The Haunting of The Alamo

The Alamo – Bexar County, San Antonio, Texas

Photograph ©sdsoldiers.com

“The Alamo,” one of America’s most remembered and respected landmarks and forever a symbol of self-sacrifice for the pursuit of liberty. In addition to its rich history, the Alamo is a ghost hunter’s dream; pulling in reports of apparitions and unexplainable activity on a daily basis!

Originally called “San Antonio de Valero,” the structure was built in 1718 by Franciscan monks and Indian converts. The Franciscan seminary was later named the “Alamo,” (meaning “cottonwood in Spanish) referring to the cottonwood trees that line the river nearby.

The facts surrounding the Alamo and the fight that took place there are a bit sketchy. Most claim, however, that General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (dictator of Mexico), moved in on the Alamo with up to 4,000 trained soldiers. The Alamo itself had only 189 defenders and among these men were American legends: Sam Houston, James Bowie and Davy Crockett.

The brutal fighting began on February 23, 1836 and went on for thirteen days. On March 6, 1836, Santa Anna attacked at daybreak and after three attempts, he brought our brave men to their knees. The last defender of the Alamo to fall is said to be Davy Crockett.

When the battle was over, all of the Alamo’s men were dead, however, they managed to take out over 1600 Mexican soldiers before their death! The dead were then buried in a mass grave (the makings of a haunting). Some of the men who died during the first thirteen days of battle were not even buried, also adding to the bad vibes.

The battle at the Alamo made its mark on American history and on the land, making it one of the most haunted places in Texas.

The paranormal events began almost immediately after the battle was over. The first reports were made by Mexican soldiers who were ordered by Santa Anna to demolish the fortress. These men claimed that when they began knocking down walls, an assembly of six apparitions came out of the walls with flaming swords drawn. The men fled and no further attempts were made to destroy the fort.

Since that time, numerous reports of the unexplained have been made and they continue to roll in day after day! Also, the claims of activity are not just limited to the Alamo itself; many strange happenings occur on the grounds and in the surrounding buildings. Here are some of the claims:

Strange noises, unexplainable smells, disembodied voices and whispers, footsteps, pounding on doors, furniture being shaken, the sounds of a woman crying, sounds of children laughing, windows and doors opening and closing, lights turning on and off, cold spots, strange lights that appear and then vanish into thin air, the feeling of being watched…and this is just the tip of the iceberg!

In addition, many have claimed to see apparitions throughout the place. Many witness accounts tell of deformed men who vanished before their eyes, a male apparition who runs across the roof of the Alamo frantically looking for escape, a man dressed in a long black coat who looks solid but then dissipates, a solid-looking cowboy ghost who also dissolves into thin air, a transparent monk who wanders the grounds, residual re-enactments of the battle by ghostly fighters long past and there are many more!

The horror of the battle fought here has left a permanent scar on the land, making this a prime spot for paranormalists and historians alike.

Address:
300 Alamo Plaza
San Antonio, Texas 78205
(210) 225-1391
Website

The Haunting of the Catfish Plantation Restaurant

Catfish Plantation Restaurant –Ellis County, Waxahachie, Texas

Photograph ©Shelia

Address:
814 Water Street
Waxahachie, Texas 75165
(972) 937-9468
Website

Waxahachie, the “Picture Perfect Town.” Well known for its beautiful scenery and homes, as well as, its historical buildings, this town has been the backdrop for such movies as “Bonnie and Clyde,” starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway and “Places in the Heart,” starring Sally Field. As a matter of fact, several movies and television shows have been filmed here. However, Hollywood’s finest are not the only visitors to this town. If you travel down to the west end of Water Street you might just find some visitors from beyond the grave residing in the infamous Catfish Plantation Restaurant.

A farmer named Anderson built this Gingerbread-Victorian style home in 1895. Later on the house was passed down to Mr. Anderson’s daughter, Elizabeth. In the early 1920’s, Elizabeth was found dead in the house, murdered by strangulation on her wedding day. Then, a decade later, during the Great Depression, a farmer named Will was residing in the house. Will also died inside of the home, due to unknown causes. Finally, in 1970, another resident named Caroline, died inside of the house at the age of 80, presumably from old age. These three deaths are believed to be the cause of the paranormal activity that still occurs today.

After the death of Caroline, the home on Water Street housed three restaurants and then sat vacant for several years until Tom and Melissa Baker purchased it in 1984, turning it into the famous Catfish Plantation Restaurant.

Since 1984, there have been uncountable occurrences reported by the owners, employees, patrons, news crews and paranormal investigators.

In 1984, after purchasing the home, Mrs. Baker commuted back and forth while the house was being renovated. One morning Mrs. Baker unlocked the door and walked in to find a pot of coffee already brewing when no other person had been in the house. On another occasion, just a few weeks later, Mrs. Baker came in to find her large iced teapot sitting on the kitchen floor with coffee cups stacked inside of it.

Employees of the Catfish Plantation have experienced coffee cups, wine glasses, cooking herbs and food being thrown through the air by unseen hands, as well as, dishes rattling for no reason, pounding on the walls and fast-moving cold spots! This kitchen menace is thought to be the spirit of Caroline, who apparently loved cooking and who doesn’t seem to appreciate the restaurant that now occupies “her” house.

The full-bodied apparition of Elizabeth made her presence known during a séance held in the house. During the séance the lit candle in the center of the table burst into an explosion of light. Then the door to the kitchen burst open revealing a woman in a wedding gown. The specter then floated into the room before disappearing before everyone’s eyes! The spirit of Elizabeth has also appeared several times in front of the bay window, gazing outside toward town. In addition to her appearance, Elizabeth’s spirit is usually accompanied by the scent of roes and icy cold spots.

Elizabeth is also thought to have followed one patron home one night. Apparently the customer had expressed sympathy for the spirit of Elizabeth. This poor woman was awakened at 11:30 at night to find the apparition standing at the foot of her bed. She claimed that Elizabeth was only visible from the waist up and that the restless spirit gave her an old-fashioned powder box in the shape of a lady.

The third spirit in the house, Will, has been seen standing on the front porch of the restaurant in bib overalls. Most of the people who have seen him say that when they tried to approach him, he quickly disappeared.

Some of the other paranormal claims here include; a broken clock that still occasionally chimes, doors unlocking themselves, lights going on and off on their own, water faucets unexplainably turning on and the refrigerator doors being opened and closed by unseen hands.

The haunting of the Catfish Plantation Restaurant has become an accepted part of the business for the Bakers. Today they have a sign at the entrance that reads: “If you have a ghostly experience, please tell us!”

As for the three restless spooks, they’re still there and still quite active!