Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "placerville"

Historic City Cemetery tour to celebrate Black History

2012-02-09T02:27:21Z

The Old City Cemetery Committee, in conjunction with the Sojourner Truth Multicultural Arts Museum in Sacramento, will offer a free tour of the Historic City Cemetery at 10 a.m. on Feb. 18 to honor Sacramento’s black pioneers.

“We’ll be featuring a dozen or so fascinating people from Sacramento’s history who were African-American or who affected their experience,” said Dr. Bob LaPerriere, founding member of the Old City Cemetery Committee.

Several guest docents from the Sojourner Truth Museum will be positioned along the tour to speak about Sacramento’s black pioneers. Eric Bradner, volunteer docent with the Old City Cemetery Committee, will lead the tour. Among the stories he will feature are those of five people Bradner said he discovered this year as a result of his research.

All five were members of the Colored Convention, an anti-slavery organization that sought to give black people the right to testify in a court of law.

Each docent will present information and history about "Negro trail blazers" who now rest at the cemetery, Bradner said.

Black barbers played a key role in the abolition movement, he said, and their graves are part of this tour. It was one occupation black men were allowed to do at the time, and one that was often performed by East Coast-educated doctors and lawyers who were unable to find work in their chosen professions.

“Barbers had a secret code, akin to the Underground Railroad,” Bradner said. He said people would pass along information through barbers about people who tried to settle in the area with slaves, and it would eventually get to abolitionists in Sacramento or San Francisco.

Also featured will be a “buffalo soldier” – a black soldier who fought in the Civil War and an opera singer named Anna Madah (Hyers) Fletcher.

Edwin Crocker, a well known abolitionist who acted as the attorney for Archy Lee, the famous fugitive slave, will be visited on tour as well, Bradner said.

Nelson Ray, along with his wife and son, is buried at the cemetery and their story will be presented by William “Malik” McDaniels, guest docent from the Sojourner Truth museum. The members of the Ray family were enslaved in Missouri in the early 19th century, but became separated following the death of the plantation owner.

Although Ray’s son was believed to be between 5 and 10 years old when he was sold to another slaveholder in Texas, the family was reunited decades later in Placerville, where they mined for gold, McDaniels said.

Tour attendees can expect to learn about a man who was among those who sat on the first all-black jury in Sacramento. Also buried at the cemetery is a man who ran an all-black boarding house and a restaurateur, Bradner said.

“We tell stories about people,” Bradner said, adding that it won’t be a boring history lesson. “There are so many great stories in that cemetery.”

The tour should last about one hour and is free, but donations are welcome and will go to repair broken tombstones, LaPerriere said.

The Old City Cemetery Committee conducts free monthly tours of the cemetery on many subjects. The history of labor in Sacramento will be highlighted later this year, Bradner said. Lantern-light tours are conducted three times each year, and private tours can be arranged for various prices.

The Historic City Cemetery is located at 1000 Broadway. Parking is available across from the cemetery on 10th Street.

For a full list of events, click here.

Man on the street: Thanksgiving edition

2011-11-23T03:03:50Z

The short, brisk days and the warm, fall colors in the trees remind us that the holidays are fast approaching. With Thanksgiving upon us, The Sacramento Press went to the streets to ask, “What should Sacramento be thankful for?”

“All of the trees,” said Debbie Isley, 59, a retired real estate agent from Placerville. “And the water.”

Isley, originally from Southern California, said she appreciates how green the area is, especially after living in the desert for many years.

For those native to the area, the answers change a bit. Carolyn Gamble, a retired state employee from Carmichael, has lived in the Sacramento area her entire life.

“Sacramento supports everything here,” said Gamble, 65. “It’s a very supportive town."

For Lisa Larimore, a teacher from Davis, it’s all about the food.

“Sacramento should be thankful for all of the really good restaurants,” said Larimore, 48. She listed Elephant Bar and The Cheesecake Factory among her favorites.

Randy Boyle, 59, is originally from Oklahoma, but moved here many years ago for work. Although he has lived in Hawaii, the Midwest and all over California, he said this part of the world is his favorite.

“The great weather and the proximity to all things outdoors,” said Boyle, a manager at UPS from Vacaville. “There are not many places where you can water ski and snow ski on the same day.”

