Thursday, December 31, 2009 New Year Looming

My grandmother used to say "the days drag on and the years fly by". Each year seems to bring a deeper understanding of the meaning.
It has been a year of tribulation, with many facing true hardship. I have been blessed with another year in a happy home, and hope that you are able to reflect on the same.
Raising a glass for prosperity in the New Year, that the able have work and the hungry have food.

Friday, November 20, 2009 Tradegy in US History Museum

It was the late 80's when I stumbled upon the "Tragedy in US History Museum" in St. Augustine, Florida. It was a roadside attraction built on sheer vision, spliced seamlessly into the home of Buddy Hough and his wife. Buddy was the kind of genius who somehow knew to buy the entire contents of Lee Harvey Oswald's boarding room and recreate it in his home. He had the instinct to acquire the ambulance that carted Oswald after Ruby shot him, plus a Lincoln Continental that Kennedy was in 'hours before he was shot'. Buddy also possessed the commitment to reinforce the floor in his home so he could park them in his living room, and a dream was born.

In the backyard he built sheds with plexi walls to house the death cars of Jayne Mansfield and Bonnie & Clyde. Never mind that Jayne's death car was a different make and model than the newspaper clipping about the accident, or that Bonnie & Clyde's might have been a movie prop. Besides, there is a fiberglass cow and Spanish prison with real skeletons to look at.

The Tragedy museum closed in the late 90's after Buddy passed away. His collection was sold off to the relief of the St. Augustine Tourist Board.
The displays weren't always what they claimed to be, but walking through their kitchen looking at shrunken heads and murder weapons while Buddy and his wife watched TV was a genuine experience.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Bride of Old House at Kents Store

A haunted friend recognized the old house from our previous post and sent us a few of their photos of the place. Thanks!!

This shot really shows off the house. Its straight roof line is amazing given the apparent condition of the foundation


Interior shot of a first floor room. The piano is the perfect touch, isn't it?

This shot of a second floor bedroom with one of the collapsed chimneys is distressing. Without intervention this gem will be down soon.


And finally, it is time to play what do you see in the window? Look closely!

Thursday, October 29, 2009 Happy Halloween!!

Thursday, October 22, 2009 The Haunter's Wiper Motor

There have been several posts about using the park switch in the Valeo 15094704 wiper motor (sold by All Electronics but currently out of stock) on the haunt forums lately. Below is the document that is included with the motor from All Electronics.



One source identifies this as the motor used in several 2002-05 GM SUVs.
I don't have any of these motors but located a wiper schematic for a 2002 Envoy and thought they might be helpful if the cross-reference is accurate.

This is a diagram of the wiper motor:



This diagram shows the wiper control switch. It is interesting that the intermittent function is just a matter of varying resistance.



And here is the face of the connector that plugs into the wiper motor. Note that this would be the mirror of the motor pins as they are pictured on the sheet above that comes from All Electronics.

Saturday, September 19, 2009 Saturday Morning Casket Gazing

It always makes me wonder when a friend calls because they saw a casket at a sale and knew I would want to look at it. But of course he was right and it was worth it to see this unusual little gem. The people selling it estimated it at about 125 years old.



The casket is unusually small (at around 5 feet) but larger than a child's coffin. The seller claimed that a small woman had it made for herself but then moved "out west" and did not take it with her.
The details make this specimen special. The removable viewing panel for the head always creeps me out. All of the original coffin screws are present, complete with decorative hardware.



There is some damage but nothing to indicate any serious structural problem. I haven't seen pin striping on a coffin before, and it adds a bizarre flair.



The sticker said $350, and it is probably worth it. When you already have two in storage, you aren't willing to spend that much for the privilege of storing a third. Sure is pretty though.

Saturday, September 12, 2009 Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House!!

In 1962 Disney released "Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House" in glorious Monophonic. Sickie Ickie over at HauntForum had this LP for sale and I had to get it. Way too many hours of my youth were spent listening to this record on an old blue plastic clam-shell record player. In fact I hold this record responsible for my lifelong "Halloween kick" (as my family calls it).

It is cool to see that many folks hold an unhealthy fascination for this record. Check out the 3-D recreation of the album cover by Ray Keim over at Haunted Dimensions.

To listen to the tracks check out DavesWorld56 site.

There is something about listening to raw vinyl. The pops and clicks are something I have sorely missed.

