The Story

In August of 1971, a woman named María Gómez Cámara noticed a stain appearing on her kitchen floor. It was taking on the form of a face. Given that the kitchen floor was made of concrete, it became even more interesting when it seemed like the face was moving. Poor María did her best to scrub out the stain to no avail. Her son and husband even went at the concrete floor with a pickaxe and cemented the floor. But it came back. More faces started to appear on the floor. When the mayor heard about this, he forbade further destruction of the floor. The face was cut out from the floor and taken for further study. I want to know what those results yielded.

Rumor has it that when the floor was excavated, skeletons were found 10 feet below the surface. Some of the skeletons didn’t even have skulls. The 700-year old remains were re interred at the Catholic cemetery. Apparently these faces were also able to communicate. Atlas Obscura claimed they were psychophonies, meaning they were communicated through a medium. Were the people who were buried underneath the concrete still there?

Even when the floor was completely replaced, a new face appeared two weeks later. So, it wasn’t over. It didn’t take long for the rumor to spread around the village and eventually cross oceans. The house became known as “La Casa de las Caras”, also known as “The House of the Faces.”

Thoughtography Theory

Many paranormal investigators believe that these faces were created through thoughtographic phenomenon, meaning that these images were “burned” onto the floor through psychic means. I suppose you could say that this is what causes spirits to appear in photos. If ghosts don’t have mass to reflect light, then they might burn their image onto a photograph. But what is interesting is that in this case, the faces weren’t created by the people who were buried below the concrete, but instead, Maria herself.

I’ve done some research on this phenomenon in the past, and I just can’t get on board with it. Yes, I believe that supernatural occurrences are possible, but I honestly have to see it to believe it. It’s one thing for the mind to have the ability to move things, but it’s a whole other level when the mind can “burn” images onto photos, concrete, wood, etc.

A Hoax?

Most skeptics agree that this phenomenon is a hoax. It is believed that Maria and her husband used a special chemical agent or paint to make the faces appear. Maria died in 2004, and apparently the faces remained long after she passed. Given that the faces created such a widespread buzz that resulted in numerous tourists visiting the house, the family benefited from financial gain in this situation. Just by Easter 1972, there were hundreds of tourists, and this continued for about 30 years.

In 1971, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior took an interest in the case. They appointed specialists to analyze the concrete and found that there were questionable substances like vinegar, a brown pigmentation, and an aggressive chemical compound. Apparently, the compound could be found at drugstores. The July 1993 edition of the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research”  featured an article by Luis Ruiz-Noguez, who noted the presence of zinc, lead and chromium on the floor, which are common ingredients in paint. In the seventies, lead was a popular ingredient in paint. Others did infrared photography and found brush bristles. It’s believed that Maria’s son was the artist. Between paint and the possibility of an oxidizing chemical agent being used, we can pretty much consider this case closed.

Conclusion

Even when it is blatant that this was a hoax, there are still people who believe in the authenticity of these faces. Believe it or not, there are much more complex studies on this phenomenon that will break down the chemical compounds of the faces to really make the case for forgery. Any yet, it seems that people are ignoring the data and continue to believe in this. Videos about the Bélmez faces continue to go viral with people freaking out and checking their own concrete floors for signs of ghostly activity.

To me, people who believe in the faces NEED to believe in them. They provide some sort of hope that there is something out there much bigger than us. Some call it God, some may call it proof of the afterlife, something. It’s what you many call “faith.” Even when there has been scientific proof that maybe not all the events in the Bible happened as written, people still have faith that there is truth in the good book. Finding meaning in the simplest of things can make a difference between life and death for some people.

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Voice Recorders

Let’s begin by clearing the field regarding voice recorders. Most of these will not meet the specifications needed for EVP / AVP analysis. They do meet what is needed for doing interviews and keeping an audio log of your investigation. Because of this limitation, I do not recommend using any voice recorder for EVP or AVP evidence collection. The reasons will become apparent as we continue with the requirements a recorder must meet to be suited for this purpose.

EVP / AVP Evidence Recorders

There are five specifications a recorder must meet to do satisfactory EVP study.

1 – The recorder must use an uncompressed digital format.
2 – The recorder must record in stereo or multiple track simultaneously.
3 – The recorder must be capable of using external microphones that can be placed 30 inches apart.
4 – The Sample rate must be 96 KBPS or greater.
5 – The recorder must use a 24 Bit A to D conversion process.

A final requirement involves shielding the recorder against stray EM Fields. A recorder should have internal shielding for this purpose, but if it fails to adequately block offending signals it is permissible to use a Faraday cage around the recorder to obtain the same protection. These details of each of these requirements follows:

Requirement 1 – Uncompressed Digital Format

Compression is a technique used to shrink the size of audio files. It comes at a cost though. When compressed,certain parts of the audio stream may be removed. That may work for regular voice, but since we don’t know exactly what comprises an EVP how can we say what can be safely removed? The solution is don’t remove anything.

