Anatomy of a Haunting: The Nightmare of Baxter Road

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Lee Strong on Anatomy of a Haunting: The Nightmare of Baxter Road

1. In your book Anatomy of a Haunting: The Nightmare of Baxter Road you change names and keep the location confidential. Could you go into why you chose to do this? I mean I understand it, but just want more background on this scenario.

I originally used the name and its location.  About the time I had a better idea of what I was getting in to, I realized that there are hundreds of thrill seekers, and people that believe they are amateur ghost hunters.  They’d have no idea of what the dark souls that possess the McPherson house would have in store for them.  

This house and what is in it, consumed nine years of my life. It wanted me, and to this day, I still feel the pull the house has on me.                     

2. What can you tell us about the history of the McPherson house? The pictures of it in the book are most assuredly spooky.

The house was built by a young Irish immigrant couple, Edith and Ian McPherson, who started out filled with hopes and dreams of creating a new life in America. The tragedies that befell them in their new home, compounded by their own mistakes and failings, created a dark and twisted energy that permeated the house and property, an evil and active haunting that grew in power as decades passed.

3. Who are Jon and Carlie Summers and what lead them up to moving into this house?

Jon and Carlie Summers were a happily married couple, both attorneys, who inherited the house when Carlie’s aunt died in a house fire on the property. They were the last people to live in the house — and only one lived to tell the story.

4. Would you share with us some of the happenings at the house when it comes to the paranormal?

It’s hard to know where to even begin… There were voices, apparitions, poltergeist-type activity. Carlie and John Summers, as well as others who spent time at the property, experienced phenomena ranging from being physically attacked by entities — we’re talking about people being punched, thrown down the stairs, and terrorized in dreams — to being literally destroyed by evil. One person suffered a near-fatal stroke and three people were actually killed.

5. Would you share with us some information about Edith and Ian McPherson who originally owned the house?

Ian had a terrible temper and was a violent man. Edith had the extreme misfortune of being sexually assaulted by a vagrant, and becoming pregnant. That’s the point at which their lives began to unravel — and the point at which the seeds were sown for the evil and destruction that followed.

6. When it comes to the house what do you think is the cause of the disturbances? Is it located on a burial mound or a vortex? Why exactly is the house so active?

I touched on the causes in my answer above. But there was a burial on the grounds too, that was an element in the haunting.

7. What sort of evils were found about the house in the Journals?

Betrayal. Cruelty. Violence. Injustice. Rage. Revenge. All the things you’d expect to find in a haunting this extreme.

8. What from the book would you like to share with us that our readers might find fascinating?

Along with the really terrifying ghost attacks, there are inspiring moments of people, sometimes near-strangers, demonstrating courage and integrity and a willingness to do whatever was needed to help others. It’s kind of amazing, when you consider the level of evil they were facing.

9. Could you tell us a bit about the paranormal societies you are a member of?

I was a member for many years, unfortunately, the McPherson house changed how I feel about paranormal hunters.  They believe that spirits are for their own amusement.  The McPherson house and its evil as been here for over a century and is almost in a time warp.   The Summers lived in the house for five years.  Carlie,s aunt for over twenty years.  It takes a long time for the spirits, to generate energy_-  and interest.  Six hours does nothing.   I spent nine years doing an investigation.  Paranormal Societies will not do, everything, it takes to uncover the root of the problem behind any haunting.   

10. What are you up to next book wise and any links you’d like to share with us, or last departing words? Thanks, Lee.

I am working on a first person paranormal called Only After Dark.  I hope to finish it in 2014.

Published by www.llewellyn.com/