Images by Ray Bendici

The Damned Story: Like so many venerable, old structures across the state, The Yankee Pedlar Inn in Torrington has its fair share of stories. Unlike some others, however, it’s believed to also have its share of ghost stories.

Of course, that really shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. The historic inn has been in operation for over century, and in that time, has seen thousands of visitors come and go, and with them, dozens of tales of curious shadows seen around corners and troubling bumps heard in the night.

For a detailed history of the inn, visit The Yankee Pedlar Inn’s website.

For those who are averse to clicking on links, here’s the abridged version: In November 1890, an Irish immigrant by the name of Frank Conley and his wife Alice bought the lot on the corner of Main and Maiden in downtown Torrington with the dream of building the finest hotel in the state of Connecticut. Over the next eight months they set about constructing their vision, pouring $40,000 into fashioning a Victorian showplace that featured marble floors, antique oak furniture, two spacious dining rooms and 52 guest rooms, each of which included hot water. The Conley Inn opened in July 1891, and as the proprietors had hoped, it soon became one of the finest and most successful destinations in the region, and remained so until the couple passed away in 1910. The Conleys’ niece sold it two years later, when it was expanded; it then passed through various owners over the next few decades, continuing to operate as a hotel. In 1940, the Yankee Pedlar restaurant and bar was added, and in 1956, the entire operation was renamed The Yankee Pedlar Inn. The hotel continued its musical chairs of owners until the music stopped in 1997, when Anil and Dee Patel took possession. The Patels still run it today.

Have a seat ... or not.

Over the decades, there have been various stories about mysterious figures and random odd voices pestering guests. One popular story is that the spirit of founder Alice Conley—rumored to have died in Room 353—still roams the halls of her dream hotel, checking on guests to make sure that their stays are pleasant. Apparitions and strange smells have been reported in Room 353, and Alice’s favorite rocking chair in the hotel lobby has also been witnessed to rock on its own. (A sign dissuades guests from making themselves comfortable on it.)

Room 295 has also reportedly been a location with unusual activity; guests here has claimed to have experienced weird smells, felt invisible forces get into bed with them and seen the spirit of a woman. The ghost of a grey-haired gentleman in a black suit—believed to be Frank Conley—has been supposedly been seen in the inn’s pub, using the old phone there.

Other paranormal-type events have been reported, including room lights going on and off of their own accord and doors opening and closing without any help. Employees and guests have also told of being pushed or tugged by invisible forces, while others have reported experiencing unusually heightened emotions and disturbing dreams.

Although there have invariably been various incidents in the hotel over the decades, no significant tragedies have been reported as having happened there.

Various groups have investigated the inn, including the Northwest Connecticut Paranormal Society, who captured a spirit orb photo in addition to having a few other weird experiences.

In 2008, horror film director Ti West stayed at the inn while filming The House of the Devil. After talking to the hotel’s staff and hearing some of the ghost stories, he was inspired to make a movie revolving around the hotel and thus came The Innkeepers, a horror film released in February 2012.

From The Innkeepers website:

After over one hundred years of service, The Yankee Pedlar Inn is shutting its doors for good. The last remaining employees -Claire (Sara Paxton) and Luke (Pat Healy) – are determined to uncover proof of what many believe to be one of New England’s most haunted hotels. As the Inn’s final days draw near, odd guests check in as the pair of minimum wage “ghost hunters” begin to experience strange and alarming events that may ultimately cause them to be mere footnotes in the hotel’s long unexplained history.

In addition to using the inn’s actual name in the film, the lines between reality and fiction are also further confused as the production company has set up a clever viral site pretending to be a paranormal investigation portal chronicling the inn’s supposed bloody history.

Art imitating life imitating art imitating ghosts … I think.

Our Damned Experience: We stopped in at The Yankee Pedlar in January 2012 and got the pictures you see here.

The clerk at the counter was very friendly and told us we were welcome to explore the hotel. We wandered around, taking photos as politely as we could without intruding upon any guest’s stay.

Infamous room 353 was occupied, so we couldn’t check it out. We tried to take a few photos of the door, but maybe because it’s at the end of a dark hall and we didn’t want to disturb anyone so we didn’t use our flashes, we couldn’t get a decent shot of it.

We didn’t experience anything unusual during our visit, but we were only there for an hour or so, and during the day. The place has plenty of … “atmosphere,” as Kate put it—creaky floors, worn carpets, chipped woodwork, etc. We wouldn’t have been surprised if we turned a corner and saw twin girls at the end of a hall, a la The Shining.

Still, the inn is full of “Old World charm,” as they say. We didn’t get to stay the night this trip, but maybe another time. Certainly worth a visit.

If You Go: Unlike the premise in the movie, the The Yankee Pedlar Inn is not closing and is open to the public. Guests can stay in any of the 60 rooms, but as with any hotel, reservations are required (866.484.8247). Rooms start at $59/night + taxes.

Visitors can also dine year-round at Bogey’s Restaurant & Pub, which “serves delicious New England comfort food in a cozy atmosphere.”

The inn is located at 93 Main Street in downtown Torrington.

Click on any image to enlarge.

Courtesy of ct.gov

The Damned Story: Near the center of Connecticut in the unassuming town of Hebron sits Gay City State Park, offering streams, a scenic pond and over 1,500 acres of  woodland teeming with hiking trails, recreational opportunities and . . . ghosts, according to some.

Gay City was a once-thriving 18th-century village that was primarily inhabited by the Gay family; the park is particularly named after John Gay, one of the settlement’s founding fathers. Remnants from the former town, including the remains of abandoned mills, stone foundations and other structures, can still be found here. It’s these ruins that have helped to foster the creepy vibe that some people attribute to the park.

