Ghost Trackers Newsletter - Vol 16 No 2 - 1997 06

Magazine Overview

Title: Ghost Trackers Newsletter
Issue: Volume 16, Number 2
Date: June 1997
Publisher: Ghost Research Society
Editor: Dale D. Kaczmarek

This issue of the Ghost Trackers Newsletter, the official paranormal publication of the Ghost Research Society (GRS), offers a variety of content related to ghosts, hauntings, and other paranormal phenomena. The GRS was founded in 1978, with the newsletter following in September 1982, published and edited by Dale D. Kaczmarek.

Ghost Research Society Information

The Ghost Research Society is a membership organization focused on collecting and researching paranormal activities, particularly ghosts and hauntings. Various membership levels are available, including Regular ($20.00/year), Sustaining ($25.00/year), and Contributing ($30.00/year), each offering different benefits such as discounts, newsletters, and services. The society is also seeking officers, State Coordinators, Field Investigators, and Area Research Directors. Back issues of the newsletter are available for purchase.

Editor's Page

Dale D. Kaczmarek, the editor, expresses his anticipation for summer and plans for visiting haunted Civil War battlefields. He thanks several individuals for their contributions, including Tom Perrott, Suzy Driver, Ed Okonowicz, Nannette Morrison, Troy Taylor, Richard Mock, Linda Haluska, Melissa Griffith, and Mark Gordon. Kaczmarek announces plans for bi-monthly meetings and presentations, as well as informal mini-meetings for GRS members to discuss new technologies and GRS business. He also mentions plans to upgrade the newsletter's design, purchase a new HP Color Printer, and update Special Interest Directories. Additionally, a new "Ghost Photography" video is in production, set to be released around Halloween, along with a "Ghosts Across America" video series.

Current Chain of Command

The leadership of the Ghost Research Society is listed, with Dale D. Kaczmarek as President & Editor, Tom Perrott as Area Research Director, and Tom Perrott, Maurice Schwalm, and Richard Senate as Regular Columnists.

Dedication and Member News

This issue is dedicated to Chet Prusinski, the owner of Chet's Melody Lounge in Justice, Illinois, who was associated with the legend of "Resurrection Mary." Congratulations are extended to Kathy Lund on becoming the Louisiana State Coordinator for the GRS. The newsletter notes the addition of nine new members and seven renewals.

Events and Publications

The International Ghost Hunters Society is hosting its first Ghost Conference on August 9-10, 1997, in Decatur, Illinois, featuring workshops and seminars on ghost hunting. The issue also reviews "Ghosts Of The Prairie Magazine," a quarterly publication edited by Troy Taylor.

Letters to the Editor

Several letters are featured:

• A reader poses a question about a potential link between ghosts and UFOs, suggesting interdimensional shifts or warps in time. The reader also inquires about the prevalence of ghosts in buildings with thick, natural walls.
• Joshua P. Warren, author of "Haunted Asheville," clarifies the use of infrared/ultraviolet filters in his research, thanking Dale for his review.
• A reader from North Carolina shares their experience looking for the Brown Mountain Lights and mentions their connection to the area.
• Randy Liebeck, NJ State Coordinator, praises the newsletter's improvement and mentions picking up Joshua Warren's books, "Haunted Asheville" and "Plausible Ghosts."
• Richard Mock asks how to get a story published in the newsletter and shares a personal anecdote about a patient dying the day after he worked on their air conditioner.
• Linda Haluska shares information about the passing of Chet Prusinski and speculates if "Resurrection Mary" might meet him.

Feature Article: "The Garage: A Haunting" by Mark H. Gordon

This article details a series of unexplained phenomena that occurred in Mark H. Gordon's family garage over a 12-year period, beginning in 1974. The phenomena included:

• Initial Sighting: As a child, Mark saw a "little man" dressed in green in the garage, who disappeared into the concrete floor.
• Occult Rituals: Mark's father claimed to be performing occult rituals in the garage.
• Premonitions and Deaths: The family experienced premonitions and deaths that seemed to coincide with strange events, such as an electric clock spinning backward before a death announcement.
• Unexplained Lights: Lights were seen in the garage, which was not equipped with electricity.
• Object Movement: Items were moved around the garage, often from one side to another or shelf to shelf, without any dust being disturbed.
• Loud Roar: A loud animal-like roar was heard from the yard, which coincided with the death of a family friend.
• Blessings: The house and garage were blessed by a parish priest, which brought a period of peace.

