Leo Frank’s Message to Lucille From Beyond the Grave

September 8, 2020September 8, 2020 Alex Matsuo

I’m trying to find an unmarked grave in a massive cemetery. How am I going to do this? But, this is a very special grave. I have an idea of where it is. And yet, here I am…wandering aimlessly through Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia. But…this grave means the world to me. It means so much to me. My previous attempt during a visit to Atlanta over 10 years ago left me unsuccessful.

But on this day, this day was the day I was going to find the grave of Lucille Frank, the wife of Leo Frank. I couldn’t fail again. I pulled out my phone and brought up Google. In my search, I read that Lucille used mediums to try to contact Leo on the other side. Wait, what?

In my attempts of finding Lucille’s unmarked grave, I fell down a rabbit hole.

A Decades-Long Obsession

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a Saturday and I was channel surfing, looking for something to watch. Something made me stop the rapid channel surfing; it was Peter Gallagher in a courtroom. I stopped and watched for the rest of the day. I was riveted, intrigued, and horrified. But I couldn’t get enough. I wanted to know more.

The movie was the miniseries, “The Murder of Mary Phagan”, which originally aired in 1988. One of the networks was clearly doing a rerun since I was in middle school in the mid-to-late 90s. Since it was the 90s, I had to find the miniseries at my local library to watch it again.

Since then, I’ve had this fascination with the Mary Phagan murder and the lynching of Leo Frank. I read as many books as I could about the subject. Being from California, I was fairly sheltered from the idea of Southern Heritage, the Invasion of the North post-Civil War, and finally, the rampant anti-Semitism that was very prominent in the South that sparked around Leo Frank’s trial.

Horrified

My focus is on Lucille Frank. I don’t want to go into a long history lesson, as there is lots of information on the case. While there are tons of websites about the case (many alarmingly anti-Semitic), here is a good place to start. While you’re at it, check out this link too.

I was horrified when I learned of Leo Frank’s lynching on August 17, 1915. I was also horrified that not only was there a large group, but there were photographers. Postcards with photos of Frank’s dead body on the noose sold like hotcakes for 25 cents. I know it was a different time and a different culture…but…geez.

By His Side

As you can imagine, between the politcal and racial tensions overlaying the case, plus the horrifying nature of the crime; the people wanted justice. But did they really get it? As you can imagine, it was a circus. It was chaos.

The person who never left his side was Frank’s wife, Lucille. She never remarried. Even though the KKK had resurfaced, and anti-Semitism was stronger than ever, she resolved to not leave Atlanta or the South. Let’s read it in her own words.

I am a Georgia girl, born and reared in this state, and educated in her schools. I am a Jewess; some will throw that in my face, I know, but I have no apologies to make for my religion. I am also a Georgian, and American, and I do not apologize for that, either…I only pray that those who destroyed Leo’s life will realize the truth before they meet their God–they perhaps are not entirely to blame, fed as they were on lies unspeakable, their passion aroused by designing persons. Some of them, I am sure, did not realize the horror of their act. But those who inspired these men to do this unlawful act, what of them? Will not their consciences make for them a hell on Earth, and will not their associates, in their hearts, despise them?
Lucille Frank
“The Historic Oakland Cemetery of Atlanta” by Cathy Kaemmerlen, The History Press, 2007. p. 83

Lucille made this statement six weeks after Frank’s lynching. She was only 27 years old at the time of his death. That’s young. Especially in the early 1900s. The fact she never remarried is also remarkable. Lucille had to see a doctor regularly for chest pains and headaches. Her doctor believed she suffered from depression. Lucille stayed in Atlanta for the rest of her life. Her friends believe that she never stopped mourning her husband. “Leo might have been killed, but she served a life sentence…

Mourning for Her Husband

I have always felt a very strong connection to Lucille. During Frank’s trial, sentencing, and all the work she did to prove his innocence, Lucille comforted herself by eating. So often, she wrote letters to Leo about being worried about the cameras getting photos of her because of her weight. This resonates with me so deeply as a woman. I also lost someone I was planning to marry, also due to unexpected and premature death by someone else’s hand. While I wasn’t a wife, I grieved as a wife. I don’t know the depths of Lucille’s pain, but I feel like I can relate to her in those ways.

To lose someone you love so deeply, and to not have a chance to say goodbye and receive closure, it’s no surprise that Lucille turned to spiritual means to contact her husband.

I sent Mr. Murray a message, and he directed me to two books, “And the Dead Shall Rise: The Murder of Mary Phagan and the Lynching of Leo Frank” by Steven Oney, and “An Unspeakable Crime: The Prosecution and Persecution of Leo Frank” by Elaine Marie Alphin. Luckily, I had the former already on my bookshelf. How did I miss this when I was younger?!

In Steven Oney’s book, “And the Dead Shall Rise”, he writes extensively about Lucille’s life before, during, and after her husband’s trial. After her husband’s death, Lucille was in constant pain, plus nausea and headaches. Her friends did their best to counsel her, but Lucille needed something more.

Seeking Closure

Leo Frank, Leo Frank Memorial Plaque, Marietta Georgia — Credit: Alex Matsuo

It didn’t take long going through Oney’s book to find out what I needed. Lucille did indeed use psychic mediums to try to make contact with Leo. One medium from Oklahoma City, who spoke through a “spirit father”, gave Lucille a message from her husband saying, “Get all out of life that you can. I am sorry I had to leave you.”

It’s hard to say whether these messages gave her comfort. I hope they did. The case of Leo Frank spread around the country like wildfire. Keep in mind that when Leo died, this was around the decline of the popularity of Spiritualism. But the mediums were still there, which is how Lucille knew to contact them.

Leo and Lucille Frank…and the Future

It took a few decades, but in 1986, Frank was posthumously pardoned.

When Lucille Frank died on April 23rd, 1957 at the age of 69…42 years after Leo’s death. She was cremated, per her request. Her funeral occurred at Patterson’s Funeral Home in Atlanta. She had wanted her ashes scattered in a public park, but this was forbidden by the city. So, her ashes were stored in the funeral home. Her friends and family were concerned that any public ceremony or mention of her death would reignite the whole situation all over again.

Starting in 1958, anti-Semitic tensions were rampant. The local temple was badly damaged by a bombing. Pattersons contacted Lucille’s family and told them to deal with the matter. Alan Marcus, Lucille’s nephew, picked up the ashes, and placed them in the front trunk of his red Corvette and drove around with them for six months.

Lucille’s family, once again, was concerned that a public funeral and ceremony would reignite not only the case but this time, racial and anti-Semitic tensions. Her funeral and laying to rest were once again, delayed.

It was revealed in 2002 that Alan and his brother drove to Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta and buried Lucille’s ashes between her parents’ headstones in 1964. Her grave is unmarked, but she is no longer alone.

Meeting Lucille Face-to-Face

Lucille Frank's grave 2020, lucille frank, buried, unmarked grave — Credit: Alex Matsuo

Let’s return to Atlanta, and my frustrating search for Lucille’s unmarked grave.

As I wandered around Oakland Cemetery, I had to find Jewish Hill. From the front entrance, I went down the first hill, and up the second hill. I did this a few times, going back and forth. Eventually, I pulled out my phone to look at her parents’ grave to see what was around it.

I managed to look at the surroundings, and I walked. And then, there it was. I saw the headstones and started running. I ran in flip-flops and over uneven brick, and finally reached the headstones.

There it was. There she was. I saw the little stone angel marker between her parents’ grave. Before I knew it, I was standing before the remains of Lucille Frank, and start crying from happiness. This decades-long obsession I’ve had since middle school all brought me to this place.

After I did a quick video and took photos. I turned on the voice recorder on my phone and set it down. As I stood there, I talked to Lucille. I told her about how much she inspired me, and tearfully expressed condolences for her pain and suffering during Leo’s trial and his lynching. I acknowledged her strength and resilience during her life and said I’m sure Leo was proud of her and hoped they were reunited on the other side.