Sunday, August 23, 2009 Maplewood Cemetery

We visited beautiful Maplewood Cemetery in nearby Gordonsville Virginia this weekend.

We visited this beautiful and peaceful place several times while we were dating.
This bench is where I proposed to my dear wife (and she accepted!).

Sunday, August 9, 2009 Rey...a drop of golden sun

It was late and I was corpsing (applying construction adhesive and stain) the deer with bat wings project, when there was a whisper. In an almost imperceptible, sandy voice she said "They call me Rey and I have come to shine darkness across the land." Her talons clicked on the concrete as she hopped to the floor and she was clear of the garage door with just two beats of her wings.
Caroline came running with the camera just in time to get a few shots before Rey disappeared into the night sky.

Monday, July 20, 2009 Up, Up and Awards

Let me open with an apology to say that the delay in posting these awards is no reflection of my appreciation for receiving them.

First I received the THE GOURDQUEENS SCREAM AWARD from the inimitable Crow (Michelle) at the Studio at Crow Haven Farm. I have always loved her stuff so give her a visit.



Those of you who know the Gourdqueen know that when she sees something incredible or something that excites her, she shows her enthusiasm by typing "SCREAM". This award is to be shared with anyone whose blog you just love. Whether it's their art, their interests, the things they share, you just simply love to visit their blog!


This is what you do:
1. Accept the award then post it on your blog with the name and link of the person's blog who shared this award with you.
2. Explain the award.
3. Then share the award with with blogs that make you SCREAM! Please tell what makes their blog so special to you. Be sure to let them know they have received the award.

Also you can share this award again if you run across more bloggers that make you SCREAM!
2 out of 3 ain't a bad start, is it?


Next I was given the UBER AWARD from Jeanne over at Candy Corn Chronicles. I enjoy Jeanne's blog for her art, variety and beautiful pix.
Uber (synonym to Super) Amazing Blog Award is a blog award given to sites who:

~ inspires you
~ makes you smile and laugh
~ or maybe gives amazing information
~ a great read
~ has an amazing design
~ and any other reasons you can think of that makes them uber amazing!


The rules of this award are:
* Put the logo on your blog or post.
* Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing!
* Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog.
* Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.

Thanks to both Crow and Jeanne!! I am a bad blogger for skipping the nominations but I have a winged deer corpse to work on.

Thursday, July 2, 2009 Old House at Kents Store

This beautiful old house is located at Kents Store Virginia. We wanted to share them with you but only had the cell for pictures.

There is a hole at the base of this old tree. A dark something darted into it as we approached. It appeared to be the size of a small child.

We could hear a faint wail if we pressed our ear right up to the opening and stayed very still.

Saturday, June 27, 2009 Deer Corpse In Progress

We FINALLY have some progress to report on our deer corpse.
Two yards of bathing suit liner proved to be a good wing membrane, and the corpsing of the head and body have begun. Much left to do.

Thursday, June 4, 2009 Monster Kiddie Car

This thing is just too much and I had to post it. From a friend who spotted it on boingboing.

Sunday, May 17, 2009 Deer Wing Test

We decided that the deer corpse needed wings. After some consideration we settled on bat wings, and even found a bat wing calculator (you gotta love the internet) from the good people at Zombietronix.
PVC seemed logical and aluminum worked well for the hinge joints. Though it won't be animated we did want to be able to change wing position to fit her mood. As pictured the elbow and finger joints can be individually actuated. Bruin (Boo) thought he could bring some scale to the photo - he's 70 pounds. He even busted out his psychological thriller expression to add depth.

There is much finish work to be done to turn the PVC to bone and we are still debating the best material to use for the membrane.

Sunday, May 3, 2009 A Bone and his Dog

This little ditty from the Post (full article here) was too good to pass up. Professor Gordon S. "Grover" Krantz with his beloved Irish Wolfhound Clyde.


Krantz was a teacher of osteology at Washington State University and dreamed of donating his bones to the Smithsonian. Indeed, other corpses must view him with envy. First his decomposition enthralls the faculty at the Tennessee Body Farm, and now school kids snicker at his bones.

Saturday, April 25, 2009 More Cool Bones

Another gift from a friend - this monster is large enough to encompass your head. It is the pelvis from a cow. It is heavy and the form, texture and scale is difficult to convey with little pictures.