It seems that you can throw a rock and wherever it lands, there is a haunted legend associated with it. If someone tries to tell you only certain parts of this town are haunted, they are limiting themselves. The Battle of Gettysburg impacted every inch of that town. It’s hard to believe that only a few spots would have been ghost-free. The hauntings aren’t only by Civil War-era ghosts. There are hauntings that are much more recent. We’re talking as recently as the 20th century.

There are so many companies offering ghost tours and investigations, it can be hard to decide which on to go with. Some of my favorite people to work with are Pamela and Steve Barry of the Gettysburg Ghost Exchange. I also love with with Ghostly Images of Gettysburg, who have access to some of the coolest places in town. Gettysburg Ghost Tours has always been great to work with as well.

Now, here are ten of the most haunted places in Gettysburg!

Gettysburg Orphanage

This place has been a favorite of APS for years and one that I will continue to visit every time I’m in the area. The orphanage opened in October of 1866 near Cemetery Hill. It was created by Dr. John F. Bourns, who saw a need for the facility after realizing that the casualties of the Civil War resulted in a rise in orphans and widows. The homestead was used to house the orphaned children of Union soldiers. What is interesting is that the orphanage also opened as a home for widows.

The orphanage did well in its first years. Ulysses S. Grant even visited the orphanage in 1867. In 1870, the state of Pennsylvania used a bill to fund the facility. However, the headmistress was eventually replaced by Rosa Carmichael, who turned out to be abusive. She became known for having a dungeon in the basement for disciplining children. She would have the older children abuse the younger children, and the orphans were chained to the wall at times.

If you want to investigate the orphanage, contact Ghostly Images of Gettysburg. They’re wonderful people to work with!

1863 Inn of Gettysburg

I’ve stayed at the 1863 Inn of Gettysburg a few times. It’s actually one of my favorite places to stay because it’s right in the center of the action. At least in the ghost hunting sense. Right across the street, you have all of the ghost tourism companies as well as delightful shopping areas. Not to mention, this hotel is literally right next to the Jennie Wade House. The buildings almost touch each other. It’s also a great place to stay so you can have access to a bathroom in between ghost hunts. Yet, there is also a decent amount of paranormal activity here.

I can only speak from personal experiences. When I stayed there with two of my team members, one of them is Amy, who is our resident psychic medium, we had weird experiences individually that we were able to correlate with each other. From creepy figures appearing in our dreams to hearing menacing sounds in the middle of the night, we ended up sleeping with the light on.

Jennie Wade House

The Jennie Wade House today stands as a memorial to the 20-year old young woman it was named after. Jennie (Ginnie) Wade was the only civilian casualty during the Battle of Gettysburg. She was visiting her sister, who had just had a baby, and ended up stuck there when the battle ensued. She was kneading dough to make bread for the Union soldiers when a stray bullet went through the door and hit her in the back.

Jennie died instantly. Because the family lived in a duplex-style home, Union soldiers had to carry Jennie’s body up to the stairs, make a hole in the joining wall, and carry her down to the basement. Today, it is believed that her estranged father haunts the basement. There are also reports of cold spots, footsteps, shadows, and more in the house. Perhaps, Jennie has yet to leave the house. On the second floor, you can see where bullets and cannons that had hit the house. One can only imagine the horror her family felt as they mourned her death and also living in fear as they heard the battle sounds outside.

Like the orphanage, if you want to investigate the Jennie Wade House, get in touch with Ghostly Images.

Harman Murder House

I mentioned in the introduction that not all of the hauntings in Gettysburg were from the Civil War. In 1985, the town of Gettysburg was shaken up by the murder of Debra Louise (Debbie) Harman. She was only 31-years old when she tragically lost her life. She lived in a second-floor apartment on Baltimore Street when she was shot in the neck by Donald Richard Painter. The two had lived together in the apartment at the time of Debbie’s death.

Gettysburg Ghost Tours currently has access to the apartment, which has been dubbed as the Harman Murder House. From our experience there in 2017, we had team members see and hear someone walking up and down the stairs. The apartment is completely empty, which also amps up the creepiness to the place. Plus, since the murder happened in 1985, we’re talking less than a century, which might also make the place feel more disturbing. Could Debbie be walking up and down the stairs, wandering aimlessly around her former home?

Tillie Pierce House

Tillie Pierce became famous for writing a book on her experiences during the Battle of Gettysburg as well as its aftermath. The Tillie Pierce House is considered to be one of the most haunted inns in Gettysburg. My experience was interesting because I did the Ganzfeld Experiment on the second floor. Granted, my nerves were high, and I was totally anticipating a ghost. So…perhaps my experience was more than a bit biased. Common reports include hearing footsteps from the Blue Room. The source of the steps? The attic. The Blue Room seems to be the center of the activity, as a soldier has been seen walking up the stairs and then going into this room before disappearing. Guests at the inn have also reported someone sitting on their beds while they slept or staring at them from the foot of their beds.

