Early Gravestone Carvers of New England

 Graveyards or cemeteries used to freak me out, but when I realized that ghosts don't haunt cemeteries I was okay with them. They're actually peaceful and full of history, so we enjoy walking through them. Today's blog is about early Gravestone Carvers of New England from the New England Historical Society.

Early Gravestone Carvers of New England

Early gravestones in New England were as varied as the men who carved them. The artistic designs of the early gravestone carvers changed over time as beliefs about religion and death evolved. The oldest stones were carved on slate, featuring skulls and crossbones, the symbols of mortality. These gradually evolved, as later carvers began to suggest life and resurrection with more hopeful angels and winged cherubs. After 1800, the use of urns and willows became fashionable.

Close-up of urn and willow engraving on an early gravestone in Searsport, Maine

Here are some examples from “Gravestones & Puritanism”.

Early Gravestone Carvers Carving often ran in families, with fathers passing their trade on to sons and grandsons. Although many learned as apprentices and sometimes copied their masters’ designs, they also developed their own artistic style.

There were hundreds of gravestone carvers throughout colonial New England. The following contains brief biographies on nine of them, with some links to gravestone images.

A Pair of Prolific Gravestone Carvers William Buckland (1727-1795), Manchester, Conn., and Peter Buckland (1738-1816), Rutland, Vt.

William Buckland and his brother Peter were both prolific carvers, carving hundreds of gravestones in and around Manchester. They lived in the area known as “Five Miles,” named for the five-mile tract purchased from the Indians in 1672. Both brothers apprenticed with Gershom Bartlett, a well-known stone carver who created faces on his stones with bulbous noses, which the Bucklands also copied. William tended to work in sandstone while Peter more often used granite.

An early gravestone by Peter Buckland After serving in the Revolutionary War, William moved to Poultney, Vt., in about 1783. he occasionally made some spelling errors, such as a backward p and N and he once spelled boody for body (probably the way it was pronounced!), according to “The Gravestones Carvers of Rutland County, Vermont,” edited by Margaret Jenks, 2016.

William died in 1795 and is buried in Poultney, “Captain” Peter died in 1816 in East Hartford, Conn. Click on the link to several of Peter’s gravestones.

Connecticut Carvers James Stanclift (1639-1712), East Middletown, Conn.

James was the first permanent settler in Middletown, which later became Portland. Carving gravestones was a family occupation for generations. It included sons William and James, and James’ sons James III and Comfort. They often carved using all capital letters, as seen in these examples. James, Jr., tended to make some careless mistakes.

Obadiah Wheeler (1673- ~1749) Lebanon, Conn.

Obadiah was “one of the great early carvers of eastern Connecticut,” according to the Old Plainfield Cemetery website. He probably apprenticed with John Hartshorne, as he used similar loops, curls and downswept winged cherubs. See a few examples here. Obadiah was another one known for some “original spelling” such as “Har Lis/Lise/Lyes”; “Fathar” and “Jenewary.” More information can be found in “The Colonial Gravestone Carvings of Obadiah Wheeler” by James A. Slater & Ernest Caulfield (click here).

A tombstone by Obadiah Wheeler An Early Maine Carver Bartlett Adams (1776-1828): Portland, Maine.

Bartlett was one of the first carvers in Portland, with the only shop in the area from 1800-1828. His stones were known for winged faces, rising suns and rosettes, according to the Spirits Alive website. He often advertised in the Portland Gazette. Born in Kingston, Mass., he died in Portland, Maine at age 52, buried in Eastern Cemetery.

Tombstone by Bartlett Adams on the grave of his son. It reads, The inscription reads “Memoriae sacrum/Bartlett, son of Bartlett Adams & Charlotte his wife/born July 5 & died December 30. AD 1806. Betwixt his birth & death, HOW SHORT THE SPACE?” Another Father and Son John Homer (1727-1803): Boston

Born in Boston, John often worked with his son William and was known for the prominent skull and crossbones on top of his gravestones. These can be found in cemeteries around Boston, Cape Cod and nearby states.

