A Three-Prong Approach to Paranormal Research

Researching Spooky Stuff at
The Gray Barker Archives

Summary: The process of researching haunted locations can be summed up in three main areas: 1. STORIES AND EXPERIENCES, 2. HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION, and 3. DATA COLLECTION. An investigation usually starts with the reputation of a location for being haunted, and an examination of the stories and witness experiences associated with it. It is then followed up by researching the history of the location and collecting data, such as EMF readings, photographs, EVP recordings, etc. Further, these three 'prongs' are not linear. For example, some will collect data before looking into the history. More often than not, investigators will circle back around as new information is uncovered. In a perfect scenario, all three areas will interconnect, supporting and backing each other up. However, we all know that this trifecta rarely occurs; fortunately, that doesn't mean that a location or an investigation does not have value.

It's no secret that I am fascinated with anything and everything weird and spooky! Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State exists as a way to document and share a gamut of strange and unusual topics. UFOs, cryptids, psychic phenomena, and Fortean events are just some of the subjects that have found a home here on my blog. But, throughout my work in this field, the study of ghosts and hauntings has remained my main focus.

For today's post, I thought I'd do a commentary on what I consider to be the ideal trifecta in regard to the investigation and research of haunted locations. As both a researcher AND a paranormal field investigator, a multitude of allegedly haunted sites come across my radar on a regular basis. I love hearing about potentially haunted places and researching the history behind them. However, what makes a location REALLY pique my interest? What makes me excited to actually do on-site investigation research?

Not all haunted locations are created equal. Aside from investigative logistics, such as accessibility, health/safety concerns, and other external variables, some places just make for a better research subject. I am a believer that any place has the potential for paranormal activity, but as a serious researcher, I need a reason to invest in the study of a particular property. That reason usually starts with the ghost stories and personal experiences reported by various witnesses.

STORIES AND EXPERIENCES:

I'm sure you've had someone tell you about a great haunted location they know of...but when you ask them to describe the activity, they really can't tell you much about what actually goes on there. They might stress the idea that the place is old and creepy, and/or the fact that someone died there. If you get REALLY lucky, they might have mentioned they felt 'something.' I do appreciate getting these types of tips from people. I love when people get excited about the paranormal, and I always love talking about the paranormal with others. It's awesome whenever someone knows what I do and is eager to share their knowledge of haunted locations with me. And to be fair, some of these places have ended up being awesome investigations, especially when they haven't been investigated before by anyone.

However, it's so much easier when a location already has an established history of specific paranormal activity. To maximize the research process, I need to know exactly why the location is believed to be haunted. Are there legends of untimely death, unrequited love, or other acts of violence and tragedy? Do locals tell of apparitions roaming the grounds, unearthly screams piercing the veil, or mysterious disappearances? Are these legends widespread and well-known, dating back a number of years? Have they been previously documented in writing, and where?

I also need to know what people are actually experiencing. Are the owners/visitors/others related to the property seeing anything? Hearing anything? Smelling anything? Do these experiences tend to back up the ghost stories told about the location, or are they unrelated? Can recent witnesses be located and interviewed about their experiences?

The combination of reported stories and personal experiences not only show that a location has a sustained history of activity (as opposed to just a one-off experience), but will show investigators patterns of that activity, such as what time of day activity seems to occur, or whether or not activity seems to happen only to certain people. This data can be used to plan an optimal investigation experience, focused on recreating the specific conditions that seem conducive to activity. It also allows investigators to isolate specific incidents of activity to try to recreate for the purpose of debunking, or finding natural explanations. Further, these tales and experiences can offer clues into who or what is haunting the location, and why. Who is that woman in white who silently ascends the stairs night after night?

This investigation process nearly always starts with stories and experiences (for the exception, please see my article on Ghost Hunting Vs. Paranormal Investigation). It is a jumping off point for the rest of your research, which, based on personal beliefs, may look slightly different from mine, and vary from case to case. But, in general, I tend to head into the realm of historical documentation from here. It's important to note, however, that these three areas are very interdependent. This will be discussed in greater detail later on, but let's first take a look at historical documentation. 

Waverly Hills 
Estes Method

HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION:

Historical research is MY favorite part of paranormal investigation. I love taking a deep dive into the people and events tied to the property. I want to know who lived there, who died there, who worked there, who visited, and why any of them might be sticking around. I want to go further into just their names and dates of deaths; I want to know what they did for a living, what church they went to, what they did in the spare time. Did they have any pets or belong to any organizations? What tragedies touched their lives? 

There are several advantages of conducting historical research before the on-site investigation. Historical research can provide names and details of your suspected ghost. This information can then be used to tailor specific questions for EVP and/or spirit box sessions, or be used in choosing what type of trigger objects a suspected ghost may most likely interact with. Perhaps most importantly, historical research can shed some light on the stories and experiences. Many, MANY times throughout my research, I've found that what is told and accepted as 'fact' for the background of a location is not quite accurate. Not every old house was used as a Civil War hospital, and that 'woman in white' who allegedly took her own life when her betrothed died in the war? Well, her death certificate and obituary both say she died of cancer in her 80s.

It's definitely satisfying being able to shed some truth to the folklore (a major goal of Theresa's Haunted History which I will probably delve deeper into in another post), but nothing feels greater than actually finding primary documentation that supports the claims of activity. I remember high-fiving a colleague and then feeling REALLY guilty about my sheer joy upon finding a newspaper article discussing the tragic death of a toddler that up until that point, hadn't been proven. While I wasn't celebrating the tragedy itself, I was relieved to have that vindication of a widely-told story actually being true.

When the historical documentation backs up the stories, it is certainly a good sign that the site deserves on-site investigation, which brings us to our third and final area: Data collection. 

DATA COLLECTION: 

We have a location with a dark and verifiable history, with stories and experiences to match. That's awesome and will definitely qualify to be featured here on Theresa's Haunted History! And, given that permission can be obtained, most likely we'll want to come investigate that location. As cool as the case already sounds, what would make it PERFECT would be to collect data and potential evidence that can give a glimpse of scientific validity to the claims. Any and all potential evidence collected on site would be awesome---but to have an EVP giving a verified name, or a photo clearly showing the suspected entity is the Holy Grail, and the perfect completion to the perfect trifecta: historical documentation AND physical evidence to back up the legends and lore. 

Unfortunately, data collection, while it should be very scientifically sound and regulated, isn't infallible, especially in regard to paranormal research. An interesting piece of potential evidence or data doesn't necessarily conclude that a location is haunted or that ghosts exist. And data might not necessarily correlate to personal experiences and documented history. Often, we get 'hits' on EVP or the Spirit Box giving 'random' names. These might just be completely random. They might be the product of misinterpretation by investigators (for example, Jane and Shane sound A LOT alike on audio). In some schools of thought, they may be examples of telepathy on the part of those present, as opposed to proof of afterlife communication. Or, it could simply be information that has yet to be discovered.

