I have always been fascinated with urban stories of the occult and of strange occurrences. I have always held on to the hope that the stories were provided by normal people who have experienced these occurrences or have heard the stories and at least researched some of the facts. That hope was pretty much ended by several articles written by SPOOQEYRUBEN. His so called article on "Pitcairn" and on the "The Byberry Mental Hospital" were so far off based and devoid of facts as to be more like fairy tales. (Only I believe fairy tales have more true facts than SpooqeyRuben's stories). Here I will concentrate on his article on Pitcairn. Spooqey's article on Pitcairn was so lacking in true facts as to be absurd. I found his article completely false and I would say it pretty much bordered on comedy. I did enjoy many good laughs and numerous chuckles from his gross inaccuracies. Spooqeyruben starts by stating "I know something about Pitcairn but something tells me that there is more to the story and to Pitcairn itself than I want to know". The first half of this sentence couldn't be more false. Spooqey knows NOTHING of "PITCAIRN". (By the way does Spooqey mean Pitcairn Island, Pitcairn, PA or the Pitcairn Family?) His second half of the opening sentence is definitely true. There is more to this story then he wants to know. If he bothered to check any facts he would learn more but obviously facts are something spooqeyruben likes to make up rather than research. This is painfully evident by his history of Pitcairn Island. Spooqey made up the facts that the Pitcairns left Europe (boy that narrows it down to the entire known world of the day) about four to five hundred years ago. That would mean 1500 or 1600. Considering Columbus discovered the new world in 1492 that was quite bold of them. Spooqey then has the Pitcairns settling on Pitcairn Island. I hate to burst spooqey's bubble but Pitcairn Island wasn't discovered until July 1767. It was given the name Pitcairn's Island because the man who first spotted the Island was the son of Maj. Pitcairn a British Marine Officer. Below is the History as put forth by the official website of Pitcairn Island. (Spooqey should read "Mutiny on the Bounty" sometime.) He would then learn that the crew of the Bounty settled on Pitcairn Island and were the first Europeans to settle there. No Pitcairns in that bunch I'm afraid.
PITCAIRN ISLAND
Discovery by Europeans: 1767 "It is so high that we saw it at a distance of more than fifteen leagues, and it having been discovered by a young gentleman, son to Major Pitcairn of the marines, we called it PITCAIRN'S ISLAND".
In these few words were recorded the first sight and naming of Pitcairn by a European. That was in July 1767, and the words are those of an Englishman, Captain Philip Carteret of H.M.S. Swallow, who was however, unable to land because of the surf "which at this season broke upon it with great violence".
No one except the determined Captain Cook was interested in Carteret's report and his search for the island was deflected by an outbreak of scurvy. So Pitcairn might have become the home of ex-sailors with their Polynesian families and, like other islands in these latitudes, a casual stopover for whalers looking for land and fresh food. But its destiny was to be quite different.
The tale of the mutiny of His Majesty's armed ship Bounty, which led to the founding of the Pitcairn community, is well known. All that needs to be told here is from Tahiti with a cargo of breadfruit trees for planting in the West Indies, the master's mate, Fletcher Christian, and others of the crew mutinied. Casting adrift the Commander, Lieutenant William Bligh, and eighteen loyal officers in the ship's boat, the mutineers sailed the Bounty back to Tahiti, then to Tubuai in the Austral Group.
