Find me here:
  The Paranormal Guide
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Atlas
  • Glossary

The Haunting of Toys'R'Us Sunnyvale

17/12/2012

Comments

 
Picture
Since the Sunnyvale Toys'R'Us store opened in the early 1970's, staff and customers have experienced a wide range of strange goings on! The photograph you see here was taken during a séance held at the store, for a television show that was looking into the haunting.

Taken with an infrared sensitive camera, the photo shows the seated group, together with a figure standing at the back, watching. No one present remembers seeing anyone standing during the séance, and other cameras shooting the same view all failed to capture this figure.

The Haunting

PictureToys'R'Us Sunnyvale.
Staff and customers alike at the Sunnyvale, California, Toys'R'Us store have experienced what they believe is a haunting. It is not just one or two staff members, but many.

Some of the more common, strange events that occur involve staff hearing their names whispered to them, cold breezes and objects moving of their own accord. Taps would turn on by themselves in the women's bathroom, and many of the stores female employees had experienced something unseen playing with their hair.

It is never anything violent and it does not seem to target anyone in particular (besides mainly women). Staff who have come to terms with the idea that their store is haunted regard it as a friendly, if a little mischievous, presence.

But when the phenomena was first beginning to be experienced back in the 70's, it did take the staff unawares. As you would expect, the staff were a little freaked out by the strange poltergeist like happenings, so some outside help was sought.

As word got around, local newspapers started covering the story and in 1978 they brought in (then) renowned and respected psychic/medium Sylvia Browne to make contact, and try to work out what was going on and who the spirit may be.

Sylvia Browne was able to make contact, and the identity of the spirit was found to be Johnny Johnson, a Scandinavian Immigrant, who used to work the farm/plantation that used to be located on the land where the store now stands.

Luckily plenty of research has been done on the plantation itself, and some facts can be confirmed about this story.

The History

PictureThe Murphy Ranch House.
In 1844 a man named Martin Murphy travelled to California via covered wagon, pulled by oxen (his party was the first to cross the Sierras in such a fashion), and settled in what is now Sunnyvale.

Murphy set up a ranch/plantation, and when he needed a few employees to work the land and its resources, he hired Johan Johnson (Johnny Johnson). Johnny fell in love with Murphy's daughter Elizabeth, but she rejected him.

Johnny's bad luck was not complete until he was infected with encephalitis, and was left slightly brain damaged as a result. Luckily he was still capable of working on the ranch. However, he was given the nickname 'Crazy Johnny' thereafter.

It was in 1884, while he was chopping wood, that Johnny accidentally smashed himself with the axe and bled to death alone, near the orchard.

The Murphy ranch continued to be occupied by several generations of the family until 1950, when it was given to the city of Sunnyvale.

In 1961 the building was gutted by a fire and was soon demolished. In 1970, a 60,000 square foot Toys'R'Us store was built on the location, and then the hauntings began.

The Seance

PictureSylvia Browne.
It was during a séance held by Sylvia Browne, and attended by a large number of the stores employees, that she was able to give much of this information, but mainly that concerning Johnny (or Johy as Sylvia put it) and his demise and love for 'Beth' (Elizabeth).

Also attending the séance were several photographers / experts. The store was darkened, as the gathering settled down in one of the more active aisles of the store. A few lights were left on at the end of the aisle to provide some light for one of the cameras using high speed film. Another camera was using infrared film. Both were pointing in the same direction.

As the séance progressed, the others gathered stated that they could hear and/or feel a high pitched buzzing in their heads, as Sylvia talked with Johnny.

Sylvia made contact almost immediately and told the group that Johnny was presently manifested to some degree, however no one could see him.

The Photo

PictureThe photo allegedly showing Johnny standing at the back.
Fortunately Johnny could not hide from the cameras, and thus we have this photograph. This is the image as captured by the camera running with infrared film. You can clearly see a slightly transparent human form leaning against one of the shelves, watching the group in front.

The bright flaring of light gives the pants he (I'll call it a ‘he’ from here on in) is wearing a strange shape. He also appears to be holding an object in his hands, possibly a hat or cap of some form.

No one in the group saw anyone standing during the séance that night, and only the one camera captured the image, although other cameras where running at the same time, pointing at the same spot.

When Sylvia told Johnny that he could go, and that he does not need to wait any longer, he replied stating that he would continue waiting for Beth, and in the meantime he enjoys the company in the store and playing with the children.

The haunting has continued.

What do you think?
Could this really be the image of Johnny Johnson?
Or just someone accidentally in frame that no one noticed at the time?

Ashley Hall 2012
Comments
comments powered by Disqus

    The Paranormal Guide Articles

    Here you will find all of the articles written for The Paranormal Guide on all things paranormal, strange, dark, macabre, weird, strange and bizarre!

    All photos with the blog posts remain the property of their respectful owners. If one of your photos is featured here without attribution please leave a comment on the blog and full credit will be given.

    Categories

    All
    Bizarre Experiments
    Conspiracy
    Cryptozoology
    Cursed And Haunted Objects
    Curses Demons And Exorcisms
    Earth Mysteries
    Fakes Frauds And Hoaxes
    Ghosts And Hauntings
    Ghosts Ghouls And Demons
    Interesting And Inspiring People
    Investigations
    Miracles
    My Paranormal
    Paranormal Photos
    Paranormal Vocabulary
    Phobias And Philias
    Post Mortem Practices
    Psychics Predictions And Seers
    Questions And Discussions
    Reviews
    Spirituality And Miracles
    Spirituality And Miracles
    Strange And Macabre Places
    Strange And Tragic Deaths
    This Week In Dark History
    Tragedy
    True Crime And Punishment
    Ufos And Aliens
    Unsolved Mysteries
    Urban Legend Superstition And Folklore
    Weird Odd And Bizarre


    Ashley Hall -
    The Paranormal Guide

    Ashley Hall explores The Paranormal, True Crime, Strange Deaths, Dark History, The Weird, The Strange and The Bizarre! Fact or Fiction? You decide!

    Picture

    Contributors

    Picture
    Matty Sweeney
    Picture
    Peet Banks
    Picture
    Nic Hume

    Picture
    Check out The Paranormal Guide Podcast and join three paranormal investigators and researchers for honest and raw discussions on all things paranormal, strange, dark and macabre HERE!

    Archives

    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Please note that dates are from when the article was originally made.
    The Paranormal Guide does have posts all the way up to the current date.


    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.