Tangled Vines and Tar Water: When History Becomes the Haunting

In Episode 164 of The Activity Continues, we recap The Dead Files episode “Tangled,” but this one went deeper than your standard haunted house.

This wasn’t just about shadow figures and ceiling snakes.

This was about land, resentment, forced roles, and what happens when trauma doesn’t get resolved.

The House That Wasn’t Just a House

At first glance, it’s familiar Dead Files territory:

• A shadow described as snake-like slithering down from the ceiling
• A child spirit who looks adorable… but isn’t
• Multiple angry entities with no friendly ghost buffer

But the deeper Amy Allan digs, the more it feels like the activity isn’t just in the walls — it’s in the history of the land itself.

And that’s where things get tangled.

The 1850s Free Love Commune

Before the 1960s ever coined the phrase, Ohio had its own version of a Free Love commune in the mid-1800s.

Mostly women.
Children.
Shared resources.

And of course, the surrounding community labeled it suspicious.

We talk about why independent communal living — especially when centered around women — often gets rebranded as “cult” behavior. History has a pattern.

Was it radical?
Yes.
Was it inherently sinister?
That’s a different question.

The Furious Victorian Mother

One of the most unsettling figures tied to the property is a woman who reportedly had twelve children.

Not because she necessarily wanted them.
Because that was her role.

We talk openly in this episode about forced motherhood, bodily autonomy (or lack thereof in the 1800s), and how resentment might not disappear just because someone dies.

Parenthood is hard even when chosen.

Imagine never having the option.

Is it possible that what people interpret as a haunting is actually emotional residue?

The “Little Girl from Hell”

Amy describes an adorable little girl spirit.

Ringlets.
Sweet appearance.
Very much not sweet energy.

It raises a fascinating paranormal theory:
Do malevolent spirits sometimes present as children because we instinctively trust children?

It’s manipulation wrapped in innocence.

And it’s one of the creepiest dynamics we’ve discussed in a while.

Paranormal… or Just Human?

We also ask uncomfortable questions:

• Are mood changes always paranormal?
• Could mid-life hormonal shifts explain some behavior changes?
• How often do we misinterpret human experiences as supernatural?

This episode balances skepticism with curiosity — which is where we like to live.

The Tar Water Dilemma

Then comes the solution:

Tar water.
Spray it everywhere.
Don’t miss a spot.

Naturally, we spiraled.

How do you verify coverage?
Is there a ghost warranty?
What happens if you miss an inch?

Because if you love your house — the one where you raised your kids — moving isn’t simple.

Which leads to the ultimate question:

Would you stay?
Or would you go?

When History Is the Real Haunting

There’s also the story of a 19-year-old printer connected to the commune who died by suicide and left behind a furious letter cursing marriage, religion, and suffering.

It’s raw.
It’s bitter.
It’s heartbreaking.

And it reminds us that sometimes the most unsettling part of a haunting isn’t the ghost.

It’s the pain that never got resolved.

Listen to Episode 164

Tangled Vines and Tar Water is available wherever you listen to podcasts.

We cover:
• Victorian rage
• Free Love history
• Ghost psychology
• Hormones vs hauntings
• Ceiling snakes
• And yes… tar water

Because around here, The Activity Continues.