The Bridgeville Area Historical Society celebrated Halloween last month by deviating from its normal subject matter and stepping into the supernatural. Bob Cranmer made an interesting presentation based on his book, “The Demon of Brownsville Road.”

He prefaced his presentation with an explanation of why he wrote the book, which documents the experiences his family had in their house at 3406 Brownsville Road in Brentwood. In his mind, these experiences prove conclusively the existence of God and Satan, heaven and hell, and angels and demons, and he is committed to bearing witness to the presence of evil right here in the 21st century.

When Mr. Cranmer was a young boy, he lived near the mansion and felt strangely attracted to it. After graduating from Duquesne University, serving a tour of duty in the U. S. Army, and beginning a family in New Jersey, in 1988, he found himself being relocated to Pittsburgh by his employer. By coincidence, the house showed up on the real estate market the very week he and his wife began house hunting.

The first time the family visited the house, his two-year-old son was terrified by something he could not explain.

When they learned the house was out of their price range, they offered a token bid, $20,000 below the asking price, and were surprised when it was accepted immediately.

Once they moved into the house, strange things began to happen. The pull cord on the light in the coat closet in the front hall kept getting wound around the bulb. Red streaks began to appear on the walls of certain rooms. A crucifix was split into two parts; in another instance, the crucifix mysteriously was separated from the rosary while being held in a supplicant’s hands.

Furniture was moved, pictures were rotated on the wall, and objects hurled across the room. Eventually, the presence of a specific individual became evident. Usually it was invisible but could be recognized by a pungent odor. On some occasions, it appeared to materialize as a humanoid-shaped dense cloud. He even saw it in the form of a “Grim Reaper” type figure at one point.

Mr. Cranmer reported these events to the local Catholic Diocese. Convinced that it was occupied by a demon, they initiated a program of celebrating masses in each room, splashed holy water on the red stains, and even imported an exorcist. By 2006, they declared that the demon had been driven from the house. Nothing strange has occurred since then.

With the help of a co-author and editor, Erica Manfred, Cranmer’s book was published in 2014. His story has been featured on a number of television programs dealing with the paranormal and a subsidiary of Warner Brothers has purchased rights to make a movie based on it.

Despite his improbable story, one is impressed with the fact that Mr. Cranmer is articulate, apparently rational, and intensely sincere. His powerful faith in the church is evident. The presentation was well received by the audience.

Next month the historical society will return to history when Georgeanne Abood Henson will discuss her grandfather, George Abood, and his experiences in World War II. The program will be presented at 7:30 Nov. 26 in the Chartiers Room, Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department.

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