CHRISTINE COX
Tribune Staff Writer
When a supernatural pest made noise in the home of wife and husband Christine Pochert and Jerry Ringle of South Bend, Ringle went downstairs to have a calm talk with the phantoms. He told them they could stay if they quieted down, and they eventually did.
In October of 1981, my wife, Christine, and I moved into a 150-year-old home southwest of South Bend.
Many boxed items had to be moved to the basement, and I turned off the light each time I walked upstairs only to find it turned back on when I returned. Shadowy figures began to appear in corners of the basement.
Weeks later, I heard music from the basement. A wind-up Victrola had dropped its arm and begun playing. Later, I heard the chimes from a wind-up mantle clock. Without being wound, it was keeping perfect time.
The bathroom had originally been a bedroom. I began seeing the image of a small girl dressed in linen and lace reflected in the mirror. When I turned to look, she disappeared.
Though this was my first and only supernatural encounter, the house has a reputation. A neighbor told me that a previous owner in the 1940s had seven rooms torn off because she was afraid of the hauntings.
In my case, there was so much racket, I thought I'd go down and try to communicate with the spirits. I went down into the basement twice hoping they would come out. They didn't say anything to me, but I had plenty to say to them.
I calmly explained that we were here to stay and we didn't mind if they stayed with us. I got no reply.
After nearly five years, these happenings ended. We have always felt these were tests by previous residents to determine if we deserved to share their home. Once we were deemed worthy, the spirits were at ease and we were left in peace.
The last odd twist to the story was in our house abstract. Our original deed was recorded by David Ringle in 1853. Coincidence? We think not.
-- Jerry R. Ringle, 64, South Bend
http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pb ... /610310475
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