There, relations with the inhabitants soon deteriorated and, spurred by the fear of discovery and arrest, eight of the mutineers set sail with Christian in search of an uninhabited island, secure from the outside world. To help them the men took with them six Tahitian men and, to look after them and be their consorts, twelve Tahitian women. (The above taken from the Pitcairn Island Official Website)
The Members of the Pitcairn Family who settled in Bryn Athyn left Scotland in the Early to Mid 1800's. (Not 400 to 500 years ago) Two brothers, John Pitcairn and older brother Robert Pitcairn arrived in Pennsylvania. (Robert worked for or ran one of the larger railroads. The town of Pitcairn, PA was named after Robert Pitcairn. Pitcairn, PA by the way is located near Pittsburgh, PA not in Montgomery county.) They were a prestigious family and possibly descendants of Maj Pitcairn, British Marines (who fought against the Colonists during the Revolutionary War and whose son reportedly spotted Pitcairn Island). Both handled money well and became millionaires.(as did many Americans, Mellon, J. D. Rockefeller (sp?), Dale Carnegie, etc.) Spooqey then went on about massive inbreeding on the part of the Pitcairn's "for hundreds of years" so as to keep the money in the family. This like everything else told by Spooqey is incorrect and misguided. There was of course some marrying of second cousins in the Pitcairn family but no more than in most other families. Anyone who looks into genealogy knows quite well that cousins often married right up until the mid 1900s. Until the turn of the century one usually married someone who lived within 20 miles. In the large farms/plantations of the south and the north this was often a cousin. Spooqey makes claims of massive deformities and insanity as a result of inbreeding. Again he is dead wrong. I am sure there were deformities and insanity in the family but not any more than in any other family in the US or the world. (Just look at spooqey.Note: Are we cracking on him? I hope not!) Unfortunately children all over are born with deformities or develop insanity. (Not all are the result of inbreeding.)
As to the other lies and misinformation that Spooqey tried so hard to pass off as truth I would like to say the following:
The Pitcairn's do not own the town of Bryn Athyn, PA. John Pitcairn helped to found the town in the early 1900s and donated some of his land for the town and the church. He also sold parts of his lands to others who then became the town's earlier residents. Yes the Pitcairns still own land and yes they are wealthy and yes the religion of the church in Bryn Athyn is a Christian religion. (Well at least spooqey got something right). The Pitcairns do not own the Bryn Athyn College, or the Cathedral, or any of the schools in the town of Bryn Athyn. Only an ignorant individual would believe that. All you have to do is look at the land records located at Montgomery County Court, Norristown, PA. These are public records which contain accurate and factual information concerning property ownership. (They are a whole lot more reliable than people who "heard" or "believe".) How do I know this? I looked it up, it was really quite simple. I also at one time lived in Bryn Athyn. So I guess I would know a whole lot more about the town then someone who claimed he once went there.
Spooqey mentioned being stopped by Montgomery County Police when he was at Glencairn. (By the way Glencairn was the former home of Raymond Pitcairn. Glencairn was donated many years ago to the Church and is now a museum opened to the public the second Sunday of every month. It is open for private tours at any time only you must make an appointment. The number for the Glencairn Museum is in the phone book (Eastern Montgomery County). If spooqey ever really went to Glencairn it must have been over twenty years ago when it was still a residence). Anyway back to Spooqey's experience at Glencairn. No offense but try looking up Montgomery County Police in any PA phone book or under any listings for law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania and you will not find it. You won't find it because there is no such agency. (More misinformation from spooqey..this time from his own so called personal experience.) Montgomery County has no such police department. There is a Montgomery County Sheriffs Department in Norristown, PA (which guard the courts, serve warrants and transfer prisoners) and the Montgomery County Detectives (also in Norristown) who assist smaller local law enforcement in the investigation of major crimes. There is even a Montgomery Township Police Department in Montgomeryville, PA (about 10 to 15 miles away from Bryn Athyn). Bryn Athyn has it's own Police Department. They are paid for by Bryn Athyn residents through taxes (just like everywhere else) and are not "owned" by the Pitcairns. They are occasionally assisted by and also assist, the Lower Moreland Township Police Department, Huntingdon Valley, PA. Spooqey could never have been stopped by Montgomery County Police since there is no such agency. (Oh well I guess spooqey doesn't want any facts to ruin a good story.) There is also a security force run by the church. That security force is for the safety and protection of the church and schools. As to residents of Pitcairn (actually spooqey the name is Bryn Athyn (the town of Pitcairn is near Pittsburgh. I guess we should all encourage spooqey to learn to read a map.) As to Bryn Athyn residents not wanting visitors this is totally off base. Come and see and you will find that the Church grounds and it's properties are open during the day for anyone who wishes to come and enjoy the beauty of the land. The key to visiting the grounds in Bryn Athyn is to come during the day light hours. After dark these grounds are closed to the public (including the church members and town residents). Anyone coming after hours is Trespassing so of course they will be checked out by police and security. I'm sure you would be upset if people were walking on your property at night. As to Spooqey's friend getting a ticket for an expired license I would hope if any part of the story is true it would be that tidbit. I would hope if police find some idiot driving on a suspended license that they would take this proper course of action.
