 for the Gottlieb-Dirr family. Mr. Dirr moved to Calvert and built a five-room wooden house for his wife, Hanna, and their children. His choice of location, beside the railroad tracks, proved fortuitous for his family. After the coal mines where Mr. Dirr worked flooded, he supported his family as a grocer/baker at his store on the Calvert main street, now State Highway 6. Mr. Dirr prospered, and in 1886, his home became the first in the area to install electricity and running water.
Unfortunately, Mr. Dirr died in 1898 and left Hanna a widow with children to raise. Not one to go down without a fight, Hanna took advantage of her location. Calvert thrived, with huge cotton plantations in the area. A lot of the outlying landowners resided in town, where they had built beautiful homes, many still there. Robert Calvert, for whom the town was named, was instrumental in getting the Houston and Texas Central Railway through Calvert, which helped foster the prosperity. The trains transported the cotton and also carried drummers, who sold their wares along the route.
The widow Hanna opened her home to the drummers for overnight stays, and eventually built a large room on the back, where they displayed their wares. This was the Drummers Room we saw earlier. She did so well, she built an additional story on the house, with rooms for overnight guests, and re-named her home the Cottage Hotel.
In 2002, John and Ron Baribeau found the hotel for sale on the internet. John has over twenty-five years in the hotel, catering and restaurant service. Ron is certified in the culinary arts, a member of the Chefs de Cuisine Society, and accredited through the American Culinary Foundation. He and Ron bought the hotel sight-unseen, and after some repair work and remodeling, opened it as the Calvert Hotel and Restaurant, Bed and Breakfast. Eventually, their friend Nelson Collier opened a full-service beauty salon on the premises, in the room where I first encountered him. Nelson trained at the Paul Mitchell School, and pampered his clients well. In addition, he hosted a monthly book club and organized signings for authors, as well as literacy fundraisers.
It is obvious as soon as you meet these men that they totally enjoy their work. They are abundantly energetic and gracious. This bed and breakfast is one of those rare places where, if it's within their power, your wish is granted without delay.
Almost immediately, the men discovered some past residents enjoyed the hotel, too. John and Nelson both experienced eerie happenings, from actually seeing ghosts to events for which there was no other explanation. As mentioned, John noticed the short male following Ron around. There were tales of a white shepherd dog ghost that prowled the town. One evening while on the side veranda, John saw the dog coming up the sidewalk. The other two men couldn't see it, but both heard toenails clicking as it walked. It passed them with no notice, then disappeared over the railroad tracks running beside the hotel. Though they all stood up to watch, it never appeared anywhere on the next block, which intersected with the highway.
~~
Finally, Belle and I could wait no longer for our plans to visit the hotel again for an overnight stay to come together. We made reservations on a night she had to leave early for her job, but she assured us she would enjoy the time available to hunt ghosts. In February 2004, she and I arrived just past noon, along with my husband. He doesn't go along on a lot of my investigations, but he had decided being pampered in a bed and breakfast would be a nice break from the lesser accommodations of our deer camp.
It was a beautiful Texas day, already signs of our early spring blossoming with flowers and tiny green tree buds. I carried my digital camera, but Belle and I also brought along our trusty older 35 mm. cameras. Michelle D. and Michelle W., two of my friends from Mystic Ghost, a paranormal research society in the Fort Worth area, arrived a while after us. We sensed activity immediately — unexplained odors, prickly sensations, uncomfortable feelings.
Word of our return for an extended stay had interested several of the Calvert women. John had called me a week or so earlier, asking if we would mind him scheduling an afternoon visit with two of these. He hinted that it would help him immensely, since they would then stop bothering him about it. Evidently, these women were interested in the paranormal, and they were determined not to miss the chance to meet and interact with true ghost hunters, as well as a real published author. Since I was used to that, both from book signings and my paranormal investigations, I agreed, although I made the caveat that the women could not join us for the evening. We wanted privacy for our first true investigation of this haunted location.