tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32672209278799361572024-03-13T14:38:02.546-07:00Out of the Dark: The Ghost Hunting ChroniclesNews and opinion on paranormal investigation, ghosts, and hauntings in Canada and the US.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-13343382608633043822013-04-11T18:35:00.001-07:002013-04-11T18:38:27.416-07:00The Atlas Coal Mine Investigation, Drumheller, Alberta<h3>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coal Mining in the Drumheller Valley</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Coal was not hard to discover in the area that is now Drumheller, Alberta, Canada. Seams of coal show up as black stripes in the badlands of the Red Deer River Valley. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The Blackfoot and Cree knew about the black rock that burned, but they didn't like to use it. Later, three white explorers reported coal in the area: Peter Fidler in 1792, Dr. James Hector of the Palliser Expedition in 1857, and Joseph Tyrrell in 1884. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />In the years that followed, a handful of ranchers and homesteaders dug coal out of river banks and coulees to heat their homes. However, the first commercial coal mine did not open until Sam Drumheller started the coal rush in the area that now bears his name. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The rush started when Sam bought land off a local rancher named Thomas Greentree. Sam turned around and sold this land to Canadian National Railway, to develop a townsite. Sam also registered a coal mine. Before his mine opened, however, Jesse Gouge and Garnet Coyle beat him to it, and opened the Newcastle Mine. CN laid tracks into town, and the first load of coal was shipped out of Drumheller in 1911. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Once the railway was built, people poured in. Hundreds, then thousands, of people came to dig coal. The greatest numbers came from Eastern Europe, Britain, and Nova Scotia. More mines opened. By the end of 1912, there were 9 working coal mines, each with its own camp of workers: Newcastle, Drumheller, Midland, Rosedale, and Wayne. In the years that followed, more mines and camps sprang up: Nacmine, Cambria, Willow Creek, Lehigh, and East Coulee. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Coal mining was hard, dirty, dangerous work. Mining in the Drumheller Valley, however, was less hard, dirty, and dangerous than it was in many other coal mining regions in Canada. This was due to both lucky geology and lucky timing.<br /><br />The geology of the Drumheller coal field results in flat lying seams, which are much safer to mine than the steeply pitching seams of the mountain mines. In addition, the coal produced in Drumheller is sub-bituminous. This grade of coal is "immature" which means it hasn't had time to build up a strong concentration of gas. Methane gas is the biggest killer in coal mines around the world. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The timing of the Drumheller mine industry was lucky, too. By the time the Newcastle opened in 1911, the right to better working conditions had been fought for and won by miners' unions in North America. As a result, miners were provided with wash houses, better underground ventilation, and higher safety standards. When the Newcastle opened, there were laws in place to prohibit child labour, so boys under 14 were no longer allowed underground. The worst of the worst coal mining days were over, at least in North America.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nevertheless, early mine camps around Drumheller were called "hell's hole" because miners lived in tents, or shacks, with little sanitation and little comfort. It was a man's world, with drinking, gambling, and watching fistfights common forms of recreation. As shacks gave way to little houses, and women joined the men and started families, life improved. Hockey, baseball, music, theatre, and visiting friends enriched peoples' lives. Going downtown Saturday night was a huge event, with every language in Europe spoken by the crowds spilling off the sidewalks. No longer "hell's hole," Drumheller became "the wonder town of the west!" and "the fastest growing town in Canada, if not in North America!" </span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Sub bituminous coal is ideal for heating homes and cooking food. People all over western Canada heated their homes, schools, and offices with Drumheller coal. Long, cold winters were good for Drumheller, because everyone needed lots of coal. In these years, miners had of money in their pockets. Short, mild winters were difficult. A miner might only work one day a week, and get laid off in early spring. He got through the summer by growing a big garden, catching fish, and working for farmers. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Between 1911 and 1979, 139 mines were registered in the Drumheller valley. Some mines didn't last long, but 34 were productive for many years. Between 1912 and 1966, Drumheller produced 56,864,808 tons of coal, making it one of the major coal producing regions in Canada. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The beginning of the end for Drumheller's mining industry was the Leduc Oil Strike of 1948. After this, natural gas became the fuel of choice for home heating in western Canada. To the mine operators, it seemed that people switched from messy coal stoves to clean gas furnaces as fast as they could. As the demand for coal dropped, mines closed. As mines closed, people moved away and communities suffered. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some communities, like Willow Creek, completely vanished. Others, like East Coulee, went from a boomtown of 3800 to a ghost town of 180. When the Atlas #4 Mine shipped its last load of coal in 1979, the coal years of Drumheller were over. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site preserves the last of the Drumheller mines. The Atlas recalls the time when Coal was King, and "mining the black" brought thousands of people to this lonely valley. The nearby East Coulee School Museuminterprets the life of children and families in a bustling mine town. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Investigation</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We started our investigation with the
row of mine houses and buildings that are situated near the main
parking area. As we gathered our equipment we were greeted by Carla, The Atlas Coal Mine Museum Curator, who took us into the Gift Shop and main building. She was eager to
see what we may capture and proceeded to gather a notepad and paper.
I explained to Carla to not let on about any history or known
haunting, but to allow us to explore and investigate unmolested.
Carla agreed and said she would take notes that we could compare to
later to see if anything we capture or feel matches to their previous
experiences and histories.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our group was immediately succumb to a
shortness of breathe and coughing fits. This feeling would be a trend
throughout our investigation. As we explored the giftshop area and
its museum artifacts our EVP machine picked up laboured breathing as
if it was through a machine or a breathing mask. At this same
instance JJ noticed a difference in the quality of air and he noted
that it “...isn't exactly fresh and inviting.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We continued to investigate the next
house, noted as the “White House” or “Grey House” where upon
entering Cher noted: “It's like we are disturbing someone's peace.
I can see someone back here smoking a cigarette. Right back here by
the window, as soon as I walked in through the door I felt like I was
disturbing someone.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Shortly after making this statement we
recorded an EVP that sounds like ““They don't like us. They don't
like to touch.”</span></span></div>
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The Washhouse</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">JJ then commented that “...It feels
very heavy in here and I don't know if it is just from the dust and
the artifacts that are in here, but it feels very heavy.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our entire group felt constricted and
short of breathe upon entering each building but the next house we
encountered a totally opposite effect. The air quality was different
and there wasn't a heaviness to the air.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cher said she smelled lavender, but
none of the other team could pick up this smell, but we agreed that
the air was different and that there wasn't such a feeling to whereas
we wanted to cough or breathe heavily.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We focused in on one particular room
and recorded an EVP which says: “Please listen.” and shortly
after another that is unidentifiable, but ends with “...yah.” as
if answering another spirits question or affirming a comment.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I feel a sense of familiarity. Like
I know these people and places for a long time,” said Ray, who
described this feeling throughout the investigation.
</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We then proceeded to the last house in
the row where Angela immediately felt sick upon entering. I felt a
strange feeling of forbodding as soon as I crossed the threshold and
as Cher entered she immediately commented: “It feels like there is
a very upset man here.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Following he comment we recorded an EVP
that states: “He's mad.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We proceeded into each room on the
first floor but as we ascended the stairs we were immediately drawn
to the room on the right where each of our group felt nauseous and
dizzy. Upon exiting the room the feeling had gone away. Entering
again, and the same feeling came over each and everyone of us. I
started writing in my notes and wrote down that someone, a male, had
a severe head injury and somehow was connected to this room, or this
house. As I concentrated on this feeling the back of my head began to
ache, as did my neck.
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Infirmary</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Angela said that her face was “insanely
itchy” while within the room and JJ commented that the hairs on his
arms and neck were standing up and he was experiencing a chilling
sensation that ran down his back. Cher remained quiet in this room
and then as we exited she announced to me while the others
investigated the basement area that “That room back there where we
were. I think the rafter was exposed and someone hung themselves
there. I could be wrong, but I know someone was behind me and my
hands went cold. Her name was Sarah Anna or Hanna or something like
that. I think she killed herself.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At this time I reveal to Cher my closed
notepad with the words “Room upstairs on right: Suicide, female.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I ask Cher to see if she can get a name
and she comes up with a name of Sarah Anna or Hanna. At this moment
we capture an EVP that sounds like “Lionel.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Upon speaking to Carla after our
investigation she revealed that she is unaware of the any suicide
within the house, however, says that she can connect the head injury
to the back of the head to an accident they had at the mine in which
a miner backed into an exposed power line with the back of his head
electrocuting himself instantly. She also commented that the house
was the electrical engineers house.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our group then proceeded to the yard
were we drawn into different locations. Ray was especially interested
in taking a path down and past a wire fence around a corner of the
main hill where he felt he needed to go. He could not proceed further
due to safety concerns but later Carla revealed that Ray was onto
something as the largest mine disaster in Drumheller history occurred
just around the corner at the Monarch Mine where several men were
killed and injured in a blast and cave in. The Atlas Coal Mine's
manager attempted to rescue injured men, but was asphyxiated and died
in the mine shaft.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Angela was interested in a train car
that later Carla said she wished we would have spent more time on as
it was related to a death and many injuries.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we inspected the artifacts and
equipment we made our way into the main tipple, the largest and only
still standing coal tipple in North America. Entering this location
one really starts to understand the hard work and life the miners
endured. Everyone felt short of breathe and started to cough as we
climbed the tipple.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We stopped near the top to take
pictures and video. The air quality was affecting us more.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“It feels so bad in here like it is
so hard to breathe, so hot and dry,” said JJ.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Holy hell,” replied Angela to the
sudden change in air quality.</span></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“It's just hard to breathe, my mouth
is so dry. What the hell?”</span></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Both Angela and JJ heard a loud sighing
sound to which the EVP recorder verified.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Angela feels as if the sound came from
where JJ was standing, but JJ said he did not make the sound.
</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I heard it. It was a like a sigh of
frustration,” JJ said and notes that his telephoto lens on his
camera zoomed in and out at the same time without pressing the
button.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">JJ and Angela question if I had heard
it and I reply that I did not. I was standing about 8 to 10 feet
away. Angela said it was “...like a sound of desperation – like
why me?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cher was further up the tipple near the
very top where she said she did not hear any sounds, but said she
felt as if someone had jumped from the top, was pushed off, or simply
fell. Later Carla revealed that no such incident nor accident had
occurred.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">JJ and Angela were intrigued with
hearing an audible sound and tried to capture more sounds on the EVP
recorder. I proceeded down to join them and guide them if needed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Do you want us to leave? Do you want
to say Hi?” asked JJ to which a response was recorded on EVP: “You
need to get a doctor.”</span></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Did you die up here or in the
house?” I asked.</span></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An EVP recorded reveals: “The house.
I died.”</span></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Did you die in the mine?” I asked
and got a response: “Yes.”</span></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Was it an instant death?” I ask
and again “Yes” is recorded.</span></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not knowing that we were in direct
contact and getting immediate replies I comment to JJ that :“This
is not a good feeling.” The air seamed hot, stale and there was a
feeling of dread.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“No its not a good feeling,”
responds JJ. We both felt strange being there asking questions to
seemingly nothing. Our EVP recorder, however, verified that we were
not alone.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We exited the tipple and made our way
to the Wash House where we experienced the majority of activity.
