Case Study: 0419.2011 Beneath Our Finger Tips II

As mentioned from my previous post, San Francisco consists of many areas where spirits still lingers the streets of the city. I revealed several sites where many famous hauntings had occured such as Golden Gate Park, Cameron House, and Alcatraz. Most of these sites I revealed consisted of crimes and unfortunate accidents which probably led to the spirits continuation in dwelling of the site where the last moment of their life had ended. Tonight's post I will reveal a few more sites where hauntings reaches out and grabs us by the hand. 

Site #4. San Francisco Art Insitute--This is my home

March 25th, of 2011 a bunch of friends and I decided to become tourists of San Francisco. The only difference between us and the actual tourists was that we did not wear I "heart" SF sweatshirts nor did we have colorful mesh hats with the picture of Golden Gate Bridge in the center of our foreheads. We brought our cameras, cellular phones, and our NorthFace fleeces for we were planning to visit many windy and colorful locations of San Francisco such as Fort Point, Pier 39, Chinatown, and Lombard St. All was great despite the wind. Our last stop was Lombard St. After a few flashes and a couple of model posses we decided to catch a bite. On our way to dinner we drove past Chestnut St and this architect caught our attention --  
http://www.haunted-places.com/san_francisco_most_haunted.htm

This is vintage Spanish style historical building is known as the San Francisco Art Institute. The doors were opened to the public in January 15th of 1927. Some parts of this building has been rennovated, but not all and I will disclose why later in this post. I recall seeing this building somewhere, but at that moment I could not remember. We pulled over and took random shots of it and proceeded to dinner. I was reading that evening before bed, a book of Haunted Sites in San Francisco. Long behold this building was one of those haunted sites. As mentioned earlier this building was built in 1927. What this buiding sits on top of was one of the oldest cemetery in San Francisco. I am unsure for what reason why the city decided to demolish the cemetery and instead built the art insititute. But I do know that some souls refuse to leave what was their home and now dwells in the bell towers of the art institute.

As mentioned earlier parts of this building has been rennovated, but not all. Owners of this building attempted to once remodel the building, but misfortunate accidents endlessly occurred for those who atttempted to reconstruct. Wandering souls who once dwelled in this cemetery visits the bell towers every evening, opening and closing doors, and turning on lights that were turned off. If I may recommend a book to my fellow paranormal readers, "Haunted San Francisco," ghost stories from the City's past is a great eye opener for some of this city's historical hauntings. To be very honest, when I saw the structure of the art insititue I had no idea it was haunted. I just felt that the structure itself was very captivating. When I walked into the building, observing my surroundings I did sense a bit of sadness. A very dark and gloomy ambiance dawned before me.

Site # 5. Queen Anne Hotel-- Keys to room 410 please...


  

http://www.hauntedhouses.com/states/ca/queen_anne_hotel.cfm

In constant search for ghost tour availabilities in the city. Winchester Mystery House located in San Jose was one of the few I discovered available to the public. Fortunately I was able to discover two ghost tours in San Francisco which is much closer to home. The first ghost tour takes place in Chinatown. If you have read my previous postings, Chinatown does hold many historical haunting. The second tour takes place in the upper grounds of Japantown which then leads to one of the hotspots I would like to introduce to you tonight. Queen Anne Hotel, one of the most well known historical haunted sites of San Francisco. Since I am a hotel major one of my courses required me to explore hotels in this city and research the backgrounds of it. You can assume that Queen Anne Hotel was my selected hotel among the many. It’s quite strange how the hotel I picked was haunted. Did the haunted find me or subconsciously did I find the haunted? Honest to truth, I had no idea that this hotel had its share of haunted history.

The history of Queen Anne Hotel dates back in the late 1800’s. It was a boarding school for girls, unfortunately due to financial circumstances the school was shut down. A caretaker by the name of Miss Mary Lake was a dedicated worker who lived, worked, and STILL remains working of the once boarding school which now is Queen Anne Hotel. Over the years the site has changed hands as well changed it’s dedication; from boarding school to a all men’s club then to its current stand. Queen Anne Hotel is notorious for it’s haunted history, but not the entire hotel. Room 410 is where all the activity begins. There has been records where guests stayed in room 410 and in the morning they would find themselves tucked in. When I mean tucked in, guests are closely tucked from shoulder to toe where it is nearly impossible for someone to do on their own. Miss Mary Lake has been seen traveling between hallways from floor to floor. Guests claimed to have seen apparitions of a women wearing a vintage style white colored dress. Overall this spirit means no harm, but only there to help and fulfill her duties as a caretaker who once took care of the girls of the school and is now taking care of the guests of Queen Anne Hotel.

