Show Notes
It's spooky season! In this special October episode of True Tales From Old Houses, hosts Stacy Grinsfelder and Daniel Kanter take a break from their usual discussions of old house restoration and DIY to share spine-tingling, light-hearted ghost stories! Every year, listeners send in their eerie experiences, and this episode is packed with haunted tales from homes across the U.S. From Rebekah's unsettling bungalow in Tampa to Jake's unexpected encounters in a small Appalachian house during the pandemic, these real-life ghost stories will give you chills. Laura takes us back to her haunted childhood in rural Montana, while Sara shares her experiences growing up in a spooky shotgun house in Thomasville, Georgia. Finally, Mary recounts how she discovered she wasn't living alone after moving into her Syracuse, NY apartment 18 years ago—and how she's been cohabitating with a ghostly roommate ever since. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast, an old house lover, or just here for the ghost stories, this episode has something for you. "Ghosts of the Bungalow" In this eerie tale, Rebekah shares how she and her husband sensed something strange about the bungalow they were about to purchase in Tampa. Despite the peculiar vibes, they bought it anyway—and soon discovered they weren't the only ones living there. "Appalachian Hauntings" What would you do if things started going bump in the night during lockdown? Jake recounts how his small Appalachian home became the setting for strange, inexplicable events during the pandemic, leaving him wondering who—or what—was sharing his space. "Shadows in Montana" Growing up in rural Montana, Laura experienced more than her share of ghostly encounters. From unsettling shadows to eerie presences, she describes how her family home was filled with spooky activity that profoundly shaped her childhood. "Spirits in the Shotgun House" Sara's story takes us to Thomasville, Georgia, where she grew up in a haunted shotgun house. With a mix of chills and intrigue, Sara shares her ghostly experiences, detailing how living in a haunted house became part of her daily life. "Roommates for Life" Mary's apartment in Syracuse, NY, came with an unexpected twist—a ghostly roommate. For the past 18 years, she has cohabitated with a spirit, and she recounts the strange but surprisingly harmonious relationship they've formed. Mentioned in this Episode Merch Run! To pre-order True Tales From Merch, visit TrueTalesFromOldHouses.com/Merch. Learn More about Rebecca Lazaridis' home illustration commissions. Follow Rebecca on Instagram
More from True Tales From Old Houses
Season 14 of True Tales From Old Houses kicks off with our annual Spooky Season stories! What happens when you're a skeptic but the ghosts don't care? Four listeners share their encounters with the unexplained, including mysterious figures, strange voices, and a possible brush with time travel. Their stories might make even the most committed doubter question what they believe. Plus, Stacy shares a few summer updates and big news about the future of True Tales From Old Houses. Mentioned in This Episode: Join Stacy on Substack Caitlin - The Preservation Peach (Instagram) Caitlin - Blue Dog Preservation (Instagram) Aimée Struble - Nola.Paint.Girl (Instagram) Jillian Pelkey - RoseHomesteadRehabCT (Instagram) We Love our Sponsors! Many thanks to the sponsors who help make this show possible. When you shop at the websites and use the codes below (where available), you're directly supporting their small businesses and the podcast, too! Sutherland Welles - Maker of exceptional polymerized tung oil finishes since 1965. To save 10% on your first order, use the coupon code TRUETALES26. Brouns & Co. Linseed Oil Paint - Flax plant-derived linseed oil paint and stain. Anti-mold with only trace elements of VOCs. Wicks moisture from wood. Prevents metal from rusting. Brouns & Co. is trusted by preservation professionals and homeowners who value authenticity. Heritage Supply Co. - Heritage Supply Co. (formerly The Craftsman Store) is the same trusted company you know for window restoration supplies and more. Use code TRUETALES10 for 10% off your entire order. Spend $250 or more for free shipping. The Old House Shop – The store for people who accidentally turn every conversation into a discussion about windows, plaster, or old-growth lumber. Find preservation-minded t-shirts, cozy sweatshirts, mugs, and gifts that celebrate process over perfection. Use code OLDHOUSELIFE for 10% off your order. Intro and Outro music by AudionautiX
