Professional Documents
Culture Documents
TheEvolutionofParanormalBelief
byTimothySclafani
NewsII
December7,2015
TableofContents
I.TheHauntedRamtailFactory
.2
II.TheLifeandTimesofaParanormalInvestigator
.7
III.HauntedProvidence
...10
IV.WhyDoPeopleBelieveinGhosts?
...13
V.TheReligionConnection
........14
VI.Homer,Fuseli,andSirIsaacNewton
........17
VII.GhostsCanHelp
...........19
VIII.MediaPortrayalsoftheParanormal
............20
IX.ParapsychologyandPseudoscience
...21
X.The(Unmarked)GraveofJonathanBuckland
...23
WorksCited
.........25
I.TheHauntedRamtailFactory
FOSTER,R.I.__ItisawarmdayinearlyNovemberwhenThomasDAgastinovisitsthesiteof
theallegedlyhauntedRamtailfactory.DAgastino,at55yearsofage,isdressedinablack,wool
overcoatwitharedinteriorthatcoversadarkgrayturtleneckunderneath.Manyofhislong,grey
andblackhairshavefoundawaytobreakfreefromthelooseponytailwhichhehasfashioned.
Eachofhistenfingersareclaspedbyatleastonering.Fourbandsgracehisthumbandpinky
fingers,whilelargerringsthatdepictsupernaturalcreaturesandobjectsrestonhisindex,middle,
andringfingers.
Thenavyblue2006VolvoS60whereDAgastinoridespassengertakesasharpleftontoRams
TailRoad.Suddenly,itissurroundedbyacemeteryontheleftandaheavilywoodedareaonthe
right.ItpullstoastopinagrassyopeningabouthalfofamileintothecemeteryandDAgastino
stepsout.
Inonehandhecarriesacopyofhisownbook,
RhodeIslandsHauntedRamtailFactory,
andin
theotherhecarriesarectangularaluminumbriefcase.Thebookisavaluableresourcefor
DAgastinoasheretracesthelayoutandthehistoryofthearea.Thebriefcaseishometohis
extensivecollectionofgearusedtoconductparanormalinvestigations.
Sometimesatnight(Ramtail)issodarkyoucantseerightinfrontofyou.Evenwitha
flashlight,allitseemstodoispointlikeafootinfrontofyou,DAgastinosaid.Itsasif
somethingisjustcoveringthegoddamnlight.Youcantseeanything.Ivehadaheadlighton
andwalkedintotrees,becauseitreallyisthatdarkinhere.Iveneverseenaplacesopitchblack
likethatinmylife.
Onthisdaythesunisshiningbright,soDAgastinobeginshistrekdownthewinding,dirtroad
intotheFosterLandTrustwithahopinhisstep.Hepaysnoattentionashepassesaseriesof
notrespassingsignsputupbyProvidenceWater.
Ashewalks,thefallleavescrunchcrisplybeneathhisfeetattimes,somuchthatitoverpowers
hisgentlevoice.Thelandscapearoundhimisflatinthebeginning,butitbecomesmorehillyas
hetraversesdeeperintothewoods.
Lyingaroundindifferentareas,youllstarttoseewhattheycallEnglishbricks,hesays.All
ofthesemoundsarepartoffoundations.
Whatlooksasifitcouldbejustamound,oraholeintheground,tosomeonewalkingtheirdog,
turnsouttobethefoundationofanoldhouse,orawellintheeyesofDAgastino.Itbecomes
clearashescurriesalongthepath,actingassomethingofatourguide,thathistoryisjustas
importantifnotmoresotohimthanghosts.
AmongthenumerouswellknownhauntingsinRhodeIsland,thereisjustonethatisofficially
recognizedbythestate'sgovernmenttheRamtailFactory.LocatedinFosterR.I.,theplace
wheretheRamtailFactorymilloncestoodhasbeenthesubjectofnumerousamateurand
professionalinvestigations.Intheearly1800s,NewEnglandhadestablisheditselfasoneofthe
UnitedStatesmostprosperouslocationsforindustrialization.Fosterwasoneofmanysmall
townsthatwastakenadvantageofforitsfreespacethatwouldsoonbeconvertedintofactories
andmills.
InoneofThomasDAgastinosmanybooksonhauntingsaroundNewEngland,hewritesthat
WilliamPotterandhiswife,MaryEllis,movedtoFosterin1790whenPotterpurchasedasaw
andgristmillfromJonathanHopkins.Withinthenextdecade,Potterwouldexpandhis
millpropertiestoeightgristmills,10sawmills,twoironworks,andaforgeandhammershop.
Approximatelyanotherdecadelater,in1813,Potterwouldtryhishandatthefirst
waterpoweredmillofitstime.Pottermadethedecisiontoincludefivefamilypartnersinhis
operation,andthushimself,hissonOlneyEllis,brotherinlawJonathanEllis,andsonsinlaw
MarvinRoundandPelegWalkercombinedtopurchasesixacresoflandforthemill.Somewhere
betweenoneandtwoyearspassedbeforetheFosterWoolenManufacturingCompanyopened
whilethepartnersexpandedandmodifiedtheland,addingthemillitself,houses,astore,and
wateraccess.
Pottermanagedthedaytodayoperationsofthebusinesswhilethesoninlaw,PelegWalker,
workedasthenightwatchman.Walkerwouldspendthemidnighthoursroamingthelandswith
hislantern.AtthesignoffirstlightWalkerwouldringthebellinsidethemainfactoryindicating
theendofhisownshiftandthebeginningofthemorningshift.Thefactory,whilenotbooming
likesomeRhodeIslandbusinesses,operatedsurelyandsteadilyforjustlessthanadecade.
Intheearly1820s,PelegWalkerandWilliamPottergotintoanargumentthatisgenerally
believedtohavebeenoverfinances.TheargumentreacheditscrescendowhenWalkertold
Potterhewouldeventuallyhavetotakethekeystothefactoryfromthepocketofadeadman.
OnthemorningofMay19,1822,PelegWalkermadegoodonhisthreat.Asthesunrose,the
workersfailedtohearthebellringoutastheywereaccustomedto.Theyhastilywenttothe
factorytoseewhatcausedthischangeinroutineandfoundthedoorslocked.Uponbreaking
downthedoors,theworkersfoundthe35yearoldPelegdead,hangingfromthebellropewith
thefactorykeysinhispocket.
Productioncontinuedintheabsenceofthenightwatchman,butithaltedjustafew
nightslaterwhenbelltolledatmidnight,believedtobethewitchinghourbytheworkersof
thefactoryandthePotters.Theworkersmadetheirwaytothefactoryagain,butcouldfindno
evidenceofanybodybeinginside.Whenthisverysameoccurrencetookplacejustthenext
night,WilliamPottersurethatsomeonewasplayingtricksonhimmadeapointofhaving
thebellroperemovedfromthefactory.
Whenthebellcontinuedtoringoutfollowingtheremovalofthebellrope,thePottershadlittle
choicebuttoremovethebellitself.Totheirdismay,whathappenednextseemedtoallbut
confirmthepersistingpresenceofPelegWalker.Theentiresurroundvillagewaswokenone
nightatmidnightbythesoundsofthefactoryemptyrunninginfulloperation.Most
frighteningofallwasthesightofthelargewaterwheel,thefactoriessourceofpower,turning
againstthecurrentofthestream.Horrifiedworkersbegantoquittheirjobatthefactoryin
droves,andthesituationonlybecamemoredireforthePottersasreportsofpeopleseeinga
ghostlyfigureroamingthegroundsafterdarkwithalanternbegantosurface.
By1850,theFosterWoolenManufacturingCompanyhadcloseditsdoorsforgood.Thecause,
asperthe
FosterHistoricalRecords
intheRhodeIslandHistoricalLibrary,wasthehauntingof
PelegWalker.In1880s,theremainingstructureswereburnedtothegroundbyafireofunknown
origins.Thefirewouldbethelastbitofevidencesupportingthehauntingthatthestateneeded
the1886RhodeIslandStateCensusindicatesthedefunctRamtailFactoryasthefirstofficially
hauntedlocationinthestate.
OnthesubjectofthehauntedRamtailfactory,theonlyplaceDAgastinohasinvestigatedthat
meriteditsownbookwrittenaboutit,therearesomeongoing,excitingdevelopmentsthatheis
eagertoaddress.Hesaysthestorycaughthisattention23yearsagowhenhesawitmentionedin
anewspaperarticle.
WhenIwentthereitwasjustamagicalplace,DAgastinosaidofRamtail.Westarteddoing
ourinvestigationsthere,andIrealizedtherewasalotofgaps.Itbecameapersonalendeavorfor
metofillthoseinformationalgaps.
