I live in a 100 year old house on the eastern Montana praire. There are times when it moans and groans even when the wind isn't blowing and it is very still outside. I know about changes in temperature causing old wood to expand and contract and all that other scientific stuff to explain this but doesn't it sound like the house might actually be carring on a conversation with itself? You who live in an old house, does this happen or seem like it is to you? I find it comforting myself.
2007-08-30 16:04:03 · 8 answers · asked by Praire Crone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
I live in a house in the south that changes it's moods with the weather. If the weather shifts - the stairs sound as if someone is walking up them. I look and there's no one there. Sitting in the living room reading one night - listening to the quiet - the house was getting ready for the night as well, as if settling into it's ground bed for sleep. I thought I was the only one who had feelings about a house being alive. When there's family here during the holidays - the house seems more alive. When I am home alone - it's like the comforting old granny trying to make me feel secure.
Home is where you hang your heart.
2007-08-30 16:10:25 · answer #1 · answered by fsnail 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
many years ago I was babysitting in a really old house. Big old stone farmhouse with 2 foot thick walls.The kitchen was probably at least 30 feet X 20 feet.
One entire end of the kitchen was a massive stone fireplace. with old stone ovens built in (OOO how I woud LOVE to own that house today!!)
Anyway, the night I babysat - after I had put the kids to bed - it began to storm and the power went out. I don't mind storms and have never been frightened by power outages....
I was sitting beside the fireplace in a rocking chair (how quaint) and rockin listening to the thunder and watching the lightening... when all of a sudden I could have sworn that I heard the kids coming down the stairs. I sat up and waited, figuring they were just afraid of the storm and they would come to me... but they didn't. The sound of feet on the stairs kept up for a very long time.... probably just a few minutes, but it seemed like a long time.
I started to get annoyed, thinking they were just running up and down the stairs, so I got up and walked over to the hallway to look. There was no one there.
I went back to the rocking chair and figured it was just my imagination.
It started again.... footsteps on the stairs. This time I went to the hall and listened, they had stopped. I went upstairs to check the kids and they were sound asleep.
After returning to the kitchen again, and sitting in the rocking chair - I figured it must be the chair itself - although the noise was definately coming from the stairwell. I stopped rocking and listened. The noise started again.... I conscentrated on the noise and slowly realized that it wasn't coming from the stairs at all - but from the fireplace itself.
So i watched there in the dark and finally realized that big raindrops were falling down the chinmey! The acoustics were so good and everything so quiet that conditions were perfect for the sound to carry into the front hallway!
After that I just enjoyed the rest of the evening.... quite an adventure.
blessings :)
2007-08-30 23:44:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
I live in a 107 year old house and it doesn't moan or groan at all. In fact, I was recently thinking about other houses I have lived in that moaned and groaned all the time. I was just beginning to think that older homes don't do that because they have already settled, but now hearing about your old home I don't know.
2007-08-31 01:21:59 · answer #3 · answered by Peggy Pirate 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I live in an old row home over a hundred year old built for General Electric familes so they could be close to the plant. These things are old. And it speaks to me all the time! I too, live alone and doors open etc. Hey, whoever is coming and going has been here longer than me, so I welcome them. We co-exist happily. This is my home and I love living here. Nothing bad happens here. Just noises etc. So I talk to them occasionally. Keeps the peace.
2007-08-30 23:50:31 · answer #4 · answered by Erie_Irish 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My back door opens all by itself and then closes al by itself. I just say to it, "come on in and have a seat and rest yourself". After a while it opens again and closes itself and I shout "see you later". I get a kick out of it all and nothing seems to ever have happened other than this.
Raji the Green witch
2007-08-30 23:32:31 · answer #5 · answered by Raji the Green Witch 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think this is fascinating! I hear creaks and groans from my house every once in a while as well. It doesn't bother me either. Enjoy!
2007-08-30 23:13:48 · answer #6 · answered by jen4491 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Every home seems to have a character all it's own.
2007-08-31 09:43:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Believe me, if my house ever starts talking I would be the first one out that door. And for all of y'all that answered don't expect me to ever and I MEAN EVER visit your house! lol
OMG, that gives me the creeps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I might not sleep tonite!
2007-08-30 23:39:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