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Something eerie lives here
Children’s voices giggle and adult voices warn visitors to leave. Doors rattle. Coats levitate and chairs fly. Pennies fall from the ceiling.
Those are some of the weird phenomena that Chris and Christina Dawson have noticed since they moved into an 1899 farmhouse on the west edge of Sheridan.
“Something lives here,” Chris said.
“We’ve been told it will never go away,” Christina said, using “it” to refer to what she and her husband consider multiple entities.
The Dawsons are intrigued, sometimes irritated and often baffled by the phenomena, but not all that frightened.
“I think it respects the house,” Chris said.
“I want to think of it as a guardian,” Christina said.
The Dawsons moved in three months before their Aug. 7 wedding. They spotted the cute light blue farmhouse — or did it spot them? — while driving through town looking for a new place to live.
The “For Rent” sign was nearly hidden by four feet of grass at the time. But the house, though somewhat neglected, looked charming.
“It had the feel of something good, and I wanted it to be a calming place,” Christina said. “I love this property. I just didn’t know it would be so ... busy.”
Since they moved in, they’ve done a great deal of mowing and landscaping around the house and several outbuildings, as well as spiffing up the interior. But their efforts haven’t stopped what they say are unexplained noises, occurrences and odors.
Christina first noticed something amiss a few days after they moved in. Then Chris heard pounding noises in the empty barn.
They shrugged it off — until other people began mentioning strange events.
The Dawsons started talking to neighbors, then to real estate agents. They said they were told many people had moved into the house, but no one had stayed more than about six months. Stories have it that one family packed up rapidly after something started choking the father in his bed.
The Dawsons, however, are hoping to buy the place.
“We’re staying,” Chris said. “This is our house.”
Chris said he is more annoyed than frightened by the phenomena.
“I grew up on an old property in Cascade Locks,” he said. “I lived with poltergeists. My whole family is spiritual.”
By now, everyone in their extended family has experienced the hauntings. Some have heard noises in the barn or noticed sudden chills. Others have found ghostly images in photos of the site.
Before the Dawsons moved in, their 5-year-old daughter created her own guardian angel. She talked to the angel, read books with it and included it in her play. Now she claims there’s a second “angel” who lives in the house.
Her mom isn’t sure it’s an angel. The little girl provides “too much detail” for it simply to be imagination at work, she said.
Other children don’t always describe a benevolent presence.
Once, when the adults were away and the kids were playing outside, the doors started opening and closing. Frightened, the youngsters ran to the neighbor’s house.
Harley, their 5-month-old puppy, and Isabella, their cat, have also had brushes with the unseen. Harley yelps at nothing at times, and Isabella prefers to stay away from the house for days on end.
Whatever it is, it’s most active at bedtime.
The Dawsons will turn out the lights and climb the stairs to bed, then hear something walking around on the ground floor. Sometimes it pushes the fire alarm. Sometimes it throws things.
There seems to be no real pattern to the strange behavior. It occurs in the daytime as well as at night. It seems harmless at times, but Christina also has been pushed, hard, by ... something.
The Dawsons have taken photos and videos and recorded their explorations. On some recordings, phrases such as “Leave me alone” can be heard. Photos have revealed strange images — a man’s face, they said, as well as weird streaks and orbs of light.
Things appear in odd places.
One day a mousetrap that had been in the corner turned up in the center of the room. Another day, she found her coffee cup in the closet. A roll of black tape and a pewter ring decorated with a skull also have shown up.
“It always leaves something in the middle of the floor,” she said.
Bad smells, like “old urine or sweaty socks,” often precede events. But not always.
Anxiety or arguments seem to set it off. “Usually it goes crazy when someone is new here,” Christina said.
Out of curiosity, the Dawsons have invited several professionals to visit.
A paranormal phenomenon group spent a night checking out the site. Several of the investigators became sick during the investigation, Christina said, and the group confirmed that unusual energy was present.