I participated this ghost tour in the summer of 2010. All was entertaining, but by all means not spooky at all. If you are ever bored and happen to be in San Francisco, attending the ghost tour could be an option for a cost of $20.00 per person... of course kids under a specific age is cheaper. Unfortunately no senior citizen discount, otherwise I would so qualify and thus save. The tour does provide some rich detail history of the city in which I enjoyed very much. The tour is about 2 hours long. The tour begins at Queen Anne Hotel then makes its way around the area. There are a total of six well known haunted sites. Please bring a jacket, even during summer it is extremely cold at night!!!!!

In Memory of 1906...

April 18th of 2011 marks the 105th anniversary of the destructive 1906 earthquake in San Francisco. This short post is in memory of those who lost their lives due to the unforgiving disaster. How strange is it that today at 3:18pm an earthquake yet strikes San Francisco again.

Case Study: 0412.2011 Beneath our finger tips

Mysteries of the Bay

History surrounds us all. Some dislike history because they might be dissatisfied with the outcome, the cause that led to its effect. Some do not care for history because it is history, the past which we should not dwell upon. At the same time there are some bits and pieces of history which keeps our mind ticking like a grandfather clock. San Francisco's history is like a grandfather clock. The streets of this city provides us rich histories from corner to corner, blocks to bus stops, and from districts to districts. The streets of San Francisco walks with us and leads us to these historical events. Some of these histories linger on that evolves into stories commuting from one ear to another, one mouth to another.

I am a city boy, consistently stumbling around the streets of San Francisco taking photos with my digital camera and cellular phone. My ultimate goal while stumbling these streets of the city other than taking photos is to walk the historic sites that people can not resist from discussing about. Some of the sites which I will disclose tonight, I would like to suggest, are San Francisco's traces of well known hauntings. There are many well known sites, however some I would agree might just be urban legends, but as always at the end it is your disgresion to believe or not to believe.

Site #1. Golden Gate Park--series of unknown citations...
Golden Gate Park, home for many outdoor lovers, largest playground for many children and adults rain or shine. In the morning especially during the weekends the park is dominated by bicyclists, art lovers, couples, museum fanatics, man's best friends (a.k.a furry four legged pets), joggers, and parents with their babies in strollers. As soon as the mist of fog dawns upon the trees and grass, when the sun sets where darkness fills the sky, and when the crowd is silent; the park is dedicated for the unknown/the unseen..or what some would refer to as GHOSTS. There are several urban legends of the park in which I will disclose one out of those several. It is said that a spirit of a policemen haunts the park at nights.The policemen randomly pulls cars aside and issues the driver a ticket. The ticket is not like the ones we receive today, but rather old in appearence and out dated.

A friend of mine actually once encountered such spirit...It was a late evening, he was driving with a few passengers accompanying him. He was coming from the Sunset district heading towards Richmond, therefore he decided to take the shortcut through the park rather than taking 19th Ave. Ten minutes after he entered the park he was immediately pulled over. A policemen on a motorcycle stops him and approaches his vehicle requesting his license and registration. Obeying the officer's request my friend provided what the officer demanded. The park was awfully dark, despite the illuminating head lights projecting from the motorcycle, my friend could only catch glimpse of the policemen's face. He described that the officer looked rather pale and frail. Shortly after obtaining the license and registration the officer returns to my friend with a ticket. The officer departs from the scene. The ticket placed on the palm of my friend began to decay. The ticket did not look modern, but rather vintage. Shocked, scared, and petrified my friend vanished from the scene as quick as he can. The next day he visited the police station on Taravel St. He approached an officer described and displayed to him the ticket he was issued the previous night. The officer looked at the ticket, removed it from his hands and said, "do not worry, it's just an old commrad of ours." http://www.hauntedbay.com/tomes/urban/ggpark.shtml 
--A law was recently enforced in regards to those who are pulled over in Golden Gate Park during the evening. If a driver is unfortunately pulled over during late hours, the driver must only pull over after he or she departs from the park. --

Site #2. Stow Lake--Woman in white


When you drive through Golden Gate Park coming from 6th. Ave heading north towards California Academy of Sciences you will see many small roads that leads to multiple parts of the park. One of those small roads leads to Stow Lake. There has been many rumors and urban myths about the lake. Neither myself or my friends have yet experienced anything paranormal about that area. But, for a selected few there has been. The myth of Stow Lake travels back to almost 100 years back. The first ever reporting to be printed on the newspaper dtaes back in 1908 in San Francisco Chronicle where a figure of a woman blocks a moving car from departing the park. There has been other urban myths where people has seen a figure of a woman dressed in white appearing in the evenings seeking her lost child that drwoned in that lake. There is a statue of a woman with two chidren near the lake where peole claim to have seen the statue of the children move.