The town was originally settled in 1796, when Elijah Andrus led a group of persecuted Methodists out of Hartford to a quieter space along the Blackledge River where they hoped they would be left alone by the regional Congregationalists to live and worship as they pleased. Under the guidance of Rev. Henry Sumner (no relation to this guy), the faithful—including many members of the Gay family—attended services twice a week, which included imbibing generous amounts of “spirits” in the hope of finding higher spirits. Apparently, such dedicated alcohol consumption caused a host of social issues, but the settlement continued to thrive.

In 1811, a textile mill was built, and soon other mills, shops, homes and even a distillery followed. The town was soon known as Factory Hollow, and had its ups and downs over the next few decades—the main mill burned down twice, the second time in 1885, and the town never really recovered.

According to one story from the Bolton Historical Society, it was claimed that the water in the settlement “ran uphill” from the pond to the mill, which spooked a few residents.

Factory Hollow also suffered other problems, including two alleged murders, both of which pre-date the Civil War. According to David Philips’ Legendary Connecticut, the first one involved a jewelry peddler, who may have been robbed and murdered by the village charcoal-burner, although the actual perpetrator was never brought to justice; the unfortunate merchant’s skeleton was discovered in a charcoal pit near the edge of town, damning evidence for some. The second untimely death involved a blacksmith’s apprentice—the story goes that the young lad showed up late to ye olde shoppe one day and ye olde blacksmithee took extreme exception, stabbing the tardy assistant to death, and then beheading him. (What would’ve happened if the apprentice had played sick for an entire day?!) As with the other murder, no records exist of the crime, no was anyone apparently ever arrested for it.

Grisly stories aside, like what happens to many towns when the main employer burns to the ground and is no longer viable, the residents of Factory Hollow started leaving. By the end of the 19th century, the town was essentially abandoned, and then was slowly swallowed up by the surrounding countryside. Finally, the land was sold by Emma Foster (one of the last descendants of those who lived there) to the state in 1943, with the stipulation that the area be renamed Gay City. A year later, Gay City officially became a state park.

Despite the decades of neglect, a few of the original structures still stand and can be explored, including house foundations, stone cellars and the walls of an old paper mill. Gay City is now more like Ghost City, which is just fine for those who love to explore such locations.

For years, visitors supposedly saw the spirits of the murdered victims wandering around the forests that have now grown up through the village. Up until recently, the story was also told that someone long ago had drowned in the pond at the park, although there hadn’t been any documentation of the event. Tragically, in May 2010, a New Britain teenage did drown in the pond while swimming, so that event can now be considered true.

What is not confirmed are the dozens of stories, rumors and reports alluding to the supernatural activities in Gay City. Like many purportedly haunted locales, the abandoned town is  home to all sorts of otherworldly phenomena. As mentioned, there have been alleged sightings of specters and spirits—one is allegedly the blacksmith’s apprentice, running through the woods with his head in his hands! In addition to other disembodied voices (including one that murmurs “The hollow”) and mysterious footsteps, spirit mists and other odd manifestations have been supposedly observed. Paranormal teams who have investigated her claim to have recorded EVPs and taken orb photos as well as having had other unusual experiences; Connecticut Ghost Seekers have investigated the park on three separate occasions.

Gay City may have been abandoned, but it doesn’t mean that its story is over.

Our Damned Experience: We have yet to mill about Gay City . . . not that there’s anything wrong with it.

If You Go: Like most state parks, Gay City State Park is open year-round, daily from 8 a.m. to sunset, although the official parking lot is only available from April through Columbus Day. (Winter parking is available.) In addition to hiking and exploring the abandoned ruins, visitors can also bike, fish and swim, among other recreational activities. The area around the pond makes for a nice little picnic area, so feel free to pack a lunch when you visit!

The park entrance is located on Route 85 in Hebron.

Image courtesy of Hartford Elks #19

The Damned Story: On Prospect Street in Hartford sits the stately Elks Lodge, home to The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America, one of the oldest fraternal organizations in the nation. Although the Elks have been long known for their strong community spirit, others believe their home base is also home to some other kinds of spirits.

The Elks were founded in 1868, and since then have donated millions of dollars and hours to the betterment of their local communities. The Hartford lodge was started in 1883, and in May 1903, moved into the four-story, yellow-bricked building on Prospect Street, which was the first structure ever constructed specifically as an Elks lodge. Sitting on less than an acre, the “mother lodge” was designed in the Renaissance Revival style by Hartford architect John J. Dwyer, and is constructed primarily of brownstone with limestone trim, with tall arched windows.

The building has two stories, an attic and a basement, and most of the interior features oak and mahogany finish. The main floor contains meeting and social rooms that are used for public events; one of the highlights is a grand double staircase that leads up to the second floor, which is primarily dedicated to the ancient lodge room, an ornate, quasi-octagonal space with a high domed ceiling, gilded moldings, columns and other architectural flourishes.

In 1984, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

But why might there be spirits haunting the Elks? According to a recent article in the Hartford Courant, some believe that one of the organization’s former members is still watching over the group; others suggest that paranormal happening here could be attributed to the lingering resident of a house that used to be on the same spot but was destroyed by a fire back in the mid-19th century. In 1972, a man was also found dead on the sidewalk outside the lodge, although it’s not clear if he jumped off the fire escape, was pushed or died in another manner.

The Courant article also claims Elks club members have reported feeling a presence in several locations inside the lodge, including the main lodge room, the ballroom and in the bar area. Others have allegedly heard voices, tables moving and mysterious footsteps, and have witnessed lights randomly going on and off. Some members have also alleged that they feel uncomfortable in certain parts of the building.

