Thirteen
Places Most Likely To Be Haunted
Thirteen
Places Most Likely To Be Haunted
by Susan Sheppard
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Cemeteries Although it might seem pretty obvious as to why graveyards are notoriously haunted, bodies are buried there, right? This is really not enough of a reason, if we view this explanation logically. After we are dead, it is reported by those who have had a near death experience that the first thing we do is look back with complete disinterest on our own physical bodies. This makes sense, since the life force has left the body and there is no longer any use for it. It does seem clear that some spirits do have some sentimental feelings, or a compulsion to return to where their human remains were put to rest. Some theorize that spirits hang out at cemeteries drawing upon the energies of their decaying bodies, claiming energies in the cells still fire, but I doubt this, since many ghost anomalies appear in very old historical graveyards that have not had a burial over many years. Instead, it appears that cemeteries may simply be an opening or a portal for the spirits to pour through, almost like an airport or bus station for ghosts.
Perhaps the reason is
cemeteries are places where events of high emotion take place, such as funerals.
Graveyards are also a place where we reflect upon the lives of people we have
lost, or at least, we are aware of another’s loss. Perhaps this provides just
enough inspiration or contemplation to pull the spirits down. Not matter what
reason behind cemetery haunting really is, there is a plethora of evidence that
points out that this phenomenon exists. Therefore, if you are looking to gather
evidence of haunting, a public cemetery is a good place to start out. Try not to
trespass after dark, if there are signs that say they prohibit visitors after
dusk. Dusk is a very good time to take ghost pictures. Sometimes you can notify
the groundkeeper and get permission to go in after dark.
Hotels It seems as if every old hotel has its own resident ghost. Hotels are places
where a large amount of human energy has been stored. Hotel haunts tend to be
varied. Sometimes the haunting has to do with a suicide or death having taken
place in the hotel. At other times, it may be that people who have worked and
invested energy in the hotel that returns to “check in” on an event, a business
that may have helped start. Hotel ghost hunts can be rather easy. Often, the
staff at the hotel will be more than happy to open up their “haunted rooms” and
show you around. In fact, many hotels enjoy the publicity and sense of mystery a
resident ghost inspires. Be discreet your ghost hunt inside a hotel. Some people
are still frightened over things like hauntings. Business in hotels dies down
(forgive the pun) around 9:00 p.m. Late in the evening is your best time to hunt
ghosts.
Taverns Let’s face it. Any place that serves alcohol to the point that patrons are
getting smashed is highly attractive to some ghosts. (A Lakota medicine man in
South Dakota once said to me, “Why do you think we call alcohol “spirits?”) As
far as spirits haunting, there is often a lot of old history that surrounds a
tavern. Many fights happened there and a few people may have died as a result.
When ghost hunting in a tavern, you might want to check out its history. The
haunting there may not be all that positive. When ghost hunting in an old tavern
you may ask to see whatever basement exists as this is sometimes one of the
oldest parts of the building. Basements often yield lots of anomalies in
pictures, such as vortices, EVP and orbs.
Museums It is interesting about
the ghosts that haunt museums they may not have any attachment to the building
they are haunting, but instead to the objects that are displayed inside. In this
way, museums tend to have a number of “object apparitions.” This creates an
interesting variety of spirits haunting the museum space. On a museum ghost
hunt, we gathered a number of orbs and anomalies surrounding 20,000 year-old
Native American artifacts on the basement floor while gathering spirit evidence
on the 3rd Floor of the museum that had items from the Civil War era.
Picture taking in certain areas of a museum may be prohibited but this does not
really matter. Orbs can occur just about anywhere, so taking pictures of the
ceiling sometimes works out just as well as taking pictures of an historical
exhibit.
Battlefields Battlefields are places where you are
going to run into a number of spirit recordings, but that’s okay, spirit
recordings can be the source of excellent evidence about ghosts. Gettysburg, PA
is the most famous haunted battlefield of all and is so haunted, that it has
spawned an industry of ghost hunts, ghost tours and paranormal conferences. The
battlefields tend to be the most haunted sites although areas of lookouts, old
buildings in close proximity to battlefields also yield a number of hauntings.
When we speak of place hauntings, we mean evidence collected of ghosts that have
gone on for a number of years. Sometimes one haunting will replace another. In
fact, once a legend grows up around one particular ghost, the primary ghost will
change. That is why it is hard to go looking for one particular ghost.
Abandoned Prisons Once again,
areas of intense emotion or even violence are likely places to become haunted.
There are a number of famous ghost hunts and investigations taking place in a
number of old, abandoned prisons throughout the United States. These include
Alcatraz Prison in California, Moundsville Prison in West Virginia and Mansfield
Prison in Ohio. Although prisons may not be your forte as far as ghost hunting
is concerned, a wealth of evidence is now being collected verifying the
existence of something quite supernatural going on in these infamous, jail house
haunts. To find out the whens, whys and wheres of prison ghost
hunts by looking them up on the Internet.
