In fact, working with Sean was a tremendous help when I was writing Ghost Hunting in [...]]]> Sean Paradis has been a great friend and researcher partner for many years. I respect him tremendously. He has an innate gift for identifying the most haunted locations, and the most active areas at each one.

In fact, working with Sean was a tremendous help when I was writing Ghost Hunting in Haunted Cemeteries.

Here’s my recent interview with Sean.

Q) What areas of the paranormal do you investigate?

A) I focus primarily on investigating ghosts

Q) How long have you worked in this field?

A) It’s been an interest since the age of 13.  I’ve worked on a professional level since the age of 18.

Q) Do you specialize in one kind of research, or one field of expertise?

A) In the last year, I have started to shift my research more towards finding new, low-tech ways of investigating.

In this economy, people cannot afford to spend $350 on one piece of equipment. Common household items are less expensive, and in many instances produce better results than the $350 piece of equipment.

Q) Are you psychic? How do you feel about working with other psychics?

A) I would classify myself as a sensitive. I am able to pick up the details of a spirit when they were alive.

Sometimes it is only a few bits and pieces, other times it is their whole life story. It all depends on how much a spirit is willing to share.

I believe working with other psychics is a fabulous opportunity. It allows you to build upon each other’s information, and possibly learn more about a spirit.

I think any psychic who chooses to work alone is cutting themselves short.

Q) Do you consider yourself more of a skeptic or a believer?

A) I am a skepliever; a word I use that means both. At least, I try to be. If I hear a story or report of something, I try to approach it with an open mind. I know that not everything, no matter how probable it may seem, is true.

Once I personally investigate the claim or try to recreate it then, and only then, will I form my own opinion based on the evidence and the experience.

If an investigator is 100 percent a skeptic, or 100 percent a believer, they will end up tainting evidence without even realizing it.  They will either assume every piece of evidence is proof the paranormal exists or dismiss evidence, when there are factors clearly pointing to the opposite conclusion.

This is why being a skepliever is so important.

Q) Do you work alone or with a team?

A) I work 90% alone, and 10% giving my time to HELP other teams.

I never actually join any teams, and I make that clear when offering my time.

The reason why I stress this so much is that some, but not all teams are… well… for lack of a better word, greedy about team members and investigation results. I believe that research should be shared freely amongst the community.

Therefore, I work alone, or with good friends in the field. That way what I do with my own personal research is up to me.

Q) What’s your long-term goal as a paranormal researcher?

A) To ultimately get rid of the cliché stereotype that to be a professional researcher, you need to buy the latest and greatest pieces of electronics. The equipment carried does not make a person a good researcher; how they use their tools and interpret data does. I would love to see more researchers using low tech methods of investigating.

Q) How do you find out about locations for your research?

A) About half of the locations that I investigate I hear about through a friend, and the other half I visit after having a gut feeling telling me a location is haunted when near it.

If I have the time I may visit a location that has stories about it on the internet. I generally do not though, since you never know what you will find upon arrival.

Q) How much time do you spend at a location during a typical investigation?

A) On average about 4 hours. That gives enough time to explore the area, and have a thorough investigation.

Compared to other investigations that teams perform, 4 hours is a short amount of time. But it is because many of the locations I investigate are within a reasonable driving distance. I am able to visit these locations numerous times a year.

If a team needs to make a couple-hour drive to a location, they will most likely spend more time there, since they may not be there as often.

It varies for every investigator, but I have found 4 to be the magic time length.

Q) How often do you return to a typical investigation site, and how close together are the visits?

A) As I said earlier, many of the locations I visit are nearby. Because of this, I tend to visit the locations at least 4 to 5 times a year, and as close together as I can.

This allows me to become familiar with a location, and if anything changes, I can start investigating to figure out why as soon as possible.

Becoming familiar with a location is one of the best assets an investigator can have.

The first few visits to a location are the learning visits; what tools will help you best, which noises are normal, where the energy spikes are and why they are there.

Knowing a location well allows investigators to filter out the normal, and focus on the paranormal.

Q) What’s your very best advice for beginners?

A) I would recommend avoiding buying expensive equipment. I rarely use them anymore. I have diverted more towards low tech ghost hunting, and have been having better results.

I may be sounding like a broken record when it comes to going low-tech, but I find it to be important.

One thing that many investigators forget is that spirits have no idea what most of the electrical equipment we are using is.

Imagine if you traveled 300 years into the future, and were surrounded by new technology and a new society. I know I would be hesitant to approach anyone.

Most spirits are familiar with low tech tools, thus they will be more likely to approach you. That is the reason I believe low tech tools produce better results.

