The Real Story Behind The Ghost In The Lake

The celebration of Halloween has been commercialized that it is now a day of kids receiving candies as they roam around Trick or Treat-ing that day. But not many know that Halloween had more sinister beginnings. The celebration goes back to the Celtic festival called Samhain. On the night of Oct 31, households celebrate Samhain, and it was believed that the dead return as ghosts to visit humans on earth. The word itself comes from the term “All Hallows’ Eve”, and it means a hallowed evening. In other cultures, people dressed up as saints and went door to door, as if selling insurance. This served as a prelude to what children do now.
But what we are interested in is how people believed that dead spirits could go back to haunt humans and places. Stow Lake appears to be a perfect case study for that. Most believe that there are unsolved issues here in the human realm. But what is the mystery behind Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park? Read on to find out more.

Are Ghosts Real?

Many believe that ghosts are real while some say that they are not true at all. There have been many anecdotal stories of people encountering ghosts at haunted places, with some of them captured on film. Houses with low market value, and hence low mortgage, are suspected of being haunted houses, especially if they are located in remote areas. Suffice to say, however, that the belief is there, whatever generation, race, or religion a person belongs to. Perhaps it stems from our longing for an afterlife, that there is more after our brief existence on Earth. The story you are about to read is a story that talks about a ghost in a lake. But why is she there? Why not in some abandoned hospital?

Ghosts Are Tied To A Place

Paranormal experts usually say that ghosts are tied to a place and usually do not leave until they move on and go to heaven or hell. There is typically a reason why they are in a loop. In the series, Supernatural, it was explained that ghosts become very angry because they live in a loop, but they are not inherently evil or good. Sometimes they even do not realize that they are dead and can end up being confused. They usually reside in the spirit world but can also manifest in the physical world along with an outburst of strong emotions. What could possibly goad a spirit to have strong feelings? Unpaid personal loans, while they were still alive, is probably not one of them, but there is something, right?

Devices To Listen To The Spirits

If you are interested in listening to the messages and emotions of the deceased, there’s supposed to be some type of equipment that can be used to listen to them. A handheld ghost listening device could even be purchased online for less than $50. These devices can allegedly record disembodied voices. It is claimed that voices from ghosts are below the normal hearing range of humans, and hence, you will need to get your credit card and purchase one of these gadgets. While it may seem easy, it is a scary thought as well. If you are not brave enough to try these devices out, we suggest that you do not as you could have disturbing experiences that will only lead to stress on your end.

Stow Lake

Now, back to Stow Lake. Many paranormal experts have used their devices in an attempt to find the story behind the ghost hunting the area. When we think of a lake, we usually associate it with an excellent vacation spot. It also reminds us of the movie The Lake House, where Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock gave a stunning performance. What we rarely credit a lake for are ghosts. If that were the case, then lakeside camping should see a decline – but it has not. Another association we have of a lake is the Loch Ness monster, but that is not really a ghost. Like the Loch Ness monster, the story of the spirit at Stow Lake has also persisted for many years.

Ghost Hunting

The Stow Lake ghost has reached a high degree of prominence that Tommy Netzband was sent to talk to the spirit and find out what has happened. He used one of the ghost hunting handheld devices and began speaking in a loud voice in an attempt to communicate with the ghost. The device he was holding was supposed to translate environmental sounds, white noise, and extracorporeal voices into words. Tommy is a member of the San Francisco Ghost Society and a host of the Haunted Haight Walking Tour. In case you are wondering, yes, there are ghost tours in San Francisco, California. Perhaps other states can follow suit so that ghost hunters can have more activities during Halloween, or any day they prefer.

The Lake

Stow Lake is the largest body of water at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. It is manmade, but it has a rich history that goes back to 1893. Urban planners for the state made investments in creating this lake, foreseeing it is a place for people in San Francisco to congregate. It has since then become a popular area for tourists. This allowed residents of the site to enjoy nature and relieve their stress from everyday living. The natural setting attracted all kinds of people from various walks of life. There is even a boathouse in the lake which was built from 1946 to 1949. The Stow Lake Boathouse was made in preparation for the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894 which was held in Golden Gate Park.

The Boathouse

It is not known when the events in this story happened exactly, but it would probably be closer to 1893 than the present time. During the late 1890s, people were still unaware of the brewing First World War, and they were keen on spending their time outside the house in parks like the Golden Gate Park. They mainly stay near the Stow Lake Boathouse and take advantage of the majestic view. Even though the lake is manmade, it is still beautifully made and mimics nature well. The boathouse, whose design was given credit to by Arthur Page Brown, was initially constructed using a more rustic style that the people loved. Visitors from outside of California also frequented Stow Lake. But in subsequent years, the lake would serve as a host to its most famous and nefarious resident.

Arthur Pigeon

The story of the lake’s resident first gained prominence in 1908. During that time, Arthur Pigeon was visiting Stow Lake as any ordinary person would. He filled up his gas tank and drove all the way to the park. He would probably then walk and enjoy the view of the park and the lake. Arthur could have talked to other people who, like him, were making use of the free time they had and picnicking. Arthur also most likely enjoyed either a beer or two and a hearty snack while at the park. What is surprising is that after enjoying his day, he was later pulled over by the police for speeding. He looked flushed, but he was not drunk, so why?

Arthur’s Adventure

Apparently, Arthur experienced a somewhat nerve-wracking incident while frolicking at Stow Lake. He was strolling along the edges of the lake when he saw something flicker. He looked but did not see anything, so he went on with his business. We do not know much about Arthur, perhaps he is a lawyer, a doctor, or a person who happened to just pass by the area and got mesmerized by the lake. But what we do know is that he loves nature. After walking a few meters, he saw another movement but thought it was an animal. He went back to his car and prepared to go home. It was not even five in the afternoon, but he felt tired from all the walking and decided to call it a day.

The Car

When he went to the car, he was stunned and unable to move as if a bolt of electricity had hit him hard. In front of him and blocking his access to the car was a thin and tall figure wearing white flowing clothes. It also had long, fair hair. He did not make out the face due to fear gripping him, but he made out that the element was barefoot. Skirting around the figure, he went for the car’s door, started the engine, and floored the gas. He was continually looking at the backseat half-expecting the ghost to be there. He felt a wave of gratitude flow through him after determining that is nowhere to be seen. Arthur has just met the white lady of Stow Lake.