P.W. Creighton's Blog
October 11, 2017
Passing Strange: The Well Bewitching Book Tour
Celebrating the recent release of Passing Strange: The Well, Bewitching Book Tours will be hosting a virtual tour October 16th through the 30th. Here are a few locations that you'll be able to find me with a few insights on archaeology, folklore, myths, the horror genre and of course a few insights about myself.
October 16 Fang-tastic Books (Guest Blog)
http://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
October 16 Ramblings of a Book Nerd
http://www.booknerdramblings.com/
October 17 Paranormalists
https://paranormalists.blogspot.com/
October 17 T's Stuff (Interview)
http://teresanoel.blogspot.com/
October 18 Rising Inides United
October 18 Roxanne’s Realm
Passing Strange: The Well
By P.W. Creighton
October 19 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, and Sissy, Too!
http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com
October 19 Reads 2 Love
October 19 Books Direct (Guest Blog)
http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com
October 19 Illuminite Caliginosus
http://darkwriter67.wordpress.com
October 20 Ogitchida Kwe's Book Blog
http://ogitchidabookblog.blogspot.com
October 20 Lisa's Loves(Books of Course)
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/
October 23 YA/NA Book Divas
October 23 Books, Dreams,Life
Http://booksdreamslife0829.blogspot.com
October 24 Lisa’s World of Books
http://www.lisasworldofbooks.net/
October 25 Supernatural Central (Interview)
http://supernaturalcentral.blogspot.com
October 25 SImply Kelina
http://simplykelina.blogspot.com/
October 26 Lisa-Queen of Random
http://www.Lisas2900.blogspot.com
October 27 For Love of Books4
https://forloveofbooks4.wordpress.com/
October 30 Vicky at Deal Sharing Aunt
www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com
Make sure to stop by if you can and share your own thoughts as well. And if you haven't grabbed your copy of Passing Strange or if you have, it is available now. remember to plop down a review if you get a chance
September 3, 2017
Passing Strange: The Well Is Now Available
Taking a break after the heavy themes Cruel Summer, I drew inspiration from the archaeological dig that I conducted for two summers. Less than a foot underground in a small yard right in a downtown was a well, filled with intact artifacts, some that were unbelievable. The well only appeared on one property record in the early 1800s. No one ever knew it existed. This led me to wonder what else could be hidden under a small town and what dark secrets could be hiding...
Passing Strange - The Well
Passing Strange: The Well
By P.W. Creighton
For Fourteen-year-old Aidan Reynolds, the archaeological dig at the Parrish Cove historical society is the only thing making the summer interesting.
That is until he meets Maddie, an unusual girl who has just moved to town and is convinced that there is more to the local legends surrounding the historical society than even he knows. While Aidan may not believe her, the strange artifacts that are recovered from the dig force them into exploring the dark, twisted history of Parrish Cove and its strange doctor...a man who vanished over a century ago.
Together, they uncover a town secret that has been forgotten for centuries, and discover that there are some things that should stay buried.
September 6, 2016
Exploring the Viking Longship Draken Harald Hårfagre
Draken Harald Hårfagre docked.
Recently the sailed from Norway to North America during the summer of 2016. The Draken Harald Hårfagre is a 114 foot, seventy ton Viking longship that was built using classical methods. The ship set out with a crew of 33 traveling from Norway to Iceland, Greenland, Canada and then to the USA.
During it’s traversal of the Erie Canal on it’s return voyage, the Draken Harald Hårfagre docked and gave visitors the chance to walk the decks and find out about the ship.
June 8, 2016
A Modern Lovecraftian Road Trip To Innsmouth
Newburyport Harbor - Innsmouth Harbor
“Innsmouth? Well, it’s a queer kind of a town down at the mouth of the Manuxet. Used to be almost a city—quite a port before the War of 1812—but all gone to pieces in the last hundred years or so..” Shadow Over Innsmouth, HP Lovecraft 1931
In 1931 HP Lovecraft wrote the influential horror story of Shadow Over Innsmouth. It was a story of a student on a tour of New England that takes a detour from his trip south from Newburyport to Arkham upon hearing of this remote and forgotten seaside town.