Immediately Cher and I were drawn to the attic or upstairs area. Cher
climbed to take a look and asked Carla “What's up here?” to which
Carla replied: “Nothing its an attic.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was satisfied that Carla did not
reveal until later what was in the attic. I wrote down on my pad that
I felt there was a secret in the attic, that something in the attic
was hidden from others. Cher and I did not pursue the attic further
as we were drawn into the main room. Carla later revealed that in
fact a secret had been in the attic – the miners had confessed many
years later that a prostitute named Alice had entertained men in the
room above. Curators found a small brass bed as proof that someone
had in fact slept in the room many years ago.</span></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eVmCPZc6MvY/UWdjx5MbdsI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/Juvo_oZLrx0/s1600/DSC_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eVmCPZc6MvY/UWdjx5MbdsI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/Juvo_oZLrx0/s320/DSC_0102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Boots in The Wash House</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our group felt different in the Wash
House. We all felt as though someone or something was there with us.
Something we could not see, but we could sense. Several members of
our group felt as though a fight had occurred and that it was a busy
place at one time. We decided to split up and sit alone, each in a
section of the Wash House.
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Upon sitting in one area, I
concentrated my vision on one particular area where in front of me
manifested small feel splashing across and through flowing water.
They were children's feet, which struck me odd. Angela noted that she
had seen movement but could not make it out from her vantage point.
Children's feet in a miner's wash house? It didn't make sense to me,
but I revealed my sighting to Carla after our investigation to which
she said the woman and children of the miners did use the wash house
on Sundays confirming my vision.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our group assembled into the main wash
area where we tried to make communication with the spirit or spirits
who we all felt were present. We made several attempts to communicate
with whatever was present but we did not get an audible answer nor
one that was recorded on the EVP machine until Carla started asking
questions herself. On her third or fourth question we started picking
up answers on the EVP recorder.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carla asked: “Do you know about
Alice?” to which we record a reply “Yes.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I then ask: “Can you tell us about a
secret?” but do not get an answer.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cher then asked “Is it about them?”
I am not sure what exactly Cher meant by this, but we do get a
recorded reply: “Yes.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Did they die here?” Carla asked
and gets another reply. “Yes” is recorded on EVP.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Can you tell us the year?” Carla
continues and the year (or age) of “29” is recorded.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I then press on to see if we can make
physical contact: “If there is someone with us here now, can you
touch one of us?” and an EVP is recorded: “Sorry.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cher then said she is picking up on
name of spirit with us Joseph Lazar to which Carla is curious about.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I feel alright,” is recorded right
after Cher says the name.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Does this man know me?” asked
Carla.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cher answers that he does and that he
is present with us in spirit form. I ask Carla if anything is making
sense to her and she indicates that it does.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“One of the last men working here was
Joseph and he did know me. He wasn't directly related to me but he
was sort of like my grandpa.”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Immediately as Carla talks about the
Joseph person she knows both Angela and myself see some movement in
the dark corner. We proceed to ask more questions but reveal no
answers and record no further EVPs.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We then made our way to other out
buildings which gave us no indication of a haunting but meet up with
a maintainance worker who is finishing up putting wooden steps at the
top of the mine hill. He is intrigued by our presence and indicates
he has had experiences of his own at the property. He said he feels
comfortable with the ghosts and knows that some of them come around
to visit.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our next stop, we entered the Supply
House and Infirmary. My video camera batteries were near exhausted
and I jogged back to the vehicle parking lot to retrieve another
battery. The team continued to investigate noting that the upstairs
of the infirmary had various cold spots.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Both Cher and Angela feel cold
alongside their backs and legs. Cher feels ice cold in one location
and cannot get her camera to turn on even though the batteries remain
charged. The cold spots are felt by JJ, Angela and Ray confirming
location and temperature change.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At one point, Cher feels as though
someone is standing in front of her and then feels as though someone
had walked by and brushed her bangs.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I arrive with my fresh battery we
enter the basement infirmary where we see an old bed and several
historical items. Cher picks up on leg amputations and injuries,
however, the rest of the group do not pick up on any unusual
feelings.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we proceed out of the building JJ
says that there is definite cold spots in the upstairs and that it
felt “weird.”
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carla explains later that the cold
spots may be that of a ghost that had been seen in the building by
several witnesses including a child. The describe the ghost as a
plain-jane looking older woman. Delving into the archives, Carla
found out that the building was used by a female doctor making the
previous claims of eye-witnesses more valid.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We then proceeded to the mine managers
office where no one had picked up anything unusual. I was drawn to a
timepiece, however, and when I questioned Carla about the artifact,
she smiled and indicated it was once owned and used by Joseph. This
further shows us that this spirit was present and guided us along.
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The team reassembled in the gift shop
to discuss with Carla what we had found where she discusses our
investigation and she reveals the history of The Atlas Coal Mine.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Special Thanks To The Atlas Coal Mine. Historical information provided by The Atlas Coal Mine.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Atlas Coal Mine features a haunted attraction every year at the end of October:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/gwJEXEhYhSE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-51738847981474195972013-04-11T18:10:00.001-07:002013-04-11T18:10:41.592-07:00Lougheed House, Calgary Alberta<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--TOdHf-034U/UWdb_6tBUlI/AAAAAAAAAqc/x8g_dyBEBbs/s1600/lougheed+metro+news1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--TOdHf-034U/UWdb_6tBUlI/AAAAAAAAAqc/x8g_dyBEBbs/s400/lougheed+metro+news1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Lougheed
House, also known as Beaulieu, was home to Senator
James Alexander Lougheed, Lady Isabella Hardisty Lougheed,
their six children and staff.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">This
grand sandstone prairie mansion was built in 1891 and enlarged in
1907; the impressive scale and the high quality of the design,
materials and interior furnishings of the house reflected the wealth
and prestige of the Lougheeds. An article in the Calgary Daily Herald
claimed it was "one of the finest residences in the Canadian
northwest."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;">In
their day, when the population of this pioneer town was under 4,000,
the Lougheeds were among Calgary's most influential citizens; they
would remain so for decades. Their house was a political and social
hub of this young and fast-growing prairie center, and received many
renowned visitors.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br />We
spoke at length about my ideas, methods of investigating and my
devotion to investigating homes with possible spirits. Shortly
thereafter, we were granted an all-access evening to investigate the
home and the grounds.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aX_ZhzWJYcI/UWddj2zkEUI/AAAAAAAAAq4/cGxmQOP-Oks/s1600/220px-James_Alexander_Lougheed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aX_ZhzWJYcI/UWddj2zkEUI/AAAAAAAAAq4/cGxmQOP-Oks/s1600/220px-James_Alexander_Lougheed.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
James Alexander Lougheed</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">This
was the first investigation myself, JJ, Ray and Cher conducted as a
group. Unfortunately, our good friend Angela could not make the time
commitment. For the others it was an evening of awe of the history,
majesty and mystery this grand mansion provided.<br /><br />It
was first time any of them had stepped into Lougheed and my second.
The team was oblivious to the location until the final minute and
heard nothing of the history or rumored haunting. For some it would
provide a déjà vu experience, while for others it would only add to
their skepticism. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /><span style="color: black;">This
was the first investigation myself, JJ, Ray and Cher conducted as a
group. Unfortunately, our good friend Angela could not make the time
commitment. For the others it was an evening of awe of the history,
majesty and mystery this grand mansion provided.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br />It
was first time any of them had stepped into Lougheed and my second.
The team was oblivious to the location until the final minute and
heard nothing of the history or rumored haunting. For some it would
provide a déjà vu experience, while for others it would only add to
their skepticism. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R2L0v9g3Wpc/UWdcNCWjItI/AAAAAAAAAqg/neOnQR3vo1k/s1600/lougheed+ottawa+citizen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R2L0v9g3Wpc/UWdcNCWjItI/AAAAAAAAAqg/neOnQR3vo1k/s320/lougheed+ottawa+citizen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<br /><span style="color: black;">It
was first time any of them had stepped into Lougheed and my second.
The team was oblivious to the location until the final minute and
heard nothing of the history or rumored haunting. For some it would
provide a déjà vu experience, while for others it would only add to
their skepticism.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">When
I first spoke to the director of Lougheed House he explained that his
house is not really considered haunted and being a historic and
cultural centre he did not want the property exploited for the sake
of entertainment.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">History
of the Mansion</span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><b>Entertaining
at Beaulieu</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Lougheed
House received important state visitors on many occasions. In 1912,
the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and their daughter Princess
Patricia stayed at the house. In 1919, the Lougheeds entertained the
Prince of Wales at a garden party. Prince Edward visited again in
1923 and 1928. Other notable visitors included Prince George;
Governor General Lord and Lady Byng; Prince Erik of Denmark (1928);
Lord and Lady Willingdon; and the Right Honourable Stanley Baldwin.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rq4lunGbfYk/UWddsIky5-I/AAAAAAAAArA/KL-XQMfF1hE/s1600/lougheed111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rq4lunGbfYk/UWddsIky5-I/AAAAAAAAArA/KL-XQMfF1hE/s320/lougheed111.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lady Lougheed & Daughter Marjorie</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><b>Vocation</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">James
Lougheed was appointed to the Senate in 1889, and worked to grant
provincial status to Alberta in 1905. Following the Conservative
victory in 1911, he held a number of key portfolios. He was knighted
in 1916 for his role in establishing hospitals and services for
Canadian veterans after the Great War. Successful in business and
property development, Lougheed also supported the arts, building
Calgary's Lyric and Grand Theatres.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wM4foGSvRE4/UWdcWTdbquI/AAAAAAAAAqo/vSNp_IIptsk/s1600/Lougheed-House-AJ-0001-1956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wM4foGSvRE4/UWdcWTdbquI/AAAAAAAAAqo/vSNp_IIptsk/s320/Lougheed-House-AJ-0001-1956.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><b>The
End of an Era</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Lougheed
House Conservation Society Sir James died in Ottawa on November 2,
1925 and was brought back to Calgary for burial at the Union
Cemetery. The Anglican Cathedral couldn't hold all the people who
wanted to attend the funeral service. At the time, it was said that
"no other individual played as large a part in the actual
building of this city."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Following
the onset of the Depression in 1929, the Lougheed estate was unable
to pay the property taxes on its real estate holdings. In 1934, the
City took legal title to the house, one of the many mansions that it
acquired during that period. Lady Lougheed was permitted to remain in
residence at 'the Big House' until her death in 1936. A public
auction in 1938 saw the contents of the House distributed into the
winds. Lougheed House Conservation Society is particularly interested
in the whereabouts of items purchased at that auction!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">As
history goes, Lougheed House has continued to play many public roles
since that time.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><b>Training
Centre </b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">In
1939, the house was made available to the Dominion-Provincial Youth
Employment Training Program. Almost 40 young women lived at Lougheed
House in each of two sessions, and learned home nursing and
housekeeping skills.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><b>Canadian
Women's Army Corps</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">During
the Second World War, Lougheed House served as barracks for the
Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWACs). Women lived at the house and
worked in the military base offices and stores and drove military
vehicles.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><b>Canadian
Red Cross Society</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Later
in the war, the Canadian Red Cross Society established a blood donor
clinic in the basement to help the war effort. When the war ended,
the house became a dormitory for returning service women until they
could find other housing or could return </span><span style="color: black;">to
their pre-</span><span style="color: black;">war
homes. In 1947, the Red Cross rented the house as their Calgary and
southern Alberta headquarters.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><b>Province
Takes Ownership</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">The
Province of Alberta designated the house a Provincial Historic
Resource in 1976. By 1978, the Red Cross moved to a building at the
west end of the block while the provincial government took ownership
of Lougheed House.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><b>Community
Action saves Lougheed House</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">In
1988, the Historical Society of Alberta researched the possibility of
restoring Lougheed House. The province approved its plan and created
a provincial advisory board. In 1993, the City of Calgary purchased
the original formal garden and pasture, and the entire historic
estate property was in public ownership.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><b>Lougheed
House Conservation Society</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">During
the 1990s, the Historical Society of Alberta continued to raise
public awareness about the site and its potential, creating the
Lougheed House Conservation Society in 1995. Since then, the Society
has spearheaded the project to restore and re-use the Lougheed
estate, a project completed with the formal opening of Lougheed House
in 2005.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Already
a Provincial Historic Resource, Lougheed House was designated a
National Historic Site in 1995. During the following decade of
dedication and hard work, the House was faithfully restored to its
Victorian and Edwardian splendour. It opened in May 2005 as a Public
Heritage Centre. The historic gardens on the estate have been
beautifully recreated as well and are now designed, planted and
landscaped to a different theme each year.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Today,
it's yours to discover and enjoy.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Investigation</span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">We
began our </span>investigation by assembling on the main floor and
then proceeding to the basement where we sat in the main room, and
proceeded to feel out the energy. We set up a recording unit to
record any possible communication with the other side via EVP. I also
set up a stationary video camera to record any possible activity.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">We
decided to sit on the floor in a circle and remained focused. I began
by asking if anyone was with us and if they could speak to us.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I
felt a sense of children playing and this feeling was confirmed with
all those present. To me it was not the feeling of a child ghost, but
the knowledge that the basement held the energy of children and play.
