Lecture Notes: The Sally House Haunting

Introduction

• The Sally House is one of the most infamous haunted houses in America.
• Origin story involves Dr. Charles Finney, a medical practitioner in the mid-1800s in Atchison, Kansas.
  • Story: A young girl died during a botched appendectomy.
  • No evidence actually supports the story about a girl named Sally.
• The house was owned by the Finney family for years.
• The episode focuses on Tony and Deborah Pickman and their experiences in the house.

The Pickman Family's Experiences

Initial Signs

• Moved in in the early 1990s at 508 North 2nd Street.
• Odd noises, flickering lights, and spinning fan chains.
• Baby experienced sleep disturbances only in the nursery.

Paranormal Activity Begins

• Toys moved on their own in the nursery.
• Tony heard footsteps and children’s laughter.
• Items in the house were found in strange conditions (e.g., upside-down photos, melted candles with handprints).
• Small, isolated fires appeared throughout the house.

Escalation of Activity

• Sightings team investigated the occurrences.
• Mediums suggested a little girl's spirit was present, named Sally.
• Tony experienced scratches and bite marks.
• Tony saw apparitions, including a terrifying woman and a little girl.

Psychological and Physical Effects on Tony

• Tony's mental state deteriorated; he experienced violent impulses.
• He had vivid dreams of violence and blacked out during some incidents.
• Physical attacks became more frequent and severe.

Reasons for Staying

• Deborah was fascinated by the paranormal aspect and didn't experience negative effects.
• Tony felt a dark, negative energy but struggled with leaving.

Other Residents and Investigations

• Previous residents also reported unexplainable fires and hauntings.
• A solitary woman attempted rituals in the basement after the Pickmans left.
• Many shows and investigators have documented similar phenomena in the house.

Notable Paranormal Evidence

• EVPs and visual phenomena have been recorded by various investigators.
• The podcast 'Astonishing Legends' captured a particularly chilling EVP in 2018.

Conclusion

• The Sally House remains a key site for paranormal investigation.
• Despite numerous investigations, the true nature of the events remains a mystery.