Q)  Tell us about your scariest investigation, or your funniest.

A) Honestly, no investigation has been scary.

In general, spirits are not something I find to be scary. We have more to fear from the living; but that is another topic altogether.

The funniest investigation I have been on actually did not start out as an investigation. It happened at the Webster Tay House in Franklin NH, at the presentation that you, Lesley Marden and I went to.

After the presentation when we decided to check out the house, I could not stop laughing. That place felt like a funhouse the entire time.

To be frank, it is one of the weirdest houses I have ever been inside of.

Thanks, Sean!

To learn more about Sean Paradis and his research, visit his website, SeanParadis.com.

In December 2011, I decided to start interviewing interesting people involved in paranormal research of all kinds.  Lesley was my first subject.  The following is a transcript [...]]]> For several years, Lesley Marden — the author of Medium, Rare — has been among my closest friends and research associates.

In December 2011, I decided to start interviewing interesting people involved in paranormal research of all kinds.  Lesley was my first subject.  The following is a transcript of our conversation.

Let’s start with the basics. What areas of the paranormal do you investigate?

Lesley Marden: I have worked with various paranormal groups as a psychic investigator on home hauntings and in historic locations.

When did you develop an interest in paranormal research?

Lesley Marden: I have been aware of paranormal and spiritual activity for as long as I can remember. My earliest recollections are from when I was 3 years old.

Throughout my life I have had encounters with spirit and experienced strange and unusual happenings.

After being blamed of making up stories and lies, I decided to keep my encounters to myself and tried to stifle them all together.

It wasn’t until I was in my 20s that I decided that it was okay to be me, and sensing the spirit world is part of who I am. That is when I started to allow myself to be open once again to what came naturally.

As a psychic, do you prefer to know nothing about the site ahead of time, or do you want to know all the details?

Lesley Marden: When going into an investigation it is imperative for me to know nothing at all.

I do not want to compromise the information that I receive psychically by having prior knowledge that could prejudice my mind.

When I am hearing, sensing or seeing things in my head on location, I sometimes get obscure information that I would dismiss if I had prior knowledge and it didn’t fit “the story” of the property.

It is within those little details,that seem to make no sense when they present themselves, that end up being the big connection that complete the puzzle.

Obviously, you believe in ghosts. What about other entities? I’m thinking about UFOs, cryptozoology, faeries, and parallel worlds?

Lesley Marden: I believe that every one of these is possible.

Have I ever seen aliens or Bigfoot? No, but if you close your mind to the possibility that these beings exist, you are missing the potential opportunity to experience them.

I would love to be “that person” who discovers the portal to a parallel universe, but if I am not using my mind openly and fully in a positive way to seek out and understand new ideas or prospects, I never will.

I am always keeping my eyes and ears open. I don’t want to miss out on anything!

Do you work alone or with a team? Why?

Lesley Marden: I will go out on field trips to interesting haunted locations with a few trusted colleagues for fun, or by myself to collect information. I’ll also choose a small group of friends if new equipment piques my interest and I want to test its legitimacy.

For formal investigations I work with a team.

I am currently a member of The New England Ghost Project. I really enjoy working with the NEGP. Everyone on the team is knowledgeable, experienced and a pleasure to work with.

What tools do you use for your research, and what’s your favorite?

Lesley Marden: EMF Meters, Dowsing Rods, Digital Voice Recorder, Digital Camera, Pendulum, and my intuition.

I love photography, and I have captured some very interesting photographs while on investigations, so I would have to say my camera is my favorite piece of equipment.

Do you think paranormal TV shows and paranormal books are helpful?

Lesley Marden: I think the most important thing that people can learn from paranormal books and from paranormal TV shows is that although some people may have more experience, no one is an expert.

We are all trying to understand the hows and whys of the spirit world. I have had experiences throughout my life and I am still learning.

We all are still searching for the answers that have been asked for centuries. If anyone tells you they are an expert, please be wary.

Another important thing to learn is that when people are nasty in life, they don’t change magically and become nice when they die.

Some spirits are mean and malicious and CAN hurt you. ALWAYS protect yourself before conducting any sort of investigation or opening yourself up to encountering spirits.

Good advice. Before we end this interview, describe your recent book.

Lesley Marden: My book, Medium, Rare; A firsthand account of growing up experiencing the paranormal, is about my journey growing up with a heightened awareness of the spiritual world around me.

It starts when I am 3 years old and chronicles though my life into my 40’s. It is a story of self acceptance and hopefully it will help those out there who have experiences know that they are not crazy and they are not alone.

It is available at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, and at my website, LesleyMarden.com.

Thank you, Lesley!