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By Hoodinski - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
The narrator begins in by describing the peculiar events during the winter of 1927-28 in which the Federal government made an investigation of the seaport town of Innsmouth that resulted in a vast series of raids, arrests and deliberate destruction of a number of dilapidated houses along the waterfront. This was followed by reports of the navy discharging torpedoes at the Devil’s Reef just out from the harbor.
After a bit of research into the odd town, the narrator grabs the bus bound for Innsmouth where he eventually discovers the town.
It was a town of wide extent and dense construction, yet one with a portentous dearth of visible life. From the tangle of chimney-pots scarcely a wisp of smoke came, and the three tall steeples loomed stark and unpainted against the seaward horizon. One of them was crumbling down at the top, and in that and another there were only black gaping holes where clock-dials should have been. The vast huddle of sagging gambrel roofs and peaked gables conveyed with offensive clearness the idea of wormy decay, and as we approached along the now descending road I could see that many roofs had wholly caved in. There were some large square Georgian houses, too, with hipped roofs, cupolas, and railed “widow’s walks”. These were mostly well back from the water, and one or two seemed to be in moderately sound condition. Stretching inland from among them I saw the rusted, grass-grown line of the abandoned railway, with leaning telegraph-poles now devoid of wires, and the half-obscured lines of the old carriage roads to Rowley and Ipswich.
The decay was worst close to the waterfront, though in its very midst I could spy the white belfry of a fairly well-preserved brick structure which looked like a small factory. The harbour, long clogged with sand, was enclosed by an ancient stone breakwater; on which I could begin to discern the minute forms of a few seated fishermen, and at whose end were what looked like the foundations of a bygone lighthouse. A sandy tongue had formed inside this barrier, and upon it I saw a few decrepit cabins, moored dories, and scattered lobster-pots. The only deep water seemed to be where the river poured out past the belfried structure and turned southward to join the ocean at the breakwater’s end.
While the town of Innsmouth was not a real location it was actually based on the town of Newburyport, Massachusetts and in HP Lovecrafts own words “[Innsmouth] is a considerably twisted version of Newburyport.”
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The Former Custom House - "...a squat-towered stone church of manifestly later date than most of the houses, built in a clumsy Gothic fashion and having a disproportionately high basement with shuttered windows."
Newburyport, Innsmouth, is historic seaport first settled in 1635 as part of the Newberry Plantation that is now in the town of Newbury, and in 1764 the town of Newburyport came into being. Sitting at the edge of the Newbury Marshes.
Today, a road trip to Innsmouth is quite different. Between the tourists with coastal traffic, the commercial look of the coastal road 1A and the general sense of congestion. It’s hard to see the isolating dread of a forgotten seaport community but it is not impossible.
Just 20 miles west of Newburyport lies Mystery Hill, America’s Stonehenge. Tucked away in Southern New Hampshire in the hamlet of Salem is an archaeological mystery site that remains controversial to this day. Acres of stone structures hidden away in the woods on not so well-known roads. The site leaves much to the imagination whether it be dark occult rituals or grain storage, these megalithic structures can be interpreted many ways.
Exploring Mystery Hill's Oracle Chamber
Our road trip to Newburyport was in pursuit of a Whale Watch cruise that would take us out to sea for the day and when we came back to port we would then spend the rest of our day exploring the town and surrounding areas. Unfortunately, or fortunately, our plans were waylaid by some interesting events.
Traveling into Newburyport from the north, Salsibury, leads you down bridge street across the Merrimack River bridge to Newburyport proper.
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"...As we clanked over the bridge I looked out on both sides and observed some factory buildings on the edge of the grassy bluff or part way down. The water far below was very abundant, and I could see two vigorous sets of falls upstream on my right and at least one downstream on my left."