One unusual gravestone, that of Captain Tobias Lear (died 1781) found in Point of Graves cemetery in Portsmouth, N.H., combines his familiar skull and crossbones with the newer style of urn and willow. This was a very early use of the urn and willow. See the example from Sentinel Hill Press.

Besides carving gravestones, John was active in the politics of the day as a prominent member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Sons of Liberty.

Headstone of Elizabeth Hurd, by John Homer, in the Granary Burying Ground A Much-Burdened Carver Solomon Ashley (1754-1823): Deerfield, Mass.

Solomon led a burdensome life. He was the son of the Rev. Jonathan Ashley of Deerfield, who antagonized his parishioners with his Tory leanings and was frequently in debt. Solomon was subject to fits of insanity and was also in debt. At one point he gave up carving. Then he landed in Northampton jail, where he suffered a self-inflicted stab wound, as mentioned in the Greenfield Recorder of Sept. 16, 1805.

Solomon’s carved stones often featured haunting mourning figures, perhaps mirroring his tortured state of mind. In 1824 he drowned himself in the Connecticut River at the age of 68.

More information can be found in the book “The Outcast Artisan: The Struggles of Gravestone Carver Solomon Ashley” by Frances Davey, 1991.

A New Hampshire Carver John Wight (1702-1775): Londonderry, N.H.

According to the Sentinel Hill Press, John Wight came to New Hampshire in 1718 as a teenager with a group of Scots-Irish Presbyterians. Instead of the usual death faces used by the Puritan carvers, he used three symbols: a coffin, a heart and a geometrical star. Sometimes there was an hourglass. He also inscribed verses such as “My body turned into dust; My dust it shall rise; In resurrection of the just; To sound Jehovah’s praise.” This suggests the Presbyterian belief in mercy and resurrection, as opposed to the oftentimes Puritan assumption of damnation.

Common Burying Ground, Newport, R.I. Early Gravestone Carvers of Rhode Island John Bull (1734-1808): Newport, R.I.

John Bull was a rebellious character! As a teen, he was an indentured servant in Newport to his brother-in-law, William Stevens. However, they did not get along and John ran off to sea, eventually leading a mutiny. Later, he was also a rebellious stone carver, once defiantly sculpting a biblical scene on a gravestone, which was considered unthinkable in Newport, a Quaker stronghold at the time.

In later years, he was quite creative. There is a double gravestone in Newport which includes a young daughter (died 1780) of William and Desire Tripp, and a son (died 1784) and “also his wife’s arm amputated” (1786). Bull carved an arm in the center of the gravestone! (Click here to see it.)

The John Stevens Shop Stevens Family: Newport, R.I.

The Stevens family carved gravestones for six generations. John Stevens (1646-1736) established his shop in Newport in 1705. By 1724 he had turned his business over to his son John II (1702-1778). His carving style featured a face or soul effigy with wings. William, another son of John I, married Ann Bull, sister of John Bull (above). The third generation included John III who carved some stones for people of African heritage. He was the only one to sign his gravestones. One stone that he signed was that of Pompey Brenton (his slave) in 1772, which featured a curly haired angelic figure. Here is further information on the Stevens family and John Bull from R.I.P. Newport.

The Stevens shop is still open today in Newport!

End Notes

Rebecca Rector of Troy, N.Y., is a history and genealogy researcher, and retired librarian from Siena College. She has been transcribing letters and diaries for Newberry Library and National Archives for the past three years.

Ghost Bear on Camera- and Rob tuning into him !

Recently Michael from Colorado sent me a video from his CCTV driveway camera and asked for my take on whether a ghost or spirit (who crossed over) animal was in the footage. Today's blog is about that exchange, and how I was able to tune into the animal!

MICHAEL: Hello, I have seen orbs on my infrared cctv driveway camera for over a year now. Recently, one of these seems to have taken on an animal form, to me it looks like a small bear. Thank you for your time.

ROB: Thanks for sharing that footage. It absolutely looks like a bear's ghost. The way that it seems to walk slowly toward your car and disappear. - Interesting.  Are there bears that live in your area?   If so, do you know if a bear had been recently killed or died near your property?  - There needs to be a connection to make it make sense. 

