Up Coming Events |
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07/11/2009 |
National Paranormal Coalition Board of Directors Meeting
Hosted by Seven Hills Paranormal
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07/22/2009 |
July Training Meeting
VI. Mechanics of Sound
A. Mechanics and behavior of sound waves
B. Perception of Sound
C. Interference and Beats
D. Doppler Effect
E. Boundary behavior
F. Resonance and Standing Waves
G. EVP and recording devices
H. Acoustic shadows
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07/25/2009 |
National Paranormal Coalition membership meeting
Hosted by Bedford Paranormal
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07/25/2009 |
St. Albans Psychiatric Hospital
I-team
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09/12/2009 |
Point Lookout, MD
In conjunction with Shenandoah Valley Paranormal Society
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11/28/2009 |
Ferry Plantation, VA Beach, VA
I-team
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| Featured Investigations |
| Investigation: Sailor's Creek Battlefield |
June 28, 2009: Sailor's Creek Battlefield, Amelia County, VA
The Battle of Sayler's Creek (also known as Sailor's Creek, Hillsman Farm, or Lockett Farm) was fought April 6, 1865, southwest of Petersburg, Virginia, as part of the Appomattox Campaign, in the final days of the American Civil War.
After Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant broke the Confederate defenses at the Siege of Petersburg, Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia began a retreat in hopes of linking up with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army in North Carolina.
On April 6 at Sayler's Creek, nearly one fourth of the retreating Confederate army was cut off by Union cavalry forces under Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan and elements of the II and VI Corps. Two Confederate divisions fought the VI Corps along the creek. The Confederates attacked but were driven back, where Union artillery deployed at the Hillsman Farm played a key role in their repulse. Soon after the Union cavalry cut through the right of the Confederate lines. Most Confederates surrendered, including generals Richard S. Ewell, Seth M. Barton, James P. Simms, Meriwether Lewis Clark, Sr., Joseph B. Kershaw, Custis Lee (Robert E. Lee's son), Dudley M. Du Bose, Eppa Hunton, and Montgomery D. Corse. Also present at this battle was Confederate Commander John Randolph Tucker and his naval squadron (300–400 strong). Farther away, II Corps pushed back John Brown Gordon, who had mistakenly been on a different road.
Upon seeing the survivors streaming along the road, Lee exclaimed in front of General Mahone, "My God, has the army dissolved?" to which he replied, "No, General, here are troops ready to do their duty." Touched by the faithful duty of his men, Lee told Mahone, "Yes, there are still some true men left ... Will you please keep those people back?"[3]
Estimated casualites (including surrenders): 9,980
Our investigation was concentrated along Little Sailor's Creek, just below the Hillsman house, which was taken by Union forces and converted into a field hospital during the battle. In her journals, Mrs. Hillsman wrote of her family taking refuge in their cellar, where the light began to darken as amputated limbs were piled in front of the basement windows. Blood stains still darken the original wood floor planking of the house, and one can almost smell the sulfur of cannon and canister that railed upon the Confederates trapped at the creek between tightening Union forces.
Along the creekbank, we immediately began seeing inconsistent and random EMF fluctuations with the Tri-field meter, several digital EMF meters and a K2. These spikes did not seem to consistently occur in response to direct questions, but we could find no other source to trace the fluctuations to. We did several control tests against traffic on the distant road, and found no consistent pattern of fluctuation that could be attributed to passing vehicles.
At one point, one of our investigators began whistling "Dixie", and the K2 showed an immediate, prolonged red-line response. Shortly after this, the K2 seemed to respond to pointed questions, "answering" appropriately and timely to investigator questions. For a period of about 40 minutes, one team experienced seeming "communication", with temperature fluctuation and battery drain in conjunction with EMF fluctuations...
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| Investigation: Hill-Woody House |
November 1, 2008: Hill-Woody House; Amherst Co., VA
The Hill-Woody House was built in 1801 and until about a year ago, had been privately and consistently occupied. The house now stands abandoned and lonely, though one is still impressed by the house's grandeur and beauty. A comprehensive Historic Structures Investigations Report has been compiled on the house by the Poplar Forest Restoration Field School, and is a wonderful guide for exploring and investigating the grounds of this historic home.
Paranormal reports surrounding the house include that of an older woman in a large hat seen in a little girl's bedroom, the apparition of a man in a tall hat wandering the grounds, and occasionally the specter of a young girl inside the house. We had the privilege and great fortune to speak with the house's current owner who grew up in the house and only recently moved out when she became physically unable to care for the estate. The owner reported having items in the house move on their own, seeing on several occassions an entity she lovingly called "Old Nanna", and as a child, hearing her brother's stories of interacting with the man in the tall hat.