See larger image Medium, Rare: A first hand account of growing up experiencing the paranormal (Paperback) By (author) Lesley Marden List Price: $9.95 USD New From: $7.49 In Stock Used from: $31.23 In Stock

While I was catching up on ghost-related news today, I found a website that includes some important insights regarding TV shows.  The following article [...]]]> Extreme Paranormal provoked extreme opinions in the ghost hunting community.  My own article about Bonito City’s ghosts was a response to that TV show.

While I was catching up on ghost-related news today, I found a website that includes some important insights regarding TV shows.  The following article (at another website) is worth considering when you’re questioning what’s on TV and how credible it is.

It’s even more important when you’re not sure if the individual on that ghost-related show is “fake.”

Extremely Honest: A Conversation With Jason Gowin | Who Forted …

whofortedblog.com9/12/11

It was definitely one of the most talked about televisions shows within the paranormal community. It spawned protests, petitions signed by people like John Zaffis himself, and even Grant Wilson of Ghost Hunters fame had to …

That article seems especially relevant since — while I was on the road this month (Nov 2011) — I saw an episode of a long-running, ghost-related TV show.

I know the stars of that paranormal show, and I was flat-out horrified when I saw them placed in a very awkward situation:  In a supposedly haunted location, a “ghostly” voice spoke clearly, loudly, and in a complete sentence.

I can’t say that the whole thing was faked.  However, if it was real… that’s worthy of the Guinness book.  Paranormal researchers would be flocking to that haunted location in droves, with every recording and detection device they own.

Instead, I think most people — like me — say, “Umm… no.”

But, before you leap to the conclusion that the stars of the show set it up, or that they were willing participants, take another look at what was said.

In the paranormal field, and especially on TV shows, people have become very clever with the way they phrase things.  In this case, it’s the opposite of a non-denial denial.

On the paranormal show I watched last week, one of the stars said something like, “Wow, I’ve never heard EVP that clear.”

That’s different from saying, “That’s real EVP.” 

All he said was he’d never heard EVP like that.  And, as near as I can tell, he still hadn’t heard EVP that clear.

I’m seeing more & more of those kinds of ambiguous evasions when I watch ghost-related TV shows.

Due to the shows’ contracts, stars of paranormal TV shows can’t always speak honestly about what happens on the show.  If they do, they could be fined hundreds of thousands of dollars, every time.

They also can’t control how the show is edited.

For example, many of us winced last summer when we saw what looked like deliberate misdirection in the editing of another ghost-related show.

The star of the paranormal show approached the door of a “client.”  We saw the client open the door.  We saw a hand — presumably the star’s hand — extended to greet the client.  And, off-camera, we heard the star’s voice saying something like, “Nice to meet you.”

That was staged.  Many of us knew that the star and the client have been friends for years.  That’s exactly why I watched the staging and editing so carefully.

My guess is: The “Nice to meet you” line was dubbed into the sound track, replacing what the star of the paranormal show actually said when his friend answered the door.

Viewers either didn’t realize that the two guys knew each other, or they were smart enough to spot the way it was staged.  (A few vocal critics wailed that the scene “proved” the show was fake.  No, it only proved that the show had clever editors.)

That’s TV.  It’s why I’ve been uncomfortable when producers have asked me to appear on others’ (or even my own) paranormal TV series.

This is also why I’m focusing on my own paranormal research now.  The “popular” side of ghost hunting is fading fast.  There’s not much more I can say about it.  The future of ghost hunting is in individual (and team) research.  That’s where the breakthroughs will be.

Meanwhile, I like the information in the article I linked to, above.  I think the information about Extreme Paranormal is especially insightful.

It’s key to remember: TV shows recruit (mostly) honest people with high integrity thresholds,  who’ll seem entirely believable to the audience.

In other words: They’re selected for TV because they’re honest.  (Yes, I can think of a few sleazes on TV. In the ghost hunting field, as of 2011, they’re still the exceptions.)

How those stars are set up, or how they’re edited for TV — and how little they’re allowed to speak out about it, due to iron-clad contracts… that’s what we don’t hear about. Not often enough, anyway.

As Jason Gowin — now beyond the reach of his shows’ Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) — said, “When you are on camera, you are solely at the mercy of those who sit in the editing booth and sign the checks.”

That’s important to remember as ghost-related TV shows become more desperate for audience-grabbing “ghost encounters,” and start looking like self-parody.

Related articles you may enjoy

• Bonito City – the real story
• Haunted Collector – hero or villain?
• Ghost Hunters – Do the “fake” claims ever stop?