Our arrival in Newburyport brought us through the downtown district and over to the dockside parking lot near a beautiful seaside park and docks. The weather had shifted drastically to offer a more atmospheric look at the shadowy town that HP Lovecraft had envisioned as Innsmouth. The temperatures had dropped to the mid-50s, 5ft swells were sending the fishermen back to port and cancelling our cruise while fog dampened the entire town.
While there was a potential option for a harbor cruise later, we were left without much to do other than explore the town. Right at the docks a tall ship, a reproduction Spanish Galleon was at the docks offering tours with the purchase of tickets from the Maritime Museum. Unfortunately the museum did not open until noon which left us to walk down the streets in search of something to pass the time.
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"...we rolled into the large semicircular square across the river and drew up on the right-hand side in front of a tall, cupola-crowned building with remnants of yellow paint and with a half-effaced sign proclaiming it to be the Gilman House."
As fortune would have it, we came into the town square as it was opening for a Memorial Day weekend festival of sorts featuring tons of local booths, shops and artists plying their trade. It was really easy to see a the European influence of architecture, planing and even just the atmosphere.
Wandering the street festival we were able to see dramatic shifts from what may have existed when Lovecraft twisted the town into Innsmouth into a bustling small seaport destination that it was today. Many iconic landmarks were just as they had been described with modern updates of course and when the Maritime Custom house Museum opened we were able to see the original photos of the town and how Newburyport had changed with complete renovations to the dockside and downtown districts of town that had aggravated much of the residents.
Amusingly the major demolitions of the buildings, warehouses and dilapidated homes of those districts perfectly echo what HP Lovecraft had said at the start of his story.
"...followed by the deliberate burning and dynamiting—under suitable precautions—of an enormous number of crumbling, worm-eaten, and supposedly empty houses along the abandoned waterfront."
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"...The panorama ahead had contracted to a street scene, and in spots I could see where a cobblestone pavement and stretches of brick sidewalk had formerly existed..."
Even in the Custom House Maritime Museum we could readily find Lovecraft's inspiration for his characters in Shadow Over Innsmouth, two captains from the early 19th and 20th centuries had notes in the exhibits. A Captain Obed and a Captain Marsh were of historical significance for Newburyport.
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"...old Captain Obed traded for it in some heathen port...ordering stacks of glass beads and trinkets such as seafaring men used to get for native trade..."
There were artifacts from the great shipping days of Newburyport where the historian told us that Captains would often bring back objects or 'souvenirs' from their trips to distant ports.
Some of the notable artifacts on display were a giant clam shell almost four feet across, some silver dishes, and even some gold figures that looked to be reminiscent of Poseidon.
Not only were there Captains of some great significance to Newburyport named Obed and Marsh that were likely the inspiration for the town leader Obed Marsh in Shadow Over Innsmouth but also there were stories of trade and even artifacts in the museum that also matched to descriptions.
The town of Newburyport, Innsmouth, today is steeped in history and feels like it is a piece of a different time but also a piece of today. It is a welcoming hybrid of the past and present that carries with it an air of something else. Newburyport, much like it's twisted shadowy version in Innsmouth still holds captive the imagination.
It's really no surprise that in 1987, when Will Murray took a field trip to Newburyport and Gloucester to research locales from Lovecraft's "The Shadow Over Innsmouth". When he visited Gloucester, Murray found a Gilman House — more formally, the Sargeant-Murray-Gilman-Hough House — a hotel in the story but in real life a Georgian-era mansion turned into a public museum. He also found other landmarks mentioned in the story, including streets named Adams Church, Babson, Main, and Fish, and a building adorned with large, white wooden pillars on its front and side — the Legion Memorial Building — that looks remarkably like the story'sMasonic Lodge (the meeting place for the Esoteric Order of Dagon). and much more...
