I wanted to start including my paranormal experiences in my blog so here is my first entry. It includes information and evidence from the two times I visited William Phelps General Store and Home Museum for ghost hunting.
First, here is a little bit of information about the place itself. More information can be found at http://www.historicpalmyrany.com/phelpsintro.htm.
The museum “where time stands still,” has served the needs of Palmyran’s and Erie “Canawler’s” as a boarding house, tavern, bakery, and general store since its construction in 1826. Proprietor William Phelps completed renovations to the store by 1875, subsequently left untouched by his son Julius, who locked the doors in 1940, leaving a curious retail time capsule for you to explore. Upstairs you’ll see the elegant Phelps’ family home with post-Civil War furnishings and Victorian splendor, unspoiled by electricity or indoor plumbing, where Sybil Phelps resided until her passing in 1976! The haunting presence of the Phelps’ 108-year legacy remains to this day. Sybil Phelps was affiliated with the famous Fox Sisters, who are said to have started Spiritualism in America. She remains there to this day, walking the halls, along with various other ghosts, who inhabit the two buildings. Several professional “ghost hunting” groups (from all over) have investigated these buildings with great results. It’s very active.
The Palmyra Historical Museum, next door to the general store, was also a former hotel and tavern and is the current home of 23 themed rooms of memories and memorabilia, bearing witness to Palmyra’s influence on over 200 years of American history. Permanent exhibits include local business, government, police and fire service, medicine, education, photography, furnishings, tools, toys, and dolls. Our extensive military, Erie Canal, and Underground Railroad history is told through maps, research materials and artifacts.
The first ghost hunting visit I made to this store was on January 17, 2009. Here is the photo evidence (audio evidence to be posted soon, so check back!)…
The first photo was taken on the second floor of the museum in the military room. Notice the oval anomaly where the soldiers head would have been? Could it be the spirit of the soldier that passed away?
The second photo (to the right of the first) was taken on the second floor of the museum as well, looking down the back stairwell to the first floor. Notice the white streak coming down from the ceiling? There was nothing for this to be reflecting off of and no explanation for it.
The third photo was taken in the basement of the museum. I snapped multiple photos in the same location and there is not an anomaly in any of the other photos. Notice the big anomaly in the center of the photos as well as the mist in the upper right hand corner?
The fourth photo (bottom left photo) was taken on the first floor of the museum. Although you cannot see anything paranormal in the photo, there is a story attached to it. I’ve circled the book in red that I am talking about. A few of us were standing still in that room talking and all of a sudden the pages turned in the book by themselves. We were nowhere near the book and there were no drafts coming through. We could not explain this.
The last two photos were taken on the top floor of the General Store in a couple bedrooms. As we were standing in the room during an EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) session, the picture on the bedside table slammed over. It was not a simple tip over sound, but a slam down of the photo. After a bit of shock we started walking out in the hallway and the photo in the second room across the hall slammed over as well. We don’t have an explanation for this.
This photo was taken on my second trip to the William Phelps General Store and Museum on July 17, 2009. This photo was taken on the second floor of the museum in the hallway. There is a light streaking down from the ceiling. There is also an orb toward the top of the streak.
Conclusion:
I would love for some feedback on the photos and what you think overall. It was a great place to go ghost hunting and I look forward to returning in the future to see what else I can pick up!
CHICHOLOGY 