The Book of the Bizarre: Freaky Facts and Strange Stories (8 page)

The jewel of downtown Memphis, Tennessee, is the Orpheum Theater, a beautiful and ornate theater that hosts classic and modern acts ranging from musicals to Shakespeare to Tom Waits. The Orpheum has also been host to several supernatural events. Most common is the sighting of the ghost of a little girl. Many employees, docents, and historians agree that she is likely the spirit of a little girl who was killed around the turn of the twentieth century by a horse and carriage while crossing the street on her way to the theater. Other accounts say that a girl died when she fell from the upper balcony. While her cause of death is uncertain, there have been multiple sightings of the same little girl, who is known simply as Mary. She is spotted occasionally in the box seats and frequently in the theater before or after a concert or play.

THE SILVER QUEEN HOTEL

In Virginia City, Nevada, there is a hotel that has stood the test of time. First built in 1876, the Silver Queen Hotel still does not have phones, televisions, or alarm clocks in any of its twenty-nine rooms. Popular among history buffs and those who come to Virginia City to vacation and gamble, the Silver Queen has been host to countless wedding parties, anniversaries, and romance seekers. It also plays host to a few ghost hunters, for it is known for a high level of paranormal activity. While some people come specifically seeking ghosts, other, unsuspecting guests have been shocked to witness haunting activities.

One couple heard the sound of a banjo being tuned in the room next door, only to find the room empty when they went to investigate. The couple also heard an argument going on outside their door. When they flung open the door, they saw no one, but they still heard two voices arguing. The couple became convinced the hotel was haunted. They were later awakened by a loud pounding at their door, but when they answered, they found only the empty hall.

Other guests have reported hearing creaks, footsteps, and doors opening and closing.

TO MARKET, TO MARKET

Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, is a wellknown attraction in the city's bustling downtown. Apart from a rich history and stalls overflowing with wares, the Market is also home to several legendary ghosts—an elderly Native American woman, a little boy, a large woman, and a tall African-American man. Shopkeepers and tourists alike have reported strange goings-on throughout the years, including sightings of these spirits, footsteps in empty aisles, and items out of place.

ORIGINS OF THE OUIJA

The Ouija is any surface printed with letters, numbers, and other symbols and used as a tool to communicate with the dead. The Ouija Board, which was patented by the Parker Brothers in 1920, is what most commonly comes to mind when thinking of the Ouija. The word “ouija” is believed to stem from “oui,” meaning “yes” in French, and “ja” meaning “yes” in Scandinavian languages and in German. Other stories say that the name of the tool was revealed to inventor Charles Kennard during a séance and that “ouija” is actually an Ancient Egyptian word meaning “good luck.”

Dominoes originated in Asia around A.D. 1100. They were, and still are, used as a divinatory tool and not just a game of numbers.

AS TOLD BY K. R. P.

It was the night before my fiancée and I were to be wed. We had chosen a beautiful B&B, the Willard Street Inn, in Burlington, Vermont, for lodging and holding the intimate ceremony. Upon arrival, we were given the run of the place and told we could choose any room we wanted. My wife-to-be and I chose the Tower Room, primarily for its view of Lake Champlain.

I slept fitfully, tossing and turning until I fell into an exhausted slumber. I hadn't been asleep long when I awoke quite suddenly and sat up. In front of me was a man in his fifties, wearing a tuxedo. He appeared to be trying to make a bed that would have been perpendicular to the bed we were in. He took no notice of me but continued with what seemed to be his normal rounds. I did not feel any threat, and, quite tired, I rolled over and went back to sleep.

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