Happy Halloween 2013

Happy Halloween 2013

This week I want to do something different and focus on Halloween, I know there will be plenty of readers that will go "Oh, American rubbish", but Halloween isn't American, it's origins and celebrations pre-date the discovery of the America's and actually comes from Europe, where in some places like, Scotland, it is still celebrated in its traditional form!

You may not believe it, but Halloween has been celebrated in little old Adelaide almost since the inception of the city. The Caledonian Club held an annual Halloween celebration and many references to it can be found in old newspapers.

 In the picture above U.S. servicemen celebrate Halloween in Australia by bobbing for apples

This skeleton tap dancing photo is from the State Library

I could go on and on about Halloween, and how much I love it, it's origins and its celebration, but I think this weeks blog will be short and sweet as I am working on editing some videos for a project that will become public very soon!

so until next week - enjoy Halloween and happy ghost hunting!

One Year of The Haunts of Adelaide

One Year of The Haunts of Adelaide

Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of this blog “The Haunts of Adelaide”, and our long standing look into Adelaide (and South Australia's) History, Mystery and the Paranormal.

What a year it has been, for the blog, and for me personally.

The inspiration for this blog came from a few sources, one including my friend Liam at The Haunts of Brisbane. I had long thought about writing a blog on the History of Adelaide, with a slant towards mysteries, paranormal events and the darker side of Adelaide, with a little push from Liam, the blog was born. (thank you Liam!! :) )

Early on an employee of the State Library of South Australia took an interest in the research and stories I was exploring, and put the blog forward for the National Library of Australia's “Pandora “ Archive.

“PANDORA is a digital archive dedicated to the preservation of and long term access to Australian online electronic publications of national significance.” - from the Pandora website www.pandora.nla.gov.au” 

This inclusion was a huge, an unexpected, honour for me, and was the second inclusion of my teams work, with the Eidolon Paranormal website at www.eidolonparanormal.net being included in the Pandora Archive back in 2011.

Also this year, I went away to film a television show, “Haunting: Australia”, where I got to investigate alongside two friends Gaurav Tiwari from Indian Paranormal Society and Robb Demarest from Ghost Hunters International, as well as some new friends, Ian Lawman from Most Haunted, Rayleen Kable from Psychic TV, and the one and only Ray Jorden, from The Paranormal 5.

The cast of Haunting: Australia

We had some great adventures, and caught some great evidence...you'll have to watch the show when it comes out to see where we went and what we gathered...It was an amazing, eye opening experience to be involved in something like this.

TV was never a goal of mine (I was always more interested in making documentaries), but who would say no to Robb??

I can tell you I learnt a great deal from working with the cast, and also a great deal from the crew (looking at you Mick Eady ;) )! So all round it was a vast learning experience that will add new ideas to how I approach my own videos in the future, and how I approach our own paranormal investigations

Back to writing, Whilst the Eidolon blog takes a little break while I freshen it up a little, The Haunts of Adelaide will keep pressing forward, there is so much history in Adelaide, a lot of it untouched, forgotten or distorted from the facts, the blog could go on for years!

Also this year I got married. Yes it should probably be further up the page, but this post is supposed to be about the blog, not me...but

then, I write the blog, so I guess the blog, in some ways, is about me? Right?
 Anyhoo, I would like to thank my lovely Wife, Karen (who I met in a cemetery – and no she isn't dead!) for putting up with me as I research, explore and write, sometimes well into the wee hours, when I could be spending more time with her – Without Karens unending support and tolerance, this blog probably wouldn't have survived its first month!!

I would also like to thank each and every one of you who takes a little bite out of your day once a week to read my humble little blog, I hope it brings back memories for some, teaches others, inspires yet others, to investigate and research themselves, but most of all I hope you, the reader, enjoy the journey of discovering Adelaide, and South Australia's past with me.

Thank you for reading The Haunts of Adelaide

- Allen Tiller

Myer's Explosion

Myer's Explosion

On the 4^th of October 1928, Adelaide awoke to the news of a massive explosion in its city centre.

“A terrific explosion of gas occurred on the second floor of the Myer Emporium, Limited (late James Marshall's) early on Thursday Afternoon. A carpenter sustained concussion” - The Register, Friday 5^th Oct. 1928

The building was undergoing reconstruction, with new showrooms and facilities being installed, and a new ceiling being installed on the 3^rd floor, which had just been completed the day previously.

Not long after 1pm on the Thursday, a large explosion rocked the Myer Emporium, causing the veranda to shake. People along Stephens Place, frightened ran into the street and watched as the whole veranda shook, and smoke began to emanate from some of the buildings windows.