That's when we have to circle back. More historical research needs to be done, using the new information as clues. As people continue to have experiences and tell stories about the location, that data also needs to be documented and taken into consideration. Very rarely is a case marked 'complete,' because as long as the location still exists, there is the potential for additional stories and experiences. And as long as I'm still researching, I will continue to seek out as much documentation and data as I can. 

With that, I'll wrap up this overly long blog post! Good luck with your own investigations and research, and as always, stay spooky my friends! 

Fright Bite: The Meat Eater of the Fairfield County Infirmary

It's been awhile since I did a Fright Bite feature, which simply means that I don't have a ton of information on a topic...but I wanted to share it for posterity anyway! The term 'fright bite' also seems to fit rather well with today's story for another reason.

Okay, so hearing a growl on an investigation is pretty common. Whether it's a disembodied sound, or a sound captured solely on our digital recorders, a growling noise is something that many of us have dealt with. But what could be the cause of such a scary sound?

Ruling out growling bellies from team members (another common occurrence on paranormal investigations!), and ruling out living, breathing animals that may be on site, we ask ourselves, "why would a ghost growl at me?" 

Many tend to associate a growling noise with something negative, because honestly, a growl is not a welcoming, happy greeting. It's primal, a warning of impending danger, an angry sound of displeasure, that some will interpret as even being 'demonic.' It's definitely a noise we tend to pick up more often in places where suffering was widespread, especially prisons mental institutions. Those in an altered mental state, whether in life or continuing into death, might not be able to communicate any other way. And...that kind of seems like it might explain the growler of Fairfield County Infirmary. Further, there is actual historical documentation of a rather growly patient!

According to Infirmary Records compiled and published by the Fairfield Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, there was a man named C.H. Jenery who was admitted to the infirmary under the care of Dr. J.M. Broyles. Dr. Broyes kept a journal of patient notes between 1855 and 1886. These notes are actually very sparse, but there is an interesting entry for Mr. Jenery.

It seems that Mr. Jenery was often referred to as "Mr. Nucence" (I'm guessing Nuisance?) "because he always growls on the account of not getting 5 lbs of beef at one meal, and says he cannot live unless he gets the above amount stated." The notes go on to further state that "we could not allow the amount, then he was discharged" on August 27, 1886. 

It's not noted whether or not Mr. Jenery was just a hungry, hungry boy or if he had some legitimate reason for wanting so much meat in one sitting. Did he think he was a werewolf? Did he suffer from low iron or Prader-Willi Syndrome? Maybe he was just really dedicated to a keto lifestyle. Whatever the case, if you find yourself investigating the Fairfield County Infirmary and hear a menacing growl, don't panic. Just tell Mr. Jenery that you hear him and understand him...and will try to bring him a burger next time. 

Paranormal Picture Study

Flash Used

No Flash Used
Low-light/Night Setting Used

Hey, spooky friends! I thought for today's blog post I'd do something a little different. As part of my commitment to do a few more educational-type posts concerning paranormal investigating and paranormal theory, I wanted to share a set of photographs that I personally took on a recent investigation. 

The subject of the photo is Spectral Research and Investigation's own investigator and co-videographer, Beth. Beth is hooked up to a set of headphones, connected to an SB-10 spirit box and is actively engaged in a modified Estes Method of communication. She cannot see or hear the rest of the team, who was asking various questions of the resident spirit of this particular location. She is simply listening to the frequencies being scanned and responding to what she hears. 

While this was going on, we did have some interesting responses that seemed to answer direct questions, and some information did come through that seemed to mesh with what we knew of the history of the location. As part of the documentation process (we were also videoing the session) I took two photographs of Beth, back to back.

I didn't use anything fancy; just my Google Pixel 6a phone. The two photos were taken approximately 30 seconds or so apart, but as you can see, they look quite different. I just recently got this phone, so I was playing with the different picture settings to see how they looked. The top photo was taken with the flash on.

The bottom photo was taken without the flash, but used my phone's night setting, which I'm really impressed with! But, you'll notice that in this photo, there seems to be a strange light anomaly behind Beth's chair, and a hazy figure, almost standing behind her. If you zoom in, you can even make out a face.

Pictures like this are unfortunately misidentified as paranormal all the time. I would have loved to have caught something anomalous, but the truth is, that spooky haze and light anomaly has a perfectly logical explanation. When the night or low-light setting on a camera (or camera phone) is used, you're going to have a long exposure, or long shutter speed. While the photo was being taken, one of our investigators (Beth's husband, Michael!) walked into the shot and back out. The light anomaly is his flashlight, which you can see is illuminating the ground. 

It only took half a second for him to walk through the shot, leaving a ghostly impression. I've seen this kind of shot fool plenty of people, especially when taking photos with a camera/phone that they may not be super familiar with. It's easy to get confused on what settings are being used, and it's even easier to get confused about one's surroundings. Time and time again, we hear the photographer of these types of photos swear that no one else was around. Most of these people are being sincere; they truly don't remember anyone else being near the shot, but witnesses are not infallible. When we're focusing on photographing a subject, we're usually not paying much attention to what is going on around us. And as fast as this can happen, we might not even realize it. 

Anyway, I thought it'd be fun to compare these two pictures and let you all see just how easy it is to capture something that APPEARS anomalous, but is actually a pretty common misidentification. If you get the chance, take out your own camera/phone and just play around a little with different settings, and what happens when the camera is bumped/moved or when someone walks through the frame during long exposure times. It's a neat little experiment that will help you more quickly and easily identify those ghost photos that might just be a little too good to be true! 

10+ FREE Online History Resources for Paranormal Investigators

Whenever I research the history of a haunted location, or undertake the arduous task of finding any truth behind West Virginia's rich, spooky folklore, I draw upon many, many resources.  I'm lucky to have access to quite a few different avenues. I live close to Charleston, so visiting the state archives is no biggie. I live close to Huntington, where the Cabell County Public Library has an AWESOME local history and genealogy room. My background as a paralegal has given me training in navigating county courthouses for vital statistics and title searches. I have an extensive library of West Virginia history books and magazines. And, most of the time, I can afford to access paid newspaper archive services. 

But during the pandemic, I found myself relying a lot more on internet resources. Even before that, though, before I ever left the house in search of information, I'd find out all I could online. There are an innumerable amount of websites and other online resources that have helped me along the way, but I wanted to quickly share just a few that I find myself using over and over again. All of these services are completely FREE, with several focusing on West Virginia. Still, others are a great resource for any state. By no means is this a complete list, so if you have any suggestions to add, please feel free to comment below, or find me over on Theresa's Haunted History Facebook to share what FREE resources you use! 

1. WV History on View: West Virginia History on View is a service of West Virginia University's WV and Regional History Center. It is a collection of over 54,000 easily searchable historic photos from around West Virginia! 