In July 2011, SyFy’s “Ghost Hunters” investigated the lodge, with the resulting show premiering at the end of November 2011. On the episode, it was reported that members have seen an male apparition including one instance where a lodge member’s daughter was told by the apparition to “Get out!” Other members have been touched or had their hair pulled by unseen forces. One member claims to have seen a black shadow figure in the bar area. Door knobs have also supposedly moved on their own.

During the investigation, Grant and Jason heard voices in basement. Later, Dave and Tango seemingly connected with the ghost of a former Elk, Samuel Chamberlain, who was one of the key founders of the Hartford lodge. By the end, they speculate that Samuel might be the spirit haunting the lodge, watching over his fellow Elks from the other side.

Our Damned Experience: We’ve never been to the Elks Lodge, but with all the great community work that the Elks do and amazing events they put on, it’s clear the strongest spirit there is the community spirit that pervades the entire building.

If You Go: The Hartford Elks Lodge #19 is home to over 700 members and is located at 34 Prospect Street in Hartford. The Elks have regular monthly meetings here, and it’s open daily to the public for lunch as well as other events throughout the year. The ballroom is also available for rentals.

They also like to say “If Pine Grove Cemetery isn’t haunted, then why do people experience so many weird things there?”

Okay, maybe they don’t say that second part, exactly. (Don’t dare question the first part, though!) But for years there have been reports of unusual goings on at this unassuming graveyard on the western edge of town.

The full history of the cemetery is available on the Pine Grove Cemetery Association’s website. In a nutshell: In 1858, a group of Ansonia residents got together to found their own cemetery, eventually choosing a hilly piece of ground that featured a small grove of pine trees—hence the name.

The first person to officially be buried here was a 6-year-old girl in 1858, and since then, hundreds of departed souls have been added. At one end of the cemetery is a 14-foot-tall monument—a bronze figure of an artillery man on a granite pedestal—that was dedicated to native sons who died in the line of service during the Civil War. Many of the prominent residents of Ansonia from the 19th century are buried here, including many members of the Farrel Family and Col. William Wooster, a notable Civil War veteran.

A variety of paranormal phenomena have been reported here, including hearing the sounds of children playing and rattling chains and moans as well as an overpowering smell of roses. Others have also reported hearing names whispered in their ears in addition to bizarre “warm spots.”

Three dark figures have also allegedly been spotted guarding the gates of the cemetery.

Interestingly, we weren’t able to find any particular legend or story associated with the cemetery to explain the alleged haunting. We did notice that the experiences we mention above seem to be the same ones passed around from website to website, and there doesn’t seem to be any definitive source as to where these reports originated. An unexplained unexplained event?

So where did it all start? We’ll keep looking into it, but if anyone out there knows, please feel free to pass it along to us, via the comments.

Connecticut Soul Seekers did an investigation back in 2009 and have posted their report here.

Our Damned Experience: We paid a quick visit to Pine Grove Cemetery on a quiet Sunday afternoon in October 2011.

We wandered around the cemetery, taking a few pictures and checking out the grounds. We were there for about an hour, but didn’t have any unusual experiences—no dark figures, no warm spots, no child noises, no disembodied voices. There were a few people coming in and out of the cemetery, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Of course, we went in the middle of the day, which traditionally is not the time for hauntings or ghostly experiences.

The cemetery is surrounded on four sides by a suburban neighborhood, which might explain some of the odd noises and voices that people have claimed to hear while visiting.

If You Go: Pine Grove Cemetery is located at 15 Church Street in Ansonia. It is open for visiting 365 days a year during daylight hours.

As we say about every cemetery—please remember that this is a place where loved ones have been laid to rest, so when you visit, we ask that you politely follow the cemetery’s rules and schedules, and be respectful to those interred there as well as any visitors, earthbound or otherwise.

Courtesy of Google Earth

The Damned Story: As with many old theaters across the state, the Capitol Theater in downtown Willimantic has had its share of dramas, both on and off the main stage. And although many theaters talk of having “ghosts” in the sense of memories of past productions, there are those who believe that this theater literally is home to otherworldy spirits.

The Capitol Theater was completed in January 1926, and according to the Willimantic’s Mill Museum’s website, when it opened, the ornate theater offered over 1,200 seats, brass light fixtures, a large balcony and promenade, private seating boxes, smoking rooms (for ladies and gents) and a marble staircase. Audiences were entertained by both movies and live vaudeville acts on the 80-foot-wide stage for a few years before vaudeville faded and the facility switched over to just showing movies.

Hundreds of films were shown here over nearly four decades before the curtain came down in October 1973. The building then sat empty for nearly 30 years, falling into serious disrepair. In 2002, a $17 million renovation was begun to return it to its former splendor, and two years later, it re-opened its doors as a regional arts magnet high school, Arts at the Capitol Theater (ACT), and home to the Capitol Theater Arts Academy (CTAA). The gorgeous art deco-themed facility now has multiple stages, classrooms, galleries and studios as well as other theater-related spaces.

As for hauntings, there are two stories that related to the theater. The first one dates back to the 1920s, and in it, an actress involved in a love triangle was killed in the balcony by a misguided bullet fired by one of her actor lovers that was intended for her other actor lover. The second tale is that during a live performance involving a sword fight, the scene went horribly awry and one actor accidentally stabbed another, who subsequently died from his wounds. (Every actor wants a dramatic death scene, right?)