A Catholic deacon spent hours blessing the house. Now saintly medallions are tacked up over doorways.
Christina, who attended Catholic schools, also hung a crucifix in the bedroom. “It’s eased off since then,” she said.
The Dawsons have heard all sorts of possible explanations. Some people have suggested the house is haunted by its original owner, Otto Hyder. He owned a large amount of land in the area and spent time in prison for tax evasion.
Others say the land may have been a burial ground. Still others believe the presence of quartz and limestone in the area, or its riverside location, may be responsible. Or perhaps it’s related to the strange symbols painted inside one of the barns.
The Dawsons are open to hearing other ideas. They can be reached by e-mail at angelonfire_1961@yahoo.com.
To Chris, it’s mostly just interesting. Christine is a little less taken by their ghost’s charms, though.
“It’s irritating,” she said. “It’s fine when it’s quiet, but I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
Whenever she finds a penny, she puts it in her prayer jar.
“We say a lot of prayers here,” she said. “How do you fight something like this, other than with faith?”
Starla Pointer, who is convinced everyone has an interesting story to tell, has been writing the weekly “Stopping By” column since 1996. She’s always looking for suggestions. Contact her at 503-883-6263 or spointer@newsregister.com.
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Thu, 11/05/2009 - 2:32am - Posted by: Viper1
Great Story! We heard you on the radio. I hope you get some answers soon. I for one think it is high time people start talking about these things. We all know something unexplained out there exists. Whether some people want to admit it or not. Could be scientific or spiritual or both. It is interesting. All I can say is good thing Mrs. Dawson's husband was a Navy Seal Brave Brave BRAVE! Who cares about who's on who's land. I say send the nasty little enities to their house!!
Thu, 11/05/2009 - 10:13am - Posted by: Bluehalo
Looks like someone has to much time on there hands. Guess who the new owners our going to be ? You need to get it straight. Permission granted you idiot.. I'm thinking slander is a good word.
Wed, 11/04/2009 - 5:58pm - Posted by: Oregonnative40
just a quick blurp to a reader/commenter: The homeowners of the area which are nearby to the family reporting the story do have and have always had permission to dump their grass clippings where they have being that it is grass and not garbage. Which where the clippings are being disposed there are berry bushes and trees and schrubs so it does not harm anything. Yes you are correct you may have seen kids playing in and around the barns but were asked by the property owner to not allow it because it is private property and if anyone was hurt they would be liable, in which there were signs posted but due to the past weather conditions have not maintained. The families that do live here know that there is no tresspassing. The river was also granted for use of the homeowners as long as it was not use for unlawful or damaging events.
Thanks
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 10:14pm - Posted by: darth_r8r
The Dawson Family Kicks A$$....they are hardworking people raising a family and needless to say that have made that property look GREAT...Chris will lay the SMACK DOWN on that Ghosts RUDY POO CANDY A$$...KNOW THIS!!!...He's a manly man in a manly world doing manly things in a manly manner amungst men..FACT...As for Loggerswife....have you tried Xanax (Alprazolam) or maybe Paxil?.GO YANKEES!!!!!