AsforthenewdevelopmentDAgastinoisunderthebeliefthatPelegWalker,theghostlynight
watchman,onlyaccountedforoneofthesuicidesatRamtail.ThroughDAgastinosnormal
researchprocessofcombingthroughextensivedepthsofdeedsandFostertownrecords,hehas
discoveredanotherpossiblesuicideJonathanBuckland.Historicaldocumentsrevealthat
Bucklandwasalsoworkingatthefactoryin1817,andheowedthePotterfamilyquiteabitof
money.
Bucklandwasworkingatthefactory,doingthenightshift,andgotwrappedupinasixmonth
loanwiththePotterfamily.DocumentsattheFosterTownHalldocumentthesuicideof
Bucklandshortlyafterhisdebtwasdue.
Throughthetracingofhislife,throughthetracingsofwhatIfoundindeedsandrecordsofhim
oweingthePottersmoneythereshistoricalrecordsthattheyliterallycalledontheirloan.
OlneyandWilliamPotter.Hehadnothingleft.Hewasbroke:Iambroke.Ihavenothing.
Commitsuicide.
Afterwalkingbetweenhalfandtwothirdsofamile,hearrivesathisdestinationtheplotofland
wherethemainfactorybuildingoncestood.Hepointstoanareainthegroundwherethe
bubblingbrookmakesauturn,andextendsintoalargerectangularstoneformation.Heexplains
thatthisiswherethemillthatpoweredthefactoryoncestood.
DAgastinopointstoaseriesofothersmallrockformationsinthearea,describingthemasthe
oldvillagestore,andtheblacksmithshopoftheoldmill.Hepacesthegroundsasifhecanstill
seethedefunctbuildingserectedastheywereinthe1800s.Hestepsoverrootsandfallen
branchestoanareaabout50yardsawayfromthebrook.Arectangularformationsimilartothat
ofthewheelwellisbuiltintoalargestonewall.
Afterwalkingaroundforabout15minutesandreabsorbingtheatmosphereoftheplacethat
captivatedD'Agastinosomanyyearsago,hisattentionturnstohisbriefcase.Hewalksback
overtotheareabythebrookandlaysitdowninthegrassnexttoatalltree.Hepullsacrowded
keyringfromhisleftpocketandbeginstofumblearoundwiththetwolatchesholdingthe
briefcasetogether.
Themetalkeyseemsincapableofpenetratingthesmallmetallatches,sohelayshiskeychainon
thegroundandopensuphiswallet.Hepullsoutasparekey,nearlyidenticaltothefirstone,and
hasbetterluckthistimearound.
Heeagerlyopenshisbriefcaseandrevealsacarefullyorganized,carefullyselectedarrayof
variousgadgetsandgizmosmeanttorevealordisprovethepresenceofaparanormal
entity..AmongthetoolsisanEMFreader,whichisusedtomeasuretheelectromagneticfields
presentinthearea.Additionally,thereisablacklightwhichisusedtodetectbloodstainsinan
area.DAgastinosaysthatheusedthistoprovethattherewasbloodstillpresentinthebasement
ceilingbeamsoftheLizzieBordenHouseinFallRiver,Mass.
Healsohasathermalscanner,avideocamera,atwowayradio,asmallinfraredrecorder,anFM
SynthesizedReceiverhiscellphonetothedead,alevel,atapemeasure,hisdowsing
rods,apendulum,andanassortmentofflashlights.
HeelectstheEMFreaderandtheFMreceiverashistoolsofchoiceforthisparticular
investigation.HeflipstheonswitchtotheEMFreader,andtherectangularblackboxreads
0.02,whichhesaysisatypicalreadingforanareawithnoelectromagneticfieldspresent.
DAgastinoflipsonthesmallblackFMreceiver,whichlooksmorelikeasmallremote
controller,andbeginstoaskquestionsofPelegWalker.Eachoneisfollowedbyalongsilence
thatisinfinitelymoreeeriethanthelast.
PelegWalker,thisisTomDAgastino,howareyoudoingtoday?
Imspeakingtoanyonewhowantstosayanythingtome.JonathanBuckland,areyouhere?
Mr.Buckland,wouldyouliketotellusanything?
DAgastinoturnsofthereceivertemporarilyandlaystheEMFReaderagainstthetree.
Mr.Buckland,canyoutelluswhathappenedwhenyouowedmoneytothePotters?
PelegWalker,canyoutelluswhathappenedonthenightofMay19,1822?
Doyouknowwhatyearitis?
Despitetheapparentlackofparanormalactivityatthetime,DAgastinoisfarfromdiscouraged.
Todaystillholdsanopportunityforhimtogathernewpuzzlepiecesonhisnewtheoryabout
JonathanBuckland.Hecomparesthephotosfromthe1800sfeaturedinhisbooktothecurrent
ruinsofthefactoryonelasttimebeforehestartstomakehiswayoutofthepath.
DAgastinoisconfidentofahauntingintheareabecausehehashadmultipleencounterswith
whatheswearswastheghostofPelegWalker.
Itwasdark,andaswerestandingthereabout45minutesinwesawthislight,likea
glowinglantern,hesaid.Itstartedmovingaroundasifitwaswalking,butitwashighupin
theair,itwasntrightontheground.Itlookedlikeitwaswalkingonwhatwouldhaveoncebeen
thefirstfloorofthebuilding.Afterwatchingthisforabout7or8seconds,Iturnedtolookatmy
friendandhewasrunningupthepath.Hewasgone.
Anothernightwecameuphere,onafullmoon,andwecouldhearwhatsoundedlikesomeone
walkingwithalanternwalkbyus,hesaid.ThatfreakedoutthepeopleIwaswith.Theynever
cameback.
AsidefromthepeoplethatTom,orPelegWalker,hasspookedoutofthearea,itisstillapopular
dogwalkingdestinationforresidentsofFoster.AsDAgastinoexitsthepathandgoestoget
backintothecar,hebumpsintoamanwithapairofheadphonesandametaldetector.Thetwo
holdafriendlyconversationwhereTomfillshiminonplacesofinterestthatmightyieldbetter
findingsthanothers.
Isthereanythingontheothersideoftheriverthere?themanpointsandasks.
ThatovertherewouldbetheRoundfarm,DAgastinosays,atestamenttohisexpansive
knowledgeofthearea.Iveactuallymetaldetectedoverthereandfoundsomehingesandstuff.
TheRoundshavebeenheresincetheearly1800sandon.Theressomecemeteriesaroundin
theareatoowheretheyreburied.
Ilovedoingacemetery,themanresponds.butyougottabecareful,sometimesyouget
chasedout.
WhetherthemanwasmakingamacabrereferencetoDAgastinosinterestsorsimplyreferring
topoliceorresidentsisunclear.
II.TheLifeandTimesofaParanormalInvestigator
DAgastinospeaksmerrilyabouthislifeasaprofessionalghosthunter,author,freelance
journalist,rockmusician,andparttimemusicalinstrumentstoreclerk.ItallstartedforTomin
thesameplacewhereherecentlyfinishedhisleftovertunaandquicheforlunchhisparents
home.WhilehehimselflivesinPutnam,Conn.withhiswife,ArleneNicholson,hefrequently
theSmithfield,R.I.residentwherehisparentshavelivedfor53years.
ThatSmithfieldhomeprovidedDAgastinowithhisfirsttasteofthesupernatural.Herecites
numerousoccasionsthroughouthis,andhisthreebrothers,childhoodswheretheyfound
themselvesevacuatingtheirbedroom,consideredtobekindofascaryplace,beforesleeping
inthecellarorintheparlor.Banjosstrumming,weightsrolling,andstuffedanimalsflyingor
movingwerecommonplaceintheDAgastinohousehold.
Youcouldalwaystellifsomethingwasgoingtohappen,DAgastinosaid,Therewasthis
yellowishhuethatwouldtakeovertheroom.
WhilehisparentshomewasenoughtosparkTomsinterestinthesupernatural,itwouldtake
anotherbigfrightbeforehewouldenterparanormalinvestigatingasaprofession.Afriendof
DAgastinoshadpurchasedahouseonSilkRoadinNorthScituate,R.I.,andaskedhimto
spendthewintertheretomakesureitwasundisturbedduringthefriendsoutofstatestudies.
WhenTomandafewfriends,includinghissister,spenttheirfirstnightatthehouse,theywere
awokenbythesoundofmultiplestompsandfootsteps.Thegroupassumedthattherewasaparty
goingondownstairssincethehousehadbeenvacantforquitesometime.
Thenextnightbroughtmoreofthesamesounds.Abranchoutside,orawhackedoutdruggie
whomayhavebeensquattingtherewerethelikelyculpritsinDAgastinoseyes.Finally,two
nightslater,herecountsthatthewholegroupwassittinginthelivingroom,laughingandjoking,
whenallofasuddentheyallcametoapausetheywerefrozen.Simultaneously,thewindowat
thetopofthestairscameunbolted,androlledallthewaytothetopofthestepsbeforeittoo
frozerightatthetopofthestairs.Tomrecountsthatafterthathiscousinandsistergotup
immediatelyandranoutthedoor.EvenTomhimselfcouldonlymusterupanothercoupleof
nightsattheSilkLanehomebeforehehadtocallitquits.