This feeling was later confirmed, as the Lougheed House, has programs
for school-aged children.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Cher
indicated that she could also feel children and she also pointed out
a cold spot around her. Upon investigating the cold spot further,
both JJ and I determined that the cold spot had a natural
explanation. Immediately behind Cher was a door leading outside and a
cold draft was entering the room through the door. Cher choose to
ignore this obvious explanation. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">The
basement remained quiet and no EVPs or activity was recorded. We then
proceeded to the first floor where Cher mentioned that a ghost had
followed her up from the basement.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">As
we proceeded to go to the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor an EVP was recorded:
“She is coming.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Days
before the investigation the team proceeded to meditate and Remote
View the location. As JJ rounded the corner staircase he stopped dead
in his tracks and commented that it was exactly what he had
envisioned. He was rather stunned by this revelation and began taking
pictures.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">On
the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor we split the team up into different rooms
and turned out the lights completely and tried to communicate with
the spirits on a one-on-one basis. Individuals were allowed to pick
their own room and with recorders, cameras and video cameras we
proceeded to try to feel more from Lougheed House.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">JJ
chose the main bedroom in the front of the house where he later
commented: “It was very quiet; a sense of sadness. At one point I
could not tell if it was with this room or not. Very, very sad
though. It feels like the longer we are here, we've been here long
enough. Like we overstayed. Not 'Get out'...but I am not sure, an
uncomfortable feeling.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Ray
chose another bedroom near the rear of the house and said that he
“...did not feel alone, but nothing had happened.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Cher
said she could not choose a room and was drawn to several areas, so I
placed her in the back bedroom which the curator said was recognized
by others as a place of interest. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Cher
later said that she picked up on the name of Edgar and nothing more.
Edgar, however, was a name that was in large print on one of the
museum boards. Perhaps Cher had glanced at the board and
subconsciously brought the name forward.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">During
the time the team had split up I was pulled to the 3<sup>rd</sup>
floor. I was drawn almost immediately to a door near the front of the
house. I tried to open the door and found it locked. I sat down in
front of the locked door and concentrated on what was inside. Slowly
a name came forward – Sarah. As the name revealed itself I felt a
great deal of sadness wash over me. It is interesting to note that
directly below me in the bedroom JJ felt sadness as well. As I sat in
the darkness I felt compelled to cry and holding back tears I felt a
chill run up and down my spine. Suddenly, the feeling vanished and a
sense of calm took over. I was perplexed by the range of emotion and
once again the name Sarah had come forward. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">After
our investigation it was revealed that Sarah Lougheed, aged 13, had
died in the house, in the locked room. The room was supposed to be
unlocked for our investigation. Does Sarah haunt this particular
room? There is certainly no evidence to suggest this is so. The room
held an emotional energy and not what we would consider a haunting.
There is also no record of any kind in regards to Sarah, or a younger
girl haunting the location.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I
proceeded to the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor and gathered everyone and said
we should investigate the first floor as a group. Cher said that she
got the name of Clarise who she believed was a spirit who was
following her about the house. She also said she got the name Joseph
Alexander and commented that these were the servants children who she
said lived in the basement. However, later we learned that no
servants lived in the basement and the names did not match anyone who
had lived or worked within the Lougheed House.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">In
the main hallway I find that my camera light battery has totally
drained, as with one of my camera batteries. JJ notes that his camera
battery is very low as well. Both Cher and Ray's camera batteries are
still functioning properly.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">The
first floor offered nothing of interest and we all felt as though we
should proceed once again upstairs. As we got to the second floor
landing an EVP was recorded: “I'll play.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">We
gathered in the back bedroom to record an EVP session and also to
communicate via Ouija Board.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">The
EVP session began and we asked several questions but nothing of note
is recorded. Cher said she felt a cold spot around her, but both JJ
and Ray said they cannot confirm it. I also entered the space and
could not feel the cold Cher is said to be feeling.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">JJ
noted that every time he passes by the bed he feels he should not be
near it. He sat away from it as we proceed to try communication with
the Ouija Board. I set up two stationary video cameras to capture any
activity. JJ, Cher and Ray proceeded with holding the planchette and
asking questions. Immediately it begins to move and begins to respond
to questions posed by the group. This was the fastest and most
noteworthy activity I have ever seen.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">I
proceeded to take my main camera on my shoulder and zoom in on the
action. As I do so, Cher indicated that she cannot proceed stating
she is feeling very ill. The session is stopped as I put down my
camera to assist Cher.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Later
both JJ and Ray said they believed that the Ouija Board session was
not authentic. The sudden stoppage when directly on camera makes me
suspicious of the whole investigation. No EVPs nor any other photographic or videographic
evidence were recorded.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">After
a short break and refreshment I ask Ray about his Remote Viewing
Session to which he responds he felt he saw an older woman with short
hair. I point out a photo of Lady Lougheed to which he says it looks
similar to the woman he envisioned.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We
proceeded to investigate the third floor where the team did not feel
anything out of the ordinary. The house felt different even ne</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">ar the
locked door where I felt emotional. The third floor offered us no
evidence of a haunting and so we proceeded to the first floor while I
gathered our stationary cameras. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">We
concluded the investigation of the Lougheed House. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">When
I reviewed footage of the stationary camera in the back bedroom I
noted that the lights had turned on and off several times while were
on different floors. Upon turning up the volume I also noted the
definite “click-click” of the light switch. No one was in the
room or on the floor, for that matter to have turned on an off the
light. In fact, the door was closed to the room. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So
is this proof that the Lougheed House is haunted? Our team gathered
information and feelings from the house and several EVPs were
recorded throughout the historic building. The house certainly has an
aura about it and there is a feeling and energy of the past.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Witnesses
have said they have seen a woman in the front window looking out.
They describe her as old and in old-fashioned dress. The front window
is where Mrs. Lougheed would sit and watch the bustling streets of
Calgary in her later years.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Others
have stated that in Mrs. Lougheed's bedroom they have seen movement
out of the corner of their eyes, furniture moved slightly and
footsteps when no one is in the room.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Children,
who also visit the site through school programs have come forward and
asked, “Who is the woman in the window?” to which staff and
others cannot see what they are viewing.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
Lougheed House remains one of Calgary's historic mansions and offers
tours as well as a fantastic restaurant on its first floor and well worth the visit!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V4opqttdYHg/UWdcg5GyoTI/AAAAAAAAAqw/VuucxPzpLb0/s1600/Lougheed+Christmas+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V4opqttdYHg/UWdcg5GyoTI/AAAAAAAAAqw/VuucxPzpLb0/s320/Lougheed+Christmas+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Dining Room</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QHosl3p7V8Y/UWdd94lSEuI/AAAAAAAAArI/0Mm37MdOiJI/s1600/DSC_0196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QHosl3p7V8Y/UWdd94lSEuI/AAAAAAAAArI/0Mm37MdOiJI/s320/DSC_0196.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2nd Floor Hallway</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AtXvGAi78Zs/UWdeLJzh7UI/AAAAAAAAArQ/KseRqEN8u3s/s1600/DSC_0221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AtXvGAi78Zs/UWdeLJzh7UI/AAAAAAAAArQ/KseRqEN8u3s/s320/DSC_0221.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
3rd Floor Hallway / Sarah's Room</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zMyMcNp7Egk/UWdeZ-t0tnI/AAAAAAAAArY/dSJyyyXqsh0/s1600/DSC_0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zMyMcNp7Egk/UWdeZ-t0tnI/AAAAAAAAArY/dSJyyyXqsh0/s320/DSC_0240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lady Lougheed's Room</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W_c8mARm-KI/UWdeiy7V6XI/AAAAAAAAArg/3DoQ1f9_nYg/s1600/DSC_0186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W_c8mARm-KI/UWdeiy7V6XI/AAAAAAAAArg/3DoQ1f9_nYg/s320/DSC_0186.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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JJ Going up to 2nd Floor</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lvfQEUNqou8/UWdewToiTqI/AAAAAAAAAro/wdOoJvT_Dhk/s1600/DSC_0185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lvfQEUNqou8/UWdewToiTqI/AAAAAAAAAro/wdOoJvT_Dhk/s320/DSC_0185.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Basement Floor</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-37983431550912014822013-02-02T09:11:00.001-08:002013-02-02T09:11:46.638-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend at xtraordinarium.com<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend is now available as a FREE ebook</b><b> at <a href="http://xtraordinarium.com/">xtraordinarium.com</a></b></h4>
<h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Visit <a href="http://xtraordinarium.com/2013/02/02/blueghosttunnel/">http://xtraordinarium.com/2013/02/02/blueghosttunnel/</a></b></div>
<b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>to get your free ebook and discover the truth about the tunnel.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://extraordinarium.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/savoie-blue-ghost-tunnel.pdf" target="_blank"><img alt="bgt-download" src="http://extraordinarium.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/bgt-download.jpg?w=710" /></a></div>
</b></h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-10483739862288377472013-01-30T18:57:00.001-08:002013-01-30T18:57:57.196-08:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend</b></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>is available for <span style="color: red;">FREE</span> from the good folks from</b></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://blueghostunnel.ontarioghosts.org/">http://blueghostunnel.ontarioghosts.org/</a></b></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<b></b></div>
<center>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>Available for Free Download...</i></span></b></center>
<i>
</i>
<hr width="45%" />
<i>
</i><i><span style="font-family: Times Roman;">
</span></i><span style="font-family: Times Roman;"><b></b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times Roman;"><b>In 1999, an old rail tunnel was transformed from a forgotten engineering feat into a supernatural legend.</b>
<br /><br />
The Grand Trunk Railway Tunnel located in Thorold, Ontario, Canada was
for the most part undisturbed and undiscovered until a young paranormal
investigator and his friends publicized their encounters at the tunnel
and distributed directions to its location.
