“We are paranormal investigators and are here to communicate with you. If there is anyone here in the room with us, please give us a sign.”
Silence.
Then, suddenly, in response, there is a faint sound resembling a whisper.
“If that was you who made the sound, we thank you. Please make the sound again.”
More silence.
Thus began my first experience with the Southern Paranormal Researchers, a group of investigators from Montgomery.
We are silently sitting in a darkened room on the 3rd floor of the Historic Huntsville Depot awaiting a sign from Emily, the name attributed to the spirit here. Tour Guides for the Depot believe this young girl was somehow left behind from her family in the 19th century, and then died shortly afterwards. There are reports of witnesses seeing the movements of her rocking chair and hearing the sounds of her laughter.
Since its opening in 1860, many other unexplained activities have occurred in the Depot. A heavy vault door mysteriously opens and closes by itself, eerie music is heard after hours, and there have been reports of seeing strange green glows of light coming from the room where prisoners were kept during the Civil War.
After a few more moments of silence, I take pictures with my digital camera and then examine the results. I notice a couple of white translucent balls appearing in the corner where Emily’s rocking chair once was located.
Excitedly, I asked Michael Burnett, Lead Investigator with the Southern Paranormal Researchers, if the anomalies in my photo were indeed “ghostly orbs.”
“What you have captured is basically dust from the flash,” he said, “you can’t see through paranormal orbs.” He then tells me that 95% of “orbs” that people observe are non-paranormal.
Undaunted, I take more pictures. I am determined that by the end of the investigation, I will capture something that cannot be readily explained.
The Southern Paranormal Researchers was founded two years ago by Shawn Sellers. Influenced by his grandmother, Sellers was taught not only to believe in God, but also to believe in the spirit world.
While talking with Shawn, a large-framed man who stands six feet four, one would not get the impression that he would be afraid of anything. However, as he recounts the investigation of an abandoned insane asylum in Tuscaloosa, one can tell that he has been greatly moved by the experience.
The majority of the paranormal researchers reside in Montgomery, but travel all over the South to observe and study unexplained phenomena. Their website, www.southernparanormalresearchers.com, contains numerous investigations of paranormal activity throughout the South; including the famous “Face in the Courthouse Window” of Pickens County, the Shorter Mansion in Eufaula, The Sloss Furnace in Birmingham, and The Bourbon Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. Existing solely on private contributions, the group has a weekly radio show on BlogTalkRadio, and is also working on a book based on their paranormal experiences.
As I walk upstairs, Jake Bell, the self-proclaimed techie of the group begins setting up his equipment. He sets up a video camera, equipped with night vision capability and a microphone to capture EVP (electronic voice phenomenon). He also carries around an EMF (electric and magnetic fields) reader, taking measurements around the various rooms. I ask Jake if he approaches each investigation to be a debunker or to prove that a spirit does exist.
“Neither,” he states. “It’s all about the experience.”
Jake tells me that during an investigation, one “just gets a feeling” something is not right. You may feel a cold spot or some sort of presence. He states, “no matter how strong the scientific evidence is, your personal experience is always infallible.”
After taking a few more discouraging photos, I was ready to call it a night. The evening was coming to a close, and thus far my camera did not capture anything remotely unusual.
Just then, as one of the investigators exclaimed, “I feel a man’s presence here,” I snapped a couple of photos. I show Michael the results. He gives me an assertive nod and tells me to share the photo with the rest of the team.
To learn more about the Southern Paranormal Researchers, join their MySpace page at: www.myspace.com/spit_ghosthunters
Silence.
Then, suddenly, in response, there is a faint sound resembling a whisper.
“If that was you who made the sound, we thank you. Please make the sound again.”
More silence.
Thus began my first experience with the Southern Paranormal Researchers, a group of investigators from Montgomery.
We are silently sitting in a darkened room on the 3rd floor of the Historic Huntsville Depot awaiting a sign from Emily, the name attributed to the spirit here. Tour Guides for the Depot believe this young girl was somehow left behind from her family in the 19th century, and then died shortly afterwards. There are reports of witnesses seeing the movements of her rocking chair and hearing the sounds of her laughter.
Since its opening in 1860, many other unexplained activities have occurred in the Depot. A heavy vault door mysteriously opens and closes by itself, eerie music is heard after hours, and there have been reports of seeing strange green glows of light coming from the room where prisoners were kept during the Civil War.
After a few more moments of silence, I take pictures with my digital camera and then examine the results. I notice a couple of white translucent balls appearing in the corner where Emily’s rocking chair once was located.
Excitedly, I asked Michael Burnett, Lead Investigator with the Southern Paranormal Researchers, if the anomalies in my photo were indeed “ghostly orbs.”
“What you have captured is basically dust from the flash,” he said, “you can’t see through paranormal orbs.” He then tells me that 95% of “orbs” that people observe are non-paranormal.
Undaunted, I take more pictures. I am determined that by the end of the investigation, I will capture something that cannot be readily explained.
The Southern Paranormal Researchers was founded two years ago by Shawn Sellers. Influenced by his grandmother, Sellers was taught not only to believe in God, but also to believe in the spirit world.
While talking with Shawn, a large-framed man who stands six feet four, one would not get the impression that he would be afraid of anything. However, as he recounts the investigation of an abandoned insane asylum in Tuscaloosa, one can tell that he has been greatly moved by the experience.
The majority of the paranormal researchers reside in Montgomery, but travel all over the South to observe and study unexplained phenomena. Their website, www.southernparanormalresearchers.com, contains numerous investigations of paranormal activity throughout the South; including the famous “Face in the Courthouse Window” of Pickens County, the Shorter Mansion in Eufaula, The Sloss Furnace in Birmingham, and The Bourbon Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. Existing solely on private contributions, the group has a weekly radio show on BlogTalkRadio, and is also working on a book based on their paranormal experiences.
As I walk upstairs, Jake Bell, the self-proclaimed techie of the group begins setting up his equipment. He sets up a video camera, equipped with night vision capability and a microphone to capture EVP (electronic voice phenomenon). He also carries around an EMF (electric and magnetic fields) reader, taking measurements around the various rooms. I ask Jake if he approaches each investigation to be a debunker or to prove that a spirit does exist.
“Neither,” he states. “It’s all about the experience.”
Jake tells me that during an investigation, one “just gets a feeling” something is not right. You may feel a cold spot or some sort of presence. He states, “no matter how strong the scientific evidence is, your personal experience is always infallible.”
After taking a few more discouraging photos, I was ready to call it a night. The evening was coming to a close, and thus far my camera did not capture anything remotely unusual.
Just then, as one of the investigators exclaimed, “I feel a man’s presence here,” I snapped a couple of photos. I show Michael the results. He gives me an assertive nod and tells me to share the photo with the rest of the team.
To learn more about the Southern Paranormal Researchers, join their MySpace page at: www.myspace.com/spit_ghosthunters
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