There are many opinions and interpretations on the subject of ghosts and, it is one subject that there is no concrete answer for.

This is a topic that has caused much controversy. There are many opinions and interpretations of the subject of ghosts and, it is one subject that there is no concrete answer for.

I have always thought of ghosts as made up entities. Something that makes a good camp fire story. Or a means to scare children before sending them to their tents for a fearful, sleepless night. Ghosts are scary. Movies are made about them, novels are written, and stories are told all for a desired effect. To scare, to excite, and to make money.

Personally, I don’t believe. Many of you may not agree with me and that’s OK because like I said, there are many opinions on this subject and without solid evidence one way or the other, each of us with our own way of thinking have a perfect right to believe whatever we believe.

Something may have happened in your life to make you believe that ghosts exist. Unexplained happenings are everywhere. We hear about haunted houses, haunted hotels, and haunted grounds where unwanted and unseen guests cause havoc at the most inopportune times. If indeed such places really are haunted, it only makes sense their hauntingly frightful residents must be ghosts or, are they?

Take the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast in Fall River Massachusetts. I am sure most of you know the story. On August 4 1892, Little Lizzie killed her parents, Andrew and Abby Borden with an axe. The town’s children made up the chant, “Lizzie Borden took an axe, and gave her mother forty whacks, and when she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one. Lizzie was later acquitted of the heinous murders but the Fall River residents ostracized her just the same and to this day no one knows for sure who really killed Lizzie’s parents.

People are dared to stay at the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast. Some guests have seen ghosts, heard noises and worse….they swear they woke to see little Lizzie with her axe held high, creeping toward their beds.

Of course what makes this B&B so scary is the story behind it that has been kept alive for over 100 years. Is this a valid concern or some type of mass hysteria fueled by never ending stories and fanned by hysterical and overactive imaginations? Whatever the explanation, people flock to 92 Second St. in Fall River waiting for an available room and hoping, I am sure, for an exciting stay and if they are lucky, maybe a glimpse of one of the long diseased Borden family members.

Do you believe in ghosts?

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Comments (18)
  • Barbara Gail Murphy on Aug 12, 2007

    I don’t think I believe in GHOSTS!!!
    But while I was cleaning this ladies house I seen a reflection in the mirror I was cleaning? It was a womans face from the long ago.
    When the lady of the house came home I told her my story. She showed me a picture of her late aunt and yikes!!! that was the womans face? Well she said she follows me where ever I go?
    So believe it or not???????

  • Brandon Kumm on Aug 12, 2007

    I’m not ashamed to say that I believe in ghosts. My past haunts me like an evil spirit, always with me, never relenting, driving my fear and feeding on my soul.

    Good story, Darlene!

  • Liane Schmidt on Aug 14, 2007

    I love your writing Darlene.*

    Yes, I believe in ghosts only because my adopted Grandpa & adopted mom both had encounters with them. My adopted Grandpa (passed) was a very meat and potatoes man who did not believe things out of the ordinary easily…without concrete proof. Well, one day he was renovating his kitchen and he saw a lady ghost, she stood in front of him and stared at him. He said she looked completely white and then left. My adopted mom had an experience in the same house. She heard footsteps going up the stairs, but no one was there.

    I’ve never seen a ghost…but, I believe they are only scary if you believe that they are – just like with people.

    Best wishes!

    Sincerely,

    -Liane Schmidt.

  • angelstar on Aug 15, 2007

    ghosts don’t have to be scary – I used to live in an old house, every night invisible friends would touch my face, just telling them to stop and go away worked every time.
    Angel x

  • Lucy Lockett on Aug 17, 2007

    I am no longer haunted by inexplicable happenings but I choose to keep an open mind about such things.

  • kellie hastings on Aug 19, 2007

    Ghosts are from what I’ve researched just apparitions of our dearly departed however, when you watch some shows on this subject and their findings, this topic and its research is only the beginning.

  • Jessica Fike on Aug 22, 2007

    For a long time I didn’t believe in ghost, and I knew it would take me seeing one to actually believe in them…And that’s exactly what happened. So now I believe.

    Good article!

  • Onflame on Aug 30, 2007

    Great work, as usual. I believe in ghosts, and another very controversial subject, aliens. I believe in both.

