The memory of the watseka wonder is very much alive today. Page 14 the girl now in her new home seemed perfectly happy and content, knowing every person and everything that mary knew when in her original body, twelve to twentyfive years ago, recognizing and calling by name those who were friends and neighbours of the family from 1852 to 1865, when mary died, calling attention to scores, yes, hundreds of incidents that transpired during her natural. Just weeks after the vanishing, flynn retired and charles runkel was promoted to succeed him. The question is not about whether the watseka wonder is natural, supernatural, or a.
Kentland john cook presented a program to the kentland rotary club about the strange and amazing tale of lurancy vennum from the book the watseka wonder written by dr. Many of the advances in science, such as quantum theory, begin with what cannot be explained with quantum theory. This week, we have a story of a 19th century spiritual possession, when 14 year old lurancy vennum began suffering from fits that eventually led her to visiting heaven, speaking with angels and finally, taking in the spirit of deceased 19 year old mary roff, the daughter of local spiritualists. Stevens would dub the watseka wonder, became the best documented paranormal event in american history. Author troy taylor, long fascinated with the story, presents the first fulllength account of the story since dr. This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book without typos from the publisher. Since then, it has been retold again and again including the 1977 novel watseka and the booth brothers documentary, the possessed. Watseka wonder to be published again local news daily. Runkel later recalled, even though he was off duty, flynn never let the case go. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. Troy taylor another live event at american hauntings. This book, which is the first fulllength, nonfiction title to be written about the case since 1879, unveils the true facts behind what occurred in watseka in the. Americas first documented case of spiritual possession in 1877 the townsfolk of watseka were gripped by the apparent possession of young lurancy vennum by the spirit of mary roff, the daughter of the towns founder who had died suddenly 12 years before.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Years later in july, 1877, the vennum family lived in the house next to. Library blogs and other social media general information. Discover the most haunted amusement parks in the united states. W download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Book tests pointing to survival after death a documentary by dr keith parsons. The case of the man in the green pajamas turned out to be the last significant case of police chief ike flynns career. Winchester stevens was present to observe and examine vennum through much of this time. A startling and instructive psychological study hardcover at. The watseka wonder history, philosophy, and newspaper library. Evening with the watseka wonder american hauntings. The watseka wonder a startling and instructive psychological study and well authenticated instance of angelic visitation. Americas most extraordinary case of possession and exorcism. Ontheafternoonofjanuary31st,1878, thetwogentlemenrepairedtomr.
In a rural farming town of watseka, approximately 85 miles south of chicago, illinois, something otherworldly was going down between 1877. Lurancy vennum and the watseka wonder the dark histories. This book was originally published prior to 1923, and represents a reproduction of an important historical work. Mary raynolds, a case of double consciousness paperback october 23, 2015. A narrative of startling phenomena occurring in the case of mary lurancy. January 2012 four afterdark investigators and two guest this night. Stevens and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This week, we have a story of a 19th century spiritual possession, when 14 year old lurancy vennum began suffering from fits that eventually. Learn how the testimony of a ghost got a man convicted of murder. A narrative of the leading phenomena occurring in the case of mary lurancy vennum.
The unrated documentary is based on the book the watseka wonder by e. I remember a thread about this elsewhere a couple years ago where the current owner of the house showed up and posted in the thread she claimed to have not encountered any activity herself but there were often curiosity seekers photographing the house and knocking on the door asking about it she. Stevens accounts were published in the leading spiritist journal of the time, the religiophilosophical journal, and later in an 1887 book entitled the watseka wonder in which he described vennum as the most remarkable case of spirit return and manifestation ever recorded in history. In 1864, mary lurancy vennum was born near watseka, illinois. The question is not about whether the watseka wonder is natural, supernatural, or a fraud. I have driven through watseka for work reasons but never pursued looking for the house. Watseka wonder, embodying the psychic relations between lurancy and mary, were so new. The story of one of americas most famous and first ever documented spiritual possessions, as told by the current owner of the roff house.
In 1929 eileen garrett, an irish medium, predicted the r101 airship tragedy which duly happened the following year, and killed 48 people. Stevenss examinations of vennum would eventually be publicized in a book titled the watseka wonder. The watseka wonder a documentary by dr keith parsons. Astartlingandinstructivechapterinthe historyofspiritualism. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book without typos from. Lurancy vennum and the watseka wonder dark histories. The spirit possession of lurancy pictured above right began july 11, 1877 and lasted. A narrative of startling phenomena occurring in the case classic reprint e. The watseka wonder university library, university of illinois. The watseka wonder roff home in 1877, mary lurancy vennum of watseka, illinois, experienced a series of seizures, after which she reported taking a trip to heaven, chilling with angels, and high fiving her brother and sister who had died years before. Read about the watseka wonder, a true tale of a young girl who became possessed by the spirit of another girl.