The article also mentions other paranormal experiences, including the grandmother not appearing in home movies, and the father's alleged occult practices. The phenomena ceased after the loud roar was heard.

Other Content

• A reader describes a recurring pinning-down sensation accompanied by a loud whirring sound, which they cannot explain.
• Another reader shares an experience where their brother moved into a haunted house and recorded a male voice saying "look around" or "underground" on a camcorder tape, near the site where the previous owner died by suicide.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are hauntings, unexplained phenomena, and the investigation of paranormal events. The editorial stance, as reflected in Dale D. Kaczmarek's contributions, is one of open inquiry, a desire to document experiences, and a commitment to improving the newsletter and expanding the society's outreach. The editor encourages reader participation and offers practical advice, such as checking historical records for unusual occurrences. There is also an emphasis on the scientific and investigative aspects of paranormal research, with mentions of new technologies and evidence analysis.

This issue of WEIRD NJ is number 8, with the cover headline proclaiming "IT'S BACK! IT'S BIGGER! IT'S WEIRDER!". The magazine focuses on local legends, paranormal phenomena, and unusual sites across various locations in the United States. The issue is presented as a travel guide to New Jersey's weirdest sites and stories, though the content covers locations beyond New Jersey, including San Diego, Ojai, Chicago, and Kansas City.

Articles

The Obscure Ghosts of Old Town San Diego

By John J. Lamb, G.R.S. Area Research Director, California.

This article explores several haunted locations in Old Town San Diego beyond the well-known Whaley House. Lamb details experiences and reports from State Park employees, a park police officer, volunteers, and local residents. The haunted sites discussed include:

• The Robinson-Rose House: A replica of the original 1855 building, serving as State Park headquarters. Reported phenomena include low-grade poltergeist events, misty figures, disembodied footfalls, and the elevator operating on its own.
• The Machado-Stewart Adobe: Built around 1845, this reconstructed adobe building experiences disturbances of bedclothes while it is closed and locked, suggesting paranormal activity.
• El Fandango Restaurant: Known for its resident "White Lady" ghost, who is often seen seated at a corner table. The stories are described as anecdotal, and the building is of recent construction on the site of an old Machado adobe.
• Seeley Stable: Houses a Stagecoach Museum and artifacts. Phenomena are described as tame, with footfalls heard on wooden floors when the building is empty.
• La Casa De Estudillo: Constructed in 1824, this restored adobe house is reported to have full-figure apparitions, cold spots, misty human shapes, shadows, low-grade poltergeist events, and the sound of chanted prayers. Father Antonio Ubach, a former resident, is suggested as a possible ghost.
• Washington Square/The Plaza: Reports mention a spectral priest seen gliding along San Diego Avenue before dawn, possibly a manifestation of Father Ubach.

The article notes that not all park employees were willing to discuss the subject, and it took multiple visits to gather information. It also recommends the book "Haunted San Diego" by Gail White.

The Musician's Ghost

By Richard Senate.

This is a personal account of a haunting in a cottage in Ojai, California, that occurred two decades prior. A young musician rented the cottage for its isolation and the presence of a grand piano. The landlady mentioned it was rumored to be haunted. While the musician initially dismissed the idea, he began to feel watched. One night, he heard a single musical note played on the piano, despite no one else being present. The following night, he heard footsteps. He later saw a glowing apparition of an elderly man with long hair and a beard, who appeared kindly and then faded away. Investigations revealed that the previous tenant was an elderly pianist who had enjoyed playing in that cottage. After this encounter, the musician no longer saw the ghost but occasionally heard piano notes and footsteps.

Occasional Spooking

By Rev. Speaker Gerald A. Polley.

