Amityville Horror House—Club Chaos Eye Candy?
Landmarks? Local History? I’d have to say for me, Amityville is Hyper-Local…it’s the very next town from where I live. It’s the “Eye Candy” I’m not too sure about. I mean there are not many people that aren’t aware of what happened in the town of Amityville, Long Island. Interestingly enough, there were some facts even I didn’t know.
So far there have been at least 9 books and three movies done about The Amityville “Horror House.” December 13, 1974 that Ronald DeFeo killed his family of four siblings and his mother and father execution style with a high powered rifle while they slept. He confessed, was convicted and jailed. There wasn’t a newspaper or television station that didn’t carry the story almost exclusively for a very long time. Things like this don’t happen on Long Island.
Enter the Lutze family a little more then a year later. Although advised by their Realtor about the terrible murders, they claimed the home would be perfect for them. They purchased the home on 112 Ocean Avenue in 1975 for $80,000. And that’s where the story starts to differ—from the moment they moved in.
The Lutze family claims the house was haunted….with everything from hundreds of bees to a priest that allegedly came to bless it being “slapped” and told to “get out.” (The priest would neither confirm nor deny this nor would his church). The Lutze family stayed a total of 28 days….and fled, allegedly in terror.
There is not one thing that this family claimed that can be confirmed, although they both later passed a lie detector test. Parapsychologists claim the house has “cold spots” and one infra red camera caught a picture of a “demonic child.”
New owners purchased the home again in 1977, this time for $55,000. They never claimed to have had one issue in this home. And the little town of Amity Harbor (remember Jaws?) was never the same. While there are no numbers on the homes anymore, people readily point it out if you don’t know which one it is. It has turned Amityville into one of the most popular “tourist” spots on Long Island.
Here are some photos of the town….and the home. YOU decide. But before you do, think of this: One of the occupants of the home was killed in the September 11th attack in New York City; he is said to have lived there from 1987 to 1997.
Amity Harbor
Lovely Little Harbor--I still think of Jaws :)
One of the other houses on Ocean Avenue, Amityville Long Island
Another home on the block...
All homes on Ocean Avenue are on the Canal
It's undergone renovations but this is a current photo of The Amityville "Horror House"
**Carole Provenzale has been a New York Feng Shui Consultant since 1997 and is the Founder of Feng Shui Long Island & New York. On Site Feng Shui Consultations provided for New York City (Manhattan), Queens and all of Long Island for Homes, Apartments, Businesses, Corporations, Renovations and New Construction. http://www.TheFengShuiVoice.com
Carole, I will have to tell my daughter to check this out on one of her photo shoots. Her Dix Hills friend and her have checked out Sleepy Hollow, sail boat graveyards, abandoned mental hospitals etc.
By the way for some reason you have HTML showing at the start of this post.
Very interesting story, Carole. The house looks like any average old house to me. But, knowing the story, I would never buy it to live there.
Marchel, Long Island has many "haunted" places....I've heard about that mental hospital quite often and don't want to go there! Thank you for telling me, I looked at it when I posted and I don't know where that came from but I just took it out. Thank you so much for pointing it out.
Marzena, I wouldn't have bought it either although there are so many sides still on whether or not this was a hoax or not.
Wow, makes my hands sweat reading this.
Great town and neat houses but I am definately NOT moving into that last one. Not even with renovations done!
Thanks for the story and pics. It looks like a very nice place to live- minus the ghost stories.
I may be odd ... but I have NEVER watched that movie or read any of the books about it. I've heard of it, but it never tickled my fancy to explore the subject. Now I may have to rent the movie! Thanks for another enlightening look at Long Island!
Carole - Great story and pics! I saw both movies but never realized the Amity Harbor in JAWS was right there in Long Island.
I love stories and history about haunted houses. I find it so interesting. I wouldn't want to own one, however! Once a house has a "history" it takes on a life of it's own.
We watch a show on Cable called "chiller" that covers haunted houses and stuff. I have to say that reading this blog and seeing the pictures gave me the chills. Great blog post. Good luck with the Contest!
Carole - I will admit, my first thought was sharks. I have actually never seen any of the Amity Horror House movies. Great eye candy and local history.
Carole It is great to see the house and the town. I actually did a post on disclosure requirements and highlighted this example... however, I didn't have all these wonderful photos. It is a very curioius story indeed.
Paddy, It actually IS a nice town! I loved the houses along that street and don't think they'll ever figure this out.
Missy, It was a tragedy but I do wonder if it was a hoax.....
Mel, It is, it's a pretty town. The current owners have been there a long time, with no issues at all.
Carol, The movies I saw just never seemed "real" to me. There are advocates on both sides on whether the home is "haunted." And we'll always wonder......
Hi Donna, They didn't film Jaws here but it was taken from that town...I think the actual Jaws was filmed in Martha's Vineyard?
Sharon, I wouldn't want to own one either but I have been in enough client's homes to know there ARE haunted houses!
Kate, I never heard of the show. We have a show here called "A Haunting" where they have real people that have experienced it talking about their experiences....it's interesting.
Mike, I saw only the first two....the movies and sequence of events never quite made sense to me. I think that so many years later, there are still two sides on what happened to the Lutze family.
Joan, I had a client who purchased a lovely home...and found out the day after she signed that a person had committed suicide in there which upset her very much (can't say I blame her). When she called her Realtor, she said the time frame for having to disclose that was over---although she had known about it. I felt so sorry for my client---the disclosure laws here are awful.
