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"The Evil in Kansas"
Part 1
My name is Mary, and I've been trying to find a place to share my story, where people listened, before starting in with their opinions about their theories and how they and those opinions are the only "right ones, and the questions of, why didn't I, or the inevitable, what you should have done.....
So hopefully, all will read the entirety and not get all, "know it all", with me.
Not all hauntings are like in the movies or edited for drama t.v. series like"Ghost Hunters". This really did happen, and still follows my daughter, as well as myself today. It's a long story, so get comfy..
First, you need to know a little about myself, to understand what I should have known something was off with the house and property I'm writing about, and the effects that continued even after moving over 1000 Miles away.
As a small child, I could see and hear spirits, though as I aged I've lost the ability to see them for the most part I do still hear them occasionally. My father believed in Native American beliefs, my mother Jewish. I hadn't been baptized, but had attended several Christian churches and Catholic, before I moved to Arizona when I was 10. My experiences with fairies and spirits and magical beings as well as going to church as a child, attending several different types of Christian Theons, gave me freedom of choice with a better understanding of what it was I was looking for. Even though very young, I was interested in religion and finding my own path. Before the age of 15,I had already began my journey into learning about religions and what path I wanted to choose. I've been a pagan practitioner for about 34 years.
This does not mean I watched "The Craft" 34 times. It means I've studied and practices several different forms and histories within Paganism, including; Druidism, Shamanism, Celtic Witchcraft, Edwardian Wicca, Norse Heathenism, And Norse Vulva practices. On the Arthurian Christianity side, I've studied Catholicism, Arthurian Christianity, and Demonology. I've also studied Jewish Law, and some of the Kabala.
I've lived in three residually haunted homes since I was born, and I'm empathetic to boot. You'd think I would have gotten some inkling of what was lingering, but even with all my knowledge, my two children and I encountered something, or I should say some "things", more powerful than myself..
So, here goes.
During the latter part of spring 2003, I, my 8-year-old son, and two and a half year old daughter, moved from Glendale Arizona to Phillipsburg Kansas. My older half sister, Angelina and her husband, Rex, lived there. Both were semi truck drivers so it was me and my kids and his son who was in and out once in awhile, that stayed in their house while they were on the road. Within 3 days I had a job, my son was in school and my daughter in preschool. We stayed there at my sister's house while they were on the road approximately 7 months. I had saved a little bit of money and was looking to find our own place when my sister suggested a landlord who, actually was pretty much known in town, as the cheapest slum lord around. Nobody told me this, of course. I just knew I was a single mom with two kids and bills to pay so I had to keep everything in the budget.
When we contacted him he had three houses to show us within the town limits. The first one was a two-story, home that seem to be confused between mid Victorian style era or Old colonial, maybe a combination of both. My sister's husband had actually lived in that house when he was young.
It was located across from the railroad tracks and on the edge of town by the train depot. Upon first seeing the outside of the property we were enchanted by a natural tree and Vine Arch on the little sidewalk leading to the front door. There was a huge tree off of the front porch that I just knew would be perfect for a tire swing. Beyond that there was a huge edge of sweet lavender. Thick green grass grew in the front side and backyard, which was enormous. Me and the kids were enchanted by all the lovely greenery and the big columns that opened up on the front porch and the main entry. Of course once we went in you could see how dated the homes interior was. There was fabric wallpaper on the walls which was completely ugly and dingy, and unmatched. Brown shag carpet that may have been golden and thick at one time, was think and dirty dark brown, almost black in spots. But what else could you expect from a small town in Phillipsburg Kansas, for the rental price? Immediately the kids were running up and down the stairs to the second floor where the master bedroom and a small half bedroom separated by a swinging stable like door were. I could see giving the kids the entire upstairs for their rooms as well as their playtime. There was another bedroom on the main floor which connected to the only bathroom, (which was so oddly designed, see diagram #4), in the house by means of a door underneath the staircase. That was pretty much it.
Just outside the back porch and to the SW side of the house, was the storm cellar, for of course, tornadoes. Right away, I could see it wasn't accessable as the first four or five steps leading down and into the typical L-shaped storm cellar design, were completely destroyed, leaving at least a drop of the same hight. What you could see of the L shaped entry and remains to a door, had been filled in with huge stones, concrete, and earth. I asked the landlord about this, and he said it had always been that way, from the time he bought the property. My brother in law said growing up, it had been as such as well, and during tornadoes they just all crammed in underneath the stairs.( Which is what me and my children did during the three tornadoes in our time in Phillipsburg).