<br /><br />
In just four months the tunnel metamorphosed from a forgotten historical
landmark into a paranormal hotspot rivaling the most famous in the
world. Internet discussion forums exploded with talk of the tunnel, and
paranormal groups and enthusiasts flocked to investigate.
<br /><br />
Exposed on television a few years later, the tunnel was well on its way
to becoming an Urban Legend. And that is what fascinated me. I have
always wondered where Urban Legends actually come from. How do they
begin? How do they manifest? And what truth is hidden within their
simple tales?
<br /><br />
The Blue Ghost Tunnel, as it has become known, developed and transformed
online and within paranormal communities to what it is today. The
legend is continuously molded and the truth becomes increasingly gray.
<br /><br />
This book provides a time-line of events, people's encounters, and
historical facts to showcase how a legend is born, how it flourishes and
how we can learn from this modern experiment. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times Roman;">Please be sure to visit <a href="http://www.torontoghosts.org/">http://www.torontoghosts.org</a> for more information about Ontario haunts and paranormal encounters.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-39605835925946688252013-01-25T11:00:00.000-08:002013-01-25T11:00:10.161-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend Investigating the Tunnel<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Investigating
the Tunnel</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> First
and foremost, you must understand that if you visit the tunnel you
are trespassing on private property, and that both the Blue Ghost
Tunnel and the property surrounding it are very dangerous. If you
visit, you do so at your own risk and hold no one, including this
author, the publisher and its subsidiaries liable for any injury or
death. It is my understanding that in the future the area may be used
as municipal parkland and given an historic designation. Until then,
it is private property, and should be treated as such. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
tunnel can be accessed via a private roadway owned and operated by
General Motors Canada. On this road you may encounter security
personnel from both GM and The Seaway Authority. They may or may not
let you pass, and they may even decide to call the police and have
you charged with trespassing. Also on this roadway you’ll see a
newly constructed chain link fence, a gate, lighting and security
cameras.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Some
who have left a vehicle in this area have found it vandalized or even
stolen. With the added security, the risk of this occurrence may be
reduced, but it is best to err on the side of caution.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Once
you pass this gate, follow the dirt roadway. To your left will be the
Old Welland Canal. As you cross over the tunnel on this road, you
will notice a railing that is spray painted with various text and
pictures. One of these read “Blue Ghost”, with an arrow pointing
downward. You will notice a well-worn pathway here that you can take
to access the tunnel. This is a steep trail and can be quite
dangerous especially in the winter or after a good rainfall.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
preferred approach is to keep hiking until you see the Pump House
with the warning sign. Here, make a right and follow another trail
down to the right, which will take you to the Blue Ghost Tunnel. This
pathway is much safer, and may be of more interest to those seeking a
paranormal encounter. This trail seems to have ignited some
paranormal activity about 100 metres or so from the tunnel entrance
itself.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> On
this trail, you may choose to hike down off the pathway to where the
rail bed once lay. There is a small stand of trees with level ground.
Here you will find a large rock which I placed to mark the exact
location of the train wreck. If you dig down about eight inches, you
will discover blackened sediment indicating where an intense fire
burned long ago.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> You
may want to conduct an investigation at this particular location.
However, on the occasions that I investigated this area as well as
the tunnel, I had no luck attempting to communicate with the train
wreck victims. The exact location of the train wreck did not produce
a single noteworthy paranormal event. No EVPS, apparitions or
feelings were encountered.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> If
you do decide to take photographs of this particular location, keep
in mind there is a natural phenomenon that results in photos which
depict unexplained mists. What is happening is that the ground
releases a natural gas that can be photographed with long shutter
speeds.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
front entrance of the tunnel is of great interest to many paranormal
investigators. A number of feelings and sightings have occurred
outside the tunnel, sometimes even when nothing was happening on the
inside. When recording EVPS, keep in mind that there are coyotes,
birds and also bats in the area which may produce sounds that when
played back sound terrifying. If possible keep note of the natural
sounds.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> As
you enter the tunnel through the iron door, walk slowly and watch
your step. The floor is uneven and there may be hazards such as used
condoms, needles and broken beer bottles. If you have remembered to
bring a flashlight its best to use it as you navigate further into
the tunnel. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Stop
when the natural light of the outside world fades and let your eyes
adjust to the darkness. Keep a watchful eye on the doorway so that
others trekking down to the tunnel do not interfere with your visit.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> If
you are with a group of people, split up. Let a few people remain at
the entrance, while others enter the tunnel. Once inside the tunnel
stop at the number four beam. Conduct an EVP session there, take
photos and speak out loud, telling the spirits that you have come to
respect them and the land.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Next,
stop at the number six beam and do the same.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Your
next stop will be at the number eight beam. Here, remain as silent as
possible and listen for footsteps, screams and whispers. If you are
coming in the summer months, the constant dripping of water may
interfere. In the winter, the silence of the tunnel may be deafening.
At the number eight beam, many individuals have felt an energy that
changes the atmosphere. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Finally,
walk all the way until you cannot go any further. You'll know when to
stop in the summer as you reach the flooded area. In the winter you
may encounter a four-foot block of ice.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Keep
in mind that photographs may reveal “orbs” or “ectomist”.
Remember the tunnel is damp and cold, and may be seeping water,
causing your camera's flash to reflect from water droplets or your
own breath. You can dismiss these photographs altogether.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Recording
EVPS in the tunnel may be difficult because of the natural sounds of
the tunnel. You may hear banging, which is natural. Your entire
session may be useless due to the interference of the water dripping.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> If
you do record a voice or an anomaly, have friends listen to the sound
and determine for themselves what is being said or heard. If several
people hear the same thing, without any prior discussion of what the
sound might be communicating, you may have captured something
paranormal. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Videotaping
the tunnel is a great way of capturing your visit. If you have a
night vision option, use it. Otherwise use a lot of light to make
sure you don't end up with a pitch-black video.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Once
you are finished visiting the tunnel, trek up the path that curves
around and visit the Pump House. Be very cautious here and remain
safely away from the water and building. Next, follow the road to
where the pondage area is laid out. Here you will see that the
roadway continues on the other side, near the escarpment and towards
the Lakeview Cemetery. You cannot cross here as the bridge has been
removed. To visit the Lakeview Cemetery and the grounds of the old
burial ground you will need to go an entirely different route.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> If
you plan on visiting the cemeteries, do so when the Canal is drained
so that you can make a proper visit to the old burial-grounds. If
that’s not possible, you'll need a boat. Use the maps provided to
access the historical cemetery and old burial grounds. Do so during
the day, as visiting at night is considered trespassing and
disrespectful.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> If
you find any artifacts, please leave them in place. Take only photos
and tread lightly. There is not much to see of the old burial grounds
as sediment and time have covered most of it up. The area, however,
has produced some remarkable paranormal activity and it is well worth
the visit for those seeking to contact the other side.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Specific
directions to the East end of the tunnel, the house foundations and
John Walker's house location are not provided here. There is a tangle
of bush and trees to trek through in order to find each one. Us the
maps provided to find them, if you so desire.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Once
you have completed your visit, check out the Welland Canal Centre at
1932 Welland Canals Pkwy (at Lock 3) in St. Catharines for more
information about the canal and updated stories about </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Blue Ghost Tunnel</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.
</span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> If
you are interested in the paranormal and local history you may want
to pick up </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Shadows
of Niagara: Investigating Canada's Most Haunted Region</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
which, along with records of 30 other investigations, transcribes two
visits to The Blue Ghost Tunnel that produced some interesting
results, including physical contact. The book is available at the
Welland Canal Centre and online.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-53738319760813278942013-01-25T10:58:00.002-08:002013-01-25T10:58:20.209-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend Safety, Security and the Future<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Safety,
Security and the Future</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> On
my last visit to the tunnel with several members of NAGS, and under
the authority of the St. Lawrence Seaway, we were in disbelief at the
state of the tunnel. It had more water seeping down its walls and
dripping into pools at our feet then at any other time. The stones
were eroding under the constant pressure of the ice build-up. We
concluded that the tunnel was generally unsafe and agreed that it
would not exist much longer under these conditions. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> But
the tunnel remains still, holding strong, a testament to the
engineering and quality of the workmanship. Visitors hoping to
experience the paranormal keep visiting and others with alcohol and
drugs continue to rendezvous for a quick thrill. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
Seaway Authority believes the tunnel is unsafe and in 2010
constructed a wire fence around the property and mounted security
cameras. They hoped to deter visitors to the tunnel, but admit it is
nearly impossible because of its remote location. They have been the
defendant in three separate lawsuits where individuals have been
injured while on Seaway Property.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> There
have been talks of sealing the tunnel completely, with tons of dirt
and cement, as has been done with other tunnels in the area. But
these talks have been ongoing for the last five years and budget
concerns seem to get in the way of implementing the measure.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Recently,
authorities had to prosecute several individuals for trespassing on
the land as they were conducting “ghost tours” of the tunnel. The
tours have been canceled.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Proposals
to open up the area as park land with historical markers about the
Welland Canal are still being debated. Would this clean up the
tunnel? Would it allow visitors to safely visit? Perhaps.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Discussions
about cleaning up the area, creating parkland with extensive
pathways, and placing historical markers on the land began as far
back as 1979 with Greenwald et al, The Welland Canals, Historical
Planning and Research Branch, and the Ontario Ministry of Culture and
Recreation. It is interesting to note that nowhere in the
documentation do the words “haunted” or “ghost” receive
printed mentioned.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Recently,
The Region used </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Shadows
of Niagara</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
as a reference to determine whether or not exploiting sites such as
The Blue Ghost Tunnel might be beneficial in bringing additional
tourist dollars to the Region. Talks about opening up the area as
parkland are once again making the rounds.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Future
access to the tunnel is certainly in jeopardy as additional security
fencing, cameras and lights have been added to the roadway
approaching the tunnel. For those interested in the paranormal, this
location may soon disappear. The tunnel will always, no matter what
its condition, remain a mystery and the legends that it spawned will
continue to grow and develop. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-21009911195367261692013-01-25T10:56:00.002-08:002013-01-25T10:56:55.181-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend Weighing the Evidence<br />
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Weighing
the Evidence</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Russ'
past may explain his experiences at the </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Blue
Ghost Tunnel.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> According
to Russ he had begun experiencing paranormal phenomenon at an early
age and had experimented with using a Ouija Board prior to his
experiences at the </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Blue
Ghost Tunnel</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.