There are two areas that compression may take place. First is the digitizing process where the original analog signal is converted to its digital representation. The preferred method is using a form of Pulse Code Modulation (PCM). PCM is considered lossless and provides a true representation of the original audio. This is one point where voice recorders fail. In order to save file size most voice recorders employ a method known as Code Excited Linear Prediction.(CELP). With CELP, certain parts of the original audio stream are either omitted or in some cases averaged together to make estimates of what might be present in the audio signal. It does shrink file size, but also may introduce artifacts that lead to pareidolia or false positives.

The second area where compression may take place is in the final encoding of the digital signal. The method recommended is WAV format which is lossless. It also creates very large files. To shrink the file size many recorders provide MP3 as a file format. It is lossy and should be avoided for evidence recordings. I would point out that some high-end recorders can do both formats, as well as additional methods that have varied degrees of compression. As a result, it is up to the user to know their recorder and choose the proper setting to create lossless recordings.

Requirement 2 – Record in Stereo

This is almost a no-brainer, we have two ears, why not use both of them? Our brains are designed to process sound in stereo, our recorder should also. Consider, one of the recommendations when it comes to pictures is to take multiple shots to provide redundancy. Likewise, a stereo recording is done using two amplifiers, two microphones, two channels for the entire process, providing an output to a stereo headset or two speakers.. Like two pictures, this method provides audio redundancy.

A second advantage has to do with depth of field. If you record using two channels you can view the resulting signal on an oscilloscope and determine phase shift. This may be helpful when analyzing the audio to determine direction and distance between the source of the sound and the microphones.

Requirement 3 – External Microphones

This is related to recording in stereo. If external microphones are placed about 30 inches apart it enhances the separation between channels. This can be helpful in the analysis process when it comes to comparing the degree of phase shift between the channels. Sound travels at a known speed,. 1125 feet per second. Thus direction to the origin of the sound can be calculated if we measure the difference between when the sound is detected by each microphone. An oscilloscope will easily display this difference down to milliseconds. If the sound originates from a point at 90 degrees with respect to the microphones, directly in front of them, there will be no difference. Anything else will cause the sound to arrive earlier at the microphone closest to the source. Since the distance between the microphones is known, it becomes possible to calculate the angle with respect to the microphones and the source.

Requirement 4 – The Sample Rate

This is critical to obtain a recording with minimal distortion and artifacts. Lab tests have been done which demonstrate that 96 Kilobytes per second is the lowest sample rate that can assure a quality recording. Here is how we arrive at the 96 KBPS figure.

Speech is made up of two major components, vocalizations, and fricatives. Vocalizations are the sounds created by the larynx, fricatives are those sounds created by the positioning of the tongue and lips to create modifications to the sounds. For the purpose of this discussion, we need only be concerned with the higher frequency components. These are the fricatives associated with the “S” and “T” sounds. The “S” is the highest frequency generated by speech; the “T” has the fastest rise time (that explosive start to the sound as the tongue releases that puff of air.) These two sounds have two important characteristics we need to note. They are about 3,000 Hz and they are non-sinosodial waveforms. It is from these that we must set the high-frequency specification and sample rate on our recorders.

The Nyquist Point is established as the minimum number of samples needed to simulate a sine wave. Most agree that if the sample rate is seven times the highest frequency being sampled that is sufficient. In other words seven times the frequency of the highest fricative or 7 X 3,000 = 21,000 BPS (21 KBPS). However, that only applies to a sine wave; the “S” and “T” are non-sinosodial waves. For these what is known as a square wave must be employed. A square wave is a sine wave plus an infinite number of its harmonics. Since infinity is not practical another term, called a pseudo-square wave is used. This is the sine wave plus its first three harmonics. So since we are concerned with the Nyquist Point of a Pseudo-square wave we can  set our minimum sample rate as follows:

3,000 – (Frequency of “S”)
X 7 – (Nyquist Point)
————————————-
21,000 BPS (Rate for Sine wave)
X 3 – (3rd Harmonic)
————————————-
63,000 BPS (Actual Sample Rate Needed )

Thus it is evident the minimum sample rate for a good digital recorder is 63,000 BPS or 63 KiloBytes Per Second (KBPS). This fits with testing conducted here where no noticeable distortion is present at 96 KBPS, and minimal degradation detected at 44 KBPS. It should also be noted we really do not know what higher frequencies might be present in an EVP. For this reason, it would be helpful to go even higher when setting a sample rate. There really is no upper limit; the higher the better since the use of higher sample rates only improve the bandwidth of your recording. Of course, cost becomes a factor at some point, you will have to decide how much exceeding the minimum is worth for your research for yourself. This is also another reason why voice recorders or phones are not suited for EVP / AVP work. The sample rate for these devices is usually 8 or 16 KBPS, far below that which can provide a distortion-free audio sample.