Site #3. Alcatraz--Inmate Mysteriously Strangled to Death


Citizens of San Francisco must have heard and or visited Alcatraz. When somone mentions San Francisco you think of Golden Gate Bridge, well in my opinion Alcatraz should be another visual when mentioning San Francisco. I must announce that for those who has never visited Alcatraz it is a terrible upset because Alcatraz is no longer open to the public. Two weeks ago Alcatraz is offically closed off and the last ferry was removed from the site on a clear blue sky Friday afternoon two weeks ago. Other than its rich history in housing the most vicious and synical prisoners, Alcatraz is also known for housing the spirits. The spirits of the dead prisoners walk the path to their cells which they once spent a good amount of time in. At night the "rock" becomes alive again where many killings, attempts of escapes, and torture reoccurs. One myth of this unforgiving rock was the mysterious death of an inmate found strangled to death in his cell. There were marks of fingerprints surrounding the inmate's throat as well the cell. It is said that a former inmate was found dead in the coldest cell block called "the hole." The hole was dedicated to house prisoners who violated the rules of Alcatraz. The inmate who had passed away in "the hole" haunts the prison. And it was suspected that it was the passed away inmate of "the hole" who had strangeled other inmates to death.
 http://www.yourghoststories.com/famous-ghost-stories/alcatraz-hauntings.php

Site #4. Cameron House--Once home for lost individuals now home for lost souls



Cameron House's history dates back when the early Chinese advanced their way to San Francisco for the hopes of finding gold, building families, and dreams. What was a dream became a nightmare for many especially for women who were tricked and sold to strangers in becoming a prostitute. Donaldina Cameron was one of the few who stood for those women who were abandoned and sold. She risked her life in saving them. She built a house and had a room dedicated for those women when the police and gangs raided her house in searching for them. To better protect the women Donaldina Cameron decided to have the room sealed, therefore she may guarantee their safety. A fire broke out one evening, and since the room was sealed. Unfortunately many of those who dwelled in that sealed room also had their lives sealed away. The house still stands on the hills of Sacramento St in Chinatown. The house has been reconstructioned where it serves as a club for many young Asian teens. The house is still known as Cameron House as well still dwells the lost spirits of the innocent who losted their lives in the flames.                                           
http://www.examiner.com/grandparenting-in-san-francisco/tales-of-san-francisco-ghosts-and-hauntings


There are far more trails of hauntings of San Francisco. It seems as though many disasters, crimes, unsolved mysteries, and wrongful deaths keeps the spirits "alive" revisiting the present when all had occured in the past. On my next blog I will continue to reveal more haunted areas of San Francisco. To be quite honest I have visited some of these areas and to my belief some of these sites seems to have an exsitence of another "energy" I can not describe. However, there is one site in which I am skeptical of. Stow Lake to me seems like an urban legend where the story is so old where it has been passed from one generation to another. When stories are passed down very often the facts are turned or over exaggerated where there are only few parts of it which might be true. The fact that the story was printed in the Chronicle does add some ingredients in validating its story.

Case Study: 0407.2011 My Hauntings II

Recalling from my previous post, I revealed one of my earliest paranormal experience. Despite the fact that I did not actually encounter that incident, it still left me a mark which opened my curiosity with the paranormal. Tonight I will disclose one my personal encounter with the paranormal. This incident haunted me when I was a child and quite frankly still today. I can not remember vivdly what had occured, so please excuse the details. I will, however provide to you the best of my knowledge in what I remember. Before I reveal to you my experience I would like to provide to you some basic facts detailing the views of the Chinese paranormal. In the Chinese beliefs of paranormal, spirits are divided by several types. There is the evil, the kind, the hungry, the lost, the sick, the lust, and the trickster. There are much more, but these are the few that seems to be well known in the Chinese paranormal. In the Chinese tradition, it is said that when someone passes away he or she will return in seven days after their death in visiting their love ones as a formality to say their last farewell before they pass on to the other side. The kind and the hungry spirits are usually these spirits that returns to say their farewells. If unfortunattely a person sees a spirit during its return, you should never say hello or acknowledge their presence for if the spirit sees; they would not pass on and dwell in the human world. This is unfortunate for the spirit because they need to pass on to the other side for reincarnation. If they dwell in the human world, the spirit would become a lost spirit, one of the types I have mentioned. The spirit who returns in saying their farewell is also considered to be a hungry spirit. In the Chinese tradition an alter is set up in respecting the one who passed away.