</span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Russ
also says that he lived in a haunted house in Fort Erie, Ontario,
Canada. He claims the energy in the house caused people to have
nervous breakdowns and psychotic episodes. He suggested that, as a
result of the haunting, a teenage girl committed suicide by jumping
out her second-story bedroom window, and that shortly after the
incident the house was exorcised by a Roman Catholic Priest. Russ
also says that the original owner's daughter, who was engaged and
pregnant, was killed in a tragic vehicular accident near the home.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
concluded that the house was haunted and that a paranormal
explanation for the experiences and tragedies could be found in a
local story known as The Wicker Legend.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> As
a teen Russ assembled a small group of friends who frequently visited
haunted locations across Niagara. Often he would catch orbs or mist
in his photography, believing them to be spirits or ghosts. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> I
also spoke to others in his group, who suggested that Russ had been
involved with hallucinatory drugs and was heavily interested in the
occult. During the exploration of the Blue Ghost Tunnel, Russ' group
disbanded because of personal reasons, but recently some have come
forward to say that although they cannot explain a lot of what did
happen during their visits to the tunnel, they believe that Russ had
not actually experienced </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>everything</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
that he said he did.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Was
Russ embellishing his experiences to make a more interesting and
terrifying story that he hoped would land a book deal or even a movie
deal?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Did
the history of living in a haunted house contribute to his
experiences? Did the use of hallucinatory drugs play a role in
developing the legend of the Blue Ghost Tunnel?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Or
were Russ' experiences genuine?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> This
we do know: Russ has not returned to the </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Blue
Ghost Tunnel</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
nor has he been involved with investigating the paranormal or any
aspect of the occult. Russ married one of his teammates and operates
a successful Internet business. He does not wish to discuss nor
participate in any discussion about what happened at the </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Blue
Ghost Tunnel</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.
He wishes to remain anonymous―known only as “Russ”. To protect
his identity and his privacy we will not be releasing his full name.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> We
also know that since Russ' exploitation of the </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Blue
Ghost Tunnel</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
countless others, including paranormal investigators, have
experienced phenomenon that closely matches his experiences.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Is
the Blue Ghost Tunnel haunted? And if so, by whom? </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> My
own personal belief is that the tunnel itself is not haunted, but it
remains a focal point for all our energy and investigation. It’s a
destination for both body and spirit. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> There
is no historical document, newspaper clipping or any recording
whatsoever concerning a haunting or even a tragic death at the
tunnel. The theory that the train collision near the tunnel has
caused the haunting is not supported by any proof―, no EVPs, no
psychic impressions―nothing of the men or their names. On several
attempts I have called out to these spirits, to no avail. In my
opinion, they do not haunt the tunnel, nor the area of the accident.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Then
what of the house foundations? Could they be the cause of the
hauntings? Again, there are no historical documents, newspaper
clippings or any recording of a haunting whatsoever connected with
these foundations. What Gord Westwater felt at the foundations during
his investigation may be energy from a residual haunting, and it was
not transferred nor felt at The Blue Ghost Tunnel. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> What
about John Walker's house on the hill and the rumor it was haunted?
Again, there are no historical documents, newspaper clippings or any
recordings of a haunting at this house that can be connected with the
tunnel itself. The name Walker, or John Walker, was never recorded on
EVP or through psychic impressions.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> What
about the other tragic deaths? Could the instantaneous deaths of
canal workers or the drowned five-year-old boy be responsible for the
hauntings at the tunnel? And why would they decide to haunt a tunnel
they had no relationship with?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> What
about the burial ground that was moved? With the investigation
conducted by The Shadows Project, we can determine that this location
may be haunted, but what does it have to do with the Blue Ghost
Tunnel? The burial grounds are a good distance from the tunnel, and
why would lost spirits of a disrespected cemetery haunt a tunnel that
they had no relationship with? You might argue that it is because the
construction of the tunnel forced the removal of their bodies from
the Old Burial Ground. But this is not true. The cemetery was moved
because of the need for a pondage area. So shouldn't the spirits be
manifesting in the pondage area instead?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> What
about the Old Lakeview Cemetery? Are those spirits haunting the
tunnel? I don't believe so. The cemetery is even further away and
those interned there had no relationship to the tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> So
what is going on at the tunnel and why do so many people experience
what they consider as paranormal activity?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Let's
first discuss the experiences people generally encounter. From the
early days, before Russ exposed the tunnel and described his
adventures, there were several individuals who had heard audible
screams from a female. Others, including myself and other reputable
paranormal investigators, have heard those exact screams. The
evidence pre-dating Russ' exposure is the most interesting, as no one
at that time was particularly influenced by claims of paranormal
activity.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Still
others claim to have witnessed a ghost dog. However, to date no
reputable paranormal investigators have recorded, seen, felt, been
exposed to or tell of a ghost dog. Only Russ' hallucinatory
adventures and Haunted Hamilton have experienced a ghost dog, and it
appears we can dismiss both as sensationalism.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Next
is a child spirit who many feel is frightened, lost and looking for
help. Some say they hear the crying and sobs of a young female. Some
believe the child is about 4 to 7 while others feel she is older, in
the age range of 10 to 13. She seems frightened, and viewers report
the impression that she had succumbed to suffocation at some time. It
appears this spirit is held against its will.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Most
oppressive is a male figure, who has been seen, recorded and
photographed. Each time the sense is of a strong, older man in period
clothing. The male figure is felt near the entrance to the tunnel and
seems to be guarding its entrance.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Let’s
conclude that these spirits, that of a woman, a female child and a
male figure are accurate. Who are they? And what are they doing
haunting a tunnel that has had no physical record of any death?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> And
why are individuals who have no prior knowledge of the tunnel
hauntings experiencing these three ghosts?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> It’s
been suggested that the water, both above the tunnel, and within the
tunnel, are magnets for spirit activity, and that is what is
attracting spirits to this particular location. If that’s true,
then we must conclude that the ghosts of the Blue Ghost Tunnel are
traveling from another location, perhaps to make contact with us. We
could speculate further and suggest that, because of the increasing
foot traffic, the spirit to human contact has intensified, making
this location a haunted hot spot worthy of further investigation.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> But
there is something else to consider and that is the possibility that
we are fabricating the whole thing. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Beginning
with the earlier accounts, including Russ' experiences, to the
present-day investigations, it may be possible that together we have
manufactured a ghost, or in this case a series of them, simply by
using our own minds. The Philip Experiment has certainly suggested
this possibility. Perhaps the Blue Ghost Tunnel is a haunting of our
own making.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> We
could have created our own legend.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “My
own hypothesis about such places is similar to those of Japanese and
Tibetan ghost folklore,” explains Matthew James Didier. “When you
have enough people who continuously visit an atmospheric location
with high expectations of experiencing a ghost, a psychic imprint
from these same people is left behind.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Those
who are sensitive to these imprints will then pick up on them. If we
refer back to Japanese and more specifically Tibetan beliefs it is
possible that an entity is born from these emotions and feelings.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “In
this case, by sheer accident. For those unfamiliar with what I am
talking about, please look up Tulpa. This concept is similar to the
experiments run by the TSPR in Toronto during the 1970's in which a
'ghost' was manufactured through meditation. The most well-known and
successful being the Philip Experiments.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> If
you purchased this book, hoping to get concrete answers, I am sorry.
In the realm of the paranormal there are rarely concrete answers―just
more questions to be asked.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> I
am hoping that by reading through the history, the experiences and
investigations of others, you will be inspired to question more, to
not take things at face value, and to make your own visits and
investigations to The Blue Ghost Tunnel and other even more engaging
haunted locations.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> I
encourage those who are interested in the Blue Ghost Tunnel to
explore it for themselves and share their experiences with others on
social media sites, web site forums and blogs. Perhaps the answers
will be revealed through your endeavors.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
Blue Ghost Tunnel is a legend. It is a legend of our own creation.
One that we developed and constructed. One that we are responsible
for molding. How our children and their children will remember it is
up to us.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-42388677639514122642013-01-25T10:54:00.001-08:002013-01-25T10:54:51.908-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend Ghost Theories<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The
Visiting Ghost Theory</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> One
theory suggests that the tunnel itself is not haunted at all, but
instead is a gathering point for visiting spirits who are attracted
to the steady stream of humans looking to contact the other side.