Then, I walked back to my car and cried. Even as I write this, I have tears in my eyes. I never realize how much this woman meant to me until that moment. This isn’t my only visit to her grave. I’m going to visit her again and will continue to do so until my time has come.

Paying Respects to Leo and Mary

Mary Phagan grave, Marietta City Cemetery — This was the closest I could get to Mary Phagan’s grave since Marietta City Cemetery was closed. Credit: Alex Matsuo

After finding Lucille’s grave, I drove to Marietta and visited the memorial plaque for Leo Frank. It sits nearby the spot of his lynching. If you want to find it, it’s next to the parking lot for El Huarache Veloz at 1157 Roswell Rd, Marietta, GA 30062. I parked in the restaurant’s parking lot and just walked a few feet over.

The next day, it was time to head home. But I wanted to check out Mary Phagan’s grave and pay my respects before leaving. As I arrived, I was disappointed to see that Marietta City Cemetery padlocked their gates. And I was there around 11am on a Tuesday. Sadly, I could only look through the gate off of Cemetery Street. Look for the black pole with the memorial plaque. From a distance, I paid my respects through the gates. When I finished, I got in my car and headed back to Raleigh.

Sources

https://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/out-and-about/2012/apr/26/lucilles-ashes/

https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/leo-frank-case

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6896060/lucille-frank

http://www.the-temple-exhibit.com/exhibits/show/history-makers/temple-members/leo-frank-and-lucille-frank

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/10/silencing-the-dead-the-decline-of-spiritualism/264005/

“Leo may have been killed, but she served a life sentence…”

https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/did-leo-frank-kill-mary-phagan-106-years-later-we-might-finally-find-out-for-sure/

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2020/02/20/alonzo-mann-says-jim-conley-murdered-mary-phagan/4819312002/

https://atlantajewishtimes.timesofisrael.com/struggling-with-leo-franks-lynching-a-century-later/

The Haunted Tanning Yard of Spartanburg, South Carolina

September 1, 2020September 1, 2020 Alex Matsuo

I found myself in Spartanburg, South Carolina during an extensive road trip to Atlanta, Georgie. My good friend, Tally Johnson, just happens to be an expert on the area when it comes to legends and hauntings. In fact, he’s written a book about it! Tally has actually written MANY books about the hauntings in South Carolina. Check them out when you get the chance! He was kind enough to take me to the famous haunted Tanning Yard of Spartanburg. He also shared with me a few legends of the area. Tally also shared a hilarious personal story of his own encounter with the woman in white…but it’s not what you think!

I’m not going to tell his story for him. So, you’ll need to watch the video to find out!

What is a Tanning Yard?

Okay, this California girl has no idea what a tanning yard is. It’s basically where cowhides were tanned for leather. At this particular tanning yard, it’s right under a railroad bridge, with a creek that runs underneath.

The Legend

When Tally mentioned visiting the Tanning Yard, Google directed me to a site that called it one of the most haunted places in Upstate South Carolina. Needless to say, this had my attention. According to legend, this tanning yard was home to multiple homicides nearby. We’re talking serial killer status.

Also according to legend, in the mid-1900s a bunch of cars were dumped with bodies inside. Also, Tally mentioned about a story from the 1960s and a religious cult that collected a virgin from each local high school, dress them in a white virginal gown, and sacrifice them. One girl managed to escape using the creek.

I also read that there used to be an old amusement park nearby. Also, the same girl who escaped using the creek may also be the girl who was murdered by strangulation by the Gaffney Strangler; Lee Roy Martin…also in the 1960s.

It’s amazing how all of these legends start merging together, doesn’t it?

The Hauntings

Tally calls this area “Cry Baby Bridge.” To be fair, almost every town in America has their own version of the Cry Baby Bridge legend. Babies and children can be heard crying, and red eyes have been seen glowing in the creek. A woman in white is also seen running down the creek, waving cars to stop for her. Visitors also report feeling a sense of sadness and dread.

Tally also said that if people honk their horn three times and leave the car in neutral, something moves the car. Could it be the woman in white telling you to get a move on so she can get away from her assailants?

There are also reports that there’s a micheivious ghost that comes out at night. Of course, being in a haunted spot after dark is sure to make you feel a little more nervous than usual. Could it be human nerves or something paranormal?

If you go there today to explore, I wouldn’t recommend it. This is because it is much more populated today than it was in Tally’s time. There’s actually a beautiful mansion right across the street from the creek. I can’t help but wonder if those folks have ever sensed anything weird, or is it just the tourists looking for the woman in white?

Sources

https://www.goupstate.com/article/NC/20010926/News/605186332/SJ

Haunted Places in Upstate SC

Ghosts and ghouls and glowing green eyes

http://www.ghostsofamerica.com/2/South_Carolina_Spartanburg_ghost_sightings0.html

The Ghost Train of Bostian Bridge in Statesville, NC

August 25, 2020August 25, 2020 Alex Matsuo

Could a traumatic event be so powerful that the land absorbs its energy? While battlefields are well known for having this kind of phenomenon, we don’t hear it about very often on a smaller scale. Or, in this case, a train wreck that occurred just outside of Statesville, NC.

I heard about this haunting from one of my team members when we were first exploring the Trivette Clinic, which is located in Hamptonville, NC. It’s not a far drive from Statesville. Being a California native, I’m still very new to the history of North Carolina and its fascinating local legends. One of the biggest standouts for me is the ghost stories and train culture.

This particular event is so disturbing, and the subsequent events that followed are truly horrifying.

The Local Tragedy

Train Wreck of Bostian Bridge, Iredell County, NC. Wreck occured August 27, 1891, near Statesville.
Photos by Stimson Studio, Statesville, NC

On August 27th, 1891, a passenger train in North Carolina was trying to make up for lost time. It was the Richmond & Danville engine number 9. The train was pulling six cars which included a baggage car, a second-class car, a first-class coach, a tender, a private car for R&D’s superintendent, and a Pullman sleeper. It departed Statesville (Iredell County) around 2:30 am. They were already running 34 minutes late, so the train was going much faster than it should.

Only 5 minutes later, the train lurched off the Bostian Bridge. It fell 60-feet and hit the creek below, known as Third Creek. Because the train was going so fast, survivors say that the train was actually airborne! The sleeper car ended up hitting the ground 153 feet away from where it left the bridge.

Survivors ended up walking and running back to Statesville to report the accident. The entire town dedicated itself to rescuing survivors and recovering the deceased. They cut people out of the wreckage. Approximately, 20-23 people lost their lives, and 30 people injured. If people didn’t die from the crash, they drowned because the creek waters were high. Sadly, Statesville didn’t have a hospital at the time. So the injured were treated by the locals in their homes. The deceased was laid out in the Farmers’ Tobacco Warehouse so they could be identified.

An investigation was conducted to find the cause of the accident. It was discovered that rail spikes had been removed. Others blamed it on the poor maintenance of the R&D railroad.

A Public Spectacle

When news spread of this tragic accident, thousands of people gathered to check out the wreck and search through the debris for souvenirs. Photographers gathered to take photos and sold them to various publications around the area and state. You could say this was very much a disrespectful way to handle the situation. After detectives questioned people, two men already incarcerated were convicted of the crime based on their supposed confession to fellow inmates.

A Ghostly Anniversary

The tragedy of the this train wreck has never been forgotten. Why? Because it seems that this tragic event replays itself every year on the anniversary on August 27th. It started in 1941 when a couple were stranded by the bridge due to a flat tire. The husband left his wife alone to get help. While she was waiting, she heard the whistle of an approaching train. She saw the headlights and saw an old-fashioned train made of wood. As the train crossed the bridge, she heard a horrible crashed and witnessed the train fly off the bridge. To her horror, she heard the moans and screams of wounded people. She went down by the creek to get a better look and saw the full tragedy unfold.

When the woman saw a car approaching, she ran up and waved for help. As it turns out, her husband was in the car. She told her husband and the driver that a terrible accident took place. When they went to look. Nothing was there.