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WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/-1NyR9UjK7w

MICHAEL: No, I live in a densly populated suburban area of Denver, CO. There are no bears that have died around here in modern times, to my knowledge. That's what is so strange about this. It started around a year and a half ago, shortly before my cat passed away, so I know it's not him lol. Usually it is just a large transparent orb that only shows up on infrared. I did have an acquaintance run a video of another orb through some of his enhancement software a year ago (he's a paranormal enthusiast), and it did show animal characteristics. This one however is a recent raw video which definitely has as you've seen, animal characteristics. There have been more since this, but lately it's just been a blob like shape. The video here is from a month or two ago.

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After watching the footage over and over, I was able to tune into the entity, and wrote back to Michael

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ROB: Interesting that no bear has passed lately, but it could very well be a bear that was killed there over 100 years ago (I keep hearing 1889) and wanders. It definitely behaves and even appears to be a bear. 

   So, my thoughts are that when the bear was killed, it was shot without warning and died. When the bear died, because he/she was confused about what happened, they lingered a long time, trying to understand what happened.

   When people or animals physical bodies die, their physical energies couple with their memories and personality to form a "soul" outside the body. Then they can cross over or stay earthbound. 

   As with humans who linger too long, their energy levels drop and get below a threshold needed to open the doorway to the other side/paradise/heaven/valhalla, and become stuck here on earth as a ghost. 

     So that bear ghost has been wandering around since it was killed, and the light from your floodlight provided the energy for the bear to manifest, which is what was caught on camera.

     There have been stories of a few ghost animals throughout history, and most of the wild ones have been about wolves. But it makes sense that this is the ghost of a bear from over 136 years ago, as Denver was already thriving, and expanding, and any bear that would come into the town would have been killed. 

    Unfortunately, Further communication with the bear is difficult because I cannot communicate with wild animals.

 The only reason I picked up on 1889 was because someone who was around the bear at that time must have mentioned the year. Whenever a wild animal hears a human say something, it becomes an imprint in their mind that they can repeat. Unfortunately I was not picking up on anything else.

  And yes, crossing over the bear it would be the best thing to do to bring that poor animal peace after 135 years! -

To cross the bear over, I recommend getting someone to help you combine emotional energy to open a portal in the area where the driveway light shines- then I recommend putting a piece of meat outside one evening and putting your car in the garage. Keep an eye on the "bait"- - The bear will go after the "bait" and cross into the light (because of the portal's location). - Then discard the bait!

CLOSING: 25 U.S. centers that monitor flooding and drought: Serious Consequences on Americans

As a scientist, I can tell you that understanding where droughts and floods occur is critical to maintain safety of lives and property and the data is shared with the National Weather Service. Further, the U.S. Govermnent stations that keep track of these events also contribute to ensuring drinking water is safe. Now, under the current Administration, 25 of these critical stations are being closed. I don't understand how harming Americans is in their best interest. Here's the story.

(Image: Hammer Creek in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania is a part of the Chesapeake Bay Small Agricultural Watershed Monitoring Program, and the Pennsylvania Water Science Center that was targeted to be closed. Scott Heidel, PADEP / USGS) 

Trump officials gut 25 centers that monitor flooding and drought in the US 

White House orders closure of USGS water science centers, which shares data with weather service for flood warnings

Tom Perkins, Fri 2 May 2025 , UK Guardian News

The Trump administration has ordered the closure of 25 scientific centers that monitor US waters for flooding and drought, and manage supply levels to ensure communities around the country don’t run out of water.

The United States Geological Service (USGS) water science centers’ employees and equipment track levels and quality in ground and surface water with thousands of gauges. The data it produces plays a critical role across the economy to protect human life, protect property, maintain water supplies and help clean up chemical or oil spills.

The targeted centers are part of a larger network, and the Trump administration based its decision to make cuts on leases near expiration, not scientific reasoning, said Kyla Bennett, director of science policy with the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility non-profit that is tracking the issue.

The administration has not indicated a plan to fill the holes left by those that closed.

“It’s not being done with any thought about human life, it was just ‘this seems so woke so let’s get rid of it,’” Bennett said. “People think water is free and comes out of your tap whenever you want, but it’s not that simple.”