Boyle also said the importance of being the state capital is a reason for Sacramento to be thankful.

For Ericka Landero, 20, a retail associate from Antelope, Sacramento is a place for possibilities.

“I think Sacramento should be thankful for the many opportunities we have in life,” said Landero.

What do you think Sacramento should be thankful for? Please let us know in the comment section below.

Sactown Rundown - August 18-24

2011-08-17T23:52:31Z

I’ve missed you too, Sactown! All of the letters and emails encouraging and pleading for the return of the Rundown have all been very comforting – as has my own laughter at the sheer ridiculousness of that statement.

Ego-tripping aside, it’s good to be back with the "redheaded cello" version of the Rundown (wait for it…).

This is definitely the time of year when we start to lament the pending end of summer and the compression of the local concert calendar.

We ain’t there yet…

Toad the Wet Sprocket –Parents weren’t sure if the band name was inappropriate or just plain weird when their kids started going nuts over songs like “All I Want” in the early ‘90s. Twenty years later, they still might not be convinced (and neither are we), but you have to tip your cap to bands like them that shimmied through the plateau of ‘90s alternative pop, commandeered by R.E.M. and supported by the Sister Hazels and Edwin McCains, and still had the drive to reunite in the late ‘00s and get things going again. Singer/songwriter Glen Phillips has long been the backing force of the group, and his buddy-buddy relationships with the like of roots performers Nickel Creek and Grant-Lee Philips (no relation) will tell you that the mosaic of his talent goes far beyond the limitations of the “Nirvana’s gone, now what?” of the mid-decade 1990s. 8 p.m. Thursday. Harlow’s, 2708 J St. $30. 21+. www.harlows.com.

Zoe Keating – Some would call her a one-woman chamber ensemble. Others would call her a delightfully avant garde indie sensation. Some may call her a back alley hipster’s dream, and others (OK, just me) might refer to her as the subdued female version of That1Guy. Whatever you call her, there’s no denying that San Francisco-based Zoe Keating is one of a kind. It’s just her, her cello, some red dreads, a laptop, and a dream, as Keating uses a creatively orchestrated string of loops and effects to turn her vintage crafted cello into a modern sound machine. She’s like the clean-cut virtuoso soloist at the top of her game that was offered a beer and a cigarette by the shady kids making music in their garage, and she never looked back. Keating is as well known for throwing concerts and experimental music smorgasbords in her San Francisco warehouse space as she is for pulling lusciously alluring melodies out of her cello and spinning them to her liking, tradition be damned. 7:30 p.m. Friday. CSA Event Center, 1275 Starboard Dr., West Sacramento. $17. All ages. www.brownpapertickets.com; www.sblentertainment.com.

Sister Crayon with Exquisite Corps and Two Sheds – If there was ever a show without a true headliner, this has to be it; especially considering these three have headlined shows a-plenty in this town over the last few years. Sister Crayon tops the bill, probably because they’ve had the biggest out-of-Sac breakout of any of the three; that, and lead singer Terra Lopez has enough internal firepower and vocal heat to burn the place down after their set, so it’s just as well the other two get to play first. Exquisite Corps is arguably Sactown’s hottest band right now, a refined wrecking ball of classically-laced indie rock, speared by Bryan Valenzuela’s maniacal vocals and Krystyna Taylor’s flying locks of red hair that color-match the finish on the cello she so effortlessly shreds. And let’s not forget Two Sheds, the narco country blues and rock project of vocalist Caitlin Gutenberger and her husband Jon (of Far, Jackpot and Milwaukee), which also gets help from the always locally popular Rusty Miller (Jackpot) and James Finch Jr. Country blues, classical indie and electronic whomp all in the same show? The pizza next door will cook itself. 8:30 p.m. Friday. Luigi’s Fungarden, 1050 K St. (MARRS Building). $10. All ages. Facebook event page.

