MY DOG"S HAUNTED HALLOWEEN

Up until 2019, we lived in Huntington New York, a Long Island town that was settled back in the 1600's.  Despite massive development over the years, there are lots of old historic places in and around Huntington township.  

Along with historic places that were settled centuries ago, comes a plethora of tales about hauntings by those who committed dastardly deeds, or those against whom the deeds were committed long ago.  Huntington is no exception, it certainly has it's share of spooky stories and haunted places.  Grab a hot beverage and pull the covers up tight as I tell you about three such places right here in our hometown.

Fun Fact: Each year on Halloween, Huntington unofficially changes it's name to "Hauntington" !  The idea came from the mind of a 7 year old girl.  She loves the spirit of Halloween in Huntington so much, she asked town officials to change the town's name to Hauntington.  So on October 31st - Ipitty Bippity Bop! - Huntington transforms into Hauntington.   Now that's the spirit of Halloween!



This Halloween, visit haunted historic sites near you!  Haunted houses.  Dogs on Halloween
The historic cemetery in Huntington NY, Old Burying Hill Cemetery, is at the Eastern edge of town.  The earliest grave marker is from 1712.

THE HAUNTED CHATEAU AT COINDRE HALL


Coindre Hall is a massive estate built in a French medieval castle style by George McKeeson, a wealthy pharmaceutical entrepreneur in 1912.  George and his wife Pearl shared many happy years on their lavish estate. During WWI they raised their Niece at Coindre Hall after her parents died during the sinking of the Titanic. 

Like so many of the super wealthy of that era, the stock market crash of 1929 and subsequent massive tax hikes for the wealthy, meant the McKeeson's could no longer afford to keep up the estate. The county eventually took ownership of it and it is now a public space that is often rented out for events such as weddings. 



This Long Island Chateau is supposedly haunted by spirits who lived in the 1930's. We visited here for some Haunted Halloween fun with my dogs. The expansive back lawn is dog friendly!
The Chateau at Coindre Hall, Huntington NY

We often take Icy to Coindre Hall because the back part of the estate, an expansive steep hill that leads all the way down to Huntington Bay, is dog friendly.   We've enjoyed many hours with Icy playing on the lawn and in the bay at Coindre Hall, never realizing that spectral sightings were common there!  

I only recently found out that there is an underground tunnel that leads all the way from the Chateau down to the bay, where the McKeeson's boat house once stood.    Mr. McKeeson didn't want to walk outside in the cold to get to his boat so he had a tunnel constructed.  During Prohibition, the tunnel served as a way to smuggle alcohol from boats up to the house.  I had no idea Icy was romping along grass that covered a hidden tunnel!



Visiting a few local Long Island NY haunts to celebrate Halloween.  Spooky Halloween with my dogs.
Icy, standing on a large tree stump to get a better look at the side of the chateau

For years, the staff and guests have reported seeing ghostly apparitions in the 40 room 30,000 square foot Chateau, and on the grounds of the estate.  These spectral visitors have been spotted mostly during evening events and are usually dressed in 1930's era clothing.  One ghost is reported to look and dress like a gangster or bootlegger from the 1930's. Other spirits look like party guests from the period. Not surprising, as George and Pearl were known for the lavish parties they threw!


Did ghosts really haunt the expansive Coindre Hall, a Long Island New York chateau?  My dogs and I are visiting to see if we spot any spirits!
Rear view of the chateau at Coindre Hall, Huntington NY

Fun Fact: John and I had looked at having our wedding at Coindre Hall but decided against it due to cost and logistics of the venue.  Too bad, we might have had some pretty interesting, albeit uninvited, guests at our wedding!


THE 1750 DAVID CONKLIN FARMHOUSE MUSEUM


The Conklin House is a historic home built in 1750 by Thomas Conklin.  This gable-roofed house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.  The Conklin family lived in the house for over 150 years.  It contains historical artifacts and is decorated in historical fashion.  It is owned by the Huntington Historical Society and is open for tours a couple of days per week (call for days/times). It's also available for small events in the barn on the property.


Ghosts have been reported by volunteers at the David Conklin house in Huntington NY.  Built in 1750.
The historic David Conklin House, Huntington NY is supposedly haunted

In 1777 David Conklin was captured by the British and held prisoner.   He was accused of assisting the rebels during the Revolutionary War.


The Conklin House in Huntington NY is on the National Register of Historic Places.  It is believed to be haunted by the ancestors of the Conklin family.  Haunted houses. Historic houses on Long Island NY
The David Conklin House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985

It's been said that ancestors of the Conklin family have haunted the home for years. Volunteers in the historic house have reported feeling someone or something touching or standing behind them when in fact no one was there.  


Rear view of the  David Conklin House in Huntington. Long Island NY.  The house is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Beautiful detail on the back windows of the Conklin House

Some have reported strange noises and footsteps for which they can find no explanation.  One of the previous owners claimed that she continually had the feeling she was being watched and followed.

Fun Fact: I once worked with a guy who is actually related to the Conklin family!  He lived in another state but knew all about the historical Conklin house here in Huntington.