The Trump administration has made few details available, but the leases were ordered cancelled by the General Services Administration, said a water center employee who requested anonymity to speak freely without retribution. They learned about the closure from their landlord, and centers from Alaska to Massachusetts will begin shuttering within four months.

“We’re doing everything we can to make the argument that we need these facilities to complete our mission,” the employee said, but added that the groups were in a difficult position to push back.

(Image:  The USGS monitors the nation’s water resources through various national observing networks that use a range of technologies and methods to assess real-time water conditions and predict future changes in water availability for human and ecological uses. By Water Resources Mission Area/USGS) 

Among the centers’ most important functions is their role in flood warnings. USGS monitors water levels in a river and shares that data with the National Weather Service (NWS). The NWS determines if the precipitation levels in a coming storm combined with water levels in a river will result in flooding or top a dam. If there’s a risk, flood warnings are issued.

It’s also critical to state emergency response agencies and the Federal Emergency Management (Fema) responses to floods. Among the centers on the chopping block is that in Charlotte, North Carolina, which managed the fallout from widespread and deadly Hurricane Helene flooding in Asheville in late 2024.

The centers also measure water levels in aquifers to ensure utilities and industry are not overdrawing them, which could cause communities to not have water. The monitors and data also inform states’ droughts declarations, which triggers limits on withdrawals, and water conservation requirements.

That is especially important in the drought-plagued west. Among those targeted for closure is the Moab, Utah, center, which measures snowpack and other water resources in a state 77% under drought. Bennett noted even much of Massachusetts was under drought conditions and limits for lawn watering were in place.

“Nobody knows what happens if we’re not doing [monitoring for drought conditions],” the employee said. Privatization is possible, they added, but the USGS has in place rigorous data quality standards that probably could not be copied by a company.

States also use the data to protect drinking water quality, and manage pollution discharge permits. During drought conditions, streams can dry up and discharges have to be reined in. If not, small streams may entirely be made up of industrial discharge, Bennett said.

When oil or chemical spills happen, the USGS data is used to protect drinking water by tracking plumes with real-time monitors in some locations. They have also provided comprehensive pictures of where Pfas “forever chemical” pollution plumes are contaminating the country’s aquifers.

The data is also used by state and local officials, emergency responders, water system operators, road and building designers, construction companies, city planners, conservation commissions and many others for economic purposes. However, local governments are not equipped to take over.

The facilities include boats, scientific equipment, machine shops and field vehicles, and it is unclear what the fate of those, the employees and the water monitors they manage might be.

The USGS did not respond to a request for comment, but an earlier press statement said: “These efforts reflect our broader commitment to streamlining government operations while ensuring that scientific endeavors remain strong, effective, and impactful.”

The Short Memorial Day Parade

 On Memorial Day, we learned what it was like to attend a parade in a small town of 2,200. It was short, but it was nice. 

GETTING THERE-  We live about a 15 minute walk to Town Hall and the downtown area, and Memorial day was the first day throughout the entire month of May it didn't rain (with 1 exception), and temperatures were actually in the mid-60s for the first time. (We had one of the coldest months of May on record because of La Nina, which has now faded). 

THE PARADE - Like any parade it was led by a police car. The first marchers were Veterans who live in the town. The second group was the marching band from Noble High School and they sounded good.

The Noble Middle School Band followed and they were also very good.

 I always admire kids who can play instruments, and the kids playing trumpet reminded me of my brother Doug, and saxophone, my brother Stephen as they played those, respectively. I played a snare drum for 2 years as a kid but was never in a band. 

FIRETRUCK, SCOUTS - There was also one of the fire engines and the local scout troop who marched. Then, there was a police car which ended the parade!!  So in 10 minutes it was over!  It took longer to walk there one way than it lasted.

HANDSOME POLICE OFFICERS - One of the other "attractions" we enjoyed were two handsome police officers who were directing traffic. :) 

Idiot of the Week: Drunk NH Woman Arrested for DWI Wrong-Way Driving

This week's idiot returns to wrong-way drunk drivers. Sigh. It's apparently a thing in northern New England. Of course, New Hampshire has state run liquor stores on the highway, which may contribute to some of this stupidity.

