Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Friends get help searching for Everett YMCA ghost

From Seattle PI:  Friends get help searching for Everett YMCA ghost

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — The stories have been told for years.
An unknown voice heard over a speaker before music is turned on during an exercise class. A punching bag swinging when no one is near it. Doors banging shut.
Everett YMCA staff and patrons often blame a ghost they call "George" for these and other strange occurrences that have no clear explanations.
For the past year, Jacob Nix, 12, Santana Ortiz, 14, and Timothy Wood, 12, listened closely to these stories and pushed to learn more.
The friends, members of the YMCA, researched history books about the area at the Everett Library.
One book they scoured for clues was "The First 100 Years: An Illustrated History of The YMCA of Snohomish County." They interviewed the book's author, historian Larry O'Donnell.
Through their research the boys found out that a fire on March 30, 1920, destroyed much of the original 1901 YMCA building, at 2720 Rockefeller Ave. That matched with unconfirmed stories of a man, possibly a janitor, who helped children escape the blaze but who never made it out of the burning building.
"We're curious and we thought we may not learn any more if we were to do it ourselves," Jacob said. "We should at least find somebody who is professional about this and have nifty things to help them as well."
They sent an email to Seattle Paranormal Incidence Research and Investigation Team, or SPIRIT, and asked that a group come visit the Everett YMCA. Lynnwood residents and founders of SPIRIT, Gene and Danielle Rathbun, their 15-year-old son, Anthony, and four others started the free investigation Saturday night after the YMCA closed for the evening. The SPIRIT team was joined by the boys, Catherine Rasnack, YMCA teen coordinator, and Desiree Boss, a YMCA teen center assistant.
About 10:30 p.m., armed with cameras, recorders, electromagnetic detectors, and walkie-talkies as their connection to others at "base camp" in the teen center conference room, a small team went on a ghost hunt through the weight rooms.
Santana set a small detector on the floor and watched for a light to flash on.
"If something comes by it and touches it, or if an energy field passes through it's supposed to go red," said Brett Kemnitz, a SPIRIT investigator from Renton.
He and Boss asked questions to try to get a response from "George" or any other ghosts.
"I've heard stories that you've dropped weights before," Boss said. "If you could, do it for us now. We're here and we're listening."
Groups of two or three people also rotated throughout the 1920s gym, and walked the halls of "Ghost Town," a condemned portion of the original brick building that in once served as a hostel. The teams used recorders and video cameras as they tested for any evidence of paranormal energy or activity. Those who stayed in the conference room watched video feeds from cameras set up in eight different locations.
Several people who were watching the video feed said they saw a punching bag in the gym move when no one was around it.
"It was noticeable on the camera," Santana said. "I'm really excited. I hope they find something (in the footage)."
The ghost hunt was fun even though he didn't see or hear anything that was creepy or bizarre, Timothy added. For him, the best part of the investigation was getting to go into Ghost Town several times.
This investigation was different from others SPIRIT has done because younger people were involved, Danielle Rathbun said.
"We don't normally involve anyone under the age of 16 but because Jacob contacted us and it was his group who did their own mini-investigation we included them and included our own son," she said.
The official investigation lasted from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. The group plans to review the video and recordings from that entire time to look for any abnormalities. That process will take about a month, Rathbun said. SPIRIT will probably plan another investigation in order to cover more ground at the Everett YMCA.
That's good news for Jacob, who said he is interested in going on another ghost hunt someday, even though parts of this one were a bit scary.
"I'd call people fools if they weren't afraid of doing this stuff," he said. "We are afraid of what we don't know and we know as much about (the) paranormal and (the) supernatural as Benjamin Franklin had on electricity at his time. We still have a lot to learn."

 

Monday, November 26, 2012

Download ghost hunting apps for Android



Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Discovery Channel Hunts for Wild West Treasures on "Ghost Town Gold"

From the Futon Critic:  Discovery Channel Hunts for Wild West Treasures on "Ghost Town Gold

