Demon of Brownsville Rd by Bob Cranmer–A few thoughts on the matter

While I have no doubt Bob and his family experienced some troubles and trials in the house, I find it very hard to think of this as anything more than an Amityville clone and all the dubiousness that entails.

It’s hard to ignore the mental illness which presents itself as violence, depression and self-harm. We see that as bipolar for Bobby, cutting for Charlie, and depression of his wife. These are very earthly ailments.

To be critical, the first 8 chapters are filled with self-praise for Bob as he casts himself in the role of hero to save the town and the house. He goes up against the corrupt system and takes on the evil invading his home. It’s even mentioned that he has the strength to keep up the vigil to battle evil, but he doesn’t think the rest of the family is strong enough for the challenge.

In the early days, Bob felt his calling might be that of a preacher. To that end, the book is a sermon about good and evil. Evil is a real thing, a tangible thing, a thing that causes a ripple effect and takes hold of people. It also feels like a way to explain, justify and excuse the behavior of his household during his political career.

This has tinges of Salem Witch Trial hysteria. In every action, in every deed, in every misstep the devil is at work. If someone misbehaves, it’s the work of the devil. If things don’t go according to plan, it’s the work of the devil. If you lose an election, it’s the work of the devil. It’s surprising a hole wasn’t bored into their heads to let out the evil spirits.

Also, it’s become common to link Native American land to paranormal events. However, considering the entire US is Native American land, that is a tiresome and weak argument. To the point, the house next door is on Native American land. So is the one across the street and the one behind. What are their paranormal events? What demon is in their homes? This supposed "ripple effect" should impact everyone, so the house next door should be just as oppressed as this one. Where is their book?

My home is nearly 100 years old and is within eyesight of Native American land with many places in the area named after different tribes. I’m also in the South, the real South, were people were pissed about the Rebel Flag coming down. You cannot tell me for a moment there wasn’t death, violence and hatred on the very soil this house sits on. And I refuse to believe that in the nearly 100 years it’s been standing that someone, if not several people, haven’t died in the house. If you look at your history, death was not the morbid occurrence of today, so most houses had a viewing room where the body would be displayed before burial. Because of superstition, we now call it the living room.

The point being, I am 100% convinced there has been death in and around this house, on Native American soil and over racial prejudice, but there is nothing haunted going on. This Native American connection has truly run it’s course.

When it comes to the mad abortion doctor, where is the proof of his drunken butchery? If his activities are so well know, and he was so damn incompetent, where is the arrest record? Not like he would be in business long if patients ended up dead in his house all the time. This sort of activity would leave a paper trail somewhere.

As far as the smells and bleeding walls go, seems like an old house could easily give off a serious odor. It could be there are some dead animals in the walls or tucked away somewhere else giving off an offensive odor.

And are we absolutely sure that the "blood" that keeps showing up isn’t from some material in the house like rusty pipes, asbestos, dye, stain, mold, fungus or spores? Some unique materials were back in the day. It’s even said, the sample they took had mold in it. Mold staining the wall sounds far more plausible than blood.

Lastly, we have curses on the house. The workers who built the house were educated and skilled enough to put the house together but felt a curse was in order? Doesn’t seems likely. It’s hard to prove the casting of a curse, but this too sounds like rumor. About the only link to curses are some playing cards. That’s not really evidence of anything.

Also in the rumor realm is the killed worker. I don’t dispute that mill conditions were dangerous and it’s actually possible and even plausible, but to say it did happen and has a connection to this house is wild speculation.

Aside from the good vs. evil tale, we also have reincarnation. Bob is reborn after being terminated as by the mad butcher. The woman seen in the house is his mother and he has been tasked as a Warrior for Christ to come and cleanse the house.

That tosses in the final ingredient in his cacophony of paranormal elements. The only thing missing is the Ouija.

It’s hard to believe in the supernatural elements of this story when a far more plausible answer is presented at the beginning. Mental distress can manifest itself in a lot of ways.

Other Articles of Interest:

• Demon of Brownsville Rd by Bob Cranmer – Review
• Paranormal State – The Lurking Man – S05E09
• Cursed – The Bell Witch
• Bob Cranmer and the Demon of Brownsville Rd
• Paranormal Lockdown – Hinsdale House – S01E05
• Haunted Collector – Haunted Villa and Spirit Springs – S02E03
• Ghost Adventures – Wolf Creek Inn – S15E13
• Paranormal Lockdown – S02E11 – Scutt Mansion
• Paranormal State S04E05 – Haunted Sex Dungeon
• Paranormal Lockdown – Oliver House – S02E03