This book serves as the most detailed account of these events. A narrative of startling phenomena occurring in the case. Roff family homestead the watseka wonder ghostly world. Americas most extraordinary case of possession and. Mar 17, 2018 the watseka wonder a documentary by dr keith parsons. In a rural farming town of watseka, approximately 85 miles south of chicago, illinois, something otherworldly was going down between 1877 and 1878. The watseka wonder a startling and instructive psychological study, and well authenticated instance of angelic visitation. Would that the wikiskepticsquad had the same open mind. Stevens accounts were published in the leading spiritist organs of the time, the religiophilosophical journal, and later in an 1887 book entitled the watseka wonder in which he described vennum as the most remarkable case of spirit return and manifestation ever recorded in history.
In this book, he stated that vennums case was the most remarkable case of spirit return and manifestation ever recorded in history. Years later in july, 1877, the vennum family lived in the house next to the roffs, and the paranormal activity began. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the watseka wonder. Hansebooks is editor of the literature on different. According to stevens, vennums character would change.
When she was years old, something happened to her that would change her life forever. Stevens who observed and help treat the nature of her illness or possession in 1878. In july, 1865, the roff family purchased the property that would become most associated with the watseka wonder story. I doubt very many missed the exorcist, the exorcism of emily rose, or the amityville horror. See all 14 formats and editions hide other formats.
The watseka wonder a narrative of startling phenomena occurring in the case of mary lurancy vennum 1887 by e. The remarkable facts related in this book, the watseka wonder, embodying the psychic relations between lurancy and mary, were so new that many spiritualists held it was impossoble for one spirit to enter into the vacated body of a living mortal and manifest through it. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Kentland rotary hears the strange tale of mary roff local. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Watseka wonder, which is always my favorite stories that ive ever and guess what i wrote an entire book about called the possessed, which is. Weve all probably read and seen movies about possession. Mary reynolds, a case of double consciousness by rev. Stevens, meanwhile, wrote accounts of marys return for the religiophilosophical journal and his 1887 book, the watseka wonder. In a seance she spoke to the captain who died in that crash. Sep 25, 20 in july, 1865, the roff family purchased the property that would become most associated with the watseka wonder story. Stevens, meanwhile, wrote accounts of marys return for the religio philosophical journal and his 1887 book, the watseka wonder. A narrative of startling phenomena occurring in the case of mary lurancy vennum.
The watseka wonder is the story of yearold lurancy vennum, who reportedly was possessed for 100 days by the spirit of mary roff, whose parents bought property in 1865, the year that mary. It was during that same month that mary roff the daughter of asa roff died. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Winchesterstevens probablythemostremarkablecaseofspiritreturn andmanifestationeverrecordedinhistory. A narrative of startling phenomena occurring in the case of mary lurancy vennum e winchester stevens on. May 23, 20 january 2012 four afterdark investigators and two guest this night. Americas first documented case of spiritual possession. The watseka wonder history, philosophy, and newspaper. Pursuant to governor pritzkers stayathome order issued march 20, all university library locations will be closed to the public, including our faculty and students, immediately through april 30, 2020. On sale on our website and speaking of us, dont forget, we still have the regular team that we said we start we wouldnt end it until all over, but the deal is the promo code spooky you get 20 percent. We believe the history of the case as herein told to be strictly true. According to the legend the roff home located in watseka, illinois is where the first documented possession case of year old lurancy vennum occurred and became one of americas great unsolved mysteries called the watseka wonder.
Now restored to its former victorian italianate glory. Watseka wonder is the name given to the alleged spiritual possession of fourteenyearold. Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. The curious case of the watseka wonder the planet today. On the other hand, psychologist frank sargent hoffman called it a clear case of hysterical impersonation. Kentland rotary hears the strange tale of mary roff. Apr 26, 2019 in 1864, mary lurancy vennum was born near watseka, illinois. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. To members of the various learned professions we especially commend this narrative. Jul 20, 2017 the watseka wonder roff home in 1877, mary lurancy vennum of watseka, illinois, experienced a series of seizures, after which she reported taking a trip to heaven, chilling with angels, and high fiving her brother and sister who had died years before, because this was the 19th century and of course they had. Top american libraries canadian libraries universal library community texts project gutenberg biodiversity heritage library childrens library. Americas most extraordinary case of possession and exorcism st. Stevens, the compelling story of yearold lurancy vennum who became possessed by the spirit of mary roff 12 years after.
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