Awesome or Off-Putting is a weekly delve into cryptozoology, ufology, aliens, medical marvels, scientific wonders, secret societies, government conspiracies, cults, ghosts, EVPs, myths, ancient artifacts, religion, strange facts, odd sightings or just the plain unexplainable.
This week: Ghosts/Myths
The Battle of Gettysburg was just what it sounds like – a military battle that took place in Gettysburg, PA. Surely you're familiar with it – Abraham Lincoln, Slavery, the Gettysburg Address… you know what we're talking about, right? Well in that battle probably millions of bullets flew.
Despite the massive quantities of metal whizzing all around, only one civilian died in the mess – Jennie Wade. She was making bread for some union troops when she was struck down. The house where she died is considered 'officially haunted,' by some groups allowed to dish out titles like that.
A great irony may be found in the fact that the Jennie Wade house never actually belonged to Jennie Wade. It belonged to her sister, and Wade fled there for safety during an epic battle. Apparently it wasn't safe enough. Wikipedia says:
"More than 150 bullets hit her sister's home before, around 8:30 a.m. on July 3, a Minié ball, traveling through the door, hit her in the back while she was kneading bread for Union soldiers. She groaned and was killed instantly."
Don't be tricked into believing it's Jennie's ghost that haunts her namesake – it's her father's spirit. This is far worse when you consider he was crazy enough to be interred in an mental asylum at least once during his life.
Jennie's body was kept in the basement until the battle was over and a burial site could be found. As we understand it, a mock-body now takes its place in the cellar. It's a mannequin or something. We're not exactly sure as we haven't seen it – but current Wade house management was sure to explain it all to us.
The insane ghost of Mr. Wade seems unable to tell the difference between his daughter's actual body and the fake one that now lays in its place to add to the creepy factor. As such, he feels it his duty to protect his daughter. Again, according to management, this includes actually swinging a chain on at least one house visitor that got too close.
Before you consider the outrageous claims to be nothing more than ticket sales enhancement – consider this quote from the Spirit Society of Pennsylvania. They investigated not too long ago:
"At the end of the self-guided tour through the house, we entered the basement, where a mannequin rests in the spot where Jennie's body lie, awaiting burial when the firing stopped. Though [a fellow investigator named Kelly] "felt" nothing elsewhere in the house, [she] immediately noted a "crazy" male presence here. We both noticed some curious cold spots, and after a few moments, decided to move on.
"As I followed Kelly up the steps, something made me look back, and to my amazement, the long chain protecting the "death mannequin display" was swaying vigorously! Uttering "Holy Shit" got Kelly's attention in time for her to also see this. As it subsided, I wondered if somehow ascending the stairs had caused the movement, and tried in vain for several minutes to replicate it by stomping up and down the stairs. We also noted how, despite hearing several tractor trailers and busses rumble by on nearby Baltimore Street, the chain remained stationary."
Spooky, right? Well if you ever make it to the Jennie Wade house, make sure to stop by the gift shop and ask to see their photo album. Although there's currently no actual pictures of Crazy Wade's ghost, they have pictures of hundreds of orbs simultaneously floating in battlefields, and some pics of ghosts in human-like forms taken by staff, or by people on their haunted tours.
It really is something to see.
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McLOVIN says
Good, but not as good as ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED HOUSE.
Renee Waring says
My daut. and I are sensitive, so we decided to try the Wade house while we were visiting Gettysburg. What we experienced in the house could all possibly be explained (cold spots, being pushed at the top of the stairs, dizziness, pulling her pant legs) but what we experienced while standing outside the house at the cellar door can not. We were talking to an employee while looking at the window of the front parlor when my daut. asked who was doing all the shouting. The empoyee heard it too. We walked back to the basement exit where my 14 year old saw the spirit of Mr. Wade. She started to cry because she said he was so angry and mean. The employee ran into the basement to make sure that everything was OK in the other room and it was and I stood with Lizzy at the top of the cellar steps while she watched the spirit dematerialize. All I felt was the typical raising of the hairs on my back, neck, and head. So, is the Jennie Wade house worth a visit? I would say yes, but watch out for Mr. Wade.
mj says
If anyone wants to see my pic outside the Jennie Wade house. ..please email me. [email protected]
I think it looks to be a man in the upper part of the window. It was taken at 1am.
Thanks,
Mj