I have several railroad spikes that were found in a barn on the property that Narcisa Prentiss (Whitman) grew up in.
My dog, a 5yr old Husky/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix has been terrified by these particular railroad spikes since the day I brought him home.
When I go to my home in WA and take my dog with me, he becomes extremely agitated as soon as he walks past the part of the house the railroad spikes are stored in.
Once in the house, he immediately goes to the closet door were I have the railroad spikes stored and will growl and bark with his hair standing tall.
He will not stay in the house by himself, nor will he leave my side while I'm in the house.
In addition to my dogs odd behavior, there is a very large (12' wide x 6' high) mirror in the master bath that is hung on the wall separating the closet I store the railroad spikes in and the master bath. I have had this mirror rehung on many occasions because it somehow comes loose and will fall forward until it comes to rest on the soffit that houses the hvac ducts.
I'm not one to get all caught up in freaky things but I have no explanation whatsoever as to why my dog behaves the way he does over 5 simple railroad spikes.
Circled in the pic are the offending railroad spikes. ...obviously, my cat is not the least bit bothered by them.
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg302/RRSpikes/2013-11-17075830-1-1.png