2. The West Virginia State Archives: If you cannot make it to the physical archives in Charleston, the next best thing is to check out the digital collection. West Virginia was one of the first states to start digitizing vital statistic information, and their database of birth, marriage, and death certificates is easy to navigate and a HUGELY informative resource. Another area of the website I frequent is the database of applications for the National Register of Historic Places---if you're investigating a well-known historic building (or even one that may be part of a historic district), these applications provide a wealth of information that is so, so helpful. Browse around the rest of the site as well. There are lots of articles and pictures online, and if you're doing a deep dive into a particular location or subject, you can get a sense of what is available on that topic in the archives, so when you're ready to make the trip, you'll be prepared!

3. Chronicling America: This service, hosted by the Library of Congress, is a database of historic, pre-1963 newspapers. They obviously don't have each and every newspaper ever printed in the United States, but their collection is impressive. Early newspapers are full of articles about monsters, ghosts, and all sorts of other spooky things, as well as 'normal' articles about people, locations, and stories that could be of relevance to the case you're researching.

4. Sanborn Fire Maps: Also provided by the Library of Congress, this collection of old fire maps is a great resource for finding out what may have been built on a location prior to its current construction. It can be a little time-consuming and frustrating finding the exact area you need sometimes, but when you do, the reward is worth it. But don't just stop with the maps---the Library of Congress site in general gives access to tons of books, films, and other documents that may help you in your research. 

5. Find-a-Grave: Find-a-Grave is a user-submitted collection of cemeteries and the burials within. Not only do users submit who is buried in a particular cemetery, but information on where the cemetery is located, photos of the graves, and sometimes, background documents such as death certificates, personal photographs, and newspaper articles. I can't tell you how many times that missing puzzle piece about a person's death is easily solved by finding them on Find-a-Grave. In addition, links to the subjects deceased family member's burials are included.

6. Family Search: This is a FREE genealogy website. Although it isn't always as 'complete' as some of the paid services, it is a great resource. Genealogy research is an important part of the historical profile of a haunted location. Knowing the familial connections and where exactly a person lived, plus other details from their lives makes for some well-researched EVP questions, but also provides a bigger-picture understanding of the case.

7. tDar: The Digital Archaeological Record is a resource I've just recently started using myself, and am taking the time to get familiar with. While I've found that the actual documents usually aren't available for free, the site will let you know if there have been any archaeological digs/discoveries in the area, which you can then further research through other means.

8. County IAS Portals/County Assessor Pages: Each county in WV does things a little differently, but their IAS portals are generally pretty similar. An important aspect of the historical research on a haunted location is the property search, which back when I started, could ONLY be done by going to the county courthouse and sifting through huge, heavy deed/title books, finding out just who owned the property throughout history, and where the property lines actually were. Most of the time, you still have to do that, but IAS portals make it possible to pull up map cards and other relevant information BEFORE you head to the courthouse, giving you in most cases, a pretty complete look at former ownership (with deed book/page info included) and other architectural details. I've included the link for Kanawha County, WV.

9. Google Maps: I love Google Maps. Whenever we have a new case pop up, I search out the address of the location on Google Maps. Street View gives a pretty darn look at the outside of the property and surrounding area, while Google Earth is a great way to see just how close the property is to creeks, rivers, major roadways, railroads, and other significant things. Take a look at the area in regular map settings as well to get a feel for what the streets in the area are called (could a clue to the history be in the name?), and where places like cemeteries, businesses, and historic properties are located. 

10. Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State: I'd be remiss if I didn't remind you that this blog itself is a great starting point for historical research! I love sharing my research, complete with as many primary source documents that I can viably put directly in a blog post! If you take a look around, you'll see most posts dotted with old newspaper articles, historic photos, transcriptions from old books and magazines, and lots and lots of links for more information. 

11.MapWV: Looking for maps related to West Virginia? This is your one-stop shop! Find out property information, geological information, and even where you can go fishing nearby! 

A Ghost Hunting Tragedy

Linda Sue McMillan
Photo by Find-a-Grave user,
Peggy Rocchio

Earlier this month, I shared with you the story of a group of students from Shady Spring High School who spent the night at their school, looking for the alleged whistling ghost said to haunt its halls. That was a fun, and light-hearted tale that proves a point---even though interest may wane at various times through history, kids' interest in legend tripping, spooky things, and scaring the hell out of each other never truly goes away. Even in the mid-20th century, kids were going out and hunting down the hauntings. 

Unfortunately, not all of these pursuits into the paranormal end on a happy note, as was the case with Linda Sue McMillan, eight years later.

Linda Sue was born on September 15, 1944 to parents Thomas Roy and Maude Ferrell McMillan. Just two months shy of her 17th birthday, sixteen year old Linda Sue of Weirton spent a warm summer's evening doing what so many young kids do---she went out in search of a spooky adventure. On Sunday, July 16th, Linda and five other young people, all members of the family, piled in the car and headed about seven miles north of the town of West Union, to a little area known as Morgansville. Their destination was a road called "Big Flimp Rd." by the Charleston Daily Mail. However, I can't find any mention of such a road, and suspect that the actual road was Big Flint Rd., located in that same vicinity.

They were going ghost hunting.

I haven't found the exact ghost story or haunting from West Virginia's folklore that the group was searching for, but I imagine it was a tale that had been told orally and passed around in the family and friend group for quite some time. Perhaps they were seeking out the ghost of one of the many murdered peddlers, whose spirits are said to still haunt so many corners of the Mountain State. Perhaps they were seeking out the haunted John England property a few miles away. Either way, this adventure seemed to involve a dare of some sort.

Three girls in the group, Linda Sue included, were sent to walk about a mile down the road by themselves. However, at some point, Linda Sue climbed onto the back of the car, without the knowledge of the driver. Clyde McMillan, 20 years old, started the car up and began driving the down the road. It is unclear if Linda Sue tried to jump off, or if she simply fell, but she ended up hitting the pavement and suffering a fatal fracture to her skull. 

Linda Sue's funeral was held on July 18th, as reported by the Weirton Daily Times. She was buried in Beechwood Cemetery, in Tyler County, West Virginia. She lies beside her parents, who passed in the 1990's. 

I never like sharing sad stories such as this one, but I chose to highlight this one in particular for a few reasons. I obviously want to pay respects to this sweet, beautiful young soul who was taken too soon. She must have been pretty brave to take on hunting ghosts and as a paranormal investigator myself, have to give her kudos. Even though this was probably intended as a fun little legend-tripping adventure, in my eyes she has still earned her place among West Virginia's paranormal research community.

But, I also wanted to highlight just how dangerous ghost hunting CAN be...and it's not the ghosts that we have to fear. Unfortunately, the tragic death of Linda Sue is eerily similar to another tragedy that occurred in Clay County, WV back in 2013. A truck full of young people searching for ghosts in the infamous Booger Hole area turned over, killing 18 year old Kara Conley.  Exploring West Virginia's rich haunted history can be a fun way to get a thrill, but please keep in mind to keep safety a top priority. Use common sense, don't take unnecessary risks, and remain constantly aware of your surroundings. I want to share these spooky stories with you and encourage you to experience them yourselves...what I DON'T want is to have to come investigate YOUR ghost!

Stay safe, stay spooky!

