Ghost Trackers Newsletter - Vol 10 No 2 - 1991 06

Magazine Overview

Title: Ghost Trackers Newsletter
Issue Date: June 1991
Volume: 10
Issue: 2
Publisher: Ghost Research Society
Description: The official paranormal publication of the Ghost Research Society, dedicated to the investigation of ghosts, hauntings, and other paranormal phenomena.

Editorial and Membership Information

The newsletter opens with a "Current Chain of Command" listing key personnel of the Ghost Research Society, including Dale D. Kaczmarek as President and Editor, and Martin V. Riccardo as Founder & Honorary Vice-President. Howard E. Heim is listed as Research Director, Wayne W. Kaczmarek as Special Consultant, and Tom Perrott as Area Research Director (England). Regular columnists include W. Ritchie Benedict, Rosemary Ellen Guiley, and Maurice Schwalm.

The "Editors Page" thanks contributors for their time and material, including Richard Locke, Rochelle Zaszczurynski, Howard Heim, Wanda Bloomfield, and Bill Fuller. A sad note mentions the passing of member Chestina Stewart. The page also announces new members and renewals, and lists tentative bi-monthly meeting dates for the latter half of 1991: July 20, September 21, and November 16. A significant announcement details upcoming membership fee increases starting in 1992 due to rising costs of postage, printing, and computer hardware/software. Regular memberships will rise to $12, Sustaining to $17, and Contributing to $22. The editor also mentions efforts to form core groups in different areas for out-of-state members and seeks State Coordinators.

Membership details are provided, with regular memberships at $10.00 per year including the newsletter, a GRS button, membership card, discounts, and a FREE photo analysis service. Sustaining Memberships at $15.00 include these benefits plus opportunities to help with ghost research and attend field excursions. Contributing Memberships at $20.00 add a free newspaper clipping service. Back issues are available for $4.00 for members and $5.00 for non-members.

Investigations and Case Studies

Special Investigation at That Steak Joynt, Chicago: The newsletter reports on a special overnight investigation at "That Steak Joynt," a haunted restaurant in Chicago. The team used various equipment, including infrared cameras, camcorders, and FM headsets. During the investigation, they reported a strange circular ball of orange light, FM interference on headsets, magnetic deviation on compasses, and psychic observations from a member psychic. This investigation was featured on the program "A Closer Look" with Joan Esposito on April 22, 1991. The GRS is also working on producing video tapes of haunted areas, starting with "Haunted Kentucky."

A Strange Adventure on the Island of Iona: Tom Perrott recounts a story from a Scottish lady about an experience she had as a student on the Island of Iona. While sharing a room, she awoke to find a figure approximately twelve inches away. She experienced cold and anxiety. Her friend, alerted by her distress, rushed out of bed and slammed the door. They later learned another student in the dormitory had a similar experience. A lecturer, who had been to Iona many times, reassured them that the entity meant no harm.

Influences From The Past: Bevy Jaegers details a phenomenon where ghostly apparitions do not belong to the current structure but to an earlier one. The first case occurred in Belleville, Illinois, where a house experienced noises and moving doors. A chair in the basement was heard scraping and found in a different location. Photographs taken during the investigation revealed a skeleton outline on the basement floor and cloudiness with finger-like smudges on an exterior shot. An archaeologist confirmed a photograph of a skeleton was a typical moundbuilder Indian burial. The house was built on a former Indian burial ground. Subsequent investigations in St. Louis, Baden, and near Hannibal, Missouri, are also described, involving influences from mines, Civil War activity, and apparitions of soldiers and music.

Letters to the Editor

Letters from Mark R. Gardner, Bob Barraco, Charles Carlson, and Maurice Schwalm offer feedback on the newsletter. Mark R. Gardner praises the improvements in readability and the inclusion of addresses. Bob Barraco compliments the cover graphics and suggests seeking donated artistic help. Charles Carlson expresses enjoyment of the issue, calling it the best he's seen. Maurice Schwalm commends the February 1991 issue, noting the improvement with laser printing and looking forward to future photographic content.

Other Content

Strange Magazine Advertisement: An advertisement for "Strange Magazine" Issue #7 is included, listing articles on topics like the Mono Grande, UFOs and psychic phenomena, crop circles, and film reviews. Subscription details are provided.

National UFO Museum Announcement: An announcement for the National UFO Museum, opening in Reno, Nevada, in 1991. It will serve as an archive, repository of UFO data, bookstore, mail order outlet, and resource center, publishing its own books and newsletters.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently focuses on empirical investigation of paranormal phenomena, particularly ghosts and hauntings, while also touching upon UFOs and psychic experiences. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging member participation and the sharing of experiences and evidence. There is a clear emphasis on documenting and analyzing reported events, with a commitment to providing detailed case studies and member feedback. The GRS aims to be a comprehensive resource for paranormal research, as evidenced by its membership structure, publication of findings, and planned initiatives like the National UFO Museum.