Devil’s Den

Devil’s Den is considered one of the most haunted spots in Gettysburg. When you consider how many haunted places there are in the area, then this title is a big deal. Not only that, but it is considered to be the location of a malevolent, or more negative, haunting. This is because Devil’s Den played a major role in the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Keep in mind that this was considered to be the bloodiest day of the battle. Devil’s Den flipped flop between the Union and the Confederates. Even with all of the rocks providing some protection, there were many casualties. Numerous corpses were left to decay after the battle, which inspired some of the most memorable photos taken after the battle.

Sachs Covered Bridge

Sachs Covered Bridge has quite a sad story to it, as well as some interesting legends. The most popular legend was that three Confederate deserters were hanged next to Sachs Bridge, and people report still seeing the corpses hanging from the limbs. There is also a story where the injured Confederates were resting next to Marsh Creek, which Sachs hangs over.

After the battle, it rained quite heavily, which caused the creek to overflow, thus drowning the injured Confederates who couldn’t get out. The bridge was used by both the Union and the Confederates. In fact, the Confederates crossed the bridge as they were retreating. The bridge we see today is not the original one. It was destroyed in 1996 because of a storm. It was rebuilt with the salvaged materials.

If you decide to go investigate it, know that there will be a lot of environmental contamination. While it sits on a quiet part of the battlefield, there are tons of tourists who are also doing their own ghost hunts.

Battlefield Farmhouse

via https://gettysburgghosttours.com/battlefield-farmhouse/

The Battlefield Farmhouse was used as a field hospital, mainly for the Union. It was reportedly used as a headquarters for a Union general as well. We investigated this place in 2017, and there were a few interesting experiences. The foundation of the house dates back to the Civil War, and everything above it dates to the 1980s, so the development is somewhat newer. We investigated the farmhouse with Gettysburg Ghost Tours.

Farnsworth House

The Farnsworth House is supposedly home to about 16 spirits. There are still bullet holes that can be seen on the interior of the building. It is believed that the stray bullet that killed Jennie Wade came from the Farnsworth House. Like the majority of the houses in town, it was taken over by the Confederates, who used the second story as a base for sharpshooters.

There is a nurse named Mary who still haunts the house, still tending to the ill and injured. There is also a boy named Jeremy who is heard sobbing in his room after dying from an injury. There is also a midwife who has been reported to “tuck in” the guests at the inn. The smell of cheroot can still be detected as well as the sound of heavy breathing.

The Farnsworth House has regular investigations every week as well as walks on Cemetery Hill and other areas nearby.

Daniel Lady Farm

via Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association

The Daniel Lady Farm is historically known for a few things. The barn was used as a battlefield hospital as well as being the headquarters of Confederate General Issac Ewell. There were about 10,000 troops that camped around the area. The barn itself was the site of numerous amputations, surgeries, and deaths. My personal experience at the Daniel Lady Farm was with John Sabol and his team.

When we investigated the house, the sensitives in the group picked up on an injured Confederate soldier. In the attic, the children of the family that lived in the house were active. There were also screams, gunshots, shadows, and other cries for help.

In the end, John had the women hold lanterns and walk the grassy area around the property, where we called out the names of Confederates who may have served. We all felt hands tugging our dresses like these soldiers were begging for help.

The Gettysburg Ghost Exchange was also working with us on having access to the Daniel Lady Farm for an investigation a few years ago. They have a lot of options, and their storefront is also haunted!

There are so many places! We will definitely be doing a part two after some onsite investigating.

Have you visited any of these haunted places? Tell us in the comments!

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5. Avoid Stacking Questions

We already know that during an EVP session, we should leave a 5-15 second pause in between questions so there is room for a response. But did you know that stacking questions can also inhibit your communication attempts? When I say stacking questions, I mean avoid asking multiple things in a single line of questioning. Here’s an example, “What’s your name? Who are you? Tell us about yourself.” Here, there are three different questions with three different possible questions. “What’s your name?” is fairly direct, so that’s a good question. “Who are you?” can be subjective with multiple answers like a profession, species, gender, name, family role, etc. “Tell us about yourself” is an open-ended question that could result in lots of talking. But when you ask all three of these questions in a single stream of speaking, the ghost may get confused or just shut down. Or, you might end up with an answer you don’t understand. Keep it simple!

4. Know How Your Equipment Works

If you’re able to invest some cash into equipment, that’s fantastic. When you receive your goodies, make a cup of tea and sit down with your manual and the internet. Sure, we can assume the blinking lights mean that a ghost is trying to communicate, but it could also mean temperature changes, electrical responses, and more. For example, if you bought one of those fancy teddy bears with the EMF and temperature readers, you might notice that it talks. I’ve met several who possess this tech and they constantly try to turn off the talking. However, the questions and statements that the bear is saying is a direct result in changes to the environment. That is your opportunity to use those statements as your cue for your line of questioning and interaction with the ghost. If you don’t know the ins and outs of your tech, then you are potentially missing out on engagement opportunities.

