Sue St.Clair and Matthew Didier's Paranormal Blog

Very early in 2009, Sue and I heard from a very well known historic site... this isn't unusual, save that the site in question is one that when I first contacted them in the late 1990's, was adamant that there were no ghost stories from their establishment. Not only that, but when comparing notes with author John Robert Colombo, he had the same reaction when he approached for "ghostly" information. The site looks like it deserves a ghost, but the consensus (backed up by staff in the latter part of last century was,) "Sorry, no ghosts here!"

Now, we had received stories here and there from visitors... we even had some staff write to us with reports... but none of the reports matched previous things we'd heard. Not only that, but the staff that wrote us were adamant that their anonymity be maintained for fear of possible ramifications from the site's management.

Added to this, several trusted "psychics" and "sensitives" we know confirmed that after tours, they too did not "feel" anything from the site.

This did not stop the e-mail in early 2009... where an authority working with the building contacted us to correct our history on it, (they questioned where we got the information... which, oddly enough, was from a well known published book written by someone attached to the area historically,) and to tell us they were shocked that we didn't have more stories from their site online.

We told them what we did have some report, (maintaining agreed confidentiality with those staffers,) and to be quite honest, we seriously had nothing to base a re-roll out of the story on our webpages.

They assured us this was incorrect and offered to put us in contact with people who worked for the site so we could get the straight "poop", so to speak.

Well, it was a bad time... Sue was too ill (and would be for a few months at that time,) and my "day job" precluded any visit... so we offered to come in and speak to these people in June.

Well, I sent an e-mail in early April to touch base and even pre-schedule something... and had no reply.

It was not long after that when a staff member of our site told me that, indeed, they had gone to a "ghost hunter" who is very eager, as a rule, to do what it takes to make things more entertaining for folks... basically, not at all like us in our efforts and, in fact, someone we've run into logger heads with because of certain inconsistencies in their efforts and their dealings.

Basically, it sure seemed the "sizzle" was more important than the "steak" to this historic place... and at any cost.

We would have been honest... we would not have promoted a site with sketchy information... and we made that clear.

Of course, to paraphrase a saying, when a door closes, a cat-flap slides open... and they found what they "needed".

This month, with a recent outpouring of media attention we received from an unfortunate event where a person was killed on an (erroneously reported,) "ghost hunt", I received an e-mail from a well known conference centre and inn based in Ontario.

The first e-mail was a general "C'mon in for a visit! Let me share the stories of this place!" message, to which I responded, with some hesitation, that this would be fine, provided the visit was just for a meeting and an investigation possibility.

I was assured it was... but was confused as the question of, "Would this cost us any money?" wasn't addressed really... so I asked again a little more bluntly.

This time, the "reason" for the request was made clear... They wanted "us" to organize weekends for ghost enthusiasts complete with "entertainment" and "seances" and the like... of course, "we" would not be charged... but surely, in our "database", we knew people who'd LOVE to do this sort of thing.

The inn is historic.

It's very nice, from what I've heard.

...but for the last dozen-plus years, I've never had a single report from the site. Not one guest, not one staff member of the inn... no one.

On top of that, I've read dozens of books about local ghosts... and the total amount of stories I read about this inn is... zero.

Could there be a "ghost" at this inn?

I suppose...

There could be one at the historic site too.

...it's just, when push comes to shove, how does a serious researcher and investigator who's credibility is reasonably good on all sides of the paranormal sector and with museums, historic sites, and even academia even consider these places when... well... they seem to be very content to "sell" their places using any means possible based on their "ghosts".

At that point, how does one assume that the reports are genuine and sincere? How does one remove the possibility of a little "skewing" to make things more interesting in the name of the almighty dollar?

One conference centre I did do an investigation at demanded total confidentiality and anonymity... and I've never published a word of what was reported there or the place's name or location... and if they contacted me now, I'd be tempted if not genuinely willing to help...

...but these other places?

Now, WHY would they do this? Why suddenly decide to be "haunted"?

Seems simple enough... Money.

Tour money, pay-for-investigation money, cheesy thrill "spend the night in the haunted place" money... the list is almost endless.

...but are those that take advantage of these tours and weekends getting a "legit" bang for their buck?

I'm not so sure...

One positive thing I suppose is that we are their first contact... because they know a nod from us usually means a little extra credibility... heck, one "ghost TV show" trying to get a TV deal with a network here in Canada was told to solicit a letter from us of approval in order to get their chance... and considering our very public stance on media, this means we must be taken seriously somewhere... and by someone of "media" importance...

...but again, when "we" (Torontoghosts, Ontarioghosts, PSICAN, ParaResearchers... and MOST of the people we know and work with...) pass on something, they always find someone willing to do what we feel funny doing... and indeed, it could be seen as fleecing the overly credulous.

If you, my gentle reader, want to visit a "haunted place" for any reason and want to avoid possible scams... because the two above only represent six such "things" that we're aware of from the last twelve months... (there's been many more in the past...) then here's the tip...

READ and RESEARCH!

Find out if the place has stories and reports from more than three sources... and those sources should have at least three different sources for their reports as well! (It's not unusual for "ghost websites" to be aggregators and therefore, one person publishes a story and three others (or more) pick up on it without another party giving fresh information.)

That's the key.

Because in these tougher times, the "sale" of things that can't be seen, proven, or otherwise handled will be rampant... and there's no refund for things like this as a rule.

There COULD be some entertainment value in these places and events... but make sure, if you're really looking for the "Real Deal", do some homework... Google is a good tool if nothing else.

If the restaurant down the way becomes suddenly (and without notice,) the HAUNTED restaurant down the way... chances are, they're just trying to cash in on a ghost who indeed, may not be there... and only exist in the fevered mind of a person desperate for a new marketing ploy.