Requirement 5 – 24 Bit A to D Conversion

All sound is analog in nature. We hear in analog, and it is essential that a digital recorder process analog as it records its digital equivalent values. The problem is by its nature analog can have an infinite number of values, while digital must have definitive numeric values assigned to each sample made. Thus some rounding up or down must occur as the conversion takes place. Each bit added to the count will double the number of possible combinations, thus giving improved resolution to the audio quality. More bits means the recorder will not need to round off to as great of a degree to assign a specific digital value to a particular sample.

Consider, if we have a 16 bit A to D converter, there are 64,000 possible numeric values which can be represented. This may be suitable for noncritical applications, but where data is involved and an analysis to be done, it is not sufficient. By going to the 24-bit system the number of possible combinations reaches 16 million. This allows for a much finer definition, and details can be refined much more accurately.

It becomes even more important when you consider that most EVPs are very low in volume. This means the recorder is limited by the low volume to only the lowest bits of its spectrum. You are going to have to amplify the audio, sometimes hundreds of times, in order to bring it up where you can hear it. Just like the digital picture begins to pixelate when you zoom in, quality begins to deteriorate as you amplify the audio. And just like the digital picture, if you start with more detail you can amplify more before deterioration becomes a real problem. So it is advantageous to use the best resolution you can when you make a digital recording.

This covers the basics of what you need to look for when choosing your recorder. Other factors also may be important to you. Battery life, ease of operation, as well as a simple means of sending your audio to an external source are also something to be considered. In some cases, these are a matter of personal preference based on your needs. But as long as the main requirements are met, you should be able to obtain audio that is well suited for analysis in the lab.

Jim Brown has been an investigator into claims of the paranormal since the mid-1970s. Before retiring in 2010, he worked over 40 years in the field of electronics design and technology. His background has allowed him to provide insight into the hows and whys of the methods used in paranormal investigations. It has served to support what works and what does not with regards to equipment investigators utilize in their work. Jim’s current interests cover anything that seems to have no obvious explanation. That ranges from UFOs and aliens to claims of hauntings and cryptid sightings as well as what are just considered strange events. He has found most, but not all, can be explained using scientific methods. It’s those last few that keep his interest in the paranormal active. For more information about Jim, please visit his website at: www.jimsdestinations.com/paramain.htm

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Here are some of my favorite encounters I found in my research. As you read, ponder this: How likely is it that planes can be haunted? Why or why not?

Demon on a Plane

Okay, I’m not convinced this was an actual case of possession by a demon. In December 2017, a woman caused an Air China plane to turn around and go back to Beijing. After the plane took off, the woman collapsed about 20 minutes into the flight. Given that she was unresponsive, the captain decided to turn the plane around. However, when the woman came to, she wasn’t very receptive to receiving any help. She declared that there were things “possessing” her body and she started thrashing and becoming emotionally unstable. It took six people to get her under control. What’s even more creepy is that the woman said that there were not only things possessing her body, but that they couldn’t be found with health checks.

Eastern Airlines Flight 401

This is probably one of the most famous ghost stories in relation to airplanes that I’ve read about. On December 29, 1972, Eastern Airlines Flight 401 went down in the Everglades and took 101 lives. The plane departed from New York City and was heading towards Miami. As the plane was preparing to land, the landing gear indicator light wasn’t on. It was later reported that the light had burnt out and the landing gear was down. However, the crew became so distracted by the reported malfunction that the plane crashed. Pilot Bob Loft, and flight engineer Donald Repo, were among the perished. After the crash, it was rumored that the functional parts that were left were used for parts on other planes. After that, there were over 20 reports of Loft and Repo being sighted. Repo was often seen warning the passengers that there was something wrong with the plane, while Loft was seen sitting next to passengers. While this could be an elaborate ghost story, one has to wonder if Repo and Loft were trying to make amends for their mistake in life.

The Scarebus

How sore would you be if you were sent home from work, and then killed in a car accident on the way home? That’s what happened to a flight attendant who was working on an A320 aircraft that was run by the Constellation International Airlines. While she was doing her pre-flight check, she fell ill and called her boss. The flight attendant ended up being sent home. While she was driving back, she ended up getting killed in a car accident. After the accident, it seemed that her soul went back to the plane she was supposed to work on. Flight attendants and pilots reported hearing her whisper in their ears, screaming for help over the intercom, as well as causing mechanical issues on the plane. Not only is Casper still reporting for work, but she is also wreaking havoc. Could it be a revenge plot? The flight itself is known as the “Scairbus.”