Insisting something had happened, the wife asked the husband to stop by the train station in Statesville. When the couple approached the ticket window, the wife asked the ticket agent if there was a train accident. The ticket agent explained that there was a terrible wreck on that same night, 50 years ago.

Echoes of the Past

I made a Facebook post about the Ghost Train of Bostian Bridge in July 2020, and it went viral. In the comments, I read countless stories of people who have felt weird things in the area. Those who worked near the bridge noted phantom train sounds coming from the area late at night. It seems there is still ghostly activity taking place, reminding the locals that the tragedy still resonates today.

People have also reported hearing screeching tracks, as well as seeing a ghost light on the tracks. The ghost light is seen often by locals. The ghost of a uniformed railroad employee with a golden watch has been seen as well. It is believed to be the spirit of Baggage Master Hugh K. Linster, who was found in the wreckage with a broken neck.

The Cost of Exploration

via Bridgehunter.com (Photo taken by Royce and Bobette Haley in May 2015)

Since this legend became well known, people have flocked to Bostian Bridge each year on August 27th. This is all in hopes of catching a glimpse of the infamous ghost train. Keep in mind that the Bostian Bridge is still an active railroad. This means that there are still real trains traveling on this railroad, and therefore, it’s dangerous.

Sadly, on August 27th, 2010, about 119 years after the original accident, a ghost hunter named Christopher Kaiser was killed after he was hit by a real train on the Bostian Bridge. There were about a dozen people present to check out the legend. He and his team were in the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of the ghost train. Kaiser managed to save his girlfriend from getting hit by pushing her off the tracks. One other man fell off the tracks and was injured. Why didn’t they run off the tracks earlier? According to WBTV, they thought the train sounds were the ghost train.

On that note, if you want to check out the ghost train for yourself, do it from a safe distance and stay off the tracks.

Better yet, light a candle for the victims from the safety of your own home.

Sources

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article234487957.html

https://www.ncpedia.org/bostian-bridge-train-wreck

https://www.ncpedia.org/culture/legends/bostian-ghost-train#

https://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/27/north.carolina.ghost.train/index.html

Why is Gettysburg So Haunted?

August 18, 2020August 18, 2020 Alex Matsuo

Long time no see!

I realize I broke away from my weekly routine, but there’s a good reason for that! After this recent Gettysburg trip, I was EXHAUSTED. Just a few days after my return, I had to have major surgery. That kicked my butt. I’m just NOW feeling like my old self again. I have some limitations. But luckily, I can write and make a quick video.

Originally, I was heading to Gettysburg for the Battlefield Bash, which was supposed to take place July 24th-26th. Because of COVID-19 and event restrictions, the event had to be canceled. Such is life in a COVID world. But, the AirBnB that my team and I booked was non-refundable. So, we were going anyway!

First Time for Everything

This was my first time staying in an actual house in Gettysburg. Previously, I had always stayed in a hotel or a motel. This house is known as “Pearl’s Place” on AirBnB, and it was overall, a fantastic experience. We’re pretty sure it’s haunted as well. During my first night, while trying to sleep, I kept feeling tugs on my CPAP tube and it kept waking me up. When I checked the tube, nothing was catching it. After the third time of this happening, I said, “This helps me breathe when I sleep.” After that…nothing. I slept peacefully.

I also encountered shadows and footsteps in the hallway. During our first few nights, we were aggressively trying to debunk any sounds we were hearing through experimentation. It’s fun to go on adventures with your team! The resident ghost(s) made other appearances in different ways, but that’s a story for my teammates to tell when they’re ready.

With Gettysburg Ghost Tours, we went to the farmhouse and the McCurdy School House. We also investigated the Farnsworth House Inn as well as the Jennie Wade House and the Orphanage. Even though I’ve been to the farmhouse, Jennie Wade, and the Orphanage before, I had completely new experiences.

Why is Gettysburg Haunted?

As I reflect on this trip, it made me ponder exactly why Gettysburg is haunted. I’ve compiled a shortlist of my theories and reasons why it’s haunted.

Reason #1: A Lot Happened

Between July 1-3, 1863, a lot happened in Gettysburg. This was one of the bloodiest battles happening on American soil. And the townsfolk of Gettysburg also had their own trials and tribulations just trying to survive. This was a literal assault on the grounds and it was like a lightning strike of turmoil and death. Gettysburg was absolutely traumatized and ravaged from the battle, and it took them years to recover. That alone is enough to warrant some sort of lingering energy. Perhaps there are spirits that still wander the land, confused as to what actually happened to them.

One could even argue that a lot of the intelligent hauntings that are taking place at Gettysburg are those of spirits who don’t know who are dead, because everything happened so fast. On the other end, my friend Michelle Hamilton told me about the idea that Jennie Wade is still haunting Gettysburg and is very aware of what is happening around her. She’s even considered the town gossip of the paranormal world. I guess if she didn’t live long enough to live her best life in the 1800s, she’s doing it right now.

Reason #2: Stone Tape Theory

While the Stone Tape Theory itself is a bit of an unstable claim to base this on. I’ll go about the idea that the land itself absorbed all of that energy from the battle. For decades, people have commented that there’s a special kind of energy at Gettysburg. You can feel the difference. You can feel the trauma and the aftermath of the battle itself. With the absorption of all of that energy, it’s sure to bleed out.

In this case, since we are still feeling that energy over 150 years later. Maybe that’s why people report hearing rebel yells, cannon fire, gunshots, and seeing reenactors (even though no reenactment is scheduled)? These aren’t intelligent hauntings. Instead, this is residual energy that is replaying over and over like a broken record.

Reason #3: Retelling the Story

The story of Gettysburg has never had a chance to rest. Even after the battle, the town was focused on recovering the town and trying to get back to normal. Just a few months after the battle, Lincoln came to town and gave his famous Gettysburg Address when the Soldiers’ National Cemetery opened. The town’s identity became the Battle of Gettysburg.

Today, people are constantly retelling the story. Whether it’s the museum with its film, cyclorama, and artifacts, people taking the Auto Tour, or even just shopping around, the story is constantly being retold. That energy is being reawakened on a daily basis. Because of this, you could say that the energy from retelling is story is constantly charging up the hauntings at Gettysburg.

Reason #4: We Want it to Be Haunted

This is not only a case of self-fulfilling prophecy but also a case where we can explore the ideas of thoughtforms and tulpas. In the event of self-fulfilling prophecy, if we ghost hunters go out to look for a ghost, and in Gettysburg of all places, then usually, a ghost shall be found. This happens more often than we think. When different tour companies tell us their ghost stories before the ghost hunt or candlelight tour, we have a heightened sense of anticipation. When this happens, we may very well mistake a simple creak as a terrifying ghost. From there, more stories are created.

On a completely nerdy note, there’s also the idea that people can create their own ghosts and hauntings. Some people call these “thoughtforms” or “tulpas.” The Philip Experiment is a great example of this. However, the experiment took years with a group of people meeting once a week. A tulpa takes years of intense concentration to manifest. Because humans typically don’t spend this amount of time on concentration during a ghost hunt, I’m not completely satisfied with this idea.

Reason #5: Modern Hauntings Mistaken for Civil War Hauntings

I don’t think all of the hauntings people encounter are tied to the Civil War. I often wonder if the strength of the Civil War-based paranormal world has given strength to more modern hauntings. Sadly, I do wonder if maybe the hauntings that have started after the Battle have been automatically contributed to the events of 1863. It’s odd because while trying to preserve history, we may very well be a part of the problem that is erasing it.

After Thoughts

I have to also wonder what the percentage of hauntings and ghosts stories are from the battle and how many others are just “regular” hauntings from the most normal things. Gettysburg continues to be a place where ghost hunters will often flock to in order to have that one amazing experience that may very well prove the existence of ghosts. But, how many people will encounter a ghost when they weren’t looking for it? Like, they’re just there to be tourists and take in the history of that great battle. When this happens, I have to wonder if there will always be lost souls wandering this great battlefield, looking for someone who can hear them.

