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Blog- a.k.a My weird adventures


Mischievous Ghosts: The Hauntings of The Emporium Mystic Connecticut
We’re back in Mystic, Connecticut, not for pizza but for ghosts! On 15 Water St., an old Italianate-style building was home to a shop...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Jan 302 min read


Bible Study to a Whole New Level: BibleWalk Mansfield, Ohio
The museum has over 325 wax figures depicting scenes from the Bible. It was founded by Pastor Richard Diamond and his wife, Alwilda. In...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Jan 252 min read


Walking in a Literal Winter Wonderland-Castle Noel
Castle Noel is dubbed the largest indoor year-round Christmas Museum. The museum is 40,000 square feet and features life-size movie sets...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Dec 25, 20244 min read


You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out Kid!” Higbee's- a.k.a The Place Ralphie Got Denied a BB Gun By Santa
This one's for you, Mom. Last year, I talked about the A Christmas Story House in Cleveland, Ohio, but I left out one of the other...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Dec 25, 20242 min read


A Washington Irving Christmas: How Washington Irving Helped Bring Santa Claus to America
Today we revisit the grave of Washington Irving only this time we are not here for a Headless Horseman tale. We are he as it involves a...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Dec 7, 20242 min read


The Eccentric Old Funeral Home in Cleveland: House of Wills
An old funeral home on the East 55th has been decaying and almost forgotten for many years. Once part of a successful funeral empire, the...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Dec 6, 20243 min read


Who Are The Real Witches Here?: The Horror of The Salem Witch Trials of 1692
In the Giles Corey article, I asked if you believed in curses. For this one, I ask if you believe in witches. One of the most infamous...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Nov 24, 202415 min read


Bootleggers and Spies: Oh my! Bildungsverein Eintracht Club's Residency in Franklin Castle
In celebration of The Wandering Oddball’s 1st anniversary, we revisit Franklin Castle as there is more to discuss. Last year, I gave you...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Nov 21, 20243 min read


Exploring Kykuit: The Rockefeller Estate – A Blend of History, Art, and Nature
(Photos: Alicia De Roma (a.k.a Loco Coco) There’s something truly captivating about walking through the halls of Kykuit, the grand...
Alicia DeRoma- ( a.k.a The Wandering Loco Coco )
Nov 9, 20244 min read


The Magic of Mystic Pizza: A Slice of History and Personal Experience
On a crisp fall afternoon, my mom and I stood in front of a small yet iconic pizza joint in the heart of Mystic, Connecticut. Mystic...
Alicia DeRoma- ( a.k.a The Wandering Loco Coco )
Nov 3, 20242 min read


Paranormal Experts or Conmen?: Ed and Lorraine Warren
(Photo source: Flickr) Disclaimer: All the paranormal events in this article are alleged according to the parties involved. Another...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Nov 3, 20248 min read


This Article Will Cast A Spell on You Rope Mansion, a.k.a The Hocus Pocus Filming Location
One of the beloved movie staples for Halloween is the witches in Hocus Pocus with the Sanderson Sisters, which graced the silver screen...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Oct 29, 20243 min read


Does This Story Have Weight to It?: The Curse of Giles Corey
Intro Do you believe in curses? A myriad of people do, and other staunch skeptics do not. One peculiar string of coincidences led some to...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Oct 29, 20245 min read


History of Cemeteries Volume 1: Tombstone Iconography and Meanings of the 1700-1800
One of my many odd curiosities is exploring old cemeteries. The photos in this article are documented graves I took photos of over the...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Oct 23, 20242 min read


The Bewitched Statue: A Spellbinding Tribute in Salem, Massachusetts
Loco Coco tells the story of The Bewitched Statue.
Alicia DeRoma- ( a.k.a The Wandering Loco Coco )
Oct 18, 20242 min read


The Man Who Forever Sleeps in Sleepy Hollow: The Real Legend of Sleepy Hollow
As an annual tradition since 2020, I have liked to go on fall trips where I look for places that are haunted or have spooky significance....
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Oct 5, 20248 min read


Vault of Dark Shadows: House of Dark Shadows Filming Location- Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
To kick off my favorite month of the year, I thought I would talk about an obscure fact about the known town of Sleepy Hollow’s cemetery....
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Oct 3, 20243 min read


When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano: San Juan Capistrano
Sixteen years ago, a fifteen-year-old Marisa went to California with her family for a wedding. We visited San Juan Capistrano’ Mission. I...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Sep 28, 20243 min read


A Daily Dose of Potassium: On a Roll- Downey, CA
Months back, when I was in Downey, California, I was doing a walking tour of Richard and Karen’s hometown for the Karen Carpenter tour....
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Sep 21, 20242 min read


The Welcoming Committee: The Tale of Eiler Larsen
A few months ago, while in California, we stopped in the artsy seaside town of Laguna Beach. While walking, I noticed a really friendly...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Sep 14, 20242 min read


A Stain on Athens Ohio’s Past: Athens Lunatic Asylum
On the outskirts of Ohio University, an old hospital casts the shadow of its gruesome past. It opened in 1874 with good intentions, but...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Sep 14, 20245 min read


Cuckoo Cuckoo for Cuckoo Clocks: The World's Largest Cuckoo Clock in Sugarcreek, Ohio
One July day, my mom, who is a Breaking Amish fan, suggested going to Sugar Creek, Ohio, to go shopping and visit Der Dutchman. The...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Sep 7, 20242 min read


Roommates with Ghosts: Oberlin College and Conservatory - Oberlin, Ohio
This cute little college town is about forty minutes from where I live. It's a nice little artsy place hidden away from big cities. It’s...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Aug 26, 20243 min read


College Scavenger Hunt 6 Odd Things Found Around College Campuses
(Author of Mercyhurst Ghosts : Alicia De Roma (a.k.a The Wandering Loco Coco) Today, I want to tell some stories about unique exhibits at...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Aug 18, 20244 min read
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