Ghosts of Springfield
By Troy Taylor
Then in August of 1979, Blasko attended his 20 year class reunion from Griffin High School. One of his classmates was the Reverend Gary Dilley, a priest from St. Mary’s Church in Fort Worth, Texas. He approached Dilley about the strange occurrences at the club and explained what was going on. The priest agreed to look the place over because he believed that Blasko was sincere and had never known him to be susceptible to hysterics.
Dilley admitted in a newspaper interview that his initial visit to the club was a disturbing one. "I could feel chilling drafts…I had the definite impression that someone was watching me. I also had the feeling that someone was trying to communicate with me," he reported.
Dilley then questioned several of the club’s employees and found that their stories were very similar and had not the time to compare notes before he talked to them. He was convinced that something out of the ordinary was going on, but he could not do an "exorcism" of the place. To take things that far would require a thorough investigation and the permission of the local bishop. He decided to bless the place and to pray there, hoping that would perhaps put Rudy at rest.
Dilley contacted two other priests to take part in the ceremony, Rev. John Corredato of St. Patrick’s parish in Kankakee and Rev. Gerald Leahy of Griffin High School. The three men were quick to point out that they were not trying to perform an exorcism at the club, they were simply blessing the place and trying to clear out any negative spirits. They also were hoping to put to rest what they called a "very restless soul."
The priests went from room to room, blessing the building with holy water and praying. They asked that any evil or negative spirits leave the building and then they prayed specifically for Rudy. They entered the room where Rudy had committed suicide and prayed that his soul be able to rest.
After the ceremony, Dilley assured everyone that Rudy was not an evil person. Many times, the prayers of a priest or holy person can put a restless spirit at east. "I definitely think we did some good there," Dilley said, "I didn’t feel the chill after our prayers…when I returned to Texas I said a mass for Rudy."
Was that the end of the restless ghost of Rudy?
Apparently it was, because the same people who had so fervently believed that his ghost was haunting the club, were just as sure that he had departed. The religious ceremony that took place that August evening was the last time that anyone was ever aware of Rudy’s presence in the club. Whether the prayers and blessings actually banished Rudy from the club or simply helped him along his way to other side is unclear.
Was Rudy the "evil spirit" that some frightened musicians and employees believed that he was? I doubt it, because as we discussed in the introduction to this book, rarely are ghosts anything but a negative influence. Certainly in the case of Rudy Cranor, he was a lost and restless soul who took his own life…it is very easy to believe that his spirit may not have made the transition to the next world. He chose to stay behind in the one place that he loved the best…the Lake Club.
By Troy Taylor
Then in August of 1979, Blasko attended his 20 year class reunion from Griffin High School. One of his classmates was the Reverend Gary Dilley, a priest from St. Mary’s Church in Fort Worth, Texas. He approached Dilley about the strange occurrences at the club and explained what was going on. The priest agreed to look the place over because he believed that Blasko was sincere and had never known him to be susceptible to hysterics.
Dilley admitted in a newspaper interview that his initial visit to the club was a disturbing one. "I could feel chilling drafts…I had the definite impression that someone was watching me. I also had the feeling that someone was trying to communicate with me," he reported.
Dilley then questioned several of the club’s employees and found that their stories were very similar and had not the time to compare notes before he talked to them. He was convinced that something out of the ordinary was going on, but he could not do an "exorcism" of the place. To take things that far would require a thorough investigation and the permission of the local bishop. He decided to bless the place and to pray there, hoping that would perhaps put Rudy at rest.
Dilley contacted two other priests to take part in the ceremony, Rev. John Corredato of St. Patrick’s parish in Kankakee and Rev. Gerald Leahy of Griffin High School. The three men were quick to point out that they were not trying to perform an exorcism at the club, they were simply blessing the place and trying to clear out any negative spirits. They also were hoping to put to rest what they called a "very restless soul."
The priests went from room to room, blessing the building with holy water and praying. They asked that any evil or negative spirits leave the building and then they prayed specifically for Rudy. They entered the room where Rudy had committed suicide and prayed that his soul be able to rest.
After the ceremony, Dilley assured everyone that Rudy was not an evil person. Many times, the prayers of a priest or holy person can put a restless spirit at east. "I definitely think we did some good there," Dilley said, "I didn’t feel the chill after our prayers…when I returned to Texas I said a mass for Rudy."
Was that the end of the restless ghost of Rudy?
Apparently it was, because the same people who had so fervently believed that his ghost was haunting the club, were just as sure that he had departed. The religious ceremony that took place that August evening was the last time that anyone was ever aware of Rudy’s presence in the club. Whether the prayers and blessings actually banished Rudy from the club or simply helped him along his way to other side is unclear.
Was Rudy the "evil spirit" that some frightened musicians and employees believed that he was? I doubt it, because as we discussed in the introduction to this book, rarely are ghosts anything but a negative influence. Certainly in the case of Rudy Cranor, he was a lost and restless soul who took his own life…it is very easy to believe that his spirit may not have made the transition to the next world. He chose to stay behind in the one place that he loved the best…the Lake Club.
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