Poor Man’s Whiskey – OK, even the hardcore bluegrass fans would have to admit that the “pickin’ on” style bluegrass tributes and hillbilly covers of rock and hip hop stars are starting to get really old (anyone remember that “Gin & Juice” bluegrass cover that went around in the earliest days of Napster, that everyone thought was Phish, but was actually the Gourds?). But when San Francisco outfit Poor Man’s Whiskey set out to do a start-to-finish bluegrass/rock tribute to “Dark Side of the Moon” (deliciously dubbed “Dark Side of the Moonshine”), the results were impossible to ignore. All you have to do to avoid pigeonholing this magnanimous outfit as cover jockeys is pop in disc two and have a listen to their foot-stomping originals and bluegrass ditties piled high with electric guitars, drums and Hammond blasts. They can’t help being a bluegrass band, and they will never apologize for being a rock and roll outfit; they also couldn’t help turning a story about driving up to a bar on Highway 1 into one of the most beautiful and epic country blues songs ever written in “Easy Come.” The recent departure of Eli Jebidiah is a big loss, but the inclusion of Sean Lehe (of Izabella) is highly encouraging. Poor Man’s Whiskey are the main attraction and will be playing a riverfront stage at the Whiskey River Music Festival, which also has river rafting trips and camping packages built into it. Music at 6 p.m. Saturday. Nugget Campground, 6045 Rafters Ln., Placerville. www.wildrivertrips.com.

Prieta with t he Snobs and Sexrat – We’ve got your Sunday Funday right here. Here’s all you need to know: Three of Sac’s best rock bands, with the Trees and Horseneck kicking in the jams. It’s free. It’s in the afternoon. It’s the Midtown Cocktail Week closing party. DJ Shaun Slaughter holding it down as well. Go order yourself a Golden Bear pitcher and dig in. 4 p.m. Sunday. The Golden Bear, 2326 K St. Free. 21+. Facebook event page.

Mark Your Calendars – Incubus – Yep, Incubus. Yep, Raley Field. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. Is it too much to hope that they'd bring back the funk metal? October 11. Raley Field, 400 Ballpark Dr. $40. www.ticketmaster.com.

If you are planning or promoting a concert in the Sacramento area, or just know of a show you’d like to see featured in the Rundown, shoot me an email.

For a complete listing of Sacramento area music happenings, check out Ann Freeman-Clement’s Concerts, Music Events and the Local Music Scene every Friday on Sacramento Press.

Tollywood movie shoots in Sac

2010-12-08T03:13:17Z

An Indian film company spent some time in Sacramento recently shooting scenes for a love story, with Capitol Mall standing in for the streets of San Francisco and Placerville standing in for Brazil.

Wide Angle Creations is a production company based in South India, whose film industry, Tollywood, is the counterpart to North India's Bollywood.

The company came to Sacramento to work on the film "180," which features Siddharth and Priya Anand. Siddharth, who goes only by his first name, is also in Disney's first Southern Indian movie "Once Upon a Warrior."

In "180," he stars as a successful San Francisco-area doctor who falls in love, marries and encounters trials and tribulations in life.

Like many Indian movies, "180" is a musical romance. Some of the singing may have happened in Sacramento, but Kris Hemenway, a line producer for the movie, couldn't go into too much detail.

"They have done little pieces of song just about everywhere they've gone," Hemenway said Tuesday.

Scenes have been shot in India and Malaysia. But the film takes place mainly in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The name Tollywood is said to predate Bollywood and was reportedly coined in 1932 by an American engineer who introduced talkies to India. “Tollywood” was his name for the budding film industry located in Tollygunge, a suburb of Calcutta or Kolkata in West Bengal.

In the same way that Kolkata is exotic to U.S. residents, California is mysterious and alluring to those living in India.

In addition to the Bay Area, other Northern California cities and the region’s natural beauty are also highlighted, from honeymoon scenes shot in South Lake Tahoe to rescue scenes shot on the American River in Coloma.

"We're kind of their exotic locations," Hemenway said. "They shot from San Francisco to South Lake Tahoe and probably got (some of the most) beautiful places on the planet."

The movie is set for release early next year in Tamil, Telugu and English in theaters in India and the United States.

Sacramento's Capitol Mall plays a pivotal role at the start of the movie. On Nov. 28, a quiet Sunday after Thanksgiving, Sacramento Police closed down the entire mall and the crew set up wrecked cars and police cars for a car accident scene where the movie's lead woman meets the doctor she later marries.

The accident allegedly takes place in San Francisco, and the Emerald Tower at 300 Capitol Mall doubles as the woman's workplace. The director really liked the look of Capitol Mall and the striking fall colors there, Hemenway said.

