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.