10 Amazing Haunted Places in Gettysburg You Can’t Miss!

July 28, 2020September 8, 2020 Alex Matsuo

I’ve been covering Gettysburg a LOT lately. Truly, it’s my favorite place in the world, not just for history, but also for the ghosts! Whenever I talk to people about Gettysburg, the first question that comes up the most is, “So where should I go to find some ghosts?” That’s a loaded question! Truth be told, Gettysburg is a spiritually dense place. Almost every inch of it has some sort of ghostly activity. I joke all the time that you can throw a rock and hit a ghost wherever you are!

If you want to go ghost hunting while in Gettysburg, then these places should be on your list. I’ll make a note if you need to contact a specific company to arrange a tour or an investigation. Are these the only places where you can find ghosts? Of course not! I’m starting with the places I’ve already been to. I’ll be doing a part two in the future!

Sachs Covered Bridge

Sachs Bridge Gettysburg haunted ghosts Confederacy

Built in 1854, legend says that three Confederate deserters were hung next to this bridge during the Battle of Gettysburg. It is also said that wounded Confederate soldiers rested on the banks of the creek to recover. But what many don’t know is that the day after the Battle of Gettysburg ended, it rained. From that rain, the creek overflowed and numerous Confederate soldiers drowned. What is definitely true is that both the Union and Confederate used this bridge during and after the battle.

People who have visited here have reported cold spots in the middle of summer. Others have seen bodies hanging from the trees. Other reports include smelling cigar smoke, getting tapped on the shoulder (with no one there), as well as three disembodied heads on the bridge. Finally, gunshots and cannon fire have been heard at night.

Devil’s Den

“Jesus Himself would not investigate Devil’s Den…”These were the first words I heard when I was talking about doing an EVP session at Devil’s Den, which sits at the bottom of Little Round Top on the battlefield. July 2nd, 1863 marked the second (and bloodiest) day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Union soldiers used the hill to counterfire the Confederates before the First Texas Regiment eventually took it over. Confederate sharpshooters hid in between the rocks to fire at the Union soldiers on Little Round Top. Many of the Confederate soldiers in the rocks died from the concussion of air. After the second day of the battle, the dead and wounded were spread all over Devil’s Den. What was the most heartbreaking is that the wounded soldiers were crying for their mother in agony throughout the night.

Ghost seekers who visit Devil’s Den report that their cameras and phones will glitch while trying to take a picture. Not only that, but paranormal equipment will run out of batteries or stop functioning all together. Apparitions appear moments before the tech breaks. When the ghost seekers leave the battlefield, the broken technology starts working again. On the windy road behind Devil’s Den, people have seen apparitions of soldiers, particulary soldiers waving their amputated limbs in the middle of the road.

Battlefield Farm House

You can only visit this location through Gettysburg Ghost Tours. This particular location is interesting, and it has also been the center of some controversy. While it seems the foundation of the house was built in 1830, sites like Realtor claim that the house was built in 1865. Given I’ve seen the foundation myself, that in of itself is probably 100+ years old. The rest of the house does look a lot more modern, but that could be due to renovations. Either way, it’s haunted. There is plenty of activity waiting for you. The stories told by the guides I’ve worked with over the years seem to be true. What I really like about this place is that it is located right along the battlefield near Culp’s Hill and across the street and down the road from Evergreen Cemetery.

I had a few very personal experiences at the Battlefield Farmhouse. One of them wasn’t even related to the Battle of Gettysburg at all. My mother came through May 2017. I didn’t realize it at the time, but when midnight struck during our investigation, it was Mother’s Day. The last time my team and I were there (July 2020), we couldn’t help but notice a lot of shadows running through the trees behind the black gate. We also watched lights behind the trees, as if someone was holding a lantern.

McCurdy School House

The McCurdy School House was a surprising experience for my team and me. We ran into something extremely negative that really shook one of my mediums. We kept hearing a grown man’s voice act as though it were a child. Needless to say, we know why there’s a photo of Jesus in one of the rooms. This place has a ton of history. It was built in the 1800s and it was a stone structure at the time of the battle. The white bench you see in the photo on the right has had some ghostly activity. As soon as I sat in it, I felt like I was being touched. The guide told me that people have heard the voice of a young boy, and also felt like they were being touched. If you would like to investigate this place for yourself, contact Gettysburg Ghost Tours.

Daniel Lady Farm

I had the unique opportunity to participate in a Ghost Excavation, led by John Sabol and his team at the Daniel Lady Farm. If you’re not familiar with Mr. Sabol and his work, I highly recommend checking him out! This place is so special. It was used as General Ewell’s headquarters, and about 10,000 Confederate troops were camped out around the property. Wounded officers were tended to in the house while wounded soldiers stayed in the barn. As most Civil War hospitals go, they were mainly a place for death and amputations. And in case you’re wondering, yes, cadaver dogs scoped the area and they found mass graves of amputated limbs.

During our Ghost Excavation, we focused on the attic in the house in the beginning, where ghostly children were eager to play with us. The team also did simulated amputations in the barn, and then the women scoped the land around the barn looking for lost loved ones…all while wearing Civil War attire. After we were out of the house, all of the lights were turned off, and yet, we saw a light in the second-floor window. Like the field next to the Battlefield Farmhouse, I also saw a lantern-like glow in the woods. Mr. Sabol and his team also caught incredible audio of gunshots, cannon fire, and men screaming.

Since I wasn’t a part of the organization of this opportunity, I’m not sure how it was arranged. But, it is worth a visit to the Daniel Lady Farm for its historical value alone. There are bloodstains on the floor of the house, as well as blood splatters on the walls of the barn. It was bought by the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association in 1999, who played a huge role in restoring it.

Tillie Pierce House Inn

The Tillie Pierce House Inn is so haunted that it has been featured by many paranormal television shows. Tillie Pierce was just a teenager during the Battle of Gettysburg, and she became famous after writing a book of her accounts during Gettysburg and the Civil War. Before she was even old enough to drive by today’s standards, she was amputating limbs, sewing up, and dressing wounds of soldiers.

The Tillie Pierce House Inn continues to keep its tradition of being one of the most haunted places in Gettysburg. It’s occurrence of paranormal activity remains fairly consistent. For example, in the Blue Room where Tillie treated countless soldiers, footsteps are often heard. Guests at the inn have also heard a woman singing, seen troops patrolling the area, a soldier walking up and down the stairs, seeing ghosts sitting at the edge of their bed, and countless ghost children. Luckily, the ghosts haunting the Tillie Pierce House Inn seem to be all friendly.

When I was at the Tillie Pierce House Inn, I went under the Ganzfeld Experiment in the Blue Room, you can read my account here. I felt like I had made contact with something in the house, and I was overwhelmed by a feeling of sadness.

Hoffman Mansion

Sadly, this property is no longer available for investigations. However, you can still visit and admire from the outside…or look for ghosts in the windows! The property sits in front of the Eisenhower Hotel, and the grounds are definitely haunted. It stood as a hospital for the Union during the Battle, and it looks like this sits right on the line of Pickett’s Charge. This means, there was a lot of bloodshed especially around this time. When I visited this place, you could only book this location through Gettysburg Ghost Tours. The story behind this location is that years after the Civil War, a girl committed suicide in the house. Black masses have been seen in corners as well as a spooky woman walking down the stairs.

While I was investigating this location, I kept feeling a cool breeze as well as seeing a black mass out of the corner of my eye. When I asked one of the guides what the deal was with that particular corner on the second floor, he said that was where the girl was found hanging after she took her own life.

National Soldiers’ Orphanage Homestead

Where do I begin? I’ve been investigating the Orphanage since 2011. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been here now. I had my most alarming paranormal experience at this location. To sum up the history briefly, after the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War, you can imagine that there were a lot of displaced kids. There was an overload of orphans. The Civil War wiped out entire families.

The Orphanage was opened in 1866, and it started off as a wonderful place. However, the first headmistress was replaced by a woman named Rosa J. Carmichael, and she wasn’t quite so nice. She ended up being a cruel person who even built a dungeon in the basement to punish children. She also commissioned a few of the older kids to carry out some of the harsher punishments. There is a legend of a murdered infant buried in the back, and the numerous children that still haunt the location can’t cross over because of Rosa.