The Yellow One

A Boeing 737-8Q8 belonging to Sterling Airlines has created quite a reputation for itself. Flight crew members, and even the cleaning crew don’t like to go on this plane at night. Why? There have been reports of footsteps being heard on the roof of the plane, even at over 30,000 feet in the air! There is nothing more unsettling than hearing footsteps above your head when you’re flying over the Atlantic Ocean. Supposedly, a woman died on the plane, and it is believed that her spirit never got off the plane.

I’m Cold

I found two stories with striking similarities, which makes me think that this is purely myth. Or, for the hardcore believers out there, it could be evidence of similar phenomenon happening on airplanes. Both of these stories occurred on a Virgin Atlantic flight. In the first story, there was an old lady wandering around the plane and complaining that she was cold. The flight attendants found her and took her to the crew rest area to sleep. She gave them her name and they looked her up on the passenger manifest. They found her last name and went to the seat noted on the report. The flight attendants found a man, who was her son, and told them what happened. The man turned pale and said that his mother was indeed on the plane, but she was in a coffin in the cargo area. The man showed them a photo of his mother, and it was the same woman who was seen wandering the aisle. The old woman was never seen again.

In a similar story, there was an old man standing in the aisle of a plane by the cabin door. When the flight attendant asked him if he needed anything, he told her to tell his wife, “It’s okay.” The flight attendant got the wife’s name and went to the woman’s seat. After delivering the message, the wife showed the flight attendant a picture of the man. Once his identity was confirmed, the wife said that her husband recently passed, and his body was being transported on the plane.

Casino Royale

A 747 aircraft belonging to South African Airways was used on the set of Casino Royale. The galley doors would open and close by themselves. During filming, crew members reported seeing a woman walking up and down the aisle at night. The lights would also turn on and off…and keep in mind this plane didn’t always have functional power while filming. Needless to say, crew members refused to stay on the plane overnight.

Senior Flight Attendant

What if you loved your job so much that you kept working even in the afterlife? While there is no specific flight mentioned, this story of a ghostly flight attendant is interesting. A flight attendant with red eyes and a spooky appearance was seen on a red-eye flight walking up and down the aisles. The passengers would try to stop her and ask her for help, but she would only look straight ahead and kept walking. Given that the woman must have been dressed like a flight attendant for people to ask her for help, one must wonder who this woman was. She had been seen on so many flights, that she was given the name, “Senior Flight Attendant.”

Have you ever encountered a haunted airplane? Tell us about it!

The post Spooks on a Plane: A Story of Haunted Planes appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

I love any and all things paranormal. Whether it be related to cryptozoology, hauntings, religion or ufology, if it’s anything mysterious or spooky, down the rabbit hole I will go. One thing I love most about the paranormal community is that people love to share their stories, opinions and ideas. That’s why I always jump at the chance to go to con’s, conventions, meetings and other such events. I enjoy seeing people so passionate about what they believe in that they want to stand up and tell the world.

I recently attended The Excavation of Victorian Ghosts at Bedford Springs in Pennsylvania. There were many wonderful people and presenters and I bought a couple of books that caught my attention. Among them was the book “The Ghost Studies – New Perspectives on the Origins of Paranormal Experiences” written by Brandon Massullo. Of course I immediately turn the book over to get a quick idea of the topic and it states that “this book is far more than a compilation of ghost stories. This book provides scientific explanation for paranormal occurrences that include theories to explain apparitions, hauntings and spirit communications.” It is indicated that the role of energy, electricity, emotions, bioenergetics and the environment are also covered. As someone who has always erred on the side of psychology and science in relation to the paranormal, these topics really jumped out at me.

My first thought on this book is one of gratitude. Thank you Brandon for approaching these topics in straightforward, clear-cut ways. This book could be read by a novice or seasoned investigator, the slightly curious, skeptic or believer and it will still have an impact on the reader. The first chapter touches on popular ghost theories,spiritual and pop culture views and the paranormal investigator him/herself. It provides a solid starting point for the later chapters. Electricity, EMF’s and apparitions are then discussed and even though I feel like i have a rather decent grasp on this, I was still intrigued by Massullo’s discussion of the God Helmet. There are many investigators out there that have a basic understanding of EMF but don’t understand how it affects us personally and these chapters explain this relationship in such a way that it can be understood by even the layman.

Topics like telekinesis, esp, quantum mechanics and near death experiences are just some of the topics approached in this book.

Author Brandon Massullo

While it’s easy to get sucked down the rabbit hole with any one of those topics individually, the author provides enough explanation on each to enlighten the reader but he does a great job at not weighing down the book with too much information. While this book isn’t ‘just a compilation of ghost stories’  there are plenty tales of first hand experiences presented for discussion.