Most of the activity our group encountered centered around the formal dining room. A team of four investigators experienced what we might consider "intelligent interaction" with possible communication between ourselves and an unseen entity. Several questions were asked that we received immediate and distinct responses to via the K2 EMF meter; the session was fortunately captured on audio and documented with digital still photos. The ghost of Hill-Woody house seems to have a sense of humor, as several "responses" were in conjunction with our own laughter and indicative in later questioning that the entity thought something was "funny"... |
| Investigation: Avenel House |
October 17, 2008: Avenel House investigation; Bedford, VA
Built circa 1838 by William M. Burwell and his wife, Frances Steptoe Burwell, Avenel has been the centerpiece of social, cultural, and political life in Bedford, VA for over 150 years. In 1906, Avenel was purchased from the Burwell family by J.W. Ballard. The home remained in the Ballard family until 1985 when it was purchased by the non-profit Avenel Foundation. Guests of Avenel House include authors Edgar Allan Poe, George Bagby, General Robert E. Lee (the table from which he drank his morning coffee still stands in the house), and it is speculated that Thomas Jefferson himself visited the house, as one of the Burwell men was his Secretary.
We had been excited about visiting Avenel for many months- it is lauded as one of the most actively haunted places in central & southwest Virginia. Many paranormal research groups have gone in before and always with reports of unexplained activity. A few of the consistent reports include an apparition of the 'Lady in White' that walks the grounds and sometimes Avenel Avenue, or that paces the main hallway within the house seemingly in wait for something, or someone. The Lady is sometimes seen in an upstairs window, or occasionally strolling the garden with a uniformed soldier. There have also been reports of disembodied voices, unexplained footsteps, the rustling of a woman's skirt, the scent of tobacco and perfume, and even the meow of an unseen cat!
The night was fairly quiet for us- we spent a good amount of time trying to find a logical source for the reported sound of a tray crashing to the floor, that was even caught on tape by Ghostec. We were unable to recreate this sound or find a reasonable source of the sound. One interesting experience that two investigators had while outside on the Avenel Avenue side of the house was the sound of the side door unlatching and turning as if someone was about to come out onto the porch. Upon inspection, the door was locked, secured tightly, and the nearest team was upstairs on the other side of the house. We had a video camera set up just on the inside of this door shooting back down the hallway... |
| Investigation: Randolph College |
August 8, 2008: Randolph College Investigation, Lynchburg, VA
Randolph College was founded in 1891 as Randolph-Macon's Woman's College, a private, single-sex, liberal arts college. In 2007 the college changed its name to Randolph College and became co-educational. Stories of paranormal activity flourish within the school's walls, from a "haunting" in the spiral staircases of Main Hall, to apparitions of a young man in Smith Auditorium and an elderly house mother in a residential hall... this was by far one of our most enjoyable and informative investigations to date, as were able to gather data and test hypothesis regarding EMF fluctuation and behavior. A few of our investigators had personal experiences in Smith Auditorium, and there were several documented anomalies regarding battery drain, electrical failure, and unexplained temperature fluctuation... |
| Investigation: Sandusky House |
September 14, 2007: Investigation at Sandusky House in Lynchburg, VA
Built circa 1808 by Charles Johnston, the home was named Sandusky House to commemorate Mr. Johnston's escape from a band of Shawnee Indians near Sandusky, Ohio. The house was sold in 1818 and purchased by George C. Hutter, who established strong ties with Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest, a neighboring plantation. In June of 1864, the house was commandeered by Union General David Hunter and used as headquarters for the famous Battle of Lynchburg.
The house has changed little in its 200 years, and until recent years, had remained a private residence... |
| Investigation: Virginia School of the Arts |
September 22, 2007: Investigation at the Virginia School of the Arts, formerly known as the Garland Rhoades School
Claims at this school for artistically gifted students include disembodied voices and laughter on the third floor, the feeling of being watched, moving shadows, etc. There have been several accidental/natural deaths in the school and on the grounds in recent years, though there have been no reports that seem to be specifically related to these incidents... |
| Investigation: Bethany Methodist Church |
January 18, 2008: Investigation at Bethany Methodist Church in Monroe, VA
Estimated near 110 years old, this small community church has seen many eras of construction and rennovation. Reports of paranormal activity include audible footsteps, disembodied voices, an unknown presence, and moving shadows. Recent reports also include the sound of a car on gravel (there is no gravel road or lot), and phantom carlights spilling through the windows when there is no car in sight. The sound of a car door closing has also been heard in the absence of any vehicle.
It was only after we began this investigation that we learned of a tragedy that occurred several years ago in close proximity to the church... |
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News Flash |
| SHPS Bumper Stickers and shirts now available!!!!! |
Visit our Zazzle store for SHPS stuff!!
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| Star City Paracon |
| First annual paranormal conference hosted by Metaphysical Chapel of Roanoke will be held Sept 18-20- stay tuned for forthcoming details |
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| EPICCON 2010 |
| Eastern Paranormal Investigators Co-Op Conference E.P.I.C Con. for March 12, 13 and 14, 2010.- Visit http://www.epiccon.com/ for details- |
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| Ghosts of Lynchburg |
| Tour info coming soon: October 2009 |
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