Icouldntgetanysleepinthatplaceanymore,heexplained.
ThatSilkLanethingiswhatgotmestudyingthescience,DAgastinosaid.Tohaveallof
thoseeventshappenthatwasntjustdeadpeoplerunningaround.Thatwasenergy.Thatwas
somethingveryscientific.ItmademerealizethatIbetterstartstudyingmoresciencesifIm
goingtoattackthis,becauseIcantjustwalkaroundwitharecorderyellingshowyourself!.
Mr.Withers,orwhoeveritisfromScoobyDoo,isntgoingtocomerunningoutinacostume.
ThesupernaturaleventsthatseemedtoturnupeverynowandagainthroughDAgastinosyoung
lifeledtohistrainingasanapprenticeunderneathmoreexperiencedparanormalinvestigators.
Hecreditsthiswayoflearningaswhyhestillactivelypracticestheoldschoolwayofghost
hunting,wherehevalueshisinstinctsandhissensesoverhokey,inconsistentdevicesthatcanbe
purchasedbyanyone.Hefindsthatcommonfareghosthuntinggadgetsareofteninaccurateasa
resultofthesignalsandwavesbeingtransmittedthroughtheairbycellphones,computers,and
othertechnology.
There'ssomanyradiofrequenciesintheairnow,itspathetic,DAgastinosaid.Iftheradio
frequenciesthatwereinthisairrightnowweresolid,wewouldbeinbrick.
Forthisreason,DAgastinodoesutilizeElectromagneticFrequency(EMF)sensorstotellhim
whentechnologymaybethecauseofadisturbanceratherthanaghost.Hepointstotheexample
ofatimewhenhewasinvestigatinganauditoriumwherepeopleshairwouldstandstraightupin
oncertainpartsofthestage.HisEMFsensorquicklyledhimtoafuseboxbehindthecurtain
wherenearly15plugswerepluggedintoonesimpletwoplugoutlet,causingstrayfrequencies.
DAgastinoswife,ArleneNicholson,hasalsobeenhispartneringhosthuntingsincetheir
marriage,inthe(reportedlyhaunted)StagecoachTaverninGlocester,R.I.onOctober31,2001.
SheusesTarotCardstocommunicatewithspiritsinanarea,oftentimesfulfillingmuchofthe
legworkforTomandsavinghimfromattemptingverbalcommunicationswiththespirits.She
alsomakesuseoftheirdowsingrodsanotabletoolsinceitsoriginsinexecutingwitches
usedtomeasuredisturbancesintheearth'smagneticfieldfromthewaterandearthunderneathan
area.DAgastinoisofthebeliefthathiswifeismoreintunewiththephysicalenergyofthe
Earth,whichmakesherabettercandidateforsomeofthesespecifictasks.
WhileDAgastinohascompletedover1,200paranormalinvestigations,andiscontactedasoften
astwiceaweektodooneonsomebodyshomeorproperty,hedoesnotspeakaboutthese.Itisa
violationofsomeonesprivacytodivulgeinformationaboutthesupernaturalstateoftheir
homes.Hedoes,however,talkfreelyabouttheinvestigationsofpublicplacessaidtobehaunted,
andthesearethesubjectsofhis11bookshehaswrittenonthesubject.
Heclaimsthatpeoplewereconstantlyaskinghimplacestogetagoodscare.Peoplewerealways
showingupatshowsforhisoutlawpartycountryrockband,SwervingCadillacs,askingfor
coordinatesoraddressesofwheretogo.Tomfinallygottiredofwritingtheplacesdownonbar
napkinsandputitininkonpaperinstead.Heisactivelyworkingontwonewbookscovering
slightlydifferenttopicsthanhispreviousworks.One,heexplains,willbeanonfictionhistorical
examinationofthebirthanddeathpracticesofColonialAmerica.Theotherbook,closertowhat
DAgastinoknows,willchroniclethemanylifeexperiences(primarilyparanormal)ofTomand
Arlene.
Whenconfrontedwiththeideaofskeptics,D'Agastinosresponseisprettysimple.
Tome,askepticisjustsomebodywhohasntseenanythingyet,DAgastinosaid.Skeptics
probablytakeupthatsidebecausetheywanttoargueapoint,butIlikethepeoplewhoclaimto
takeaskepticalapproach.Ifyouwereaskeptic,whichmeansyoudontbelieveinit,thenwhy
areyouinvestigatingit?ThatslikemesayingIdontlikebaseballandthengoingtoaRedSox
game.
Hegoesontoexplainthathepreferstotakeanobjectiveapproach.Abigpartofhisjobasa
paranormalinvestigatorisdiagnosingsituations,suchasthestage,andtellingthepeoplewho
10
contactedhimthattheplaceisdefinitelynothaunted.DAgastinorefusestoputonashowfor
anyoneinaninvestigation.
Luckilyforthoseinterestedinfindingthetruthbehindtheparanormal,therearemanypeople
throughoutthecountryandthestatewhofollowthesamecodeasDAgastino.
III.HauntedProvidence
ErinNewellisoneofanumberofguideswholeadsaneveningwalkthroughthesteepand
twistingstreetsofProvidence,R.I.sCollegeHillarea.CollegeHill,oneofsixneighborhoodsin
theEastSideofProvidence,ismostnotableforhostingBrownUniversityandtheRhodeIsland
SchoolofDesign.Thestreetsthatmakeupthebaseofthehillarebustlingwithcafesand
restaurantscateredtothenumerouscollegestudentsandrecentgraduateswhomakeupthe
majorityofthearea'spopulation.Furtherupthehillthebuildingsshowsignificantlymoresigns
ofage,andtheyareprimarilystudenthousingandcampusbuildings.
Erinisdressedinblack,Victoriangarbandcarriesalantern,buttheillusionisshatteredbythe
electriclightbulbinsidethelanternandtheiPadinherotherhand.Sheisinchargeofregistering
the60orsopeoplestandingbeforeherinProspectTerraceParkonCongdonStreetandsplitting
themintotwogroups.Theparkprovidesaclear,alluringviewofDowntownProvidence,andthe
nearlyfullmoonprovidesilluminationforthelandscapepanorama.At7:10,thefirstgroup
shufflesawayfromtheothergroupandtheirtourbegins.Eringivestheothertourguideabout10
minutestogethergroupmovingbeforetheProvidenceGhostTourisonitsway.
TheProvidenceGhostTourwasfoundedin2006byCourtneyEdgeMattosandherbusiness
partner,MikeGertrudes.WhenCourtneywasveryyoung,herfamilyboughtadilapidated
farmhouseonamountaininVermont.Somepartsofthehousedatedallthewaybacktothe
1690s.ThishouseiswhereCourtneysearliestmemoriestookplace.
Duringtheirtimeatthecreekymountainhome,thefamilyexperiencedsignificantparanormal
activity.Eventually,theyupandleftduetotheperpetuallyuncomfortablefeelinginthe
house.Itgottothepointwherehermomwouldhavedreamsofspiritstellinghertheywanted
thefamilyoutofthehouse.
Mymemoriesarelimited,butthestorieswerethefoundationofmychildhood,EdgeMattos
says.
CourtneygraduatedfromtheUniversityofRhodeIslandwithdualdegreesintheaterandFrench,
thoughshewasinitiallyenrolledasahistorymajor.Duringhertimeincollege,Courtneyheld
paranormalinvestigationsasahobbythatshewouldpartakeinwithherfriends.Proceedingher
11
degree,shewasseekingacareerpaththatwouldemployhercreativity,theaterpractice,andlove
ofhistory.ShewasaguideattheNewportGhostTourforitsinauguralseason,butshe
ultimatelydesiredajobthatwasmorefinanciallysustainable.
HerhusbandintroducedhertoafriendofhisMikewhowasinsearchofasimilar
endeavor.
Onemonthlater,wewereswimmingintextsattheProvidencePublicLibrary,EdgeMattos
says.Weresearchedthehistoryforninemonths,findingghostsaswewent,anddevelopedthe
scriptforthetourfromthere.
Atthemoment,theProvidenceGhostTourisCourtneyssecondjob.Sheisasocialworker
specializingintrainingandlicensingfosterandpreadoptivehomesfulltime.Thetouroperates
fromJunethroughmidNovember,thoughattendancefluctuatesignificantlydependingonthe
timeofyear.
Thedemandsofthejobebbandflowastheseasonmoves,saysEdgeMattos.Onaweekend
summernight,weaverage15guests.Onaweekendfallnight,weaverageabout100.Obviously
thebusierthetouris,thebusierIam.