In the previous ghost podcast, Fiona Broome discussed these locations:

1. Hall Memorial Library, [...]]]> Laconia, New Hampshire is a gold mine of haunted locations.  This is Part 2 (of 2) about haunted places around Tilton, Franklin, and Laconia, New Hampshire.

In the previous ghost podcast, Fiona Broome discussed these locations:

1. Hall Memorial Library, Northfield-Tilton, NH.

2. Tilton Mystery Tunnels, Tilton, NH.

3. Two buildings and a cemetery at Webster Place, Franklin, NH.

4. Daniel Webster birthplace, Franklin, NH.

In this 27-minute podcast, Fiona describes several creepy and haunted locations in northern Laconia, NH.

Click here to listen to this Laconia, NH ghosts podcast (MP3)

Notes

Fiona talks about visiting Laconia, NH with a neighbor.  He remembered a house from his childhood; the house had “ghost stories” and a legend about a hidden, Underground Railroad room.

Fiona describes what happened when they visited the house, including evidence of its Colonial history, the Underground RR room, and hash marks on the attic staircase walls and the inside of the attic door.

However, the owners of the home assured Fiona and her neighbor that there were no ghosts there.

The next day, Fiona returned to that area and found several other sites worth investigating:

Tavern 27 at the Mystic Meadows, 2075 Parade Road, Laconia, NH, and the gift shop behind it.

The former site of the Anti-Pedo Baptist Church of Meredith, NH, which was burned to the ground on behalf of a neighbor, Mrs. Morgan.

Mead Cemetery (433427N / 0712936W) and Round Bay Cemetery, Laconia, NH.

She also recommends looking for the Folsom graves at Laconia’s Union Cemetery (between Garfield St. and Academy St.), where the petrified bodies were reburied.

How to find similar haunted locations where you are

1. Ask people if they know any local, haunted places.

2. Follow your instincts.  Drive around, look at maps, and — psychic or not — pay attention to your “gut feelings.”

3. Research history! Look for patterns — geographical or historical — that connect the locations.

4. Ask more questions.  Collect more stories and look for “odd” comments and history.

5. Investigate, then ask more questions, and conduct more historical research.

Photos from the haunted house

(Fiona’s notes: These photos were taken for my reports to the TV producers.  So, in the Underground RR room photos, I’ve covered the street address.)

The first photo is from the hidden room below the kitchen.  It was not tall enough to stand in, but it also wasn’t equipped as a root cellar.

Room as it was found, hidden beneath the floor in a Laconia, NH house.

The next photo was taken in the basement of the home.  Three of us were standing together, at one end of the basement.  No one else was down there.  however, the photo shows a shadow that’s the height and shape of a male figure.

I can't explain the shadow of a male figure in the basement of this Laconia, NH house.

This is the inside of the door in the Laconia house’s attic.  Notice the hash marks, particularly the very even ones on the right half of the door.  There’s also a date with the larger, chalk-like hash marks on the left side of the door: 1892.

If each attic resident used different kinds of marks, it looks like two or three people were kept in the attic at various times. Laconia, NH.

From “Old Meredith and Vicinity,” a book by the D.A.R.:

In this old yard were buried Nicholas, son of “Priest” Folsom, with Hannah his wife, their son Joseph G., and his wife Deborah.  About 1894 these bodies were taken up and moved to Union Cemetery.  When the graves were opened it was found that they had become almost wholly petrified…

Podcast music: Zombie, by Devin Anderson

However, their popularity has also led to some really bad ghost tours, and some shady marketing methods.

What kind of ghost tour would you like?

I’m aware that “good” or “bad” depends on what you’re looking for.

The grid at right can help you [...]]]> Ghost tours are popular all year ’round, and especially at Halloween.

However, their popularity has also led to some really bad ghost tours, and some shady marketing methods.

What kind of ghost tour would you like?

I’m aware that “good” or “bad” depends on what you’re looking for.

The grid at right can help you find the right ghost tour for you.

To be sure you’re getting tickets for a ghost tour you’ll like, ask questions before you buy the tickets.

Many people are looking for the experience.  Will it be scary and seem real?  Or, will it be silly, ridiculously theatrical, and just for laughs?

There are audiences for both kinds of tours.

Will you be accompanied by young children on the ghost tour? You’ll probably want something that won’t give them nightmares.  Choose the tours that’d fit the right side of the quadrant:  Both silly and funny and obviously made-up.

Tell the tour operator that you’ll have small children with you.  Ask how scary the tour could be, and how lurid the stories are.   No tour guide or company wants to be sued for emotional distress that could have been avoided.

Are you on your own, or with other adults? Do you want something kind of creepy, that you’ll laugh about later, because — looking back on it — the stories were so obviously fake?

