The Whaley House...147 years of Diarrhea

[HarryKeller]

"Stop the insanity!"

In a desperate attempt to "Stop the insanity", I have personally written Randi and questered him to use his great powers of debunkery and expose' to shed some light on the quakery that "Haunts" this important inclusion to San Diego's history. If not familiar, The Whaley House, built in 1857 in San Diego California's Old Town, was at one time, the finest example of brick block in all of southern California. The house is highly significant in San Diego's history due to its incredible calling to serve many purposes. The house served as a Court House, a Theatre, a Granary, and a General Store to name a few over the years.

"Woo Woo...Spooks!!!"

The house gained international fame over the years for being "1 of only 2 house's (The other being the Winchester Mystery house in San Jose California) deemed by the United States Deparment of Commerce-Agriculture as an AUTHENTIC HAUNTED HOUSE". Another ABSURD designation made irresponsibly by a goverment branch with total disregard for ethics and the usual penchant for disinformation all boiling down to dollars and cents.

"Over 100 years of THE RUNS"

In order for the old house to have garnered such a reputation from the US Goverment, the house had to have over 100 years of documented "Haunted history", or at least the rumors go. Being a native of San Diego my whole life and hearing the many incredible claims of this house, I decided to due own investigation, well I can honestly say that the place has been treated with over 100 years of community wide diarrhea of the mouth...(Read on, if you dare...)

"The Questionable"

Having visited the house many times over the years, the typical haunted house claims were observered and I never once failed to make a rational solution evident to any who queried. COLD SPOTS = psychosomaticism/Anxiety and a prior disposition or influence on the mind as a common "spook" house symptom, ahhh the power of the mind. PHYSICAL ANATOMICAL PRESSURE = psychosomaticism/Anxiety and a stairway leading to the 2nd story of the house that has wood steps that are slightly sloping and concave in nature thus fostering the feeling of pressure on the body due to the simple laws of Gravity. Steps get that way after MILLIONS of visitors over the years to a publicly accessible historical house!!! APPARITIONS = POT, PCP, ACID, various NARCOTICS, hallucinogens, mental illness, BS, electrical anomalies within the house that affect the brain in such a way to manifest an electrical "misfire" within the brain causing hallucinations. DIGITAL CAMERA GHOST ORBS = These ORBS have been scientifically linked to an anomalous condition that effects digital cameras, DUST/POLLENS being the main culprit folks. GHOST PHOTO's = Photoshop, trickery, DUST/POLLEN, Gullibility, wishful thinking, rorschach effect, etc... STRANGE NOISES = POT, PCP, ACID, various NARCOTICS, hallucinogens, mental illness, BS, electrical anomalies within the house that affect the brain in such a way to manifest an electrical "misfire" within the brain causing a hallucinations.

"Trickery"

While the house garners an admission fee, trickery of various sorts should be the logical suspicion. The simple fact that a guest of the house must pay money to enter the historical site leads one to see a simple motivation beyond terms of "Historical preservation". MAGIC costs money!!! The sad truth is we all want to be decieved...

"Ectoplasmic activity"

So far I have to conclude that while the house is a treat to view due to its rich history and many relics, there must be a definitive study done. There has been some UNexplained activity (I once did view a "FireFly" like light swish around in a circle upon turning to an adjacent room, though I was not on any NARCOTICS, I should have been so my rational mind could have enjoyed it more ;-). The place has had a history of enough strange going on's over the years to ascertain a thorough UNbiased, Non- WOO WOO, examination of naturally occuring phenomena. I believe what I saw was a possible eletrical phenomena of a naturally occuring nature in the house accounting for the widespread belief in spooks in the house. So far the only Ectoplasmic activity I have seen is from the local head KOOK of a curator that believes he has been talking to the dead since he was a child. I have seen sinister looking Green ectoplasmic gas eminating from the backside of this person. This of course is something you can only smell to be certain...

"I call upon thee!!!"