Remember I mentioned my most terrifying experience? Well, it was with Rosa. While the orphanage is overall a fairly positive place, Rosa’s presence changes the mood immediately. She tends to stay in the darker area on the other side of the basement, but will come when beckoned. Every time I visit, I feel like Rosa is expecting me, and she never underdelivers with the creepiness.

Jennie Wade House

The Jennie Wade House is another location I’ve investigated numerous times over the years. It has always given me something a little different. In July 1863, Jennie Wade and her mother were visiting her sister at their house (who just had a baby). Jennie was kneading dough and making bread for the soldiers when a rogue bullet hit her from behind, killing her instantly. Because the Battle of Gettysburg was still going on, Jennie’s body had to be taken to the basement.

A few Union soldiers assisted the family in transport, to the point where they had to cut a hole through the wall (the house was basically a duplex) and down into the basement. There, Jennie’s family had to wait out the battle with her corpse laying next to them. Jennie was only 19 years old when she died, and she was the only civilian to lose their life during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Today, Jennie’s ghost is said to be the “town gossip” of Gettysburg. My friend Michelle Hamilton and I concluded that Jennie is living her best “afterlife” since her life was cut so short. When I investigate the Jennie Wade House, I often hear the sound of children playing on the second floor. There’s a chain on the second floor that often moves without anyone touching it, and the K2 meter goes nuts. The basement is also active, but I think that’s the spirit of Jennie’s father.

Farnsworth House Inn

The Farnsworth House Inn was an unexpected surprise for me. I’ll be upfront and say that the majority of the activity we got was inside the house and in the basement. The house is named after Brigadier General Elon John Farnsworth, who lost his life after leading the charge after the failed Pickett’s Charge. Farnsworth lost 65 of his men. During the Battle, the house was used by Confederate sharpshooters, and one of those bullets is believed to have taken the life of Jennie Wade. If you look on the walls, you’ll see over 100 bullet holes, and they still remain today.

The house served as a hospital, and the owner, Harvey Sweney, had to take shelter in the basement during the Battle. At this time, the basement was a little crawl space, and the hospital was above him. You may know that the floors of Civil War hospitals had holes in them so the blood could drain through. It’s safe to assume Sweney was living in a literal bloodbath during the Battle.

Today, there is constant paranormal activity occurring in the house and in the campground behind it. There is a ghost cat that roams the inside, nearly tripping the living. The basement is haunted by several entities that are eager to talk. If you would like to go on a ghost hunt at the Farnsworth House Inn, you can go on one of their many amazing tours, and tell them Alex sent you.

The Ghosts of Alexander Hamilton & Aaron Burr

July 21, 2020July 21, 2020 Alex Matsuo

You could say that Alexander Hamilton is not only popular in the theatre right now.

I wrote an article for the Association of Paranormal Study about the ghosts of Hamilton as well as Aaron Burr. We all know Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit musical, Hamilton, took off. I often wonder if Lin got the divine inspiration to write the show. If not from God, maybe the ghost of Alexander Hamilton himself?

What if the widespread popularity that is Hamilton has reawakened the restless spirits of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr? I’m no stranger to ghosts from the Revolutionary War. For example, the ghost of George Washington led the 20th Maine regiment during the Battle of Gettysburg. It should be no surprise that Hamilton and Burr might still be hanging around our modern times.

Turn on your Hamilton original cast recording, and let’s go on a Hamilton-themed supernatural journey.

The Hauntings of Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton has been seen around his impressive tomb at Trinity Church right near Wall Street. Given that Hamilton’s death was premature, it’s no surprise that he may be feeling a bit cheated out of a long life. He wasn’t even 50 when he died.

Hamilton didn’t die in New Jersey where the duel took place. Instead, he died the next day at the home of his friend, William Bayard. The address of this location is 80-82 Jane Street. There is a plaque on the building that marks where Hamilton passed. Before his death, Hamilton had been treated for his gunshot wound by John Francis, who lived at 27 Jane Street.

An artist by the name of Jean Karsavina has lived at 27 Jane Street since 1939 reported seeing paranormal activity like footsteps, blurs, shadows, things moving, the works. Hans Holzer even investigated these claims.

Why Here, Alexander?

Around the time that Hamilton rose to popularity, activity at 71 Jane Street started to escalate. 71 Jane Street is located across the stress and a few houses east of the infamous plaque. That house is owned by Joe Hamilton, who bought the property in 1994. Even after the home was purchased, Hamilton and her family heard crashes and other weird noises that were so bad that the family had to wear earplugs to sleep at night. Joe bought the house from Irene Connors, who believes that 71 Jane Street is indeed haunted by Alexander Hamilton. Why? She saw him with her own eyes. She described him as slim, wearing knee-length trousers, and wearing a white-powdered wig.

A medium was brought to 71 Jane Street. She didn’t pick up the spirit of Hamilton, but she saw a little boy. The medium and the crew used a Ouija board. When the medium asked the child what his mother’s name is, it answered, “Eliza.” Some have speculated that maybe this was the Hamiltons’ son, Philip, who died from a duel in 1801.

But why 71 Jane Street? Well, what’s interesting is that 71 Jane Street sits right in the middle between 27 Jane Street and 82 Jane Street.

The Hauntings of Aaron Burr

Aaron Burr’s legacy is forever known as the man who shot Hamilton. If you want to meet the ghost of Aaron Burr for yourself, visit the New York City restaurant, “One If By Land, Two If By Sea.” Legend says he’s responsible for crashing dishes and moving chairs. The staff at the restaurant rarely want to be there alone after dark.

Like Hamilton, Burr’s ghost has been found in more than one place. After the duel with Hamilton, Burr fled to New Hope, Pennsylvania and stayed with an old friend for a week. While the house was known as The Painted Lady, today, it is known as the Aaron Burr House. Burr’s ghost has been seen roaming around the house and peering around the corners. He has also been seeing going up and down the staircase and tugging on the clothes of guests. Burr has also been sighted around the town of New Hope and has been seen looking over his shoulder, as if someone was following him.

A Marriage of Convenience

Towards the end of his life, Burr married Eliza Jumel at the age of 77. Eliza was one of the wealthiest women in the country. Burr quickly drained her assets, and then he passed away. The marriage barely lasted a year. In fact, their divorced finalized on the day of his death. Ouch.

Today, a desk that belonged to Aaron Burr still sits in the mansion. He has also been seen around the house along with Eliza, who died years later at the age of 90. Today, the mansion is known as the Morris-Jumel House and is available for paranormal investigations.

Waiting for Nothing

Finally, one of the sadder parts of Aaron Burr’s life was losing his young daughter at sea when she was just 29. She was heading to New York City by ship from South Carolina and never arrived to her destination. Burr’s ghost has often been seen at Battery Park at the American Merchant Marine Memorial. It’s believed that Burr is still waiting for his daughter to return.

Do you think the ghosts of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr still lingering on this earth?

Sources

The World Was Wide Enough: The Multiple Hauntings of Aaron Burr

Alexander Hamilton: Haunting More than the Theatre

http://www.wnycstudios.org/story/alexander-hamilton-haunting-jane-street/

Spirit of Alexander Hamilton may still be haunting the house where he spent his final days. (Audio)

Can Children See Ghosts?

July 14, 2020July 14, 2020 Alex Matsuo1 Comment

It seems so cliche…children seeing ghosts. Maybe we have that infamous scene from “Poltergeist” to thank. Remember? “They’re heeeeere.” Children seeing ghosts has been a powerful plot device in some of the most popular books, movies, and television shows. But when it happens in real life, it’s not quite so entertaining. It can be downright terrifying.

For centuries, there have been countless stories of children seeing ghosts. Some may call them imaginary friends, some call them Grandma and Grandpa. As a paranormal investigator who works on residential cases, I’m not unfamiliar with this phenomenon. Well, hearing the stories at least. I have only experienced this once.

