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Ghostly tales stretch over valley
(by Barbara Christian - October 22, 2008)
WINDOW ON MAIN STREET, BY BARBARA CHRISTIAN
Ghostly tales stretch over valley
Journalists are skeptical by nature, rarely taking anything at face value. Here's an example: The legendary City News Service of Chicago had as its motto, "If your mother says she loves you, check it out."
So that's why it came as a surprise when two local men, both former journalists, got together to write a book about ghosts and other supernatural happenings.
The duo, Michael Seese and William Devol had to suspend their disbelief, because things that go bump in the night are impossible to interview, let alone authenticate.
What will be interesting to most folks hereabout is that the book, titled, "Haunting Valley," tells 58 stories based on anecdotal information from folks who had close encounters of the ghostly kind.
Mike at one time was a reporter for the Chagrin Valley Times, and Bill edited a Bedford weekly newspaper. They obtained some of the stories by word of mouth and in answer to advertisements placed in local newspapers, while others simply fell in their laps.
But if you are looking for names and addresses of the ghostly happenings and their witnesses, be forewarned. The two writers have been careful to protect the identities of those who shared the tales.
It appears that the ghosts and specters written about in "Haunting Valley" are equal-opportunity apparitions appearing to people and in places from every part of the Chagrin Valley. The men have included in the book a map which shows the parameters of the sightings.
If you look with an open mind, you will see a triangle. A "Chagrin Valley Triangle" perhaps? OK, that's a reach. It's shaped more like a kite without a tail. The top point of the kite reaches up to Hunting Valley then spreads in opposition directions, one side to Moreland Hills and the other over to Russell Center. The two sides continue east and meet in Bainbridge at the bottom point of the kite.
These strange and haunting stories have occurred in such mundane places as a Chagrin Falls supermarket, as well as unusual venues like the ghost of the annual Grove Hill pumpkin roll.
"Haunting Valley" was published by the Fireside Book Shop Press, and Mike and Bill are planning to sign copies of their book at Fireside soon.
And is this the perfect time of year for ghost stories or what?
On a personal note, one of the stories included in the 230-page book is from another journalist. This one.
We swear it's true. The entry titled "Put it Back" is about a ghost that is also a thief who makes objects disappear and then reappear on a regular basis around our 130-year-old onetime Methodist Church parsonage. After years of dealing with him or her we have learned this particular ghost -- a mischievous poltergeist is our guess -- just wants to be acknowledged and politely asked for the return of whatever happens to be missing that day. It works like a charm.
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