Published by Haunted America
A Division of The History Press
Charleston, SC 29403
www.historypress.net
Copyright 2014 by Dennis Webster and Bernadette Peck
All rights reserved
Front cover: Old Main. Courtesy of Jeff Berman.
Unless otherwise noted, all images appear courtesy of the Ghost Seekers of Central New York.
First published 2014
e-book edition 2014
ISBN 978.1.62584.593.1
Library of Congress CIP data applied for.
print edition ISBN 978.1.62619.138.9
Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the authors or The History Press. The authors and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This tome is dedicated to all the ghost hunters and enthusiasts chasing down the unexplained and seeking to complete the journey of lost souls, or the gwi (prounounced gway), as spirits are called in China. We are all searching for answers in this life, and if notperhaps the next.
Dennis
This book is dedicated to the ones who wish to travel down many paths, all convening on a very mysterious world of the unknown. So when least expected, supernatural things can happen.
Bernadette
CONTENTS
PREFACE
As I have ventured forth on additional hunts of the paranormal kind with the Ghost Seekers of Central New York, I have finally come to understand my addiction to the spiritual safari. I have concluded that the reason I love ghost seeking so much is the need to find answers, the quest for connection and the wanting for curiosity. These are all flames to my mental moth. I have witnessed, smelled and heard things I cannot explain, and for those out there who are skeptical of these accounts, I respect you and your view of the paranormal. Most of us carbon stalks need to know things exist through mortal interaction, yet faith has us believe in angels and gods. If you, dear reader, ever have a chance to go along for a spiritual investigation, I encourage you to do so, with an open mind and heart, and you might just have communication with a ghost. I respect the craft of ghost hunting and admire greatly the Ghost Seekers of Central New York for the group members perform their investigations with civility, respect and passion. Im grateful for them counting me among their team members. Now please, enjoy the tales, and know that these are told without embellishment and are 100 percent true. These paranormal interactions occurred under the watchful eyes, ears and nose right down to my left hand that scribes on a pad of paperunder flashlight at midnight, of course.
Dennis
I believe myself to be somewhat of a detective, pursuing ghosts in a very deliberate manner. Much of the time is spent sitting around waiting for something to happen, and yet, we continue to do it, week after week, year after year. Why? Its all very intriguing and my greatest fascination. Regardless of how it all started, through investigating tales and haunted places, I have found there is nothing like hearing a really good story and taking a trip to visit a graveyard or a reportedly haunted house. Most important in a paranormal investigation, there must be a purpose. Why would a place be haunted and what is the history of the location? Why is the phenomenon happening? These are the questions my team members and I seek to answer. We still have much to learn when it comes to the supernatural. This is why we have become detectives, and with that, a book such as this plays a very important part.
Bernadette
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to thank my co-writer and lead investigator/founder of the Ghost Seekers of Central New York, Bernadette Peck. I would like to send great appreciation to the rest of the Ghost Seekers of Central New York: Josh Aust, Len Bragg, Helen Clausen, Irene Crewell, Paranormal Ed Livingston, Joe Ostrander, Carol Pearo and David Peck. Thank you to George Abel, Michael Bosak, Kevin Brown, Judi Cusworth, Darlene DeSiato, Tony DeSiato, Kathy Durr, Nichole Grant, Brian Howard, Jerry Kraus, Amy Lamberto, Marlene Marello, Erin Murphy, Jim Murphy, Eric Newman, Renee Reile, Carl Saporito, Gary Seelman, Rob Seelman, Vince Scalise, Alan Smith, Debbie Smith, Brian Waterman, Gerard Waterman and the Oneida County Historical Society. Thank you to the gracious hosts of the investigations included in this book: Durhamville Fire Department, First Presbyterian Church of Utica, Forest Hill Cemetery, Henry Hiteman Engine & Fire Hose Company, Landmark Society of Greater Utica, Madison House, Newport Masonic Temple, Oneida County Historical Society, Players of Utica, Stanley Center for the Arts and the Vernon Public Library. A big thank-you goes out to my wife, Kelly, and my children for their support of my adventures. Thank you to my mother and father, brothers and sisters, friends and supporters. I love you all! A thank-you to Whitney Landis and the entire staff at The History Press for giving these tales a home. Finally, a thank-you to Evelyn Webster for always being there to read my words and providing feedback and encouragement.
Dennis
Again, I thank my writing buddy Dennis Webster and the team I could not do without. A special thanks to all the involved parties in these investigations for their honesty and graciousness in allowing our investigations to take place.
Bernadette
Introduction
GHOST SEEKERS OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
The Ghost Seekers of Central New York have been conducting paranormal research for well over a decade, with hundreds of locations investigated, documented, debunked, revealed and archived. These investigations are not for the faint of heart and are 100 percent true. We walk dusty basements at midnight searching for confirmation from the realm of the dead. In these ghost hunts, we always deploy the most advanced equipment and go by the proper protocols and ethics of the highest order, but nothing can replace eyes, ears, nose and mind. Our current lineup of members includes: lead investigator/founder Bernadette Peck, Len Bragg, Paranormal Ed Livingston, David Peck, psychic Irene Crewell, Dennis Webster, Josh Aust, Joe Ostrander, Helen Clausen and Carol Pearo. Although all these tales are true, some names had to be changed to protect those who wish to remain unknown. Names of people have been changed upon request or to protect their identities. These people are identified within this book with an asterisk (*).
GEAR WE USE
The gear thats used in the field that youll read about in this book includes digital recorders for gathering electronic voice phenomenon (EVP); K2 and Gauss meter for measuring electromagnetism; a spirit box, which searches radio frequencies and reroutes words to a speaker; digital cameras; hardwired night-vision video cameras; and hand-held night-vision video cameras. We use all the protocols and ethics of proper ghost hunting and debunk any questionable evidence.
