The SHH ARCHIVES

In 1903 a wealthy business man met and married his young bride. Isaac Gilbere showered Anna with love and gifts, giving her whatever she desired. She was a sweet girl, totally in love with her new husband and grateful for the life he provided for her. On the third anniversary of their marriage,  Isaac gave his wife the most extravagant gift he had given her yet: a flawless red diamond, set in a metal heart to be worn around her neck. “So you know that you have my heart-always.” he wrote in a note that accompanied the gift. She was amazed by the gift and though she rarely wore it, she kept it in a safe in her room, reportedly taking it out frequently to gaze at the sparkling beauty in the candlelit glow of her room. 

Over time, Anna began to leave her room less and less often, preferring the company of her precious necklace to her family or friends, or even her husband. 

Though her husband tried to get her to rejoin society, she refused, growing more and more agitated at him each time. She began to become violent toward anyone who entered her room, claiming that they were there to steal her treasure. Her increasing violence became more than her young husband could handle over the years. She was committed to an insanity ward in the basement of a hospital for “incurable lunatics,” and remained there, receiving the best care possible, for the rest of her tragically short life. The only personal item the hospital permitted her to keep was the necklace, which she clung to day and night, never letting it go even when being bathed. She was found dead in her bed one morning, her face frozen in midscream, her body stiff as a board. The official cause of death was “Fright brought by lunacy.” She was found clutching something in her hand, but when it was pried open, they found not her prized gem, but a large, rotting walnut. The red diamond was never recovered. 

A classic example of a haunted house,  no one has ever been able to uncover the history behind the haunting. SHH has made it our mission to find the reason for the haunting. The Musgrave family has been notorious for turning paranormal investigators away. In fact, they're notorious for turning all of the curious away, preferring to keep the secrets of the manor to themselves. Well, word has it that with the passing of  Silas Musgrave, the house stands empty for the first time in generations. An opportunity for the curious, perhaps? 

James and Emma Walton started a farm in Indiana in the early 1800s. Not long after, Emma passed away in childbirth. James was said to have been a kind but quiet soul, having been broken by the loss of his young wife. He raised his son alone, doing the best he could, and in 1825 built a small farmhouse on his property for his son and new daughter in law. The house was built over Emma’s grave so that James Jr. would always be close to his mother. James Sr. and his son worked the large farm together, every year James jr. taking over more and more of the duties. It wasn’t long after their new home was built that strange things began happening in the house. Objects would move, doors would slam. The wife of the young farmer became more and more fearful that the devil had moved into their new home with them.  James Sr. however, felt he knew what was happening. It was the spirit of his beloved, and he had to be with her. He kicked his son out of the small home and took up residence himself, and over time refused to even leave for short periods of time. James Walton died in that house. James Jr. found his father's body dead at the table over his morning cup of coffee. It was hard on him to find his father that way, but even more unsettling was that at the table where he found his father was a second cup of coffee, drained to the dregs. 

The swamps of Louisiana have long held mystery and allure, filled with the magic of witchdoctors and the practitioners of voodoo, hoodoo, and many other spiritual mediums in between.  Not many paranormal investigators have the fortitude to venture into those swamps, but SHH is not your ordinary investigation service. There is legend of a young, nameless woman kidnapped by a rich rogue, who had a hideout in the swamps. The ma had watched the woman for years and became so entranced by her beauty and charm that he felt he had to have her. She rejected his advances and humiliated, the man swept her away to the swamps, where no one would ever be able to find her. The young woman tried in vain to escape, and finally was said to have called on her hoodoo magic to summon a hellhound to the bayou. The hound chased down the man and viciously shred him to pieces, allowing the woman to escape. However, she lost her way and is said to have perished. Her spirit roams the swamp to this day, her only companion the hellhound who freed her. 

Edward Hanks was a wealthy businessman who enjoyed every bit of his life.  Sparing no expense on drink, food, and all other manner of worldly comforts and adventures, when he wanted something, he got it. His final extravagant purchase was the Blackwood Estate, set on the edge of an expansive forest in the northwest. The forest was said to be home to all manner of spirits, but the Mr. Hanks scoffed at those legends. According to his wife, one evening they were playing a sunset game of croquet when they heard the mournful howling of Porthos, Edward's Irish Setter, out in the forest. Worried about his prized dog, Edward began whistling for him. When the dog failed to appear, Edward sent his wife in for the night and set off into the forest to find him. 

Upon entering their bedroom, his wife was horrified to see Porthos curled up in his bed by the corner.

She ran outside to call for her husband, but the forest had fallen utterly silent. 

The entire household spent the night searching for Edward, but days turned to months and months to years, and Edward Hanks was never seen again.