Ask (a) if the tour is scary at times (does anyone scream), and (b) if it’s “all in good fun,” and folklore more than serious stories of tragedy.

Tip: No tour operator wants to be asked if the stories are “fake” or if the tour is “ridiculous.” They’ll respond better to words like folklore, colorful stories, lots of laughs, and so on.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for something genuinely terrifying with real history — London’s Jack the Ripper Walk comes to mind — ask the tour operator if the tour is okay for small children. If they reply with a firm “no,” that’s probably the tour you’re looking for.

Also, if you’re expecting some genuine ghost hunting experiences, ask if the stories are all real and if they were researched academically.  The term, “academic,” will usually put off anyone with fake stories.

I’m not popular on some ghost tours in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

They usually pause at the LaLaurie Mansion and talk about Madame LaLaurie screaming at her slaves in a French accent.  At that point, I tend to remind the audience that Madame LaLaurie’s husband was French-speaking. She was actually the daughter of Irish immigrants.  If she had an accent, it probably wasn’t French.

And, if the tour guide points to a window on the third floor and describes the (probably fictional) horror of the little slave girl leaping to her death, I often blurt that the third floor didn’t exist when Mme. LaLaurie lived there.  The third floor was added later.

Fake tours don’t like people like me in the crowd.  If you’ve already done some historical research about the locations along the tour, they won’t like you, either.

Many of the best ghost tours are somewhere between fun and scary, and mix researched history with some credible folklore.

Use the quadrant above to decide exactly what you’re looking for. Then, be sure to ask appropriate questions.

Shady marketing practices among ghost tours

Recently,  I spoke at the Central Texas Paranormal Conference in Austin. During the event, I chatted with another speaker at the event, Dash Beardsley (owner of Ghost Tours of Galveston).

For many years — probably since 1999, when his tours were launched — I’d heard great things about them. According to reports, his tours are the second most popular ghost tours in the United States. (New Orleans usually claims the #1 spot for ghost tours.)

So, he knows a thing or two about ghost tours.

Dash shared some insights about the darker side of the ghost tour industry… and not the fun kind, either.

New ghost tours are trying to cash in on the reputation of established (and well-liked) ghost tours.

They’re copying the names, just enough to confuse visitors.

So, when you’re looking for Ghost Tours of Oshkosh (Wisconsin), you might see a list like this:

• Ghost Tours of Oshkosh
• Real Ghost Tours of Oshkosh
• Original Ghost Tours of Oshkosh
• Scary Ghost Tours of Oshkosh
• Best Oshkosh Ghost Tours
• Ghost Tours Wisconsin
• Wisconsin’s Best Ghost Tours

(That’s a made-up list.  I have no idea if Oshkosh has ghost tours, or what they’re called.)

That name game is why you need to ask questions before you take the tour. And, if a friend recommended a tour to you, get all the details from him or her, so you know exactly which tour to take.

Refund policies on ghost tours

Whether or not you’re on the tour you’d expected, you usually know — within a few minutes — if it’s the right tour for you.

If it isn’t, discreetly let the tour guide know that you’re leaving the tour and you’d like a refund.

The problem is: Some tour companies give no refunds for any reason.  Ask what their refund policy is, before you buy your tickets.

(Most honest tours will refund your money in full, as long as you leave the tour within the first half hour or so.)

But, by the time you realize it’s not the right tour for you… it may be too late.  If you’re only in town for that night, it’s probably too late to join the tour you wanted, and your evening was wasted.

Don’t let that happen. Always ask questions before the tour starts and before you buy tickets.

Plan ahead for the best ghost tour experience

As you can see, planning ahead — asking the important questions — can make all the difference.

It’s especially important if you’re looking for a particular kind of ghost tour:  Something safe for little kids, or something with perfect historical accuracy.

Print this article and use it as a guide when you’re shopping for the best ghost tours.

And, if you’re in the Houston or Galveston area…

If you happen to be around Galveston, be sure to take one of Dash Beardsley’s tours.  He’s a colorful guy (and an impressive musician – he played some of his music during the conference) and his tours are internationally famous.

Here’s the link: Ghost Tours of Galveston

(And, for the record, Mr. Beardsley did not ask me to mention him, his tours, or even his music.)

Now, I’d like to know what new articles you’d like to see.

(Your vote at HollowHill.com will influence my podcast content and frequency, as well.)

Choose the one general topic that most interests you.  If you don’t see something listed, vote for “Other” and leave [...]]]> Recently, I asked which books you’d like me to write.

Now, I’d like to know what new articles you’d like to see.

(Your vote at HollowHill.com will influence my podcast content and frequency, as well.)

