Faith Steed Howarth

[the house in San Francisco (3621 Divisadero Street .... ]

You saw all these things, but it didn't affect you much. It didn't bother you much that the house was filthy. I was very run down, nothing in it worked good. The refrigerator was just a place in the wall Can ice box] where you stuck things, you know,, When we got there, of course, we didn't know what they would do and what they wouldn't. Houses were very hard to get a hold of. That's in a good neighborhood, you know. Beautiful, because we had the ocean and the big bridge and so many things that were interesting. Not very far from where the big store was for the soldiers. I could go there everyday shopping.

So, we got busy first and cleaned it. I Couldn't tell you how dirty it was. But, we cleaned everything. We changed the room that they had had for a dining room. We 'turned it into a third bedroom 'cause we needed three bedrooms and cleaned it. We got it clean so that it was decent looking, you know, I didn't want anyone to come into it, the way it was. I don't know how they dared to show it, except they could get anything for houses at 'that time.

Then, they came and did all these things. They made it very nice. It was really quite a decent, nice place. I wouldn't want to live there, but it was nice.

Then you want to know about the ghost , huh? Well, you see, the neighbors were very interested because of what had happened there. The woman had committed suicide and tier husband was in a now, I don't know what they call it - but where they put people who aren't quite right in the head. He did come there one time.

It was true that there was a funny feeling in the house. But, I thought it was dirt and I scrubbed at the dirt and worked at that and Alvin did too. I mean we really worked. We fixed it so it was really a very pleasant, nice little place to come into. And, this neighbor would come to the door. Of course, I would invite them in, you know. I wanted to be friendly. They were very close. I could tell there was a - I thought it was because we were LDS to tell you the truth, 'cause you know how people are. They're a little bit funny about it.

Anyhow, we have this experience of this one night. Alta was there. My sister had come down and she was staying with me. In the middle of the night, it would be Pam, started to cry, screamed, "Momma, momma." I jumped out of bed, of course, I was very close and hopped in there. Alta was sleeping in the bed and we had a little cot for her. I went in, of course, and soothed her and took care of her (Pamela) and Alta told me that there was this thing in the house. Now, she didn't describe it, and she said she knew what it was and that was where the funny feeling was coming from. Well, it frightened the baby. She said she said to her, "You are dead, you go back" Now, I can't give her exact words. “You go back where you belong because you can't be here any more,” or something like that and she said it did go away.

When we first went in there, that bedroom had a great big picture of a naked woman hanging on the wall over the bed. It was filthy in every way you could imagine. Alta told me that the next morning and I felt a very strange feeling. I didn't pay much attention to it I just took care of the baby and that passed on.

But, the neighbors - then I was lying down on the sofa one day. I felt a little tired. I was kind of stretched out on the sofa and a voice said to me, "You're going to die." I said, "Well, what about it?" I looked around. I did not see anything. But. there was a voice there. It didn't frighten me. I just thought ... [tape ended – lost the thought]

[Continuation of ghost story from the previous tape, about the man who had previously lived in the house]

Before I ever had to do anything about it - he never offered to hurt anybody or appeared to do anything - a man came and took -- him away. That was all I know about that part of it.

But, people, the neighbors, were very, very curious. So, as I got to know them a little better, I invited each one in. They could see that the house was alright. Daddy built darling little cabinets. It was a nice little house. I had a lot of his friends there, you know, we'd go around to a lot of different places and have dinner together. We got along just fine. It was all right. It never bothered us any more.

There was a big fire. You were there. I guess I never let you boys go over there even though it was close by. You were so put out with me in the morning. I just never let you boys go over there .

One thing about you, David. Little boys about your age, you know, you had gotten acquainted with and they were not Mormon boys. In the summer, they had a sort of place where children went and played. You went with him and then you came to me and said that you didn't want to go any more. And, I say, “Why?” And you said, “Well, this woman talked to me.” You didn't describe to me exactly what it was, but, I knew more or less what it would have been a catholic school. You were uncomfortable there. You didn't want to go.

That -- it was the only trouble we had there. We had the place that time. You see, people were watching us. You could tell they were very surprised. They were awfully nice with you kids. They liked both of you and they were nice to me too. But, there was not friendship. You know what I mean? They were different. But, I don't think either of us missed them. We weren't there that long. Dad was busy all the time, you know.

[A litte history: this house, located in the Marina district of SF was quite badly damaged in the earthquake of 1989. It is located on the block adjacent to the area that was destroyed by fire during the earthquake. It has since been rebuilt and changed from a 2-story home to a 3-story home.]