 Within the alter their is a bowl of rice with one incense inserted in the center of the rice. Surrounding the rice bowl there are fruits, cakes, and dishes of their favorite foods. All of that is consumed by the spirit after the farewell before they cross over to the other side. This is considered their last meal.
My experience with the paranormal is related to a relative who had passed away when I was five years of age. This incident once again took place in the apartment I disclosed in my previous post. If you had forgotten, the apartment is located on the hills of Chiantown, on Jaskson St. What I am about to disclose is a bit strange in which some of you might find ways to argue what had occured. As I mentioned from my earlier posts. You are entitled to what you believe, all of my posts are just my interest and exploration of the paranormal.

Wednesday evening, bordering between 7:30pm to 8:00pm my mother and I were having our meal. We usually have our meals earlier in the evening, but my mother insisted to wait for my brother and father's return from an apartment of our relative which was not far away located at the foot of Chinatown, on Kearney St. During that evening, I learned that a relative of mine had just passed away, which explained why my brother and father has not return for quite some time. My brother and father along with my aunt and uncle was at the apartment of my deceased relative in removing and dismantling her furnitures. It is a old Chinese tradition to remove all furnitures that once belonged to ones who has passed. My relative passed away in her bed due to illness, therefore my family must dismantle the bed along with other furnishes she owned. When all was finished my brother and father returned home. It was quite late, and I was already sound asleep, so I am uncertain of what time they returned.

Unknown time, only certain it was passed midnight, therefore Thursday; I recall myself removing from my bed. I shared a room with my brother, a bump bed in which I was stationed at the bottom and him above. Our room was directly across the kitchen, about two steps away from the living room, and five steps away from my parent's room. No one heard my foot steps, for I assume everyone was tired from arriving home late. I could vaguely remember myself walking to the refrigerator and slowly opening it. After that all seemed like an illusion.
 

Thursday morning, bordering between 7:00am and 7:30am, I recall school session beginning around 8:30am, therefore my brother and I are usually waken by the voice and tapping of my mother's hand. That morning was unusal. I did wake from the voice of my mother, but it was her voice not directed for my brother and I for school. My father and mother were arguing in the kitchen, and being that I was waken and groggy, I did not know what had happened. I just knew that I heard them talking quite loud for 7:00am in the morning. I slowly attempted to remove myself from my bed. Still laid down with my blanket above me I felt a heavy article above my chest. With my fingers I reached for what was underneath my blanket, an oily substance resided my finger tips. I stared at my blanket and around my chest area were residues of oil stains. I was not shocked or scared, but just curious of what was on top of me. I lifted the blanket and a plate of chicken rested on top of my chest. The chicken was what my mother and I had for dinner the night before. The plate was still rather full because as I mentioned earlier my mother and I were the only two who had dinner. My brother and father did not come home til late, so they did not ate too much of what was left. I walked out of my room and presented the plate of chicken to my mother and father. Their argument stopped eruptly. They stared at what was on my hand. They asked how and why did I have the plate of  chicken. I did not have an answer. The arguement my parent's had was concerning the chicken.My mother had planned to pack the left overs for my father as lunch, but when she discovered the missing plate, that completely shocked her. What shocked her even more was how I was able to reach for the plate and not have a single piece of chicken fall to the kitchen floor. I was short, small. and weak. How could I have placed a full plate of chicken on top of my chest and have the blanket cover over me and not have one fall onto the floor in my room. On top of that I had a small plate of sauce besides me like I was having a meal of my own.

Through the years my father never disclose to me what he "knew" was the reasoning for what had occured. Many years later he then told me the tradition of passed away spirits, of how they return for their last meal and say farewell to thei love ones. He was skeptical of what had happened, trying many ways to debunk what occured, finding another possible explanation for the incident. He tried many ways of looking at it, and at the end one reasoning he could not reason out was the return of my passed away relative. How she came back to say farewell to all of us and had her last supper before she moved on to the "other world."