ThejobisdemandingevenoutsideoftheJunetoNovemberoperatingwindow.From
earlyMarchthroughtheendofDecember,Courtneyhiresandtrainsnewguides,makesthe
schedule,checksinontourstoensurequalityofthetours,collectsmoney,handlespayroll,
workswithprivatetourgroups,leadstheoccasionalpublictour,paysadvertisers,andensures
compliancewithstateandfederaltaxandlaborregulations.
BackinProvidence,Erinbeginsthetourbydirectingeveryonesattentiontowardsthelarge
archwaythatstandsbehindher.sheexplainsthattheremainsofthestatesfounder,Roger
Williams,arecontainedwithinthemonument.Allwhileprovidingafairlycomprehensive
historyofcolonialRhodeIsland,Erinbeginstousherherpupilsbeyondtheparkandintothe
windingstreetsofCollegeHill.
Sheexplainsthattermssuchasapparition,poltergeist,andghost,areallusedinterchangeably
despiteestablisheddifferencesineachoftheirdefinitions.Ghostisusedlikeanumbrellaterm
thatencompassesallofthedifferentincarnationsofaspirit.Tobemorespecificaccordingto
LoydAuerbachanapparitioniswhatisseen,heard,felt,orsmelledrepresentingthatpartof
thehumanpersonalitythatcansomehowexistinourphysicaluniverseafterthedeathofa
personsbody.Itcanonlybeconsideredanapparitionifitiscapableofcommunication,
personality,orintelligence.Withoutthesethings,itisonlyconsideredanenvironmental
12
recording,alsoknownasahaunting.Poltergeists,ontheotherhand,arealmostalways
representedbyphysicalevidencesuchasfootsteps,knocking,movingfurnitureorsmaller
objects,andelectricalappliancesturningonandofformisbehaving.
Whiletheseparanormalentitiesaretypicallyassociatedwithaghostlybody,thatis
fundamentallybelievednottobetruebymostresearchers.Instead,itisconsensusamongmost
thatapparitionsandpoltergeistsoperatethroughtheirmindtoaffectthephysicalworld,therefore
usingaformofpsychokinesisknownastelekinesis.Ahaunting,ontheotherhand,canoftenbe
representedbyaphysicalentity.
Hauntingsarelikealoopthatreplaysoverandoverforanextendedperiodoftime,andtheyare
oftentiedtoonespecificplaceorobjectratherthantoaperson.AccordingtotheStoneTape
Theory,ghostsarenomorethanwhathappenswhenabuildingrecordsandconsistentlyreplays
anevent.Whilehauntingsareultimatelyharmless,theycanberatherdisturbingifthememory
theyarereplayingisthatofaneventsuchasamurderorsuicide.Researchhasbeenconducted
thatplacedunknowingbystandersinanareawhereahauntinghadbeenreportedthebystanders
almostimmediatelynoticed,andwereevendrawnto,theexactareawherethehauntingwassaid
tooccur.
ThesitesandstoriesalongthetourincludeH.PLovecraftshomeinProvidencewitha
mischievousstreetlampoutfront,asupposedlyhauntedapartmentonNightingaleStreet
(affectionatelyreferredtobystudentsasFrightengale),andauniversityhallthatservedasa
medicalwardduringtheRevolutionaryWar.Ateachofthesesites,Eriniseagertotellher
followerswhentheparticularsiteyieldsaninfluxinghostlyactivityduringthetours.Onthis
chillyNovembernight,Erinstourwasnottreatedtoanyapparitionsinthewindowsor
bloodcurdlingscreams.
Shecarefullyexplainedateachlocationthatsomethingcalledanorbisthemostcommon
occurrenceduringhertours.Anorbwillappearinphotosasasmallballoflight,whileinreality
itisasmallcollectionofinexplicableenergy.Supposedlyacamera,eventhatofanaverage
smartphone,iscapableofcapturingtheseorbsbecausetheycanprocessmorethanthehuman
eyeataquickerrate.Basedonthelackofanysuddenexclamationsorexcitedyammeringfrom
thetourgoers,nooneseemstohavecapturedanorbonthisbriskautumnevening.
CourtneyEdgeMattossaysthatshehasnoideahowmanypeoplewhotakethetourareeither
believersorskeptics.Thereisnowaytotellforcertain.
13
Iknowthatsomestartasskepticsandendthetourasbelievers,EdgeMattossays.Werooted
thetourinrealaccountsandhistoryinordertobeashonestandrealaspossible.Wewant
everyonetoenjoytheireveningwithusnomatterwhattheirbeliefsystemis.
ThetourservesasaninterestinghistorylessonforthoseinterestedinlearningaboutProvidence.
Iteducatesthosewhofollowitandpayattention,anditdoessothroughalensethatprovides
adrenalineandathrillformost.Whiletheprobabilityofencounteringanactualspiritduringthe
tourisimmeasurable,itssafetosaythatmanynightsplayoutexactlythesameasthisone.The
photogalleryonthewebsite,whereuserscansubmittheirspookypicturesfromapast
experienceonthetour,hostsnomorethanblurry,inconclusivepicturesfromthenightbefore.
Themajorityofthephotoswhereaspirithasbeenidentifiedappeargrainy,morethan
anythingelse.
IV.WhyDoPeopleBelieveinGhosts?
Therearecountlesstheoriesexplainingwhypeoplechoosetobelieveinanideathatdefiesthe
lawsofthephysicalworld.In2013,aHarrisPollof2,250Americansrevealedthat42percent
believeinghosts.Eventhoughthereisageneraltendencytoperceivetheideaofghostsasscary,
italsoprovidesaffirmationoftheafterlifetobelievers,thereforeprovidingcomforttomany.In
thecaseofDAgastinoandothers,itisanexcitinglenstoapplywhileexamininganareawitha
richhistory(suchasRamtail,orCollegeHill).
Scholarsacrosstheworldhavedevelopedseveraltheoriestoexplainwhatleadstopeople's
beliefintheparanormal.Onesuchtheoryiscalledthedeprivationtheory,whichstatesthat
paranormalbeliefsprovidepeoplewiththemeanstocopewiththepsychologicalandphysical
strainofdisadvantagedsocialandeconomicstatus.BasedonUnitedStatesdemographics,that
meansthatwomen,AfricanAmericans,andlowereducatedpeoplearemorelikelytobelievein
theparanormalaccordingtodeprivationtheory.Theevidencealsosuggeststhatruraland
suburbandwellersaremorelikelytoholdbeliefsintheparanormalthanthoseinanurban
setting.
Almosteverystudyonthematterhasbeendoneholdingoneoftwohypothesesastrue.Thefirst
assertsthatpeoplewhobelieveinreligionarelesslikelytobelieveintheparanormaland
viceversa.ThereisanumberofreasonsforthisbeliefoneexamplebeingthatChristian
hierarchydoesnothaveaplaceforghostlybeings.Thecompetinghypothesisstatesexactlythe
oppositepeoplewhobelieveinonearefarmorelikelytobelieveintheother,andviceversa.
Wolfwritesthatitisasmallsteptomovefrombelievinginthedevilandangelstobelievingin
ghostsandaliens.
14
Assuch,Wolfdesignedastudythatwouldhopefullyrevealoneofthesetwohypothesestobe
thestandardbywhichscholarsandinvestigatorsshouldoperateundergoingforward.Whathe
determinedisthatthedeprivationtheory,statingthatmarginalizedgroupsofpeoplearemore
likelytobelieveintheparanormal,islargelyinaccurate.Thereislittletonocorrelationproving
this.Thesameistrueforbothhypothesesthathewastesting,whichwerealsoinconclusive.
Wolfassertsthatperhapstheiraccuracyhaschangedasaresultofdifferentideologiesprevailing
sincetheirinception.Beliefinreligionshaschangeddrasticallysincethe1960s,andfilm
treatmentoftheparanormalcouldinfluencepeopleinonedirectionortheother.
Thereisawidelyacceptedpsychologicaltheorystatingthatpeople'sbeliefsservesignificant
psychodynamicneedsoftheindividual.Initsapplicationtoparanormalbeliefs,thisisreferred
toasthepsychodynamicfunctionshypothesis.Researchthroughoutthelate1900shasbeen
successfulincraftingafairlywellagreeduponprofileofparanormalbelieversOftentimes
paranormalbelieversappearasaveragelyoutgoingpeople,butinternallytheyaretypicallymore
interestedintheworldoftheirownsubjectiveexperiencethanintheneedsofthosearound
them.
V.TheReligionConnection
Itseasytounderstandwhyotherpartsoftheworldhaveevenstrongerbeliefintheparanormal
thanintheUnitedStates.InChina,therearethreedifferentreligionsthatinfluencethe
philosophyofthemajorityofitspopulation.TheyareConfucianism,Taoism,andBuddhism,
andeachreligionoffersadifferentwayofhandlingaperson'sspiritandbodyaftertheirpassing.