Sources:

The Charleston Daily Mail. 17 July 1961. Page 6

The Weirton Daily Times. 18 July 1961. Page 2

Find-a-Grave Entry for Beechwood Cemetery

Charleston Daily Mail
17 July 1961

Hidden Marietta Paranormal Expo 2022

Lafayette Hotel
Marietta, OH

On Saturday, January 29th, Brian, Kaysee, Dan and myself made the trek to the haunted and historic Lafayette Hotel in Marietta, Ohio to represent Spectral Research and Investigation at the 2022 Hidden Marietta Paranormal Expo!

As one of dozens of vendors, we set up our SRI table in the ballroom of the beautiful old hotel and from 11am to 4pm, met with many, many awesome paranormal investigators, researchers, authors, pod casters, artists/crafters, and other fans of all things spooky. At times, it was overwhelmingly busy with over 500 visitors coming out to take part in the event this year!

SRI Table at the Hidden Marietta
Paranormal Expo 2022

In addition to mingling with vendors giving psychic readings, promoting their spooky locations/groups, and selling everything from jewelry to books, to artwork to ghost hunting supplies (and so, so much more!) a top-notch speaker line-up was included with admission. Patti Wigington, pagan priestess/blogger/author started the lecture series with a talk on protection from paranormal entities. Scott Sukel, former ghost hunt manager and historian for the Ohio State Reformatory followed up with a chat about his time at OSR and other how he got his start in the paranormal field. Jeff Ignatowski, creator of Killers-The Card Game, shared his knowledge on serial killer psychology, and Fortean researcher Ashley Hilt, ended the day with a discussion on Mothman. 

Scott Sukel

Unfortunately, there just wasn't enough time in the day to see all the great speakers, but I did catch Scott and Ashley's presentations. Scott's talk about his former mentor and how he came to be associated with the Ohio State Reformatory was at times hilarious, and at other times, moving. He spoke quite passionately about how letting a haunted location become the main focus of your life has its upside....but also has a very deep downside. I'm glad he was able to break away from the hold the old prison had on him and can now allow himself to take care of his health, explore new haunted locations, and travel the country educating others on the lessons he's learned in his long career of paranormal investigation.

Ashley's presentation was also really interesting. Kaysee, Dan, and I enjoyed her talk on her upcoming Mothman documentary and some of the weird examples of high strangeness surrounding West Virginia's favorite cryptid. Ashley also co-hosts the podcast, On Wednesdays, We Talk Weird. I stopped by her table afterwards and had a nice lil' chat about living in wild and weird West Virginia.

Ashley Hilt

 And really, those chats were absolutely the highlight of the event for me. I LOVE talking about the paranormal with other paranormal enthusiasts, and there were plenty of people there to share my love of all things strange and spooky. We saw old friends, and made some new contacts. I've got a stack of business cards and have already gone and started following about a dozen new people/groups on social media. Lots of people stopped by our booth to chat, and we of course, made our rounds to each vendor and tried to introduce ourselves to as many people as possible. It was great seeing Les from WV Cryptids and Strange Encounters, Jordan Cline and Sarah from Fireside Paranormal Podcast (Brian and I were on the show awhile back), the crew from the Old Hospital on College Hill, author Jannette Quackenbush (who also runs the Haunted West Virginia Facebook page) and John from Haunted Hills Paranormal Society. 

Those who know me or follow this blog know I couldn't leave such an event without a book or two...or three in this case. I picked up two of Jannette's books, as well as a book from Sabrina at 2Realm Paranormal Research. I also bought a few stickers and a new ghost keychain at the Hidden Marietta table! 

I got to meet Jordan Cline from Fireside Paranormal!

In addition to these festivities, event goers could also opt to purchase tickets for a haunted history tour of the Lafayette Hotel, or partake in the after-hours dinner and investigation with Paranormal Quest. Unfortunately, I didn't get to participate this year, but I did take the tour back at the 2019 Paranormal Expo and it was really, really interesting. There are lots of ghosts that are said to roam the historic hotel, and hopefully SRI will be back in sometime in the future to help document their presence.

Overall, it was a really fun and productive day. Hidden Marietta once again did a fabulous job putting on a convention for lovers of the paranormal. It was a great way to kick off 2022 and I'm looking forward to joining Hidden Marietta on one of their many tours and public hunts held throughout the year. A huge thanks to everyone involved in making this event a huge success, and a huge thanks to everyone who stopped by and chatted with the SRI team! 

24 Commonly Forgotten Investigation Essentials

A few of Spectral Research and Investigation's Toys!

As paranormal investigators, researchers, and enthusiasts, many of us love seeing all the new ghost hunting gadgets that are out there. We love seeing what other teams use and how they use it. We love seeing what evidence these items can capture. And, we love showing off our own toys! While obviously, the 'big stuff,' such as DVR systems, EMF meters, voice recorders, spirit boxes, etc. are integral pieces of the investigator's equipment bag and are rarely, if ever, forgotten...they aren't the ONLY important items to bring along. 

Over the past 20 years, I've had the opportunity to investigate a lot of places. Further, I've had the opportunity to investigate a lot of different TYPES of places. Whether it be an indoor or an outdoor location, a place located in town or out in the middle of nowhere, a private home or a business, each investigation is different and presents its own unique challenges.

To help meet those challenges and make each and every investigation as safe and comfortable as possible, I've compiled a quick list of 24 COMMONLY FORGOTTEN INVESTIGATION ESSENTIALS. Most of these items are items that at one time or another, I really wished I had brought with me. 

1. Paper, pens, colored pencils/crayons:  For me, these items are a must-have! I like to keep meticulous notes during an investigation, recording environmental conditions, anomalies on equipment, personal experiences, and much, much more data that I think will help in our final review. But, these items are quite versatile! You may need to sketch out a map. You may want to have your witness draw a picture of what they saw (this is especially true if you're interviewing children). You may need to leave a note or mark an area of interest. Or, you may want to get a lil' metaphysical and try some automatic writing as a communication tool. Bring plenty of paper and writing utensils, including a good black marker. 

2. Gaffer's or painter's tape: These types of tapes don't leave a residue and won't damage surfaces, which is especially important if you're investigating in someone's home or a historic location. We use to tape to safely tape down cords to prevent tripping, but it can be used in many ways, from hanging those signs/notes, labeling purposes (use your black marker to write directly on the tape), marking directions/making arrows and stabilizing equipment in one location. 

3. Hair Ties: You don't want long hair getting in your way, causing false positives in your photos or simply being a nuisance (especially when its hot, lol). So, bring some hair ties for personal use, but also keep in mind that you don't need to be McGuyver to see how useful they can be in other situations! Like the tape, hair ties can be used to rig up equipment and perform any job that you'd want to use a normal rubber band for. Hair CLIPS can also be pretty useful in a pinch, and ZIP ties have plenty of similar uses as well.

4. Snacks and Drinks: This one may seem pretty obvious, but you really don't want to forget your snacks and drinks! We're on location for close to 12 hours sometimes and we're not always in an area where you can find an open gas station or fast food joint. Keeping hydrated and keeping your blood sugar normal are vital to ensuring a safe and comfortable investigation.

