Posted on 06/01/2007 9:01:04 PM PDT by CurlyBill
Brazenhead pub owner Tony Lehmann and his
son Brando believe they have a resident ghost.
PICTURE: DUNCAN BROWN
Creaking floors and doors, an apparition flashing past staff and peering over shoulders, a mop bucket rolling up and down the floor but there's no one around - it is a classic ghost tale set in a Napier pub.
Brazenhead Irish Ale & Coffee House owner Tony Lehmann says he's an open-minded non-believer - somewhat of a sceptic - but ever since he took over at the Irish pub about two months ago strange and spooky things have been happening.
"We spent a couple of nights down the back of the pub and we were woken up early in the morning to the sound of doors creaking and making noises."
He lay in the dark listening, and was certain he heard the doors open, hinges creaking and whining. But on inspection all the doors were closed and quiet. Tony dismissed the phantom sounds, and a week later was back staying in the pub.
"It was about 4am and I heard the mop bucket going up and down in the hallway. I didn't think much of it, thought it was probably the staff but then I heard the bucket again and thought'crikey, they are still going; they must be pissed'. So I got out of bed and the mop bucket was where I left it and the pub was silent."
His son Brendan also heard the mop bucket making night-time noises and saw eerie shadows. He won't stay at the pub overnight anymore.
A female staff member says she saw someone watching her from upstairs - even though it's inaccessible and the curtains are permanently closed.
Tony thought the only spirits that existed in the pub had names like Jack and Jim, but the spectre of other-worldly occupants had hung over the Brazenhead since before he arrived.
Lloyd Larkin has managed the bar for three years and says he has seen unusual images in the pub's pokie room. He's felt a presence peering over his shoulder more than once and seen a "flash" going past him.
Other staff say a man killed nearby in the Napier earthquake haunts the Brazenhead, a big burly man who was "skewered" by a falling beam. He's a friendly ghost, they say, there for protection not to frighten them.
But the Brazenhead name has its own gruesome and gory legend - a headless woman who hung around the original Brazenhead in Ireland after being killed in a bloody civil war.
Mr Lehmann is at pains to point out the tales of ghostly encounters aren't a PR stunt, or triggered by paranoia.
"Like I say, I'm not a big believer but when start to put all these stories together ... I'm tempted to sleep here more often to try to get to the bottom of it."
Staff kept their brushes with the deceased to themselves until they started to mount up like bodies in a graveyard.
"We would be interested to hear of any stories, anything like this in the area - just to prove we are not complete idiots."
Ghost Ping!!
Ghost Ping!!
Thanks for the ping CurlyBilL!
You’re very welcome... Deo Vindice!!!
Thanks for the Ping!
Hey there Curly!
Ghostie story time!!
Thanks for the ping!
Did anyone catch the MOST HAUNTED LIVE show last night? The were at East Penn Jail (?) and it ran for 7 hours live. I didnt watch the whole 7 hours but the last couple were pretty intersting. They had the table move and people getting scratched, objects thrown etc... I’m still at 50/50. Pretty good show for those interested. Their new season starts up next week.
Oh rats... I missed last night’s Most Haunted. I find their shows either pretty boring or quite interesting, no middle ground.
I enjoy these threads far more in the summer when it stays light longer.
Got anything ghost related at Gettysburg? I’m heading up there next month.
I’ll look, but I haven’t seen any news items on this topic from that area in a while.
Thanks CB.
We’re heading to Gettysburg next month and the wife wants to do the ‘haunted tours’.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.