As it turns out, there is no record of any murders or stabbings, accidental or otherwise, having occurred in the Capitol Theater. The only known tragedy was when a woman fell from the balcony and died a few days later in a local hospital. (A few performers also may have figuratively “died” on stage during bad performances, too!) In 1924, there was a Willimantic love triangle that ended in murder, but apparently that involved a mother and daughter who owned a dress shop next door to the theater; the husband/father was killed shortly after the affairs came to light, although it was never determined if he was murdered by the wife, the daughter or the lover. It’s certainly possible that over the years, this story morphed into the one about the shooting in the theater balcony, although it never occurred on the premises.

Over the years, various paranormal phenomena have been reported here, including ghostly entities being seen in the balcony and dressing rooms. Others have claimed to have heard disembodied voices, footsteps and a baby’s cry in various spots throughout the building. Photos involving purported spirits have also been taken here.

Our Damned Experience: Although we think it’s a capital idea, we’ve never tread the boards at the Capitol Theater.

If You Go: The Capitol is now the regional arts magnet high school known as ACT: Arts at the Capitol Theater. It is located at 896 Main Street in Willimantic, and although is not open to the public, per se, offers a regular schedule of theater events available to all throughout the year. The theater is also available to rent for special occasions.

In the comments for that article, the paranormal investigation group P.R.O.O.F. were at the center of controversy regarding their investigation of the house in question, as well as for the evidence that was gathered and what was presented on the show. The comments got a little chaotic and heated, so P.R.O.O.F. politely asked us if they could try to sort it out here and try to answer all the questions coming at them in one place, and in more detail than a comments section would allow.

For the record, Damned Connecticut is in no way affiliated with P.R.O.O.F., SyFy, Raw TV, the Moore family or anyone involved with this case. We’ve never met any of those parties, and have only come into contact with P.R.O.O.F. via e-mail. We also have never been out on a formal paranormal investigation at MTS (although we have visited the part of the former campus that now belongs to UConn). We just felt that since our readers were so interested in this subject, we should pursue this opportunity to learn more about what happened, both at MTS and with the production of the show.

In short, we have tried to give P.R.O.O.F. the best chance to explain their experiences since there were so many questions regarding the situation. P.R.O.O.F.’s founder Joseph Gallant took the time to answer our questions, and we have presented it all here.

After reading this, if you have more questions, please feel free to contact P.R.O.O.F. at their website. If you want to comment here—and of course, we always welcome that—we ask that you be respectful and refrain from personal attacks.

So how did PROOF get involved with the Mansfield Training School (MTS) and Mansfield Mansion?

In the early wintery months of 1994 the Moore family purchased what they initially thought would be a great starting point for their growing family. The historic seven bedroom colonial mansion which sat on ten acres of wooded land sold for an astonishing hundred thousand dollars. The Moore family pondered the question; why so cheap, could something have taken place in the home or on the property that perhaps could have decreased the selling price value? The county real estate agent informed the Moore family that there was very little information about the property’s history in their documents. Mrs. Moore and family decided to forget the past and move forward with the future, buying the historic home in late 1994.

In January of 2002, the Moore family began renovating the home’s interior, as it was out of date and ridged inside. Following two months into renovations, the Moore family began experiencing strange occurrences throughout their home. The homeowner and her two children expressed being woken up at all hours of the night due to night terrors, such violent and vivid dreams that prevented the family from sleeping for two or three days at a time. The more work that was done to the home’s interior, the more frequent and disturbing the night terrors became. The Moore family explains an incident wherein, they were awoken at 2:22am and witnessed what appeared to be a tall dark man standing at the foot of their bed than vanishing.

Out of pure fear the Moore family sought out answers to what, if anything is haunting their home. Mrs. Moore’s curiosity sent her digging through local newspapers to see if there was anything that would provide her with answers. After weeks of researching and coming up with nothing, Mrs. Moore came across an article, an article written five years before her purchase that explained everything. The article read that 1308 was the home of the superintendent of the Mansfield Training School, a hospital for the feeble minded and insane. Mrs. Moore read article after article that talked about the abuse of patients at the facility and from within her now-home. Mrs. Moore and family stopped the renovating and let things calm down for a while until a resolution could be devised.

Nearly four years had passed with very little incident. This was until December of 2008, when John Hevic, an electrician was phoned to 1308 Stafford Road, in order to fix the Moore family’s broken furnace. The electrician was in the basement for not more than 10 minutes before running out and taking off. Leaving all of his equipment behind, Mr. Hevic complains that he was pushed to the floor by something that couldn’t be seen or heard. Evidently, whatever was here is back, said Mrs. Moore. The house began to feel dreadful again and the activity became increasingly productive. Mrs. Moore states an incident where she was asleep and awoken by the feeling of someone holding her hand, followed by a deep growl in her right ear.

“This of course was the end of what I was willing to withstand. There is something evil here and there’s very little I can do to protect my family. Enough is enough,” said Mrs. Moore. The Moore Family began their search for someone out there that could provide them with the protection and guidance they so desperately needed.

P.R.O.O.F was initially contacted by Amy Moore in early February of 2009. In our initial visit, P.R.O.O.F spent 48 hours on site, investigating the property. The interior and exterior of the home was covered from top to bottom. In addition to our full scaled investigations, we also spent a considerable amount of time and energy researching the background and history behind the Mansfield training school and hospital.

How did P.R.O.O.F get involved with Raw TV and how involved were you?

Following an exclusive radio interview with Paranormal-Underground concerning events recorded at the Mansfield residence, I [Joseph Gallant] received a telephone call from Mark Lewis, a producer with Raw TV, an independent film company based out of the U.K. Mr. Lewis informed me that Raw was in the preliminary stages of developing a reality TV series that would be focusing on the paranormal and the unexplained. Mr. Lewis was interested in learning more about the “Mansfield Haunting” and excited of the possibility of telling the Moore families story. I do want to mention however, that the phrase “Mansfield Mansion” was coined by the television network. P.R.O.O.F, the Moore family and the community refer to this house as the Greenlawn Mansion.