(Photo: Alyssa Jones, 23, of Hampton, was arrested on March 27 on multiple charges, accused of wrong-way drunken driving, crashing into another vehicle, as well as guardrails. (New Hampshire State Police)

Woman Accused Of Wrong-Way DWI On Everett Turnpike, I-293, Rte. 101

Tony Schinella, NH Patch.com, April 1, 2025

CONCORD, NH — A woman from Hampton was arrested on Thursday night after being accused of wrong-way drunken driving after a crash.

Around 10 p.m., New Hampshire State Police began receiving reports about a car without lights on that struck multiple guardrails on the Everett Turnpike. The car was driving on deflated tires near Exit 13, according to Tyler Dumont, the public information officer for the state police.

“While troopers were attempting to locate the vehicle, an additional caller reported a wrong-way driver on Route 101 near the Interstate 293 split,” he said. “Troopers responded and located a gray 2008 Honda Accord on top of a guardrail and facing the wrong direction.”

The driver, Alyssa Jones, 23, of Hampton, “through an investigation,” was “determined to be the driver,” Dumont said. She was accused of driving on the turnpike and then exiting onto I-293 south.

“Shortly after,” he said, “the Honda veered off the road, crossed the grass median and struck the guardrail on the northbound side before traveling about 50 yards in the wrong direction and coming to a final rest on top of the guardrail. Additionally, it was determined Jones struck a second vehicle near Exit 11 on the F.E. Everett Turnpike.”

Jones suffered minor injuries during the crash. She was arrested on felony reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, driving while intoxicated, and conduct after an accident charges. She was released on cash bail and is due in Merrimack District Court in April.

Hero of the Week: Vermont first responder saves drowning woman at Long Sands Beach in York, ME

This week's hero is a bystander and First Responder in Vermont (who was unnamed in the article) and who happened to be at a Maine beach and jumped into action when seeing a young woman drowning. Ocean temperatures at the end of May were in the 50s, which is cold enough to cause hypothermia, so swimming in water that cold requires a wet suit, which the swimmer apparently didn't have. Here's the story.

(Photo: York Beach, Maine. Credit: WGME-TV)

Vermont first responder saves drowning woman at Long Sands Beach in York, ME

WGME-TV, May 28, 2025

YORK, Maine (WGME) -- A first responder from Vermont is the bystander who police say pulled a 20-year-old drowning victim out of the ocean at Long Sands Beach in York, performed CPR, and got her breathing again.

York police say when officers and EMTs got to the beach Saturday afternoon, they could see someone performing CPR and when they got to the scene, the rescued woman was breathing on her own.

York Fire Chief David Apgar said the first responder helped, "getting the swimmer, the patient, to reestablish breathing, which was huge." Fire Chief David Apgar responded to the call and says even with frigid ocean temperatures, hundreds of people were in the water.

"The water temperature is around 50 degrees. Hypothermia sets in quickly," Chief Apgar added.

"It’s pretty cold, you know," said Owen Boyer, a beachgoer from South Berwick. "It's not really refreshing. It's just kind of like a shock."

Chief Apgar says they have no idea what caused the nonfatal drowning, although hypothermia is one possible explanation, larger than normal waves are another.

"The waves were really large because of the storm off coast. But you're not going to keep people out of the water," Chief Apgar said. "Even on a nice, warm summer day, you go in when the waves are large, you got the undertow,” the chief explained. “It's a hazard. If you're an inexperienced swimmer, it's even worse."

No lifeguards were on duty this past Memorial Day holiday weekend in York. They start the last week in June. "This time of year, you know, people, again, they are on their own," Chief Apgar said. Beachgoers we spoke with say they'd feel safer if lifeguards were on duty.

"It's definitely a risky situation there," said Boyer. "People come here on vacation. They bring their little children. And sometimes they don't watch them. And if they get out there, it could get pretty dangerous, so yeah, the whole summer it would be nice to have lifeguards."

Some say until lifeguards are on duty, people should stay in shallow water. 

Police are not releasing the name of the 20-year-old victim. Due to her serious condition, she was taken to a Boston hospital.