Perhaps this theory has some merit because there is no doubt there is
activity at the tunnel, yet there is no historical document or
historical article that suggests that anyone had expired within or
near the tunnel. In going by the hypothesis that a haunted location
needs a death, the tunnel should be free of any ghosts. So why do
people witness strange phenomenon at the tunnel and believe they have
been in contact with a ghost or several ghosts? It is interesting to
note that of the visitors who profess they have witnessed an actual
apparition, or have a deep feeling inside, many identify a group of
spirits, not just a single entity. Even first-time visitors who have
never previously heard of the tunnel will sometimes come to similar
conclusions―that the tunnel is haunted by any or all of the
following:</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">A
large, dark man who often appears as a shadow dressed in period
clothing from the late 1800s. The feeling is that this ghost is
strong, powerful and angry. This energy usually appears at the
entrance to the tunnel and is sometimes near the center.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">A
young female child, aged 4 to 7, who is frightened.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">An
older female child in the age range of 10 to 13, who is also
frightened and who had succumbed to suffocation by some means. It
appears this spirit is held against its will.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">An
older female aged 18 to 25 who is protective of the children.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Of
course there are the additional sightings involving several other
spirits, but the most commonly encountered and documented by psychics
and paranormal investigators are the ones listed above.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> So
who are these ghosts and where did they come from?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Are
they the angry spirits of the Old Lakeview Cemetery? Were they
residents in the long forgotten houses around the tunnel?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Is
this theory correct―that the tunnel itself is not haunted, but
rather the ghosts have been attracted to the spot because of the
human energy there and the interest in speaking to the other side?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The
Screaming Tunnel Theory</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Another
proposed theory is that The Blue Ghost Tunnel is in fact the original
and legendary Screaming Tunnel in Niagara Falls. Some claim that the
tunnel on Warner Road in Niagara Falls was mistakenly labeled as The
Screaming Tunnel and that it was labeled as such only because of its
ease of access. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
theory proclaims that the events that took place at the Screaming
Tunnel in Niagara Falls actually took place at the Blue Ghost Tunnel,
which is why paranormal researchers and visitors alike have
experienced the sounds of screaming at the Blue Ghost Tunnel. They
also reason that the Screaming Tunnel in Niagara Falls is not haunted
at all and that is why many who visit it experience nothing out of
the ordinary. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> This
theory, however, has not survived recent research into The Screaming
Tunnel on Warner Road in Niagara Falls, conducted by both Kevin
Valencourt and myself. With the new knowledge gathered, the theory
that the Blue Ghost Tunnel is the real Screaming Tunnel has been
proven untrue.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> To
protect the privacy of the family involved, this research will not be
made public.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The
Thoughtform Theory</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> A
thoughtform is a physical manifestation of energy produced by the
thoughts of an individual or a group. In Tibetan mysticism it is
called a Tulpa.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> A
thoughtform or a Tulpa can be subdivided into three main categories:</span></div>
<ol>
<li><div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">That
which takes the image of the thinker.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">That
which takes the image of some material object.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">That
which takes a form entirely its own, expressing its inherent
qualities in the matter which it draws round it.</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
Blue Ghost Tunnel in its early days was simply a dark, dirty and damp
tunnel that children had determined was haunted, not based on a
murder, a death, a tragedy, or even an unexplained paranormal
encounter, but simply because of its appearance. Like an old
abandoned house, the children whispered stories of ghosts and of a
haunting.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
the 1950s and into the 1960s the tunnel had very few visitors and
certainly not all of the explorers were brave enough to enter the
tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> It
wasn't until about 1970 that these explorers determined that the
tunnel was haunted. But again, it was a rumor, and no evidence of
such a haunting was ever published or determined to be of
significance. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Many
of the early explorers dismissed reports of paranormal experiences in
the tunnel but were fascinated by its architecture and history.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Later
visits, through the 1970s and 1980s, continued in a similar vein. Few
considered the tunnel haunted and there were no attempts to gather
evidence about a ghost or a haunting. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
the 1990s when those interested in the paranormal began exploring the
tunnel, they believed that there could be something abnormal about
it, but these individuals, including myself, felt that the tunnel did
not provide much in the way of evidence. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Nick
Blay and his friends, who heard audible screams at the tunnel and
felt that it may be haunted, did not press further, because they did
not witness substantial evidence of paranormal activity. It was
simply a cool place to hang out―dark and mysterious, away from
parents and the pressures of society.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Just
as the children of previous generations had done, tunnel visitors in
the 1990s began focusing their imaginations on the idea of a
haunting.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> And
along came Russ.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Russ’
reports changed everything because, not only did he declare the
tunnel to be haunted on his very first visit, he also maintained that
poltergeist activity had occurred―demonic beings manifesting
themselves, ghost dogs guarding the entrance―and the list goes on.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> What
Russ did was create a tangible thought. He took the idea that the
tunnel was haunted and gave it character. His online journal created
ghosts and gave them names. It gave back-stories, histories, emotion
and feelings. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Russ'
thoughtform.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
paranormal explorers and thrill-seekers knew of Russ' ghosts and in
the early explorations of the tunnel, many came calling on September,
the “little girl” and other ghosts that Russ had described. They
were sharing his story, wholeheartedly believing in the paranormal
and that what Russ had encountered was truth.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
droves of visitors to the tunnel, on some nights numbering in the
hundreds, all came to see one thing—the haunting. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> A
collective thought, and a genuine interest in manifesting the
thought, became reality. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Visitors
claimed to see, hear, smell, feel, touch, speak to and be spoken to
by a variety of entities. Photographic, video, audio and even
physical evidence of a haunting began to make its way into the fabric
of the legend.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Reputable
investigators began experiencing this same phenomenon and many
continue to investigate the tunnels haunting.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
Thoughtform Theory suggests that the many individuals seeking to find
and experience a haunting have actually created the haunting through
a collective consciousness.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Before
you dismiss this theory as some ancient Ooga-Booga mind fuck or some
new age mysticism, consider what The Toronto Society of Psychical
Research manifested in an experiment in which their goal was to
create a ghost from scratch and only from their imagination.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Their
first step was to create a personality. They would take great pains
to make this fictional, nonexistent person seem real. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “It
was essential to our purpose that Philip be a totally fictitious
character. Not merely a figment of the imagination but clearly and
obviously so, with a biography full of historical errors,” said
team leader Dr. Owen. “Our ghost would never have existed.”</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
ghost they manifested through creative thought was Philip Aylesford,
a person “living” during the 1600s at the time of Oliver
Cromwell. The Toronto group made Philip a Catholic who was loyal to
the king. He was married to a very cold woman named Dorothea who
would not bear him children. The two lived at his family home of
Diddington Manor. Although there really was a Diddington Manor in
England, no such person as Philip Aylesford ever lived there.</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
group created a particular incident that figured into Philip’s
character as a ghost. One day, while he rode his horse near the
boundaries of the estate, he happened upon a gypsy encampment. There
he met Margo, a beautiful, dark haired girl with whom he fell madly
in love. He moved Margo to the gatehouse and kept their love a secret
from his wife. Eventually, however, Dorothea found out and accused
Margo of witchcraft. Fearing he’d lose both his reputation and
possessions, Philip said nothing and let Margo be burned at the
stake. Philip’s subsequent remorse sent him into deep depression.
He took to pacing the battlements of Diddington Manor at night. One
morning, Philip’s body was discovered at the base of the
battlements an apparent suicide. He was 30 years old.</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> With
Philip and his history now established, even down to a drawing made
by one of the group members, they began memorizing information about
this non-existent character, creating more details, and learning
about the historical period in which he “lived”.</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> They
sought to create a collective hallucination of Philip by describing
his appearance, food preferences, and especially his feelings toward
Dorothea and Margo, until they had created a complete mental picture
of him to which they could all subscribe.</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
September 1972, the group attempted to contact Philip using
techniques similar to a traditional séance, save for the theatrics
and magic tricks.</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
first meeting went on for several hours with no materialization of
Philip. Each week the group conducted the same type of meeting, all
concentrating on contacting Philip and each week over the course of
several months nothing, absolutely nothing, occurred. The group was
ready to give up the experiment but decided to try a new strategy.
They began the experiment as before, but the atmosphere and approach
was more casual and relaxed. Individuals were allowed to meditate and
concentrate on Philip without having to force their thoughts.</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> With
this new technique the group began experiencing success. The first
phenomenon they observed was that the table around which they were
sitting started vibrating. The vibration could not be explained, and
even though the group sat away from the table, it continued
vibrating. No logical explanation could account for the activity.
Over the next few meetings, the table began to make physical noises.
A knock was heard, and repeated. </span>
</div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Thinking
they themselves were inadvertently causing the raps, they
investigated. But when the table started to move around the floor in
an irregular, apparently aimless manner, they started questioning one
another. Finally, a member asked, “I wonder whether Philip is doing
this?”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> At
that point a loud knock was heard from the table. Before long, they
had worked out a communication system in which “yes” was one
knock and “no” was two knocks.</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> With
this taxonomy in place, they began to conduct a series of
conversations with Philip. They joked with him, teased him – even
flirted with him. They learned his likes and dislikes, and found he
had strong views on various subjects. When Philip was asked if
Dorothea, his wife, didn’t want children, the members heard
scratching sounds coming from the walls. One member asked if the
question was too personal and one loud rap was heard responding with
a yes.</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> It
was noticed by all present that the raps and movements of the table
seemed to be very closely related, if not actually activated, by the
knowledge, thoughts, will, moods and power of concentration of each
member of the group.</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “If
the entire team were in agreement about the answer to a question, the
responses would come very quickly, but if one or more people were
uncertain about the answer, then Philip’s responses would be
hesitant, taking some time to reply,” says Dr. Owen.</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> As
the group became more comfortable in their encounters with Philip,
they began to treat him as just another member of the group. They
learned his personality as if he was a good friend. And Philip would
play tricks on them. At times, he would move the table around the
room, even rushing up to those arriving late as if to greet them and
say “Hi”. Other times, the table would trap certain individuals
in corners.</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> During
one especially active night, one of the members jokingly admonished
Philip by telling him that he could be sent away and replaced. After
that, Philip’s activity began to decrease until it stopped
altogether and the experiment was terminated.</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
“We clearly understand and have proved that there is no ‘spirit’
behind the communications; the messages are from the group
subconscious, but it is the physical force we need to know more
about,” says Dr. Owen.</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
success of The Toronto Society of Psychical Research encouraged other
groups to attempt similar experiments. Another Toronto group created
‘Lilith’, a French-Canadian spy during World War II, and a group
of French students from Quebec created ‘Sebastian’, a medieval
alchemist, and ‘Axel’, a man from the future.</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
ultimate goal of these experiments was to manifest an apparition,
however none of the experiments was able to produce such evidence.</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> They
did, however, prove that perhaps British psychologist Kenneth J.
Batcheldor was correct when he said, “...the atmosphere of belief
and expectation that permeates a séance in effect creates the
phenomena that spiritualists attribute to spirits.”</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
experiments had proven a connection between the mind and
psychokinetic activities during séances, but could this connection
be made at a purportedly haunted location, such as The Blue Ghost
Tunnel?</span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Could
our collective subconscious be responsible for the paranormal
activity at the tunnel? </span>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-4243449308213326862013-01-25T10:52:00.001-08:002013-01-25T10:52:22.177-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend Creating an Urban Legend<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Creating
an Urban Legend</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> So
is the Blue Ghost Tunnel really haunted? What makes a house, a
bridge, a tunnel, haunted?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> At
first, I wrote a lengthy passage here, explaining the conditions
under which a place can be designated as “haunted”, but according
to Matthew James Didier, co-founder and Director of
Torontoghosts.org, the answer is very simple.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Just
what is a 'haunted site'? What is the qualification for that title?
How does one 'quantify' haunted or not haunted?” says Matthew James
Didier. “There is a simple answer... and some people won't like
it... but it's true.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “What
makes a site haunted is if people say it's haunted. One person says
so... then another person experiences something, so they say so...
and by the time you have three or more unrelated people saying so,
the bargain is struck.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> So
who said the Blue Ghost Tunnel was haunted in the first place?
According to Thorold residents, the chatter started amongst children
and their parents who often ventured into the area to use it as their
playground. One can imagine being eight or ten years old, happening
upon a dark, damp tunnel and hearing strange noises coming from
within.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Children
often perceive a dilapidated house, or a darken cemetery, as
haunted—and the tunnel must have been intensely foreboding and
terrifying when underbrush hid its entrance. Some brave enough to
explore the tunnel did so in the early days and did not encounter any
paranormal activity. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Others,
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>after</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
hearing the tales from other children and their parents, began to
experience odd activity at the tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Some
exaggerated their stories to make them more interesting while others
forged additional Urban Legends into the tunnel walls. Despite the
stories, the tunnel, seemingly uninteresting to most Niagara
residents, existed for the most part without many visitors.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
the late 90s, as interest was on the rise in the paranormal, teens in
the area began chattering about a haunted tunnel they frequented.