Those who have been to the house, please divuldge any insight you may have into debunking this very important piece of history. While even the great REGIS PHILBIN claims to have been "Spooked" out of the house, something must give so we can all REST IN PEACE...

"Finally"

While haunted houses are fun, this place has a loyal following of kooks that beg the critical thinker to investigate the claims of the dull and or neurotic individual and expose the poor place for what it is, an ugly old house with a rich history...

:bs:

[Goshawk]

I believe what I saw was a possible eletrical phenomena of a naturally occuring nature in the house accounting for the widespread belief in spooks in the house. Why couldn't it have been a firefly?
The house gained international fame over the years for being "1 of only 2 house's (The other being the Winchester Mystery house in San Jose California) deemed by the United States Deparment of Commerce-Agriculture as an AUTHENTIC HAUNTED HOUSE".
Although this factoid is widely repeated on the Web, it is not, strictly speaking, true, at least in its implications. The factoid, as such, seems to imply the continuing support and endorsement of a Federal agency along the lines of the National Register of Historical Places. But as far as I can tell, it's nothing like that at all. Back in the early 1960s, the Commerce Department apparently did make up a list of 30 or so "haunted houses" across America, for what purpose is not clear--but it doesn't entitle the houses in question to any kind of federal funding or other perks.

And the factoid itself is not mentioned on their website anywhere...

http://www.whaleyhouse.org/index.htm
http://www.whaleyhouse.org/haunted.htm

...neither is any mention of any sponsorship by any federal agency...which leads me to conclude that the listing by the Commerce Department was a one-off deal for obscure pork-barrel purposes back in the early 1960s (perhaps a San Diego legislator got his hometown's tourist attraction listed on an "official list" somewhere, good for a few votes), or perhaps it was merely for encouraging tourism in a general sort of way. There were 28 or so other houses across the country.


So your rant...Another ABSURD designation made irresponsibly by a goverment branch with total disregard for ethics and the usual penchant for disinformation all boiling down to dollars and cents...is perhaps a tad misplaced. ;)

[Goshawk]

And I have to say that I think the Amazing Randi has enough to do without debunking miscellaneous haunted houses, let alone a fairly obscure haunted house that doesn't seem particularly proud of the fact. The main slant of their website is "We're a museum", not "We're a haunted house".

If he's going to debunk a haunted house, he should pick a famous one, so that the results would resound the more deeply throughout the woowoo world.

[HarryKeller]

Originally posted by Goshawk
And I have to say that I think the Amazing Randi has enough to do without debunking miscellaneous haunted houses, let alone a fairly obscure haunted house that doesn't seem particularly proud of the fact. The main slant of their website is "We're a museum", not "We're a haunted house".

If he's going to debunk a haunted house, he should pick a famous one, so that the results would resound the more deeply throughout the woowoo world.

I have to disagree, The Whaley House is one of the most famous "Haunted Houses" in the United States. The house is regulary featured on A & E, The Travel Channel, and has even been featured on the TV show "Sightings". The house is considered to be one of the last few "AUTHENTICS" by the woowoo crowd.

Anyone with half a brain who would advertise with "We're a haunted house" would know that people would automatically detect BS as a general concensus. Basic psychology there...

[HarryKeller]

"Why couldn't it have been a firefly?"


I highly doubt it, this took place at about 1pm in the afternoon. Typically they only come out at night. In addition, the light swirled in a circular motion and at a rapid rate of speed, all while moving, so swirling while panning to the right and just disappeared in front of me. I need to check and see if FF's are known in the area. However even if not, a trickster might have "Migrated" a few if you know what I mean...



:D

[HarryKeller]

Originally posted by Goshawk


So your rant.....is perhaps a tad misplaced. ;)

You might be right if nothing Federal or Agency related had to do with it. Who knows, maybe REGIS getting trapped in the place over night may have inspired some of it... Good Point ;)

[Goshawk]

Anyone with half a brain who would advertise with "We're a haunted house" would know that people would automatically detect BS as a general concensus.