This piece addresses the question of why ghost appearances are often sporadic. Polley explains that ghosts depend on psychokinetic energy to manifest. Sudden outbursts of activity occur when sufficient energy builds up, followed by periods of silence when the energy fades. Another factor is the anniversary of the event that binds the spirit to Earth, which can cause a temporary increase in phenomena. The article also notes that people moving into unoccupied houses, especially teenagers, can bring a charge of psychokinetic energy that causes activity. Ghosts at historical sites or places of worship may have an abundant supply of energy due to the constant influx of people.

The Ghost In The Workshop

By Barbara Huyser, GRS member.

This is a first-person account of a haunting at a vocational training program in a Chicago suburb. The author, Barbara Huyser, took a position as administrator in a building that housed a factory and warehouse area, along with offices. She felt uncomfortable in her office from the start. She learned that a former employee named "Steve" had committed suicide by hanging himself from an access ladder in the factory area about 18 months prior. Huyser suspected Steve was the cause of the discomfort. She recounts incidents like doors opening and closing, unexplained noises, footsteps, and objects disappearing from her boss's office. The phenomena were most frequent in the factory area where Steve died and in her boss's office, which had been Steve's. Huyser's own office, which had not been Steve's, also experienced incidents, which she later attributed to using her predecessor's desk, which contained Steve's personal effects, including a wedding ring and performance reviews. The suicide was speculated to be precipitated by his wife leaving him and a bad performance review. Huyser eventually changed offices, and the discomfort lessened. Incidents increased around the second anniversary of Steve's suicide, with reported footsteps and a sighting of a man's shape in the warehouse. After remodeling and converting the office into a conference room, activity diminished. Huyser notes that she no longer works there but staff report that activity has decreased since the anniversary passed.

A DISTINGUISHED HAUNTING (Warner House, 10th & Penn, Kansas City, MO.)

By Maurice Schwalm.

This article details the haunting of the former home of Major William Warner, a distinguished mayor of Kansas City in 1871, located on Quality Hill. Warner built the three-story brick townhouse during his mayoral term. As a promoter of the stockyards, he inadvertently caused the stench to worsen, making his home unlivable, forcing him to move. The house was later occupied by the YWCA in 1994, who experienced immediate problems, including being locked out and hearing muttering sounds. Apparitions of a man in Victorian attire, his wife, and two children have been seen. Children's voices are heard calling from the upper level. The assistant director experiences cold breezes, and a maintenance man encountered a smiling man in uniform on the basement stairs who walked through him. A motion detector is now in place. The article suggests Warner may have returned to correct a "miscalculation" related to the stockyards, which closed in 1991.

A PARANORMAL MYSTERY SOLVED

This is a short, humorous piece with an illustration of a ghost flushing a toilet, posing the question: "why Ghosts are obsessed with flushing toilets...".

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores reports of hauntings, apparitions, and unexplained phenomena in various locations. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into the paranormal, presenting anecdotal evidence and research findings from contributors who are often affiliated with paranormal investigation groups like the Ghost Research Society. The publication aims to document and share these unusual local stories and legends with its readership, encouraging them to explore these sites themselves. The inclusion of a "Weird NJ" section, even when discussing locations outside of New Jersey, suggests a broader interest in the "weird" and unexplained across different regions, presented in a travel guide format.

This document, titled 'Spirit Photography Page', appears to be a section from a larger publication, likely a newsletter or magazine focused on paranormal topics, specifically from the Ghost Research Society. The content spans pages -19- to -25- and includes photographic evidence of alleged paranormal activity, reader feedback, and several book reviews.

Spirit Photography

The page begins by presenting two distinct cases of spirit photography. The first image, taken by Elaine Dohnal in Woodlawn Cemetery, Berwyn, Illinois, on November 1, 1995, features a yellowish streak and blur, with an apparent face visible. The photographer used a Polaroid Captiva 95 film. The second set of photographs, taken in October 1992 during a local YMCA event called 'Wicked Woods' in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, by Melissa Griffith, Denise, and Terri, shows what participants described as 'fog' on two of the photos. One participant, Terri, noted that it looked like an arm, leg, and torso, deeming it 'spooky'.