He had two more rentals that he wanted to show us in my price range, so we left the house and headed to the second property. A small single story house with a huge front bay window facing west. It was stifling hot and wreaked of urine! Needless to say we spent less than 5 minutes in that house, with a definite NO! I told the landlord that there was no need to show us the third property. I could tell that both of my kids were enchanted with the first one as I was too. This was probably due to the fact that in Arizona we had lived in an uninsulated travel trailer, without a shower, filled with mice and occasional problems with swarms of killer bees. To go from that to a two-story three bedroom house with a huge grassy Green Yard, for only $175 a month was a real come up for us.
Maybe that was part of the reason why I didn't feel anything or sense anything. Maybe I just didn't want to.. *** That following weekend, we moved our belongings the whole 5 blocks from my sister's. It was my only day off so hadn't time to unpack much. I was exhausted, as were the kids from playing all day out in the yard, and on the stairs. It wasn't until later, I realized that though they had played on the stairs, neither one had gone into either of what was to be their rooms. It was around 11:00, when I blew up our big air mattress, and we all piled up together. Now, my son was very protective of his little sister, and I respected his self appointed role as " the big boy of the house". If we ever snuggled all together, which we did often, we always kept my daughter in-between us.
That night, we didn't...and quickly we were sleeping. I was freezing, and sleeping on my stomach, when something woke me. It was summer, and I couldn't understand why I was so cold. Instantly, I was aware then that the air mattress was trembling beneath us. Then, just next to my feet which had been off the end of the bed, I felt a sudden hard thump, like someone had kicked it hard. Both kids still slept deeply, both on their stomachs as well. Again, another hard kicking like thump came from directly next to my right foot.
I knew then, as a deep slow heavy, feeling of dread, and nervous energy began to flow over and within me, that someone, or rather, something was standing at the foot of where we slept. And I could feel its fury, and could smell it's energy, like burning electrical wires covered in mold. If it had eyes, I felt them boring into my spine. Again a hard kick. The mattress was shaking under us now, a low vibration. I didn't want to see. I didn't want to turn and face what I could sense. But I knew better. Fear would feed whatever it was, with power.
Now, I was pissed! Nothing would be allowed to harm my children! "Alright, motherfucker, you wanna play!?", I growled. Quickly, I pushed myself up,and turned, mentally shielding myself and the kids from attack as I faced it! And nothing was there but my dresser and mirror, looking back into the room.. ****
End of Part 1
(Note to the readers..
This is a nonfiction book, and all the events did take place. The house is still standing, empty, in Phillipsburg Kansas...)
© M.E.Purdy
My name is Mary, and I've been trying to find a place to share my story, where people listened, before starting in with their opinions about their theories and how they and those opinions are the only "right ones, and the questions of, why didn't I, or the inevitable, what you should have done.....
So hopefully, all will read the entirety and not get all, "know it all", with me.
Not all hauntings are like in the movies or edited for drama t.v. series like"Ghost Hunters". This really did happen, and still follows my daughter, as well as myself today. It's a long story, so get comfy..
First, you need to know a little about myself, to understand what I should have known something was off with the house and property I'm writing about, and the effects that continued even after moving over 1000 Miles away.
As a small child, I could see and hear spirits, though as I aged I've lost the ability to see them for the most part I do still hear them occasionally. My father believed in Native American beliefs, my mother Jewish. I hadn't been baptized, but had attended several Christian churches and Catholic, before I moved to Arizona when I was 10. My experiences with fairies and spirits and magical beings as well as going to church as a child, attending several different types of Christian Theons, gave me freedom of choice with a better understanding of what it was I was looking for. Even though very young, I was interested in religion and finding my own path. Before the age of 15,I had already began my journey into learning about religions and what path I wanted to choose. I've been a pagan practitioner for about 34 years.
This does not mean I watched "The Craft" 34 times. It means I've studied and practices several different forms and histories within Paganism, including; Druidism, Shamanism, Celtic Witchcraft, Edwardian Wicca, Norse Heathenism, And Norse Vulva practices. On the Arthurian Christianity side, I've studied Catholicism, Arthurian Christianity, and Demonology. I've also studied Jewish Law, and some of the Kabala.
I've lived in three residually haunted homes since I was born, and I'm empathetic to boot. You'd think I would have gotten some inkling of what was lingering, but even with all my knowledge, my two children and I encountered something, or I should say some "things", more powerful than myself..
So, here goes.
During the latter part of spring 2003, I, my 8-year-old son, and two and a half year old daughter, moved from Glendale Arizona to Phillipsburg Kansas. My older half sister, Angelina and her husband, Rex, lived there. Both were semi truck drivers so it was me and my kids and his son who was in and out once in awhile, that stayed in their house while they were on the road. Within 3 days I had a job, my son was in school and my daughter in preschool. We stayed there at my sister's house while they were on the road approximately 7 months. I had saved a little bit of money and was looking to find our own place when my sister suggested a landlord who, actually was pretty much known in town, as the cheapest slum lord around. Nobody told me this, of course. I just knew I was a single mom with two kids and bills to pay so I had to keep everything in the budget.