Following repeated phone conversations and back and forth emails, P.R.O.O.F founder myself [Joseph Gallant] and Amy Moore were cordially invited to Massachusetts wherein, we would be introduced to the filming crew and prepped for interviews. The filming was set to last no longer than two hours and would entail nothing but the discussion of accounts at the Greenlawn Home. During the interview process I [Joseph Gallant] was informed by the Line-Producer that I should throw a few tears out there for the dramatization effect as well as a few minor white lies, thus, providing viewers with a “good show” I declined the producers “acting” recommendations and preceded to tell my side of the story as it was, versus what the production company requested. With this being said, we feel that this could have played a significant role in why our piece was cut out of the episode.

Did you personally experience anything that you felt was odd?

Each and every P.R.O.O.F member who partook in the case had a personal experience. The house is extremely active. It would take forever to go through each individual experience but we’ll highlight some of the most significant occurrences.

On night one, while in the process of setting up our survallience feeds and pre-placing investigators in their posts, Amanda DeVivo radioed base and reported having seen an apparition or shadow person walking from the attic storage room into the unfinished bathroom. She explained that although this account took her by surprise she did not feel as though that the entity was that of a malevolent or diabolical nature. She stated that the entity simply was passing by and then vanished as if he were never there.

Ruben Velazquez our tech coordinator, recorded the image of the same apparition, described previously by Amanda, pacing from one room to another and in doing so, making his presence known by slamming the door behind him before vanishing. Velazquez and our lead investigator Patricia Fedorshak, were in the bird room, when they heard a women humming. Ruben and Pat stated in their reports that the humming was in harmony and sounded as if it traveled through the walls and within, a matter of minutes just stopped.

All of these experiences did not occur during our initial 48 hour investigation. We have been actively investigating the house since mid 2009 so we have been to the site on several different occasions with many different incidences.

Have you personally witnessed any demonic hauntings? How do you determine if a haunting is demonic or not?

Yes, P.R.O.O.F has conducted numerous in-home demonic hauntings with the Mansfield mansion falling forth on our list. I do, however, want to point out that during our preliminary investigations of the Greenlawn home, P.R.O.O.F did not consider the residence to fall within, the “diabolical-Category.” Upon conducting our investigations of the site, there were absolutely no configurative or confirming indications that what was haunting the Moore family was in fact demonic. The phrase Demonic (ancient Greek) refers to a non-human entity with whom carries a rash of symptomatic and malevolent characteristics, this term is also referred to as a diabolical spirit with prime intention of attaching to tragedy and causing grave havoc for its host or person(s) of interest. Generally when speaking in terms of a classic case of demonic haunting such characteristics as;

• increasingly strong odors often resembling sulfur or decaying caucus
• an overwhelming sense or feeling of dread and fear are present
• high EMF readings are present throughout the house with no mechanical explanation
• occupants of the residence often come down with sudden mysterious illnesses that seem to defy diagnosis or medical treatment
• occupants generally complain of being physically attacked and/or sexually stimulated/penetrated by unseen and violent forces
• nocturnal attacks and night terrors

These just mentioning a few are the classic symptomatic signs of their being a demonic presence in the dwelling, nevertheless as stated previously, in our initial investigative assumption of the haunting, none of the above had been experienced . This was of course until and following the banishing ritual and demonic attack.

How much liberty did “Paranormal Witness” take with the case as you investigated it?

“Paranormal Witness” was given testimonies of paranormal phenomena inside the Greenlawn home by the Moore family, their friends and P.R.O.O.F Paranormal. They took what was given to them and they simply ran with it. During filming, as stated above, I [Joseph Gallant] was asked to tell minor white lies and to act as sad and scared as possible. We can’t say for sure, if those requests were asked of the Moore family as well but our assumption is that they were.

Pretty much, what I’m trying to say is that “Paranormal Witness” is simply out for ratings and viewer reaction. We feel they took as much liberty as they could in making the show as dramatic and scary as possible. P.R.O.O.F does not believe all the re-enactment scenes to have been portrayed correctly.

Another thing P.R.O.O.F read was a “follow-up interview” with Casey Moore. (It’s a written interview on SyFy’s website.) It quotes her as saying “Supposedly one of the guys had a pentagram burned into his leg when he was in the basement.” That simply never happened. P.R.O.O.F believes Mrs. Moore to have never said that. Never once, in any of our meetings with the family, did the discussion of a pentagram ever come up as it’s something P.R.O.O.F doesn’t use. But, a body burn of a pentagram sounds pretty dramatic and entertaining, huh?

What kind of evidence did you have?

Upon signing the contract with Raw Television, we were advised that any and all evidence obtained at the Greenlawn home and during our investigation was under strict release. What this means is that our rights to material gathered at the Greenlawn home (i.e. photos, video, audio, written) was under the rights of the production company and we would have no access to its release. Nevertheless, the contract is no longer in effect, so with this being said P.R.O.O.F will be releasing everything in the next couple of weeks.

Why do you think SyFy didn’t share the evidence that you gathered?

I am truthfully uncertain as to why exactly the SyFy network and Raw Television Productions excluded P.R.O.O.F’s involvement in the “Haunting of Mansfield Mansion”. Although I do have my assumptions, there isn’t enough space or time for me to validate suspicion or speculate on the networks poorly chosen production decisions. From what I have been told however, SyFy made the cut due to the vulgar nature of the E.V.P’s. As for the photos and video evidence, SyFy reported that their just simply was not enough time in the episode to add anything in addition to what testimony they had already collected. If the production company would have provided viewers with evidence, backing up the Moore’s testimony, I feel as though her story would have generated a better response and even more so, with validity to what claims she had presented.