NativeAmericansalsohaveastrongandwelldocumentedtiestospiritualismandabeliefinthe
afterlife.
Ithinkpeoplewanttoknowthatthereismore.Thatthislifeisntallthereis.Thattheresmore.
Theresactuallyanotherside.ImadevoutCatholic,whichsurprisespeople,theysayhowcan
youbelieveinghostsandbeadevoutcatholic?,allitdoesiswhenIgetevidenceitjust
verifieswhatmyreligiontellsmethatthereislifeafterdeath,saidMaggieFlorio,thedirector
oftheRhodeIslandParanormalResearchGroupandSociety.Peopledontwanttobelievethat
thisisallthereis.Ithinkthatswhypeoplewanttobelieveinghosts.Andtheyalsowantto
believethatwhentheirlovedonespassaway,thattheyrestillaround.Thatthereissomebody
watchingoutforthem.Thattheyreallyhaventlostanybody.
Floriowaseightyearsoldwhensheclaimstohaveseenherfirstghost.
ItwastheoneofthemosthotandstickynightsoftheSummerbackinthetimeswhenonlythe
veryrichpeoplehadairconditioners.Herbedwasabouttwofeetawayfromthewindow,
15
whichwaswideopenwiththeshadespulledup,thoughnotevenabreathofairwasentering
theroom.Maggiewasgarbedinjustapairofunderwearandabedsheet.
Shewokeupfromherslumbertoseeawomanstandingatthewindowrightnexttoherbed.The
woman'srighthandwasholdingthecurtainback,asifthewomanwaslookingatsomething
outside.Herfacewasveiledbytheshadows,andherfeetwereeclipsedbyMaggiesbed.She
waswearingalongsleeveddresswithahighneckmadefromadarkcoloredfabricwithfloral
patternonit.
Imustbedreaming,Maggiethought.Whowouldbedressedlikethatinthisheat?
Maggieblinkedoneeyeandthewomanwasstillthere.Sheblinkedtheothereyetothesame
result.Sheblinkedbotheyestogetherand,again,theghostlyfigureremained.
WhileMaggiedideventuallyfallbacktosleep,thiswouldonlybethefirstofseveralparanormal
experiencesthroughoutherchildhood.ItwastheimpetusforMaggietobegintoconsumeallof
theparanormalrelatedliteratureandresearchthatshecould.Thoughtheghostlyencounters
continuedperiodicallythroughoutMaggieshighschoolandcollegeyears,herpassionforthe
supernaturaleventuallytookabackseattoanotherhobbymusic.
Herparanormalexperiencesreachedaparamountinlate2002andearly2003.Maggiefirst
reachedouttotheTheRhodeIslandParanormalResearchGroup(T.R.I.P.R.G)inDecemberof
2002afterherhusbandandherbothhadasupernaturalexperienceinthecoatroomoftheAldrich
MansioninWarwick,R.I.Thegroupsformerdirector,AndyLairdwhofoundedthegroupin
1984respondedtoMaggieandconfirmedtoherthattheAldrichMansionwasaknown
hauntedspotinRhodeIsland.
Thetwocontinuedtheircorrespondence,andAndyeventuallyencouragedMaggietodoherown
paranormalinvestigationinFebruaryof2003withhersonforaschoolscienceproject.Maggie,
herhusband,andhersonsetoutwiththemostbasicofinvestigativeequipmentacameraand
cassetterecorder.Duringtheironehourtriptothecemetery,thetriocapturedElectromagnetic
VoicePhenomenon(EVP)essentiallyaudiofromaspiritandMaggiewashooked.
Idogetafraid.Imhuman.Weallgetafraid.Ivegottensomeprettyscaryevidence.Butits
notgoingtodetermefromkeepingondoingit,Floriosays.
InMarchof2003,MaggiewasofferedapositionasaprobationarymemberofT.R.I.P.R.G.
Withinthelastyear,Maggiehadlosthearinginoneofherears,thereforeshewasactivelytrying
toreplacethetimewheremusichadpreviouslyoccupiedherlife.FromMaggieshusband's
16
encouragementtojointhegrouptoherfamily'sinitialacceptanceofherclaimsofseeingaghost
at8yearsold,familycanbehighlyinfluentialinwhetherornotsomeonebelievesinthe
supernatural.
Consideringthefactthatmanymorepeopleclaimtobelieveinghoststhanthosewhoclaimto
havehadaparanormalexperiencethemselves,socialtransmissionmustplayaroleinthese
beliefs.Oneofthestrongestformsofsociallearningisfromparenttochild,sincechildrenspend
yearsobservingandlearningthebehaviorsandbeliefsoftheirparents.Researchintheearly
1900sshowedthatparentswereamajorsourceofsuperstitiousbeliefamongparticipants.Later,
studiesinthe21stcenturyfoundpeopleclaimingtheirparentswereimportantsourcesof
paranormalbeliefingeneral.
BenjaminRadfordisoneoftheworld'sfewtruesciencebasedinvestigators.Heistheauthor
ofnumerousarticlesandbooks,including
ScientificParanormalInvestigation:HowtoSolve
UnexplainedMysteries
.Hebelievesthattherearethreeprimaryfactorsthatleadtosuchalarge
percentageoftheworldpopulation'sbeliefinthesupernatural.
First,Radfordcitespersonalexperienceastheleadingcauseofbeliefinghosts.People
experienceeventsthattheycannotexplain,suchassmellsorsoundsintheirhome,andmany
timestheirfirstsuspectisaghost.Oncetheideaofaghostisembeddedintheirthoughts,or
evenpresentinthebackoftheirminds,itishardforthemtoconsiderotherpossibilitiesevery
timetheyexperienceasimilarevent.ArecentPewResearchsurveyfindsthatasmanyas18
percentofAmericansclaimtohaveseenaghost.
Radfordalsostatesthatreligionisamajorfactorinparanormalbeliefsbeingentrenchedin
manypeoplesminds.Catholicismmakesexplicitmentionofghoststhroughoutthebible,from
theHolyGhosttoothermoreminorcharacters.Islam,andmorespecificallytheQuran,
prominentlyfeaturesJinnsbeingsthatcannotbeseenbutarecapableofphysicalinterference
andpossessionoflivinghumanbodies.GhostsarealsoprominentinBuddhistreligionthrough
commonbeliefintheideaofreincarnation.
Lastly,Radfordpointstoalargerspectrumofbeliefsthatcontributestothemassiveamountof
peoplearoundtheworldwhobelieveinthesupernatural.Beliefinghostshasaverystrong
correlationwithbeliefintheafterlife,reincarnation,andneardeathexperiences(NDEs).
Inthatview,ghostsareonlyoneofaclusterofrelatedbeliefs,Radfordsays.Ifyoubelievein
anyoneofthosethings,byimplicationyoubelieveintherestofthem.Ifyoubelievethatthe
soulsurvivesafterdeath,thenyoubelieveinghosts.
17
Radfordisalsoquicktodrawattentiontotelevisedparanormalinvestigations,viashowslike
GhostHunters
and
GhostAdventures
.Hesaysthatshowssuchasthese,whicharespecifically
forentertainment,caninfluencepeople'sbeliefinthesupernatural.
GhostsandghosthuntingisespeciallyprevalentinAmericabecauseoftheTVshowsGhost
Hunters,Radfordsays.Thereisanincredibleinfluenceofthesesocalledrealityshowson
modernculture.Peoplehavebeenlookinginsomefashionforghostsforwellovera
hundredyears.Theresnothingnewaboutghosthunting.
VI.Homer,Fuseli,andSirIsaacNewton
Ghostlyexperienceshavebeencapturedinliteraturesincesometimearound1200BCin
Homersepicpoemsthe
Iliad
and
Odyssey.
Inapassagefromthepoems
Homerwrites:
Thereappearedtohim[Achilles]theghost(psykhe)ofunhappyPatroklosallinhis
likenessforstature,andlovelyeyes,andvoice,andworesuchclothingasPatrokloshad
wornonhisbody.Theghostcameandstoodoverhisheadandspokeawordtohim:
Yousleep,AkhilleusyouhaveforgottenmebutyouwerenotcarelessofmewhenI
lived,butonlyindeath.Burymeasquicklyasmaybe,letmepassthroughthegatesof
[Hades](pylaiAidao).Thesouls(psykhai),theimages(eidla)ofdeadmen,holdmeata
distance,andwillnotletmecrosstheriverandmingleamongthem,butIwanderasIam
by[Hades]houseofthewidegates(eurypylesAidosdma).AndIcalluponyouin
sorrow,givemeyourhandnolongershallIcomebackfromdeath,onceyougivememy
riteofburning.
