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Blog- a.k.a My weird adventures
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Dec 25, 20244 min read
Walking in a Literal Winter Wonderland-Castle Noel
Castle Noel is dubbed the largest indoor year-round Christmas Museum. The museum is 40,000 square feet and features life-size movie sets...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Dec 25, 20242 min read
You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out Kid!” Higbee's- a.k.a The Place Ralphie Got Denied a BB Gun By Santa
This one's for you, Mom. Last year, I talked about the A Christmas Story House in Cleveland, Ohio, but I left out one of the other...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Dec 7, 20242 min read
A Washington Irving Christmas: How Washington Irving Helped Bring Santa Claus to America
Today we revisit the grave of Washington Irving only this time we are not here for a Headless Horseman tale. We are he as it involves a...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Dec 6, 20243 min read
The Eccentric Old Funeral Home in Cleveland: House of Wills
An old funeral home on the East 55th has been decaying and almost forgotten for many years. Once part of a successful funeral empire, the...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Nov 24, 202415 min read
Who Are The Real Witches Here?: The Horror of The Salem Witch Trials of 1692
In the Giles Corey article, I asked if you believed in curses. For this one, I ask if you believe in witches. One of the most infamous...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Nov 21, 20243 min read
Bootleggers and Spies: Oh my! Bildungsverein Eintracht Club's Residency in Franklin Castle
In celebration of The Wandering Oddball’s 1st anniversary, we revisit Franklin Castle as there is more to discuss. Last year, I gave you...
Alicia DeRoma- ( a.k.a The Wandering Loco Coco )
Nov 9, 20244 min read
Exploring Kykuit: The Rockefeller Estate – A Blend of History, Art, and Nature
(Photos: Alicia De Roma (a.k.a Loco Coco) There’s something truly captivating about walking through the halls of Kykuit, the grand...
Alicia DeRoma- ( a.k.a The Wandering Loco Coco )
Nov 3, 20242 min read
The Magic of Mystic Pizza: A Slice of History and Personal Experience
On a crisp fall afternoon, my mom and I stood in front of a small yet iconic pizza joint in the heart of Mystic, Connecticut. Mystic...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Nov 3, 20248 min read
Paranormal Experts or Conmen?: Ed and Lorraine Warren
(Photo source: Flickr) Disclaimer: All the paranormal events in this article are alleged according to the parties involved. Another...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Oct 29, 20243 min read
This Article Will Cast A Spell on You Rope Mansion, a.k.a The Hocus Pocus Filming Location
One of the beloved movie staples for Halloween is the witches in Hocus Pocus with the Sanderson Sisters, which graced the silver screen...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Oct 29, 20245 min read
Does This Story Have Weight to It?: The Curse of Giles Corey
Intro Do you believe in curses? A myriad of people do, and other staunch skeptics do not. One peculiar string of coincidences led some to...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Oct 23, 20242 min read
History of Cemeteries Volume 1: Tombstone Iconography and Meanings of the 1700-1800
One of my many odd curiosities is exploring old cemeteries. The photos in this article are documented graves I took photos of over the...
Alicia DeRoma- ( a.k.a The Wandering Loco Coco )
Oct 18, 20242 min read
The Bewitched Statue: A Spellbinding Tribute in Salem, Massachusetts
Loco Coco tells the story of The Bewitched Statue.
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Oct 4, 20248 min read
The Man Who Forever Sleeps in Sleepy Hollow: The Real Legend of Sleepy Hollow
As an annual tradition since 2020, I have liked to go on fall trips where I look for places that are haunted or have spooky significance....
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Oct 2, 20243 min read
Vault of Dark Shadows: House of Dark Shadows Filming Location- Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
To kick off my favorite month of the year, I thought I would talk about an obscure fact about the known town of Sleepy Hollow’s cemetery....
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Sep 28, 20243 min read
When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano: San Juan Capistrano
Sixteen years ago, a fifteen-year-old Marisa went to California with her family for a wedding. We visited San Juan Capistrano’ Mission. I...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Sep 21, 20242 min read
A Daily Dose of Potassium: On a Roll- Downey, CA
Months back, when I was in Downey, California, I was doing a walking tour of Richard and Karen’s hometown for the Karen Carpenter tour....
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Sep 14, 20242 min read
The Welcoming Committee: The Tale of Eiler Larsen
A few months ago, while in California, we stopped in the artsy seaside town of Laguna Beach. While walking, I noticed a really friendly...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Sep 14, 20245 min read
A Stain on Athens Ohio’s Past: Athens Lunatic Asylum
On the outskirts of Ohio University, an old hospital casts the shadow of its gruesome past. It opened in 1874 with good intentions, but...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Sep 7, 20242 min read
Cuckoo Cuckoo for Cuckoo Clocks: The World's Largest Cuckoo Clock in Sugarcreek, Ohio
One July day, my mom, who is a Breaking Amish fan, suggested going to Sugar Creek, Ohio, to go shopping and visit Der Dutchman. The...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Aug 26, 20243 min read
Roommates with Ghosts: Oberlin College and Conservatory - Oberlin, Ohio
This cute little college town is about forty minutes from where I live. It's a nice little artsy place hidden away from big cities. It’s...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Aug 18, 20244 min read
College Scavenger Hunt 6 Odd Things Found Around College Campuses
(Author of Mercyhurst Ghosts : Alicia De Roma (a.k.a The Wandering Loco Coco) Today, I want to tell some stories about unique exhibits at...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Aug 10, 20243 min read
Spirit and Traditions: Mirror Lake
In Fall 2021, I decided to throw together a haunted road trip. I take a road trip to a specific location and back while trying to find...
Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
Aug 3, 20242 min read
Before College Students, There Were Axis POWs: Cuyahoga Community College- Parma, Ohio
Have no fear, community college students; I have an oddity for you. Before attending Kent State University, I attended Cuyahoga Community...
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