Graveyard
Graveyard
By Lorraine Warren, Ed Warren and Robert David Chase
The Sexton’s musings (spoilers are likely):
Continuing with our non-fiction run with Ed Warren, Lorraine Warren and several co-authors that were part of their books. This initial one was first published in 1992 by St Martins Press under the title of Graveyard: True Hauntings from an Old New England Cemetery by Ed Warren.
The Story of Union Cemetery
We’ve visited Union Cemetery before but I feel that we are going to get A LOT more detail on the hauntings here in the Warren’s book. In their introductions, Ed’s being the longest, you can tell that they have a passion for the history of their local community and that they truly love living there. These are people that have traveled all over the world but it seems like the phrase “there’s no place like home” really resides in their hearts. As it turns out, Union Cemetery is right down the road from their home. These stories include historical info, secondhand accounts through the research of records, and firsthand accounts from Ed Warren himself and others.
A Case of Lust and Murder
Apparently the sin of adultery was one that the puritans held as one of the worst. I can understand this as it has a tendency to destroy multiple lives in its wake. In multiple, different ways as well. In their research the Warrens found a story connected with Union that involves a man with adultery in his heart, lusting after another man’s wife, even though she did not share his passion. This alone was enough to destroy the lives of so many. If you want to get a good idea of who this man was I highly recommend the Netflix series “I Am A Stalker”. It’ll give you an idea. Not only was he a stalker but, the man had a history of violence toward women and he had tried to strangle his significant other at one point. It seems that after he dispatched the honorable husband of his obsession. He was plagued by a dark entity. Serves the fucker right if you ask me. A great story, very vindicating.
The Lonely Sexton
I’m going to have to say that perhaps this man was simply happy being alone. I mean society says that communing with others, having families, a successful career (in something that society deems career worthy) and being “normal” is the only way to find happiness. This is a load of BS. Some people just want to be left alone (alone is subjective), some have a very small circle, and some are just not social butterflies. It does sound as though he was depressed and stressed but perhaps moving on from this existence to the next was the best plan for him. Sad and melancholy but also peaceful.
The Haunted Monastery
There are many stories of corrupt holy men, both fact and fiction. Sometimes I feel that the kind of power being a religious leader lends, corrupts even the best of people. People that started with good intensions. Hell it’s worse than politics as sometimes, there are life and death types of scenarios. It does not surprise me that dumb people messing with things that they don’t understand has corrupted a piece of nature. That is the real sin.
The Burning Man
The type of man that they are describing, Marilyn’s husband, it the type of man that I would like some alone time with to teach some manners to. He might not come out of those lessons completely intact but he’d be alive…as long as he behaved himself. Same goes with any entity that bullies others…I can’t fucking stand them! In a way I suppose spirits that torment and possess other are really just bullies…Now I think that perhaps this man was affected by the things lurking around Union but I think that he was also weak minded, as most bullies are. All that machismo is pathetic.
The White Lady
This is interesting and even if you are a skeptic you can’t deny that people that didn’t even know each other described the exact same thing. Part of a scientific study is the ability to reproduce or replicate a result. Well if you have several witnesses telling you the same story, sometimes in the same words, chances are there is truth to it. You know the sad thing is that I feel this particular entity is looking for something that she is never going to find. Depression is not just a living emotion but one experienced by the dead as well. Stuck in that perpetual pit of despair. But it seems that she still has her looks so she’s got that going for her.
Strange Passenger
No insight into who the entities in this chapter are BUT an interesting firsthand story from a man who managed to see not one but two apparitions in one foggy night. His reaction post experience was most interesting. I suppose it makes sense to have a feeling of loss when you have just encountered that dead but this man’s emotional reaction was one that has stuck with him. There is a quote from Lorraine in this chapter that is very interesting to me and I suppose that should I ever have the pleasure/misfortune (depending) to have a paranormal experience I will find out. “Sometimes a paranormal experience gives us an insight into ourselves that we almost can’t handle.” – Lorraine Warren.
Videotaping a Ghost
Interestingly enough this is Ed’s own experience with The White Lady of Union Cemetery. Whom he got on tape is seems. It’s interesting to learn a little bit about their process and how they decide to investigate a location of not. This is not an action pact exorcism or and encounter with a poltergeist but a relatively peaceful one. Well except for those darn pesky shadow entities that seem to be having a perpetual argument with the good lady.
A Visit with the Dead
Ed had another experience of his own at Union. This last story is a very touching one. Brings in all the feels and definitely makes you think. Union is overall a pretty unassuming cemetery. Not one that catches the eye of those passing by but obviously it has an air about it that effects those in a state to be influenced or those that are open to these experiences.
Incidents at Other Graveyards
All of the cemeteries in this second section are still in the New England area on the US. This is after all where the society and the Warrens made their home. At the end of each story either Ed or Lorraine take the time to giving some closing thoughts. It’s a nice structure.
The Man Who Knew Everything
More like the cynical man who acted like a douche nozzle to anyone with different ideas from his own. Really I’m not sure he even had ideas of his own or knew what he really thought or felt about any given subject. It’s sad that he never knew his son because it seems to me that he really wanted the child. Hopefully his mother and “step” father were good to him while he was alive. Seems like a good kid. Probably a miracle that he was since it seems his mother was a raging, gold digging bitch. Never believe the person you are having an affair with when they tell you they are going to leave their spouse. Never gonna happen, especially if they have money. You’re just a bit of fun. The point to the story is actually very touching and I’m glad he got his shit together.
