Yes I said that this post is title Ghost and Genealogy because on the same night both things happen. While in Texas we made a night trip to Roganville, TX. Now, don't try to google it because it is not even a town anymore. It is nothing but a bunch of dirt roads and the main road has a black top but the bridges are still wooden, one lane. This is where my dad grew up and my family history is all connected to this area.
So, this night started with Marie's Brother, sister-in-law, newphew and his finance wanted to go see something haunting. If you know my Dad, he is a pro at making you so scared. He has spend years scaring the youth of Buna, TX with his spooky stories at camping trips or just around the house.
Okay the house that my dad lived in, in Roganville, is haunted. Everyone in his family agrees and they even had a name for the ghost. I forgot what he told me that they called it. But, that is beside the point. Anyways, well this house is now empty and just sitting out in the woods and 2 years ago he took my sister and some of her friends out there to try to scared them so he thought sure while not let go. In 2005 when Rita hit the area he did know that the carport had fallen but that was the last time he saw it. The house was destored big time. Teenagers has written all over the walls and trashed it big time. But the carport is still down. Also, we had trouble finding it because after we got out of the truck... the weeds were taller then us and the house. So we wonder around until someone's flashlight finally hit a window.
So here is a picture from outside that house.
Okay, so after that: we went to the Witch's Grave. There is a 2 graves in a old little fence way out in the middle of the woods. It is called the witch's grave because everyone believed that she was a witch. She was a widow and was know not to come out of the house during the day just at night and wore nothing but black. So her and her daughter are bury here in the middle of the woods which use to be here land. There is also a house near by that is aboned. We did not go to it cause everyone was tried and it was late. So anyways, here are some pictures from it.
This is the sign that is there:
Here is a view of the 2 plots.
This is the daughter:
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This is the Mother (AKA: the witch, Roxie)
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Genealogy
Now you must be wondering how that plays into this.
Okay our second stop was at Friendship Church and Cementary. Yes, cemetary at night can be scary but for me it was education. There is alot of family history here. Here is the sign if you want to read the history. Joseph Andrew Jackson and Rebecca Sheffield are my great-great-great or something like that grandparents. They are the ones that donated this land to be used for a church and cementary in 1899. Read if you want.
Here is a picture of the church on the outside. What is different about this church is that it is open 24 hours a day. When Joseph gave the community the land one of the causes was that the church had to be open for people to go to at all times. So i was able to go in.
Here is the outside of it.
Now, here is a view of the inside. Notice the beautiful old wood pews and floor. Remember the time 1899. I don't know if that is when this church was actually built.
Okay, so here is the picture of Joseph Andrew Jackson Sheffield and Rebecca Sheffield that was hanging in the church. Very old picture!
Now, this is the piano that my Great Grandma Lena played for years. My dad even has a video that was taken with the very old 8mm film that shows her playing the piano probably in the 60s or some time around then. Sad that there is no sound but that is how it was back then. It is just amazing that her piano is somewhere safe. They had pictures of her hanging in the church too.
Now, just for kicks, here is pictures of the old school that is from when Roganville used to be a town. There is also a picture of an old bus stop.
