Monthly Archives: October 2026

Meet Walter Prez

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One of the very first musicians we met from the local music scene was this very warm and welcoming man, Walt Prez. Our first night at the open mic at Judge and Jury we came upon this tall, friendly guy outside having a smoke. He right away said hello with a big smile and made us feel like we were home.

Walt has a charismatic way about him and was extremely influential in the local music scene. He called himself the Witch Man and I believe he really could have put a spell on you with his charm! He always wore a top hat which I think he got in Salem MA. He was in several bands and played guitar and wrote songs most of his life. I don’t know how many of you remember “The Late Show” on Lackawanna Ave. in Scranton PA. It was run by a local couple, a hippie style man and his wife, Wanda, back in 90s. Known for eclectic vibe, alternative music scene, and unique fashion items that stood out from traditional department stores. He played there and also included the place in one of his songs. He wrote lyrics about local people and places making it real. Always there for the local community and known and loved by everyone. The “Witchman” spell!

Walt and Malaker and Baransky got along great. So much in fact that Walt started a new band that included them and drummer Dave Raymer. This new band was called “Walt Prez and The Awesome” They had so much fun in this band, they even recorded a few records at WVIA with the icon George Graham. It was really a very memorable time with Walt and The Awesome.

Unfortunately it couldn’t continue, because by now Ed’s sister Martie was now playing full time in the band and they were called “The Steel Knives.” She always had played with them but more behind the scenes. I feel she was a great add and her keyboard skills are amazing. But now they really didn’t have the time to be in two bands. Walt remained a close friend and eventually found some amazing replacements for them. Slug from Luqosis Morphine on the bass and Honey Man Lightnin on guitar.

My favorite Walt Prez and The Awesome song “Dawning Of The New Age”

RIP Walter Prezelski III 10/ 24/1965 to 2/11/2016

I hope you enjoyed. Thanks for reading and GOD Bless. If you would like to read more checkout my other posts at https://nancy.32hertz.com/all-posts/

A Haunting Tale

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So, as it should happen, one night while The Steel Knives were playing at “I Brewed It My Way” in Pittston PA. We met a gentleman who said he made Ouija boards. He also mentioned to us a folklore tale about Devil’s furniture made of stone. He told us if you sit on this type of furniture bad things would happen. If you should be so brave as to sit on it three times, someone would die. This man also revealed to us that there is a Devils couch in Eckley PA. He sparked our interest. Ed and I liked to investigate anything related to Ghosts , Aliens, or the occult. Now we have to take a road trip…

We decided as long as we were heading that way we would stop at the old mining village in Weatherly, PA. This was on April 5, 2009. The weather was already starting to be nice and spring was in the air. The drive wasn’t too excessive and it was relatively easy to find. Plenty of signs, as there isn’t very many tourist attractions except this 19th-century mining town. The population in the Mining Village was 12. There have also been rumors that the village was haunted.

Short drive to Devils Couch.

As it’s been said “The tale grows in the telling”. So this is some of the information I found…

“The Stone Couch: One legend tells of a rock formation where a grief-stricken mother’s ghost cries for a sick baby who died waiting for a stagecoach. Another legend say’s a Native American woman placed a curse on the stone couch when her infant died on it. And yet another tale takes place during the flu pandemic of 1918. A man driving his sick wife and child to the hospital, knowing they weren’t going to make it, made a couch of stones for them to rest on.

If you sit on the couch it is believed to bring bad luck or marks on your skin.

If you sit again, someone you love will die.

If you are brave enough or even foolish enough To sit a third time, you will die!

Ed and I both sat on the couch one time. I’m not sure if anything happened because as the saying goes, “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any!”

The Devils Chair folklore actually started in the nineteenth century . There were stone or concrete seats placed in cemeteries, for mourners to rest. They referred to them as “mourning chairs” or “monubench.” Overtime misinterpreted, it resulted into Urban Legend Folklore.

Fun fact: In Shropshire, England, in a place called “The Stiperstones” there is a natural rock formation labeled the Devil’s Chair. Old British folklore claimed the Devil dropped rocks from an apron or held gatherings of evil spirits there.

Check out previous posts that you may have missed for fun photo’s and good old day memories. https://nancy.32hertz.com/all-posts/

Thank you for reading and GOD Bless.