Introduction to Ghost Hunting
(c)2009 by Fiona Broome, founder of HollowHill.com
Evaluating haunted sites
No matter how convincing the stories are, we research haunted sites before investing the time and energy in a full investigation. Our first steps include:
A casual, daytime visit to the site, to see what's there. We check the most likely spots for EMF, usually with a hiking compass. We usually take an experienced psychic investigator with us, to see what he or she feels about the location. We also look for nearby landmarks, especially historical markers or places of note. We'll research them further, in case they shed some light on the stories and possible hauntings.
Basic historical and genealogical research. We're looking for evidence of the ghost (if he or she has a name)
and events that could support residual energy hauntings at the very least.
We recommend checking some or all of these resources:
If the ghost has a name, search at
FamilySearch.org
to see if there's any evidence of that person existing. (At the very least, the family surname should exist in local records around the time that the ghost supposedly lived there.) Though that database isn't 100% reliable, it is one of the most complete free genealogical listings online, and it searches on 'sounds like' names as well as whatever you enter.
Visit the local historical society and ask them about the location and/or the people in the ghost stories.
(Tell them that you're researching or writing a paper about local folklore. While some historical societies are interested in ghosts, most are uneasy and protective of local historical sites. They worry - unfortunately, with good reason - about popularity leading to vandalism.)
If the site has a staff, maintenance crew or other regular workers, ask them if they've heard about the ghosts there, or if they've had any odd experiences. (Again, it's best to say that you're researching local folklore.)
Check the public library. Ask the Reference librarian if he or she has any material about the site, especially its ghosts. Even if the only references are historical, they can provide clues. You're looking for events with intense emotional content, and tragedies.
If your town has a genealogical library, visit it and ask about the family name and the location.
Genealogists are people who research the history of families… their roots. Often,
a genealogist is delighted to find someone who's equally interested in a family that he or she has researched.
Also, at the historical society, public library or genealogical library, look for historical maps featuring the haunted site. They can be excellent resources. When researching ghosts in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, we found a 19th century map that actually had a note (and an arrow) indicating "the haunted house."
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