Tue, 11/03/2009 - 5:05pm - Posted by: loggerswife
We also live in a late 1890's house - outside of Yamhill - after we moved into the home we noticed unusual activity in our home. Whatever or whoever it was did not like women/girls - it never bothered my husband and he could never feel the chill or intense pressure of something or someone being right behind you or staring at you. If my daughters and I made loud noises cleaning in that room we could feel a chill behind us - we always felt like it was watching us or we could feel the presence in the room - just one room - upstairs. One night, as my husband and I slept, I felt like I was being smothered by a pillow and woke up gasping for air. I have never slept in that room since. One day, years later, I had two elderly women stop by and ask if they could walk through the home. They brought with them black and white pictures of the house from the 1930's and related to me that they lived there w/their grandparents for 10 years when they were young girls. I allowed them to come in and we walked from room to room - we went upstiars and as we approached the room where we had experienced our problems with our "ghost" - I reached forward to open the door and as I did the elder of the two women (I guessed her to be around 80 years old) grabbed my arm and said, "You know this room is haunted?" I replied, "Oh really?" She then stated, "When we enter this room there will be two windows immediately to the left, my grandmother always had sheer curtains over those windows and I can not tell you the times I have seen an aparition of a man standing behind those curtains." That right there did two things: Confirmed that what we were feeling when we were in this room was true; and that it was a man, or aparition of a man. I have never said anything about this to anyone and neither did my children - we always felt unsure of the validity of the story until these two ladies from Portland came to our home. After doing some research on aparitions I went into the room and told whoever to cross over to the other side and if they could not do that they could share the home but we could not have any damage to the home or residents inside the home. If they couldn't abide by that they had to leave. I still spend as little time as necessary in that room and my girls - even thought they are grown and gone refuse to go in that room when they return home - none of our grandchildren will go in the room. So we just let whatever it is have the room. The ghost has never been in any other place but in that room. End of story long but true.
Wed, 11/04/2009 - 8:13am - Posted by: HappyHappyJoyJoy
We had lived in this house a few years back and experienced some of the same happenings as this family. I noticed comments about trespassing that might give the reader a certain impression. Al though we didn't live there long, I remember children playing in the barns, others dumping their grass on private property, and most all who used the property for various reasons ( walking dogs, going to the river ).I don't know how many tenants have lived there but we have lived in Sheridan for 30 yrs. Most anyone knows someone who has lived there or has lived there themselves. Kudos to the Dawson family for their honesty. Mike
Sun, 11/01/2009 - 4:49pm - Posted by: Bluehalo
This is not the forum to debate some private info that others have asked not to have devulged. for obvious reasons. However if Princess would like to come chat and get educated before posting it is an open invite. I'm wondering why we havent met you if you have known all who lived here. We moved in May. With that being said, Till then, It is a " dead issue
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 9:19pm - Posted by: darth_r8r
This will sum it all up This is what I recorded Halloween Night @ this same house...this is REAL FOOTAGE..Dont let your children watch...click the link below .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4uxIo4t7xM
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 4:46pm - Posted by: oregonatve72
"I don't believe in this stuff, but it is entertaining! I too have had "light orbs" in some of my photographs, I always thought it was lint on the camera lens, boy was I wrong! There must be ghosts everywhere!! "
Indeed. I have taken lots of photos where the subjects eyes turned a mystical red! I better turn them in and write a story how half the people I photograph are secret Zombies! Or, I could turn on the red eye reducer on my camera, but wheres the story in that for the gullible?
My son has a grass stain on his soccer uniform that looks like Jesus. Now pardon me while I place it on Ebay, starting bid, $10k.
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 1:49pm - Posted by: princess1966
Lets get it straight. We are not saying there are not ghosts or spirits, just stating in all the tenants that have lived in the home to include the current owner of the home not the current renters in which the owner lived in the home for 2 years prior to the current renters moving in has also stated he never encountered any ghosts, spirits or heard or seen anything on these lines that you are stating.
The prior owners/renters over the last 10 to12 years most of us have been aquainted with all of them and I am sure if these things were going on when they lived there we would all know.
We have all been outside late at night and have not heard anything coming from the barn so maybe your interuption in entering private property set the ghost or spirit off to also ask what you meant by you would love to talk about the word tresspass, the property and back plus river.
Just by naming a few gentlemans names in your initial interview anyone that has lived local would know exactly the location and home you are talking about as I and others were unaware of this story until people contacted us and the remarks in the grocery store.
A Happy Halloween to You Too !!!!!
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 12:33pm - Posted by: Kate
I don't believe in this stuff, but it is entertaining! I too have had "light orbs" in some of my photographs, I always thought it was lint on the camera lens, boy was I wrong! There must be ghosts everywhere!!