FIORELLO DOLCE PATISSERIE


Right in Huntington village there's a wonderful patisserie and bakery that is believed to be haunted.  It is situated on what was the site of row housing for the poor and is said to be haunted by the spirits of some of those individuals.  One such spectral visitor is a teenager named Eddie that supposedly met a harrowing demise during a drug deal during his lifetime. Staff at the bakery have also reported oven doors opening by themselves and an iPad that turns itself on and starts playing music!

Fiorello Patisserie is a delicious bakery in Huntington Long Island
Everything is so tempting at Fiorello bakery in Huntington, NY

I've never seen or felt any weird presence in the bakery.  Icy and Phoebe didn't seem to sense anything weird either, but I did find lots of delicious goodies to feed my sugar addiction.  Maybe the spirits come back just to get a whiff of their delicious cookies and pastries baking in the oven, I know I would!


...The Woods are lovely, dark and deep 
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep

- excerpted from the poem "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening", by Robert Frost


HAPPY HALLOWEEN, GOUL-FRIENDS!!


If you enjoyed this post, you'll love reading about our trip to Salem Massachusetts: A Spooky Dog Friendly Halloween, and our trip with the dogs to Spirited Colonial Williamsburg: A Perfectly Spooky Halloween!   


Have you visited any haunted sites in your town?  Do tell by leaving us a comment!  We eat up comments like Candy Corn!


FLASHBACK! to my favorite costume of Icy's, the Headless Horseman!

21 comments:

M. K. Clinton said...

I'm sure Houston has a lot of spooky haunts but I am a world-class chicken! I don't like to be scared so haunted houses are a no-go for me. Happy Howl-oween ♥

Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them said...

LOL! I would have though you'd love going to places thought to be haunted. I bet Houston has plenty of them!

Ruby's Rescued Life said...

That's so funny that Icy has been romping above that secret tunnel all this time and you never knew it!

The Conklin house looks kind of creepy. I don't know why I say that, but that's what it seems like to me.

I think I would brave the ghosts for some of the treats in that bakery!

Cathy Keisha said...

Whoa! Did you hear a little girl suggested renaming the town "Hauntington" and the mayor OKed it? There are quite a few haunted places in my town too besides Gramma's house.

AmyShojai said...

Our local theater had a "ghost tour" over Halloween to find the ghosts -- and they did! They had all kinds of ghost-hunting equipment that registered off the charts, and some folks reported having their hair pulled. Bwoooaa-hahaha!

Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them said...

I know, I can't believe I never knew about that tunnel until now! I think the tunnel is way more creepy than the Conklin House LOL! At least it's out in the open. The bakery is totally worth braving any ghostly visits!

Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them said...

Yes!! You told me that, thanks so much. I took a photo of the local Panera Bread who had that sign in the window. I shared the article you sent me on Facebook too - thanks!

Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them said...

No way!!! That is super cool, I love ghost walks. How exciting that they actually got some readings - wow!

LaylasWoof said...

I am sure San Francisco has haunted places and I have put it on my to do list and research for next year LOL. I think this is so much fun

Holly said...

I’m pretty sure my grandma’s house was haunted. Weird stuff was always happening. People said my office back in MD was haunted but I never saw anything.

Hindy Pearson said...

Your town looks lovely, so charming and quaint. Must be a beautiful place to live.

Unknown said...

It would have been so much fun if you could have had your wedding there! I wonder if you would have had any "special" visitors? I've not visited any spooky haunts in my area - but to tell you the truth, I'm a bit of a chicken when it comes to being scared lol

Lola The Rescued Cat said...

I love hearing about historical sites in NY. Our state is so rich with interesting history and there is so much to see and learn. I have to put these sites on my must see list.

Impurrfectlife said...

Wow! Cool. I used to live in New York however never heard about these places in Long Island. You and Icy are brave souls. I like watching haunted happenings on TV like the show Ghost Adventures. Hmmm the only time I took a haunted tour in person was when I traveled to Philadelphia and visited the Eastern State Penitentiary...one of the most haunted prisons in the States. That was interesting and depressing. Once was enough for me!

Beth said...

I'm too much of a chicken to enjoy a haunted house tour in the evenings, but I would love to see these during daylight.

FiveSibesMom said...

Boooo-hahahahahahahahaha! Icy, that is such a great (and very scary) costume! Thanks so much for joining in our Flashback Friday Blog Hop! Now this was a spooktacular Howloween post! Such great places...now, that patisserie looks scrumptious - with or without ghosts! At least they have good taste in a haunting spot! Pinning to share!

Sadie said...

The history of some places is fantastic. Although, the tales at times are somewhat barbaric! You can almost feel that you're back in time when you enter the old buildings. These are beautiful buildings. I will have to keep this place in mind for a girlfriend trip - I have two friends that are fascinated by ghosts!

Talent Hounds said...

What cool places to visit and how great that Icy can play in that big space- I didn't know much about the history of Huntington. Love the idea of the tunnel and bootleggers. I know lots of people have felt the presence of a ghost at the Banff Springs Hotel in Canada (and it is dog friendly) but not sure around Toronto.

DawgBlogger said...

Ok, ok, I am not a fan of haunted anything LOL Though I do like scary movies.

Sweet Purrfections said...

I think I shared my adventures about seeing a ghost in the lowcountry of South Carolina. I'm still not sure what we saw, but it was spooky!

Anonymous said...

Coindre Hall was known for bootlegging during prohibition

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