What I enjoyed the most about this book, however, is the attention that Massullo spends discussing the psychology of experiences. It has always been my belief that our minds and emotions don’t get near the attention that they should in regards to evaluating paranormal experiences. I agree strongly with the author and I’m encouraged that this book is really opening the floor for that conversation. For so long paranormal experiences have been discussed as events that have happened TO you and there hasn’t been much discussion about the fact that these events may have happened BECAUSE of you.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of the paranormal. You may or may not agree with all the theories discussed but they will definitely make you think. This book is well written and opens the doors for countless areas of study and discussion and it is one that you will find yourself going back to again and again.

Order Brandon’s book on Amazon

Listen to Alex and Maeve interview Brandon Massullo on “The Wicked Domain”

The post Book Review: “The Ghost Studies” by Brandon Massullo appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

Was a picture taken? Most likely not. But to be fair, I didn’t have a camera during some of my most remarkable experiences.

I don’t know what Bruner and Bigfoot 911 saw. It’s interesting considering that there are a lot of sightings in North Carolina. There’s even a museum in Littleton, NC dedicated to Bigfoot and cryptozoology. But with all of the technology we have today, why haven’t we caught a satellite image of Bigfoot at the very least? I remain skeptical, as you can see. But I’m doing my best to keep my mind open. It’s hard to even take DNA samples of unknown furs and cells because we don’t have a baseline for the creature. Yet, if Bigfoot is real, I hope it’s happy with its little Bigfoot family and eluding hunters like ninjas. Otherwise, the mystery will be solved, and I have a feeling the fun may get sucked out of it.

So to any cryptozoologists, Bigfoot 911, believers, etc: Good luck out there, and don’t hurt whatever you find!

The post Bigfoot Spotted In North Carolina? You Be the Judge! appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

This is also the time for me to say that I’m incredibly skeptical of anything ITC related. But wait, aren’t you a paranormal investigator? Yes. But if I don’t remain skeptical, I’m not going to make any progress as an investigator. I’m not going to give you a lecture about how ITC can be flawed because someone else already wrote something much better than I could ever do that can be found right here. Yet, I can’t help but be captivated by the cultural fascination with ITC. In fact, it has become so popular that people are spending hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on equipment these days, perhaps not realizing they’re paying 4 times the value of the actual product. By the way, having tons of fancy gadgets doesn’t make you a legitimate investigator, especially if you don’t know how it all works. If you can’t tell me what your device’s original purpose is, you won’t be able to understand how it will capture anomalies. But that’s another blog for another time.

Now, it’s also time for me to admit that I’ve had some pretty incredible experiences with the P-SB7 spirit box. It’s actually happened twice. Someone very personal came through to a team member in 2016, and then someone came through in 2017. Now, last I checked, the radio stations in Gettysburg weren’t going to pick up this person’s voice throughout the different channels. I’m not going to go into details in public, but I’ll be more than happy to talk about it privately. I don’t know how the occurrence happened, and I can’t explain it. This person coming through was the last thought in my mind when I was standing on the second floor of an old house in Gettysburg. I know the skeptics reading will not believe me, and that’s okay. I’m more than happy to talk about it. I’ve read the articles debunking the ghost box, and I know what signs to look out for that it’s just a channel. I can’t promise you’ll be able to change my mind because…and I HATE SAYING THIS: You weren’t there. I’m cringing because it’s the one statement I get from others when I question their data. I read articles and blogs on this topic all the time because debunking is something I enjoy doing because it redirects us onto the right path of paranormal research. If we stop acknowledging the fluff and garbage, it might lead us to some answers/explanations. So, that’s my experience with ITC.

Does this mean you need to go out and spend thousands of dollars on equipment? No. And I strongly suggest you don’t. Because our fascination with ITC is so strong, people are willing to shell out a pretty penny to buy into the fad. But, we are a society of technology, and I doubt we’ll be going back to the old-fashioned seances anytime soon.

Finally, I wanted to take a different route with this blog and ask you what YOUR thoughts are on ITC? Do you think it’s a legitimate method of data collection?

The post Our Fascination with ITC appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

The Story

via atlasobscura.com

The Chase Vault at the Christ Church Parish Church in Oistins, Christ Church, Barbados was built by the Honourable James Elliot around 1724. The vault was a stone room with an arched roof, that was built just below ground and accessible with stairs. It was over 12 feet deep and about 6 feet wide. There is some conflicting information from various sources, but it looks like Elliot was buried in 1784, and then his wife, Elizabeth, who died on May 14th,1792 was interred there as well. But there are also reports that Elliot never used the tomb and only his wife was buried there. Then the tomb was bought by the Walrond Family, In 1807, a woman named Thomasina Goddard was buried in the Chase Vault. When the tomb was opened, it was discovered that the buried body of the Honourable James Elliot (and/or his wife) was missing. When the Honourable Thomas Chase purchased the vault (hence the name Chase Vault), the body of Goddard was left in place.