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 12:08pm - Posted by: MikeTubbs
princess1966,
Perhaps for reasons of their own, prior renters may have felt uneasy sharing some of their experiences.
There's a lot of stuff that I've personally witnessed, that I don't talk about for obvious reasons.
And yes, I'm talk'n about the dead.
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 10:47am - Posted by: Bluehalo
Princess. If you have questions come ask. 107.5 playhouse has a webite. A person cant put in links here. Against rules. We signed a a form with Taps NOT to say who we are or where we live .Love to talk about the word trespass and the property and back plus river.. till then have a Happy Halloween
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 8:58am - Posted by: princess1966
Yes to your question, most of us did see the cars parked in your driveway with the headlights pointing towards the barn, but there are always people there. The question is:
If you would have never gone into the barn would you be seeing and hearing what you are. That part of the property is Private Property and at one time signs were posted with " NO TRESSPASSING " The current owner of the home you are living in is not the owner of the barns but the owner does live near by.
It's not that we are saying this is not happening to you, but in the 10 plus years that most of us have lived here we have never experienced it nor has anyone that we know that has lived there mentioned it. If there is positive evidence whether from the Ghost Hunters or anyone else who has encountered or documented it Please give the website or information on how one can view the findings.
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 1:09am - Posted by: Bluehalo
Princess. There are 2 neighbors that have come talked to us. from what I understand the cul de sac is about 10 years old or so, give or take vs. The home that isnt part of your area and built in 1899. Should come over and visit would love to share a letter from the " Original" owners family and more. Also this home has had to many to count renters/ owners and been for sale more then numerous times. Skeptical is good. I rely on evidence. I dont suppose in July you noticed the many cars and trucks one night, Called TAPS ( Ghost hunters ) Sci fi Channel. Also 107.5 Playhouse
Fri, 10/30/2009 - 10:36pm - Posted by: princess1966
Well I do not know where to begin...We have lived in the cul de sac where these people are telling their story for 10 years and have seen a few families come and go but not because of ghost or haunting reasons.
One family lived there for over 3 years and moved due to a divorce and not once did they mention ghosts or seeing or hearing things, another family moved in and were there about 6 months if I am not mistaking and moved because relocating for work, the current owner lived there for sometime remodeling before he rented it out and not once stated anything about it being haunted or hearing noises or voices or seeing anything.
All the kids in the cul de sac have lived here most of their lives and most of the neighbors have been here about the same length of time except for a couple but the kids have all been in and out of the barn and down in the field and along the river and swam in the river and not once have any of them mentioned hearing or seeing anything.
If they are seeing or hearing anything inside/outside and in and around the barn wouldn't you think the rest of us would know something. We are a pretty close neighborhood and all talk and not once has anyone mentioned anything like this. Unless there is pretty sufficient evidence and that someone else comes forward besides their family and friends who have seen or heard or encountered these things going on it's hard for any of us to believe in it. But again we do not live in the house.....
Fri, 10/30/2009 - 7:20pm - Posted by: MikeTubbs
I myself, subscribe to the News-Register for not only the 'news', but the local human interest stories as well.
Sometimes, no news is good news, but that's just me.
Fri, 10/30/2009 - 2:52pm - Posted by: darth_r8r
Truthseeker..your feeble readings from a book that was written by man is hogwash..I dont see how readings from your book is going to help this family..apparently people see ghosts all the time..when is Christ supposed to come back?.WE WANNA KNOW
Fri, 10/30/2009 - 12:38pm - Posted by: TruthSeeker
Chris and Christina, I am a Christian and I too have lived in houses such as you have described in this article. I also, at one time believed that what I was living with were in fact ghosts. If you read in the Bible Ecclesiastes 4-6 it explains to us that there is no such things as ghosts. The living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no reward, but the memory of them is lost. thier love and their hate and thier envy have already perished and they have no more forever any share in all that is done under the sun. Also verse 10 explains whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol ( the grave) to which you are going. Psalms 115:17 also says, The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any that go down in silence. Job 7 : 9-10 explain, As the cloud fades and vanishes so he who goes down to Sheol ( the Grave) does not come up; He returns no more to his house, nor does his place know him anymore.