The production company chose to shoot some scenes in Sacramento and El Dorado County because of the locations themselves and because the people here are so friendly, Hemenway said.

"Sacramento PD - they are phenomenal," said Lucy Steffens, head of the Sacramento Film Commission. "They are one of our best resources when it comes to filming."

At least 50 to 70 extras were used here. Cast and crew returned to Sacramento last Saturday to shoot scenes in the Old City Cemetery. Cast and crew dined in Target's parking lot. The director worked hard to keep nearly 40 Sacramento County Jail inmates and their orange jumpsuits out of camera range while they worked in the cemetery, Steffens said.

Many scenes were shot throughout El Dorado County. Various locations there have appeared in dozens of movies, including a river scene in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." The area has stood in for more exotic locations at other times as well, with Highway 50 posing as Europe's Autobahn in car commercials and Placerville depicted as Japan in "Memoirs of a Geisha," said Kathleen Dodge, executive director of the El Dorado Lake Tahoe Film & Media Office.

Placerville was a strong candidate for location shooting for the recent movie "Knight and Day" starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, but the crew shot those scenes in the Los Angeles area instead, Dodge said.

So perhaps it's not such a stretch to hear that historic downtown Placerville is playing Brazil in "180." Other scenes were shot in a private home, Chuck's Restaurant in Placerville, El Dorado Hills Town Center and more.

"We're all complaining about how our money's leaving the country," Dodge said. "Here's a situation where we're bringing money in from another country. It doesn't get any better than that."

Photo of Old City Cemetery by Chris Fryer. Photo of 300 Capitol Mall by Suzanne Hurt, a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Sister and brother filmmakers work to make second film in Placerville – Utilize new fundraising site for grassroots artists

2010-11-03T17:38:43Z

Honored at film festivals nationwide, the independently produced and locally filmed “Elsa Letterseed,” has far exceeded its modest beginnings.

Gathering up no-longer-needed clothes, books and other items collecting dust in closets, Northern California sister and brother duo Sarah C. Kreutz and Paul A. Kreutz funded their first film project’s tiny budget on garage sales.

Over the course of two years, the funds needed were raised while filming took place in Placerville over three-day weekends.

“Garage sales are probably not the most conventional way to fund a film, but we were eager to get the project off the ground, and the timing was right. We had to get creative to raise money,” Sarah Kreutz said.

Six years later, the Kreutzes are gearing up to make their second film – a ghost story called “Gardner & Wells.” Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s philosophy “You can get an audience worried terribly without any violence,” Sarah Kreutz said she wants to make a “classic gothic ghost story.”

“I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that I want to see a ‘frightening’ movie, but I don’t want to see blood and gore,” Sarah Kreutz said.

As with the first film, the Kreutzes have chosen Placerville, a town with many of its own ghost stories, to be the filming site. Sarah Kreutz said independent filmmaking in the Sacramento region is unique: “People here are not jaded by movie-making. The process is still fresh and exciting to them. From acquiring locations to getting permits, most everyone is so very helpful.”

But when it comes to funding this project, the Kreutzes are going a different direction this time around. Like many grassroots artists, they are utilizing social media and the threshold-based pledge website kickstarter.com.

Kickstarter facilitates the gathering of funds to back a variety of creative arts projects through a new type of fundraising platform dubbed “crowdfunding.” The project creator determines a target minimum of funds and a deadline by which the funds must be raised. People who want to support artistic endeavors pledge whatever amount they choose.

If the project creator’s target amount is not reached by the set deadline, no money is collected or distributed. According to the Kickstarter website, the “all-or-nothing” funding approach involves less risk for everyone involved and motivates people to work to get their projects funded.

"We know there’s a chance we will run up against the deadline to fund the project, but we want to spread the word about our feature film to a large audience because we know this is a fun ghost story they'll want to see. This was the way to do that,” Sarah Kreutz said.

To date, more than 3,000 projects have been funded through Kickstarter. One example of local success: In September, Walking Spanish, a Sacramento-based independent rock band, funded its second album by raising $10,405 – 104% of its goal.

The Kreutzes need to raise $12,500 to subsidize the creation of “Gardner & Wells.” They’ve raised 91 percent of their goal and have 11 days left to raise the remaining $1,045. Their deadline is 4:56 p.m. Nov. 14.