I was scared to death by Jaws as a kid. The Amityville Horror had a minimal effect as I watched it as a teenager. These homes and the area look quite beautiful. I do understand that many people believe that inanimate objects and places do hold the memory energy that can impact others long after an event has passed. In fact I believe you have written on several occassions about using sage and chimes to cleanse a house or area. Great post and the photos are very nice.
Carole - I am not sure if it is the picture itself or the story line about the pictures but the last one seems to give a chilled feeling when you look at it.
I once lived in a town with lots of old houses, everyone had a ghost story about their house. Some I beleived, some, not so much...I didn't have a story about my house, but enjoyed others stories. All friendly ghosts, except for one...
Interesting tidbits and great pictures. Doesn't look so scary to me!!!!
Hi Carole...I love the looks of all those houses. I'd live in any one of them...if you put them here at Lake Anna on the waterfront.
Like Carol I've never read or seen the movie and have no intentions of doin so but I would live in the house.
Kate
Hello Carole - You have some wonderful photos there and I am so jealous. Welcome to the group and featured at ............
PARANORMAL STORIES & EXPERIENCES
I love those homes! That 'haunted' house looks livable now :)
Hi Rich, We do believe very much in Predecessor Energy and the imprints of the Energy left behind. In this case, in spite of what happened, there are so many conflicting stories and it's been said they purchased the house with the intent to make money off it....and that they did! I don't think anyone will really know but you're right, the area is very pretty.
Cathy, That's so funny, it didn't for me....I was right outside taking that shot and felt nothing. I would have never known something so tragic had happened there if I hadn't known.
Cheryl, That's what I have seen, mostly....not evil hautings (although they make everyone uncomfortable) but what I think of as "stuck spirits." Whether someone believes in it, it's always a good idea to have a house blessing, particularly for a new home.
Rosa, It doesn't feel scary, either. It's a lovely town and I didn't feel a thing near the house.
Kate, I'm not sure I'd live there but I didn't feel anything from the outside. They're not on a lake but a Canal which is wonderful here--and hard to come by! I thought the other houses were lovely as well.
Robert, Thank you...sorry to respond late, I was out of the rain for a few days. I have always had an interest in the paranormal :)
Sally, It sure does. No one has ever claimed that home was haunted after that....so it makes me wonder.
I remember that movie as a kid very well. I think it scared the crap out of me at the time:)
Carole, I remember Jaws like it was yesterday and also the Amityville horror house.
I don't know if I would ever buy something like that to live in, but I would probably visit.
Quite some time ago, my sister bought a house that had been known for having 'ghosts'... and I swear, every once in a while, things happened, that made you wonder... but for the most part, they were friendly. :)
Carole - No problem and I would like to visit this place some time!
hi Carole, it's been ages since I saw either the Amityville Horror or Jaws, I loved your story and now have the urge to do a weekend movie marathon. ;-)
Carole, I saw a documentary of some sort on that crime...how creepy. I'll bet if you went in it you would feel all sorts of weird energy! Do you know if a Feng Shui Master has ever gone in it?
Bill, It scared me, too. Things like this (the murders) didn't happen around here!
Sylvie, I am always hearing about "evil" spirits. I don't see that....I do come across 'playful' ones on occasion.
Robert, The houses in that area are lovely...but I'm still not sure I'd want to be inside it!
Diane, No, they have called in Parapsychologists to evaluate it...and have documented "cold spots" and other things but I don't believe they have ever called a Feng Shui Consultant. People still don't realize it's something we deal with.
Carole, I have an older version of that movie and the new one. I have always been curious what happened after the family left. Thanks for the info.
Hi Carole,
The house now looks very nice, but somehow I still wouldn't want to live there or even visit it. It still gives me the creeps!!
Have a great day!!
I didn't realize that house was on Long Island. I always thought Ohio.
Beautiful Photos and yes I remember some of the movies and books growing up Carole! Neat that it's next door to where you live! Great localism post - thanks for sharing:)
Sincerely,
Grace
Hi Carole,
Having experienced a triple murder-suicide in my own extended family (my son's grandparents murdered by a home invader while they slept), and then having had their furniture (including their bedroom furniture) in my house afterwards, I can attest that 'energy' from violent events does become absorbed into the furniture and surroundings and strange things occur because of this....I won't go into my story here, however the events that took place while we had the furniture in our home were very frightening.
I myself would never live in a house where murders had taken place (not knowingly, anyhow).
I love your photos and agree that the last one gives off a creepy feeling.
Good story!
Jo
Carole-Great post. I have read the books and seen the movies and definitely wouldn't want to live in or anywhere near these places. Interesting info.
Hey, Carole.
I see this is your most recent post. I hope everything is well with you and yours, that you're really busy, and that you'll soon be back to Play in the Rain with us.
Hi Carole-That house sounds like a nice place to visit but wouldn't want to live there. <SMILE>
If the house on 112 Ocean Avenue is on the maket how much would it be to buy or even rent it for a while for reacherch purposes only?
112 Ocean Avenue is really a nice home.
Actually, it was flies, not bees, and YES the priest DID confirm that he was suddenly very cold in the house, was slapped by an unseen force, and ordered to "Get Out." (and he confirmed this on television, too).