By Erin E. O?Neill
Whether it?s a mysterious man in a brown felt derby at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players Theatre, a former politician playing in the ?sink room? of a Marietta College sorority house or a forlorn lover walking the stairs at the Buckley House Bed and Breakfast, the Pioneer City has its fair share of ghostly residents and spooky tales that have been passed down through the years.
?There?s a lot of history (in the area) and that can affect paranormal activity,? said Tom Moore who, along with his brother, James, founded the Mid-Ohio Valley Ghost Hunters in 2000.
The Moores and four other members of the group have conducted investigations in Vienna, Parkersburg, Mineral Wells and Elizabeth, W.Va., and at Twin Cities Opera House in McConnelsville to name but a few places.
?We?ve always been interested in the paranormal,? Moore said. ?This is something we?ve always wanted to do.?
The Ghost Hunters utilize cameras, video and audio recorders, electromagnetic field devices (EMFs) and other items to record paranormal activity at residential and commercial locations.
They have encountered some unexplained occurrences, such as at a residence in Parkersburg when the group?s electronic equipment ceased working all at once. Another happened at Eaton Tunnel in Walker, W.Va., when lights appeared out of nowhere and electronic voice phenomena (EVP) were captured.
?(At a house in south Parkersburg) someone walked by the bedroom window but when we went in, no one was there,? Moore claimed.
Last year the group conducted a ghost hunt at the Anchorage in Marietta, where 25 participants were able to tour the building at night, using flashlights, hoping to meet up with former residents. One guest in particular got an unexpected bit of attention.
?We had one lady who had her back rubbed,? Moore said in a serious and excited tone, explaining that no one in the group was behind the woman and no one was playing a trick on the unsuspecting group member.
Again this year, the group is holding a series of ghost hunts to benefit local organizations. The first will be at the Colony Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 25, and all spots are filled.
?It?ll be fun, and it?s a nice way to raise money,? said Hunt Brawley, president of the Hippodrome Colony Historical Theatre Association, who has yet to have a run-in with the theater?s infamous ?Mr. Shea,? a previous owner who is reportedly seen sporting a brown derby.
?I?ve never seen a ghost, but then again I try to avoid being in there when it?s dark,? Brawley said.
Except for the balcony, which may pose a danger in the dark, the entire theater is fair game. Ghost hunters armed with flashlights will have access to areas under the stage and in the basement, which Brawley says are scary enough during the day.
On Halloween night, the group will again venture into the historic Anchorage building. All 25 spots are filled at $10 apiece, with the money going to the Washington County Historical Society, but another hunt is tentatively planned for Friday, Oct. 26, because of the high demand.
For information as it becomes available, people should visit the group?s Web site, midohiovalleyghosthunters.com.
Participants are encouraged to explore all possibilities.
?Come with an open mind,? said Moore. ?Anything can happen.?
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