“I grew up watching spooky movies and love watching ghost stories on a rainy afternoon, but there are very few modern stories available. I really believe there is a huge audience out there hungry for what we want to give them: a classic gothic ghost story,” Sarah Kreutz said.

For more information on “Gardner & Wells,” click here. To learn more about Kickstarter, visit kickstarter.com.

September's Second Saturday

2010-09-13T19:54:41Z

This month’s Second Saturday ended on a bad note. Although the details are not known, as of this writing, a shooting took the life of 24 year old Victor Hugo Perez Zavala. Second Saturday has grown in popularity these past few months and crowds have also increased. Over 10,000 people show up to shop, admire art, eat, drink, listen to local bands and socialize during the Second Saturday event.

The Second Saturday venue gives local artists a chance to show off their art where otherwise they would not get such an opportunity. This event has been so popular that similar events take place in Folsom, Roseville, Placerville and other areas surrounding Sacramento.

September’s ending to Second Saturday leaves a bad taste and hurts businesses around the Midtown area. This popular event has been a catalyst in keeping local economy prospering. It hurts local artists who look forward to acquiring available space to show off their beautiful art. This type of tragedy hurts everybody involved.

September’s Second Saturday has expanded where now block parties are held to showcase our local artists and allow local fund-raising activities for clubs such as this weekend’s Midtown Community Festival held to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Sacramento. This festival allowed the raising of approximately $20,000 for the club. Local bands played and activities were held for kids.

One of my favorite local bands, One Eyed Rhyno, played a long set here and I think years into the feature they can look back at this event as one of the catalyst events that helped launch their early career. Andrew, Elaine and James put on a fantastic show. I chatted with Elaine and James’ mom for a little while as she taped their performance. Actually, today I saw 4 bands whose members were in High School or grades below. Mrs. Hunter was not the only parent who attended their children’s performance and I have noticed that many parents take an active interest in their children’s musical growth. One Eyed Rhyno put on quite a show as always. I saw them last week at the annual Chalk It Up event at Fremont Park and every time I’ve seen them they do something different enough where they’re not putting on the same show.

Further down the street between 20th and 21st Streets, off of J and K, the City of Sacramento Scottish Pipe Band put on a show and girls in costume danced to their music. Over in front of the 20th Street Art Gallery the Linda Bracamonte Band played a set. Other musicians were stationed at various other places throughout Midtown.

I also got a chance to pass by the Kings on L Street store front where Francisco Garcia was signing autographs. I stopped and chatted with him in Spanish for a couple of minutes. As we chatted, people came around to say hi and get his autograph. He was very pleasant and signed every request. Inside the store Sacramento Kings tickets and other merchandise was being sold.

Several other bands that had played at last weekend’s Chalk It Up performed in front of City Bicycle Works on K Street. This was the first time I’ve seen The Trees perform and I was very impressed. They played mostly cover songs and pleased the audience in attendance. As The Trees finished their set I walked back with some friends to their place on P Street but by the time I got back to City Bicycle Works Simpl3jack had finished their set and I was very disappointed since they’re becoming one of the best bands in Sacramento and they put on an energetic set. At the Chalk It Up performance last weekend their lead singer lost his voice and reluctantly they cut their performance short.

Dog Party played the last set of the night and again they delighted the audience. I’ve been following their progress over a year now and I continue to be impressed as to how far their progress has come. Their original tunes mixed with cover songs (my favorite right now is Los Angeles by X) are very striking. A lot of music comes from the Giles sisters and if you haven’t seen them perform I would suggest looking them up on their MySpace page and catch one of their upcoming shows.

Listening to some of these bands with young performers I tend to think of the Seattle scene of 15 years ago when so much rich music came out of there. Who knows maybe in the next few years the same can happen with some of our local bands. I believe we have some extraordinary talent that, in the not too distant future, will put Sacramento on the musical map.

As I was passing by the Sugar Plum I heard some music coming from their back patio. The Sub-Fobias were playing some hard core head banging music. This was another band that I had not heard play before and I should have kept some extra ear plugs. Their punkish sound was loud and they have reason to be proud. Their raw excess energy flowed to the audience and they put on quite a show. As they finished their set I could already hear the ringing in my ears. At the same time I committed their name to memory and I’ll be following their progress as they play in the Sacramento Area.