Book of the week: "Marvel Westerns" Hardcover collection

If you like western comic book characters, you'll enjoy reading the hardcover collection of "Marvel Westerns." Today's blog is about the Marvel Westerns collection and why I started reading about cowboys and western characters. 

WHY DO I READ WESTERN COMICS AND NOVELS?  

Since I was a kid, I was always fascinated by cowboys and the Old West in the U.S. I later learned that I had a past life in Tombstone, Arizona in the 1880s, which I wrote about in my book "Ghosts of the Bird Cage Theatre on a Medium's Vacation," so that explains the fascination. 

I have always been a reader of DC Comics' Jonah Hex character, but in the last 2 years I started reading the Marvel Comics western characters and have enjoyed the stories from the 50s, 60s, 70s and early 80s (when they all seemed to go away). 

The "Marvel Westerns Hardcover" is a comprehensive collection that brings together some of Marvel's most iconic Western characters. It features Rawhide Kid, Kid Colt, Arizona Annie, The Black Rider, the Man From Fort Rango, Red Wolf, Hurricane, Gunhawk and Two Gun Kid, among others. One of the stories is about the origin of Rawhide Kid by Jack Kirby.There's also a special section in the back with text explanation for each of the characters.It's well-worth a read!

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SIDE NOTE - About "Ghosts of the Bird Cage Theatre on a Medium's Vacation" 

#1 in General Western US Travel Guides and An Amazon *Top 100* Bestseller!
Shot in the throat! Ghostly Faces! Meet the resident Bird Cage Theatre ghosts as some shared the pain of their violent deaths. Others revealed their lives as actors, drinkers, gamblers, prostitutes, or gunfighters to medium and paranormal investigator Rob Gutro on the museum’s ghost tour. He and his friend photographed faces of 2 ghosts in a painting and a mirror. Rob also sketched some ghosts he encountered. You may encounter them, too!

The Bird Cage Theatre is a very haunted and historic landmark in Tombstone, Arizona. It was a big part of the wild days of the Old West in the United States. Because of the raw emotional events that occurred there, a number of people have chosen to stay behind as earth-bound ghosts.

Good Reads for PRIDE Month: Two #1 True Paranormal Books & Paranormal Drag Queen

 Here's my latest press release, to celebrate Pride Month with 2 of my books.

Good Reads for PRIDE Month: Two #1 True Paranormal Books &  Paranormal Drag Queen

 BOSTON –  Celebrate PRIDE with 2 true paranormal best-sellers involving a drag queen and gay man’s spirit who solved the mystery of his own death. Medium/author Rob Gutro teamed with Paranormal Investigator and Drag Queen, Monique Toosoon on a new book called “Haunting Emery Estate,” about a chilling 5-hour investigation with three ghosts. Gutro’s book “Kindred Spirits” chronicles how his husband’s late partner has been part of their relationship for over 20 years.

 Toosoon, New England’s paranormal drag queen with a sensitivity to earthbound ghosts worked with Gutro, leading the investigation of Emery Estate in Massachusetts.  

 “We connected with three ghosts, two of whom we proved their identities, and one who affected mirrors in a frightening way. They conveyed their personalities and stories, and one double-crossed us,” Gutro said. Gutro also sketched two ghosts he saw.  

 Monique decided to try drag on investigations during COVID, and said, “I tend to call myself ‘The best trigger object you can bring investigating,’ because locations always tell me that the energy is completely different and much more elevated when I am around.”

 “Haunting of Emery Estate” covers the 5-hour investigation. The investigators tried to uncover the identities, stories and reasons why these ghosts remained behind. One of the ghosts even affected a public investigator whom had to be protected and he revealed his chilling and controlling nature at the end of the night. They have another book coming out in January 2026 about the “Haunting of Hunt Memorial Library.”

 Gutro’s other book, “Kindred Spirits: When a Medium Befriends a Spirit,” has been called “A Spirit Love Triangle.” It’s about how Rob’s husband Tom’s late partner Ed, who died in 1996, has been part of their relationship since they met in 2005.