In this week's episode, the season finale of True Tales From Old Houses, Stacy welcomes Robert Khederian, a realtor, writer, and commentator on pre-war architecture, design, and old-house culture. Robert is known for his thoughtful observations about historic homes and the people who love them, making him the perfect guest to help close out the season. We discuss changing attitudes toward historic homes, what buyers are looking for today, timeless design, and how social media has influenced the way we think about owning old houses. Also in this episode, listener Peter Martin shares how he got the doors in his old house to latch properly. What sounds like a simple project turned out to be a series of different problems, each requiring its own solution. It's a practical conversation for anyone living with doors that stick, swing, sag, or simply refuse to cooperate. Mentioned in this Episode: Sign up for the Wood Window Workshop at Blake Hill House Join Stacy on Substack Bending Hinges - I'll put some links on Substack this week. I'm still looking for the most useful ones. Find Robert Khederian on Substack, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Buy Tala lightbulbs Buy GE Relax lightbulbs (affiliate link) WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS Many thanks to the sponsors who help make this show possible. When you shop at the websites and use the codes below (where available), you're directly supporting their small businesses and the podcast, too! Sutherland Welles - Maker of exceptional polymerized tung oil finishes since 1965. To save 10% on your first order, use the coupon code TRUETALES26. Brouns & Co. Linseed Oil Paint - Flax plant-derived linseed oil paint and stain. Anti-mold with only trace elements of VOCs. Wicks moisture from wood. Prevents metal from rusting. (Featured on ep. 164) Brouns & Co. is trusted by preservation professionals and homeowners who value authenticity. Heritage Supply Co. - Heritage Supply Co. (formerly The Craftsman Store) is the same trusted company you know for window restoration supplies and more. Use code TRUETALES10 for 10% off your entire order. Spend $250 or more, and shipping is free. Repaint Studios - The Repaint Tray from Repaint Studios is the first reusable silicone paint tray liner and lid. The Repaint Tray's airtight lid keeps your paint fresh for weeks. Use the coupon code TRUETALES10 to save 10% off your order. Intro and Outro music by AudionautiX
In this episode of True Tales From Old Houses, Stacy talks with Ariana Makau, principal conservator and founder of Nzilani Glass Conservation, about her decision to purchase a long-neglected industrial building in Oakland, California. After hearing from so many listeners interested in historic commercial buildings, Stacy invited Ariana to share her experience taking on an old industrial property and turning it into a space that works for both her business and her broader mission. Ariana explains what drew her to the building, how she determined whether the project was realistic, and the vision she has for the property's future as a home for Nzilani Glass and her non-profit, The Fillet Foundation. Stacy and Ariana discuss adaptive reuse, balancing passion with practicality, and the importance of planning before taking on a major rehabilitation project. The conversation also explores the often-overlooked people behind preservation work. Ariana explains why she wants to recognize every craftsperson, contractor, and tradesperson who contributes to the building's transformation, and why their work deserves to be celebrated alongside the finished project. Mentioned in this Episode: Sign up for the Wood Window Workshop at Blake Hill House Join Stacy on Substack Nzilani Glass Conservation (website) The Fillet Foundation (website) Red Wing Wall of Honor (website) @Nzilani_Glass (Instagram) @the_fillet_foundation (Instagram) @aubadeproperty (Instagram) Many thanks to the sponsors who help make this show possible. When you shop at the websites and use the codes below (where available), you're directly supporting their small businesses and the podcast, too! Sutherland Welles - Maker of exceptional polymerized tung oil finishes since 1965. To save 10% on your first order, use the coupon code TRUETALES26. Brouns & Co. Linseed Oil Paint - Flax plant-derived linseed oil paint and stain. Anti-mold with only trace elements of VOCs. Wicks moisture from wood. Prevents metal from rusting. Brouns & Co. is trusted by preservation professionals and homeowners who value authenticity. Heritage Supply Co. - Heritage Supply Co. (formerly The Craftsman Store) is the same trusted company you know for window restoration supplies and more. Use code TRUETALES10 for 10% off your entire order. Spend $250 or more, and shipping is free. The Old House Shop – The store for people who accidentally turn every conversation into a discussion about windows, plaster, or old-growth lumber. Find preservation-minded t-shirts, cozy sweatshirts, mugs, and gifts that celebrate process over perfection. Use code OLDHOUSELIFE for 10% off your order (excluding books). Intro and Outro music by AudionautiX
