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How Many Haunted Houses?

© Janice Oberding

Last week there was a discussion here about the number of haunted houses there are in the United States. I believe the number of real haunted houses was given at 752 which totals out to about 15 per state. This can't be accurate when you take in to account the number of cities throughout the country with at least a couple of haunted houses.

Certainly there can be other explanations for strange occurrences aside from the supernatural. Old houses do creak, faulty heating systems have been known to rattle noisily, foraging animals and jokesters in your midst can account for some of the supposed ghostly activity, but not all!

Consider the case of Redd Foxx's home in Las Vegas. The person who purchased the home shortly after Redd's death did not believe in the supernatural. And then the strange incidents started to happen. Doors started slamming of there own accord, there was soft tapping on the wall, and loud footsteps.

Thinking that there had to be an earthly explanation, the owner asked someone else (who also did not believe in ghostly goings on) to come and see what could be made of it. Everything was fine until the sliding glass doors started to open and shut as if by unseen hands. That was enough. A psychic was called in next. After a thorough investigation the psychic determined that Redd was still in residence. It seems that he was having trouble with the IRS and was on the verge of losing his home when he died of a heart attack in 1991.Without further ado, the home was put up for sale. Doubtful it appeared on a list of haunted houses.

Then there are the many homeowners who keep quiet about their ghostly guests. In the last few months I have been told of two very different haunted homes. The first home involves the ghost of a child of about 10 years of age. The ghostly little girl comes into the living room cries a few minutes then turns and vanishes. The owners of this home will not seek the help of a psychic or group. Needless to say this home will never be included in any official haunted house count.

The second home involves a mean spirited ghost who appears in the kitchen, curses loudly, then stomps into nothingness. While the owners of this home say this can be unnerving, they can live with it. They don't want to get involved with any ghost buster type groups. And while this home may not appear in any official tally, it is a haunted house.

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