On Saturday art came second to the music on September’s Second Saturday.

Photos:

1 to 4 - One Eyed Rhynos,

5 to 7 and 8 - City of Sacramento Scottish Pipe Band, Hula demo

9, 10 - Linda Bracamonte Band, Francisco Garcia

11, 12 - The Trees (drummer not pictured)

13, 14 - Dog Party

15, 16 - Sub-Fobias

Mentally ill Woman Shot to Death

2010-04-05T16:01:56Z

Mental health patient Linda Carol Clark was shot to death by a Placerville police officer last week after she stole an ambulance from Marshall Hospital and was followed by police. Witnesses said Clark was in a hospital gown and appeared confused. When she finally did stop, she put the ambulance into reverse and rammed three police cars. At this point, the officer shot Clark.

One witness said that he did not hear the police ask her to step out of the vehicle before shots were fired.

Clark called the police several times from November to February, once claiming that an intruder was trying to cut off her legs. It seemed as if she were suffering from some sort of mental illness and might not have received the help she needed.

A story in The Sacramento Bee said “the real culprit in this tragic, senseless death – the state's collapsing mental health infrastructure.”

I wonder how many more deaths have to occur before access to quality mental health care is considered crucial?
I called Sen. Darrell Steinberg’s office Thursday and spoke with a staff member who said that she was sure Steinberg would not leave the mentally ill with no place to go because of the proposed budget cuts. If enacted, several mental health clinics in Sacramento County will close, affecting thousands.

What is it going to take for these politicians to wake up and listen? How many more people have to end up without proper mental health care? How many will have to DIE?