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June 1, 2016
Exploring America's Stonehenge "Mystery Hill" in Salem, New Hampshire
Jonathan Pattee’s Cave. He had a house in these woods 70 years ago; took town paupers before the town farm was bought. This is a wild but beautiful spot, among rough boulders and soft pines, about which the most weird and fantastic tale might be woven. There are several caves still intact, which the owner used for storage purposes.”[7] Many believe that Pattee built the site in the nineteenth century. No unequivocal pre-Columbian European artifacts have been found at the site
— Wikipedia
The rest of the site's history is then clouded by the activities of William Goodwin, the proprietor, who became convinced that the location was proof that Irish Monks had lived there long before the time of Christopher Columbus. Goodwin began altering the site 'restoring' it to what he believed was the original construction.
Initial archaeological excavations led many to argue that the site was covered in Ogham writing of a pre-Columbian, yet non-Native American origin for the site and artifacts suggested that most of the stones were assembled by 18th and 19th century farmers including the much-discussed "sacrificial stone" that closely resembles lye-leaching stones used for the manufacture of soap. This together with the restorations by Goodwin have led many to discount the site.
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"Sacrificial Table" at America's Stonehenge
Still, Carbon dating of the charcoal pits at the site provided dates ranging from 2000 B.C. to 173 B.C. placing the site in the Late Archaic or early Woodland time periods. Then in 1982 under the supervision of the New Hampshire state archaeologist an excavation uncovered a quarry site that was determined to be consistent with Native American lithic techniques.
I still have no idea how my parents stumbled across this site in the late 1980s. There are few signs for the site and even fewer people that know anything about the site, even in the archaeological community. When we decided to re-visit this site it was everything I remembered from back then. Literally only 3 cars in the gravel parking lot (including the staff), remote craggy trails and tucked away in the woods a whole labyrinth of stonework structures. Mystery Hill is far more appropriate than "America's Stonehenge" after all, it is a mystery as to what the site was really for, why it was built, what it was originally like before the owner 'restored' it and most importantly, why has this faded from archaeological memory?
April 13, 2016
Neil deGrasse Tyson at Hamilton College On Scientific Illiteracy in the US
Neil deGrasse Tyson came to lecture at Hamilton College to talk about Scientific Illiteracy in the US and much like Bill Nye last year it felt like a revelatory insight into our world.
Tyson started with a few comparisons of currency from around the world to demonstrate how other countries view scientists and societal advancements. The highlights of course were his comments about Nikola Tesla and how even Benjamin Franklin was regarded for heresy for his advancement with lightning rods.
“It’s God’s will that lightning struck that church and burned it down…you’re interfering with God’s will…”
This drifted into my favorite aspects to analyze and just happen to be two of my favorite subjects that I address in class and use for my writing.
Belief and Perception.
Neil deGrasse Tyson recounted how he had been summoned for Jury Duty and actually looked forward to it. In his first instance he was questioned about what he taught in his classes. When he said that he was teaching how faulty eyewitness testimony could not be trusted and perceptions are not objective he was summarily dismissed from duty. When summoned again, Tyson was questioned why the judge was describing a quantity of illegal drugs as 3000 milligrams as it was only about the weight of a dime. It was apparent that those without knowledge of the measurements would see it as a great quantity when in reality it was not. Tyson was dismissed again. In a third Jury Summons he was asked if he could make a conviction in a case where there was only two witness statements. Tyson asked if there was any other evidence and the Lawyer asked other potential Jury members if they felt that they couldn’t convict without more witness testimony. It took another Jury member to point out that wasn’t what he had asked, but nevertheless he was dismissed.
These examples that he offered were a perfect example of how utilizing only one point of view or perspective could create a false representation of an event. The unreliable narrator is a common example of this however, this is often used to manipulate and appeal to beliefs. Much like the 3000mg example Tyson discussed. The lack of knowledge can be used to manipulate beliefs of a group simply by changing their perception of the situation.
Utilizing this tactic on a larger scale is often how a person can come to lead a group in a direction and impose those beliefs on others rather than establish a perspective on objective information.