-- New Six-Part Series Premieres on Discovery Channel November 15 at 10 PM ET/PT --
(New York, NY) - Putting the boom back in boomtown, Discovery Channel's new series GHOST TOWN GOLD follows two modern day explorers, Brit Eaton and Scott Glaves, as they track down priceless treasures of the Old West. From 19th century denim jeans to Wild West weaponry, railroad relics to cowboy collectibles, Brit and Scott are always on the prowl to turn what looks like rusty junk into everybody's favorite collectible - cash. GHOST TOWN GOLD premieres on Discovery Channel Thursday, November 15 at 10 PM ET/PT.
Part history buffs, part pickers, Brit and Scott visit old ghost towns, abandoned mining camps and industrial graveyards in search of treasured ruins from the Wild West. Whether it's diving into a well that once hid prohibition-era moonshine or digging through dusty debris at a dilapidated ranch, Brit and Scott's passion for history and the thrill of the hunt, drive them to these old boom-then-bust towns where there's an endless supply of relics to find, explore and hopefully sell. Brit and Scott have each been collecting and selling western memorabilia for over a decade and combined have over 25 years of experience. Today, Brit's warehouse in Durango, Colorado holds more than 1-million artifacts including thousand-dollar whiskey bottles, old west revolvers and one-of-a-kind hand forged branding irons, to name a few. The demand for these iconic items that capture the true spirit of the Old West is insatiable and every object featured in GHOST TOWN GOLD has its own unique story to tell. Following Discovery Channel's premiere of GHOST TOWN GOLD on Thursday, November 15 at 10 PM ET/PT, an encore airing of the series will premiere on Destination America beginning Tuesday, January 1 at 10 PM ET/PT.
GHOST TOWN GOLD is produced by JWM Productions for Destination America. For JWM, Bill Morgan and Jason Williams are executive producers. Brit Eaton is an executive producer and Pamela Deutsch is executive producer for Discovery Channel and Destination America.
About Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.8 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 210 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.8 billion cumulative subscribers in 209 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity through 149 worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery, as well as U.S. joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Hub and 3net, the first 24-hour 3D network. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools and owns and operates a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including Revision3. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
About JWM Productions:
JWM Productions specializes in innovative, immersive and character-driven films and storytelling. Their work has been featured on PBS, History, Discovery, TLC, NBC, CBS, TBS, TNT, CNN and by more than 85 international broadcasters. Started in 1996 by two multiple Emmy Award-winning filmmakers, Jason Williams and Bill Morgan, JWM has produced more than 300 hours of high quality, thought-provoking programming. Today, JWM ranks among the world's leading independent producers of factual entertainment.To learn more, please visit our website at http://www.jwmprods.com.


Monday, November 19, 2012

Palestine, TX: Local group offering "Christmas ghost hunts"

From Palestine herald:  Local group offering "Christmas ghost hunts"

PALESTINE — The group, Haunted Little Town Walking Tours, will offer “Christmas Ghost Hunts” at the old Anderson County Jail in Palestine starting this Friday.

The group offered tours in October prior to Halloween, but this event is planned to be a little different — offering ghost-hunting tools for attendees to use and allowing more time for exploring.

“We are opening this weekend and will continue through Dec. 29 on every Friday and Saturday,” Haunted Little Town Walking Tours event coordinator Jeremy Janz said. “We will be open from 6 to 10 p.m., and on every hour, we will be cycling in a new tour group. We will split them in four groups and give them different ghost-hunting tools to use.”

Those participating in tours will have the chance to do EVPs, use black lights, digital photo, video, an EMF detector (measures electromagnetic fields) and view pre-recorded video surveillance of ‘ghost’ monitoring at the jail.

“They will be doing a ghost hunt with an EMF detector this time where they will be finding letters to identify Christmas spirits they are trying to find,” Janz said of the scavenger-hunt-type search.

The jail was recently investigated by the Sonshine Paranormal Investigators of Fort Worth, but results are still pending.

“I know for sure — because I was there and heard them myself — that we got some good EVPs during the investigation,” Janz said.

According to historical information provided, the oldest structure known at the current jail site was a log cabin owned by a widow named Ann White whom took care of the widowed Dr. E.J. DeBard. The next home was owned by Jasper Starr, newspaper editor of “The Wonder.” Nearby was the Lonestar Saloon next door. In the 1880s, a jail was built in the location with a clock tower donated by Palestine pioneer George Wright. In the 1930s, the current three-story Art Deco jail was built. The jail closed in 1988, but was used for another decade as a juvenile detention center and later for storage. The county sold the historic structure in July to Tyler resident Michael Collins, who has allowed the Haunted Little Town Walking Tours group to continue the tours.

“For a $15 flat rate, we are providing all the tools they are going to need, give them a chance to explore this historic old county jail in a controlled environment and offer a possibly rewarding experience of finding or identifying something interesting,” Janz said. “We got a lot of positive feedback from our other tours. We had a lot of people who shared stories of family members who worked at the jail. Whether it was nostalgic or history or just people having fun doing the ‘ghost hunting,’ people really seemed to enjoy going through the jail.”

