Stories

Paranormal Activity — Rose’s Dad

The Second Night

In 1991, we moved into a new home not far from our first home. Unlike our first home, which we both new from a builder, this home was about thirty years old. It was a very normal looking split level and a place that you would not associate with paranormal activity.

That changed the second night we were there. My wife’s sister and her husband were spending the night and about 2 AM we heard loud banging. It sounded like someone was banging on the door or the walls. We all ran out into the hallway and were asking each other what happened. No one knew! It was very strange, but we all went back to sleep and forgot about the incident.

Who Turned Off The Light

Not long after that incident, I was leaving for work the day after Thanksgiving. My wife was out of town,, and after I left home, I noticed that I had left the kitchen light on. I was running late, so I left it on. When I returned home, the light was off. I figured the bulb blew out. Then I checked the switch and saw that it was turned off, but not by me.

Is One Bedroom For The Ghost

One weekend my father-in-law visited us and stayed in the small bedroom in the front of the house. A couple of weeks after that my wife came home after visiting him and relayed the following story. 

My father-in-law asked her why we bought such a big house, and was one of the rooms for the ghost.

“What ghost?”, my wife asked.

“The one in the bedroom.”

He went on to describe a short old man that was dressed in shorts and a baseball cap and was pacing in front of the window in his bedroom.

The next day I saw our next door neighbor and asked her if Rose’s father was short and if he wore shorts and a baseball cap.

She turned as whiter as a ghost and asked, “How did you know that?”. I explained that she asked what bedroom. When I told her she informed me that the room was Rose’s sewing room and that her father would pace back and forth waiting for her to return from work!

The Wood Pile

In the winter I would pile wood up in the garage for the fireplace. I would stack it up nice and neat. One night I heard noises from the garage like wood being moved around. The next morning I found that the would didn’t fall from the pile, but it was scattered around the garage.

The Froebel Star

Rose was born in the Black Forest in Germany. One year I redid the insulation and floor in the attic and cleared everything out. I moved everything away from the center and so there was a wide open space. A few weeks later I found a German Origami Froebel Star dead center in the attic. It was never there before and could not have just dropped from somewhere, it was placed there. 

I recognized the star as being from Germany because as a boy in the cub scouts, my den mother was from Germany and one year we made these stars at Christmas.

 

Rose's Mom

After a few years, everything stopped. We then learned that Rose’s mom had passed away. Our conclusion was that possibly Rose’s dad was waiting for his wife. We never felt threatened, but there were a couple of attic rooms where Rose’s parents lived that always seemed a bit eery. 

Roots and Reflections – Buon Natale

In this conversation, the hosts and guests share their unique Christmas traditions from their respective cultures, focusing on the differences and similarities between Italian, English, and American customs. They discuss the significance of food, particularly the Italian-American tradition of the ‘seven fishes,’ and reminisce about their childhood memories of Christmas celebrations, including midnight mass and family gatherings. The conversation also touches on the impact of cultural identity and language on their holiday experiences. In this

Read More »

Rediscovering Italian Roots: Montescaglioso Basilicata

Join us on a heartfelt exploration as George Gingerelli takes us on his remarkable journey of rediscovering his Italian heritage. Picture the scene: George and his sister, motivated by family lore and childhood stories, find themselves piecing together a family puzzle that spans continents and generations. Their emotional voyage led them back to Montescaglioso, Italy, where a century of lost connections was rekindled with newfound relatives. George’s narrative is not just about genealogy; it’s about

Read More »

Researching Avellino The Valleriano Brothers’ Heritage Quest

Uncover the remarkable journey of Italian heritage with brothers Michael and Chip Valleriano, who embarked on a quest to trace their family’s roots back to their great-grandfather’s migration from Italy to the United States. Their passion for genealogy shines through as they share insights from interviews with elder relatives, revealing the stories behind Ellis Island and how their family settled in Cleveland. You’ll learn about Chip’s dedication to preserving family stories and the significance of

Read More »

How To Redeem Your Roots

In this engaging conversation, Bob Sorrentino and Dawn Matera-Corsi delve into the significance of heritage and family roots, particularly focusing on Italian culture. Dawn shares her family’s journey from Ischia to America and discusses her book, ‘Redeem Your Roots,’ which outlines seven keys to connecting with one’s heritage. The discussion emphasizes the importance of family stories, traditions, and the role of food and language in maintaining cultural connections. They also share humorous anecdotes about culinary

Read More »

Buon Onomastico – St. Nicola

My Photos from St’ Nick’s Bari 9/23 IMG_0887 IMG_0885 IMG_0888 IMG_0889 IMG_0890 IMG_0891 IMG_0892 IMG_0893 IMG_0894 I will always remember the feast day of St. Nicola because my grandmother would always send a card to my dad on Dec. 6. It was also the start of the Christmas season for us as we would always get a little something from St. Nick.   Click Photo to Purchase Direct Or buy on Amazon Join Italian Roots

Read More »

Antenati and Italian Genealogy Research Tips

Discover the transformative journey of Bill Sallurday as he uncovers his Italian roots, tracing his family lineage back to the picturesque village of San Cipriano Picentino. With a passion for genealogy, Bill’s relentless research has revealed his family’s true surname, Sabato, and connected over 8,000 individuals through a comprehensive genealogical database. His dedication not only reconnected him with his heritage but also earned him honorary citizenship from the village, highlighting the profound impact of his

Read More »
Bob

Recent Posts

Roots and Reflections – Buon Natale

In this conversation, the hosts and guests share their unique Christmas traditions from their respective…

6 days ago

Rediscovering Italian Roots: Montescaglioso Basilicata

Join us on a heartfelt exploration as George Gingerelli takes us on his remarkable journey…

1 week ago

Researching Avellino The Valleriano Brothers’ Heritage Quest

Uncover the remarkable journey of Italian heritage with brothers Michael and Chip Valleriano, who embarked…

2 weeks ago

How To Redeem Your Roots

In this engaging conversation, Bob Sorrentino and Dawn Matera-Corsi delve into the significance of heritage…

2 weeks ago

Buon Onomastico – St. Nicola

https://youtu.be/Aqvqy23fpYc My Photos from St' Nick's Bari 9/23 IMG_0887 IMG_0885 IMG_0888 IMG_0889 IMG_0890 IMG_0891 IMG_0892…

2 weeks ago

Antenati and Italian Genealogy Research Tips

Discover the transformative journey of Bill Sallurday as he uncovers his Italian roots, tracing his…

1 month ago