Many believed this was simply the efforts of teenagers developing a
good campfire story late at night. As the online presence of
paranormal enthusiasts began to grow, the chatter about the tunnel
reached the Internet. One teen wrote on a message forum:</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Everyone
in the niagara area knows about the screaming tunnel, which lyes
between NOTL and St.Catharines... the place is freaky and yeah itz a
weird place... and oh yeah theres a syco down the street who may
shoot @ yah but thers another place that we have come to call the
screaming tunnel<br />and my friends and i beleve that this may be the
real one. Anyone who knows Thorold and St.Catharines will know where
GM is on Glendale Ave. across the Canal well go up glendale past GM
and u'll see a sign that says GATE 12, it'll be on yer left, turn and
u'll be behind GM by the loading docks, in front of u is a yellow
barrier-gate. go into the gate and go straight, theres a dirt mound
go over the mound and continue straight. the road will curev to the
rite, follow it, and u will see a decline it'z all rock ther, follow
that down and once at the bottow in front of you a bit will be the
TUNNEL. go into it, once in ther it gets really really dark, dark
enuff that one flash lite wont work... the ceiling is collapsed part
way in.. but u can still mange to get thru if u dare. that place is
freaky by itself... but heres the story behind it on top of the
tunnel used to be a grave yard, now all bodies were supposed to be
removed, but apparently the childrens graves were left, or some were
left behind... now where the road turns to go to the tunnel there is
a traight path... the bridge that is ther is collapsed but u can
still get across... across this bridge is a long path that will
eventually lead you to the new cemetery... sum frends of mine have
seen stuff here... at one point when 2 of my frends were in ther it
was pitch black, then when they turned around all of these candles
were lit so they took off the cemetery is tied in w/ the tunnel the
place is freaky enuff on its own but if u can find it go out ther
dress warm for the tunnel is very cold </i></span></span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">tell me what if any
experiences u have w/ this place and venture to the cemetery if u can
get across the bridge.”</i></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
young writer had been visiting the tunnel with others for over a year
and was correct about the relocation of the Old German Cemetery. His
facts were not completely accurate, but how did he know about the
cemetery and the removal of bodies?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> According
to locals, the cemetery now known as the Lakeview Cemetery is
haunted. These teens apparently heard the rumors and stories about
the removal of the old cemetery to make room for the canal but were
mistaken in their belief that the cemetery was on top or near the
tunnel. In fact, the cemetery was some distance from the actual
tunnel, but the teens made the connection that the desecration of the
cemetery was the source of the unusual paranormal activity at the
tunnel itself, and this assertion formed the main story of the tunnel
for some time. This narrative was gradually replaced when others
learned about the train accident near the tunnel, the drownings and
the accidents that happened while the canals were being built.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> After
this posting others ventured into the tunnel and experienced
paranormal activity that was similar to the stories they had heard.
Russ, the teen who changed the name of the tunnel from The Screaming
Tunnel to the Blue Ghost Tunnel, proceeded to enthrall an entire
audience of paranormal enthusiasts and thrill seekers. His escapades
at that tunnel, and his personal experiences, attracted other
paranormal researchers and groups to investigate. Once exposed to a
national and then an international TV audience, the Blue Ghost Tunnel
became </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>the</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
hotspot in Canada and for that matter, North America.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> It
is still visited today as a popular haunted destination, even after
the Seaway Authority and General Motors fenced the location and began
monitoring the area with security cameras. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Some
people experience absolutely nothing noteworthy at the tunnel, but a
good number who have read or heard about the tunnel, or have seen the
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Creepy
Canada</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
Episode on TV, experience what they consider to be paranormal
activity.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> So
are these people simply feeding into their own imagination? Myself
included? Are we simply wanting to believe and therefore
characterizing any natural phenomenon as paranormal? Or is there
something more to this tunnel?</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-83620648173467734922013-01-25T10:50:00.000-08:002013-01-25T10:50:21.675-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend Exploring Locations Near The Tunnel<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Exploring
Locations Near the Tunnel</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>St.
Peter's, The Old German Church and The Old Burial Grounds of Thorold,
Ontario</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> For
years Internet rumors circulated about an abandoned cemetery that
once had been exactly above where the Blue Ghost Tunnel now resides.
Eye-witnesses claimed to have seen coffins floating in the water deep
inside the tunnel as well as protruding through the limestone roof.
Witnesses could not, however, provide photographic evidence and the
eyewitness accounts were either ridiculed or dismissed as people
mistakenly seeing things in the dark.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> To
this day, there are still Internet rumors about an abandoned cemetery
above or very near the tunnel that is the root to the paranormal
activity inside the tunnel. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> And
this rumor is partially true. There was and still is a burial ground
in the area of the Blue Ghost Tunnel, but to say it’s </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>near</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
the tunnel is a matter of interpretation. It would also be a stretch
to believe that a cemetery some distance from the tunnel could be the
source of its paranormal encounters.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
the early years throughout the Township of Thorold, there were
numerous cemetery sites, including several family-operated grounds.
In the early 1880s a proper cemetery was established alongside a
structure commonly known as The Old German Church. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
log church was erected in 1773 on the crossroads of the former Ten
Mile Creek Road and St. David’s Road. In 1775, the first burial
occurred on the property. Thorold resident, Jacob Ball, deeded
additional land to the church in 1802 so that the church could bury
its dead adjacent to the churchyard. Jacob Ball deeded five acres and
the transaction was approved by The United Empire Loyalists who
governed the local community.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
1829 plans were drawn up to erect a more functional and impressive
church made of nearby limestone, and by 1832 a new church with a new
name, “St. Peter's”, had been built across the street from the
decrepit log structure, which had in the meantime been transformed
from a church into a feed stable.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
1836, George Keefer, church warden and burial-grounds trustee,
motioned for the community to build a new church closer to the
vibrant downtown of Thorold. As these plans were set into motion, the
congregation slowly abandoned St. Peter’s, save for special
occasions and funeral arrangements.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
1862, St. Peter’s was replaced by St. John the Evangelist in
Thorold and by the end of that decade St. Peter’s had become an
empty shell with its cemetery filled to capacity.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
1875 the Thorold Post published an article about the poor conditions
of the cemetery grounds. The author wished to have the city regarded
favorably by visitors and called the state of the cemetery “...a
crying evil...” and a “disgrace to humanity.” The Welland Canal
was considered an engineering marvel in its day, and was often
visited by astonished tourists. Noting this, the Thorold Post writer
asked rhetorically, “...if a stranger came to see the new canal,
what would they think by coming across such a site? I am sure they
would have a low opinion of the region.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
article did little to entice the city or populace to act. The
cemetery remained in a state of neglect and the lack of care caused
the yard, headstones and fence to fall further into disrepair. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
1876, another article was published in the Thorold Post, emblazoned
with the headline: “Oh, Why Is It So?”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
article asked why the city had abandoned the care of the cemetery,
allowing cattle to roam inside the church and in the cemetery proper,
causing damage to headstone and property. In chastising the local
authorities the author concluded: “Why, Oh Why, Is It So?”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
new article gained much more attention as residents felt it ungodly
to have cattle defecating on the graves of their forefathers, and in
August of 1876, one month after the article’s publication, a plan
to have the cattle expelled and the fence repaired at St. Peter's was
brought forward to the town council. In addition, a motion to
commission a new burial site was also approved. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> St.
Peters fence was repaired and some of the monuments were
re-established after being knocked over by the roaming cattle.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> By
1886 a new cemetery was developed on the escarpment, far from the
developments of the Welland Canal. With the new cemetery, St. Peter's
and the old cemetery were once again forgotten.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
1903, another article about the old cemetery appeared in The Thorold
Post. The author described his visit by saying it was like
“...walking through a jungle, with overgrown brush, and neglected
grave markers that popped up through the brush. Some of the stones
were broken and the fence that surrounds the grave yard was broken in
many areas.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> No
one took much notice or concern. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
1921 the cemetery once again in the news, but this time the topic of
conversation was its demise. A new canal, one that would be able to
transport larger vessels, was needed and the land on which St.
Peter's church was on, as well as the cemetery, would be used in the
construction of a large pondage area.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
Thorold Post ran a notice asking relatives of those interned at the
old cemetery to have the bodies exhumed and re-interned at the new
Lakeview Cemetery (which is now known as The Old Lakeview Cemetery).</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
residents were given one summer to make arrangements and have the
business completed. It was a daunting task, as many of the graves
were over 100 years old; the oldest being that of Hannah Lampton,
buried in 1793. The total number of graves on record was 842, but
only 253 of these would ever be moved to the new cemetery. Families
simply could not afford the re-internment and many graves had no
family members to care for them.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> When
excavation and re-internment of the bodies occurred, some corpses
were shuffled around and some went missing altogether. Adding to the
confusion is the fact that some remains were not recoverable and only
some body parts and coffins were moved to the new location.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> According
to the superintendent of Lakeview Cemetery there are 118 graves with
no record of whose body they contain and as many as 72 others which
may contain only body parts for which there are no records. He also
stated that a number of the monuments were damaged or destroyed when
they were moved to the new location.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
limestone bricks of St. Peter's were moved to the new cemetery and
used in one of the outbuildings. Other stones were used by local
quarrymen to build houses. The remains of St. Peter's, including the
hardwood floorboards, were burned.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
Canal construction began and the entire grounds were flooded with a
pondage area that was used for excess water flow. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Today,
the remains of headstones that were left behind can be seen when the
pondage is drained by The Seaway Authority. At first, the authorities
had denied that the cemetery actually existed, fearing that they
might have to, in modern times, move the remaining bodies or preserve
the land somehow. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> However,
with evidence of pieces of headstones, grave markers and human
remains, the authorities have finally said, that, yes, indeed, the
cemetery was and is there. There are no plans to move the remaining
bodies or preserve the area.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> For
several years I attempted to find the location of the cemetery, and
while I found evidence such as gravestones and grave-markers, but the
actual plot of land eluded me. I was convinced I was near the
cemetery, but never entirely sure. I did, however, experience a very
unsettling feeling when I was near the area.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Gord
Westwater of The Shadows Project and Kevin Valencourt, formerly of
NAGS, reviewed archives and maps to pinpoint the cemetery’s precise
location, and to date, the only paranormal group to conduct
investigations into the area is The Shadows Project.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
members of The Shadows Project each experienced different activity at
the old cemetery grounds, and with it they recorded several EVPs. You
can read about their experiences at </span><span style="color: blue;"><u><a href="http://www.theshadowsproject.com/"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">www.theshadowsproject.com</span></a></u></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lakeview
Cemetery</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Lakeview
Cemetery is divided into two separate plots of land―The “Old”
and “New”. Old Lakeview Cemetery, which had its first internment
in 1886, holds the remains of over 253 bodies from the cemetery known
as St. Peter's or The Old Burial Grounds. The New Lakeview Cemetery,
which was developed in 1962 to accommodate the growing population of
Thorold and the surrounding communities, feels modern, but on it are
the remains of The Bishop Fuller House as well as a monument to
Bishop Fuller himself.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
Old Lakeview Cemetery is darker and more historical. Some tombstones
are so dated that all the inscriptions are worn off.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Since
the early 1940s this cemetery has been known to locals as a haunted
site, and children dared each other to walk through its shadows. Even
today, visitors get an eerie feeling when walking the grounds, while
paranormal enthusiasts have recorded EVPS and describe strange
activity.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> I've
investigated this cemetery several times and each time I felt like I
was being watched. On every occasion, as I stood there, a feeling of
urgency began to occupy my mind. An urgency to leave. I am always
drawn to the back left corner of the grounds and often find myself at
the same tombstones each time. Others, such as Stephan Willet,
currently of The Shadows Project, have also happened upon the same
tombstones in the same locations.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Here,
on these grounds are the final resting places of the founding fathers
of Thorold and many prominent families from the Region, including the
Smiths and The Keefers.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Do
the Lakeview Cemetery and its stories of being haunted have a
relationship with the activity at The Blue Ghost Tunnel?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The
Smith House </b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Just
a short distance from The Blue Ghost Tunnel are the remains of what
once was a family home belonging to James Smith, who in the 1840s
listed himself as farmer and then later, capitalist.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
only elements remaining of the house are a limestone foundation, a
nearby small well and a staircase that climbs to what was once a
vegetable garden.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Here
one can find the residue of broken housewares originating from
England and Scotland.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> There
is little historical documentation about the house, but it was known
to be abandoned by the early 1920s as farms had amalgamated into
larger operations.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> I
happened upon the foundation while hiking around the Blue Ghost
Tunnel, believing that perhaps other structures or evidence of such
could be found. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> On
a separate hiking adventure, Gord Westwater, of The Shadows Project
and Kevin Valencourt, formerly of NAGS, had found the same structure
and conducted a few investigations in which Gord said he had evidence
of it being haunted.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Are
the spirits who haunt this particular location responsible for the
paranormal activity at The Blue Ghost Tunnel?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The
Mystery House Foundation</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
the general area of The Blue Ghost Tunnel, a larger house foundation
was discovered by Gord Westwater and Kevin Valencourt. All that
remains of this structure is a limestone foundation and there is so
far no documentation found to determine who owned this particular
structure. It is of a much larger scale, and perhaps this was simply
a farmhouse or even an outbuilding from the Smith property.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The
House on the Hill</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Above
the Blue Ghost Tunnel's East Entrance, near the edge of the Quarry,
stood a large three-story house. It is seen on only a few photographs
of the Blue Ghost Tunnel as a blurry haze. During my investigations
into the tunnel I approached a psychic medium who drew an aerial view
of the tunnel and placed a house upon a hill, alongside a large barn.