There also seems to be a question of actual history versus what was portrayed on the show—MTS was definitely a facility used to treat the mentally challenged, but was there an actual murder in the superintendent’s house?

The Mansfield Training School and hospital was a secure residential institution for individuals with dual diagnoses “Mental Retardation and developmental disabilities”. The grounds were comprised of several different buildings or units that were “guided” in providing a stable environment with cognitive behavioral treatment for both children and adults of all ages.

In a provisions report provided by the state of CT and the Department of Mental Retardation (DMR) the facility was under constant investigation for the excessive use and misuse of physical and chemical restraint and seclusion. This report also included provisions behind the hundreds of abuse and neglect allegations made against facility staff. There is not however, any such report or evidence thereof, that would suggest or implicate that a murder or “murder-cover-up” was committed at MTS or from within, the previous Superintendent’s residence.

Now, when speaking in terms of what “paranormal Evidence was gathered throughout our initial investigations, there was mention via a franks-box session of a girl that represented herself as a murdered child from MTS. The girl whom identified herself as “Jessica” repeatedly broke through the static and omitted that she had been murdered while a patient at the former facility. There were several different entities that brought the subject of murder to discussion; nevertheless, paranormal evidence and criminal evidence are two entirely different spectrums.

Unfortunately at this time, there are very few things that I can say about the public’s assumption of murder at MTS, I can only comment on what information I do have which does not include the discussion of murder. Making false or unsubstantiated accusations of something as serious as accusing the State of Connecticut of murder or covering-up violent crimes is a serious liability for the person(s) delivering such information. In this case SyFy is the responsible party and P.R.O.O.F is working on recovering this issue and clearing MTS’s name.

Are you still in contact with the Moore family? Have you talked with them since the show aired, and if so, what was their take on it? Are they still having unusual experiences?

P.R.O.O.F remains in frequent contact with the Moore family and besides our quarterly re-evaluation of the Greenlawn home; we have maintained a respectable and personal friendship. Amy Moore has stated that she is disappointed in the outcome of the airing “The Haunting of Mansfield Mansion.” She complains that SyFy and the production company took her story out of context and turned it into a 3rd-rate horror flick verses a story of a family that simply wanted to be understood.

What do you say to those who claim that no one who lived in the house before the Moore family reported any sort of paranormal experiences?

I would say that these statements are incorrect.

Former resident Brett McNamara lived in the house from 1974 to 1985, when his father, Roger McNamara, was superintendent of Mansfield Training School . In a 2010 press meeting, Brett McNamara released this statement to a reporter for the Reminder News; “I remember growing up here. I felt a presence. I would close a door and find it open again, hear strange creaks and knocks. I had odd feelings, particularly when I was home alone. This was the original institution. Patients lived here, some died here. Maybe their spirits were trapped,” he said. Although Brett McNamara has recently denied having any sort of unexplained or paranormal experience in the Greenlawn home, the facts speak for themselves.

Please follow this link for the full article and for verification of its authenticity.

Again, Damned Connecticut wants to thank Joseph Gallant and P.R.O.O.F. for taking the time to answer these questions and hopefully clear up some of the issues resolving this situation.

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The Damned Story: Although the distinctive golden dome of the Connecticut State Capitol stands proudly as a symbol of democracy, there are some who believe it also shines as a beacon for otherworldly entities, in particular, the disembodied soul of a former governor.

Designed in the High Victorian Gothic style and constructed over seven years on the former grounds of Trinity College overlooking Bushnell Park at a cost of $2.5 million (nearly $56 million today), the impressive statehouse opened for legislative business in 1878. Home to the governor’s office as well as the Connecticut General Assembly, the building is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a glorious piece of eye candy, made from marble and granite and featuring all manner of sculpture, statue, portrait, mural, flag and historical object.

One item of particular interest is a bronze statue of former governor William Buckingham, which stands near the Capitol’s west entrance. Buckingham was a true statesman, serving four terms as mayor of Norwich before being elected governor in 1858. A popular leader, he was re-elected seven times, holding the office through the Civil War to 1866. He then went on to the U.S. Senate, and had that office when he died in 1875 at the age of 72.

For reasons no one has ever been able to explain, it’s believed that the spectre of the former governor roams the halls of the Capitol, even though the building didn’t open until three years after he died, and he never worked there. (We’re really never sure how anyone can identify a spirit given the general lack of features and low-light conditions, but hey, why not?) Still, there are those who believe that he had a special affinity for Room 324, which used to be used by lieutenant governors, one of whom during the 1920s claimed to have seen the ghost of Buckingham standing there. Over the years, other legislative members and staffers also have reported seeing unusual things, witnessing the door opening on its own and feeling cold spots in Room 324.

In the past, Capitol police have also admitted to hearing unexplained footsteps during the night.

Is the former governor visiting a building in death that he never set foot in during life? Or is it the shade of someone else, possibly looking for peace in a building that seems to be full of dispute?

Our Damned Experience: We’ve been in the Capitol building a number of times, but the only odd thing we’ve ever witnessed was the legislature agreeing on something.

If You Go: The State Capitol is located in Hartford, obviously, on Capitol Avenue. (Who’d a thunk it?) It is open to the public (and tax payers!) for both guided and self-guided tours year round, Monday to Friday.

As mentioned, the building itself is an architectural gem, and there an abundance of wonderful historical items and works of art on the premises. Well worth a visit for anyone.

