|
Ghost hunting has been a long time favorite activity of thrill seekers, bored students, and 'true believers' for many years. In a typical community, you'll likely find people from all walks of life who engage in some form or "paranormal research," either as a hobby or as an attempt to validate their own beliefs.
Television has recently contributed to a new interest in the field of the paranormal with such "hits" as PSI, Crossing Over With John Edwards, and the syndicated series, "Sightings."
Haunted Sites in Arkansas
The Henslee Bridge
This is the best known of the sites in Arkansas. As the story goes, in the early 1950s, a young woman, on the way to her Senior prom, was involved in a traffic accident and drown in the cold backwaters beneath the old Henslee Bridge. In 1967, a truck driver picked up a young female hitch hiker at the bridge. The young woman, allegedly dressed in a white gown, was drenched and shivering. She asked to be taken to an address in Little Rock.
The driver complied and drove the young woman to the address. Upon arriving, he waited for the young woman to get out of the truck, but she sat, silently. He then walked to the front door and knocked. He was soon greeted by an elderly woman. The driver told the woman of his encounter with the female hitch hiker and asked if she lived there. The old woman closed her eyes tightly and according to the driver, whispered something akin to, "Not again." She then informed the driver that her daughter had been dead for nearly 20 years. Confused, the driver returned to his truck, where he found the young woman gone. In the seat where she had been sitting, was a wilted corsage.
This story, also featured on the program, Unsolved Mysteries, in the mid 70's has been told and retold countless times. Among the other "witnesses" who have encountered the young woman, there is a police officer, a high school principal and a pastor of a large Baptist Church. The good reverend created quite a stir among his flock after relating the account of his own encounter.
The bridge is located on Old Hwy 65 S., just south of Little Rock, a dark and desolate stretch of road, if ever there was one.
St. Raphaels Crematory
Located south of Pine Bluff, Ark, the Crematory has long been a source for spooky tales and weird sightings. The stories are numerous and not altogether consistent, from one witness to the next. Most of the accounts revolve around a large stone statue of St. Raphaels, that stands guard in the cul-de-sac of the crematory's property.
Claims include accounts of the statue turning its head, shedding tears and whispering veiled and oblique warnings. The site is one of the oldest paranormal landmarks in the area and has been "investigated" by several generations of ghost hunters.
The Hudson House
Also in the Pine Bluff area, was the old Hudson house. The scene of a gruesome multiple murder in the 1960s, most of the tales revolve around a massive oak tree that stood in front of the home. Most witnesses claim to have seen the shadow of a man, hanging from the tree, by a long piece of rope. The phenomena has been noted in both full daylight and on moonlit nights. It should be noted that the original murderer did in fact commit suicide by hanging himself from that very tree. The house was torn down in the mid 80's. Sources close to the owners claim that the decision to tear down the home was based on the homes history and the number of ghost hunters who frequented the site.
Jenkins Ferry
Near the end of the Civil war, several battles were fought throughout the State. Among them were the Battles of Pea Ridge, Moro Bay, and Jenkins Ferry. Each of those sites have been subject to investigation by ghost hunters. Jenkins Ferry, a small crossing located on a tributary of the Saline River, is located just south of Sheridan, Arkansas. The stories regarding this particular site seem far more consistent than those of other, similar battle grounds. They center on a family of civilians who were allegedly caught up in the battle and mistakenly killed by Union troops. Among the ghosts who haunt the area is a middle aged man, his wife and two small children.
Numerous witnesses claim to have seen one or all of the family members. Others claim to have heard the woman pleading for the lives of her children.
Watson, Arkansas
Located near the Mississippi River, in Southeastern Arkansas, Watson was once a booming river town. At the turn of the 20th century, Watson boasted of having a thriving community, with 7 saloons and 8 churches. In 1927, the fate of Watson was forever sealed by the Great Flood. That year, both the Arkansas River and the Mississippi rose above the protective levies and literally erased dozens of small communities. The town of Watson, once a community rich with prospects, was reduced to a sand bar and a historical footnote.
The area is now a rich, agricultural district. It's also a little known "super hotspot" of hauntings. Tales of ghosts searching for lost family members, or forever trapped in a terrifying moment in time, abound in this area.
One of the most widely circulated stories is of an old family doctor, named Cook. Dr. Cook allegedly lost his life during the height of the flood while trying to reach wounded survivors in a nearby town. Dozens of witnesses claim to have seen old Doc Cook walking the lonely dirt roads of Deshea County, in an eternal search for the sick and injured.
Are ghosts "real?" If not, then milions of people from across the globe have strangely similar experiences, with no logical explanations. And if they are, what does their existence mean for the "living?" Are we seeing the residual remnants of life or are we being permitted a small glimpse of the "hereafter?" The search for answers continues. As Albert Einstein stated, "Unless we entertain the absurd, we have no hope of achieving the impossible."
|
| |