Before We Begin

Moving forward, we’re going to go with the idea that what children are seeing is spirits. There are so many ways we can debunk these stories.

According to Dr. Kim Peirano, children have the ability to see ghosts because their awareness is much higher than us old biddies in adulthood. Children have yet to build up their walls, and therefore, notice more than we can.

Some Background

Since I got my bachelor’s degree, I’ve been in the classroom in some form or another. I’ve also run and designed camps at the local YMCA in college. I’ve been working with kids in some capacity for over ten years from all different age levels. In 2014, I found myself working as a preschool teacher for pre-kindergarten.

When you’re a preschool teacher for Pre-K with a class of 18 students, you get to know these kids pretty well. You’re with them for eight hours per day, five days per week. You get to know their families, their habits, what makes them thrive, what upsets them, are they tattle tells, are they quiet and reserved, the list goes on. I’m also aware that children at this age (four and five year olds) can be highly imaginative and make up stories.

So, what I’m saying is that by the Spring of 2016, I knew my class pretty well by this point.

“She Won’t Leave Me Alone”

It was our afternoon playground time after snack. This playtime usually lasts about 45-minutes. But on this particular day. We have three Pre-K classes. We all eat together and play together on the playground. While I’m not with all 54 kids all the time, I know every one of them and most of their names. I tend to get to know faces and personalities more than knowing their names.

So one of the kids from another class comes running to me saying, “Ms. Alex! Karen won’t leave me alone!” in his tone of when he’s tattling on one of the kids…whining inflection, pained look in his face, the whole shebang. For purposes of privacy, I’ll call him Billy.

I quickly call out Karen’s name to talk to her, and I quickly realize that out of the three classes, we do not have a Karen. We don’t even have a Karen in the whole preschool, which goes from infants to 5 years old. But the Pre-K kids play together, and we don’t mix age groups.

I stop and ask Billy, “Are you sure your friend’s name is Karen?”

Billy: “Yes!”

I confirm that he wasn’t meaning one of the other little girls. He says no.

So I ask him to point Karen out to me. I’m thinking maybe even after being in that class for 10 months (our “school year” is from August to July), maybe he forgot his friend’s names or he was stating a nickname.

Billy: It’s that girl over there in the white shirt!

I look over and there is no girl in a white shirt as all the girls are in pinks, purples, oranges, and blues. So I tell Billy to take me to Karen. He takes me to the fence and points to the woods next to the playground. I ask him if he sees her now and he whines, “Yes! Karen won’t leave me alone!” I told Billy to go play at the slide and ignore Karen, and my coworker and I just looked at each other with big eyes.

Explaining it All

Now, there’s a chance that little Billy was trying to project his issues onto an imaginary friend because he was too intimidated to point out the real Karen. There’s also a huge possibility that Karen was imaginary and he was trying to engage in some sort of social structure and explore communication.

Did you see ghosts when you were a kid? Or are you a parent of a child who has seen ghosts? Share your story in the comments!

Randonautica: Everything You Need to Know

July 7, 2020July 7, 2020 Alex Matsuo

I was alerted to the app, Randonautica, by one of my Instagram friends. It is an app that has taken the world by storm and has made people become explorers in the community around them. What is interesting about Randonautica is that it has you set an intention before your adventure begins. Not only that, but people have been finding things that you could consider paranormal, if not downright creepy.

The app made waves recently after some teens found a dead body in a suitcase in Seattle thanks to Randonautica. The video was shared on TikTok and it went viral. This is likely what gave the app it’s creepy turn and has had people scouring their towns looking for something haunted or just as disturbing.

Of course, being the curious person that I am, I decided to give Randonautica a try. I’ll share my initial thoughts later. Let’s talk about the app.

How Does Randonautica Work?

Randonautica has to have access to your GPS so that it can pinpoint very specific coordinates for you to go out and explore. These coordinates are created using a random number generator. You set an intention and the numbers come up. Random number generators have quite the paranormal history and have been said to predict major events like September 11th and one of the major tsunamis to hit Asia.

Want to Try It?

If you’re ready to try this, here’s how:

Click on the blue, “Randonaut” button to get started.

The app will ask you if you want to find an Anamoly, Attractor, Void, and Pseudo. What do all these terms mean?

Anamoly – According to an article on Medium.com, “An Intention Driven Anomaly is just a name given to describe both voids and attractors. Intention Driven Anomalies are areas of pattern found in quantum random number data. This means that these are the areas hypothesized to have been influenced by human thought.” You’re choosing a stronger point between the attractor and the void.

Attractor – Areas where quantum points are highly concentrated and most dense.

Void – According to randonauts.com, “A void-point is an area where quantum-points are sparse. Void-points are the opposite of attractor-points, which is where quantum-points are most dense. The more sparse the void, the stronger it’s power is, and the higher significance it has towards your intention.”

Pseudo – From my understanding, this point is created through a random number algorithm.

This is all supposed to work with your mind and synchronicity, where your thoughts are being manifested using the map. Setting your intent is important when it comes to using this app.

RNG: What is ANU & Temporal?

Next, the app will ask you to select RNG, or random number generator.

ANU is the random number generator by the Australian National University. You can get more information about this generator online by clicking here.

I’m not sure what Temporal means, but I’m guesisng it might have something to do with a random number generator connected to the date and time the app is used.

Set Your Intention

After you select your RNG, you will set your intention. This can be anything that is on your mind, whether it’s a sign, a message, a want, or a need.

After that, you may have to wait a few minutes while the app processes your intent and accesses the random number generator.

My First Try

Similar to my experience with TikTok, I am curious about the app and I want to see what all the fuss was about.

I had some time after dropping my kitties off at the vet, so my boyfriend and I decided to go randonauting. Yes, that is cool term the kids are using these days. I set my intention on wanting to see something weird. It was pretty general. I honestly have never used a random number generator before.

The first hit I got was a void. So, we started driving and we ended up in a residential neighborhood. All of the houses had short driveways. The coordinates were sending us to a house with a long driveway and hidden by trees. My boyfriend and I decided that trespassing was not a part of the plans, so we turned around.

After making a grocery run, I turned on the app again. This time, this sent us to an attractor in a different residential neighborhood. What was interesting with this neighborhood was that it was same type of area that we want to move to, and it was 5 minutes down the road from our apartment. Did I mention we’re looking to buy a house in the next year or two?

Again, these coordinates would have put us in someone’s backyard, so we decided to not go further.

I turned the app on one more time. This time, the attractor looked more promising and looked like it was away from any neighborhood. Cool. Let’s try it.

This third one had us going to a construction site, which was blocked off. So we would have had to get out of the car to access it. Again, I’m not about that trespassing life, especially on a construction site.

A Warning

Could all of these points mean something to us? Maybe. I feel like I could justify every one of our stops. But the common denominator here is that Randonautica took us to a private property every time. This brings me to my next point; please PLEASE please do not trespass. Don’t go through a stranger’s backyard to get to your coordinates.

I would also say that you shouldn’t go randonauting after dark or by yourself. Try to go with a group of friends, especially when you don’t know where you’re going.

Also, if you see anything suspicious, don’t touch anything and call the cops.

Have you tried Randonautica? Let me know what you think in the comments below!

The SHOCKING Story of How a Civil War Soldier Visited His Own Grave at Gettysburg

June 30, 2020June 30, 2020 Alex Matsuo

This week marks the 157th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. On July 1st, 1863, Union and Confederate soldiers came head-to-head in the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War. For three days, these men fought their hearts out. In total, there were over 51,000 casualties and losses from both sides. Today, we remember Gettysburg as a major turning point of the Civil War.

I fell in love with Gettysburg in May 2000. It was during my first journey to the East Coast for my 8th-grade trip. The furthest east I had ever been to was Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. Oddly enough, Gettysburg was very familiar to this 14-year old teen. Even though we spent part of the day there, it wasn’t enough. I wouldn’t get back until 2011.