Images by Ray Bendici

The Damned Story: One of the first major entertainment venues built in the Lower Naugatuck Valley, the Sterling Opera House has hosted vaudeville legends, internationally renowned figures and historical theatrical premieres. Now, some claim that facility now is home to multiple spirits who are still seeking their moment in the spotlight.

Opened on April 2, 1889, the building was designed with Italianate Victorian influences. The main 1,200-seat auditorium featured a giant proscenium arch, an orchestra pit and unobstructed views of the stage. When in ideal condition, the acoustics were said to be so good that even a whisper on stage could be heard in the back of the room.

The Sterling saw many of the biggest entertainers of the early 20th century upon its stage. Legendary actor Lionel Barrymore performed here, as did escape artist supreme Harry Houdini. Boxing champion John L. Sullivan did a turn as Simon Legree in a production of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, while Amelia Earhart addressed a local women’s club. Master comedian Red Skelton  yucked it up for the locals, and no doubt more than one foot was a-tappin’ when march king John Philip Sousa brought his star-spangled band to town. Famed auteur D.W. Griffith even allegedly premiered the seminal The Birth of a Nation here, among other films.

Despite its storied history, the Sterling Opera House primarily ceased functioning as an entertainment venue in 1945, and served as city hall and a police substation until the 1960s. It then was abandoned and fell into disrepair.

In 1968, the building was the first in Connecticut to be listed on the National Register of Historical Places. It is in the midst of renovation plans and fund-raising efforts with hopes of being opened once again as an entertainment venue. Some work has already been done, including new cupolas having been added in recent years.

Paranormal investigators here have claimed to recorded multiple EVPs, including the voices of children, as well as images depicting spirit mists and orbs. Shadow figures and other apparitions have been reported here, also. One picture taken purportedly shows the spirits of a woman in Victorian-era dress and a child. In addition, witnesses have claimed to see the hand prints of a child appear in various spots.

Unlike other haunted places, there doesn’t seem to be a particular tragic story associated with the opera house. Some believe that the alleged spirits here might be associated with Charles Sterling, the man for whom the structure is named and who died before it was completed, or his widow; other think that the spirit of a young boy is trapped here, eternally treading the floorboards.

In an episode that premiered in April 2011, SyFy’s “Ghost Hunters” investigated the opera house.

Our Damned Experience: In June 2011, we were invited by Rich DiCarlo, chairman of the Derby Cultural Commission, to visit the Sterling Opera House. We met up with Rich, as well as Dan Rivera and Troy Leong of Above the Realm paranormal investigative team. Rich was kind enough to give us a full tour of the building, and provided a wealth of information regarding all the paranormal experiences that have supposedly happened at the opera house.

Although the renovations on the exterior of the building have been complete, the interior needs a lot of work, as you can see in the pictures below. Despite that, this building clearly must’ve been a wonderful performance venue in its heyday, an intimate space with absolutely terrific acoustics — even now, from the back of the upper balcony you can easily hear what’s being said on the stage. If a full restoration is able to be completed, the opera house will once again be one of the gems of the state.

In the meantime, the walls are peeling, the floors are dusty and the air is musty, especially when it’s warm. The building is structurally sound although there are spots where caution is necessary, especially around staircases, which can be steep. The windows are all new, so it’s not a drafty place, and when the place is locked up, there are no tresspassers, so it’s in generally decent shape for a place that’s been abandoned for a few decades.

We went up into the balcony and checked out the “haunted chair,” which is next to a pole in the middle level. One things the pictures don’t give you a sense of is what an intimate space the opera house is — the upper balcony area seems to go straight up!

We went backstage and into the dressing room area, where there are all sorts of remnants of the Sterling’s rich history, from the signatures of performers scrawled on walls (some over a century old) to tattered show posters. We also went down into the lower level, which at one time served as city hall and the police station — you do NOT want to be locked up in one of the jail cells down there now! We also went into the room that the Ghost Hunters speculated gave the people creeps because of the high windows.

Many of the experiences here are believed to revolve around an entity called “Andy,” whom Rich told us is the spirit of a young boy. Throughout the opera house, there are toys and balls for Andy to “play” with — in the back of the main hall, there are even a few balls set up on empty cardboard tubes for Andy to knock off. Rich shared a few other unusual episodes that he’s had in the building, from witnessing a hand print appear in the dust of a chair to seeing balls move around on their own.

During our visit, we didn’t see any balls moving of their own accord. Actually, our entire visit was pretty quiet, but still very cool.

Multiple investigators have recorded EVPs of what they believe is the voice of a young child — Dan played us one EVP that he recorded of what sounded like a young boy singing. Creepy! Above the Realm has done numerous investigations here and has gotten some interesting evidence.

If You Go: The Sterling Opera House is located in downtown Derby at 116 Elizabeth Street. It currently is not open to the public.

Save Our Sterling is an organization dedicated to preserving the history of the opera house’s legacy and is spearheading the building’s restoration.

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Image by Ray Bendici

The Damned Story: Originally built as a facility to treat children with tuberculosis, Seaside Sanatorium has had a long history serving as a medical facility. Overlooking Long Island Sound, it has also been a home for the elderly, a medical hospital and a facility to treat the mentally handicapped.

Opened in the early 1930s, the building itself was designed by the renowned architect Cass Gilbert, who also designed the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington as well as the famed Woolworth Building in New York City and the landmark Union Station in New Haven. Its first young inhabitants were sent there as a remedy for their affliction as it was thought the fresh air and sunshine would be beneficial. In 1958, the building took on a new purpose for three years, treating elderly folk, then became a home for the mentally challenged. Unfortunately, in the early 1970s it came to light that some patients were being violently abused by some of the staff; in the mid 1990s, patients were turning up dead a at a higher rate than normal.

