But the Shelldrake hauntings are most extensive than this single instance.

Another house had a more visual manifestation of the supernatural. Known locally as the "green house," it was rented to a bank manager and her husband, a deputy sheriff. A small house, one bedroom was located in a wing running off the main structure like the foot of an "l." The wife was in bed one night when she plainly saw a figure of a man standing off to one side of the room. She thought it was her husband until she saw it walk through the solid wall that connected the bedroom to the main building. Startled, she rolled to the side and saw her husband sleeping soundly next to her.

Both husband and wife had similar sightings on different occasions. The mysterious figure would appear briefly, then disappear through the wall. There was no doubt that their house was haunted. However, considering their positions of responsibility within the community, neither mentioned anything of their unusual experiences.

The house was later rented to a school teacher and his wife. One night she was lying peacefully in her bed when the strange figure appeared. Also thinking it was her husband, she called to him. The ghost turned around, looked at her for a brief moment and proceeded to walk through the same wall. In another experience, the husband heard a voice, looked up and saw the figure. After a moment, it walked through the wall. There was no attempt at communication or threatening action.

Over a period of 12 to 15 years, four or five different families rented the house. Each had similar experiences with the wall-walking ghost, but they never told each other, or anyone else for that matter, of what they saw. After all, it wasn’t the type of thing you went around and told people about if you wanted to retain your community standing. But in small towns everyone tends to come together for social events. At one such gathering, all of the house’s previous renters happened by circumstance to be seated at the same table. Someone mentioned something about the supernatural and the stories quickly came out. Not only had all the couples seen the ghost walking through the wall, but also witnessed other supernatural experiences in the "green house."

There is a postscript, of sorts, to the story. In later years, the owner of the house needed to do some plumbing work. Working in the low and dark crawl space under the building he discovered the remains of an old double-bitted axe, an empty whisky bottle, a small triangular poison bottle complete with diamond shaped indented surface and some unidentified bones. Whether they were animal or human was never determined. The objects were found directly under the wall that the ghost always walked through. Was there a connection? Speculation could he endless. Was there a long forgotten murder? Was it by axe or poison? Were the bones those of a hastily hidden victim?

Another Shelldrake house suffered for a time from periodic visits from the "lady in blue." At various times and in different locations, this very strange apparition appeared without apparent reason. It w as seen clearly by the owner, his wife, mother and children. The unscheduled manifestations were getting on everyone’s nerves. Eventually, the ghost was traced to an antique dresser, circa 1850, that was brought over from the "green house." When the dresser was moved to an empty house used as a storage building, the "lady in blue’s" appearances ceased. When the dresser was brought back, the ghost came, too! At present, the dresser has been removed for good.

Recently a college professor brought a group of students to Shelldrake to examine various historical sites. The group was also interested in legends, ghosts and paranormal activities, but at the time they had no particular knowledge of the village’s supernatural activities. One of the members of the group was an Indian woman reputed to have powers of extrasensory perception. She also had never been to the area and knew nothing of its history or legends. When she walked onto the porch of the "white house," she was literally overcome with the force of a "presence" within it. Others in the group had to assist her back to a safe area away from the structure. She was positive that there was a spirit in the old house. What was inside for certain was the antique dresser! The college group tried to videotape the house, but the camera and recorder refused to work. Earlier the equipment had worked fine, but not at the white house!

In another of the houses the owner inadvertently left his tape recorder on overnight. When he woke the next morning, he realized his error, rewound the tape and turned off the machine. Giving in to curiosity, he played the tape just to hear what was recorded. What came out of the speakers shocked him to his very fiber. "It was like a voice from hell. It was so scary I got goosebumps and all the kids were terrified and went away screaming. This moaning, groaning voice right out of hell. We destroyed the tape. It was the scariest thing you have ever heard in your life!"

Shelldrake may well be the most haunted village on the Great Lakes. These tales are only some of many. Pictures jumping off walls, through the old ghost town. Why the spirits walk in Shelldrake isn’t known, but walk they do!