Opinion Polls and Reader Feedback

Pages -20- and -21- feature a section titled 'Opinion Polls', where readers share their thoughts and suggestions. Richard Mock, Sr. of Leesburg, Georgia, suggests a question-and-answer page for members to share ideas. Marie Kasperek of Chicago, Illinois, proposes a hotline for sharing supernatural experiences. Ken Welch of Colorado Springs, Colorado, requests that photos in articles do not cut through text. Cheryl Larkey of West Orange, New Jersey, offers design-related suggestions, including using a two or three-column format, avoiding text interruption by photos, improving ad layout with grids and lines, and enhancing photo reproduction quality. She also suggests using graphic symbols for book review ratings. Virginia Rich of Elmwood Park, New Jersey, advises against placing pictures in the middle of articles, preferring a format similar to page 22. Troy Taylor of Decatur, Illinois, expresses a desire for more local ghost information. Karen Thompson Muchnick of Caldwell, New Jersey, requests a list of haunted places to visit, to which the editor responds by mentioning a revised 'National Register of Haunted Locations' expected later that year.

The editor acknowledges these comments, stating that many of the suggestions have been or will be implemented.

Book Reviews

The latter part of the document is dedicated to book reviews, with a new rating system introduced on page -21-.

• More Haunted Decatur by Troy Taylor: Reviewed by Dale Kaczmarek, this book is described as a straightforward account of ghost stories from Decatur, Illinois, including local history and tales of 'Devil's Chairs' and the Avon Theater. It also features chapters on mystery birds, airships, UFOs, and haunted Springfield.

• Is Someone At 210 Main? True Tales of a Trailer, Its Owner....and Someone! by Suzy Driver: Also reviewed by Dale Kaczmarek, this is a self-published booklet detailing the author's encounters in a mobile home in Michigan, described as a 'mini-Amityville Horror'. Professor Richard W. Brooks provides commentary on the potential for events to be trapped in time and space.

• Civil War Ghosts Of Virginia by L.B. Taylor, Jr.: Reviewed by Dale Kaczmarek, this book is presented as a definitive source on Civil War hauntings in Virginia, featuring thirty-five stories. The reviewer notes its connection to personal visits to some of the sites.

• Ghosts Of Gettysburg III by Mark Nesbitt: Reviewed by Dale Kaczmarek, this is the third book by Nesbitt, focusing on the ghosts of Gettysburg. It is noted that the book follows a video tape released later.

• Haunted San Diego: A Historic Guide to San Diego's Favorite Haunts by Gail White: Reviewed by John Lamb, this book is criticized for focusing on entertainment value rather than serious investigation, relying on folklore and thinly disguised accounts from other works. The reviewer finds the illustrations crude.

• Haunted Catalina: A History of the Island and Guide to Paranormal Activity by Robert J. Wlodarski and Anne Nathan Wlodarski: Reviewed by John Lamb, this book is described as tedious and melodramatic, though it contains fresh and previously unreported phenomena. The reviewer questions the origin story of a 'White Lady' legend.

Classifieds and Advertisements

Page -25- includes a 'Classified' section with advertisements for:

• CATALYST: A New Age Directory.
• A COLLECTION OF GRS APPEARANCES VIDEO: Featuring segments with Dale Kaczmarek.
• STRANGE MAGAZINE: A publication exploring unexplained phenomena.
• GRS CAPS: Baseball caps with embroidered Ghost Research Society logo.
• GRS T-shirts: T-shirts with the Ghost Research Society logo.

An advertisement for 'Another Dimension' magazine is also present on page -24-.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this section of the publication are spirit photography, ghost stories, hauntings, and paranormal investigations. The editorial stance appears to be one that encourages reader participation and feedback, as evidenced by the 'Opinion Polls' section. The book reviews offer critical assessments, indicating a desire for well-researched and investigative content, while still acknowledging the entertainment value of some works. The inclusion of classified ads for related products and publications suggests a community-oriented approach, aiming to serve the interests of paranormal enthusiasts.