5. Glow Sticks: If you're investigating in the dark, glow sticks are awesome for marking areas that you want to make sure are seen. Use glow sticks to show where equipment is set up, where hazards might be (such as loose floor boards) or anything else that you need to find easily in the dark. As an added bonus, they are an emergency source of light if your flashlights malfunction or run out of batteries.

6. Scissors and/or Pocket Knife: I can't tell you how many times I've needed a pair of scissors to open up a new package of batteries, cut a piece of tape that just won't tear, etc. Plus, these items can be used in self-defense if need be.

7. Pepper Spray: Speaking of self defense, pepper spray might also be a good item to carry with you. We have way more to fear from the living than we do from the dead. And, unfortunately, many 'haunted' locations are not in the safest areas. If you're licensed to carry, it is legal to do so in the area, and you know you can be responsible with a firearm, that is also an option. But, for most purposes, pepper spray is a relatively safe method of personal protection.

8. Change of Clothes/Shoes and a Jacket: Aside from the obvious jokes, a change of clothes is not a bad idea. Some haunted locations can be pretty dusty, muddy, or wet. There can be sharp nails sticking out of woodwork that can rip the armpit right out of a t-shirt (speaking from experience, lol). You might just get really hot, or really cold and need to add or remove a couple of layers to be comfortable. And, sometimes, you might find yourself spending the night in a location and just wanting a fresh outfit to put on for the drive home. 

9. Toilet Paper/Hygiene Items: Even indoor locations sometimes don't have indoor plumbing, or simply lack adequate TP. Make sure you have what you need to comfortably relieve yourself and clean up afterwards. This includes hand sanitizer, wet wipes, disposal bags, etc. Other hygiene items, such as deodorant and/or a travel toothbrush/toothpaste might also come in handy if you need to freshen up at any point. 

10. First Aid Kit: A well-stocked first aid kit is an invaluable part of your ghost hunting toolbox. Keep plenty of small items, such as Band-Aids, antiseptic creams, and OTC medications on hand. The most-used item in MY first aid kit is always Tylenol and Tums, but cough drops are essential as well, as you don't want all your audio contaminated by someone hacking up a lung throughout the entire investigation. In addition, make sure you bring any prescription medication you may need to take during the hours of the investigation, plus an extra dose or two if for some reason you don't get back home as early as you've estimated. 

11. Printed Map and Hard Copy of Client Contact Information: I've spent many years investigating throughout rural West Virginia, and even in 2022, there are still huge sections of the state where cell service, especially internet access, is limited or non-existent. In the event of technical difficulties, you may not be able to rely on GPS to get you to your location, so make sure you have a printed map or directions to where you need to go. Similarly, make sure you have the client's contact information written down somewhere in case you need to find a payphone/landline to contact them at some point.

12. Cash/Coins: This tip applied much more back when I started investigating in the early 2000's, but can still come in handy. Make sure you carry some cash on you during an investigation. Waaay back in the day, it wasn't uncommon for the only gas station in a 30-mile radius to not take debit/credit, and coins were awesome if you could find a pay phone if needed. Today, you might consider having cash on hand for unexpected tolls, vending machine snacks, easily splitting up food or other costs with your teammates, small donations to the location, and purchasing souvenirs from whatever business or historical location with a gift shop you're investigating! 

13. Blanket/Pillow: These are handy to just throw in your vehicle in case you find yourself needing to get in a quick nap during your overnight investigation, or otherwise find yourself spending the night away from home.

14. Masks/Gloves/PPE: Even before the days of Covid, many investigators would include various PPE into their kit. Old buildings can be filled with dust, mold, rodent droppings, and even asbestos. A good mask can keep you safer and more comfortable while investigating, while gloves can keep your hands clean and cut down on contamination if you need to touch something questionable or collect a sample/specimen.

15. Plastic Bags: So, as an investigator who works mainly with hauntings, as opposed to cryptids or UFOs, I haven't found too many times where I wanted to take an actual sample or collect a specimen (although I have been given things such as possible bone fragments before, lol). But, should the need arise, you want to keep it safe. Plastic sandwich bags are great for this type of thing, and can be used in other ways as well, such as organizing small items that may otherwise get lost in your bag. Regular sized trash bags can also come in handy. You want to leave a location in the same or better condition than what you found it, so be sure to pack out all your garbage. 

16. Measuring Tape/Level: These are useful tools to have on any investigation. When you have reports of objects moving, especially balls rolling, you want to make sure the floor is level. Falls on staircases, which are sometimes blamed on being pushed by paranormal forces, can sometimes be ruled out when shown that the steps are uneven. A measuring tape can also help determine this, and can give you a visual representation of how far an object is said to have moved, the distance between pieces of equipment, etc. 

17. Bug Spray: If you're investigating an outdoor location, or even an indoor location that is exposed to the elements, bug spray will be a life saver! The last time I went out to the TNT area in Pt. Pleasant, I think I lost about a pint of blood to the local mosquitos. Seriously, those things would give Mothman a run for his money.

18. Multi-Tool: Some equipment (for example, the camera mounts we used with HPIR) requires a screwdriver. A good multi-tool will provide that and many other useful functions during your investigation. If it has a good enough knife/scissors, that's one less thing you can leave off your packing list.

19. Camping Chair: Much of the time spent on an investigation is sitting around, quietly observing. Many locations are low, or completely devoid of seating, so consider bringing a camping or folding chair with you.

20. Towel/Old Blanket: Like the camping chair, you can use an old towel or blanket to sit on, but it can also be used to wipe mud off shoes, keep you warm in an emergency, or cover up an area that needs to be covered up.

21. Cold/Hot Weather Gear: Investigating can get cold! Supplies like extra gloves and hats, as well as Hot Hands will help keep you warm, but be prepared for bad weather, too. Keep an ice scraper in your car in case temperatures plummet during your investigation. Snow chains for your tires, kitty litter, and a portable car battery charger can all be useful when investigating in the winter. On the other hand, investigating can also get very HOT. Personal fans and cooling towels, as well as dressing in layers, can help keep you cool.

22. Trigger Objects: Trigger objects can be just about anything you can think of that might help elicit a reaction from an entity, or get them to interact. If you know a little about the history and the alleged hauntings of the location, try to bring some trigger objects along that are specially tailored to that location. For example, antique toys, coins with specific dates, coal company scrip, cigars, etc.

23. Power Strips/Surge Protectors: We investigators have a lot of equipment, some of which needs to either be plugged in throughout the investigation, or periodically charged. Even if your location has electricity, outlets may be in short supply, or not exactly where you need them to be. Bring your own power strip/surge protector and a few extension cords. 