Choose the one general topic that most interests you.  If you don’t see something listed, vote for “Other” and leave your thoughts as comments at the foot of this article.

Thanks!

In this article, you’ll learn more history and see some of my photos (a few are large) related to the strange and haunted sites.

This isn’t a “ghost story” podcast.  It will [...]]]> Here’s background information connected with my podcast about the Tilton Mystery Tunnel and true ghost stories around Franklin, NH, especially at Webster Place.

In this article, you’ll learn more history and see some of my photos (a few are large) related to the strange and haunted sites.

This isn’t a “ghost story” podcast.  It will be most interesting to people who are looking for investigation sites in or around New Hampshire’s Lakes Region.

You can listen to the 17 1/2 minute podcast by clicking here:

The Tilton “mystery tunnel” actually starts in Northfield, NH, not far from Exit 19 on Route 93 in New Hampshire.  The entry — currently blocked with a boulder and an iron door — is off the paved path between Tilton Memorial Arch and downtown Tilton.  (Walk towards town and, on the right, you may see an area where foot traffic has left a mark.  The entrance to the tunnel is about 10 feet from the paved path.)

According to local residents, the tunnel’s stairs were filled in and the entry has been blocked by the police — who patrol the area — because kids were using the tunnel for drinking.

I’ve heard a wide range of ghost stories connected with the tunnel entrance, the Tilton Arch, the cemetery at the Northfield side of the hill, and Tilton School.  Around downtown Tilton, you may hear even more stories.

The tunnel-related stories usually involve a misty form or apparition.  I’ve heard about orbs — visible and in photos — but, except for a slightly creepy feeling at the tunnel itself, I didn’t experience anything odd around the Tilton Arch or the tunnel entrance.

I talked with someone who’d been in the entrance to the Tilton tunnel.  He said that the interior is very nicely finished, and it’s clear that something — at least one tunnel — had been sealed.

The photo at left shows what’s immediately in back of the iron door.  My camera was in the initial entry room, and — beyond it — you can see a second, large room (and sealed — or filled-in — arched passage entries) with beer cans on the dirt floor.

The workmanship is extraordinary.  That’s the baffling part.  This wasn’t just a root cellar or cold storage built by a neighbor for personal use.  However, I’ve found nothing in any records  — online or offline — to indicate a purpose related to the arch or the park.

Who built the Tilton Mystery Tunnel… and why?

No one seems to be certain why the Tilton tunnel was built, or where it leads.  There are two anecdotal explanations, both tied to ghost stories, and both loosely linked with the idea that it was an Underground Railroad stop between the northeast and Canada.

(There are lots of strange, hidden rooms in houses around Tilton and Laconia, NH.  Most are linked to Underground Railroad activity in the 19th century.  Others may date back to Indian attacks in Colonial times.)

One description of the Tilton Mystery Tunnel claims that it leads from Arch Hill to a site (or sites) under the Tilton School.  I’ve talked with people who have first-person stories about seeing the tunnels beneath the Tilton School.  Most insist that at least one Tilton School tunnel leads to the Tilton Arch.

The connection with the Tilton Arch site is unlikely, since the tunnel would have to lead under the river and back up a steep hill.  However, Charles E. Tilton — who built the arch — lived in a house atop the opposite hill, next to what is now Tilton School.  (The school buildings originally housed a Methodist college.)

According to some Tilton historians and lots of local residents, the Tilton School — including its library — has several ghosts.  However, I didn’t have time to verify those tales.

The second version of the Tilton Mystery Tunnel story says that at least one tunnel leads to Hall Memorial Library.   That makes a little more sense, since the library isn’t far from the tunnel entrance near the arch, and it’d be a fairly straight path underground.

Hall Memorial Library, Northfield-Tilton, NH

In April 2011, Lesley Marden and I spoke at the haunted Hall Memorial Library, and — together with Sean Paradis, we investigated the library’s basement.  A memorial plaque in the Children’s Room caught our attention, as it seems to have unusual energy.  We found a slight, repeating EMF spike there (could be normal) and a minor (but notable) cold spot, as well.

In a locked storage area in the library’s basement, we detected residual energy.  At the time, I said it was from a female entity who was hiding there, fearful.  Abuse was in the story, but it seemed vague… perhaps even imagined.  Something didn’t make sense.  The imagery was faint, even for a residual energy haunting.

Later, I learned that a former head librarian had severe agoraphobia — so bad she sometimes locked the library doors and hid inside — and had died tragically, nearby.

More importantly, I saw some odd brickwork in the library’s basement.  It could indicate a tunnel entrance — or part of one — now sealed.  Frankly, the brickwork seemed more like an oven or some kind of vents, but it’s difficult to tell.  This anomaly only partially supports the idea that the Tilton Mystery Tunnel led to the library.  I’m not convinced that it did, though I have no doubt that the library has ghostly energy.