Inthepassage,Homeressentiallydescribestheghostasitstillexistsinbelieftoday.Achillesis
hauntedbytheghostofPatroklos,whoappearsashedidinhislife.PatroklostellsAchillesthat
hewillcontinuetohaunthimifAchillesdoesnotprovidehimwiththeproperburialneededfor
himtopassthroughthegatesofHades,theancientgreekgodoftheunderworld.Againinthe
poem,Homerdescribesavapor,gibberingandwhiningintotheearth.
Thesupernaturalfounditswayintoanotherformofartin1781,whentheSwissoilpainter
HenryFuseliproduced
TheNightmare.
Thepaintingillustratesawomaninthemidstofabad
dream,withagoblinfiguresittingonherstomachandahorseheadedcreaturepeeringather
frombehindhercurtain.Theimage,whichwasconsideredprofoundlyhauntingatthetime
andstilldepictswhatistodayconsideredsleepparalysis.Itoccurswhensomeoneisawaken
betweenlightsleepandREMsleep,anditcausestheirbraintoconfusethehallucinatory
imageryassociatedwithlightsleepandtheparalysisassociatedwithREMsleep.
18
WhowouldveguessedthatSirIsaacNewtonwasarguablythegreatestcatalystbehindthree
centuriesofinvestigationintoparanormalphenomenons?Newtonslawsdemonstratedthatthe
naturalworldwasmeasurableandquantifiable,thusproducingafascinationwiththeundeniable
linkbetweenmysticismandscientificinquiry.
Amongthefirstrecordedtheoriesofparanormalorsupernaturaloccurrencestookplaceinthe
lateeighteenthcentury,whereanastrophysicistnamedFranzMesmerdevelopedacultfollowing
whobelievedMesmerhadclairvoyantabilities.Clairvoyanceisafrenchtermmeaningclear
seeing,andprimarilyreferstothetransmittalofinformationthroughobjectsoreventsbeyond
thetypicaluseofsenses.Withinafewdecades,asimilarfollowingwasformedaroundthe
thenmythicalconceptofelectromagnetism.Thistimeperiodsawanunmistakableandcomplex
linkbeingformedbetweenscienceandreligion.
Soon,Newtonsevidencethatthenaturalworldcouldbeconfirmedthroughtheempirical
methodwasexpandeduponasspiritualismrepresentedthebeliefthatthehumansoulcouldbe
measuredinthesameway.Themid1800semergenceofspiritualismwaswhatledtothefirst
recordedsances.Peoplewhowishedtospeaktotheirlostlovedoneswouldhiresomeonewho
wasbelievedtohaveectoplasmasubstancewhichenabledthemtointeractwiththespirit
worldbuttherewasnophysicalevidenceofthatperson'sjourneyortheirability.Doubtsof
thereliabilityofmediumsledtothefirstknownparanormalresearchorganization.
TheCambridgeGhostClubandtheGhostClubinLondon,foundedin1851and1862
respectively,startedoutinvestigatingmediumsbeforebridgingintoreportsofparanormal
occurrences.Whiletheseparanormalunitsprimarygoalwastoverifyanyinstancesoflegitimate
paranormaloccurrences,theysimultaneouslyexposedmanyofthemediumstheyinvestigatedas
fraudulent.
In1882,paranormalinvestigatingtookafurthersteptowardsthemainstreamwhenaseriesof
leadingscientistsatthetimeestablishedTheSocietyforPsychicalResearch(SPR)inLondon.
Thegroupwasimmediatelyviewedascredible,thoughtheyweresubjecttoafairbitof
controversythemselves.In1926,thefounderoftheLaboratoryofPsychicalResearchin
London,HarryPrice,wasthesubjectofamutinybyothermembersoftheSPRwhodisagreed
withhismethodology.
Thesesamecontroversiesthatplaguedthefieldinthe19thand20thcenturyarestilllargely
evidenttoday.Themesofquestionablemethodologyandfraudulentclaimsarestilldominantin
theworldofparanormalinvestigationstothisday.Theworldwidewebishometothousands
andthousandsofamateurghosthuntersandparanormalinvestigators.Whilesomerefuseto
acceptpaymentandonlyinvestigatewhentheirservicesarerequested,othersarestrictlyfor
19
commercialpurposes.Fraudisnotexclusivelyevidentontheendoftheinvestigatorseither,as
therearenumerouscasesofthosewhorequesttheseservicesfalsifyingtheirownclaims.
VII.GhostsCanHelp
Itssafetosaythatmanypeoplearoundtheworldwouldbehavedifferentlyiftheythoughtallof
theghostsfromhellwerefreetowandertheEarthforoneentiremonthoutofeachyear.In
SouthernChina,analternatinglunarmonthinthesummeriscalledghostmonth,andthisis
exactlywhattheybelieve.Asaresult,peoplearesignificantlylesslikelytoparticipatein
unnecessaryriskyactivitiesduringthistime.
UsingTaiwansmortalitydataonunintentionaldrowningdeathsfrom1981to2005,agroupof
researcherswasabletoconfirmthistheory.Theaveragenumberofunintentionaldrowning
deathsduringghostmonthswas1.42,1.37,and1.03foreachofthethreemonthswhereghost
monthcanfall(July,August,andSeptember).Innonghostmonthsofthosesamethreemonths,
thenumberswere1.75,1.68,and1.13allofwhicharenotablyhigherthantheirghostmonth
counterpart.
Skepticsliketomaketheargumentthatparanormalbeliefsoftenhaveacorrelationwithlower
education,intelligence,andstatus.Whattheyfailtoacknowledge,onthecontrary,isthe
correlationbetweenparanormalbeliefsandpositiveattributesinaperson.
In1975,M.L.Moonconductedapollthatultimatelyrevealedbeliefinextrasensory
perceptioninsimplerterms,psychicabilitiestobegreateramongartiststhannonartists.
Thisrevealsacorrelationbetweensupernaturalbeliefsandcreativemindedpeople.Throughthe
lastfivedecades,anumberofdifferentsurveysandpollshavereinforcedthislinkbetween
creativityandbeliefintheparanormal.
Ontheotherhand,studieshavefoundacorrelationbetweenparanormalbeliefsandmore
damningpersonalityqualities.Amongthemostnotoriousistheassociationbetweenbeliefinthe
paranormalandpsychopathologicaltraitssuchasaffectivedisorder,schizophrenia,and
manicdepression.Similarreportsfindcorrelationbetweenparanormalbeliefanddissociative
behaviorspawningfromtraumaticchildhoodexperiences.
AnotherstudyperformedbyJochenMuschandKatjaEhrenbergattheUniversityofBonnin
Germanysuggestsacorrelationbetweenlowprobabilisticreasoningskillsandbeliefinthe
paranormal.Itisaconceptinlinewiththeexampleofapairoffriendswhobelievetheysharea
telepathyduetotheirtendencytopickupthephoneatthesametimestocalleachother.Those
twofriendssimpleignoreallofthetimestheycalleachotherwherethiscoincidencedoesnot
happen,andinsteadonlyconsiderthetimesthatitdoes.
20
VIII.MediaPortrayalsoftheParanormal
Themediasdepictionofghostshaschangeddrasticallyoverthepastfivedecades.DavidJ.
Hesshighlightsthedifferencebetween1963s
TheHaunting
and
1989s
Always
treatmentof
ghostlyentities.Intheformer,theghostsareunseen,occultforcesthatcometolifeatnight,
whereasinthelatter,Spielbergintroducestheideaoftheghostbeingamanwhohasbeen
killed.Theghostin
Always
isconsideredaveryhumanfigurewhosespiritistrappedonthe
earthadepictionverysimilartomoderndayinterpretationsofspiritsandghosts.
TheExorcist
isafilmthatcannotgounmentionedinaconversationaboutHollywoodandthe
paranormal.Thismoviepresentedthemoderndayhorrorfilminterpretationofspiritsasbeing
capableofpossessingalivinghuman'sbodyandwreakinghavocinthisway.Thisfilm,along
with
Poltergeist,
alsoplayoutamoraldramaofgoodandevilcircledaroundtheissueof
respectfultreatmentofthosewhohavedeceased.
AmityvilleHorror
from1979isalsolargelycreditedwithexplosionofghostculturearoundthe
UnitedStates.Thisislargelybecauseittakesatraditionalfamilyscene,veryrelatabletomany
ofitsviewers,andturnsitintoanabsolutenightmare.In1984,
Ghostbusters
wasoneofthefirst
paranormalrelatedfilmsnotonlytoapproachthesituationfromalighterangle,butalsoto
utilizeanAlistactorinBillMurray.
Theshow
GhostHunters
launchedontheSciFichannelin2004tonearimmediatesuccess.It
wasaveragingjustunder3millionviewersbyonlyitsthirdseason.TheSciFichannelanda
numberofotherchannels(includingA&E,Biography,DiscoveryChannel,andtheTravel
Channel)havelaunchedtheirownsubsequentparanormalinvestigationtelevisionshows
followingthemodelsetby
GhostHunters
.Theseshowshavebroughtparanormalinvestigating
intothemedialimelight,asithassincebeenfeaturedinnotablenewspaperssuchas
Washington
Post
andNewarks
StarLedger.