 Ed’s communications with Rob unveiled the truth about Ed’s passing. Ed proved he visited every member of his family with a “treasure hunt,” before Rob met them for the first time. Ed sent a look-alike to rescue Rob and Tom on an England vacation, and proved he greeted each of their late dogs in the light. Ed’s fun personality shines while teaching us how spirits give signs to loved ones. "Knowing Ed in spirit is like having a friend who lives in another state," Gutro said.   

 Both books have been popular with LGBTQ readers and are best-sellers. Emery Estate also achieved the #1 spot on Amazon in Ghosts and Hauntings and Parapsychology categories.

 Rob Gutro is a medium, pet medium, scientist and paranormal investigator. He is the first in the paranormal field to make the distinction between earthbound ghosts and spirits who have crossed over and explains the paranormal with science. He also sketches ghosts. He has published 12 true paranormal books based on his experiences. He has three series including: The award-winning "Pets and the Afterlife" series, which teach how pets communicate from the other side. “Ghosts on a Medium’s Vacation,” contains history and hauntings Gutro encountered in England, Ireland and the Bird Cage Theatre, Arizona. His “Ghosts and Spirits” series is about hauntings and spirits he met.   

 Monique Toosoon is a captivating force in the world of drag and paranormal exploration. With a career spanning 2 decades and named New Hampshire's “Ghostess with the Mostest,” she was crowned Best Local Entertainer for four years running. From sold-out extravaganzas across New England to riveting appearances on esteemed paranormal showcases like Dark Echoes Paranormal Show and Ghost Finders, Monique's ascent knows no bounds. Monique also graced the grand finale of Ghost Finders. She is also the host of a YouTube and podcast program, “Ghosts and Glitter,” and the host of Scared Toosoon Tours.   

 

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Rob Gutro   

www.robgutro.com

Rob@robgutro.com

 

Monique Toosoon  

www.moniquetoosoon.com/  

moniquetoosoon@gmail.com

Rob's Pet Lecture: Experiences of Others: Part 3 of 3

 On May 10th, I gave my "Pets and the Afterlife" interactive lecture at the William Fogg library in Eliot, Maine. The lecture teaches people how to recognize signs from their pets in spirit. The lecture is based on my series of best-selling  and award -winning books called "Pets and the Afterlife."  During this 2 hour event, I asked folks to share their experiences and there were some incredible stories. Today's blog shares the 3rd and final story.

(Photo of the William Fogg library when Rob presented on March 1, 2025) 

 

STORY #3 - One of the attendees to the talk was a teenage boy who is apparently very sensitive to spirit. He explained he had a cat named Simba that he was very bonded to. When Simba passed, he remembers lying in his bed one night with his bedroom door closed, and no other cats in the home. He said that's when he heard Simba's usual habit of scratching on the carpet in his bedroom, so he knew it was him.

In a second encounter, he noted he was on an outside screened in porch when he saw and heard Simba. There were no cats around. 

NEXT:  ABOUT THE LIBRARY 

Rob's Pet Lecture: Experiences of Others Part 2 of 3

 On May 10th, I gave my "Pets and the Afterlife" interactive lecture at the William Fogg library in Eliot, Maine. The lecture teaches people how to recognize signs from their pets in spirit. The lecture is based on my series of best-selling  and award -winning books called "Pets and the Afterlife."  During this 2 hour event, I asked folks to share their experiences and there were some incredible stories. Today's blog shares the 2nd story and the 3rd story posts tomorrow.

(Photo of the William Fogg library when Rob presented on March 1, 2025) 

 STORY #2 -  After I explained about the difference between earthbound ghosts and spirits who crossed over, one man spoke about his experience. He said he lived in a house that is over 200 years old. The house had a barn and 2 other associated buildings which have all been converted to homes with different owners.

He said he was lying in bed when a male figure appeared in the center of his bedroom. He had dark colored pants, and a white shirt. He was wearing suspenders but only one was connected. The other suspender was loose. He said the ghost said he had worked on the land when it was a farm (hundreds of years before). He said the ghost then turned and walked through a wall!!  - Turned out when he did renovations, and tore the wall down, there was an old doorway there. So the ghost having used the doorway in life, simply used it in the afterlife.