But...they're not advertising themselves as a haunted house. It's mentioned only in passing, in a sidebar link, plus it's in connection with a book that some guy has written about the haunting, not really with the house itself.

And I would say that IMO the most "famous" haunted house would be the White House.

[Marian]

I live in Southern CA and I've never even heard of the Whaley House. That doesn't necessarily mean anything, except that it's not THAT famous, or I'd have seen some ads for it for when I stay down in San Diego.

I've heard of the Queen Mary's ghost tours (and I've been on the QM tours, and have stayed on the Queen Mary...no ghosts. lol) And I've heard about the Winchester House (though I haven't been there, any time we've been near it something more interesting comes up so we've never been.)

The biggest PITA with debunking haunted houses I would think, is ...well let's imagine you go with ALL your stuff for a week. You've got the house totally wired up to debunk any crap you see. And you do.

The woo-woos will simply say that the spirits chose not to appear.

It's generally a little easier to take claims of sightings, and to debunk those when possible (such as when they're caught on film, etc). The only problem with THAT though is that the claim gets quite a bit of press (anyone remember that figure in the doorway in England at one of the castles on the security tape?) and no one remembers the retraction or debunking a few weeks later, because it's not as interesting as Ooooo spoooooky ghosts.

It's also not as lucrative. ;)

[Marian]

Oh btw wasn't insulting it by saying it's not THAT famous, but I would assume if it was really well known I would have heard of it living here. It's possible that it is well known and I've just missed it too. :) But I've honestly never heard of it. Just wanted to clarify since I reread my post and it sounded snippy and I didn't mean for it to. :)

[HarryKeller]

Originally posted by Marian
Oh btw wasn't insulting it by saying it's not THAT famous, but I would assume if it was really well known I would have heard of it living here. It's possible that it is well known and I've just missed it too. :) But I've honestly never heard of it. Just wanted to clarify since I reread my post and it sounded snippy and I didn't mean for it to. :)

No offense, but just because you have'nt heard of it does'nt mean much. Its not like your the definitive source for establishing the notoriety of a given haunted house. Actually, the fact that you haven't heard of the Whaley tells me a whole lot, the house is regularly featured on the tele during the Halloween season. On the other side of the coin, now you have heard of it and I assure you its internationally known throughout the paranormal world. We learn something new everyday, a new woo woo house...

[HarryKeller]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Goshawk


But...they're not advertising themselves as a haunted house. It's mentioned only in passing, in a sidebar link, plus it's in connection with a book that some guy has written about the haunting, not really with the house itself.

And I would say that IMO the most "famous" haunted house would be the White House. [/QUOTE

Its all up for debate... I still don't agree as its a simple "less is more" tactic...

[TheBoyPaj]

Originally posted by Marian
The only problem with THAT though is that the claim gets quite a bit of press (anyone remember that figure in the doorway in England at one of the castles on the security tape?) and no one remembers the retraction or debunking a few weeks later, because it's not as interesting as Ooooo spoooooky ghosts.


Did that one ever get retracted? I remember seeing it and thinking it was probably just a security guy or a prankster.

[HarryKeller]

Originally posted by TheBoyPaj


Did that one ever get retracted? I remember seeing it and thinking it was probably just a security guy or a prankster.

Yeah it did, not too many ghosts from the 16th century would know how to open a 20/21st century door. There are other DEAD give aways as well...Too funny

[Nigel]

I saw that tape too, but not the retraction. Any idea of a link or where we can go to get the information about the retraction/true explanation?

[Bottle or the Gun]

I lived in San Diego for over 30 years. I have gone to Old Town countless times for the sights, history and Bazarr Del Mundo (shopping and food). When I was younger the main push in the tour was how haunted the place was. The signs would read 'Haunted Whaley House'. I think I was 12 years old when one of the tour guides told how the chains suspended across the open doorways that keep people from going into the rooms would swing all by themselves because of the ghosts walking through them. I mentioned 'earthquake' (it is Southern California) and she just shook her head. Tourists in the group muttered that I was rude. In later years the ghost angle was played down and referred to as 'reportedly' or 'supposed to be' haunted.