When we contacted him he had three houses to show us within the town limits. The first one was a two-story, home that seem to be confused between mid Victorian style era or Old colonial, maybe a combination of both. My sister's husband had actually lived in that house when he was young.
It was located across from the railroad tracks and on the edge of town by the train depot. Upon first seeing the outside of the property we were enchanted by a natural tree and Vine Arch on the little sidewalk leading to the front door. There was a huge tree off of the front porch that I just knew would be perfect for a tire swing. Beyond that there was a huge edge of sweet lavender. Thick green grass grew in the front side and backyard, which was enormous. Me and the kids were enchanted by all the lovely greenery and the big columns that opened up on the front porch and the main entry. Of course once we went in you could see how dated the homes interior was. There was fabric wallpaper on the walls which was completely ugly and dingy, and unmatched. Brown shag carpet that may have been golden and thick at one time, was think and dirty dark brown, almost black in spots. But what else could you expect from a small town in Phillipsburg Kansas, for the rental price? Immediately the kids were running up and down the stairs to the second floor where the master bedroom and a small half bedroom separated by a swinging stable like door were. I could see giving the kids the entire upstairs for their rooms as well as their playtime. There was another bedroom on the main floor which connected to the only bathroom, (which was so oddly designed, see diagram #4), in the house by means of a door underneath the staircase. That was pretty much it.
Just outside the back porch and to the SW side of the house, was the storm cellar, for of course, tornadoes. Right away, I could see it wasn't accessable as the first four or five steps leading down and into the typical L-shaped storm cellar design, were completely destroyed, leaving at least a drop of the same hight. What you could see of the L shaped entry and remains to a door, had been filled in with huge stones, concrete, and earth. I asked the landlord about this, and he said it had always been that way, from the time he bought the property. My brother in law said growing up, it had been as such as well, and during tornadoes they just all crammed in underneath the stairs.( Which is what me and my children did during the three tornadoes in our time in Phillipsburg).
He had two more rentals that he wanted to show us in my price range, so we left the house and headed to the second property. A small single story house with a huge front bay window facing west. It was stifling hot and wreaked of urine! Needless to say we spent less than 5 minutes in that house, with a definite NO! I told the landlord that there was no need to show us the third property. I could tell that both of my kids were enchanted with the first one as I was too. This was probably due to the fact that in Arizona we had lived in an uninsulated travel trailer, without a shower, filled with mice and occasional problems with swarms of killer bees. To go from that to a two-story three bedroom house with a huge grassy Green Yard, for only $175 a month was a real come up for us.
Maybe that was part of the reason why I didn't feel anything or sense anything. Maybe I just didn't want to.. *** That following weekend, we moved our belongings the whole 5 blocks from my sister's. It was my only day off so hadn't time to unpack much. I was exhausted, as were the kids from playing all day out in the yard, and on the stairs. It wasn't until later, I realized that though they had played on the stairs, neither one had gone into either of what was to be their rooms. It was around 11:00, when I blew up our big air mattress, and we all piled up together. Now, my son was very protective of his little sister, and I respected his self appointed role as " the big boy of the house". If we ever snuggled all together, which we did often, we always kept my daughter in-between us.
That night, we didn't...and quickly we were sleeping. I was freezing, and sleeping on my stomach, when something woke me. It was summer, and I couldn't understand why I was so cold. Instantly, I was aware then that the air mattress was trembling beneath us. Then, just next to my feet which had been off the end of the bed, I felt a sudden hard thump, like someone had kicked it hard. Both kids still slept deeply, both on their stomachs as well. Again, another hard kicking like thump came from directly next to my right foot.
I knew then, as a deep slow heavy, feeling of dread, and nervous energy began to flow over and within me, that someone, or rather, something was standing at the foot of where we slept. And I could feel its fury, and could smell it's energy, like burning electrical wires covered in mold. If it had eyes, I felt them boring into my spine. Again a hard kick. The mattress was shaking under us now, a low vibration. I didn't want to see. I didn't want to turn and face what I could sense. But I knew better. Fear would feed whatever it was, with power.
Now, I was pissed! Nothing would be allowed to harm my children! "Alright, motherfucker, you wanna play!?", I growled. Quickly, I pushed myself up,and turned, mentally shielding myself and the kids from attack as I faced it! And nothing was there but my dresser and mirror, looking back into the room.. ****
End of Part 1
(Note to the readers..
This is a nonfiction book, and all the events did take place. The house is still standing, empty, in Phillipsburg Kansas...)
© M.E.Purdy
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