Sexual Demons
Okay allow me to start out with this…bitch it’s not your soul to give! You want to fuck up your own immortality with satanic bullshit you go for it but leave everyone else the fuck alone! These people who take shit that does not belong to them…I can’t fucking stand these people! I understand corruption of the innocent blah blah blah….fuck you bitch! Spread your legs for Satan and call it a night. Leave the kid alone! But how do I really feel you might ask…
Hey read it for yourself…see if you don’t get angry. Lorraine always thinks the best of people so she saw the young woman as possessed or not acting of her own volition, a victim….I on the other had see a greedy, sick child abuser that was using children to satisfy her own sick needs. I envy Lorraine her positive outlook on humanity.
The Unseen Friend
I actually would love to have a friend like Jackie. It would bring me peace. I consider Claire to be very lucky. We all go through times in our lives where we need someone that can actually understand, through firsthand experience, what we are going through. She was just lucky enough to find someone that could do just that. Oh and that pompous, full of himself windbag from Purdue…never trust an academic…I would have smacked him in his fool face. Delusions my fucking ass.
I really do love this story. I think it just goes to show that it’s not all terror and evil. It’s peace and friendship as well. Could this have gone bad had a negative energy latched on to her, yes absolutely. This was not the case however and their relationship was one of support and deep friendship.
Warning from a Banshee
I have to stop right here for a moment (one page into the story)…fuck this woman’s friends! To answer their questions…she was leaving work like a normal person to go home, dark or not, she isn’t going to fucking sleep there. What the fuck good would a rape whistle have done, her screams weren’t even heard. Fuck you people on the husband thing. Even if she were married he would not have fucking been there, being married is not a repellant for rapists, so that comment/question is the dumbest fucking thing I have ever heard in my life. They all need to have their heads examined for slow, or fast leaks! This goes for the rest of the people around her like the students that find it amusing to bully her about the rape, or the bitter, ugly plain bitches that found it satisfying that her light had gone out. Fuck all of you, you are just as bad as the rapists, if not worse! If the rest of this story is true than I think it’s very cool. Too bad all people don’t have someone looking out for them on the regular. I just have to make one comment…she should have run the bastard over.
Speaking with the Dead
It’s funny isn’t it? How we can know people for years, our entire lives and never truly know them for who they really are. This gentleman probably would never have guessed at what his Aunt had done as a teenager (at 18 you are still a child, hell some people are still a child at 40). Considering the times and how she would have been treated the decision she made was not an uncommon one I’m sure. Could the calls have been her unconscious guilt for her actions, sure. Could it have also been something else, yup! Either way it seems to me that she dedicated a good chunk of her life to trying to make amends. Those are not the actions of a bad person just a person that made a horrible mistake that they regret dearly. An interesting story. Wonder who got the house. Sounds like a great house.
The Dead Return to Earth
Here is another one that obviously has a guilty conscience. Guilt can manifest many things, in many ways. This young woman is obviously not living her life because she is too worried about what the dead think. Yes she pushed her but she was a child. Children do shit like that. While I’m sure the push was not helpful it may have also been inevitable that she fall that day. I’m also sure that the reaction of her friend’s bitch mother was not helpful either. You are the adult lady, fucking man up! It was an accident and I’ll be honest with you her continuing to be consumed by this, kind of makes me frustrated and angry at her. Like angry enough to push her off the jungle gym.
She invited evil into her life. Hopefully she learned her lesson. Stop being a selfish little shit and allow your friend to rest. It’s you that needs forgiveness for your own selfish reasons (we are selfish by nature after all) not your friend that needs to forgive. Let shit alone and move on.
The Man Who Was Two
Do I believe that he was influenced…yes. Do I believe that the spirit of a bad man turned demon…no. I don’t think that is possible. BUT he was an evil person while he was alive so it stands to reason that he would be evil in spirit form as well (considering that the anger he exhibited in life seems to have passed over with him). This of course is assuming that we keep that much of “ourselves” after we sluff our meatsuit. I’m glad it was stopped before it was taken too far.
My Grandfather, the Monster
This one is definitely disturbing. I can’t imagine what it was like for a child to experience this kind of incident. I think that children are able to see things that adults won’t. Their minds are so much more open and accepting. The lack of openness and acceptance is part of the evil of becoming an adult. When we are shut off we are more vulnerable. The only problem with children being more open and adults not is that there is no one to guide the young in protecting themselves. No one to explain to them what is happening and helping them understand. This little one was lucky and got away but I’m sure that this has not always been the case. Very interesting.
A Friendly Spirit
I myself have not had the pleasure of having a paranormal experience that I am 100% sure of. I am hopeful however. This is a nice story. I’m not sure I’d be as nice to my in-laws as she was. The mother especially…she seems like a real bitch. They called to get comfort knowing their daughter-in-law’s beliefs. What the fuck were they expecting her to say? For supposedly educated people they are awfully dumb! If you don’t believe in religion then don’t seek comfort from someone who is religious. They are going to walk the path of their beliefs. I’m glad it all worked out for this family. Many families through history have not been so lucky.
Ghost Stalker
I have one statement to make….should have been culled at birth (or at the very least when he was caught torturing animals, not to mention that poor neighbor girl). If I ever caught the little fuck doing anything like the shit he got away with he would be the one people would be finding parts of. I’m not buying possession on this one and surprisingly that’s not where this one went. This shit was just an evil, fucked up sociopath (NOT psychopath) who has been told all his life what he was doing was fine as there were no consequences to his actions. Well that is of course until the proper authorities intervened…
Closing thoughts:
This is my first book by the Warrens. I have always had the utmost respect for them regardless of our religious differences. This book has nothing to do with religion. It’s not preachy or a sneaky way to conversion. It’s a book of stories from the research of many talented investigators from all walks of life. The writing is lovely and passionate. The artist in Ed definitely comes out in his sections. You can tell that they really love what they do.
