A Haunted, Historical Summer Hideaway

This might seem like an unusual post for a blog which focuses on historical romance. There’s some history involved, but there’s a paranormal twist. And the cool thing is, this isn’t a fictional tale.
For the last dozen years or so, my family and I have been fortunate enough to have a summer hideaway on a lake to go to when the weather becomes hot and unbearable like now. There’s a story behind the history of this cottage that I still haven’t attempted to validate yet because, well, I like the mystery and suspense behind it.
I love getting away. I’m writing this post in the living room where it’s nice and cool – my excuse for beating the heat. LOL Maybe someday I’ll research the history of this house, but for now, I prefer to make up my own scenarios for the why’s and how’s.
My Aunt who now owns the cottage went to a psychic some years back after she and her husband bought the place. The psychic told her that the spirit of a Union soldier and his dog lived there. She said that William, as he was called, took his life in one of the four bedrooms upstairs. Now that is creepy, but why would he do that? Makes you wonder. At least it does me. Did the war take too much of a toll on him? And being a romantic, did he lose someone he loved?
The house was moved to where it stands now in the early 1900’s. From where, I don’t know. That’s another mystery I’d like to unravel. I believe it was build in the 1860’s. It’s completely feasible that it could’ve been William’s house. There’s only been one odd incident that made us all wonder if he has a sense of humor. We have two televisions and one day we couldn’t find the remote for one. When we came back the next time, both remotes were on the table. The psychic didn’t think that William was a mean spirit, but perhaps lonely. We’ll say hello to him and I like to think he’s watching over the place while it’s empty. And watching over us while we’re there. Though just to make sure he wouldn’t scare me, I prayed silently and asked him not to, that we weren’t there to cause any trouble, but to stay there in peace with him. And well, it’s worked so far.
I know that some don’t believe in hauntings, but for those who do, have you ever experienced anything paranormal good or bad? Did it frighten you? Have you traveled to any historical sites that are said to be haunted? And if so, did anything happen?

Bio:
Abbey MacInnis is a published author of Contemporary Western romance. Along with Contemporary, she writes Historical, Paranormal and erotic romance. Whether a Medieval knight, regency rake, or cowboy or cop, her heroes are always strong men who’ll love their women unconditionally.
On most days, Abbey can be found at her computer, penning her latest tale. A tale where love, respect, and passion combine to create a satisfying and happy ending. She invites you to step in to the pages of her romances, to leave your worries behind and get swept up in her world.
Visit me on
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my blog
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What's In a Name, Anyway?

Since this is a blog on history and/or historical romance, I thought it pretty apt to give a little information about how my pen name came about because there is both historical and personal relivance to it for me. :) I'm still in the process of researching my father's side of the family, but I know much more about my mother's side. I take great pride in my families. It's so cool to imagine how they might've lived, loved, struggled and overcome obstacles of their time. I've even gotten ideas for books based on some things I've learned. They might seem insignificant, but there's a romance story everywhere if you look closely as I'll explain later. :)
My real name obviously, isn't Abbey MacInnis. It was actually my Mom who thought of it for me. :) Koodos to her for that. :)
Abbey MacInnis comes from the maiden names of my grandmothers, both born and raised in Canada, but who, for various reasons migrated to the Detroit area and found husbands and started families of their own. My mother's family come from Antigonish Nova Scotia. I have second and third cousins who live all throughout Canada. My grandmother was the youngest of seven. She came to the US to take care of her older sister who was ill. Antigonish was mostly a farming community in the 40's and earlier, so jobs were hard to find.
My father's mother's family came to Detroit pretty much for the same reason. The car industry was booming then. People from all over North America were coming to Detroit to find work.
Abbey comes from my father's side of the family. That side is British and German. I'm still trying to research my father's side of the family, but one story I recall hearing from my grandmother before she passed away was that a Great Great grandfather (not sure how far back it goes), came from England in the 1700's. He was a physician who helped settle the territory.
I know a bit more about the MacInnis side, my mother's family. :)
They came from Scotland and settled in Nova Scotia, which in essence means "New Scotland." They arrived in Canada in the 1800's. My Great Great Grandfather spoke Gaelic. This too, is something my grandmother, my mother's mother has shared with me, so it's led me to conclude that perhaps my Great Great Grandfather might've come from Scotland. Or that perhaps his father did. :)
Here's where it gets really cool. :) My Great Grandfather, (still on the MacInnis side), served in WWI. Here's an original wood-framed black and white photo of him in his uniform.

One story my grandmother told me was one she wasn't supposed to overhear, but even as a kid, my Grandma was awesome even then. :)
She overheard her father talking to someone that he saw a German soldier. He was supposed to kill him, but the man was praying, so he didn't. I thought that was very honorable. Turns out that the two men crossed paths in a church after the end of the war, both recognizing the other.
The war took a toll on my Great Grandfather. He'd traveled from England to France to Germany on foot. Obviously conditions in the trenches were horrible, but he survived and returned to Nova Scotia.
Here's where the romance of my very long post comes in. :) I don't know if my Great Grandfather courted his wife before or after he returned from the war. I'm going to write a book centered around this though. Only a lake separated my Great Grandfather and Mother from each other. So instead of walking around the lake, he'd swim over to court her. How cool is that? :)
They married and raised a family. The Casket was the local paper. My Great Grandfather was a contributor to it for several years. I like to think that's where I got my love for writing.
On my trip to Nova Scotia in 2000 for our family reunion, I actually visited the house where my Grandmother grew up, and the grave site where her family's buried. It was a trip I'll never forget, and one I hope to repeat during my lifetime.
I'm so happy to have shared the meaning behind my pen name with you. :) I feel I'm honoring both sides of my family, and am proud I have ancestors who fought for their happiness and freedom and who lived good lives. :)

Bio:
Abbey MacInnis is a published author of Contemporary Western romance. Along with Contemporary, she writes Historical, Paranormal and erotic romance. Whether she’s being swept off her feet by a Medieval knight, regency rake, or cowboy or cop, her heroes are always strong men who’ll love their women unconditionally.
On most days, Abbey can be found at her computer, penning her latest tale. A tale where love, respect, and passion combine to create a satisfying and happy ending. She invites you to step in to the pages of her romances, to leave your worries behind and get swept up in her world.
Visit me on
my website
my blog
Like me
Follow me on
Twitter
See what I’m reading at Good Reads