The stage was set Tuesday for a night of ghoulish fireworks at Richland's Blackhawk Bar and Grill.
It's a restaurant built in the 1830s on Indian hunting trails, with a burial mound in the parking lot; rumors of ghosts in the basement and top floor; and complaints from staff of creepy, suspicious and downright weird phenomena. The only ingredient missing was the ghosts themselves
"Michigan's Haunting Experience" paranormal conference Tuesday night attracted ghost hunters, psychic mediums, witches, UFO investigators and a skeptical, but hopeful journalist.
Now I'm not going to say that I'm a believer, but like other attendees, I was hungry to walk away with a ghostly tale of my own.
Well, it didn't happen, but with numerous paranormal aficionados reporting "strange energies" at the event, the likelihood of an extraordinary happening seemed inevitable.
In fact, I was practically offered a guarantee by a tarot card reader named Spirit Wolf.
"There's an older lady that follows you," he said when I asked him to read my aura. Apparently an older lady I was once close to is trailing me, he explained.
"Are you a believer?" he asked.
I replied that honestly, I wasn't sure.
"You're going to see something tonight that will make you a believer," he answered.
Like the Scooby Doo gang, we scoured the restaurant's three levels armed with cameras, crystals, EMF instruments to read electromagnetic field strength and dowsing rods ? two steel rods with handles that cross and uncross to find water, energy and answer questions.
Using the rods, we discovered there was one ghost in the basement that wouldn't divulge its gender but claimed to have no ill intentions. When I tried the rods, however, I found them to be a bit like my pet Chihuahua ? not only did it not do what I asked, but it seemed to completely ignore me all together.
The spirits were even more elusive on the upper floor, where it's rumored an old woman sits in a rocker by the fireplace. Perhaps she prefers privacy, but paranormal investigator and event organizer Amy Williams said strange things usually don't pop up until they review tapes and photographs the next day. Drat.
Surely, I thought, the s?ance would have more action. Led by psychic medium Kristy Robinett, our group of about 40 gathered in two rings around a long table and began with a prayer to keep out evil spirits. Remember, always practice safe s?ances, kids.
The medium began to cite names of numerous spirits who were demanding acknowledgment ? few adults, a nasty spirit speaking in tongues, a couple of kids and a pet snake. The most important was probably Sam, a friendly ghost who Robinett said was connected to the land. Sam inconsiderately refused, however, to offer any table bumping, wall knocking or glass rattling to prove his presence.
Robinett, however, acknowledged several knocks, squeaks and flame flickers as Sam's replies to questions. But with nearly 40 people sitting in wooden chairs and bar stools, I'm not sure if Sam or the guests made the timely noises. EMF meters reported heightened activity at times and a few guests said the tables pulsed, but overall, I have to say Spirit Wolf got my hopes up for nothing.
Despite the let down, it doesn't change my middle-of-the-road view of the paranormal. But it never was about proving or disproving ghostly phenomenon. We all have had our spooky experiences, and it would have been nice to have some validation.
Take a slumber party in fourth grade when a gang of my friends and I used a Ouija board to summon the King.
"Elvis," we asked, "if you're in the room, send us a sign!"
From the far side of the room, a Mr. Buckethead toy switched on by itself and began spitting balls at us. We fled like tiny shrieking banshees, leaving the Ouija board and the room as petrified believers in the paranormal.
While it's more likely that a short circuit caused Mr. Buckethead's timely assault, to me, there always will be a bit more to the story. While admitting this does open myself up to mockery, it doesn't change my level of sanity.
More importantly, it's not up to any of us to say there aren't ghosts at the Blackhawk or the paranormal is a bunch of hooey.
Just because your childhood toys were never possessed, doesn't mean my friend's wasn't. And just because I didn't see him, it certainly doesn't mean Sam isn't silently joining the diners of the Blackhawk Inn.
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps ... 002/NEWS01
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