What would be making the crackling sound in my ceiling it sound like someone is walking up there. My home was built in the 50's.

Wood frame homes expand as the temp goes up, and contract as the temp goes down; it could be you are hearing sounds from expansion and contraction. As for 'walking', perhaps a squirrel or chipmunk.

Temp and wind would both make a house creak. Is this something new that wasn't happening during the past few years?