In addition to researching these incredible battles, I think it’s important to read about the people who lived through these historical events. Often, the individual stories are fascinating, and we learn so much about unsung heroes. The story I’m going to tell you is really interesting, and it still has an unsolved mystery.

The Backstory

Monument for the 91st PA at Gettysburg, circa 1904

Private Stephen Kelly was born between 1833-1835 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was part of the 91st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in Company E. He mustered on August 21st, 1861. Before Gettysburg, the regiment fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Chancellorsville. Around this time, regiments in the Union wanted to defend their home states. The 91st PA Infantry was no different. They wanted to defend their home. When word came that Lee’s army was heading North, the urge to fight was fiercer than ever.

On July 1st at 8pm, the regiment started their journey to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. They arrived on July 2nd, 1863. That afternoon, they marched to Little Round Top and fought against Confederate sharpshooters hiding in Devil’s Den. On the Fourth of July, they managed to take in several Confederate prisoners.

In all, the 91st PA Infantry regiment suffered 21 casualties, which included 19 enlisted men and 2 officers.

Staring Death in the Face

Sometime after the Battle of Gettysburg, a veteran was wandering around the Pennsylvania section of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. He stopped at Stephen Kelly’s grave and looked bewildered. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

The veteran was Stephen Kelly.

How could this be? Was he a ghost? Was he looking at his future? There was a lot of confusion because Kelly was very much alive and well. The body in the pine box below was not his.

According to a few sources, Stephen Kelly wasn’t even at the Battle of Gettysburg. Well, maybe. According to one source, he was sick and in the hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. This means he may have never stepped foot in Gettsyburg in July 1863. On October 9, 1863, it was reported that Kelly was “regained from missing in action.“ How was this error never corrected? He mustered out on September 8th, 1864 after serving his term.

How Did This Happen?

After the Battle of Gettysburg, Samuel Weaver was enlisted to recover the bodies of Union soldiers and bury them in what would become the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. Even when Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address in November 1863, the cemetery was still incomplete. To help him take on this massive task, Weaver enlisted several contractors to dig up shallow graves. They put the remains in pine boxes for the cemetery, which was an improvement from the shallow graves on the battlefield. With so much work at hand, there were sure to be errors. The soldiers were identified by their personal belongings that were either on them or close by.

According to William C. Reiff, a canteen with Kelly’s name had been found next to the unknown soldier on Little Round Top. Some say that the unknown soldier took (or even stole) Kelly’s knapsack while he was sick.

Every Memorial Day, Kelly visited the grave of the unknown soldier. He decorated his cemetery marker with flowers, all for the poor, anonymous soul that lost his life. The world will never know who he was.

The Rest of the Story

Stephen Kelly tried to correct the error, but he was unsuccessful. So, he decided to continue honoring the soldier who died in his place. Eventually, his name was removed. Today, the grave is marked as “Unknown.”

Kelly lived the rest of his life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During his life, he held a few different jobs including a painter and a chair maker. In life, Kelly was a hermit who lived alone. On January 29th, 1889, he passed away. He was buried in a local cemetery in Philadelphia.

If you would like to visit this unknown soldier’s grave and lay some flowers yourself, go to the Pennsylvania area in Section A, Site #88.

Sources

Harrisburg Telegraph, September 9th, 1907, Page 10

Philadelphia Enquirer, February 4, 1889

Soldiers’ National Cemetery Info

Stephen Kelly’s life story: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~pa91/military/pkells1.html

Gettysburg National Cemetery Part 5 With Licensed Battlefield Guide Roy Frampton

A True Gettysburg Civil War Story: https://amzn.to/3fQJlu6

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:91st_PA_-_deaths

A Gettysburg Soldier Decorates His Own Grave: 1886

8 Psychic Tips from Someone Who Isn’t Psychic

June 23, 2020June 24, 2020 Alex Matsuo

So, I’m not psychic. I’m about as psychic as a wet towel.

But, I’ve worked with a LOT of psychics over the 10+ years I’ve been investigating the paranormal. Throughout this time, I’ve gotten pretty familiar with working with psychics, how to find a good one, and when I know I’m being taken for a ride. I’m often questioned about this since sometimes people are scammed by self-proclaimed psychics more often these days. Luckily, I’ve managed to find a few good psychics that I think are legit, and I’m here to tell you how you can do that as well.

If you possess psychic and mediumship abilities, this is also for you. If you’re wondering what goes through a client’s heading during a reading, and you’re looking to improve your skills, then these tips and pet peeves will be very helpful to you on your journey.

What I’m going to do is share the pet peeve, and then share the tip to help resolve the pet peeve. Think of it as a problem-solution model for this blog. This is not only for psychics but for anyone who is interested in working with psychics and are wondering how to approach this. Stick around through the end, and I’ll tell you what the good psychics do!

If you want to watch the video version of this blog where you hear the tips directly from me with other commentaries, click here or see below.

Pet Peeve #1: Being Too General

If you’re not familiar with the concept of cold reading, this is definitely something to look into before your next session with a psychic. Basically, it means that the psychic will ask an incredible general question that could apply to anyone.

For example, the psychic may ask or say to me, “I sense an older woman in your life.”

That’s pretty general. Given that majority of the world’s population has an older woman in their life, whether it’s a mother, grandmother, etc., this can easily be picked up. Another one would be, “I’m sensing someone with the letter A in their name.” Again, this is a vowel, and that’s fairly common in most names.

If this is a group setting in where you are receiving your reading with multiple people, then it’s even more likely that the general statements will apply to a person. Usually, in the cold reading pattern, once a person verifies that they have a grandmother with the letter A in their name, the psychic will then read the body language and verbal/non-verbal cues from the client to pursue further.

Another general statement that I’ve heard numerous times from people with abilities is, “This is very old land.”

Okay, so…I’m pretty sure most land is old. Unless you live near a volcano with running lava that is constantly making new land.

Tip for the Psychic: Be Specific

I appreciate specificity more so than generality, even if you’re wrong. If you’re sensing a woman with dark hair and her name is Agatha…say it. I know sometimes psychics may feel a bit self-conscious about the validity of their readings, so they may go for something more general. I also know there are people that don’t like silence, and so they will say things to fill in the gaps while they’re still processing information. Embrace the silence and be as specific as you can.

Tip for the Client: Stay Neutral

It can be tempting to verify and validate a psychic as they go with an enthusiastic, “Yes!” or try to fill in the blanks. Here’s a tip: don’t. Try to stay neutral as much as possible and don’t give away information.

Pet Peeve #2: Reading the Room

This means that the psychic is looking at elements in your home, your clothing choices, what kind of shoes you’re wearing, the type of purse you have, etc. They are basically reading you as a person. If they’re in your home, they’re looking for clues like if you have kids, if you live under powerlines, how close your house is with your neighbor’s, etc.

One experience I had was in a haunted location where I accompanied the psychic during their walkthrough. They walked into the husband’s study and immediately said, “This is a man’s room. I’m sensing male energy.” Given the decoration included leather furniture and a set of antlers on the wall with military maps and such…this wasn’t coming from any metaphysical gifts.

Tip for the Psychic: Go in Blindfolded

If you’re feeling really edgy and brave and you don’t want to be tainted by the aesthetic in the room, close your eyes or use a blindfold. I’ve seen multiple psychics do this, and it seems to be effective. But removing a blatant bias in the room (ie photos, decor, etc.), they ended up depending on a different part of their abilities to read the room.

Tip for the Client: Call it Out

You don’t have to be rude about it. Using the “man’s room” example, I would say something to the effect of, “Oh yeah, the antlers REALLY give it away.” I would say this very lightheartedly because the psychic may not know that their bias is at play here. When you point this out, it will make the psychic become self-aware.

Pet Peeve #3: Not Asking for Consent

This one drives me batty. This is something I will call out in a public forum if I see it. Even if you’re going with a group for a reading, you don’t have to participate if you’re not comfortable. I tend to see this trend on social media as well as in haunted locations where spooky stuff is already on everyone’s mind. The psychic will approach someone and start spouting off a reading right off the bat before the person has a chance to really grasp what is happening. More often than not, this happens publicly and exposes sensitive information in front of strangers.

