My House Is Sooo Goth

[Onyx]

- It's a gorgeous old victorian, in a sad state of disrepair but still mostly original, built in 1910

- It's got an awesome spooky basement.

- I have bats.

There's no air conditioning so carrying in furniture and boxes in the stifling heat and humidity last week was killing us. Unfortunately many of the windows have no screens, but one of the larger ones has a large lace curtain, so I got the bright idea of putting a box fan in it, balancing it by shutting the window on it and turning the fan so it would be an exhaust to pull in fresh cool air from the windows that do have screens.

There was a 4 inch gap on either side, but the outgoing air pulled the lace drape over the window to keep out flying insects and such. Seemed to be working beautifully and I was done for the day, congratulating myself on solving the ventilation/no window screen problem when something swooped over my head and across the room. My normally ferocious mouse-hunting cat ran and cowered in the corner. I thought somehow a baby bird had gotten in, but then when I saw it circling (if you've never seen a bat fly up close, those old dracula movies aren't far off about the way they fly and drift in circles) and realized it was a small bat. It started making little chittering noises so I thought to myself - hey, no problem. I'll just open the door and it's nifty echolocation will show it the way outside.

Every time I tried to get to the front door the bat circled and flew really low over my head, with me making a quick retreat. I kept thinking of all the reports of rabies-infected bats in the area, but one tiny area of my brain was thinking how very cool to see such an interesting creature up close and hear it's little chirrups. It then landed on my drapes and watched me with it's little black eyes. It's fur looked soooo soft. I think it was only half-grown or a baby because it was so tiny and cute. It crawled up with it's little wing-claws, watching me all the while. I considered using my daughter's butterfly net, but I was afraid I'd hurt it's delicate wings, or that it would panic and bite me.

Finally I made it to the door and left it open. I waited nearly half an hour, with it swooping, running into things now and again and never ever finding the open door! I'm not sure if a bat's echolocation is way over-rated or if my wireless internet or DECT phones were interfering, but it could not find the open door. Finally it flew into the mud room way on the other side of the house and I trapped it in there, went around and opened the back door where it flew out, since it had nowhere to fly.

A few days later there was another bat (a very very large one this time) in my basement. That one found it's way out easily when I opened the back door, but was much scarier to duck under while flying due to it's size. I think that one got in while the electrician was working and must have roosted there until he left.

I've made sure not to use that fan in a window without a screen again and not to leave the basement door open, and there haven't been any more bats. I notice there isn't a mosquito problem here either, and we probably have all those bats to thank. Strange to me though, since we never saw even one when we lived in the country in the next town, and this house is right in the middle of the city.

[Morbid Side]

That begs the question of any paranormal activity? But sounds like you goth yourself a winner.

[creatureofthenyte]

You've got bats in your belfree! That's awesome!

[Head Wreck]

COOL!

all you need now is a victorian ghost to top it off

[Onyx]

Heh. Ghosts or paranormal activity - haven't seen any.

I did notice that I immediately felt at home when I walked in. If there are paranormal presences here they must be friendly, welcoming ones. I jumped through a lot of hoops to get this place but so far I still do feel quite at home here. I suppose it only *looks* spooky.

[Daevion]

You could have a haunted house party.....it would be fun!

I like your house....I would love to take pix of it!

[Homicidalheathen]

Thats awesome! I love your house and I have not even seen it yet

[CatsEyeOfTheWiccan]

When can we come and vist..

-CatsEye

[TygerLili]

Sorry, but the bats would have to go if it were me. I hate bats!

But I'm happy that you're enjoying your house, sounds neat.

[Onyx]

Heh - Tygerlili, as far as I know the bats are all out. It was an interesting experience and fun to see them up close, but way too scary to have them stay! I'm sure they are much happier outside now.

There are some photos in this post http://www.detroitgothic.net/t15505.html&hl=house

Daevion - you are welcome to come take pictures if you are ever over this way. I want to get some basement photos. The construction details are really interesting - the old uneven bricks and the way the wood floors are braced with huge heavy beams and wood braced in X's. It's definitely sturdy and heavy.

I wish I weren't so far away. I would prefer to live in Ann Arbor area rather than here, but there's a court order that I stay within 100 miles of here due to joint custody, until my youngest turns 18 (8 years from now). It's a pain but necessary for the moment.

I live in Grand Haven, on the other side of the state, but if any of you are ever over on this side of the state I'd love it if you stopped by. I've met a lot of you at CC but I don't get over there too much any more.

I do think it'd be a great place for a party, but I'd be sad if I had a party and nobody could show because of the distance, heh.

[Daevion]

hell yeah I would show up with booze and digital cam for pix!

[Troy Spiral (13)]

I'd give it a 9 on the goth scale (of 1 to 10) but its too damn far away, so it gets a -5 modifier.

[CatsEyeOfTheWiccan]

I love those pictures..that house alot chactor.. comes with that Piano also?

-CatsEye

[TrixieGothGirl]

Man, with your house being built in 1910, can you imagine the stories it could tell if it could talk?

[Onyx]

Heh, I know Troy. Wish I lived closer.

Yes, the piano came with the house. It's in bad shape, not sure if it can even be tuned. The metal parts inside may be warped and rusted. It does play but sounds terrible. When I get the cash I want to see if it can be restored.

I would love to know more about the history of the house. Sometimes I imagine what this street must have looked like at the time - horses and buggies and men in those cool suits, women in long dresses. There's a historical society here and I want to contact them to see if I can find out more about who lived here then.

[CatsEyeOfTheWiccan]

That would be cool, if that is the piano from the orginal owners of the house.

-CatsEye