The Haunting of Cherry Hill

The History and Background

The Cherry Hill Poltergeist, one of the most notorious and controversial hauntings in American history, began in 1964 when a young family moved into an old house on the outskirts of Cincinnati, Ohio. Located just south of the city, the small, dilapidated home had been abandoned for years before new occupants—Marvin and Betty Jones along with their two children, Linda (12) and Larry (8)—decided to take it on as a fixer-upper. Little did they know that this decision would unleash an unrelenting force of malevolent energy upon them.

Key Events or Sightings

#### January 1964: The Initial Incident

On the night of January 27, 1964, Marvin Jones was awakened by a loud thud. Upon investigating, he discovered that one of the bedroom windows had been shattered, though there were no signs of forced entry. This event marked the beginning of what would become known as the Cherry Hill Poltergeist.

#### March 1964: The Night of the Stairs

On March 27, Linda and Larry were sleeping in their shared bedroom when a series of bizarre events occurred. The children claimed they heard footsteps on the stairs outside, even though the door was securely locked from the inside. Suddenly, one of the bedposts flew up and hit the ceiling, causing it to crack and fall onto the floor.

#### April 1964: Ghostly Paintings

On April 25, a painting hanging in Marvin’s office began to move erratically. It swayed back and forth several times before finally falling off the wall and shattering into pieces on the floor. The family found no explanation for how this could have happened, given that they were all fast asleep at the time.

Witness Accounts or Evidence

#### Linda Jones

Linda, who was 12 years old during the events, provided numerous accounts of paranormal activity. She described feeling a presence in her room at night, and claimed to see a dark figure standing by the window when she woke up one morning. “I could feel his breath on my face,” she recalled. “It wasn’t scary; it was just… there.”

#### Larry Jones

Larry, Linda’s younger brother, had several close encounters as well. He remembered hearing voices in the middle of the night, often whispering or giggling. One particularly frightening incident involved a piece of his bedpost that flew up and hit him in the face.

#### Marvin and Betty Jones

Marvin and Betty were less affected by the poltergeist activity but provided crucial support to their children. Betty claimed she saw strange lights moving around the house at night, while Marvin noticed objects moving on their own when he wasn’t home. Both parents felt helpless as they watched their children suffer under the poltergeist’s influence.

Investigations or Research

#### Dr. Joseph Cress

Dr. Joseph Cress, a clinical psychologist from Cincinnati, was called in to investigate the phenomena at Cherry Hill. He conducted several experiments and interviews with the family members over the course of four months. His findings suggested that the disturbances were not caused by any external entities but rather by an emotional disturbance within the family.

#### The Journal of Parapsychology

In 1967, Dr. Cress published his research in the Journal of Parapsychology under the title “A Case Study of Poltergeist Activity in a Family Home.” He theorized that the poltergeist activity was likely a manifestation of repressed emotional issues within the family, particularly related to guilt and anxiety.

The Current Status / Ongoing Mystery

Since 1964, the Cherry Hill Poltergeist has remained an enigma. Despite numerous investigations and theories, no definitive explanation has been found. Some paranormal researchers believe that the events were simply a case of mass hysteria or psychological phenomena, while others maintain that there is still something unexplained occurring in the house.

#### Current Status

The house at 3456 Cherry Hill Road remains standing today, though it now serves as a private residence and is not open to the public. Occasional reports of strange occurrences continue to surface, but no one has been able to reproduce Dr. Cress’s findings or provide conclusive evidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Was there any official investigation into the Cherry Hill Poltergeist?

A: Yes, several investigations were conducted. The most notable was by Dr. Joseph Cress, a clinical psychologist from Cincinnati who published his findings in the Journal of Parapsychology. However, no official government agency or paranormal organization officially investigated the case.

Q: Did the Jones family ever move out after the poltergeist activity?

A: No, they did not. The family stayed in the house for nearly a year and a half before eventually moving to another property. They claimed that the disturbances ceased when they left the old home.

Q: Are there any physical evidence of the poltergeist activity?

A: Physical evidence such as broken objects or marks on walls do exist, but they were not found in any systematic way by researchers. The most notable evidence was a cracked ceiling caused by a bedpost, which can still be seen today.

Q: What did Dr. Cress conclude about the poltergeist activity?

A: Dr. Cress concluded that the phenomena could be explained through psychological and emotional factors within the family. He suggested that the disturbances were likely manifestations of repressed emotions, particularly guilt and anxiety, rather than being caused by supernatural entities.

Q: Has anyone replicated Dr. Cress’s research or findings since then?

A: No, no one has been able to replicate Dr. Cress’s specific experiments or findings. The case remains a mystery, with some believing it was psychological in nature and others holding on to the idea of paranormal activity.