Nursing Homes and Hospitals
These can be the most unnerving places in the world! Nursing homes and hospitals
are probably the most haunted buildings and residences that there are. So many
deaths occur, and so many families go through the extremes of emotions in these
areas, that the energy and memory of these events remain. There have been
cases reported of residents in nursing homes being visited during “off hours” by
an elderly friend. Once the staff at the nursing home check in the room to ask
the visitor if she would like a cup of coffee, no one is there. While visiting
the room the staff discovers the resident has worsened or slipped into a coma.
Shortly afterward, the resident dies. Just an oddball coincidence? The above
scenario happens routinely in nursing homes and hospitals. Of course, ghost
hunts in either a hospital or nursing home would be extremely crass and not
permitted. But if you know of someone who works in such a place, you may be
interested in interviewing him or her about personal haunted experiences. In
nursing homes and hospitals, accounts of ghosts are abundant. Members of the
staff are usually eager to share their stories with you.
Buildings
That Were Once a Hubbub
Buildings hold onto energies from all that has gone inside, so if a place
was at one time extremely busy, with several people passing through it, going
through the ups and downs of human emotions, in all likelihood, that building
will become haunted from one type of spirit manifestation or another, and more
typically, many spirits. These might include bus stations, train stations,
abandoned orphanages, and even old department stores. Many of the buildings are
turned into other types of businesses, and the spirit or ghost that haunts
typically belongs to the building’s previous incarnation. Therefore, a
department store that may have been turned into a reception hall, will have
apparition sightings of elevator attendants, clerks dressed in old-style
clothing and nothing whatsoever to do with a modern reception hall. If you
decide to so an investigation, pay attention to the old design of the building.
For instance, check areas of old elevator shafts, where offices used to be, and
with most haunted sites, ask to see the basement or attic areas. These areas
have less traffic, so are more linked to what happened in the past, and this
increases the likelihood of haunting.
Theaters Just about anyone who has had the experience of a little greasepaint on their faces can attest to the fact that most theaters have spirits – they often have many ghosts. Even if a theater closes, ghosts seem to sick around. As an example, not only do I have haunted theaters on my ghost tour I also have a haunted city block where an old theater once stood. Why? Once again, we associate theaters with feelings of excitement, the kind associated with live presentations, so once again it is the intensity of feeling that feeds the ghosts. Some old theaters offer tours, and so this is one good way of getting some ghost hunting in. Pay close attention to older parts of the theaters, areas where dressing rooms used to be, and also in the balcony and basement of the theater. While spirits can be encountered just about anywhere, many tend to stay put in basements and attics. The more historical areas of the theater is the places to take special note of when attempting to photograph or capture any EVP with a tape recorder (This is the "Smoot Theater" in Parkersburg with the 1930 showing of "Frankenstein." Nurses and ambulance are ready in case anyone is overcome with shock or fright!)
Tunnels Just about all tunnels have ghosts. Why is this? It is possible that tunnels are able to trap ghostly and spiritual energies. They are also spooky with creepy echoes and no doubt inspire more ghostly tales than they truly deserve. Tunnels do have odd energies. This particular tunnel had an accident where part of the tunnel collapsed and three men were buried alive. Their bodies were never recovered.
Historical Homes Homes with a long history, of course, tend to be plagued by ghosts. Maybe they are overrated a bit. Haunted trailers are every bit as prevalent as archaic old mansions. But since old homes have a long history of human activity, usually situated around a number of different families that have lived in the house, they do become haunted, and not in any unpleasant way. Usually in older homes, spirits of children are the most common. I’ve had more reports or stories of little girls haunting old homes than I can shake a stick at, and this includes my own. I can only speculate that the children who haunt such homes may not have died as children at all and are probably are residual energies of past children at play. After all, every emotion is able to lay down a track or an imprint on the atmosphere of an area, and this includes feelings of happiness and childish play. Older homes do often have resident ghosts as well. If you sense a resident ghost that is somewhat resistant to your investigation, do not be alarmed. Unless there is evidence against it, most resident ghosts are completely benefic and end up an interesting topic of conversation at parties for those who live in the houses.
Scenes of Accidents or Crimes
Again, when investigating the scene of an accident, or a murder, no matter when it happened, discreetness is a must. Such places often become famously haunted, and if you proceed with your ghost investigations, the likelihood that you will receive a call concerning a place where a terrible shock or attack has occurred is likely. Spirits that haunt such places are not usually happy ones, thus, the feelings you absorb and the impressions you receive might not be pleasant. It’s important, though, to not look upon such places as “cursed” where terrible evil has been unleashed. Truthfully, when investigating crime scenes, the spirits you likely encounter will be residual hauntings and nothing worse than that. But if you do wander into an earthbound spirit, gently inform the spirit to move on and find happiness in another place, a place where his or her family members await them.
One should always be careful when investigating such haunts.
The most persistent hauntings often involve an element of unhappiness, if not restlessness in a ghost. Honestly, you should approach them as you would anyone with emotional problems, with careful thought and a gentle encouragement for them to move out of their state of restlessness, toward loved family members who have moved on into a state of peace.
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