Some Call It Home: The Haunting of Ashmore Estates
Some Call it Home: The Haunting of Ashmore Estates (Investigating the Haunted)
By Richard Estep
The Sexton’s musings (spoilers are likely):
The format of this is different but similar to past tomes read. Instead of having his paranormal show analysis at the beginning he intermixes them in between his investigative chapters. So an interesting departure as far as layout is concerned. It of course is up to the typical Richard Estep standard.
Ashmore Estates
Photo: Amy’s Crypt (click pic to read about their visit)
The introduction aka chapter 1, for the most part, is written by one of the current owners Robbin Terry. The hilarious thing about this introduction is that Richard mentions that he includes the few chapters from shows that have visited Ashmore in order to provide context and other perspectives and then says “but they aren’t essential reading.” (especially if you have seen the episodes).
Ashmore Estates - Old Sign
Photo: jg-tc.com
In usual Estep form, the first part of chapter two outlines a brief history of the location. Interestingly enough there does not seem to be anything of note in the history of this location that would point to a likelihood of a haunting. The second half of this chapter details “Ghost Adventures” first visit to Ashmore Estates. Richard’s opinions are polite but not complimentary as far as the show itself goes. I personally have never been into paranormal investigative reality shows. I love all things otherworldly but for some reason I have never been able to get into these shows. Perhaps it’s because I don’t feel they are trustworthy and after reading many of Richard’s books my suspicions of faked sensationalism has been confirmed. While it makes for decent entertainment we have to realize that these shows are touted as “non-fiction” if you will. Only they really aren’t! So in lieu of not being able to trust what I’m being told (making up stories or supporting legend as fact, I prefer truth to fantasy in this case as I’m very protective of those that have gone before) and faking activity (or jumping at every little sound…is just really really obnoxious), and just being disrespectful in general, I have to pass on these shows (I know they are not all like this but I have just been turned off by those that are).
Chapter 3 has Richard visiting the home of Abraham Lincoln and geeks out for a bit. Then continues on to Ashmore where he meets up with his team. Brad Klinge is actually there for a smidge the first day. Richard’s team consists of Erin, Susan and Catlyn. There is a brief overview of the Klinge brothers investigation at Ashmore for their show “Strange Curiosity” and then back to the here and now with a tour of Brad’s favorite places to investigate. They start in the basement. Then, in chapter 4, move on to the second floors southeast corner and then the third floor. After that Brad takes his leave. Then the team gets a tour from the owner, Robbin Terry.
Photo: Amy’s Crypt - They always have great pictures!!
Chapters 5 and 6 details the team’s first night at Ashmore. MJ, who we met during Richard’s investigation in “Spirit’s Behind Bars”, has a cameo here that brings up something hauntingly interesting. Also something that is a little different is that the team is actually staying on the property in cabins that were built for this very purpose.
Chapter 7 details the follow up to the previous visit detailed in part of chapter 2 of the “Ghost Adventures”, The follow up show is called “Ghost Adventures: Aftershocks” where apparently they interview and visit owners and witnesses. Once again Richard is very polite in his distain for Zak or at least how the show itself is put together. Still trying to sensationalize it, even just in interviews after the fact.
Nurses Station - 2nd Floor
Photo: Paranormal Investigators of Milwaukee (click pic to read about their investigation)
Chapters 9-11 are day two of the investigation. They do start out as Ashmore doing sessions in Mary and Margaret’s room and the ladies do a session in the boiler room. Then, they take a side trip to an old cemetery, St Omer. Richard mentions “The Conjuring” and Ed and Lorraine Warren. Now we all know how I feel about them and that I love the Conjuring universe BUT I do understand that movies are a far cry from real life. While the movie is based on the Parron family’s true experiences it is still a movie. A movie where the true story is modified (sometimes A LOT) for entertainment value. Anyone that would make the decision to go and vandalize the grave of someone (Bathsheba Sherman) based on a movie needs to be arrested and maybe punched a few times. These people probably believe everything they read on the internet also. SMH! The grave the team visits has a similar folk legend surrounding it which is why all this is mentioned. They then head back to Ashmore for the evening. There’s a shout out to one of my favorite stories/movies of all time “A Clockwork Orange” and one of my most loved actors Malcom McDowell.
Mary’s Hallway - 1st Floor
Photo: Paranormal Investigators of Milwaukee (click pic to read about their investigation)
Chapter 11 is Richard’s analysis of “Destination Fears” visit to Ashmore. The positive thing that I will say and can appreciate is that the hosts of this show never claim to be paranormal investigators. Richard mentions that “It’s a case of “there’s room enough in the paranormal field for many different styles and viewpoints… just as long as there is both respect and accuracy.” I agree with this statement to a point. I do think that the shows that jump and every noise and fake phenomena are not doing the filed any favors. It’s already ridiculed, disrespected, and not taken seriously by the scientific (and other) communities as a whole. Some of these shows are not helping the cause. Just food for thought. And once again it seems that this show is not accurate in their portrayal of the location which they have been guilty of frequently.
Day three starts with eggs…there is always food mentioned at some point with Richard. A man after my own heart. They do a few daytime sessions, conduct a couple of interviews with Callea Sherril (a friend and fellow paranormal enthusiast) and film-maker Cam Crosby. The team also has a tea party (in Ashmore to create good vibes) and campfire s’mores. They also take a side trip when coming home from dinner to visit Airtight Bridge where the body of an unfortunate woman was found in 1980. Richard tells a little bit about this true crime tale here. They seem to have fun this day. While they do still conduct several sessions I feel like today was a little lighter than the previous two.
Photo: American Hauntings Ghost Hunts
Chapter 14 delves into the visit done by Jack Osbourne, Jason Mewes and Jamie Kennedy for Jack’s show “Jack Osbourne’s Night of Terror”. One other person joins the group and that’s Michelle Belanger who we met during our journey into the Monroe House in Indiana (“On Dark Ground: Investigating the Haunted Monroe House”). I feel like they are less prone to sensationalizing stories and activity (at least based on this description of the episode).
Last two chapters are day four (the last day) at Ashmore and the aftermath whole they stop off at Haunted America Con. One of the reasons I like Richard so much is that he can admit a mistake and take the ribbing received afterwards…you’ll understand what I mean when you read the book Ghoulies! Good thing crow tastes like chicken.
Ashmore Estates
Photo: ashmoreestates.net
Closing thoughts:
A comment that I want to make about paranormal investigative reality shows: not all of them are fake phenomena, greed mongering fakes. But understand that I’m pretty sure many of them fake phenomena simple because these entities are not trained performing monkey’s. Activity cannot be forced and a show where nothing happens is not going to last very long in mainstream entertainment. So I do understand why they hype the untrue statements/stories about places, making them seem creepier and more frightening by stating legend/folk tales as fact, faking incidents and screaming/jumping at every little noise. The sad part is that I feel these shows hurt the field as a whole. They are crying wolf as it were. So when they do get something real it’s still not believed to be real. Which is a shame. Something to gnaw on little Ghoulies!
