Blog- a.k.a My weird adventures

Photo Credit: Marisa DeRoma( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball) In 2021, I took a fall trip to the Cincinnati area. I decided to visit a pleasant, well-known cemetery called Spring Grove Cemetery. While I was there taking photos, I noticed a lot of walkers and students on a school field trip. Spring Grove Cemetery is home to a large Gothic mausoleum that resembles a chapel set on the cliffside of a cemetery. So the question is, who owns it? History Edmund Dexter was a well-known wh

Article by: Nico Schepis “They were gone. Every one of them. No bodies. No blood. Just one word carved into a tree…” — John White, 1590 America has its fair share of ghost towns — crumbling mining camps, abandoned asylums, sunken villages. But what if I told you that the most chilling story of all is about a town that didn’t just die… it disappeared ? No screams.No struggle.No clues. Only one word — carved into the bark of a tree like a whisper from the other side. CROATOAN

Photo credit: Cam (Adobe Stock) Article by: Nico Schepis A Message from the Wandering Oddball I decided to start a new blog series called Oddities from Around the world where stories are shared of the weirdest places. These are places I hope to or not hope to go to someplace. That way the you can read stories while I work on stories from my odd adventures. Today Loco Coco's boyfriend would like to share a tale he found odd. Take it away Nico! “If the clowns don’t get you, the

I was down in Islamorada, Florida, staying at a resort. While exploring the Florida Keys, Loco Coco wanted to stop for lunch at Wahoo’s Bar and Grill. The statue was the first thing that caught my eye to write this article.  In front of the restaurant and dock was this statue of a hammerhead shark with scuba diving gear. I find it hilarious, considering sharks breathe water the last time I checked. According to RoadsideArchitecture.com , the fiberglass shark was installed out

In late September 2022, I took one of my yearly fall trips. I decided to head off to Vermillion to ride through Gore Orphanage Road and look for other oddities in the area. After riding down that road several times, I explored the area. Aside from an abandoned schoolhouse, I did discover another thing. Over the Vermillion River, a Pratt truss-style bridge stands for those who want to cross the river. Dean’s Bridge was built in 1898 by the Massillon Bridge Co. In 1978, the bri

Savannah, Georgia, is known as the city that builds upon its dead. Colonial Park Cemetery is a testament to that. When entering the cemetery through the gated entrance on Oglethorpe and Abercorn streets, you are already walking on top of the dead. That is because, in 1913, the top of a family vault was removed to build a gate.  Once again, the television show Scariest Places on Earth drove me to this place in 2023. Yes, cheap scare entertainment brought me there, but hey, thi

Due to an abundance of Disney content creators out there, I will only do stories about Disney or any of their parks sparingly if they are weird or out there. So do not expect too much Disney content in The Wandering Oddball. Disneyland not only has lingerie in its closet but skeletons, too! Also, I will talk about a well-known urban legend towards the end that involves the ride.  So, I will speedrun through the history of the ride. In 1955, Walt Disney’s ambitious project Dis

One unusual thing that caught my eye was the front of the church. Neatly lined in a small fenced-off section were old tombstones. The way they were lined up and in a small space, I debated whether they were even real. The church has some prehistory lore involving one of the people involved in the Salem Witch Trials. As an Episcopalian myself, I feel obligated to tell you about this bizarre burial arrangement. The Founder and history The land the church sits on was given by Ph

In Sleepy Hollow and Terrytown, many shops and businesses like to pay homage to the Washington Irving tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Shops name themselves after characters and decorations like countless animatronics of the Headless Horseman appear around Halloween.  For instance, J.P Doyle’s Restaurant and Public House has its signature burger, the Headless Horseman Burger!  I had it myself, and I recommend it not just for the awesome name but because it’s nice, beefy, jui

We are back at Tolemado Cemetery in St. Augustine. Don’t worry no one is going to blow up this time. We are done with the bishop and are leaving him to rest in pieces. Instead, we are here for three ghost stories and alleged sightings.  The Ghost Bride Over the years, many people have reported seeing a woman in white gliding across cemetery grounds. Legend says it is the spirit of a woman who died one week before her wedding. Her family decided to bury her with her wedding go

We head back to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery for more stories. There is more to tell other than a Headless Horseman or a burial vault used for a movie. Here are some more stories from the cemetery: The Grave of William Rockefeller Given that Kykuit is in Sleepy Hollow, it should be no surprise that a Rockefeller would be buried here. William Rockefeller was the younger brother of John Rockefeller, who founded Standard Oil in 1882. He, along with the Rockefellers, was key to creatin