Neil deGrasse Tyson continued this descent through how perception cannot be relied upon but often is utilized and manipulated to sway beliefs.
Tyson wrapped up his lecture by showing a number of staggering statistics on how the US is no longer a leader in science and then transitioned to ‘the blue dot’ and a great quote by Carl Sagan.
Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.
— Carl Sagan
December 18, 2015
Cruel Summer Is Available NOW!
What originally started as a fast continuation of the Sunglasses At Night and Bad Reputation novels became a little more heavy and slow as the subject and content of this story required a lot more care in both delivery and approach even as it is viewed through Logan's eyes.
Cruel Summer (North Shore) (Volume 3)
By P.W. Creighton
This was the story that I envisioned and while it took longer than I was hoping for, I feel both the story and the cover turned out better than I could've hoped.
Just as before, as I wrapped up Cruel Summer I immediately started on the next in the series, "View From A Bridge" and actually started on the new series "Whispers In The Dark" at the same time. These two are flowing a lot more smoothly than Cruel Summer and it's weighty subject.
After a scandalous party that made headlines, the North Shore Sheriff's department is being forced to change, beginning with new oversight.Logan may have lost many of his friends to the gossip and secrets but he is not alone. A new confession has hit the airwaves and is threatening to ruin what is left of summer vacation.
Not all secrets are meant to be brought to light…
August 24, 2015
Fort Dayton Excavation Hits Water
Archaeology is all about using evidence to answer questions that history has left us pondering. Sometimes it's as simple as 'where was Fort Dayton?' other times it can be as complex as 'what didn't people throw down the well?' A question that doesn't appear to have any limits.
In 2002 Herkimer County Historical Society hosted an archaeological excavation in search of evidence of Fort Dayton and uncovered several artifacts from Colonial and Revolutionary War periods. After 12 years the Fort Dayton archaeological excavation was re-opened on May 31st, 2014 and after eight weeks of excavation the team had recovered countless artifacts that helped fill in the history of Herkimer's Dr. Suiter but unfortunately did not identify the location of the fort. A year later on May 30th the Herkimer excavation teams resumed the search at a new location.
Week 10
As the excavation resumed on the final week volunteers were primarily focused on cleaning and cataloging artifacts retrieved from the well, now at a depth of 21 feet. Brian Doyle continued his descent into the well only to send up more bottles, glassware and now shoes.
After continuing to excavate the well for several hours, which is rumored to date to the 1700's, the excavation had uncovered even more bottles, glassware, shoes and even women's stockings. While the strata of the well were now in chronological order after a month long excavation to remove back-fill of concrete, porch flooring and siding, the recovered materials were now only dating to the 1950-1960's.
Volunteer Brian Doyle continued his excavation of the well recovering even more materials from the 1950-1960s. In addition to the glassware, bottles and shoes the excavation had managed to recover several interesting ceramics however, these too were only contemporary antiques that had found their way into the well.
At the conclusion of the 2015 excavation the search for Fort Dayton at site number two has yielded more mid to late 20th century artifacts and a curious amount of shoes and ash. Unfortunately, the excavation was halted at 23 feet 8 inches underground when Brian Doyle struck water. The majority of recovered materials still did not date earlier than the 1940's at most and there are still no discerning identifiers that can date the well so that it can be attributed to Fort Dayton or not.
The 2015 excavation in Herkimer in search of Fort Dayton has concluded for 2015 however, the search for Fort Dayton is not over. The Herkimer County Historical Society is always looking for volunteers and assistance for the archaeological season.
If you're interested in archaeology or history you can contact the Herkimer County Historical Society about volunteering to help out.
July 2, 2015
Freemasons Secrets Of Baron Du Steuben ~ The Haunts And Legends Of New York
Steeped in history and legends, New York is filled with stories of the forgotten, eerie and the weird that influence us everyday. Baron Von Steuben was the Drillmaster for the Continental Army and in return for his efforts he was granted a large tract of land 20 miles north of Utica. His plans for the property were far different from what can be seen today but the secrets still remain for those who know where to look.