On February 22, 1808, the 2-year old daughter of Chase, named Mary Ann Maria Chase, died and she was buried in a lead coffin in the vault. When the vault was opened in 1812 for Dorcas, Chase’s other daughter, Mary Ann Maria’s coffin was upside down and placed in the opposite corner from where it was placed. Circumstances around the death of Dorcas were questionable. Thomas was reportedly very abusive to his family and his slaves, and there are rumors that Dorcas starved herself to death. Thomas died about a month after Dorcas and he too was buried in the vault.  It is rumored that Thomas committed suicide. In September of 1816, the vault was opened for the burial of 11-month old Samuel Brewster Ames, and all the coffins were in disorder. When the adult Samuel Brewster, who died from a bloody slave rebellion, was interred in the vault on November 16th of that same year, the coffins had moved again. In 1819, the vault was opened once again to accept the body of Thomasina Clarke, who was in a wooden coffin, and the same thing happened. What was going on? It was noted that after each opening of the vault, the coffins were put back in their original place and the vault was sealed. Clarke was the last body to be interred in the tomb.

Sir Stapleton Cotton, Baron Combermere and Governor of Barbados

The situation had become such a problem that Sir Stapelton Cotton, the Baron Combermere and Governor of Barbados,  wanted

to conduct an investigation. even the floor was sanded so footprints could be detected in case it was someone breaking into the vault. But there was never any trace of an intruder. The vault was inspected for secret passageways and nothing was found. The vault was closed once more with the plan to open it later to check to see if the coffins had moved again. The marble slab closing off the vault was cemented in place, and government officials put their seal on the cement, including the governor.

The vault was opened once more in 1820. From the outside, nothing was disturbed, and the seals from the government officials were still in place. Once the vault was opened, the sand was undisturbed. Basically, everything was undisturbed except for the coffins. According to witnesses, the coffins looked like they were thrown about, and Mary Anne’s coffin was reportedly chipped. the Chase family had enough and the bodies were moved. The Chase Vault remains empty to this day and has for nearly 200 years.

Below are artistic depictions of the before and after of the coffins and their new placements.

For about ten years, from 1811-1821, there were multiple reports of disturbances occurring with the lead coffins in the Chase Vault. From buried bodies disappearing to coffins being upside or moved to a different section from where a coffin was originally placed. These accounts were originally written by Sir Algernon Aspinall under the title, “An Unsolved Barbados Mystery.” The mysterious accounts were also discussed in a letter from Eleaner J. Dailey to Roger Senhouse. The events were also discussed in Captain James Alexander’s 1833 book, Transatlantic Sketches. Also in 1833, the story was repeated in the Anecdote Gallery in Rueben Percy’s, The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. In 1907, Andrew Lang and his correspondents uncovered the original Christ Church burial records as well as the original accounts of the coffins moving around from the Governor in the book, 1868 Memoirs and Letters of Lord Combermere. These findings were published in Folk-Lore: A Quarterly Review on Myth, Tradition, Institution & Custom. Sir Robert H. Schomburgk wrote a different account in his 1848 book, The History of Barbados, but with no sources to support it. Schomburgk said it was the Chase family that decided to put the sand down, and that Lord Combermere only showed up to the vault opening in 1820.

Theories

Early accounts of this story seem to come from Thomas H. Orderson, who was the Rector of Christ Church during the 1800’s. Eleaner J. Dailey said in her letter that “many people have been inclined to attribute them to poltergeists or other supernatural agencies.” Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the fame Sherlock Holmes series, hypothesized that because Thomas and Dorcas committed suicide, their bodies were cursed and they were to blame for the movement of the coffins. There are also beliefs that the limestone in the ground, combined with the spiritual history of Barbados, plus the fact that the area was a British colony, that there were angry spirits moving and unsettling the vault.

Explanations

One of the biggest explanations for the moving coffins has been flooding. But, buoyancy with coffins is a tricky business as it would require a lot of water to make the coffins move. The average casket today weighs about 300 pounds, with 6 pallbearers to carry it. Thomas Chase’s casket needed about 8 men to move, which means his coffin may have weighed more than the average casket we have today. The vault also sits at an elevation of about 108 feet and was built on Pleistocene coral reef limestone, which can be porous. This means that if it rained, then the water in the vault would drain out into the ground.

Earthquakes were offered as an explanation as well, but there were no major earthquakes reported between 1812-1820. Plus, Barbados was not known for active seismic activity in that time period.