24.Chargers and Extra Batteries: This last suggestion should be a no-brainer...but make sure you bring everything you need to charge your phone, including the proper cord, brick, or car adaptor. Also consider a few portable charging rods or similar items, which can be purchased just about anywhere for fairly cheap. Similarly, make sure you have backup chargers, cords and extra batteries for ALL of your equipment. Batteries drain much quicker than you realize, and some locations seem to drain the life out of our equipment much more frequently. Be sure to pack up everything you'll need to keep your equipment running all evening. 

I hope this list has inspired you to check and double check your own paranormal investigation packing list, and possibly add a few new items. But, like I said, each investigation is different and requires different items. Each investigator is also different, and will require slightly different things to keep them comfortable and safe, and to get the most out of the investigation experience. This is just a quick list of things I came up with. Let me know in the comments below (or join me over on Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State Facebook) what items YOU'D never be caught dead without! 

*You can find more paranormal investigation tips and tricks on the Theresa's Articles Page of Theresa's Haunted History!*

Fundraising for Spectral Research and Investigation!

Hey everyone! If you didn't already know, in addition to writing Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State blog and maintaining Theresa's Haunted History social media outlets, I'm also a paranormal investigator! For the past year, I have been helping Spectral Research and Investigation, based in Huntington, WV, get off the ground. 

As you can imagine, paranormal research and investigation can get EXPENSIVE, especially for a new team just starting out. There are so many costs associated with the work we do that it can be a real financial burden for the average person. We have a great group of individuals working their asses off to help SRI bring scientific legitimization to the field of paranormal research, assist clients with a variety of resources, and of course, provide YOU with lots of educational and entertaining content! 

We don't want anyone interested in paranormal investigation to feel as if they can't afford to participate, and we don't want to put a strain on our members who are working, volunteering in their communities, studying, and raising families on top of their work in this field. But, we need your help in order to do this.  That's why we decided to kick off our fundraising efforts with a GoFundMe! Our founder, Brian Clary, does a wonderful job explaining why we've chosen to start with this route, so please stop by the link and read more about it. By no means should you feel obligated to donate, but if you've got a few extra bucks to throw our way, we'd greatly appreciate it! We're asking for a modest $500, which will go a long way towards things such as:

*Purchasing new and updated equipment, especially a good camera set-up and materials to build our own equipment (example, REM Pods)

*Helping ALL our members with the admission costs of pay-to-play locations

*Sharing our investigations and findings through live streaming, YouTube videos, etc. 

*Covering travel costs so we can reach a larger number of clients in need

*Promotional materials, such as business cards, flyers, t-shirts and vendor fees at festivals/fairs

*Assisting clients with practical and educational resources such as overnight accommodations, house inspections, carbon monoxide detectors, books, etc. 

Other Ways You Can Help

Like most groups, SRI covers the vast majority of costs out of members' own pockets, but if you enjoy our content and want to see more, please consider giving us a hand! We'd love for you to donate to our cause, but if you can't, we totally understand. And, if you'd like to help in other ways, here are some ideas:

*Like, comment, and more importantly SHARE SRI's content on social media!

*If you see us out and about at different festivals/events this year, stop by and say hi! Also, feel free to make a purchase of one our spooky, ghostly craft items!

*Let us know if you have gently used equipment/materials/books to donate or to sell, if you make equipment yourself, or if you have any suggestions for where to find these items affordably. 

*Also let us know if you own, manage, or otherwise have access to a haunted location and would be willing to let us come in at little to no cost! We'd love to help you promote your location if you want, or we can be confidential in the matter. 

*Are you interested in investigating with us or volunteering at one of our events? We'd love to talk with you! Contact us at one of the methods below! 

Contact Us:

GoFundMe Link

SRI Website

SRI Facebook

Email: srihuntingtonwv@gmail.com

Book Review for Life with the Afterlife

Title: Life with the Afterlife: 13 Truths I Learned About Ghosts

Author: Amy Bruni, with Julie Tremaine

Published: 2020 by Grand Central Publishing

Amazon Purchase Information

Life with the Afterlife was published last October, but as usual I'm late to the party, having only picked up and read this book in June of 2021. It is a memoir of sorts, chronicling the paranormal experiences and ghost hunting career of Amy Bruni. Amy Bruni, co-star of the show Kindred Spirits, got her television ghost hunting start on the original Ghost Hunters, joining the TAPS team as they investigate a multitude of haunted and historic properties, businesses, and even private residences. 

Over the course of thirteen chapters, we learn about how Amy got interested in the paranormal, how she became involved with the TAPS family, what led her to becoming a reality TV ghost hunter, and ultimately, what she has learned from the whole experience. 

I really like reading books written by other investigators. It's enlightening to see how others in this field got their start, and interesting to see how their philosophies and methods compare to my own. As long as I've been an investigator, I still realize that I can always keep learning and keep growing. One way to do so obviously is to learn from the experiences and expertise of well respected figures in the field of paranormal investigation. Amy Bruni has a lot of experience on her own, but throughout the book quotes plenty of other well-known researchers in the field, pulling in their expertise as well.

Unfortunately, I can't say that I actually learned much from this book. That's not to say that there isn't good information in the book---there is---but I think for me it's a combination of things. I've been in this field a LONG time, so most of the '13 truths' just seem kind of common sense to me. Secondly, I hadn't realized it before since I'm not a huge watcher of television shows, but Amy and I have quite similar ideas and beliefs when it comes to paranormal investigation. I especially appreciate her thoughts on the idea of offering assistance and a voice to those left behind here without necessarily 'crossing them over.' I've always been leery of those in this field whose sole mission is to cross spirits over to the other side. We don't know what awaits them over there---how do we know we're not sending them to a fate worse than death? 

Anyway, if you're a fan of the shows Ghost Hunters or Kindred Spirits, or otherwise follow Amy's work, you'll definitely want to read Life With the Afterlife. It is an interesting glimpse into the life of an interesting person, and there's definitely plenty of practical information included for those interested in the field of paranormal investigation. At 257 pages, written in a large font, it's a quick and easy read, perfect for getting in a little chill during those summer days by the pool!

If you've read Life With the Afterlife, let me know what YOU thought about it!  Feel free to comment below, or join me over on Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State's Facebook page. Stay spooky, ya'll. 

Book Review for One Last Thing!

Title: One Last Thing! Strange, Curious and Humorous Conversations with the Other Side

Author: John E.L. Tenney

Published 2011 by John E.L. Tenney

Amazon Purchase Information

I've been a fan of John E. L. Tenney's work in the paranormal field since I saw him in the short-lived paranormal investigation show, Ghost Stalkers.  I had heard of him before that, but I think that was the first time I really got to see how he operated as a paranormal investigator...and I was impressed! I also follow John on Twitter, and he always comes across as a smart and witty kinda guy. Therefore, I was thrilled to open my presents Christmas morning and find that I had been given his book, One Last Thing!

I was also kind of surprised, because this book had been on my wish list quite awhile! After all the presents were open, I sat down by the fireplace and started reading. I was done before breakfast was served, lol.

One Last Thing! is a super short read, coming in at under 60 pages, but it was a book that took John 20+ years to make. It is not your simple run-of-the-mill investigation memoir or handbook. Rather, its a fascinating compilation of real life EVP transcripts from John's work in the paranormal investigation field. 