Thecultivationtheoryisapopularmediacommunicationstheorymeanttorevealthepower
televisionprogrammingcanhaveovercultivatingviewersperceptionsofreality.Underthis
theory,paranormalrelatedprogrammingwouldinfluenceitsaudience'sopinionsonthe
paranormal.
Ascientificstudyconductedin1994foundthatexposuretoanepisodeofatelevisionseries
aboutparanormalinvestigationsledparticipantstoexpressgreaterbeliefinsupernaturaland
paranormalactivity.Additionally,thestudyrevealedthatadisclaimerclaimingthattheshow
wasbasedontrueincidentsendedupreducingthesebeliefs.
21
IX.ParapsychologyandPseudoscience
AccordingtoauthorRichardWiseman,ProfessorofthePublicUnderstandingofPsychologyat
theUniversityofHertfordshireintheUnitedKingdom,beliefinparanormalphenomenacan
revealallsortsofthingsaboutaperson'sbehavior,beliefs,andbrain.Wisemanhasconducted
aseriesofexperimentsacrosstheU.K.,thoughheisnotinterestedinwhetherparanormalor
psychicrelationshipsexistheisinterestedinwhypeoplecontinuetobelievethattheyexist
despitealackofscientificorempiricalevidence.
WisemaneffectivelydebunksthepopularStoneTapeTheorywhenhearguesthat,firstand
foremost,itisbasedonafictionalpiece,aneponymousplay.Ontopofthatthereisnophysical
evidencethatprovestheStoneTapeTheory,orthatbuildingsarecapableofstoringmemories
andreplayingthem.Muchlikeanyotherwidelydebatedtopic,theanswerisstillfarfrom
definitiveineitherdirection.Inthe1950s,theformerPresidentoftheSocietyforPhysical
Research,G.W.Lambert,proposedthattherecordingwasnotstoredinthewalls,butrather
transmittedasaresultoftheshiftingearthandwaterbeneaththebuildingsfoundation.
Reminiscentofglobalwarming,whereonesideoftheargumentisalwaysdesperatetooutdothe
other,physicalresearcherTonyCornellspentthemidtolate1900sworkingtodisprove
Lambertstheory.Heobtainedtherightstoaforeclosedhouseandattachedavibratingmachine
tooneofthehouses.Cornellthenplanted13testobjectsaroundthehouse,andturnedonthe
machineatvariousdegreesofintensitytoseeiftheobjectswouldmove.Whentheobjectsfailed
tomove(ormovedonlyveryslightly),Cornelltookthisasevidencethattheminutevibrations
takingplaceunderneaththefoundationcouldnotpossiblyattributeforparanormaloccurrences.
AnothertheorythatspeaksoutagainsttheparanormalisthatofNeuropsychologistMichael
Persinger.Persingerbelievesthatparanormalexperiencescanbetheresultoftemporarybrain
malfunctionsthatcanbeinducedbyweakmagneticwavesbeingtransmittedtothehumanbrain.
Persingerconductedanexperimentinwhichastudentsitsinachairfor40minuteswhilea
helmetproducesweakmagneticfieldsaroundvariousareasoftheirhead.80percentofthetime,
studentsindicateatleastone,ifnotmultiple,experiencesofsensingapresence,vividimages,
oddsmells,beingsexuallyaroused,orcomingfacetofacewithGod.
Likemostconvincingghosttheories,Persingerswaseventuallydisprovedaswell.Helentout
hishelmettoateamofSwedishpsychologists,buttheyusedittotestiftherewasaplacebo
effecttakingplace.Indeedtherewas,astwoofthethreeparticipantswhoreportedintense
spiritualexperienceswerenotbeingexposedtothemagneticfieldsatthetime.Additionally,
22participantsreportedmoresubtleexperiences,butthecoilswereoffforhalfofthem.
22
Examplessuchastheseareevidentthroughoutthehistoryofspiritualismandparanormalbeliefs.
Forthisreason,authorSergioDellaSalacitesparanormalbeliefsastheproductofignorance,
gullibilityandwishfulthinking.Atothertimes,itisdeceptionthatleadspeopletobelieveinthe
paranormalinDavidBrewsters1832book
Lettersonnaturalmagic
,herevealedthattyrants
couldmanipulateacoustics,mechanics,andopticstocreatetheillusionofpower.
Theskeptic'sapproachisrootedinthefactthatthereisnoscientific,mathematical,or
quantifiabledatathatverifiestheexistenceofghosts.Whereparanormalresearchersand
believerspointtotheirinstinctsandthingsbeyondexplanation,skepticsbegforempirical
evidence.Skepticsrefertoparanormalresearch,eventhatwhichisbasedonrealdata,as
pseudoscience.Bydefinition,pseudosciencereferstoacollectionofbeliefsorpractices
mistakenlyregardedasbeingbasedonscientificmethod.
BenjaminRadfordhasanotherimportantjobonewhichwasemittedearlier.Radfordsprimary
workisasthedeputyeditorof
SkepticalInquirerMagazine
.He,alongwithanotherlargechunk
ofthepopulation,hasasystemofbeliefsandtheoriesthatgoagainsttheaverageparanormal
investigator.ThethingthatseparatesRadfordfromyournormalnonbelievingskepticoratheist
isthathedoesnotexplicitlybelieveinghostsornotbelieveinghostsmadeevidentbythe
factthatheis,himself,aparanormalinvestigator.Radfordisalmostexclusivelyinterestedin
findingempiricaldatathatlegitimatelyconfirms(ordenies)theexistenceofparanormalentities.
Radfordhasnoproblemrattlingoffaslewofreasonswhyhethinksmostclaimsofparanormal
activityareentirelywithoutvalidity.AlthoughRadfordpreviouslycitedpersonalexperienceas
theleadingcauseofbeliefintheparanormal,healsoseesitastheleastcrediblesourceof
evidence.
Theresnumerousexamplesofeyewitnessaccountsofaneventsimplynotbeingreliable,
Radfordsays.Ifyoutalktopsychologists,andpolicedetectives,weknowthateyewitness
accountsarenotreliable.Ifsomeonestagesarobberyinfrontof100people,youmightgetten
differentaccounts.
BenjaminRadfordisconfidentthattheinfluxofparanormalrelatedtelevisionshowsis
massivelyresponsiblefortheincreaseinparanormalresearchgroupsorparanormal
investigators.Thereare29groupsinRhodeIslandalone,accordingtotheOnlineParanormal
SocietyDirectory.Radfordalsofeelsthatthemediaattentionhasledtoasharpincreasein
pseudoscientificinvestigationsandphonyclaims.
23
Heexplainsthattheshow
GhostHunters
,basedonR.I.sownTheAtlanticParanormalSociety
(T.A.P.S),servesasamodelforhundredsifnotthousandsofamateurinvestigators.In
fact,T.A.P.Swebsiteistheselfproclaimedmostvisitedparanormalwebsiteintheworld.
ItsnotnecessarilyforthebetterthatpeoplechooseT.A.P.Sastheirmodelforparanormal
investigations.YouTubeandvariousonlineoutletsarelitteredwithreportedexamplesofphony
interactionswithparanormalentitieson
GhostHunters.
Perhapsthemostfamousofthese
examplesisavideowhichclearlyshowswhatlookslikeanattachedwirecreatingtheillusionof
somethingtuggingononeoftheinvestigatorsjackets.
Theseshowsarespecificallyforentertainmentandoftentimestheyrescripted.Itastonishes
methatin2015anythingpeoplethinktheyseeontvisreal,Radfordsays.
TheuseofEMFReaders,infraredcameras,andotherequipmentdoesnotqualifyasscientific
indicatorstotheskepticandscientificcommunities.Manypeoplewithinthesecommunitiesare
opentotheideaofthesupernatural,butsimplyrefusetoacceptituntiltheycanseeconcrete
evidenceofsuchthings.
Whileskepticstypicallydoextensiveresearchintoparanormalrelatedliteraturetoreachthe
conclusionsthattheydo,believersaresignificantlylessinclinedtodotheinverseofthis.
Consideringtherearetypicallyoutsidefactorsleadingtoaperson'sconclusionthatghostsdo
exist,suchastheirreligionortheirupbringing,theydonotwanttofindliteraturethatarguesin
theotherdirection.
Radfordexplainsthatthereisnotastrongorunifiedresponsefromtheghosthuntingcommunity
abouthisskepticmindedarticlesbecausetheychoosetoignorehimaltogether.