Title: The Eagle's Spirit
Issue: 9
Publisher: Northwest's Holistic Newsletter
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Articles

Haunted House in Missouri

This section details a house in Missouri that was used as a field hospital during the Civil War. When standing under a nearby bridge, visitors could reportedly hear the voices of shouting men and the rattling of horse-drawn vehicles. An extensive cold spot was noted in a cornfield, theorized to be a burial area for soldiers. The hauntings were confined to a portion of the house that remained from the earlier time. The article notes that inhabitants have learned to live with these influences.

The Cowboy-Clad Child Ghost

A separate case describes a ghost of a cowboy-clad child, who was the grandson of a former resident. This event occurred in the 1940s. The child-ghost was visible to inhabitants and had been seen by the author's young son, who had no prior psychic abilities. The son initially believed the figure to be real until he could see through it to the walls and furniture behind.

Disturbances from Past Events

The author notes that many cases involve influences from earlier events impinging on the present, not belonging to the current structure. One investigation involves a house where disturbances seem to emanate from a private family graveyard from the early 1800s, and from an orphanage whose foundations overlap the present home. The article stresses the importance of checking the background and history of an area in ghost investigations.

The Fake Quake: A Psychic View

This article, submitted by Maurice Schwalm, discusses Dr. Iben Browning's predictions, particularly a 50/50 prediction of a 7.0+ earthquake on the New Madrid fault on December 3, 1990, which did not occur. The article references statistics from the Center for Earthquake Studies at Southeast Missouri State University regarding the New Madrid fault's seismic activity. It lists several of Dr. Browning's past successful predictions, including the San Fernando quake (2-9-71), the Mount St. Helens eruption (5-18-80), the Mexico City quake (9-19-85), the Novado del Ruiz quake (11-13-85), and the San Francisco quake (10-17-89). Dr. Browning's method is described as 'crunching numbers' related to sunspot cycles, perihelion, and perigee, using a vector sum analysis of tidal forces. The article also mentions a mass formation of circles in fields near Kansas City on 9-14-90, accompanied by psychic phenomena and UFO manifestations, suggesting this might have inadvertently reduced seismic pressures. The author suggests Dr. Browning should also consider psychic opinion in his future predictions.

Are They Outer Beings or Garden Sprites?

Submitted by Mariana B. Prieto, this article explores the belief in woodland or garden sprites. The author shares a personal experience of calling on her deceased husband for help with problems. While in the mountains of North Carolina, she heard rustling leaves and saw a wisp of shadow, and learned of local folktales about 'Oogles,' elf-like spirits. At home, her garden sometimes reflects luminous colors. She recounts taking a photo in her garden that, when developed, showed a tall, slender figure, outlined by an arrow, which she speculates could be an ethereal being or a deceased loved one.

The Ghost From The Well

Authored by Bob Barraco, this piece recounts the experiences of the York family in their new home north of Boston, built in 1983. They began experiencing strange noises, knocking, and the sound of moving objects. Their young daughters reported seeing a face peering through their bedroom window. The family dog became unusually scared and defensive, fixating on a specific point. Research indicated the property was once pasture land with a well, which is suspected to be the origin of the ghost, possibly a little girl who fell in and drowned or was trapped. The ghost's activity escalated, including the front door repeatedly opening and closing with the deadbolt extended, and a 'tube of blue-grey smoke' seen on a wall. The ghost also interfered with a copier tray and was seen as a transparent image of a young girl at a birthday party. Later, the ghost began to physically interact, tugging at clothing and grabbing a child's ankles. Despite research, the ghost's identity remains unconfirmed, but it is believed to have emanated from the well and is described as playful at times, though its actions can be scary.

John Cobb

Submitted by Rev. Speaker Gerald Polley, this is the story of John Cobb, a crotchety but kind-hearted old fisherman from Owl's Head, Maine. His wife died in childbirth, and he never remarried, raising his son with his brother. John disappeared at sea in 1935, having often said the sea would be his grave. After his disappearance, tales emerged of a mysterious old fisherman rescuing people in trouble on the bay, identifying himself as being from Owl's Head. In 1945, a local man, rescued by this fisherman, recognized the boat's name, 'The Pride Of The Harbor,' and the unique lettering style, confirming it was John Cobb. The story concludes with a memorial service for John Cobb after wreckage from his boat was found.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the paranormal, including hauntings, psychic phenomena, and unexplained events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open investigation and reporting of such phenomena, encouraging readers to consider the possibility of supernatural occurrences and the influence of past events on the present. The publication also serves as a platform for individuals to share their personal experiences and research in these areas, and it includes advertisements for related books, bookstores, and other newsletters.

Title: The Haunted Bookstore
Issue: Vol. 10, No. 1
Date: July 12, 1990
Publisher: The Emerald Path (Networking Newsletter for the New Age)
Country of Publication: Canada
Language: English

This issue of 'The Haunted Bookstore' presents a diverse collection of articles and reviews focusing on the supernatural, paranormal, and folklore, with a particular emphasis on ghost stories and related phenomena.