My generation of ghost hunters basically grew up using digital voice recorders and being told that you'd be lucky if you got more than one short word at a time during an EVP session. John shakes things up by using an old school reel to reel, spending HOURS on each EVP session, and capturing some wonderfully interactive conversations with spirits. Some of these conversations are poignant, while others are downright hilarious! It seems that even bodily death cannot destroy someone's sarcasm or snark. I think one of my favorite conversations recorded in the book is a spirit who takes the command to repeat a series of knocks and turns it into a knock-knock joke--seriously.

Reading through the pages, not only was I entertained to the point of chuckling aloud a few times, but I also found myself nodding my head in agreement. John notes that quite a few spirits seem to use the same language, most notably referring to wherever they are as the "Forever" or the "Always." I personally have heard these terms used a few times in my own EVP research, as well as another incident where the entity refers to itself AS A GHOST. It is recommended that to establish a rapport with the other side, some of this language should be incorporated by investigators, and I certainly plan on using what I've learned in the book in my next investigation.

John also notes that sometimes a question would be answered before it was even asked, sparking the debate as to whether ghosts/spirits can be telepathic. Again, I've had similar occurrences in my own investigation work, to the point where we experimented with whether or not WE the investigators were actually imprinting thoughts on tape. 

Overall, this was a really fun book. I wish it had gone more into John's philosophy and method of EVP work. I would love to have researched that more, because the introduction and closing pages, while scarce in number, were packed with useful tidbits of information. But, for what it is---a humorous collection of conversations with the other side--I'm happy. It's a quick read and a perfect palate cleansers for the investigator who needs something easy and fun to read, yet still educational. Obviously, a book of this nature isn't for everyone, but I'm proud to have One Last Thing! in my personal paranormal library!

THERESA'S PARANORMAL BOOK REVIEWS PAGE

Investigation Safety: The Investigator's Shinbone

 

Today's blog is another one of my Friday Funnies combined with some legitimate paranormal advice!  I'm sure you've probably seen the above-graphic, or some variation of it, posted on social media over the last few years, and with good reason.  It's something that most paranormal investigators and/or ghost hunters can relate to on some level.  I know I've personally whacked my shin directly into chairs, beds, coffee tables, and anything else that might be at shin level!  And, while it definitely doesn't feel good, and usually doesn't do any damage, it does bring up an important safety factor that I'd like to address. 

Although this graphic highlights the comical side of it, stumbling around in the dark, in an unfamiliar location CAN be dangerous. Luckily, there are a few ways to mitigate the risks. 

Whether it is your first trip to a location, or you've been there many times before, I suggest you start off each investigation with a thorough walk-through of the entire property.  If this is an indoor location, make sure the lights are on.  If you're at an outdoor location, arrive early to take advantage of full daylight. If you're being shown around by the client and/or property owner, be sure to ask them of any safety hazards you should be aware of.  Take note of where furniture and other large items are located, and locations where you'll be setting up stationary equipment.  I like to take baseline, reference pictures of the entire space before the investigation, and you can take it a step further by making a quick sketch of the area to be investigated, noting potential hazards and obstacles. 

If there are any areas of concern found, make sure they are pointed out to EVERY investigator/guest on site. If there are objects blocking high traffic areas, or fragile items that could easily get bumped, see if the client would be willing to move them out of the way for you.

For other hazards, glow sticks work great. You can use glow sticks to mark potential trip hazards, loose floorboards, uneven stairs, or furniture with sharp, dark, pointy corners. Portable touch lights can be set up in locations, such as staircases, that need a little bit of extra light. And, yellow caution tape can be used to mark off larger areas that need to be avoided altogether. 

When moving from place to place or room to room, pay attention to what you're doing.  It's easy to get distracted by your equipment, especially if you're filming with a handheld video camera or taking readings, but take a moment to look away from your devices to make sure you're not going to walk directly into something.

And finally, weigh the costs of whether or not you really DO need to go dark and/or investigate solely at night. There are plenty of reasons for and against going 'lights out,' which you can read about in my blog: Ghost FAQs: Going Dark. If you are in an area that has quite a few hazards and safety risks associated with low visibility, it might be worth sticking to daytime or lights on activities. And, as always, make sure a well-stocked first aid kit is part of your ghost hunting arsenal. 

I hope you got a knowing chuckle out of today's little graphic, but also picked up a few tips on keeping a silly situation from becoming something a little more dangerous. Have a safe and spooky weekend, and if your plans include any investigating, make sure to watch out for furniture and other safety hazards! 

TNT Area Training Investigation

 Hello, October!  It's ALWAYS Spooky Season here at Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State, but things tend to ramp up a bit in the days leading to Halloween.  Once again, I'll be attempting the Ultimate Blog Challenge---31 straight days of NEW paranormal content here on the blog.  I'll also be posting plenty of spooky Halloween-related content on Theresa's Haunted History's Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram.  I've got some great new haunted locations throughout West Virginia to discuss, some personal experiences to share, and a whole array of other fun, spooky information that I hope you'll enjoy.  So let's kick off the beginning of the month with a little secret I've been keeping...

Who leaves a child's riding toy in the TNT igloos?!

I've joined a new paranormal investigation group!

Back in August, I discovered Spectral Research and Investigation, a new group based out of Huntington that was just forming. I expressed an interest and was accepted as a member!  We're still in the early, early planning stages, mostly trying to recruit a solid base of like-minded members, but we have a couple of plans for upcoming investigations, which I will certainly share with you as soon as I can.  One thing we have done so far is conduct a sort of meet and greet training investigation at one of my favorite spooky locations:  The TNT Area outside of Point Pleasant, West Virginia!

Currently part of the McClintic Wildlife Area, the former West Virginia Ordnance Works (commonly referred to as the TNT Area) was established at the onset of World War 2 to manufacture and store explosive material for the war effort.  It operated from 1942 until 1945, leaving behind a maze of concrete igloos, or bunkers, in which the TNT was not only stored, but camouflaged from planes flying overhead. These igloos are pretty much the only structures still standing in the TNT Area.

In the paranormal community, the TNT Area is best known for being the location where Mothman was first spotted in Point Pleasant, on November 15, 1966. Although the North Power Plant, where Mothman was seen, has been torn down, the area is still a mecca for cryptozoology enthusiasts and curiosity seekers. Hiking out to the igloos, many of which are left open for public exploration, is a rite of passage and is actually a really cool experience. Long-time readers of Theresa's Haunted History will know that I've been out to the igloos NUMEROUS times, but I've never really investigated the area in any official capacity until SRI's training investigation this September.