As for the "cemetery at Glencairn" spooqey once again has his facts wrong. There is no cemetery at or on the grounds of Glencairn. Bryn Athyn does have a cemetery and it is for the use of town residents/church members. (Not just the Pitcairns.) If spooqey had ever been to the cemetery he would have found many last names on the gravestones.
Anyway I hope that clears up any misinformation. Hopefully your readers can now concentrate on the more factual stories on this website and avoid the dreamed up delusions of Spooqey.
Submitted by: ResearchTheFacts
Note: I want to make it perfectly clear that I am not taking sides in this. I have no clue who is right or wrong. This seems like pretty good info, although it seems a few personal shots were taken at SpooqeyRuben. I usually frown upon that, so please refrain from that in the future. I posted this because of the info. I'm glad to see people correcting information that is not factual, but please refrain in the future from taking personal shots at people. I don't want to make this web page an argument forum. Thank you!
Let me make this as perfectly "CRYSTAL" fucking clear as I possibly can!!! The information that I have acquired about "Byberry, Cry Baby Bridge, Pitcairn" and on all the other places of strange and abnormal activity was accumulated by indepth conversations that I have had w/ "dozens" of ppl over a period years!!! .....AND....by doing my own research of investigating these places! I tried to make it a point to say in my submissions that there was a difference between what I had personally experienced AND in what had been told to me from individuals that had had their own experiences!!!
Something tells me that if I say something......anything at all about any place that someone else finds derogatory and decides that bc I "stated" it......in my submission, that I must not only believe it, but I must also be the person responsible for "fabricating" the "trashy" statement for which they find so offensive! Well to be quite honest....those who have taken shots at me...personnel or otherwise... for what they have found...so offensive,...have either severe illiteracy problems....or are so damned ignorant, that they refuse to read and understand what was actually stated....and choose to just assume what was said and how it was meant...in a fashion that suits them!!! And I find that disgusting!!!
I commend our Weird Hostess and the Weird USA site. She has posted my own submissions "verbatim" and she is not to be scrutinized by anyone for doing exactly what she has done quite flawlessly and has always made it a point to say on the Weird USA site that she has not means nor the time to check and confirm everything that is submitted to the site! She has given us a forum for us to be able to submit what we feel and have experienced and has done a far better job w/ her creativity and her time than I know that I myself could have done!
I shall continue to do what research that I choose and submit what I find most appropriate! And if anyone has a problem w/ that.....well, you can go blow it out your ass!!!
My Best Regards!!!
Submitted by: Spookey Ruben
Note from Spooky: Thanks for the kind words! Also, for the record, I declair Pitcairn and Cry Baby Bridge officially dead topics! No more will be posted on them unless it is extremely good, and I mean EXTREMELY! Also, Byberry is getting there! I have stated in the past that I would like that topic to ease up, but I am still getting A LOT of mail about it! Let's keep them exceptional...or not existant. Thanx!
Hi. I was visiting your site. I read Lucas, aka "Top-Hat" and was wondering if it could move to different places (like very south louisiana) or if there are more like it. a few years ago i saw something exacly like it in my doorway but it didn't mimick me. It was about 10:00 when it happend and i was falling asleep. trust me on this, i wasn't dreaming and i'm not lying. he looked exactly like your description. top-hat, shadowy, black cape. one question, was he short? the ghost i saw was. anyway, he was there for about 2 weeks until he went away. my parents think i'm crazy (i was about 7 at the time. i'm 12 now) my parents where finnaly tired of me complaining and my mom gave me a necklace with a box with a scroll from the bible in it. was the spirit evil and vanished at the sight of good? i was really disturbed when i read the story but i'm very happy i finnaly, after 5 years, have some answers.
