This cache marks one of many places on Long Island associated with haunted houses and ghost stories. While not as well-known as the infamous “horror house” a few towns to the east, the Seaford home of the Herrmann family was the subject of national news back in 1958. It is also notable because it was the first "haunting" actually filmed and shown on television. According to some sources, the movie Poltergeist, co- written by Steven Spielberg and released in 1982, is based on events that occurred here.
During a period of 5 weeks beginning in February of 1958, James and Lucille Herrmann and their two children experienced many paranormal disturbances in their house, believed to be caused by a ghost called Popper. A number of these incidents involved bottle caps suddenly popping off bottles and shooting liquid into the air (hence the name Popper). At other times, objects mysteriously floated across rooms, striking furniture or walls or crashing to the floor. Many visitors came to the house, some of whom were witnesses to the strange activity. Reporters, police detectives, firemen, town building inspectors and scientists all came to investigate, as well as a priest who blessed the home, but none of them could explain the strange phenomena or stop it from happening. The haunting suddenly ceased in early March. To this day, some think it was a hoax, while others believe it involves sacred Indian burial sites and the angry spirit of Chief Tackapausha.
From this spot looking west, you can see the Herrmann house directly down the street at the end of the block. Originally a one-story ranch house, it has since been expanded with a second floor added.