Well-known skeptical investigator Joe Nickell doesn’t doubt the existence of the coffins and the people who were interred since historical records support their existence. But, he noted in the 1982 issue of Fate Magazine that the stories were filled with symbols and phrases that Freemasons would have identified. Nickell supports this theory since two of the men named in this story were members of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

What do you think? Do you think the unrested spirits of Thomas and Dorcas Chase caused an upset in the vault? Or were there angry spirits in Barbados not allowing the dead to rest in peace? Or is it all just a metaphor and made up story? Tell us in the comments!

Sources:

https://loyalist.lib.unb.ca/atlantic-loyalist-connections/barbados-poltergeist-chase-vault

https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4399

https://books.google.com/books?id=szFLs6pQmsQC&pg=PA573

https://books.google.com/books?id=4Bm-EjjG3AwC

http://www.slightlywarped.com/crapfactory/awesomemysteries/movingcoffins.htm

http://www.allday.com/the-unsolved-mystery-of-the-chase-family-vault-continues-to-haunt-the–2180847468.html

Christ Church Parish Church in Barbados

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Governor Daniel Gould Fowle

The first Governor to inhabit the Executive Mansion was NC Governor Daniel G Fowle.  Sadly, Fowle died in office in 1891, soon after the construction had completed and he had moved into his new home.  He was buried in the famous Oakwood Cemetery, though many believe his spirit never left the Mansion.

The Daniel G Fowle bedroom is on the second floor of the building and was Fowle’s personal bedroom.  As a widower with four children, one of whom was quite young, he found that he often had his children climbing in his bed at night to sleep.  As a large man, he found the bed that was in the room to be not quite adequate in size, so he had a new, oversized bed constructed to accommodate him and his child.  Sadly, shortly after the new bed was installed, Fowle passed away.

However, the bed remained in the home for future Governors to use.  Almost a century later in 1969, Governor Bob Scott moved into the mansion.  He chose to use the Daniel G Fowle room as his bedroom when he moved in.  However, Fowle’s bed remained in that room.  Scott was a far taller man than Fowle and found the bed too short and uncomfortable, so he had it replaced.  Within a short time of moving the bed from the room, Scott and his wife were in bed one night around 10 pm when they began hearing a knocking from the wall behind the headboard of their new bed.  They didn’t think much of it, assuming it was simply the old building.  This changed when they began to hear the knocking, always starting at the same time, always behind the headboard.  The Governor asked maintenance to check on the pipes behind the wall and was shocked to find there were none that ran through that area.  They still were not overly concerned, though it was definitely becoming an annoyance.

Governor Bob Scott

Their attitude towards this changed with one visit.  Former Governor Fowle’s daughter, now an elderly woman, paid the new governor a visit, as was her tradition.  During the call, she insisted he answer one question; was her father’s bed still in his room?

After that encounter, the Scott’s believed that this was the spirit of Governor Fowle communicating his displeasure of moving his bed, each night around 10 pm.  Despite this, Fowle refused to replace the original bed, so the knocking continued every single evening until he left office.  Upon his departure, Fowle’s bed was replaced to the Executive Bedroom, and the knocking immediately ceased.  That is, until 1993 when Governor Jim Hunt claimed the knocking had returned, despite never changing anything in the room at all.  He was quoted in the News and Observer in 1993 saying “I’ve heard him.  I’m trying to establish contact with this ghost.  I haven’t done that yet”.  Two decades later Governor McCrory is also on record saying he believes the ghost of Fowle is still here.  He told Walter Magazine that “he’s a good ghost, I talk to him every night… I know he hears me, I don’t get spooked.  Other people do”.

We’d love to ask Governor Cooper if he has heard the ghost of Daniel Fowle since assuming office.

The post Sweet Dreams: The Haunted Bed of North Carolina’s Executive Mansion appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

We all have our beliefs, and there is a supernatural world out there that is as vivid as everything else around you. Making sense of the paranormal through exposure and research is the first step to uncovering these mysteries. I want to know everything, and I’m guessing you do too. Since you’re reading this blog and all.

I once had a team member describe APS as the nerd with their nose in a book. It’s why we don’t have a TV show, and it’s why I’ve written several books about the paranormal field. What drives me crazy is the spreading of misinformation. People are losing out on their hard-earned money buying “gadgets” that weren’t built to detect ghosts in the first place. People are throwing money at self-proclaimed experts and then disappointed when they don’t measure up. There are a seldom few people that I would even consider to be an expert in the field, Loyd Auerbach is one of them. Seriously, Google him and look at his credentials. Read his books. Take one of his classes. It’s worth it!

