Two weeks ago while in Philadelphia, I also went to Doylestown to take in the Vampa Museum. How appropriate that it be in Bucks County, a county famous for its oddities and hauntings. I was aware of the house and grounds...it had been an antique dealer in most of my years living there. The property is stunning. Very pretty and almost Victorian in design, compete with peacocks, which is where I think they would escape from, as I would periodically see them at my apartment and the neighboring cemetery. After I moved away it became a museum of all haunted items and vampire killing instruments, to unsettling items with presence connected to them. Think of the movie The Conjuring where Ed and Lorraine Warren act as stewards over their collection of haunted items. I thought this would be the perfect day to feature the place. The now owner Edmondo Crimis, a minister and an exorcist, takes his demonology very seriously, and will regale you with tales about demonic infestations and mysterious presence on the property. The place dates back to the late 1700's. Edmondo has collected most of the pieces in the museum over the last 40 years during travels to Germany, Austria, France and Italy. The museum houses several thousand pieces in the rooms and many pieces dating back to the 17th century, some pieces are said to have been owned by witches and private collectors, and some art that was owned by " suspected" vampires. there was on portrait in particular that we were told not to hang around looking at for long. Other pieces were donated to the museum, and some others were purchased from private vampire enthusiast like Vincent Price, Wolfgang Pauli and Jack Palance. I will say the place is heavy. There is definitely an aura about the place. If things like this make you nervous, or unsettled, I wouldn't go. I was told some go, and then will not enter. There are signs of warning of not touching items, and that Edmondo is available for talks and counseling before leaving for those who get unsettled. While I didn't mind being there, I did sense an odd uneasy feeling at times. To date, I don't think any unwanted presence came home with me! And if they did, they haven't revealed themselves.
Yet.
.png)
A Happy Hallows Eve to one and all!
Hmmm... It looks like they've been raiding my cutlery drawer!
ReplyDeleteThat must have been quite a visit. At least it was daylight. Would you have gone in if it was dark?
Dear, I did three huge roller coasters earlier in the season for the first time in 28 years.... so yes. I'd do this place at night too. It was darker when we left. What's wearing a few more Depends?
DeleteNeat!
ReplyDeleteWe need a museum like this in Los Angeles !
ReplyDeleteKnew an old guy who had a great private collection on the occult at his house in the Los Feliz area of LA. Sadly he passed away and his family trashed the collection.
The funeral coach is like one I saw at a Halloween party in Pasadena, jet black with gold trim carrying a couple dressed like the mummy and Cleopatra :)
-CA jock
I would love to attend a Halloween party in WeHo sometime! I love a good costume party! With or without clothes!!!! If you enjoy these types of things, I suspect you'd love the northeast then. Such old, long ago history.
DeleteNow come here and let me suck your,,,,neck!!!!
You can understand why people in the olden days, living in forests, or on empty moorlands were frightened by strange noises on long dark winter nights. Their explanations involved witches and warlocks, vampires and werewolves which frightened them even more.
ReplyDeleteYIKES!
ReplyDeleteFascinating. But I don’t think I’d visit.
ReplyDeleteI admit, some rooms did feel heavy with presence. But I'm nuts right? I mean I have been tempting faith this hallows season, first three huge roller coasters and now a Vampire Museum! I'm all but begging for trouble.
DeleteIf you think this was scary, you should see the cages, restraints and instruments of torture used in mental hospitals until the 1960's....
ReplyDeleteAs Rhianna sang "whips and chains excite me" LOL
DeleteDown the proverbial road from us, in Hackney there is The Viktor Wynd Museum - a proper "cabinet of curiosities" that I'd love to visit some day. It may not be as macabre as one dedicated entirely to vampires and the killing thereof, but I'm sure it's spooky enough... Jx
ReplyDeleteThere is another in downtown Philadelphia called the Mutter Museum that is more like the one you're talking of in Hackney. I have been once. And oddities is putting it mildly. Some pretty grotesque items.
DeleteSeems legit scary, filled with the energy of spirits emanating from items. Too afraid something would follow me home, I might stand around outside, get the feel of the place before venturing in. At one time, I was looking to purchase old vampire killing tools, but decided not to bring that kind of energy into the unit. Too risky.
ReplyDeleteI agree. With certain items of a certain age and what they are for...one could be asking for trouble....or the very least weeks of no sleep!!! I firmly believe in these things.
DeleteHappy Hallows Shirley!
Happy Halloween
ReplyDeleteOMG
ReplyDeleteI can not imagine visiting this but during daytime! Perfect for the day, though.
When Jon says Cabinet Of Curiosities he’s not wrong!
XOXO
My one friend wouldn't even go in. He stayed outside whilst we toured the place. He told us we are nuts for going in. Happy Hallowe'en!
DeleteI'd have to give that house a HUGE pass, sweetpea! One day I'll share what happened when I tried to visit the Voodoo Museum in NOLA! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI need to hear that story Savvy! You tell and Ill spill the gin toots.
DeleteDarling Mistress,
ReplyDeleteWell, we know, even from a distance of several thousand miles and a computer screen that we could not possibly have entered the Vampa House. We should have been far too terrified at the thought of it let alone the reality of all those instruments of torture.
Edmondo Crimis seems appositely named to be the owner of the house. And, where we wonder does he actually live? The chair did not seem overly comfortable and was there a bedroom at all? And, what would one do if something went bump in the night?
I am no sure where he lives. The whole house itself is now all museum space. Ghost and all! I can imagine with the house and beautiful grounds though, it must have been quite the place to live once before the place was even an antiques market. Things like this fascinate me, but I try to keep at least a arm's length. You know, just to be safe.
DeleteThat is an amazing collection.
ReplyDeleteI'd wanna give the exorcism chair a try but maybe not for an exorcism!
If they sell that sign in the gift shop, whose bedroom door should it go over?
ReplyDeleteWhich sign...there are so many good ones.
DeleteWow - - an absolutely deliciously macabre collection, but I don't think I'd want to be alone there at night.
ReplyDeleteJon
I thought you would enjoy this post. Myabe send the Dragon Lady a one way admission.
DeleteI don't think Williams Sonoma sells those kind of knives!
ReplyDeleteLMAO!!!!!!
DeleteI know right where that place is! Way back in the 80's William and I picked up at least two antiques there. The place is beautiful. I had no idea it was now a Vampire and ghostly place. My how the time has changed. I might be a bit timid to go myself. But what fascinating pictures.
ReplyDeleteVery cool!!!!! Between the carriage and exorcism chair... I'm intrigued. You find the best places to explore...what a month of October you brought us. This place is amazing...eerie, by amazing.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the most fascinating places I've ever seen. The number of artifacts in there is incredible. It's so interesting to see. I don't think I'd mind seeing this.
ReplyDeleteI'm in total Lust with this Property, it's magnificent, fascinating, and it's contents of Oddities/Weird & Wonderful Objects is stunning too. Thanks for this appropriate Post during the Holidays my Friend, you know this is all right up my Alley. *Winks*
ReplyDeleteWhen I went, I thought of you and Shirley immediately!!!!!
DeleteThe scariest things in that whole place are the Ouija boards. Those things WORK. Fuck those things.
ReplyDeleteI dabbled with them a few times. One spirit I think got fresh with me.
DeleteThe exorcism chair?!?!? Maybe we can put Trump in it. Otherwise, a very interesting place. I'd dare go in at night.
ReplyDeleteyes yes yes to all but especially the tarot cards
ReplyDeleteI'd take a read from you, but I'd shudder to hear what they have to say.
Delete