Phenomenon and Paranormal Investigations came to the Hughesville Library. Penny Campbell from Hughesville is showing Caleb King and Chris Pike from Ulster a picture of a ghost in Gettysburg that appeared out of nowhere on the picture.

Early spring brought some phenomenon and paranormal investigators from Ulster, PA to the Hughesville library to share experiences with some of their happenings at local cemeteries, churches, and battlefields. “Our mission is to see the truth in evidence,” said lead investigator, Chris Pike who started seeking ghosts in 2008 after encountering two personal experiences. So far he has served up to 34 cases.

HIs organization showed unaltered images with ghostly encounters that can only be detected on special equipment. “Is it illusion?” he asked the audience. No physical or mediums were used. “Maybe it is real,” but he aspires to search for the truth.

The group always does research first to see if the site was the scene of repeated deaths or tragic happenings. It is a process to come up with the evidence, and sometimes can take up to 3 or 4 visits and follow-up with clients. Using logistics and scientific approach, the team of seven investigates for truth and enters each case with the mindset that there is nothing there until proven otherwise.

Pike explained the types of hauntings. The Gettysburg Battlefield is a classic case of residual haunting, always constant, and sometimes specific over and over. A poltergeist is caused by human emotion. Intellectual hauntings are more advanced showing a spirit from a past life. “The after life can be scary,” he said. “Sometimes lights flicker.” Demonic hauntings are always bad. These progress and get worse, sometimes abusive and can reveal spontaneous fires, agitated animals, bad odors. “These tell-tale signs need to be investigated,” Pike said. All evidence is collected, physical and visual.

Using photo equipment, motion sensors, electromagnetic field detectors and infrared lighting for nighttime use, the investigators pick up signals, fluctuating sounds, radio frequencies and wave lengths in the atmosphere. Camcorders, flashlights, headphones, microphones and fully charged batteries are always used.

Most of their sightings have been in Pennsylvania and New York. “Be sure to always get permission first before investigating a sight,” they recommended. A significant site they visited was Mill Hall Manor in Canton where they noticed a 22 degree drop in temperature while taking photos. “All of our equipment went dead and it wouldn’t function for about 30 seconds or so,” Pike said. “We went through 1500 batteries for our equipment while there, so now we carry cases.” He said the rocking chair in the living room moved on its own and an apparition was seen by team members.

Another disruptive site for them was the West Mountain Sanitarium in Scranton. From 1920 to 1940 it housed 1100 people who were basically treated for tuberculosis. During a massive fire hundreds of patients died there and are believed to haunt the place.

They also spoke of the Avondale Coal Mine massacre in 1869 when 108 miners went down in the shafts when suddenly a spark on a conveyor belt caused it to break down on top of the mine shaft blocking the exit. All of the miners were asphyxiated. Today there are repeated reports of voices, thuds, and strange noises.

Probably the most significant encounter was a recent sighting at an old Victorian home in Bradford County. Chris Pike and his assistant, Caleb King showed a 5 minute video clip where they had water thrown on them at night, photos were removed from the wall, weird smells such as smoke and baby powder were detected. They could hear distant voices, small objects kept rattling and car keys were found missing from a designated spot. Change would be removed from pockets and kept reappearing in other places like socks or shoes or even different pockets. “We spent ten hours there, but the activity kept getting more violent, so we left for the night.” The house is now for sale and five times people have moved in a very short time. The house is always for sale they were told. “It is an open case and too dangerous to go back and research it further,” Pike concluded.

Another place that showed paranormal activity was the Elmira Civil War Prison Camp which housed over 12 thousand confederate prisoners from 1864 to 1865, but it was only built to hold 2,000 prisoners. Many slept outside in the cold and over 2500 died there on 38 acres. There are 3 blocks of houses there now and many have reported ghost sightings.

The group’s collection of video experiences shows the evidence of their many sightings and confirms that ghosts do exist. It is a hobby for the team members who are getting ready to explore the legendary Seneca Lake monster this summer. To see this alleged serpent that inhabits the lake, the group is planning to explore underwater with sonar cameras and a submarine in cooperation with the US Navy in Dresden, NY and a dive team from the Watkins Glen Historical Society.

To find out more about their findings on ghost hunting experiences or to join the team on investigations, visit ppiinvestigations.com