The Daily Reminder

The following journal entries were found in a little book buried deep in an old cottage. This book was found to be the journal of Mrs. Hatch of Connecticut. The early entries tell of her life from 1910 on to 1950’s. But during her later years the entries become odd. She’s experiencing old age in an old house with only her pet dog. Her experiences are either true or they are distorted by old age and despair.

1. The Blasting

June 3rd 1955 – A very loud blast heard in neighborhood nights of the 5th and 6th. The sounds of cutting stone. More blasting now. I hear voices. Then Pete tells me someone is around.

June 27th 1955 – 8:30 am. Blasting outside

June 28th 1955 – 6:20 am. Blasting outside sounds very close. I believe there must be a drive way close. Perhaps under the two highways. Maybe down through my pasture lot. Sounds like a tractor is working.

July 1st 1955 – Very very loud blast at 2:15 pm

July 3rd 1955 – Blasts were heard 12:10 am and 12:35 am.

July 9th 1955 – 15,16,17 Blasts and tractor working. The house shook from the last blast. The lead jars fell from the walls. Blasting continued through the night.

July 18th 1955 – While I sit here in my rocker the house still shakes. Ah! What must I do?

September 15th 1955 – 9:00 am blasting. I am beginning to be worried.

September 27th 1955 – tractor, blasting and moving about like hurrying to get something done.

2. The Indian Base

May 28th 1956 – I have heard the strange clicking sound sometime louder then others ever since I returned from Bristol. Last night the noise was loud, causing me to get up and go out and sit in the dining room. I believe there are several wires around this house. Maybe my conversations have been taped.
If my name has been used on anything it’s without my knowledge.

June 18th 1956 – A blast at 1:45 am. I hear them working right in front my house.

September 6th 1956 – Underground blasting and digging is still heard each day and night. It has grown unbearable at night. How I wish I knew what this all is. If only someone was around and interested to know about this. I call it the Indian Base.

October 3rd 1956 – I found 2 knots have been tied in my lamp cord. I was in Milford today and found them when I lighted my lamp that night.

October 5th 1956 – Blasting and Chiseling goes on night and day. I hardly can sleep at night.

October 21st 1956 – A blast at 7:00 am. Daily chiseling and blasting. How I wish someone was interested in what is going on here. Can’t anyone hear them besides me? What must I do?

November 11th 1956 – 6:00 am Blasting and Chiseling. There is tapping now in the corner under the dining room stove. Pete doesn’t like the dining room. If Pete could talk he would tell me something. I let him out onto the porch. He just stands there staring out over the fields. I’m afraid to look where he is looking. He hears them too.

November 26th 1956 – Home from Thanksgiving with Dorothy and still I hear blasting.

December 27th 1956 – 2:30 am, a loud blast jarring the house and bed.

December 30th 1956 – The sound of digging and scratching

December 31st 1956 – as I lay on the couch I hear whistling. It sounds like it’s upstairs or outside. Pete hears the whistling.

3. I am frightened

January 1st 1957 – at 2:30 am a knocking at my front door frightens me. 10:30 am more blasts.

January 11th 1957 – Blasting crackles outside. Sounds much rougher. The pressure in the air is high. The hurrying and tramping that I hear each day grows tiresome.

January 13th 1957 – Glowing in the sky to the west. More tapping in the dining room.

January 20th 1957 – There must be a good sized Indian base by now. Wish someone would listen to me. Must I keep quiet and let this go on. If only I could sell or do business. Think I will have to say something in the near future. I can’t sleep with all this noise. My god!

January 25th 1957 – Two knocks at the door at 7:00 am. I dare not answer.

January 26th 1957 – I found today a knot in the Pete’s chain and in my bedroom lamp. It was not there last night. Blasting continues. The Dining room lamp has 2 knots in it. I don’t know how much longer I can stand this.

March 3rd 1957 – Sunday. Found knot in lamp cord.

March 6th 1957 – Again the knot in the lamp. Blasts at 4:00am

March 29th 1957 – 11:00 pm, a terrible blast. I hear mumbling outside my room. Pete is asleep.

March 30th 1957 – Again the blast. Did not go to bed until 1:00 am. I am afraid. No one pays attention to me.

In between these pages is a cut out article –

Merritt Lane of Newark, former vice chancellor of New Jersey, married on January 30 a daughter of Judge Garrison of the New Jersey Supreme Court. On April 30 he is alleged to have married another woman in Connecticut. Last Friday district attorney Swann of New York stated that, after a conference with Mathew H. Kenealy, prosecuted attorney of Stamford, Conn, said that he had learned that under Connecticut law, a person who is married in one state can be married again in Connecticut, and as long as the persons don’t live in Connecticut together, they are not guilty of bigamy

October 22nd 1957 – Heard a cow bellow near the house. Sounded right outside.

October 26th 1957 – I hear something loud coming right up to the house. Seems to be under the ground. Pete won’t come out from under the table.

November 29th 1957 – Saw a figure in the sky to the West. Resembles a bow and arrow with a long white line or path. The arrow was red. I also hear blasts and chiseling but further away.

4. Buried

May 9th 1958 – A knot appeared in the radio Dorothy gave to me.

May 10th 1958 – Pounding under the stove. I am afraid.

June 27th 1958 – Found a knot in the toaster cord. Knocking on my bedroom door at 3:26 am awakens me. I am afraid…. Walking outside my door. Have they come for me?

June 28th 1958 – woke up to blasting. I can’t take this.

July 2nd 1958 – Went to get a clipping from an old paper that I found in dining room. I don’t know where it came from. I placed it under the plate on my bureau and intended to read it. But it was gone when I went to read it. Someone took it. There is someone in here with me.

July 6th 1958 – As I lay down on the couch, I saw these words flashed before me. “She Buried”. I don’t understand what this means. I never feel alone here. The air has grown thick. Blasting at 3:00 am.

July 28th 1958 – Blasting and voices today. Pete is not well. I need help. There is a smell from the dining room. Tapping also. I have stayed in my room.

July 29th 1958 – If anyone has any papers and says I signed them (false)

August 20th 1958 – I think the Indian’s have the deed as I haven’t seen it for several years.

September 23rd 1958 – Blasting caused wall panels to be broken in this performance. Heard Pete barking, Knots in his chain. The air is hot and thick. The sky is glowing to the west.

5. Final Entry

November 9th 1958 – Blasting non stop grows closer 8:00 am. I don’t hear Pete. As I sat in my rocker, 3 large strings with dark red beads were dangled before me. About 2 feet over my head. Oh how beautiful.

This is where the entries end. What she was dealing with is still unknown. Indians in the 1950’s invading someone’s land? Someone in her house? Poltergeist like behavior? All that is left of these final days in her home are these entries. She died years later. She was known to have lived in the very room I occupy now. And ten years ago, an old woman was seen looking out the very window to my left. Described to my father, the description matched my great grandmother, Mrs. Hatch. It’s almost sad to think that still almost 40 years after her death she is still watching the westward sky, alone.