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This story should probably have been printed around the Halloween season, but it's happening now, so here t is. Did you hear that Sacco's Bowl Haven bowling alley and pool hall on Day Street is supposedly haunted? One of the Boston Sunday papers ran an article on this story, but here it is first-hand.
The Sci-Fi channel's show "Ghost Hunters" was there investigating a few weeks ago. They spent a couple of nights in the bowling alley to get the ghost to show itself, or make its presence known or whatever they call it. I don't know if they found evidence of any paranormal activity or not. The TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) van arrived - they came equipped with their ion generators, white noise generators, digital thermometers, infrared cameras and thermal imaging cameras. They had everything but Dan Akroyd and Bill Murray. A friend of mine had spoken to the producers and recommended me to talk to them - as someone who lived in the area my whole life and would perhaps have some info on the matter. I talked to a producer and gave a few of my ideas on why the bowling alley may indeed be haunted.
I called the alley and spoke to the woman who has worked there for several years. Her name is Barbara and I have known her from the square for over 35 years. She gave me the low down on the spooky goings-on at the bowling alley. It's also documented on Loui "UFO" Zoot!'s site the web, under the heading ,haunted places in Massachusetts. It seems strange noises sometimes come from the back of the alley in the evening and scratching sounds have been heard too. The alleys would all of a sudden become freezing cold, and a girl mysteriously had greasy stains on her face that looked like they were made with fingers. All weird stuff right ? Weird enough for the Sci-Fi channel to send an entire crew to Somerville for a full investigation.
When I spoke to the producer I gave her some theories I had come up with and she invited me to be part of the show as the 'Somerville historian'. I put in many hours in Davis Square, so why not me?
I started doing some research and discovered that the famous pool hustler Rudolf Wanderone Jr., aka " Minnesota Fats," was beaten at Sacco's by Somerville resident and Hall of Fame pool player Larry "Boston Shorty" Johnson. You may remember Jackie Gleason portrayed Minnesota Fats in the Paul Newman movie "The Hustler". Fats died in 1996 and Shorty passed away in 2001.
I had the pleasure of knowing Shorty from Redbones. I suggested that perhaps Fats was coming back looking for either a re-match or perhaps to have a snack. I also had other ideas that involved car trunks at the auto repair business next door. My own deceased sister could actually be the playful entity. She came across from the other side like gang busters at a session held by famed medium Suzane Northrop. We know that she is a very strong and prominent spirit, just as she was in life. Christine had a lovable mischievous personality and I wouldn't be surprised if she is having a bit of fun in the afterlife. She also had some issues that involved the bowling alley. If she can hear me now, I would like her to go into my bank account and add a few zeros .
The TAPS van was parked in front of the Central Library as I walked in to be interviewed. I was asked questions, while three cameras and about 15 crew members and producers monitored the session. My kids got a kick out of the whole thing, while I made a joke of everything, as usual.
At this time I don't know if or when the Sacco's episode will be aired on The Sci-Fi Channel but I will let you now as soon as I find out. I never watch those types of shows, but of course I will if I'm on. I don't have to watch TV to get frightened, because real life is scary enough. Right now I have to go to Shaws to buy food for the mouths of children present. They get very scary when they are not fed.
Other places in Somerville appear to be haunted also such as my own house! It seems every day I wake up at 3 am to chilling eerie voices. They moan things like: "If only you didn't do this..." and "you should have done that..." and "you really blew that chance, fat head." Those are the 'would have, could have, should have' spirits that echo and taunt me in my mind. I am also haunted by the ghosts of mortgages past, which are some horribly ugly and scary demons. You can email Jimmy direct with comments at jimmydel@rcn.com.