This igloo was exceptionally dusty

Despite its ties to the unknown, the TNT area doesn't really have a strong association with ghosts---my preferred topic of study.  However, that's not to say that the area doesn't host paranormal activity.  I've heard the odd story here and there, including one about the shooting range being haunted by the ghost of a man who was murdered and left out there.  I've also had my own spooky experience years ago when I thought I was assisted across a barrier by a helpful young man in a white t-shirt...a man who absolutely wasn't there.  (You can read that story here: CREEPY EXPERIENCE AT THE TNT AREA) And, if you want to take a cue from the movie Poltergeist, there actually were quite a few small, family cemeteries located throughout the area which were 'moved' to accommodate construction of the WV Ordnance Works in 1942. As many of the burials were unmarked, many of the bodies were left behind... (TNT Area Graves)

Anyway,  due to scheduling conflicts, the training investigation and meet and greet turned out to only be me and Brian, SRI's founder.  We made the most of the experience, though, and explored quite a few of the open igloos, some of which even I had never been inside. We also got to experiment with some of our equipment and talk about the philosophy of SRI, which will be a scientific-based investigation and research group with the goal of helping those who feel they are experiencing paranormal activity.

Now, normally I wouldn't suggest the TNT Area as being an ideal location for a really serious investigation.  As stated, there aren't a whole lot of claims of paranormal activity being reported.  More importantly, however, is that this is an outdoor location in a very uncontrolled setting.  Years ago, I posted a blog titled Outdoor Investigations in which I outlined some of the unique challenges that outdoor locations present.  It's a little outdated, but things such as weather, intrusion by other people, animal noises, light reflections, etc. are still very, very relevant, especially in a place like the TNT Area. We could hear the hum of insects, the croaking of frogs from the nearby pond, and lots and lots of barking and howling from hunting dogs being ran nearby.  

The TNT Area has another interesting challenge...the acoustics inside the igloos are WEIRD. If you've ever been inside one, you'll notice the strange echo.  Depending on your location within the igloo, it can sound like a voice is coming from any direction at different times.  At one point, I could see Brian directly in front of me, talking, but it sounded as if he were right behind me instead.  It can be a little unnerving, and can make reviewing audio a bit harrowing.

For those reasons, I wouldn't claim that anything that happened that night or any potential 'evidence' was proof of paranormal activity...but I gotta say:  stuff DID happen that we couldn't explain. 

Activity seemed to begin right before dusk. I was by myself at the opening of one of the igloos trying to figure out some settings on my new phone, which I was using as my camera for the evening.  I was right by the door, fiddling with my phone, when I saw what looked like a slithery shadow crawl towards me and disappear as it was about to pass by my feet.  We decided to check out this particular bunker more closely, and set up some equipment.  Unfortunately, our equipment failed to pick anything up (unless you count my laser grid pen that died after about 30 seconds of putting fresh batteries in).  However, we had some personal experiences in TWO separate igloos.

In one igloo, we both noticed some strange shadowy movement, as if something extremely large and extremely dark was trying to make its way into the bunker from the outside. Something kept blocking out the ambient light coming in from the doorway and moving along the wall to our right.  Another spooky thing that occurred was that we heard what sounded like a breathy, female disembodied voice at the same time.  The voice seemed to overlap Brian's voice as he said something, and seemed to be coming from right beside him. We had some other minor experiences, such as drops in barometric pressure, feelings of not being alone, and what sounded like a piece of glass or metal falling near me. Activity seemed to go away as quickly as it would start up, almost as if something was toying with us.

At this point, I wouldn't necessarily claim we actually experienced anything paranormal, but we definitely had enough weird stuff happen to make me want to set up a slightly more controlled and more formal investigation into some of the igloos in which we had our experiences.  It was a fun evening of playing around with some new equipment (such as a parabolic mic, which was really awesome) and talking paranormal with a fellow enthusiast.  It made me remember how much I missed actually getting out in the field for some ol' fashioned ghost hunting!

Paranormal Social Distancing: Part 1 Education

It's difficult being a paranormal investigator and not being able to actually go out and investigate!  As world events are forcing many of us to lock down, stay-at-home, and even quarantine ourselves until further notice, how do we paranormal enthusiasts, researchers, and investigators get our spooky fix?  Here are just a few suggestions for activities you can try during these trying times.

Part 1:  EDUCATE YOURSELF

1. Read Books:  I read a ton of paranormal nonfiction, and always have quite the TBR pile waiting for me to find the time to get to it.  You've probably got some books at home you've been meaning to read, or re-read, and now is the perfect time to do so. These books can focus more on the academic and technical side of paranormal research, or you can simply have fun with a collection of local ghost stories!

If your bookshelves are bare, don't worry; you still have plenty of options.  As of this writing, many retailers, including Amazon and The West Virginia Book Company are still shipping books.  If you have a Kindle or the Kindle app on any of your devices, you can download e-books from Amazon and other locations, sometimes for FREE.  Project Gutenberg has some really interesting free titles from the late 1800's and early 1900's (as does Amazon) and can easily be read online as well as downloaded. Also check with your local library system; many are offering a variety of online services, including access to journals and databases, and of course, checking out ebooks. If you're looking for suggestions on new reading material, you can always check out Theresa's Book Reviews.

2. Read Articles and Blogs: There are plenty of things besides books to read!  Catch up on your favorite paranormal blogs (I'm a huge fan of The Southern Spirit Guide, Spook-Eats, and many others!). Or, read articles from your favorite paranormal websites about specific topics in the field that interest you.  You can always check out my posts on Theresa's Haunted History Facebook for inspiration.

3. Watch Documentaries and/or Ghost Hunting Series:  If you have any of the popular streaming services, you have a wealth of entertaining and interesting paranormal shows at your disposal.  Small Town Monsters has released quite a bit of its collection on Amazon Prime and Ghost Adventures can be found on Hulu.  YouTube also offers a great selection of FREE documentaries, network shows, lectures/conferences, and other video content to keep you occupied indefinitely.  Look for my suggestions of what to watch on Facebook and in an upcoming blog!

4. Listen to Podcasts: I'd love to be able to share all the awesome podcasts that I listen to, but that'd take FOREVER.  There are so many great podcasts covering the paranormal field and a simple internet search should help you discover something awesome to listen to in whatever paranormal topic you choose.  I'm always posting suggestions on my Facebook page, but a few of my favorites to get you started:  The Haunted Halls of WVU, Southern Ghost Stories, and LORE.

5. Take an Online Class:  Ghost hunting is a multidisciplinary approach.  Just about any topic you could have an interest in can be applied to paranormal research and investigation!  And, just about any topic you could have an interest in, probably has an online class available for it!  Sites such as Coursera and FutureLearn offer a variety of FREE college-level classes, or you could do a search for a topic and see what is available elsewhere in your price range.  I personally gravitate towards classes in history and genealogy, but photography classes and classes in ANY of the sciences (including psychology) are also good picks.  Plus, you can sometimes find classes devoted specifically to the paranormal and paranormal topics! 

That'll do it for Part One of this multi-part series devoted to giving you some ideas on how to stay connected with the paranormal world even if you can't get out and investigate right now.  Check back tomorrow for Part 2: Research and Investigating While NOT Investigating!  Stay safe.  Stay spooky. And if you have any suggestions for books, shows, channels, podcasts, websites or other resources, please comment down below!