  • lizzie2uk on Sep 7, 2007

    I believe in ghosts but I don’t think they are scarey. In my opinion they are impressions left behind by those who have passed. Some are stronger than others and some people are more sensitive to them than others are.

  • Nicholas Kenney on Sep 18, 2007

    Excellent story, Darlene! I believe in ghosts. I’ve had too many run-ins not to. Our house is an 1843 Victorian and we share it with several spirits.

  • irishsping on Sep 30, 2007

    I stayed Memorial day weekend at Lizzies house with 8 other girls, my 2 sisters, 2 daughters , my niece, and my friend and her daughter, we slept in andrews , abbys,lizzies, and the other upstairs guest room. We had a very eventful night, first with a seance( with Liz) that was VERY active, all of us heard felt ,or smelled (cigar smoke) something during the seance, Mr Bordens spirit would not leave my 23 year old daughter alone all night, he kept touching her and blowing smoke right in her face( she is a grad student at UPENN and not known for making up stories,she finally asked him to leave her alone ( about 2 in the morning)and he came in my room(his room ) and sat down on the bed on my legs, i jumped he jumped, scared me to death. My other sisters door shut on her while all this was happening. Needless to say we did’t sleep that night , When we all got our pictures back we all had orbs , mostly around my oldest daughter, We went to Boston and Salem and there wasn’t any orbs in those pictures only at Lizzies house. I went there not believing ,really skeptical, but I believe now, and would never sleep there again , But all and all it was a night we will all remember forever

  • Darlene McFarlane on Sep 30, 2007

    Irishspring, thank you for your comment. It sounds like you had a very active night and a time you will always remember. Remembering to take pictures was a bonus.

  • Laura Mayer on Oct 28, 2007

    Having grown up in a haunted house, yes I KNOW there are ghosts among us. On New Year’s Eve, every year we would hear “people” singing Ole Lang Syne in our attic. I’ve seen a ghost hovering over my youngest son while he slept. I’ve woken up one morning to find two bloody hands lying on my pillow. I could go on and on. I believe ghosts are stuck between here and ‘there’, and spirits are our deceased loved ones visiting us from heaven. Neither can harm us and shouldn’t be something we’re afraid of. I enjoyed your write Darlene.

  • Damon on Jan 25, 2008

    I don\’t believe in ghosts, but I do have one story about a haunted house that I wrote sometime back. I think I will post it. I surely did enjoy your story.
    Damon

  • usmcmomsquad212 on Jun 18, 2008

    Hi Darlene,
    I too believe in ghosts, and like many of your other readers, I too resided in an old house (built in 1854) in Appomattox Virginia. Spook Central. They were both playful loud and annoying at times. Just telling them to back off or shut up seemed to do the trick most of the time. They really loved our kids it seemed and we feel certain that they were protected by these entities on several occasions. Thanks. You’ve inspired me to write a story about it.

  • christina on Oct 12, 2008

    Before the passing of my grandfather and father, I would’ve NEVER believed in spirits and anyone who did, I’d call them crazy. Until I saw my grandfather who called my name came in my room one night. The silhouette was extremely white,bright and unlike any thing I’d ever seen. He called me by a family nickname and not my real name. He stood there for about 5 seconds and then faded away. My dad died with a heavy heart, he’d not been the best father he could’ve been, he died feeling very guilty. Since his death, a small picture of him floated across the room and hit me on the head. I know this sounds crazy but it’s true. A light then floated from my den, into the dining room and into the kitchen. My little beagle ran after it and just stood in the kitchen looking at something that I couldn’t see. I’ve had many other incidents involving his picture. He was also paranoid of fire and always thought people should have working smoke detectors. A burner on my stove turned on by itself, I believe that it was him telling me to check the smoke detectors. I believe that skeptics will be skeptical until they expererience it, just like I was.

  • PR Mace on Feb 3, 2009

    Yes, I believe. I live in a haunted house. I have written a story and a poem about my ghosts, if you would care to read them.

  • Habib on Sep 3, 2009

    I don\’t know .
    But I think they are earth bound spirits, not moved on to a higher plane

    http://www.parsnewsonline.com
    habibmetallica@yahoo.com

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