Submitted by: eminem70364
I've been there thousands of times, and I can tell you that there is a lot more to this bridge then just the babies. That whole area up there is in fact haunted. It used to be a every weekend deal for my friends and I. I just thought it was pretty interesting that some other people have experienced this. Most people just thought my friends and I are weird or we were lying. Well, if you have any questions or if you want me to send you a copy of the actual artical let me know and I'll scan it. Actually I used to have a picture of it, the bridge, me and my friends are standing in front of it. The bridge is called the Van Sant bridge. It was built in 1875. One of the very few covered bridges left.
Submitted by: Jamie
I hope you guys are for real because this has been a hobbie of mine for years. It started when I was five in my house in Ledgewood, New Jersey. Sleeping in my own bed my grandmother said she saw a person look down the stairs, turn into a white light, and disappear under my bed. My grandmother had the gift of seeing these things all the time, since she was younger, and I think I can do the same. Not saying I am psychic but maybe a little more sensitive than the normal person. I can tell you loads of stories from my grandmothers experiences and my own. I can tell you the events of episodes that woke me at 3 or 4 in the morning. One in particular was the ghost watching me as I slept. If I took a picture, I could have made any septic believe. There it stood, probably the same nuisance that opened all the cabinets in the kitchen every other night. I woke and watched it at about 1 foot from my face. I was tired and decided to roll over, but lucky for you I doubled checked to make sure. It turned its shoulders to me and glided about 6 feet through the door.
Submitted by: Dan
In early spring a drinking buddy and I went out in quest for something to do after leaving the bar. After picking up a half case we drove around Central Jersey listening to tunes and getting stoned. Soon an idea popped into my head, let's visit Runyon Road in Old Bridge, N.J. (Weird N.J. #16, pages 28-29), it was afternoon and let me tell you we were stone drunk! When there we looked around, a pretty cool place in daylight, must be scary as hell at night though!!! Anyway... we started to cross the "Kill Yourself" bridge and I chickened out noticing the height of (20-25 feet). To make a long story short my buddy fell off and broke his leg up pretty badly, this area seems abandoned but luckily the Runyon Water Works is right next door so the time for getting help was shortened. The cop was very cool and in fact found humor in the situation, he asked looking up at the bridge: "What the Hell Were You Doing Up There??". Looking up I thought the same thing and looking down further the old bridge suddenly just stops about 20 feet in the air!!? Weirder, still drunk and stoned I noticed that we were no longer in Old Bridge but in the City of Perth Amboy, who supposedly owns the land)!!? It said so twice on two different abandoned buildings!!? The cop said we were on private property, as usual with these Weird N.J. sites. Look it up on a map, Perth Amboy is about 10 miles away! The topper of this story is I still had a bottle of J.D. and my green smoke in my pocket as the cop drove me home :)
O.K. Spooky and all you weird adventurers. I know your obsessed with Byberry and sorry to hear your secretive meeting there was ruined BUT please remember the police were there for your own protection, maybe a bored cop may've surfed onto your site and tipped your police station off, maybe it was somebody who cares for your safety? Please... please... please be careful whenever you go into these abandoned areas, I seen what could happen first hand and know that night would make a situation like I been threw more disorientating. O.K. you may say we were drunk when it happened, tell me midnight visits to these areas don't have you stoned immaculate like we were? Be careful!! If your in a building the floors COULD give way, any number of possible accidents could happen at any weird site. If possible the best thing to carry would be a cell phone.
I'm planning a midnight photo shoot here sometimes in the summer, I'll send in Spooky these pics and others if she'll print them, hoping you all will do the same of other weird sites But BE CAREFUL!!!!!
Submitted by: name with-held
who is this kid Dennis who goes to this abandoned hospital with his friends and destroys it??? How dare he even be allowed to go near any ruin that is of architectural or artist interest to others. What is wrong with this picture? Here we have ruins--places from the past that were once of great beauty and we, those who are interested in such places, should be trying to save them from ruin, and instead here is this moron destroying them even faster than time itself. How dare he be even writing anything on this site??? Breaking things...writing on walls...VANDALISM!!!!! If anyone has this Dennis characters e-mail address, please send it to me. Maybe we should get our friends and do the same to his home?? would he enjoy that? It would mostly be "just fun." Right, Dennis??