Lite 98.7's Eric Meier has teamed up with Folklorist P.W. Creighton to explore the haunts and legends of New York. Through their travels into the dark and often overlooked spaces they will bring these historic sites back to life and make some unexpected discoveries along the way. In this episode Phil guides the explorers to the Steuben Memorial 20 miles north of Utica to uncover Major General Friedrich Wilhelm Steuben's history with the Freemasons and the hidden secrets of the memorial that was built to commemorate him.
Major General Friedrich Wilhelm Steuben was known as the Drillmaster of the Continental Army, his knowledge of military discipline helped George Washington win the Revolution. In thanks for his service Baron Steuben was granted land from multiple states but after a long struggle with Congress he finally settled on the largest tract, 16,000 acres in New York, just 20 miles north of Utica. The Baron Du Steuben had a grand plan for the estate including a village with his home at the center. Embracing the "Enlightenment" and the teachings of the Freemasons, Steuben's plans incorporated many aspects of Masonic iconography that can still be observed today.
Watch the Complete Haunts and Legends Season 1 via this Youtube Playlist
Watch the complete first season of the Haunts and Legends of New York including our explorations of the Lost Village of Delta near Rome, Utica's Secret Underground Waterways and the Hidden Vault at Bagg Commemorative Park in Utica.
June 12, 2015
Searching For Fort Dayton
Archaeology is all about using evidence to answer questions that history has left us pondering. Sometimes it's as simple as 'where was Fort Dayton?' other times it can be as complex as 'what didn't the Doctor throw down the well?' A question that doesn't appear to have any limits.
In 2002 Herkimer County Historical Society hosted an archaeological excavation in search of evidence of Fort Dayton and uncovered several artifacts from Colonial and Revolutionary War periods. After 12 years the Fort Dayton archaeological excavation was re-opened on May 31st, 2014 and after eight weeks of excavation the team had recovered countless artifacts that helped fill in the history of Herkimer's Dr. Suiter but unfortunately did not identify the location of the fort. A year later on May 30th the Herkimer excavation teams resumed the search at a new location.
Week 2
As the excavation resumed on the second week a volunteer assisted with a survey of the site using a metal detector to provide additional site information and identify the potential sites for additional shovel tests. Shovel Test Pit #1, near the small well on the property, continued to be fertile as various sherds of ceramics, shards of glass and miscellaneous cut animal bones were excavated. An additional layer of bricks were uncovered as well. As the test pit reached level 6 in the soil profile the pit showed fewer and fewer signs of habitation. Excavation pit, STP #2, showed no additional signs of habitation once exceeding the 4th level and was subsequently closed as a core taken down to levels 6 and 7 showed no additional signs.
The excavation teams opened up four shovel tests to sample from various areas of the site. Three of the shovel tests were decided based on the findings of the metal detector while two additional shovel tests were taken due to the proximity to the well. While a single pipe stem and various bits of ceramics were recovered the shovel tests indicated that there was very few signs of habitation on site. Volunteer Brian Doyle continued his excavation of the well but after encountering large sections of concrete walkway that had been disposed of in the well in addition to a series of wooden supports in the lower reaches of the well, it was decided to contact an expert regarding the well to verify the safety of excavating further.
At the conclusion of the second week of the excavation the search for Fort Dayton at site number two has yielded more mid to late 19th century artifacts and a curious amount of cut and burned animal bones. The most significant artifacts recovered were obtained from test pit #1 and included another pipe stem, several decorative buckles and ceramics. There are still no discerning identifiers that can date the well so that it can be attributed to Fort Dayton or not. After concluding the excavation on site #2 the team of volunteers returned to the original site to assist in back-filling the Suiter Well.
Caryl Hopson[/caption] If you're interested in archaeology you can contact the Herkimer County Historical Society about volunteering to help out at the excavation.
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