Idontseemyselfinmalpositionofthem,Iseemyselfastryingtohelpthemout.Ithinkgofor
it,huntghosts.butusescience!doitinawaythatsuseful,Radfordsays.Imnotsayingthat
peoplearestupid,thereisjustverylowscienceliteracyintheworld.Imtryingtobringgood
scienceintoparanormalinvestigating.
X.The(Unmarked)GraveofJonathanBuckland
TomgetsbackintothenavyblueVolvoS60andthenextstophemakesisashortwayupRams
TailRoadinthesamecemeterywherethevehiclewasparked.HepointsoutthegravesofOlney
Potter,OrraPotter,WilliamPotter,andanumberofotherkeyplayersinthetaleoftheRamtail
factory.ThegraveofDollyCole,anotherfamousR.I.hauntingfromthesurroundingarea,isin
thesamesectionofcemetery.
24
Next,Tomtravelsfurtherdowntheroad,aboutonemile,andstopsinasmallintersectioninthe
middleofadirtpathinthewoods.Heseparateshimselffromthepathandbeginstoclimband
traversethrougharocky,hillyareacompletewithleaves,roots,branches,andotherobstacles.
Aftercrossingadriedupswampareathatabsorbsnomorethanhalfaninchofhisshoe,hestops
onthetopofahill.
Onthehillistworowsofmarkedstonepillarswithmetalrailingslinkingthemalltogether
denotedbyasignthatreadsHistoricCemetery18.Despitetheclearsignage,itwouldbe
nexttoimpossibletostumbleuponthecemeterywithoutlookingforit.Insidethesmall,
barredoffstructureisthegravesoftheWalkerfamily.TowardsthebackoftheplotsisPeleg
Walkersgravestone,whichreadsLifehowshort,eternityhowlong.
AftersufficientlytakingintheWalkergraveyardplotandtakingafewpicturesonhiscell
phone,TomtreksbacktotheVolvoandheadstohisfinaldestinationthegraveofJonathan
Buckland.Afterdrivingdownalongwoodenpathwithheavywoodsonbothsidesand
significantlymorenotrespassingsignsthantheRamtailpath,DAgastinoyellsan
indistinguishableexclamationatanondescriptopeninginthewoods.
Hehopsoutofthecarwiththeagility(andexcitement)ofachildandbeginsahalfjog,
halfsprintintothewoodstosurveythearea.Asherunshetakesaheadfirsttumbleintothe
thicklayerofleaves,buthequicklygetsbacktohisfeetandkeepsmovingatthesamepace.
Afternearlyfiveminutes,hereturnstothecarandexplainsthathefoundHistoricCemetery
25justashortwayintothewoods.Onlyonegravestonewasrecognizableoneofthelater
ownersofthefactorybutheknowsfromhisextensiveresearchthatBucklandandhisfather,
whowasaJusticeofthePeace,areburiedthere.
EventhoughthejourneydidnotultimatelyrevealanynewresultsforDAgastino,his
excitementovertheBucklandgraveispalpable.Tohim,itisjustanotherimportantpieceina
puzzlethathehasbeenpatchingtogetherformorethantwodecades.
Ineedtoknowmore,soIcantbeafraid.DAgastinoexplains.Iwanttoknowwhyits
happening,morethananything.IgetmorebummedoutwhenIdontgetanswersthanIget
afraid.Youcanonlygobywhatyougot.
25
WorksCited
Auerbach,Loyd.
GhostHunting:HowtoInvestigatetheParanormal
.Berkeley,CA:Ronin
Pub.,2004.Print.
Barker,Eileen,andDavidJ.Hess."ScienceintheNewAge:TheParanormal,ItsDefendersand
Debunkers,andAmericanCulture."
ContemporarySociology
23.5(1994):743.Web.
"BenjaminRadford."Telephoneinterview.18Nov.2015.
Brewer,P.R."TheTrappingsofScience:MediaMessages,ScientificAuthority,andBeliefs
AboutParanormalInvestigators."
ScienceCommunication
35.3(2012):31133.Web.
Brewster,David,andJamesAlexander.Smith.
LettersonNaturalMagic
.London:Chatto&
Windus,1883.Print.
"CourtneyEdgeMattos."Emailinterview.9Nov.2015.
D'Agostino,Thomas.
HauntedRhodeIsland
.Atglen,PA:SchifferPub.,2006.Print.
D'Agostino,Thomas.
RhodeIsland'sHauntedRamtailFactory
.N.p.:n.p.,n.d.Print.
FosterHistoricalRecords
.Publication.N.p.:n.p.,1886.Print.
French,ChristopherC.,andAnnaStone.
AnomalisticPsychology:ExploringParanormalBelief
andExperience
.N.p.:n.p.,n.d.Print.
Glock,CharlesY.,andRodneyStark.
ReligionandSocietyinTension
.Chicago:RandMcNally,
1965.Print.
Homer,andRobertFitzgerald.
TheOdyssey
.GardenCity,NY:Anchor/Doubleday,1961.Print.
Homerus.
TheIlliad
.NewYork:NewAmericanLibrary,1938.Print.
Houran,James.
FromShamantoScientist:EssaysonHumanity'sSearchforSpirits
.Lanham,
MD:Scarecrow,2004.Print.
26
Irwin,H.J.
PsychologyofParanormalBelief:AResearcher'sHandbook
.Hatfield
(Hertfordshire,England):UofHertfordshire,2009.Print.
Kennedy,J.E."PersonalityandMotivationstoBelieve,Misbelieve,andDisbelievein
ParanormalPhenomena."
JournalofParapsychology
69(2005):26392.
JekSite
.Web.
Lipka,Michael.
18%ofAmericansSayThey'veSeenaGhost
.Rep.N.p.:PewResearchCenter,
n.d.Print.
"MaggieFlorio."Personalinterview.16Nov.2015.
Moon,M.L."ArtistsContrastedwithNonartistsconcerningBeliefinESP."
Journalofthe
AmericanSocietyforPhysicalResearch
69(n.d.):16166.Web.
Musch,Jochen,andKatjaEhrenberg."ProbabilityMisjudgment,CognitiveAbility,andBeliefin
theParanormal."
BritishJournalofPsychology
93.2(2002):16977.Web.
Nichols,KathrynL.BraunRhea."DeathAndDyingInFourAsianAmericanCultures:A
DescriptiveStudy."
DeathStudies
21.4(1997):32759.Web.
ProvidenceGhostTour
.RhodeIsland,Providence.25Oct.2015.Performance.
Radford,Benjamin.
ScientificParanormalInvestigation:HowtoSolveUnexplainedMysteries
.
Corrales,NM:RhombusPub.,2010.Print.
Rice,TomW."BelieveItOrNot:ReligiousandOtherParanormalBeliefintheUnitedStates."
JournalfortheScientificStudyofReligion
42.1(2003):95106.
Wiley
.Web.12Feb.2003.
Roe,ChrisA."CriticalThinkingandBeliefintheParanormal:AReevaluation."
BritishJournal
ofPsychology
90.1(1999):8598.Web.
Sala,SergioDella.
TallTalesabouttheMindandBrain:SeparatingFactfromFiction
.Oxford:
OxfordUP,2007.Print.
27
Shermer,Michael.
TheBelievingBrain:FromGhostsandGodstoPoliticsand
ConspiracieshowWeConstructBeliefsandReinforceThemasTruths
.NewYork:
Times,2011.Print.
Shermer,Michael.
WhyPeopleBelieveWeirdThings:Pseudoscience,Superstition,andOther
ConfusionsofOurTime
.NewYork:W.H.Freeman,1997.Print.
Sparks,GlennG."ParanormalDepictionsintheMedia."
ParanormalDepictionsintheMedia
.
N.p.,n.d.Web.19Nov.2015.
Stark,Rodney,andWilliamSimsBainbridge."NetworksofFaith:InterpersonalBondsand
RecruitmenttoCultsandSects."
AmJSociolAmericanJournalofSociology
85.6(1980):
1376.Web.
Thalbourne,MichaelA.,andChristopherC.French."ParanormalBelief,Manicdepressiveness,
andMagicalIdeation:AReplication."
PersonalityandIndividualDifferences
18.2(1995):
29192.Web.
"ThomasD'Agastino."Personalinterview.20Oct.2015.
"ThomasD'Agastino."Personalinterview.3Nov.2015.
Wen,Tiffanie."WhyDoPeopleBelieveinGhosts."
Atlantic
5Sept.2014:n.pag.Web.
Wiseman,Richard.
Paranormality:WhyWeSeeWhatIsn'tThere
.London:Macmillan,2011.
Print.
Yang,ChiangHsing,YuTungHuang,CraigJanes,KuanChiaLin,andTsungHsuehLu.
"BeliefinGhostMonthCanHelpPreventDrowningDeaths:ANaturalExperimentonthe
EffectsofCulturalBeliefsonRiskyBehaviours."
SocialScience&Medicine
66.9(2008):
1990998.Web.