In this episode, Stacy explores both sides of old house life: making the most of the house you have and taking a leap toward the house you want. First, returning guest Rod Whale checks back in from the 200-year-old Bailey House Inn in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. Rod recently wrote in with several excellent passive cooling ideas in response to the Good, Better, Best segment about hot rooms, so Stacy invited him back to continue the conversation. Then, Bari Ackerman joins Stacy to share her story of making a major life change to pursue an old house dream. After years of imagining a different kind of life, Bari and her husband decided to go for it, a little later in life than many people might expect. Mentioned in this Episode: Sign up for the Wood Window Workshop at Blake Hill House Join Stacy on Substack Episode 162: From Spreadsheets to Bed Sheets - An Innkeeper's Tale Episode 185: Hot Rooms & Higher Standards Product and video links for the perforated radiant barrier will be on Substack this week. Bailey House Inn (website) Follow Bari on Instagram @barij and @oursecondacthome Subscribe to Bari's Substack WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS Many thanks to the sponsors who help make this show possible. When you shop at the websites and use the codes below (where available), you're directly supporting their small businesses and the podcast, too! Sutherland Welles - Maker of exceptional polymerized tung oil finishes since 1965. To save 10% on your first order, use the coupon code TRUETALES26. Brouns & Co. Linseed Oil Paint - Flax plant-derived linseed oil paint and stain. Anti-mold with only trace elements of VOCs. Wicks moisture from wood. Prevents metal from rusting. (Featured on ep. 164) Brouns & Co. is trusted by preservation professionals and homeowners who value authenticity. Heritage Supply Co. - Heritage Supply Co. (formerly The Craftsman Store) is the same trusted company you know for window restoration supplies and more. Use code TRUETALES10 for 10% off your entire order. Spend $250 or more, and shipping is free. Repaint Studios - The Repaint Tray from Repaint Studios is the first reusable silicone paint tray liner and lid. The Repaint Tray's airtight lid keeps your paint fresh for weeks. Use the coupon code TRUETALES10 to save 10% off your order. Intro and Outro music by AudionautiX
In this Memorial Day episode, Stacy wraps up Preservation Month with listener follow-ups, one final round of State of Restoration conversations from Pine Mountain, and a practical look into the complicated realities behind rehabbing historic commercial buildings. After touring a long-empty downtown building, Stacy started asking a much bigger question: What does it realistically take to save a building like that and turn it into a financially viable project? The answer involves far more than passion and vision. From tax credits and tenants to deferred maintenance and demolition by neglect, this episode explores why bringing historic buildings back to life can be so difficult, even when people care deeply about saving them. Mentioned in this Episode: Sign up for the Wood Window Workshop at Blake Hill House Join Stacy on Substack Enter to win A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia Savage McAlester Catalog Archive from Ken at OldHouseGuy.com Many thanks to the sponsors who help make this show possible. When you shop at the websites and use the codes below (where available), you're directly supporting their small businesses and the podcast, too! Sutherland Welles - Maker of exceptional polymerized tung oil finishes since 1965. To save 10% on your first order, use the coupon code TRUETALES26. Brouns & Co. Linseed Oil Paint - Flax plant-derived linseed oil paint and stain. Anti-mold with only trace elements of VOCs. Wicks moisture from wood. Prevents metal from rusting. Brouns & Co. is trusted by preservation professionals and homeowners who value authenticity. Heritage Supply Co. - Heritage Supply Co. (formerly The Craftsman Store) is the same trusted company you know for window restoration supplies and more. Use code TRUETALES10 for 10% off your entire order. Spend $250 or more, and shipping is free. The Old House Shop – The store for people who accidentally turn every conversation into a discussion about windows, plaster, or old-growth lumber. Find preservation-minded t-shirts, cozy sweatshirts, mugs, and gifts that celebrate process over perfection. Use code OLDHOUSELIFE for 10% off your order (excluding books). Intro and Outro music by AudionautiX