If you’re going to be a team that takes on residential cases, research is something you HAVE TO DO. How are you going to implement a solution if you don’t know what you’re dealing with? Residential casework isn’t for the recreational ghost hunter. Why? You are taking on an enormous responsibility that can make the difference between a family being able to sleep in the beds at night once again, or a family being torn apart from miscommunication, the pot being stirred, and potentially angering the presence in the home. At the end of the day, the investigator gets to go home, the client still has to live with whatever is in the home. In order to know what kind of solutions to implement, the investigator has to be able to research and comprehend the ins and outs of the situation. That includes… (*trumpet blows*) RESEARCH! Not only research, but you have to be able to present your findings in some presentational form like a paper, presentation, speech, etc.

Residential cases are not for your entertainment or amusement. The paranormal isn’t taken seriously because it’s not taken seriously. Stop being a part of the problem. If you’re a thrill seeker, don’t call yourself a researcher. If you’re a ghost hunter

In the event, you find a client who does want you to investigate and provoke for the purpose of collecting data for public viewing, that’s up to you to take on the case. Just be cautious that you’re not the monkey in the middle and you find yourself on the evening news.

Finally, if you’re a recreational ghost hunter who is looking for thrills and adrenaline rushes with a residential case, be 100% honest with your client. Give them the disclaimer that you might make things worse, but it will be great evidence for your YouTube channel. A great sacrifice right? Most clients seek a team for HELP. Respect that. If you’re not willing to do the work, research, field work, resolution work, that’s okay. Go do your thing! Just stay out of people’s homes.

Just stay out of people’s homes.

The post Are You a Recreational Ghost Hunter? Stay Out of People’s Homes appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.

Anyone that has worked with me or APS will know that I will dismiss about 99% of the photos that are sent. Not only am I a paranormal researcher and investigator, I am also a photographer. Orbs are nothing more than reflections of light coming from either moisture (like rain, snow, fog, haze, etc.) or a light source (street lights, window reflection, car lights, etc.). The shapes you see inside the orbs, are nothing more that the nucleus of a dust particle, light, or moisture. If you don’t see an orb with your naked eye, but you capture it on camera, ESPECIALLY after using a flash, it’s light. That’s it. End of story.

Not to mention, bugs and other weird things like camera straps, smoke, and hair can look rather spooky when out of focus, all the while managing to sneak into your shot. Again, it’s not paranormal. We are spending and wasting so much time looking at things that have an explanation and missing out on the truly incredible parts of the paranormal field.

But does this mean that I don’t believe in ghosts? Of course not. Does this mean that I don’t believe in orbs? Actually, no. I have seen “orbs” or balls of light with my naked eye. Was I lucky enough to snap a picture? No. I was so mesmerized and taken by what I saw, I didn’t think to snap a photo. Between realizing my fellow investigator seeing the anomaly, trying to process and debunk what I was seeing, and the tech going out, taking a photo wasn’t possible. I want to so badly see this phenomenon again in my lifetime. However, if I were lucky enough to snap a photo, it will likely be debunked. And I’m okay with that. I know what I saw.

In order for ghosts to appear in a photo, they have to reflect light in some way. What we see with our eyes and what the camera is capturing is all a reflection of light. Our minds are trained to make out familiar patterns out of nothing. Take clouds for example! We can see dragons, faces, and amazing things in the clouds. But that is all because our mind is creating familiar images for us to interpret. The same goes for 90% of spirit photography. That shape you see in that blurry photo is most likely your mind playing tricks on you.

So when someone debunks your photo as light, smoke, moisture, hair, etc., and those elements were indeed present, move on. Yes, it’s going to hurt. You will be disappointed. If you post a photo in a public forum, expect to get feedback. Expect to be debunked. Picking a fight or trying to discredit the debunker will not help your cause at all.

Keep in mind that it doesn’t mean that you aren’t being visited by ghosts, it’s just that anomaly you captured on camera isn’t it. As you learn more about paranormal photography, try to be a good sport. If you’re serious about it, invest in a DSLR camera and stop using your phone and a point-and-shoot. You’re less likely to capture those hundreds of orbs in that photo you took on a foggy day, or that smoke you captured while your buddy was smoking a cigarette.

Have I captured or seen photos that I can’t debunk? Yes. They are extraordinary. If you really want to get an honest assessment of a photo you took, take it to a professional photographer and get their feedback. To quote a famous meme, when it comes to orbs, ghost hunters see spirits, photographers see crap on their lens! If you are sure you caught something paranormal, APS is more than happy to take a look, but you will be asked about environmental factors, what you used to take the photo, etc. If that photo you took after the death of a loved one is that confirmation you needed that they’re okay, while I may not agree, I will respect that.

Finally, if you use a Ghost App ghost to try to lie and fool people, then you’re a moron and deserve every bit of scrutiny that comes your way.

The post Light & Orbs: Why That Isn’t a Ghost in Your Picture appeared first on Association of Paranormal Study.