Articles

Baby Ghosts Pacified - Taipei, Taiwan

This article, by W. Ritchie Benedict and sourced from Reuter/Calgary Herald, discusses a controversial practice in Taipei, Taiwan, where Pastor Tsai Sung-hui of the Mercy Temple offers to care for the souls of aborted babies for a fee. The temple claims this program addresses a spiritual problem arising from Taiwan's rapid modernization and increasing abortion rate, which legalized the procedure in 1985. The Taipei Family Planning Center reported 110,000 abortions in the previous year. The practice has drawn criticism from Buddhist nuns and scholars who accuse Tsai of exploiting women's guilt and sorrow. The article highlights the coexistence of traditional folk beliefs and modern technology in Taiwan, with businessmen positioning computers to avoid offending gods and secretaries burning incense during lunch breaks. The Mercy Temple advertises that the spirits of aborted babies can cause disturbances like nightmares, business failures, and even suicides, and for a fee of $130 Canadian, they will name the child, light incense, and hold special services.

Psychics Plan Mystic Journey - July 17, 1990

This piece reports on Vernon, B.C. psychic Ana Fassmann and her astrologer husband Rolf, who are organizing a mystical journey to Egypt for November. The tour, accommodating 25 people, will include a six-night Nile cruise on the M.S. Aladin, visiting sites like the Valley of the Kings and Queens, Luxor, and the Temple of Seti I. Evenings will feature discussions on time travel, astral projection, and Egyptian mystical theories. The tour costs under $5,000, with a $500 non-refundable deposit. Rolf expresses fascination with the pyramids and the conflicting answers from scientists and scholars regarding their construction. The group will be accompanied by an English-speaking Egyptologist.

Book Reviews

Vampires, Burial, and Death: Folklore and Reality by Paul Barber

Reviewed by Martin V. Riccardo, this book by Paul Barber (Yale University Press, 1988) is praised as a scholarly and extensive study that explains vampire legends as arising from the misinterpretation of the physical changes of corpses due to decomposition and disease. It details how bloating, ruddy color, and blood around the mouth could be mistaken for a living or feeding state. The review highlights the book's examination of other death-related misinterpretations and its inclusion of vampire lore from European sources not commonly found in English works, such as Romanian attempts to fool evil spirits. The reviewer notes the book's graphic details but recommends it highly for those interested in the subject.

Encounters by Earl Murray

Reviewed by W. Ritchie Benedict, this book (Contemporary Books, Inc., 1988) explores ghosts and hauntings of the Old West. The author, Earl Murray, is noted for his previous Western and historical novels. The book is divided into sections on Old Forts and Battlefields, Old Hotels and Mansions, Old Trails, and Ghost Towns. It features well-known cases like the Winchester Mansion in San Jose, California, where organ music and the smell of chicken soup are reported. It also recounts a sighting by intern Christine Hope near the Custer Battlefield in Montana, identifying the apparition as Second Lieutenant Benjamin Hodgson. Other stories include the 'Woman in Green' at Fort Laramie, Wyoming, and the 'Blue Light Lady' in Kansas. The review mentions George Carmichael's encounter with the ghost of Kate Arnold at the Sheridan Inn in Wyoming. The book also touches on hauntings in Montana, including Garnet, and mentions a possible factual basis for legends of 'little people' based on a discovered skeleton. A concluding section discusses an apparition described as a giant pit viper.

Phantoms Of The Isles by Simon Marsden

Reviewed by Tom Perrott, this book (Viking, 1991) is a sequel to 'The Haunted Realm' and features illustrations of haunted sites throughout the British Isles. The book presents accounts from owners and individuals connected to these locations, detailing strange and inexplicable occurrences. The reviewer praises the book's large format and illustrations, stating they create an immersive atmosphere of ghostly mystery.

True Irish Ghost Stories by St. John D. Seymour and Harry L. Neligan

Reviewed by Dale Kaczmarek, this book (Fitzhouse Books, 1991, originally published 1914) covers haunted houses in Dublin and Conn's and Mogh's Half, poltergeists, apparitions, banshees, and ancestral ghosts. The chapter on banshees is highlighted as particularly chilling. The book is noted for its extensive footnotes and is rated 7 out of 10.

Opinion Polls

Readers provide feedback on the newsletter. Mike Shannon suggests more photographs and maps, and interviews with parapsychology experts, while criticizing one poorly written article. Antonio R. Garcez recommends professional typesetting, actual photographs, and the elimination of UFO stories, suggesting a focus on cultural folklore and American ghost stories. David Weatherly praises the publication and expresses a desire for more frequent issues.

Classifieds

The classified section includes advertisements for 'VOICES FROM SPIRIT MAGAZINE', various book titles from ARIES INC., a Spiritual Studies Retreat by SPIRITUAL FRONTIERS FELLOWSHIP, the General Index for 'The Journal of the International Fortean Organization', and 'PSYCHIC PATHWAYS' newsletter. It also features a listing for 'TOUCHSTONE NEWSLETTER' covering 'new age' topics.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around ghosts, hauntings, folklore, and the paranormal across different cultures and historical periods. The magazine appears to cater to an audience interested in the supernatural, featuring a mix of news, personal accounts, and scholarly reviews. The editorial stance, as inferred from reader feedback and content selection, is open to exploring various facets of the paranormal, though some readers express preferences for specific types of content (e.g., fewer UFOs, more American ghost stories).