Episode #38 Is this really Heaven?

A smaller, old steam powered pump fire truck sits next to a brightly painted, red Fire Hall with a white siren attached to the outside front wall. The fire truck has a nice clean black frame with four old tires, reminding you of an over sized pedal bike tire. Having black rubber and white trim. The old fire truck is employing a two-section wooden ladder, elevated by a spring-loaded worm gear, assisted by a hand crank, hand wheels extending the ladder and rotating the ladder on a turntable with hose reels attached to its side and a steam powered pump stabilized in its center.

Making your way past the wax figurine of a Fireman, you admire all the detail put into the smile masking wrinkles on his face. With hands in his pockets, looking thrilled to be doing his job in this small Village. Once inside you can tell now for sure things have changed! There are rubber lined duck coats hanging all in a line on the side wall, with a set of rubber boots beneath each coat. Already to be used.

A handmade wooden desk sits against the far wall with black candlestick telephone siting on top of it, a pad of paper is strategically placed beside the telephone. A hand made wooden stool is pushed close to the desk, a red cushion sits on it.

You comment to Jordan as she admires the old style of telephone stating, “Jordan, I think they have turned this place into a wax museum!” Jordan answers, “I’m not sure who you mean by they? But to be honest, I think we did this!”

Answering back, “I was talking about the people who own this place and let us camp here for a week! But, maybe you’re right, maybe we did do this! When we came through that hobbit door is when all this changed! That’s what you are thinking. Right?”

Jordan answers, “Yes, that is actually what I’m thinking! It all makes since! Enter the secret door and it will take you to places never encountered before! Isn’t that what it said that hint of what would happen after we got the key and found the door?”

You instantly respond with excitement, “Yes! Yes, you are right! It did say that!” You get distracted, changing the subject, “Let’s check out that awesome looking eight-sided Church over there next! Oh my God Jordan, this is awesome! I wonder how real this really is.”

There, only a few steps from the Fire Hall, stands an old slick white octagon shaped Church with deep, dark, blue accented windows and door frames. Each of it’s eight sides contains one rectangle shaped window, with multicolored, stained glass windowpanes in each. On East facing side of Church is two windows half the size of other windows embedded within front door.

Also containing multicolored, stained glass windowpanes in each. A steeple sits upon the top of a tall tower, incorporating a belfry giving forth the sounds of bells ringing, where a lantern and a spire is giving it a pyramid look; all dressed in same slick white paint. There is a small open front porch where a brass bell hangs freely from lattice on left side, a chair and small table occupy the right side. You walk inside. Right away first thing you notice is how from ceiling, the sun shines right through the lantern in the steeple, onto the crossing of the Church.

It is not an exceptionally large Church, maybe twenty people can fit in it, at one time. But it is out right gorgeous! You notice now, how each stain glass window carries a picture; a lamb in one, a flaming Sacred Heart and a Cherub dressed in white with short golden colored hair. Others having a white Dove, a set of crossed keys, a fish, Virgin Mary and Jesus. A bible stand, with opened Bible, sits on the minster alter, with a half drawn deep red velvet curtain hanging behind it. The sun shines through yet another two small windows embedded in the back door of the Church. To either side of main aisle are six rows of handmade wooden pews, each has a place for a song book and the bible to be held on backside of pews.

A deep-red-carpet rides down center aisle straight to the crossing of the Church, beautiful colors dance across the floor from all the stained-glass windows. You walk slowly to the crossing looking up to watch the bells and the sun dance together as they continue to ring. Jordan is already behind the curtains looking out the back door, she looks back into Church, motioning with her hand for you to come with her. You stop, turn, look back just for a moment to absorb the Church’s new beauty.

You then follow Jordan through the backdoor finding a huge vegetable garden, fresh flowers and herbs. Fruit trees and bushes everywhere, and behind the garden is the most breath-taking waterfall! Portraying a mountain of massive sandstone rocks, with crystal clear water rushing down them and through a cattail and long grass surrounded moat, connecting to a old, yet still working windmill.

A garden arch trellis covered in vines of dark red roses sits in the Church’s backyard. To the right is a pedestal for a golden lantern to sit on, with a pack of wooden matches in a waterproof case next to it. To the left of the trellis is a short white sign stating, ‘May you All Rest in Peace; in Honor of Those who lost their battle with Tuberculosis.’ Once walking through the trellis, you see rows and rows of handmade wooden crosses for headstones. Ages ranging from babies to the elderly, showing how this deadly disease had no qualms on who it took or when.

The grave sites are well taken care of with wildflowers growing everywhere, giving a needed sense of peace and tranquility. An older gentleman dressed in light brown overalls, with a long sleeved white and brown striped shirt and a pair of rubber boots stands before you, working the cemetery grounds. With a rake in one hand and a watering can in the other, he makes his way towards a section of headstones, setting the watering can down on the ground and begins to rake between the head stones, stopping to pull the odd weed.

He notices you saying with a smile, “Hello mama! Isn’t it a beautiful day? With the birds singing, flowers blooming and the sun shining how could it be a more beautiful day?”

With a smile you answer back, “Yes, it is the most beautiful day!” You reach down and pull a weed while you state, “You do an awesome job keeping the Graveyard well maintained. Have you worked here long?”

He sets his rake down and answers, “I have lived and worked here for most of my working years. Now I get to spend the rest of my time enjoying what I love to do. In the most beautiful place in the world.”

You quickly comment, “Let me be the one to thank you, sir, for taking such good care of those who have passed on!” He responds, “I was once involved in burying all these wonderful people and it is my pleasure to continue caring for them!” With compassion in your voice, you say, “Amazing! You are truly an amazing person and I thank you again!”