With many unanswered allegations and after decades of service, Seaside Sanatorium was closed in 1996; it has passed through the hands of a few developers, getting hung up in various protracted legal battle. Currently, the property — a prime parcel of beachfront — remains abandoned, although there are slow-moving plans to knock down the buildings and replace them with condos.

The New England Paranormal Video Research Group investigated this place in 2007, thinking that with Seaside’s long, dark and sometimes tragic history — and spooky, abandoned vibe — it might be a good target for paranormal investigation. They were able to capture a few EVPs [Electronic Voice Phenomena] and a few spirit orb photographs. The group’s resident sensitive also experienced some strong sensations.

Our Damned Experience: Cameras in hand (as always) we visited Seaside Sanatorium on an overcast day in late April 2011. We parked outside the main entrance with all the other people who were enjoying the grounds — it must’ve been “Bring Your Dog to Seaside Day” — and walked onto the property.

Image by Kate Geruntho Frank

The buildings are all boarded up, but it’s easy to see that when they were open and functioning, that the whole place must’ve been very appealing. Unlike many other state institutions, time and effort was clearly put into the aesthetic qualities of building design — it’s reminiscent of a classic New England private school.

We wandered around the buildings — as you can see in the photo gallery, the exteriors have been allowed to rot and the interiors are pretty much trashed at this point; it appears that some equipment was even left behind. We didn’t notice or see anything unusual or weird, although Kate says she felt some odd vibes. Like any abandoned place, there’s a certain level of inherent creepiness, to be sure. (Especially the abandoned playground equipment!)

Unlike many other visitors, we didn’t encounter any security guards on the grounds, but then again, we never tried to get into any of the buildings — even with all our tetanus shots up-to-date, we were content with sticking our camera lenses through the broken windows and snapping away. The place looks like it’s ready to come down fairly easily.

Still, even without going inside — which we do NOT recommend or condone — it’s still well worth a visit.

If You Go: Seaside Sanatorium is located just off of Shore Road in Waterford (down the street from Harkness Memorial State Park), on a scenic stretch of Connecticut coastline. The grounds are open to the public, but the buildings are absolutely off limits.

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Courtesy of the National Register of Historic Places

The Damned Story: Although there are thousands of state residents who have attended the University of Connecticut, very few are familiar with the story of the Depot Campus, and how it was formerly the Mansfield Training School. Or how the buildings belonging to the former mental hospital are believed by some to be haunted.

In a demonstration of how political correctness is a 21st-century invention, the Mansfield Training School originally started in 1860 as the “Connecticut School for Imbeciles,” and was located in Lakeville. As hard as it is to believe, that name eventually offended someone, and in 1915 it was re-christened the “Connecticut Training School for Feebleminded.” (Yeah, that’s much better.) In 1917, it was merged with Connecticut Colony for Epileptics in Mansfield, where the new 350-acre campus was opened under the official banner of the Mansfield Training School and Hospital.

With its isolated location and bucolic setting, the Mansfield Training School was an ideal place to treat those afflicted with mental disorders. For the next 60 years it was home to residents who suffered from all sorts of mental afflictions. At the height of its use, it housed over 1,800 residents and featured over 50 buildings, most of which were devoted to patient treatment. It also had a small farm that provided occupational therapy for some of the epileptic patients in addition to food for the facility.

Sadly, like other hospitals that dealt with mental illness, there were allegations of poor conditions and abuse, although many, many more people were helped rather than hurt during their stays. Overall, the facility appeared to have a dedicated, caring staff and a good reputation.

After numerous lawsuits and concerns about the conditions, however, the Mansfield Training School was closed in 1993; patients were sent to more modern facilities and institutions throughout the state. A few of the most dilapidated buildings were demolished while others became part of the University of Connecticut as its Depot Campus. Another part of the original campus was annexed by the Bergin Correctional Center, a level-2 minimum security facility for male offenders.

In 1987, the Mansfield Training School was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Again, despite the mostly positive, caring work that went on here (and at other similar facilities), there seems to be a story or two of negative incidents, any one of which is enough to initiate stories of restless souls and troubled spirits.

Consequently, there have been reports of spirit mists and orbs here, as well as experiences involving unexplained voices, sounds and shapes. The building of the former Knight Hospital is one place where unexplained phenomena is still allegedly observed.

Courtesy of National Register of Historic Places

Paranormal groups, such as PROOF, have also investigated a few of the buildings, and claim to have found evidence confirming paranormal activity, for what it’s worth.

Our Damned Experience: When we visited UConn’s Ballard Institute of Puppetry in 2010, we mentioned that the museum was located in an old, seemingly abandoned area on the Depot Campus, which as it turns out, was part of the Mansfield Training School. So we were there without even realizing it!

As we mentioned when we visited, that area of the campus feels a bit like a forgotten part of the campus. Now we have a reason to go back and explore a bit!

If You Go: The grounds of the former Mansfield Training School are now part of UConn’s Depot Campus on Route 44 in Storrs, and thus are open to the public. As mentioned, the Ballard Institute of Puppetry is here, in addition to the Center for Clean Energy Engineering, Human Resources, Community School of the Arts and Chaplin Cottage.

On the other side of Route 44 is the Bergin Correctional Center, which also features some of the former training school campus, although it’s not exactly open to the public in the conventional sense.

On the UConn side, some of the old structures remain empty, and have been overgrown by weeds and ivy. Obviously, visitors are vigorously discouraged from entering these buildings.