3. Learn the Basics of Photo, Video, & Audio

There is no doubt that photo and video are the very basics of data (otherwise known as evidence). I strongly recommend that anyone interested in paranormal investigating, or even just spirit communication, take a basic 101 class in photography and videography. You want to understand how these devices capture and interpret light. Knowing this, you’ll avoid the trap of thinking that dust or moisture is the Holy Grail of proof that ghosts exist. We’ve all seen the arguments on social media when someone posts a photo or video of an orb. Plus, if you know the mechanics of how the lens captures photos and video, then you can even tweak your equipment to better capture your environment. The same goes for basic audio and how sound waves work. Ignorance doesn’t mean that you’ve captured a ghost. It means that someone out there will know what you “captured” and call you out on it.

2. Keep It Human

What it all comes down to is that you’re trying to communicate with humans. Sure, you might capture the occasionally inhuman entity, if you believe they exist. But we’re all trying to communicate with conscious beings who have thoughts and feelings. Sticking equipment in their space and then expecting them to perform like trained monkeys takes the humanity out of paranormal investigating. Think about how you engage someone who you just met. You want to know about their past, their life, and how they’re feeling. These are incredibly personal questions to be asked by a stranger. You may find you might have to work harder to build some rapport with whoever is inhabiting the building. Would you like it if someone stuck a camera in your face and demanded communication? Probably not. They also want to know about YOU. If you’re trying to communicate with kids, and you’re a parent, or the cool aunt of uncle, use it to your advantage. Talk about yourself, have casual conversations, keep it human. Some of the most interesting audio data I have obtained come from conversations about myself and my team instead of the formal, “Give us a sign of your presence.”

1. Be Flexible

This can be a hard one, especially if you’re investigating a larger facility and you have a limited time. But at the same time, this isn’t speed dating where you can get the person’s contact info and follow-up after. So what do you do when you’re in a space, and you have like 30 minutes left in that area, and you’re getting nothing? Not only that, but you’re hearing a response down the hall? What do you do? In this case, you need to be flexible. There’s a chance that there is nothing happening in that room. For most of us investigating public locations, you’ve dropped some money for the experience. Go where the activity is and see what happens. If you have a group of more than 2, have someone go check out the activity down the hall to make sure it’s not a pipe or a rodent. If there’s something happening, go! On the other hand, what if you’ve been communicating with something for the last 45 minutes and time is almost up before you have to go someplace else? If your entire group is together…by all means, you should stay. Continue to talk to that entity and see what happens. If you’re in a large group where you’ve split up and you have to give someone else some time, try to make a transition. Introduce the new people to the entity and hope for the best. It also doesn’t hurt to invite the rest of your party to engage in the conversation with you. Sticking to a rigid schedule can have its benefits, but it can also be incredibly inhibiting when you’re trying to talk to someone. This can be linked to “Keeping it Human” where you need to have some wiggle room in the event there is active engagement and communication.

What do you think? Do you have tips for the advanced ghost hunter? Share them in the comments!

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Happy 2015! So, I had the pleasure of talking with Adam from the YouTube series, AnythingSTRANGE, and chatting with him about APS, different paranormal experiences, and my upcoming projects. One of the things that came up was a phantom noise I heard while at the El Campo Santo Cemetery in Old Town, San Diego, California.  It was actually one of the first pre-APS investigations as a cohesive group, occurring in August of 2011, just a month shy of our official founding. The investigation of the cemetery from this night solidified my desire to start up a team.

So, what is a “phantom noise” in the first place?

A phantom noise is essentially a noise that doesn’t seem to have an origin. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s paranormal (it could very well have an explanation), but a source could not be identified at the time of the experience. Phantom noises are a huge part in the paranormal experience, as we hear sounds every day that we can identify with. But when we hear something that is disturbing or frightful, we have the desire to find out the source as a way to calm our fears. When that source can’t be identified, then we tend to think ghost or demon until an explanation comes along. Whether it’s bells, banging, knocking, humming, singing, speaking, etc. sounds are key in our daily life and help dictate our mental and emotional state. There is no question that dealing with a phantom noise can shake one to the core.

But if you encounter a phantom noise, the first thing you should do is try to identify the source immediately. Look around your surroundings and see what is there that could have made that noise. Walk over to the potential source and examine it (look, touch,etc.). If you can’t find the source, then see if the noise can be recreated. If you believe a presence created the sound, then ask them to do it again. Make sure you have your audio recorders handy and your microphones on your video cameras turned on. If you’re truly having a paranormal experience through noise, then you don’t want to miss it!

After you’ve collected your audio data, it’s time to review it! Having an audio program like Audacity (which is free) or GarageBand (if you’re on Mac) is a great place to start for newbies. Learn what sound waves look like on the computer and how they fluctuate from basic noise like your voice, clapping, etc. Then look for your phantom noise to see what kind of wave it produced. Hopefully, you can then isolate the wave and be able to go further in your examination.

This is short and pretty basic, but I hope you all enjoyed this post and interview! Till next time!

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