With a smile and a wink, he picks up his rake and continues on his way through the Graveyard. You take the time to acknowledge headstone as you pass by, saying a prayer while you continue to walk through returning back to the Church where you run into Jordan.

You comment, “Wow! I just met an old man working the Graveyard. I think he is a ghost! He says he has lived and worked here his entire working life and buried all those people in the Cemetery and now cares for them for the rest of time. Isn’t this place absolutely amazing, I can’t believe we did this. The perfect way to respect all those who lived and died here. I bet we are seeing the spirits of those who have died, finally giving them a place to relax without worry or fears.”

Jordan responds instantly, “I bet you’re right! We should try talking to some of them and see if they can see us too. Good idea wouldn’t you have to agree?” With excitement bubbling inside, you say, “Great idea! How about the next person we see, or spirit for that matter! We will try talking to one of them?”

Jordan agrees and you both make your way back through the Church, Jordan says, “Let’s go to the old single room school next, we can see if any of those kids are spirits or the teacher can see us or hear us.”

With a chuckle you lead the way to the old bright white, single schoolhouse, with yellow accented windows and door frames. It sits right on the ground with no porch, but it still has a couple of comfy looking chair out front. The teacher stands about ten feet in front of the door with her hand raised waving to the people sitting and playing in the playground. A handful of kids are running towards the teacher, with handheld slates under their arms and excitement on their faces. The closer you get the easier it is to tell they are also wax figurines.

They look so life like, you say, “Hi!” As you walk by just in case! Jordan runs up to the first child she comes across waving her hand at him, without a response, so she tries the next one, still no response. You comment, “They aren’t real, are they?”

Jordan answers with a bit of dismay, “No! They aren’t real, I don’t think they are spirits either.”

You walk by the kids, touching one just to see what her clothes feel like, to your surprise, the clothes are real. Their clothes are from the early 1900’s and are very real! You and Jordan continue on your way stopping to look at the teacher. She has a huge smile on her face and long silk black hair. She is dressed in a long plain light blue dress, covering her legs, with wool sock and black laced shoes, she also wears a white apron that drapes over her shoulders and ties around her waist.

When entering the school, you can see a potbelly stove in one corner with a kettle and pot on top used for making tea and stew for lunch. A makeshift blackboard is attached to the back wall, painted with black paint. A child is busy cleaning the blackboard and another has erasers in his hand heading for the door. There are about twenty old wooden school desktops and chairs which are attached together by a metal bar and four legs with metal feet.

You hear Jordan comment, “Hey remember when our school desks looked like those? Then we got the ones that the desktop could lift up and we could put your things in.” You laugh, commenting back, “Thanks Jordan, trying to make me feel old? Or just poor?” You continue to laugh as you try sitting in one of the desks. Jordan also laughing says, “Come on! Where should we go next? I want to find someone to meet and find out if they see us.”

You suggest, “How about we go to the cabins next. I wonder what kind of reconstruction got done there. Maybe we will run into someone there.” On your way to the cabin area, you begin to hear people talking. You can’t make out what they are saying but you can still hear them, closer you get the clearer they become.

Its two women sitting on a bench in one of the yards connected to the intersecting circle of eight cabins. Carrying on a remarkably interesting conversation. First older woman says, “Isn’t this just the perfect place to spend your time enjoying nature and the wilderness? I love what they have done to make this place a ‘Heritage Retreat’! They sure put a large amount of work into this former TB Clinic.” Second older woman responds, “I must agree. I really enjoy how they honored those who have lived and died here. Especially the Graveyard. I even heard its not haunted anymore. How amazing is that?”

When the first woman notices you and Jordan walking closer, she asks, “Hello ladies. Isn’t it just a lovely day out? This sure is a wonderful ‘Heritage Retreat’ are you staying here as well?”

You and Jordan exchange a quick glance, you answer, “Yes, ma’am this is a wonderful place. We have been staying here for this past week. Enjoying every moment of each day.” Jordan comments, “I must agree ladies. I love it here!”

You say, “Nice meeting you both, have a great rest of your day.” Both women, smile and answer back with a thank you! You too. Extremely excited, yet trying not to let it show, both you and Jordan continue on around the side of a cabin.

Before you can even get a word out, Jordan is jumping up and down with excitement, “Wow! Now that was real! They are real people!” As you jump up and down with Jordan, hand in hand, you comment back, “Wow is right! They were real! Okay, they were saying something before we interrupted them.”

Jordan says, “Yes, something about this being a historic place now?”

You look around at all the beautiful small wood cabins, all eight cabins sit in a circle. Each having their own small front yard with dark green grass. A short white picket fence surrounding each yard, with metal gates giving access to the center play area and each adjacent yard.

Jordan comments, “Wow! Look at all these amazing cabins. It looks like there is people staying in most of them.” As you and Jordan are walking from yard to yard, you stop to talk to a couple of kids playing in the center of the cabins. You say, “Hi! Do you two live here?”

The little girl shyly laughs, as the young boy answers, “No! Nobody lives here anymore. We are staying here with our parents for the weekend. There is a really neat cabin over there that has wax people in it!” He points to the cabin closest to the Lodges.

Smiling you respond back, “Well thank you sir for all your help. We will be sure to look into the cabin with the wax people in it.” The little girls says, “You’re very welcome. Have fun!”

Well, here you and Jordan sit, you have gone so far in the story it is totally amazing to say the least! Let us congratulate you now! I’m sure you are wanting to continue by opening your next episode so let us just wish you Good Luck! Enjoy and have some FUN EVERYONE!

TO CONINTUE YOUR ADVENTURE THROUGH WHAT SEEMS TO BE A MUSEUM, MAKE YOUR WAY THROUGH TO EPISODE #40

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