THE GLEN MOREY HOUSE GIVES UP HER SECRETS

2009-11-30T20:05:33Z

By
The Celebrities Psychic
NANCY BRADLEY

The spirit sprinted in front of me, seemingly without a care in the world. She looked back at me several times, smiling, inviting me to follow. But on this day she did not want to go inside. As I went to open the door she disappeared, back into the yard, poof and gone. I guess the active young one was suddenly bored with me and had other interests to pursue. I hoped our time together was not over for this trip. She is a lovely child of about three years old and full of energy. She is gone in life but still hanging around. She lived here once, enjoys the garden. But then, who wouldn’t?
The Glen Morey Country House was built in 1859, and today as a bed and Breakfast, hosts Scottish hospitality. The one story estate is surrounded by 1.6 acres of wooden glen, which provides just the right atmosphere for ghosts, spirits, goblins (If you are so inclined to believe) living breathing woodland creatures and otherwise, just right for paranormal activity. Situated high on a hill overlooking the old section of Placerville, (Old Hangtown) in Northern California, the place is a case in history all right. We were contacted not long ago by the current owners, Alison and Tom Loeprich because of the strange activity they and their guests were having inside their building. Having just given birth to a new baby, Alison thought it a good idea to find out just who is hanging around the place in spirit, and to make certain they are friendly. Shush! Don’t wake the baby. We were on the case!
According to Danielle Carpenter, heading this investigation for GOLD RUSH GHOSTS PARANORMAL INVESTIGATIONS, and a major investigator with our crew for our television show INVESTIGATING THE UNKNOWN WITH GRG, she found the following interesting through her research “The website for the establishment is www.placervillebedandbreakfast.com, however, the name of the Inn is actually the Glen Morey Country House, B&B Inn. Glen Morey was one of the old owners in the 1800s.”
Historically the house was originally an old farm house owned by Dr. Isaac “Seba” Titus M.D. He owned the home from 1859-1872. A respected practicing physician in Placerville, he was, sadly, even with all his medical knowledge of the day, unable to save two of his children from death and they died in the home. Little Mary Titus died 5/18/1865 at the age of three, and her brother Albert Titus, born 1/6/1866 died as an infant 5/1/1866. Ah the little girl!
The farmhouse was then sold to G.E. Morey in 1872. Three generations of Morey’s lived in the house. G.E Morey died here on the premises 7/25/1889, and his wife Ellen (3/15/1835 -4/1/1908) took her leave of this world in her bedroom in the house. From there the little farmhouse changed hands several times. Seven years ago the Loeprich family fell in love with the house, purchased it, and renamed it the Glen Morey Country House to honor the Morey Family that lived there, and to honor their Scottish heritage with the Glen.”
Things should by rights be calm and accounted, but there is more! We know that in 1910 an addition was built onto the old farmhouse. The current Inn owners made the decision to live in this newer section of their Inn and they sometimes rent out 2 of the other rooms. They quickly started hearing stories from folks of strange things happening, activity of unknown origin, right there in their addition, as well as in the original part of the building. Charting the stories and accounts, they noted that the most often talked about activity was in the shared dining and living area, part of the original 1859 home. Folks staying at the Inn had stories to tell. Considering this part of the house, the owners tell us they are particularly interested in the Inverness Room. Tom Loeprich has had several of his own experiences there, such as hearing voices when nobody was awake in their home. He wondered if they could have come from outside. But this late at night? And where would they have come from? Logical explanations were explored. Guests have also seen a woman dressed in white in the rooms, and heard doorknobs jiggling. Upon inspecting, the owners saw no guests there, at least not from OUR world!
Back to the addition, the owners talk of hearing footsteps to their bedroom in the middle of the night. When they come to the door to investigate it stops. “It is not uncommon to get up in the middle of the night to see who it is only to find nobody is awake” Alison told us. Alison thinks that the woman in white was/is Ellen Morey after all she did die in bed right here at her lovely farmhouse. Obviously we needed to find out if she was in a while nightgown at the time of her death. As I said before, two of the Titus children also passed away here. Could all this activity be imprints, simply ghostly activity of when they were there? Or are we dealing with spirit activity, those passed on that would like to communicate with us? Maybe both!
I had seen the little girl on an earlier visit, cute, vivacious, and clearly comfortable in her surroundings. She told me her name was Mary so she is clearly the child of Dr. Titus. She is a bubble of happiness. She is a spirit who sprints, a lovely entity.
Our organization set up our investigation for 4:00 pm on Sunday March 15th, and it did not disappoint. For all of you that are serious paranormal investigators, we know that statistically only one in about 8 to 12 investigations proves to have activity. Others unfortunately must be discounted for many reasons, electric sockets offering false readings and other things clearly associated and originated within this planet not elsewhere. We relate with Tom Loeprich, as our first job is to look for the obvious. Whenever we can find logical explanations once examining the evidence of possible paranormal activity, we have to sometimes sadly burst bubbles. That is what we do we are an honest organization, which is why we are generally called on to be first on the scene of possible strange occurrences. It’s a slippery slope, sometimes our job is not a popularity contest. We are most aware that sometimes over zealous or heart-felt vulnerable folks are looking and hoping for activity. Our job is to give folks clarity, hope, and truth with as little stress as possible.
To be fair, spirits move around as we do, sometimes you can investigate a site and get nothing, and then go back and something appears of unknown origin. Sometimes in an investigation you become so energized by activity you set another time to go back, only to be disappointed by lack of spirit participation. This investigation proved to be a slam-dunk! Not only do we have spirit activity, we have ghostly imprint as well, an investigators dream!