[Marian]

Regarding the British ghost, here's what I was able to google (in regards to it being a hoax/debunked)

http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=13347671

(not a news source, but a guy who was keeping a blog of info on it) http://eSolutionsWork.com/research/

And I also found this article, nothing to do with that particular ghost, but its research on debunking another palace 'ghost' (same palace) so I thought it was an interesting article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1249366.stm

I honestly recall reading another article, but I can't locate it via google or on CNN or MSNBC (which would have been the two sites I would have bet I'd read it on.) Going off memory (and I may be misremembering since I can't find the article), I seem to recall it being pretty much dismissed as a hoax about a week to 10 days later, and the whole issue was pretty much dropped. Apparently if you viewed the film at normal speed, it didn't look like anything other than a costumed human opening the door.

[Nigel]

Thanks for your work Marian!

[Goshawk]

Nifty avatar, too. :D

[HarryKeller]

Originally posted by Bottle or the Gun
In later years the ghost angle was played down and referred to as 'reportedly' or 'supposed to be' haunted.

Its funny, my speculation and its just that, speculation, is that the powers that be started to downplay the place because of some of the debunking of the place, the psychology factor of less being more, and for the PC nature of the organization that funds the house, which is common amongst similar organizations. The hilarious part of all of this is that there is a year long tour around OLD TOWN highlighting the haunted history of the place. So while the Whaley organization wants little to do with the branding of the house for political reasons, they let the tours do it for them... Its all a big con, haunted houses make money, plain and simple.

[Jeff Corey]

Another San Diego "ghost", at the Hotel Del Coronado, is supposed to be Kate Morgan's, and her room is supposed to be haunted. Some of the hotel's cleaning staff are reluctant to enter it.
The funny thing is, the rooms in the old section have been renumbered and remodeled, so now 3312 is in a different location.

[HarryKeller]

Originally posted by Jeff Corey
Another San Diego "ghost", at the Hotel Del Coronado, is supposed to be Kate Morgan's, and her room is supposed to be haunted. Some of the hotel's cleaning staff are reluctant to enter it.
The funny thing is, the rooms in the old section have been renumbered and remodeled, so now 3312 is in a different location.

A friend of mine's mom works there, there lame woo woo people. I honestly believe that places like the Hotel Del secretly hire magicians to "work-up" some trickery for promotional purposes. Its so easy to do and people are so woo woo'd out, they will believe any simple deception. I mean think about it, if you are going to the Hotel Del just to stay in the "Haunted Room"(Which there is a waiting list of a year or more at any given time)your already opening your mind up to flim flam and the hotel is going to want to give you what you came for...

[homer]

Whaley ? Surely you mean Wally ...

[HarryKeller]

Originally posted by homer
Whaley ? Surely you mean Wally ...

Nope... Thomas Whaley, but might as well be...

[waitew]

As for the house being famous,I've lived in LA/Orange county my entire life & didn't know it existed until 2 years ago when my wife dragged down to Old Town so she could shop.
I thought the whole ghost thing was pretty lame.I looked through all the photographs they have on display that are supposed to be ghosts & most of them are easilly explainable.By the way,the rooms of the house are separted from the hall which tourist walk through by plexiglass windows!!All of those photos were taken through highly reflective plexiglass!!!Mere reflexions are what most of them are.


Ps. the Whaley house is nothing compared to the Queen Mary ghost tour.On the tour they take you into the 'most haunted' areas of the ship where they have made a disneyland like 'ride' out of it complete with projected ghosts & drafts of cold air.They tell you about the unfortunate event during WW II when the Queen Mary accidently rammed a British destroyer & sank it (because of U boat infested waters the QM sailed on without stopping).They then suggest that the ghosts of those men still haunt the Queen.They take you to the bow (inside)where they re-creat the collision by pumping water in as if the ship is sinking.I thought it pretty disrepectful.