What could have been a very tragic day happened whilst most worker were out on their lunch break, but some of the female staff on the 2^nd floor of the building were so shocked by the explosion, they fainted, and were sent home – the most serious injury of the day was that of a carpenter, Mr Alfred Broadbridge, who had been working in the north western corner of building, where it is thought the explosion may have emanated from.

Front of Myer's Emporium in 1936

Mr Broadbridge was struck with a falling object, and rendered unconscious, later he was taken to the Adelaide Hospital suffering a concussion, and was held for observation

Earlier that day, employees on the second floor had complained about the ongoing smell of gas, a supervisor looked into the situation and closed of the gas mains until they could be inspected, however, the leaking gas had made its way into the floor/ceiling cavity between levels two and three and accumulated. It was unclear what ignited the gas, but the explosion was heard clearly throughout the area.

Rear entry of James Marshalls,
which would become Myer's Emporium

Small fires broke out, but due to a few brave employees, and the Central Fire Station staff, these were doused pretty quickly, resulting in a minimal amount of damage.

What could have been a disastrous event in Adelaide's history was averted with no single loss of life, and no major damage.

© 2013 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Penang Malaysian & Chinese Restaurant

Penang Malaysian & Chinese Restaurant

Situated on a laneway that runs between Hindley and Currie streets at 22 Gilbert Place (behind the Paringa Hotel, and near the 24 hour Pancake Kitchen), can be found the Penang Malaysian & Chinese Restaurant in the “Quelltaler House” building.
The building was designed by architect Albert Langhans as the premises for “Buring and Sobel Vignerons” who used the cellars to store their award-winning wines.

The location was converted into the Arkaba Steak Cellar, a trendy restaurant in its time that attracted the top echelon of Adelaide's business and social scene. People such as Premier Don Dunstan, Len Amadio and local media identity, Peter Goers, as well as members of the Adelaide City Council would often be seen eating in the restaurant. It was somewhat of a local iconic place to meet, eat, and greet the local celebrity scene.
For the past 20 years or so the location has housed the Penang Malaysian and Chinese Restaurant, a lovely venue that is very popular with local office staff from the surrounding business precinct, and Hindley street traders, looking for a cheap and quick meal,

almost all would not realise the building is allegedly haunted!

There have long been sightings of the ghost of a former chef of the Arkaba Steak House, walking through the dining rooms of the current restaurant, He is often seen, still dressed in his work clothes, checking the dishes being made, and sometimes walking into the seated areas of the restaurant, greeting customers and taking praise for the wonderful food. Unverified reports tell a story of one of the Arkaba Chefs dying in tragic circumstances in a kitchen fire, is it this Chef that remains in the building, startling customers with his vanishing act, or is the spirit someone else, a former customer, another chef who loved his kitchen so much he returned to work for eternity?

© 2013 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

The Death of Merle Shelton

The Death of Merle Shelton

King William Street, Adelaide, a bustling hive of activity in 1925. Butchers, barbers, music shops, this was one of the main shopping areas of South Australia's capitol.

At the southern end of King William Street stood Messengers Ham Shop, a small establishment that served food, but also had an upstairs area where people boarded.

One of the borders, Mr Tom Watson had come to Adelaide from the Eastern states just three months prior. Mr Watson had lived previously in Melbourne and Sydney.

Merle Shelton, a young married woman who lived with her parents in nearby Trinity Gardens, worked in the shop as a waitress. Although married, it would seem she struck up a relationship with Mr Watson.

Mr Watson soon came to work for Merle's father, Mr George Perks, who was a carpenter in the Norwood area.

On Wednesday the 15^th of July, the owner of Messengers Ham and Beef Shop ventured upstairs at 4pm to see what had become of Merle, who had gone upstairs at 2:45pm, right before her shift and had not returned. 

The owner saw Mr Watson sitting, back against the wall in his room, bleeding profusely from two holes in his head. In his hand was a small revolver, laying just to the left of him, facedown on the floor in a pool of her own blood, was 21 year old Merle Shelton.

Watson was still alive, and died later from his wounds in a nearby hospital.

The Sydney Morning Herald
, Wednesday 15 July 1925, page 16

A police inquest began into the murder suicide immediately, and a few facts became public knowledge, Mr Tom Watson was also known by other names; “Jack Watson” and also his real name Tom Weathered.

Weathered had been a private in the army but was also a union member of the “Meat Union” and had previously been working in a slaughterhouse.

He had complained of sleeplessness to the owners previously, and had said he had been awake for almost 4 days.

No-one really knows his motives for killing Merle, maybe she was breaking it off with Tom and returning to her estranged husband, no-one except the Merle and Tom really know the truth as to what happened.

© 2013 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au