Weirdment Addition

While working in the bathroom this evening, my husband found a wooden toothpick by the sink. Normally this wouldn't be mentionable, except for a couple things.
1. We don't have any wooden toothpicks.
2. He noticed it after he had been working in there for a few hours.
3. My grandfather usually had a wooden toothpick in his mouth.

Neat.

Also, another weirdment that's just amusing -
Birdie managed to open WinAmp and set it to play a Stabbing Westward album, one that it hasn't played since before we moved. She did this by using the wireless keyboard, leaning on it while taking a bath. She's got talent.

Previous Owner Addendum

While searching for information in the old Census records (1860 Census, to be exact), I think I have found the last name of the man who owned the property from 1846 - 47. Mr. George Hice of Alexandria Township is listed. It caught my eye because the last name, written in cursive, resembles the name on the deed. In the census, his occupation is listed as "Gentleman." Does anyone out there know what that means? I think it means that he had folks who did the farming for him, but I'm not certain of it. He was approx. 77 years old when the census was taken, either 77 or 44. The numbers are similar. Thank goodness he had a long life!

Ghosties

I would like to clarify about the residence's spooks. In no way do they seem harmful or evil. I get the feeling that they are just watching over the place, over a house and field that they loved during their time on Earth. Their presence here does not in any way scare me, or anyone I've talked to about this. They are a very comforting part of the house and property.

Weirdments

This is weirdness that happens, as well as possible explanations.

During our Move-In:
Unexplained bruises on my arm that resembled a hand-grasping shape.

After Move-In:
One afternoon as I was unpacking a box and singing, some books fell off a shelf just above me. The books were not precariously balanced, they were actually quite stable on the shelves. Other things have fallen for no reason, at various times.
Night of 11 - 12 August 2009
The gate at the top of the stairs was closed when we woke up. It was open when we had gone to bed. Possibly a cat pushed it closed. The gate was closed firmly and is not given to closing on its own. Gate has been braced open to prevent further closings.
Also, as I was going to bed I heard three distinct sounds. The first was a "TR" sound, then an "E" sounds (as in the) followed by an "M" sound. All were in a young male's voice, very clear.


15 August 2009
The small fan over by the computer on the desk moved a bit by itself. Possibly vibration of the fan. Was not duplicated later. Currently the fan rests on a towel to prevent this.

13 August 2009
Brad heard a sound like someone clearing their throat while he was working on getting the Internet connection to work. He says it happened while he was cursing, and sounded like an "unapproving" noise. He says that it could have been the cable for the computer passing over some corrugated cardboard.

20 August 2009
I cam upstairs tonight to find the smallest closet by the window wide open. It could have been the cats, Rooster gets very determined. However, the door is not the easiest to open.

Other occurrences:
Bird and Rooster will stare at one section of the ceiling in the bedroom in the evenings before we go to bed. I've never been able to figure out what they're staring at, if anything.
Occasionally (one time in particular), we hear thumps and other sounds coming from the attic over the bedroom. There isn't anything up there to make any noise. Could be animals. It sounds like someone's moving furniture up there. Happens even when I'm the only one here.
Also, I often see things moving around, shadows and such. Given my own personal history, this could very well be creations of my own mind.

General note:
I used to be very afraid of this farm and the house. Since we've moved in, though, I haven't had that problem; in fact, I feel very safe here. There's an all-around comfortable feeling about the place. Knowing that my grandfather loved it so much helps, I think!

Oddments and Other Stuff

This is just a random assortment of information I've gathered over time, mostly through family members' memories (thanks, Dad!!):

Anthony Borsa. B. 1909 (5?) in Poland. D. November 27, 1961. Cancer, possibly a stroke.
Josephine Borsa. B. ? D. 1978. The house was converted into two separate apartments after her husband died.

William Norr. Also, Nychypor and Nyczypur. My father's father. He lived on a farm further out towards the Deleware. He would ride his horse to this farm and help Mr. Borsa with chores after he was done with school for the day. Gram tells me he loved the place so much he wanted to retire out here. However, fate intervened. B. ? D. 1988, cancer.

There's a stone on the walkway from the house to the barns that bears the inscription "A M." We think it was one of the Marsh's daughters, no idea of when it was done.

One barn was taken down in the 1970's or 80's. The top two floors of wood were in very bad shape. Only the stone and concrete foundation remains.

Another barn is used for storage of old tools, and some old farm equipment, such as horseshoes, hunting traps, and a scythe.

The third barn is used as a sort of detached garage for outdoor equipment such as lawnmowers, etc.

History of the Farm and Farmhouse

No one's really certain when the house was built, but the property has been farmland for some time. I've managed to trace it back to 1846. I am working on deciphering the older deeds to find who owned it before the 1846 deed. It's difficult because they're all handwritten, and the writing style changes through time. As I get them figured out, I will post the whole of each deed. In the notes, "vol." refers to the number of the book in the Hall of Records in Flemington, and "p." refers to the page number where the deed can be found. Here's the roll call of current and previous owners:

Currently, my father and his brother own the farmhouse, since about 1990. Previous to their ownership, my grandmother owned it. She inherited the property in 1979. The previous owner, Josephine Borsa, named her as the executrix of Mrs. Borsa's will. Josephine died in 1978, and in 1979, my grandmother and her husband, William Norr, were named in the deed. My grandfather died in 1988, leaving the property to his wife. (Vol. 845, p. 495)

August 5, 1935. From: Daniel and Lillian Marsh; To: Anthony and Josephine Borsa. (Vol. 403, p. 437)

March 29, 1853. From: Peter (S.? J.? D.?) Dalrymple; To: Daniel Marsh (Vol. 104, p. 608)

1847. From: George Heici (I'm REALLY not sure about his last name); To: Peter Dalrymple (Vol. 88, p. 442)

May 14, 1846. From: Joseph Case and Wife (Katurah?); to George Heici (??) (Vol. 86, p. 527)

More information as I obtain it.

Two foxes (or two pictures of the same fox) and stag who hangs out in the field.

A bit better view of the farm. To the far right is the barn that was taken down. Next to it, in the background, is the larger barn; and to the front is the third barn.

This is the upstairs bedroom, looking towards the staircase. I don't know why the gate's there, but it's neat, anyway. That's Cleo, guarding the steps.

These are two photos of my siblings in front of the old barn. The wood part is no longer there, nor is the pump, but the stone/concrete foundation remains.

This is the farmhouse. The tallest part in the front is rented to a tenant, and Brad and I live in the back part.