[kittynh]

This sounds like something that Joe Nickell of CSICOP would be interested in investigating. It's kind of hard for a house to win a million dollars. Joe Nickell ( and myself when I investigate a haunting) looks into the history of the house, as far as are the ghosts (who usually are supposed to be someone connected with the house) real? By that I mean was the person that is supposed to be the ghost ever a real person? A lot of times they arent. Also, are they being seen or sensed in parts of the house that weren't even built when the person lived there. Joe Nickell has some great books that tell the average person step by step on how to investigate a ghost, without getting sued!!! Very important!!!

[HarryKeller]

Originally posted by waitew
As for the house being famous,I've lived in LA/Orange county my entire life & didn't know it existed until 2 years ago when my wife dragged down to Old Town so she could shop.
I thought the whole ghost thing was pretty lame.I looked through all the photographs they have on display that are supposed to be ghosts & most of them are easilly explainable.By the way,the rooms of the house are separted from the hall which tourist walk through by plexiglass windows!!All of those photos were taken through highly reflective plexiglass!!!Mere reflexions are what most of them are.


Ps. the Whaley house is nothing compared to the Queen Mary ghost tour.On the tour they take you into the 'most haunted' areas of the ship where they have made a disneyland like 'ride' out of it complete with projected ghosts & drafts of cold air.They tell you about the unfortunate event during WW II when the Queen Mary accidently rammed a British destroyer & sank it (because of U boat infested waters the QM sailed on without stopping).They then suggest that the ghosts of those men still haunt the Queen.They take you to the bow (inside)where they re-creat the collision by pumping water in as if the ship is sinking.I thought it pretty disrepectful.

Haha, I concur completely with your take on the PLEXIGLASS dividers, I have said that since the begining. Completely rediculous how people think they are seeing a ghost when they are seeing a reflection! Absurd. The resident king kook there will tell you that ghosts talk to him, what a nut. As far as the Queen Mary, its a little more famous by being just what it is, a cruise ship. The Whaley House is just an ugly old house, nothing special. The woo-woo crowd is VERY familiar with it, always makes me laugh when I here people mention it... I swear I am going to hide in that place one of these days and document all of my findings, lol.

[HarryKeller]

Originally posted by kittynh
This sounds like something that Joe Nickell of CSICOP would be interested in investigating. It's kind of hard for a house to win a million dollars. Joe Nickell ( and myself when I investigate a haunting) looks into the history of the house, as far as are the ghosts (who usually are supposed to be someone connected with the house) real? By that I mean was the person that is supposed to be the ghost ever a real person? A lot of times they arent. Also, are they being seen or sensed in parts of the house that weren't even built when the person lived there. Joe Nickell has some great books that tell the average person step by step on how to investigate a ghost, without getting sued!!! Very important!!!

Well someone should debunk the place, the more famous the better, however Randi may be an unrealistic expectation as he is so much in demand. They have there annual Halloween bash everyyear, I would love to see someone crash the party... (Hint Hint):D

[Nigel]

Originally posted by kittynh
This sounds like something that Joe Nickell of CSICOP would be interested in investigating. It's kind of hard for a house to win a million dollars. Joe Nickell ( and myself when I investigate a haunting) looks into the history of the house, as far as are the ghosts (who usually are supposed to be someone connected with the house) real? By that I mean was the person that is supposed to be the ghost ever a real person? A lot of times they arent. Also, are they being seen or sensed in parts of the house that weren't even built when the person lived there. Joe Nickell has some great books that tell the average person step by step on how to investigate a ghost, without getting sued!!! Very important!!!
Kitty - I have a question - how have you heard about the hauntings you've investigated? Through friends, or the newspaper (or other public information)? Are they "public" hauntings, such as the QM or Whaley, or "private" houses?
(Don't mean to derail, or be too inquisitive, but I have an idea I'm working on - and this would help tremendously.)

edit to add: if it's easier, pm me the information.

Thanks much!