More local ghost stories

If you’re in or near Tilton and Northfield, New Hampshire, be sure to drive an extra half hour to Franklin (NH) where Webster Place has some great haunted locations.  In general, you’ll visit that street during the daytime.

In October 2010, I reported on the ghosts of the Franklin Historical Society, and the violent history of its surroundings.

I returned to that street — Webster Place, in Franklin, NH — when I was scouting locations for a TV show.*  The show had been interested in the historical society, the Webster family cemetery (shown above) and the rehab center next to the historical society.

The Webster family cemetery is at the end of the road, on private property.  Check the permission sign before driving down the dirt road to the cemetery.  The cemetery seems normal enough, but it’s one of those locations that’s just a little too quiet.  I should have heard squirrels, birds, and the sound of cars from the busy road at the other end of Webster Place.  Instead, it was eerily silent.  On the other hand, maybe it was just an odd time of day when I visited.

Next door to the Franklin Historical Society (see my earlier article), a private rehab center now occupies what used to be a convent and orphanage.  For the privacy of its staff & residents, that building is not open to the public.  However, from several people who’ve stayed there, I heard the following ghost story:

Many nights (or early morning) at about 3 a.m., people hear the whoosh-whoosh sound of the nun’s robes and footsteps on the floor.  They’re not going to the chapel (which is a wonderful retro design, like stepping back to the mid-20th century)… they’re going to the dining hall.

According to the stories, the dining hall has cabinets and drawers.  On many of the drawers, there are little labels, one for each nun.  That indicates where each nun kept her own silverware and dishes for mealtime.

There are other ghost stories at that location, related to the orphans who used to live there.  The photos on the walls are charming, nostalgic and — for me, anyway — a little sad & creepy.  I’ve posted a couple of them next to the dining & lodging section, below.

While you’re in Franklin, if you don’t mind more driving, follow the signs to the Daniel Webster birthplace.  I didn’t have time to investigate it, but it looks very creepy to me.  Something about that house and other buildings on the property… they’re odd… good odd, for paranormal research.

As the stories were told to me, most of the ghost stories are connected with the small Colonial building next to the birthplace house.  That may be true, but my first choice would be to investigate the big white house in the photo below.

Where to stay, where to dine

If you’re visiting Tilton, NH, I can recommend two haunted hotels:

1. The 1875 Inn, featured on Ghost Hunters.  It’s charming, convenient to the Tilton Arch, and receives great reviews from guests and paranormal investigators.

2. The Spalding Inn, Whitefield, NH.  It’s over an hour away from Tilton, but for a memorable stay in NH, I’d choose the Spalding.  It’s owned by Jason and Grant (and their families) from the Ghost Hunters TV show.  I’ve spent the night there (and slept soundly) and investigated at the hotel and its carriage house, several times.  I highly recommend it… if you don’t mind the extra drive.

For meals, the 1875 Inn features a restaurant that seems very popular with visitors and locals.

Locals and tourists always stop at the nearby Tilt’n Diner.

During the summer months, the Dipsy Doodle in Northfield — just a few blocks south of the Tilton Arch — is legendary for their seafood, burgers, ice cream and more.  I’ve also heard good things about Tilton Pizza, on Main Street, not far from the Hall Memorial Library.

For healthy snacks, locally made crafts, and great conversations, visit Gemini Health Emporium on Main Street.  The hardware store next door is also worth seeing; it’s like stepping back in time.  (There’s a cafe across the street — I can’t think of the name of it, but it’s the only one nearby — and it seemed to be enormously popular for breakfast and lunch.)

And, if you’re in town anyway, practically everyone stops at the outlet mall in Tilton, just north of downtown on Route 3.

Tilton Arch information:

• New Hampshire Curiosities, by Eric Jones
• Wikipedia: Memorial Arch of Tilton
• New Hampshire: The Memorial Arch of Tilton (CowHampshireBlog.com)
• Tilton Arch: An Unoccupied Tomb (RoadsideAmerica.com)
• History of Northfield, NH, by Mrs. Lucy Rogers Hill Cross

*This is the first in a series of podcasts based on locations I scouted during 2011 for a ghost-related TV series.  The series didn’t pay me for my six weeks of work… but they also neglected to have me sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).  So, their loss is your gain: I’m sharing my research here.

Most of the photos are from my reports to the TV producers; that’s why the pictures are large and annotated.

If you see any of these stories or locations on TV, let me know.  I don’t generally watch ghost-related programming, and if the show I worked for actually uses the locations I found for them… well, I want to know about it.