I now understand from the word of God that ghosts are evils spirits. These spirits are servants of Satan and can appear to be friendly, kind or even as someone you have known. If they were all hideous and ugly you would know their true face and intent by sight!! even if you cant see them you can always know their spirit by thier works. The bible tells us we are either for God or against God , there is no luke warm. So likewise, can there exist luke warm angels? NO!! Angels of God do only works that glorify God and serve him only. So do you not think that Satans angels are not serving him also? 2 Corinthians 11:14-16 explains, And no wonder for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, So is it strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righeousness. Their end will correspond with their deeds. So even at the time when I believed there was a difference in ghosts and evil spirits, ( which I do not now) the occurrences that you are describing I would have considered demonic. We know that faith in our lord and savior Jesus Christ has the power to cleanse and renew all things. Trust in the Lord. We will be praying for you and your family
In Christ,
Steven League
McMinnville
Fri, 10/30/2009 - 12:31pm - Posted by: Bluehalo
oregonatve72, The more you write the more it becomes clear you You Are The Witch We Have Been Looking For! :>
Fri, 10/30/2009 - 12:20pm - Posted by: oregonatve72
You're right, perhaps pathetic was an inaccurate description of the "news" value of this article. More like laughable I would think. Look, if you want to continue to believe Elvis is still alive and sucking down Margaritas and wolfing down double bacon cheeseburgers, that there was a second shooter on the grassy knoll, that the "vapor trail" theory is true, that aliens are abducting people who live in trailor parks, that George Noory is a genius, and that Mr. Dawson's dilapidated '70s pick-up is the gateway to another world via an "unexplained vortex", then yes, this article is for you. For the rest of the planet, it is hysterical. So for that Dawson family and NR, I thank you. Everyone needs a good laugh more often. For those who think there is any credibility whatsoever in the article, I suggest you stop thinking Jerry Springer is a reality show, that WWF wrestling is real, that the Enquirer is news, and that this story is anything but a joke. My personal favorite moment of the article is Mrs. Dawson "dancing" with mysterious "light orbs", priceless! Now quick NR, some mullet headed guy out in Sheridan just saw bigfoot! Grab the news van and cameras while the trail is still hot!
Fri, 10/30/2009 - 9:49am - Posted by: bbopie
NR thank you for this article. I enjoyed seeing a human interest story that fits the season. If you are a believer in spirits or not this article still draws interest.
Thanks for a great story - and thank you to the home owners for being willing to speak out on a controversial topic
Fri, 10/30/2009 - 7:33am - Posted by: Bluehalo
Personally I think it is refreshing to see a interesting news story other then the usual day to day struggles. What N-R didn't print is that there is a magnetic phenomenon of an unexplained vortex in the home,Where a person standing on level ground loses about 6 inches in height. I highly doubt that is " Pathetic" News. And so on. Everyone does have an interesting story to tell:)
Fri, 10/30/2009 - 6:38am - Posted by: oregonatve72
I sure hope this article is some sort of attempt at a joke, and that the staff at the NR is not trying to pass the article off as some sort of "journalism". This article belongs in those pathetic tabloids you see at the checkout counter of grocery stores.
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 11:50pm - Posted by: Pat Longbottom
Interesting use of your media.
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 7:39pm - Posted by: CrystalT
i couldn't live here! lol!
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 8:21am - Posted by: darth_r8r
WOW CHRIS...YOU GOTTA FEW GUESTS?....AWESOME...when can my family and i come check out your house?...i sent you an email....RAIDERNATION!!!