Historical guided tours often include signs of paranormal activity
MACOMB - The hope of discovering orbs of light, shadowy figures and unexplained occurrences await visitors on this year's tours of Haunted Macomb.
This is the fifth year for the historical guided tours through Macomb's "ghostly heritage."
Tours depart every Friday and Saturday through November starting at 7 p.m. from the former AG Mercantile building at 141 S. Lafayette St. Tickets are $12 except during a special $10 tour on Halloween night.
Western Illinois University engineering student Tim Weaver is in charge of the tours this year. The tours were started by Garret Moffett, who now hosts the Lincoln Ghost Walk in Springfield.
Weaver, who calls himself a "big fan of the paranormal," said the chance to lead the tours after two years of serving as a tour guide was something he couldn't pass up.
In the first two weeks he and his 10 guides have led more than 400 people through the Old Bailey House, the former Lamoine Hotel and the McDonough County Courthouse. The trip takes about two hours, and cameras and flashlights are welcomed.
Weaver said guides bring a variety of equipment to "detect a disturbance or manipulation in the electromagnetic field," which would signal paranormal activity. Already during this year's tours pictures of light orbs have surfaced, Weaver said, as well as a variety of unusual and unexplained occurrence.
The skin of one girl on the tour "looked like someone was kneading it and a scratch appeared," Weaver said. "No one was touching her. We've seen stuff that freaked my tour guides and I out. "
The haunted tours start with an orientation at which guides teach guests to be "ghost hunters," Weaver said.
"My favorite thing is to turn skeptics into believers," he said. "I don't know what it is about Macomb, but it's definitely haunted."
The tour Web site is www.hauntedmacomb.com. The site will soon feature pictures of some of the unexplained things seen during recent tours.
Other Halloween-related events planned in Macomb this weekend include the "Moon Over Macomb." Events are planned until about 3 p.m. on the Macomb square including a Farmer's Market, a great pumpkin contest, a costume parade, hayrack rides and pioneer demonstrations.
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