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History Through The Rear View Mirror

 

This incident took place about 10 years ago. My son and I decided to go for a drive on a hot sunny day. We chose to drive down to our local marina, located on the Puget Sound in a town whose first inhabitants landed in the late 1700's. The town is located in a low lying spot at the bottom of what was a massive prehistoric landslide, it's banked on one side with a cliff, adjacent to a creek and contains several low grass lands that were discovered to be extremely fertile. It was there a combination seaport and farming community was born.

On the top of the cliff and surrounding hillsides are the remnants of several old homes. It was said an old sea captain lived up on the cliff overlooking the water, it's a the home didn't survive the years but there is mention of it in the local historical society museum.

My son and I spent a pleasant afternoon at the marina waterfront park then decided to head home. The main road to our home travels north along the waterfront and then climbs up the hill towards the top of the cliff. We decided to turn off the main drag at the top of the hill and travel west towards the road closest to the cliff and then turn north. This area has a small pocket of homes with expansive lawns; nestled amoungst old growth trees.

We had just turned onto the cliff drive and gone not more than one half of a block when I looked in my rear view mirror and saw a man slowly crossing the road. The man looked to be in his 60's, sporting a white trimmed beard, a blue hat with short brim, blue coat and trousers. Because we have two local yacht clubs in the area I didn't think much of it, I glanced at my son and told him to turn around and look at the old commodore; he glanced back and said there was no one there! I pulled over and turned around, searching the road and the nearby homes. Unless old guy dropped into a ditch, he had just vanished, there was not enough time him to reach any of the front doors of the expansive homes he was walking towards!

This area was logged heavily in the late 1800's and is said to be the location of an old children's home and the captains residence. To this day I don't know for sure what I saw but I believe I saw a glimpse of the past, a residual apparition of a sea captain. In broad daylight!

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Comments about this paranormal experience

The following comments are submitted by users of this site and are not official positions by yourghoststories.com. Please read our guidelines and the previous posts before posting. The author, otteer, has the following expectation about your feedback: I will read the comments and participate in the discussion.

blue_raven80 (13 stories) (338 posts)
 
13 years ago (2011-07-04)
That was cool! I just wish your son was able to see the old captain. Looks like the captain is still there at the marina.

otteer (8 stories) (398 posts)
+1
13 years ago (2011-06-30)
Jav

Thanks for your comments, you were close...Puyallup...lol...pronounced pew al up... The most mispronounced city name in Washington lol! It is true, it is very green here, especially now, we have had lots of rain and but not enough to rot everything, the Rhodies were amazing this year and the Roses are pumping out the blooms.

The towns on Puget Sound are full of history and folklore, I love going to their websites to read the stories of the land. The town park I was in is said to have several spirits, there is an old building on it that is from the early 1900's that is active but closed to the public for repairs. It is pretty spooky there at night! ❤
Javelina (4 stories) (3749 posts)
 
13 years ago (2011-06-30)
otteer,
What a wonderful vision you glimpsed in your rear view! I have to believe it was surely the Captain that you saw that day. I love reading your descriptions of the land and coastal areas of Washington state. It always brings back the times I visited there. My cousin lived in a town named Puyalup (hope I spelled it correctly) years ago, and I can remember visiting him and going to the coast for a campout one weekend. It was so fun and relaxing, I'll never forget it. And green everywhere! 😊

Jav
otteer (8 stories) (398 posts)
 
13 years ago (2011-06-30)
Thanks cosmogal, I believe it was residual too. This was the one and only apparation I have ever seen, lol, that I know of. I'm going to read your story. Thanks for commenting! ❤
cosmogal926 (9 stories) (1223 posts)
 
13 years ago (2011-06-30)
Hi otteer, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I had an encounter with an old sea captain in broad daylight also. It happened in Salem, MA. If you would like to read about it my story is called "The Gardner Pingree House." I think what you saw was a residual of this man crossing the road doing his normal routine. Usually when you hear about ghost sightings it's dark and nobody is around, but to have it happen in the middle of the day just proves it could happen at anytime anywhere and when you least expect it. 😊

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