The “Christmas Ghost Hunts” will be more family-friendly than the Halloween tours.

“For the ‘Christmas Ghost Hunts,’ children can come in and have a great time without worrying about making a mistake,” Janz said. “We want children to be able to enjoy the experience as well.”

————

The “Christmas Ghost Hunts” will be offered at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. every Friday and Saturday from now through Dec. 29. The old jail is located near the Anderson County Courthouse Square. For more details and tickets for the “Christmas Ghost Hunts,” call Janz at 951-552-3578, visit www.hauntedlittletown.com or visit the Haunted Little Town on Facebook. Reservations in advance are encouraged.



PCT Cross Promotion

As a cross promotion with the Palestine Community Theatre (whose production of  “A Christmas Carol” production opens Dec. 7 at the Texas Theater) those participating in the “Christmas Ghost Hunts” on the weekend of Nov. 30-Dec. 1 at the old jail will have the opportunity to use ghost hunting tools to find the following ghosts: Jacob Marley, Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future, Janz said.



Documentary in Works

This holiday season, the public is invited to be a part of Haunted Little Town’s documentary film and paranormal investigations.

“Haunted Little Town was created to showcase the magical history and abundant paranormal activity of Palestine, Texas. Paranormal investigations are a critical element of this inspiring story,” Janz said. “Please contact us to share your story, experiences and schedule an investigation.”

For more information, call Janz at 951-552-3578.

 

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Jacksonville, TX: Palestine Old County Jail Christmas Ghost Tours

From Haunted Little Town.com:  Christmas Ghost Hunt Admission and Information: 951.552.3578

Christmas Ghost Hunt

Presented by Haunted Little Town Walking Tours

Dates and Times:
6pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm (Every Friday and Saturday from Now to the New Year!)
November: 16, 17, 23, 24, 30
December: 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29

Tickets: Call 951.552.3578
Cost: $15


 

Friday, November 16, 2012

Ghost Hunting Equipment Rentals in Bisbee Arizona

This is a commercial site that rents Ghost Hunting Equipment in Bisbee AZ. Thought I'd share it here


http://oldbisbeeghosttour.com/OBGTRentals.html

From their website:

Do you think your hotel room is haunted? Want to do your own ghost hunt of your haunted room?
You can now rent Ghost Hunting Equipment from us!
You will get a K11 Meter, EMF Detector, Digital Thermometer and user instructions for all the tools.

Cost is $45 for one evening

Equipment is available for rent after 3pm from Sweet Midnight located at 7 Howell Ave. Next to the Copper Queen Hotel.

- Equipment is available for rent after 3pm from Sweet Midnight located at 7 Howell Ave, next to the Copper Queen Hotel. 
- Only available on Friday and Saturday evenings when we are NOT doing a Ghost Hunt of Old Bisbee
- Our equipment is rented on a first come, first serve basis
- During the checkout process we will charge your card for the $45 rental fee and an additional $150 to cover the cost of the equipment if you fail to return it. If equipment is returned on time the following day we will refund your card the $150.
- Equipment must be returned no later then 1pm on the following day. Every hour it is late you will be charged $10.
- You MUST ask and get permission from the hotel you are staying at to use the equipment outside of your room. We will not be responsible if you are told to put it away!
- We strongly recommend purchasing 9Volt batteries prior to renting the equipment. Ghosts will drain your batteries and we are not responsible if your batteries get drained and you are unable to use the equipment for the rest of the evening!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

UK, Dec 1: Museum to host ghostly event

From Ripley & Heanor News:  Museum to host ghostly event 

A limited number of tickets are now on sale for a winter Ghost Hunt and Paranormal Investigation at Erewash Museum on Saturday, December 1.
The ghost hunt events at the Museum are always extremely popular and tickets get snapped up very quickly, so residents with a fascination for all things ghostly are urged to buy their tickets before they sell out.
The event is strictly for adults as it is a serious late-night investigation, taking place from 8pm through to 1.30am, with previous event visitors claiming to have experienced mysterious happenings.
A specialist paranormal investigation team will attempt to uncover the secrets of the Museum.which is housed in Dalby House at Ilkeston, a late Georgian building with Victorian extensions, and those taking part will be given professional ghost hunting equipment to record any activity.
Tickets are £28, which includes refreshments. Contact 0115 907 1141 for more details