Back in the fall, while on my spooky road trip with my mom and sister, we passed through the city of Albany, New York, for the evening. We decided to have dinner at this lovely quaint pub, The Olde English Pub and Pantry. It was also our first ghost visit on that road trip, and being almost three centuries old, it would have a tale or two.  Quackenbush Home To Today This old building was built in 1736 and is unique for its Dutch brick Pattern. The front half of the building t

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 called The Emporium. It has drawn both the living….. and the dead for over a century.  Built-in 1859 as a general store by a businessman named Issac Randall, it has drawn in not only customers but is also said to have drawn in spiritual activity. It has been reported that laughter and children playing could be heard. The names of the little boy

The museum has over 325 wax figures depicting scenes from the Bible. It was founded by Pastor Richard Diamond and his wife, Alwilda. In the early 1970s, they were head of the Faith Revivals church. In the 1980s, Pastor Diamond wanted to start creating life-size recreations of the Bible. He would search for used wax or fiberglass figures, as it was a little pricey to get new ones. In the early 80s, the museum received twenty-two figures from Bill Warren. Contrary to some artic

Castle Noel is dubbed the largest indoor year-round Christmas Museum. The museum is 40,000 square feet and features life-size movie sets from well-known Christmas movies. The museum was founded in 2013 in an abandoned church by Mark Klaus (yes, that’s his last name) and converted into a large Christmas museum.  Castle Noel is also home to props and costumes used in well-known Christmas movies. These movies are not limited to ​​ The Grinch , Elf ; Santa Claus The Movie , Fred

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 filming locations. Aside from the movie's notoriety, my mother has a history with one of Higgbee’s store locations, as she worked at one of them in Beachwood, Ohio, growing up. So, I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about an old, defunct business that was highlighted in a cult classic movie.  How the Higbees Empire was Born In 1860,

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 man in the red suit. Many people are familiar with Washington Irving’s Halloween tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.   What many people are not familiar with is Irving managed to play a role in American Christmas.  Many centuries before Irving was born, early versions of Christmas took place. Saint Nicholas has been around in Dutch and German f

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 House of Wills sits waiting to be restored to its former glory.  House of Wills has very bizarre information on the date it was initially built. The home was built in 1842, but not as a funeral home. Instead, it was a clubhouse for the German Society, which would host the singing group The Cleveland Gesangverein. The next tenant would be a

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 cases of mass hysteria to occur in North America was in the town of Salem. What was this panic about? Witches!  European Witchunts Long before the arrival of the Puritans on the Mayflower, witch hunts took place in Europe. If, for instance, a baby passes away in a midwife’s arms, they could suspect her of being a witch. Many victims were burn

In celebration of The Wandering Oddball’s 1st anniversary, we revisit Franklin Castle as there is more to discuss. Last year, I gave you a full scope of the Tiedemann family and some minor details about notable owners, but I have yet to discuss Franklin Castle’s most extended residence.  Bildungsverein Eintracht Club The same year Hannes Teidemenn moved out of Franklin Castle, a German singing society was formed in Cleveland in 1897. This German social club would purchase Fra

(Photos: Alicia De Roma (a.k.a Loco Coco) There’s something truly captivating about walking through the halls of Kykuit, the grand Rockefeller Estate. As I strolled through its serene gardens and marveled at the intricate art within its stone walls, I couldn't help but feel the weight of history resting beneath every brick and sculpture. The Beginning of a Dynasty Kykuit (Dutch for "lookout") sits atop the highest point in Pocantico Hills, New York, with sweeping views of the

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 Pizza, immortalized by the 1988 cult-classic film of the same name, has been a staple of this charming seaside town for decades. Visiting Mystic Pizza wasn’t just about indulging in a delicious slice—it was about experiencing a piece of cinema history and a beloved community fixture. A Bite of History: How Mystic Pizza Came to Be Mystic Pizza’s

(Photo source: Flickr) Disclaimer: All the paranormal events in this article are alleged according to the parties involved. Another warning I should give is that there is also a mention of an allegation of abuse and some mature subjects in this article, which may be sensitive to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. Intro  Long before Ghost Hunters and Adventures, a couple of paranormal experts shocked the world. Their cases also contributed to a line of horror flicks.

One of the beloved movie staples for Halloween is the witches in Hocus Pocus with the Sanderson Sisters, which graced the silver screen in 1993. It would be no surprise if one knew that there were filming locations in Salem, Massachusetts, one of which is Rope Mansion, which also has an exciting history in itself.  Rope Mansion Rope Mansion was built in 1727 for local merchant Samuel Barnard, who came from Deerfield in 1720 after the death of his wife and infant son. He passe