However, if you figure out which show I was working for, keep this in mind: The people on the show had no idea I was scouting locations for their producers.  The cast members had no part in the decisions made by the production company, and I don’t blame the cast for what happened.

It was one of two TV shows that broke agreements with me during 2011, and that’s why I’ve stopped consulting for TV shows.  Instead, I refer producers to my friend (and respected researcher), Robin Pyatt Bellamy.  She mixes business sense and reliable research far better than I do.

For me, the research is so “ooh, shiny!” and fun,  I often overlook key business issues.  That wasn’t a problem until early in 2011… and that’s consistent with the general decline in ghost-related TV productions.  It’s about the shrinking audience as well as the economy.

But, rather than put my research notes into a file folder and forget them, I’m sharing them with you.  These are all great stories, and I hope people will conduct more research into the public locations I’ve mentioned.

(When you do, let me know what you find.  If you post articles online, I’ll happily share links to your research results.)

Paranormal Patterns is the winner with 37% of the vote.

However, I’m stunned by the numbers.

This poll ran for two weeks. During that time, over 34,000 people visited this website.  Of that group, only 38 people expressed interest in my upcoming books. That’s slightly more than .1 %.

My new (Sept 2011) book is subtitled “It’s not just dust” because that’s something I learned in four years of camera experiments, specifically for this book.

I had [...]]]> Ghost Photography 101 is complete and available at the Create Space shop.  It will be at Amazon.com in the next few days, too.

My new (Sept 2011) book is subtitled “It’s not just dust” because that’s something I learned in four years of camera experiments, specifically for this book.

I had no idea it was so difficult to create false orbs and anomalies.  I’m going to have to rewrite many of my older articles on this topic.

Really, if my thousands of photos indicate what’s really going on with ghost photos…

• Most orbs are not dust or reflected light. 
• Most eerie shapes aren’t smoke. 
• Most portals aren’t rain, snow or humidity.

Can those be issues? Absolutely.  My research just shows they’re not significant problems.  That’s what left me nearly speechless.

When taking photos in haunted places, the one thing you really need to watch out for is breathing.  I mean it.  From my work with a variety of film and digital cameras, breathing is the only consistent problem when taking “ghost photos.”

The photo on my book cover (shown above) is an unretouched picture of breath on a crisp, clear, chilly night.

On a warm night, you don’t even need to worry about that, unless you’re standing in a “cold spot.”

So, if you’re looking for a book that supports your belief that orbs are almost always dust, pollen, humidity, etc… this isn’t the book for you.

Researching this book changed my attitude towards ghost photos from skeptical to completely amazed.

I don’t expect you to believe me.

In fact, I don’t want you to believe me… or anyone else who tells you what’s a “real” ghost photo and what isn’t.

Instead, conduct experiments with your own cameras.  Do that before you go on one more investigation.  If your results are like mine, you’ll be astonished.

Ghost Photography 101  includes my discoveries and conclusions, with illustrations.

The Appendix at the back of the book includes over 30 pages — “contact sheet” style — showing you a cross-section of all the photos from my research, so you can see for yourself: It’s very difficult to create a photographic anomaly.

Ghost Photography 101 includes tips that will help you set up the kinds of experiments you need, to be certain what’s in your photos.

By comparing your results with mine, you’ll have a far better understanding of anomalies and the “false orb” issue.

I think you’re going to be amazed at how difficult it is to take confusing photos of smoke, or hair, or reflected light.

Either you’ll look at the photo and say, “Yes, that’s smoke,” (or hair, or the reflection off the street sign), or you’ll look at the photo and say with confidence, “That’s an anomaly.”

Once you know what to look for, and what the risks are when you’re taking ghost photos, you’ll rarely say “I’m not sure” about your own photos.

In addition, those who like to explore the fringes of ghost research will discover new ways to experiment with photos in haunted locations.  From infrared to incense anomalies, you’ll find inexpensive (under $10) ways to explore new research techniques.

I also preview what’s ahead in ghost photography, so you can be among the first to test new equipment and lighting techniques.

This book is 6″ x 9″ with 180 pages of tips, results, history, ghost hunting advice and sample (b&w) photos.

You don’t have to read my book to run your own experiments.  However, this book will save you a lot of time, and show you tests and results you might not have considered.

How to buy a copy

This 180-page book is $14.95 at the Create Space shop.

It will be available at Amazon.com around the end of this month (September 2011).  I’ll post a new article when it’s available at their website.

Bulk and retailer discounts:  If your store or group would like to order 5 or more copies, contact me for special pricing… or, for the best price, order during the three-day discount.