 

 

Saturday, November 10, 2012

UK, Dec 1: Join ghost-hunt at museum

This is Nottingham: Join ghost-hunt at museum

TICKETS are on sale for a winter ghost hunt and Paranormal investigation.
the event is at Erewash Museum, in Ilkeston, on Saturday December 1.
It runs from 8pm to 1.30am and is for adults only.
A specialist paranormal investigation team will lead the trail around the museum. Everyone taking part will be given professional ghost- hunting equipment to record any activity.
Tickets cost £28 each, which includes refreshments. To buy tickets or for further information, phone 0115 907 1141.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Ghost hunters investigate Baron Woolen Mills

From KSL.com: Ghost hunters investigate Baron Woolen Mills


BRIGHAM CITY — Little ghouls and goblins fill the streets every Halloween, hunting for candy in neighborhoods around the world. But on this All Hallow's Eve, we look, in depth, at a different kind of ghost — The real ones who, if you believe, still haunt places on earth, even after death.
At the Baron Woolen Mills in Brigham City — built by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1870 and operated privately for another 100 years — paranormal investigators hunted for ghosts. The abandoned mill is considered one of the most haunted places in Utah. "We joke that this is like the paranormal Disneyland to us," said Wasatch Paranormal Investigator Tom Carr. Wasatch Paranormal Investigators work and leads tours at the tattered old mill. The mills were designed to be a keystone of industry in Brigham City. But you could say things went terribly wrong from the beginning.
"The day they were supposed to turn on the machines, it caught on fire and burned to the ground," Carr said.
Lead investigator Russ Cook says the mills re-opened and stayed that way until 1996, but the spirits that haunt it never left. Russell Cook, who works with Carr, looks for Electronic Voice Phenomena, or sounds they believe come from spirits. In one room especially, they have supposedly recorded a lot of activity from a curious spirit named Mary. She asks, "What's going on?" in the recordings. 

While it's never been proven, it is widely believed in the early 1900's, she was taken to the mill, raped and murdered. Paranormal investigators believe Mary's spirit was trapped in the building until two years ago with her alleged murderer.
"We believe that the gentleman who actually committed the murder is actually still in the building," Carr said. "…We know of four deaths, four confirmed deaths in the building. A young boy was actually killed in one of the machines during the 1920's."
As their ghost hunt begins, the investigators use a variety of instruments to interact with spirits. And eventually, the instruments indicate that they interact back. The investigators ask a series of questions, determining that the ‘spirit' they're talking to is a boy who worked in the mill a century or so ago.
"You always have to look at it with a skeptical point of view, but I think that you can come away with a belief as you do some further investigations and you get more responses," said investigator Jeff Palmer.
And curiosity keeps the paranormal investigators coming back.
"And you ask a question like, ‘How many spirits haunt this place?' or, ‘Can you tell me your name?' And you capture something on there that you just can't explain," Carr said. "That, to me, is exciting."




Monday, November 5, 2012

Ghost Hunting

From Cabrini College Loquitur:  Ghost Hunting


Students listening to Considine’s presentation at Grace Hall on Oct. 24. (Brooke Famous/Staff Writer)
Students got ready to ghost hunt in the mansion as they sat in on a presentation given by a demonologist. The presentation was given by Dave Considine, one of the small number of lay religious demonologists of North America. This event was for entertainment allowing students to explore more into ghosts, exorcisms, demonic beings and how to capture and record ghosts.
Through the years Dave has worked closely with many noted figures in the fields of Paranormal Research, Religious Demonology and exorcism. He has also worked with clergy of other other faiths, doctors, law enforcement and research institutions both nationally and internationally and has been consulted by many media agencies for his expertise including MTV, CNN, Lifetime, etc.
On Wednesday, Oct. 24, Considine talked about his experiences with ghosts and how he was able to capture images and voices through his presentation about Ghost Hunting. Considine went through how he used photography, recorders and Ouija boards to either capture the images of ghosts or to talk to them.
After the presentation, students were split up into different groups and taken into the Mansion to five locations, as they were given different devices to capture any ghosts they came across.
“It was terrifying and I am never going back in the boiler room again,” said sophomore Andrea Broe when asked about ghost hunting in the mansion.
While some were terrified of ghosts, others thoroughly enjoyed the experience of ghost hunting.
“The best part was going through the basement and the spookiness between the mansion itself and not knowing if you’re going to find anything,” freshman Dan LaBar said.