This is gross. This is violating. Don’t do it.

Tip for the Psychic: Ask for Permission

If you’re really itching to talk to someone about what you’re picking up, pull them aside and ask for permission. If this is happening on social media, ask if you can send a personal message to that person. Then, ask for permission. Never do this in a public forum, especially without permission. Doing it without consent, and in front of a crowd makes it look like you’re trying to put on a show and impress people at another’s expense.

Tip for the Client: You Are in Control

If you’re approached by a psychic because they have a message to give you, don’t hesitate to ask questions. It’s also okay to say no. But if the psychic seems genuine, and you feel comfortable, then go for it. Also, be on the lookout for the psychic trying to charge you for their services after the fact. Or, they leave you on a cliffhanger and say, “For $50 I can find out more.” Walk away. It’s a scam. If the psychic then claims you have a family curse and it will cost $XXXX to remove it, walk away. Call the cops.

Pet Peeve #4: Giving Medical Advice

This is one of those legal points that we often don’t think about in the paranormal. Even if you’re a doctor, you should never…NEVER…give medical advice as a psychic reader. For real. I’ve seen psychics tell their clients they can stop taking their anti-psychotics. The result? The client will no longer listen to their doctor. Needless to say, it has ended up badly. Not just for the client, but a few times, the psychic will be taken to court. I’ve seen psychics sued for pain and suffering, amongst other issues.

There is a difference between a psychic telling you to get a part of your body checked out versus telling you how to treat the condition. If the psychic tells you something concerning your health and body, definitely follow up with your doctor.

Tips for the Psychic: Don’t Treat the Condition

If you are using your client’s spirit guides, and they are alerting you to the ailment at hand, then passing on the message is important. Of course, this can be terrifying to your client, so approach this with as much empathy as possible. Also, be sure to tell your client that you’re not a medical expert and encourage them to follow up with their doctor. Never give advice on how to treat the condition even if you know what you’re doing. You don’t want to open yourself up to legal trouble.

Tip for the Client: Follow Up with Your Doctor

Just to be safe, don’t take any medical advice from a psychic. If they suggest that something is wrong, follow up with your doctor. If any psychic is trying to give you advice on your current treatment, suggest that you change meds, etc. don’t do it until you’ve spoken with your doctor. For some, this could mean the difference between life and death. At the very least, making sure you maintain a good quality of life.

Pet Peeve #5: Refusing to Be Wrong

This one bothers me, especially when it’s highly likely that a psychic is wrong. I know that this will offend people, but it has to be said. I’ve found myself sometimes redirecting psychics if they’re going down the wrong rabbit hole, meaning they’re trusting the wrong vibe. I once had a psychic tell me that she knew I had a living child and I said no. I had lost a few pregnancies, and I initially thought that maybe she was picking up on them. No. She insisted I had a child that was alive and she thought I was lying to her. I even told her my history, and she never budged. I never used her again.

Tip for the Psychic: It’s Okay to Be Wrong

I’m much more willing to work with a psychic who is open to being wrong, than a psychic who is over-confident to the point where they’re never wrong. Being wrong opens yourself up to a wealth of learning opportunities that will only improve your abilities once you embrace them.

Tip for the Client: Be Gentle

As I mentioned to the psychic, it’s okay if they’re wrong. It may mean that they’re not the right psychic for you, their gifts are different from what you need, or something is amiss. If the psychic ends up being wrong, be gentle and honest with them, and possibly redirect them. Sometimes a nudge in the right direction is all they need and then they’re spot on.

Pet Peeve #6: Reading a Famous Location Like It’s a New Place

If I take a psychic to Gettysburg, and the first thing they tell me is, “I get the feeling a massive battle happened here”, my reply is going to be, “No sh*t, Sherlock.” True story. This happened. When it comes to reading famous places, I’ll be honest and say that I take what the psychic says with a grain of salt. This is because I don’t know if they’ve researched the area ahead of time.

Tip for the Psychic: Be Specific

This goes back to my tip about specificity. While you may not be able to read a location on a large scale, you can downsize and tune into one smaller thing. It could be that you click with a spirit that haunts the location. If you’re on a ghost hunt, you might be able to help guide the investigation (don’t take it over) so that the conversation is productive.

Tip for the Client: Call it Out & Ask for Specifics

Going back to the Gettysburg example, I called it out almost immediately. We all know a great battle happened there. When a psychic gets too general, I try to ask specific questions. I may say something like, “Is there anything here in this spot that you might be feeling?” I may even point out a toy, an area, a building, etc. and ask them what they pick up on. Unless they did thorough research on every little thing about a location, this simple redirection can help them without making them feel bad.

Pet Peeve #7: Taking Over & Tainting a Ghost Hunt

This one is HARD to manage. As the director of a team where the psychics used to outnumber the muggles, this one is like herding cats. An example of this situation is that one psychic speaks up (I call this person the alpha-psychic), and then the other psychics in the room start supporting what the alpha-psychic said. It turns into a situation where the psychics in the room are already tainted and may struggle to share any information that is different. It then turns into a mess where two or more psychics are bouncing ideas off each other that could very well be wrong. They’re more interested in validating each other than reading the room.

Tip for the Psychic: Take Precise Notes

You want to create a paper trail that is timestamped and dated as much as possible. If you’re picking up on something ahead of time before your investigation or reading, send an email to your friend, spouse, yourself…just something that shows the time and date. During your walkthrough and investigation, take notes on what you’re picking up. If you have to share it with someone, share it with the leader of the group and go with their guidance on how much to share.

Tip for the Client: Record Everything

The solution to this is setting aside time so that each psychic can do a walkthrough of the property. Have a regular, non-psychic person record the walkthrough on video so that the initial findings are recorded. That way, if there is a hit, we can reference back to the video. If there are common reports about certain areas during the reading, it’s documented. I can’t take credit for this one. My amazing lead psychic, Katlyn, came up with this.

Pet Peeve #8: Caving In Too Easily with Other Psychics

This pet peeve is the complete opposite of number seven. If you’re picking up something, and you share it with the leader of the ghost hunt, be confident in what you’re picking up. I’ve witnessed many psychics tell me one thing, but when another psychic says something different, they’ll completely switch gears and jump on board with the alpha. What’s worse is that I’ve seen some pretend that their differing reading never happened (remember, record). This makes me sad when this happens, because whose to say that the alpha is right? Instead of being tainted and unable to do the reading, this psychic will completely change their alignment and cave in when there’s differing opinions.

Tip for the Psychic: Stay Strong

If you are getting something completely different from what the alpha-psychic is saying, stay strong and say something. Just because you’re picking up on something completely different doesn’t mean you’re wrong. I’ve yet to meet two psychics with the exact same gifts. You might pick up on something different because you’re energy is intune with it.

Tip for the Client: Be the Psychic’s Advocate

If you’re leading a ghost hunt, and you see this happen, don’t let the psychic that caved in off the hook. Mention their initial reading with them and ask what changed. I would recommend doing this in private so that the psychic doesn’t feel embarrassed. Remind them that while it’s okay to be wrong, there’s a chance they could be right, and they should stay confident. Also, tell them to not base their reading off of someone else just because they may be more dominant.

At the end of the day, whether you’re a psychic or a consumer of psychic readings, always be sure to be true to yourself, call out discrepancies as you see them, and don’t be shy when uplifting each other. Today’s world is hard to deal with and it’s stressful enough right now.

So, What Do the Good Psychics Do?

They are open to being wrong. The good psychics not only open their minds but their hearts as well. These folks will have confidence in their readings, but their confidence is also flexible. They will go with the flow of the leader of the investigation or their client. The good psychic will not be pushy or impose their beliefs onto their client or their work. They are adaptable and respectful. These folks acknowledge that they are tools in the process and they are the bridge between the physical and spiritual world. They are constantly curious and they will always study their work. The good psychic is always trying to improve.