With us on this investigation besides Carpenter were investigators Liz Harrison, Laura Martucci, Judy Cooper, Bob King and Robert Reppert. Upon entering the building Harrison made the following observations “I was able to pick up high meter readings in the dining room. The cold ectoplasmic activity that I felt was only up to my legs and no higher which would indicate a smaller spirit like a child. The other energies I felt were more intense.”
Martucci initial findings stated “Liz and I picked up a lot of energy in the dining room. The other rooms with the most activity were the bathroom in the St. Andrew room. In the dining room the meter went from 7.0 to 7.2. All through the B&B the EMF readings would jump from 0-8, high numbers, and then back to 0 without our moving it around at all.” Following the spirits around was tricky. “They were moving so fast I could not write the readings down because they peaked like a flash and then went back down again. The spirits were moving in and out. Yet I had the feeling of comfort, not threatening, I felt the place was lovely and welcoming.”
Cooper stated “In the Inverness Room I started feeling high anxiety, which for me means there is energy in the room. The whole place felt peaceful though. There were a lot of cold spots in the Dining Room. I also felt a little extra energy in the baby’s room but again it felt warm, peaceful energy. I feel Alison and her little one can rest easy.”
“In the dining room where Liz, Laura and I felt energy moving all over this room I was able to snap pictures of the orbs” Carpenter said. “It was in the St. Andrews Room where Liz and Laura felt energy and wanted me to take photos. There were orbs in this room as well, and in the bathroom while Liz and Laura were trying to make contact with the spirit. I could also feel the room get colder. The EMF also carried from 0.1 -0.4 around the edge of the bed as well as around the bath tub. The rest of the house was just warm.”
Carpenter was anxious to continue to tell us her feelings. “While I was in the St. Andrews room I got a feeling that there was a little girl in the room. Playful. I connected to this because of the old dress they have hanging on the wall. I also felt there was a child in the living room area watching the owner’s little boy playing with the piano. I took a picture of the little boy there, hoping something to validate would come through.” We shall see.
Well, lets take another look!
Investigators felt a presence in the bedroom occupied by the owners. Upon entering, it was clear I saw the form of a woman in a white nightshirt or nightgown. She was ill, coughing. The nightshirt was loose fitting cotton, fitting tighter at the wrists and then fuller at the hand level. It looked warn and the neck was a V shape. Again, as all nightgowns, it was loose fitting but you could not see through it. I was surprised at this, as it was clear she was sweating, the night shirt was wet with perspiration. On the bed stand there was a porcelain bucket, white with red trim. It is being kept warm, and there is a white rag in it. The woman does not acknowledge us. Obviously at this point we are dealing with a ghostly image, a videotape if you will, a phenomena recorded in time. The woman coughed again and placed her hands over her chest. It was labored breathing, heaving, slowly, up and down. She then turned her head to the wall and expired to a painless place, smile on her face.
Why do we have ghostly activity? Whenever there is an event that is charged, such as death, excitement, confusion, laughter, a strong imprint is left. Everyday events are also measured and kept in some as yet unknown time capsule, which gives great credibility to time warp and travel philosophy, something I will talk about at a later date. So in actuality when you hear the story of the women in the flowing gown in the Victorian mansion, coming down the stairs with the candle in her hands late at night, and people experience her over and over, wearing the same thing, you can be certain you are dealing with an imprint. The woman is not there any longer, the activity of when she was there is what remains. Lets’ look at it logically! WHAT WOMAN IS GOING TO WEAR THE SAME DRESS THROUGH ETERNITY? I rest my case!
Back now to the Glen Morey House I walked to the dining area. Again I can see this woman, and this time she is healthy and walking around. She is dressed in blue, long skirt and white blouse-like top. The skirt is long, you can barely see her shoes but they are black, the toes are pointed. She is scolding a child, a boy, and he is ignoring her. Soon he runs off and she picks up a broom to sweep up what he left behind. Interesting. I know we are dealing with Ellen Morey, this time again, an imprint. Although the crew was able to pick up readings in the St. Andrew Room, it proved to have no activity when I was there. I was surprised to find heavy male energy and male voices in the Inverness Room however. Male voices are heard on the EVP hand meter. Although the voices are muted and low, we shall research these further with our equipment in the office. The smell was of cigar type smoke, musty. A liquor smell was present, brandy was in the air.
In the child’s room however we have the image of the same woman, Ellen Morey, but this time it is clear she has come back as a Spirit. Our EVP reader is able to record her saying “I am helping.” She is a loving spirit. I want to bring the little girl and Ellen home with me, but alas they are quite comfortable here. I will tell the Loeprichs they should let them stay.
As our investigation raps up and I go to put our paranormal equipment in the truck, the sweetness is again in the garden. This time she is circling the statue of a woman, she is having fun. She is coy and makes no acknowledgment of me except to look up and smile. She is a flirt, a Spirit, and a happy one. The current owners have several children that will benefit from the energy of this lovely one.
The crew thanked Alison and Tom for their gracious hospitality, and let them know this has been a wonderful investigation. I will be back on less official business, simply to stay a night for recreation and enjoy the spirits therein. Pleasure this next time will supersede adventure and investigation. You can’t work all the time.

NANCY BRADLEY can be reached at:
WWW.NANCYBRADLEY.ORG
WWW.GOLDRUSHGHOSTS.COM