Submitted by: Vitaleana
I too would like to know of this place! Any information you can spare would be greatly appreciated. I know the area pretty well and I do not know about any other hospital that is anywhere close to being right down the street from Byberry (pretty much or otherwise really). There is however an extension to Byberry.....that seemed to act as an actual hospital for the patients when Byberry was still open. If you take that overpass that is above Roosevelt blvd. heading east away from Byberry....and if you did this over a decade ago....that driveway would have taken you to the abandoned hospital that was left to ruin in the 80's. Unfortunately for those adventurous few the hospital has been revitalized and refurbished in the last couple of years and is now being used for something! Between that overpass and the now refurbished building there is a huge field which is apart of Benjamin Rush park. They seem to be doing something w/ that field aswell what w/ all of the dumpster's/trailers/bulldozer's and all of the mud they are moving around! I don't consider this another hospital...separate from Byberry in anyway bc the same ppl that ran this place were suppost to have been the same ppl that were responsible for and ran Byberry...so that would make this building just another building of Byberry and not "Another Hospital"!
Submitted by: Spookey Ruben
Has anybody ever heard of "BurdoBuro"??? Does anybody actually know if Byberry has ever been referred to w/ this name by anyone other than "Screwedup"? This is the first time that I have ever even heard the word......let alone hearing it referenced w/ Byberry at all!!! A # of ppl might even refer to Byberry by this...new name,...but does this name show up on any city maps, county maps, state maps,...has it showed up in the Natl. Archives...or anywhere...at all....other than a few e-mails??? By a show of hands....how many ppl think that this is b.s.? At best...somebody thought that "Burdoburo" sounded better than Byberry! (By the way,...the "National Archives: Mid Atlantic Regional office is about a mile east of Byberry on Townsend Rd. in N.E. Philly...in the industrial park!) Oh,...just for the record! I did NOT tamper w/ the e-mail that "Screwed" sent me.....those misspellings are as authentic as they get!
!!!!!!!!!!! (screwedup) replied to your LiveJournal comment in which you said:
I have never heard of Burdsburo! Why would they be on the same page if they are not the same place and why if they are the same place...is the name "Burdsburo" coming up now!? What state is Burdsburo located in and exactly where in that state is it?
Their reply was:
Subject: Re: Byberry &..........Burdsburo state insane asylum ???
Ok, Byberry road, is where its located and often reffered to as byberry insane asylum. The actutally name is Burdoburo though. It is off the rosevelt bulavard in Philadelphia. If you want better directions I can give them to you, if your ever in the area, I recomment you check it out, its the scariest thing I have ever seen in my little existance.
If you wanted to find out about it, or see some pics of it, including ariel vies, search at google.com for byberry mental hospital.
Also if your into this stuff, let Me know if youve heard of newhere cool. There is a haunted school near here too, which burned halfway down killing kids, and in the pocons, I went to buck hill inn, which if you watch mtv's fear, it was on it. Thats one of the best places I've been too, but Byberry, kicks all their asses. This past sunday we went there and went in the g ward, and OMG that wa fucked up. I got sooo scared that I ran.
Submitted by: Spookey Ruben
i am still striving to learn more about ghost and i am trying my best to find haunted places where i am now, which is Redmond, Oregon. Do you know of n e location there that are haunted i know of one but as you probably know this is a small town and there are many resources to find haunted places. If Redmond is too small for you to give me any info then you could help by giving me info on central oregon. If you cant that is fine but i will still appreciate any tips you could give me and your website that you had about ghost. thank you. reply soon.
Submitted by: Chelsea (e-mail me if you want to contact her)
I find it truly amazing that so many persons have fascinations with mental asylums.As for myself,I've been interested all my life! I worked as a volunteer at byberry and as a staff at other places. I'm a nurse and have many memories of past experiences. I will be sharing old photos and data as soon as i get my printer-scanner! It is my hope that this wild fascination will lead some of you guys to careers in the "helping professions".
Submitted by: Bruce