TOMORROW'S BLOG: 3rd of 3 stories of Experiences from Others 

 

Rob's Pet Lecture: Experiences of Others: Part 1 of 3

On May 10th, I gave my "Pets and the Afterlife" interactive lecture at the William Fogg library in Eliot, Maine. The lecture teaches people how to recognize signs from their pets in spirit. The lecture is based on my series of best-selling (and award -winning, I'm humbled to say) books called "Pets and the Afterlife."  During this 2 hour event, I asked folks to share their experiences and there were some incredible stories. Today's blog shares one story and the other 2 stories follow in this week's blogs. 

(Photo of the William Fogg library when Rob presented on March 1, 2025) 

STORY #1 - A woman drove 1 hour to attend the lecture as she was grieving over the passing of her dog, Emma. As I explained, often we grieve more deeply for pets than people our age who pass because we raise them as children  (there are many studies to back this). She explained that she's seen various signs from Emma and needed to know she wasn't imagining them. She wasn't. I also explained there's no such thing as a coincidence when it comes to spirit. 

She explained that after Emma passed, she went to a doctor's appointment and there was one vehicle left in the parking lot. She happened to walk by and see a dog who resembled HER late dog, Emma. That's NOT a coincidence. Spirit sets these events up so we will know they are around. But there's more. 

When she went into the doctor's office, there was one man in the waiting room and she asked if that was his dog. He replied, "Yes, that's my dog Emma waiting for me in my vehicle." She was stunned. The dog looked like her late dog AND had the same name. That's NOT a coincidence.

TOMORROW'S BLOG: 2nd of 3 stories of Experiences from Others  

Idiot of the Week: Texas mother arrested after bringing Jell-O shots to 5th-grade classroom party

 You have to wonder just how screwed up some families are behind the walls of their homes. This week's idiot is about a mother who brought jello shooters to a 5th grade class party. Do you think that family has a problem with alcohol? Here's the story.

Texas mother arrested after bringing Jell-O shots to 5th-grade classroom party

NBC News April 27, 2025 

A Texas mother who officials say took alcoholic Jell-O shots to her child’s elementary school Christmas party has been arrested.

Teresa Isabel Bernal, 33, was charged with injury to a child in connection to a party Dec. 20 at Jones Elementary School in Tyler Texas.

Bernal purchased the Jell-O shots from a home business she found on Facebook, according to the arrest affidavit.

The shots were laid out on a table along with treats students had brought to share in a cafeteria where fifth-grade classes gathered, officials said.

Fifteen students consumed the shots, and nearly all reported “having stomach aches and headaches,” the affidavit said.

One student told police he vomited twice at school that day, and another student said he “passed out” at school after consuming the Jell-O shot, according to the affidavit.

One student reported that he had six Jell-O shots and got dizzy. When he returned to his classroom, he “got dizzy and fell and felt like he could not get back on his feet,” the affidavit said.

When questioned by a Tyler Independent School District police officer, Bernal said she did not know the shots contained alcohol, but conceded “they do taste different,” the arrest affidavit said. She said she discovered the shots had alcohol only after the children had consumed some of them, according to officials.

A teacher told police that two other teachers tried the shots and said they believed the shots contained alcohol. The teacher tried one herself but couldn't tell because of the flavor, police said.

The teacher took the kids back to her class and sent those who consumed a Jell-O shot to the nurse's office. After that, just four children remained in her class, officials said.

 The party took place just before holiday break, and the investigating officer interviewed teachers when they returned to work Jan. 6.

“During the interviews I was told, while some of the teachers found it odd that Bernal would bring Jell-O shots to an elementary school party, they were trusting Bernal to not bring anything harmful to the school party. Bernal was an involved parent and was present at many functions at the school,” the file said.

The Facebook sweets business Bernal had purchased the shots from had a clear disclaimer on its website stating the shots were made with Smirnoff vodka, the affidavit said.

“In my opinion, there is no way Bernal could have missed the fact that the Jell-O shots she purchased … and brought to her daughter’s 5th grade Christmas party contained drinking alcohol,” the officer wrote in the affidavit.

Testing of the shots also indicated the shots did contain ethanol.

Bernal was arrested and booked into the Smith County Jail on Monday and posted $75,000 bond the same day. It's not immediately clear if she's retained an attorney.