She indicated that the source of the paranormal activity of the
tunnel was the house on the hill. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
venturing up the hill and looking for a house, I found no evidence of
its existence. Walker's Quarry is still operating and they have taken
much of the hill in extending their operations. Officials at the
quarry insist that a house was indeed on the property and was owned
by one of the Walker Brother's―most likely John Walker himself―but
they could not provide any more details. They said the house was most
likely torn down in the late 1960s when the quarry was expanded.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
talking to many locals I learned that they used to regard the
abandoned house as a foreboding presence upon the hill. These same
locals played as children around the wooded areas surrounding the
Blue Ghost Tunnel, and often spoke of a haunting inside the walls of
the dilapidated mansion.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “As
kids, we used to call those two buildings on the top of the hill,
‘the haunted house’. Even in the 60's going over the Skyway you
could see them,” says Pendykowski. “There was only the stone
shell, no floor or roof. What would have been the rear, facing the
canal, had a large doorway opening on to a 10'x10' pad with steps
down to the ground. This also was when they still cut stone blocks
using a cable & pulley system as well as with a saw.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Several
other residents of Thorold told me the house was said to be haunted
by an angry old man who would try to capture children if they came
close to his dwelling. The story proclaimed that this old man could
travel as far as the Welland Canal and possibly into the Blue Ghost
Tunnel. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Could
the source of the activity originate from this house? Or are these
simply fables formulated by children to scare one another? And what
of the psychic's assertions about this house on the hill, of which
she had no prior knowledge or even awareness?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-31675387142675582772013-01-25T10:47:00.002-08:002013-01-25T10:47:27.326-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend Murder, Rape and Ghosts That Can't Escape<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Murder,
Rape and Ghosts That Can't Escape</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
my research, an unlikely witness came forward with yet another
narrative to describe the source of the paranormal activity at the
tunnel. Due to his past relationships and his activity with a local
biker gang, this witness wishes to remain anonymous.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
can't remember the exact date, or even the year, to tell you the
truth, but I remember what happened and I can also tell you that the
tunnel is haunted. I know that for a fact.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “In
the early seventies the land back there was mostly private and there
was no golf course or offroaders. Growing up in the area we knew of
the tunnel and we heard that it was haunted. A lot of us didn't
believe in shit like that, or pretended we didn't.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “There
were pretty big caves out that way as well and we all said it would
be a perfect place to hide stolen loot or even hide out if we had
too. We didn't spend much time there, but we did occasionally visit
the tunnel.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “We
called it </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Screaming Tunnels</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
because there were other tunnels in the area and they were all
connected* even to the small one in Niagara Falls.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
don't know who told me, but the rumor was that a little girl was
raped and murdered in that tunnel and you could hear the screams if
you listened closely. It was like a record player being played over
and over again through time. I heard the screams for myself and I
also saw the little girl's ghost but I'll get back to that later.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Many
of my friends worked at the factories in Thorold and St. Catharines
and some worked at the GM Plant as well. You could get to the tunnel
two ways—a short way through GM property or the long way through
the cemetery from the Falls.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “When
new recruits were brought on board sometimes we would fuck with them
and see how tough they really were. We told them the stories of the
tunnel and then we drove them through the cemetery, down a road
toward the tunnel alongside the canal. When they reached the tunnel
they had to go inside with their bike and stay there for the night.
If they made it, we knew they weren't chicken shit.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “We
used the tunnel a few times as well, just to meet up or hang out
because it was so secluded. Sometimes we would send people in on
foot. There was about a half-foot of water near the middle of the
tunnel and it leaked a lot.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “But
here's another thing that happened down there. Once one of the
members brought a prostitute down from the strip and she was involved
with some drugs being stolen or something like that. Anyhow, the guy
that brought her down roughed her up pretty bad. A few of the guys
had their way with her as well even after they nearly drowned her.
From what I heard, they let her go and she ran out the other end of
the tunnel. I've also heard later that they killed her down there and
buried the body. But I wouldn't know since I was never there and this
was told to me a few years after the fact.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Now
here is the fucked-up thing. The rumor is that in the early days a
girl was raped and murdered in the tunnel and that is who is haunting
it. I've heard her scream and I've seen her ghost. I've also seen a
man ghost down there. A big fuck with a dark coat, hat and beard. He
looked like a Mennonite.” </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “A
few years back I heard that people were going down there to have a
look at the tunnel to see ghosts. I can tell you that I've been there
a few times and never felt good about the place. The girl didn't
scare me, it kind of makes me sad in a way, but the guy I saw in the
dark coat scared the shit out of me. He was smiling, like a crazy
person would. Like a perfect psychopath. I figured he was the one
that raped the girl. It was a weird feeling I got looking at him. He
wasn't like a ghost, you know, see through. He was like real life.
But then he disappeared after a few seconds. He's keeping the ghosts
down there.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
haven't been back and don't think I would go down there. Some things
are just better left alone.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Other
witnesses have come forward with the same suggestion that the tunnel
was used by local biker gangs as a hang out. The remoteness of the
tunnel would surely be advantageous, but the rough condition of the
roads would be a deterrent to someone riding a </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Harley
Davidson</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.
The local biker gangs have all since faded or amalgamated with the
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Hell's
Angels</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.
There have been no reports in recent years of the tunnel being
accessed by any biker gangs.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Police
records show no investigations at the tunnel throughout its history,
except for the recent trespassing and activity starting shortly after
the show </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Creepy
Canada</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
and Tour Operators </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Haunted
Hamilton</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
showcased the tunnel on television.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Newspaper
and local media also do not provide any reports of any murder, rape
or any other criminal activity at or near the tunnel, neither at the
turn of the century or any other time.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-55103903555427229932013-01-25T10:45:00.001-08:002013-01-25T10:45:40.524-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend The Early Explorer's 1950-1980<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The
Early Explorer's 1950-1980</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
the early days several residents of Thorold and the surrounding area
discovered that hiking along the Old Welland Canal was adventurous
and exciting. This was especially true for the children, who made the
land a playground as there was so much to explore―The Old Welland
Canal, natural limestone caves, a nearly abandoned cemetery, historic
houses and foundations, and of course a dark, creepy tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> The
Blue Ghost Tunnel</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
sat undisturbed, save for a chance meeting with a hiker, or a group
of children daring each other to enter. Several Thorold residents
have come forward to say they had played in or near the tunnel as
early as the 1950s.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Recounting
their memories, only one person believed they had heard that the
tunnel was haunted. The others say they knew it only as an abandoned
railway tunnel that was mostly flooded with water and pretty much
uninteresting, although they admit it had a creepy feeling to it.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
one person who had been told it was haunted could not recount by what
or by what means it was considered haunted. It was trivial to the
children at the time because there were other locations within sight
that were considered </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>truly
</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">haunted.
These included the abandoned Quarry Mansion on the hill, The Lakeview
Cemetery and the Bishop Fuller House.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
had a talk with my sister and father while going over some photos,”
says Ed Pendykoski. “My dad, who’s now 85, doesn't recall a ghost
but did refer to an ice angel. This would be from the ice in the
winter.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Even
in the 50s there was ice in the tunnel. From his description there
was more to see at that time of the foundation and land of the farm
houses. The tunnel still had a rail bed (no tracks though) and on the
inside you could still see the small wooden posts on the wall at the
top with some glass knobs that held wires. He did tell of a ghost,
but that was in the big house on top of the hill above at the
quarry.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
don't recall the GTR tunnel being haunted until about 1970,”
recalls Mr. Pendykoski.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
also mentions that he did not see or hear a ghost on his many
adventures to and around the tunnel, but he had had a strange feeling
about the tunnel itself. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Another
man, Gerald Stech, remembered being in a group of teens visiting the
tunnel in the late 1970s when they decided to enter the tunnel and
slosh through the nearly foot of water in an attempt to see where the
tunnel actually led. He said they made it in about a quarter of the
way before they felt very uneasy.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “It
was like a wall of darkness had been put up around us,” recounts
Mr. Stech. “Suddenly, it got very, very cold and I was the first to
see it. It was a woman in a black dress, with a black hat. We all
screamed and started running for the entrance. I remember I dropped
my torch and it went out, presumable broken, or the batteries came
loose, making the tunnel very dark.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “As
we got out we slipped in the mud and made a mess of our clothes. Our
mothers scolded us later about the mess but we told them what had
happened. One of my friends mother said they had heard about the
tunnel and knew of a group from New York State that would come and
look.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
children found out that two psychics had visited the tunnel and the
canal area in the fall of 1976 and were told what they had
encountered:</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “The
family went down there with these two women from the US. They were
psychic and said that they were interested in things like this. Well,
I was told that things got really strange and that the psychics found
out that a widow had been looking for her lost son when she stumbled
and fell into the canal. Unable to swim, she drowned and to this day,
I guess, she is still looking for her son.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Now
our parents had told us never to go near the canal, or the tunnel,
but after hearing that, they didn't need to tell us again.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> I
tried to contact the psychics who were supposed to have visited the
tunnel and encountered the spirit of a widow, but I was unable to do
so. Nor was I able to find the family that had originally contacted
the psychics. The psychics hometown of Lilydale, New York (a psychic
commune of sorts) says they do not know who it may have been and that
the story of the widow looking for her lost son might have simply
been a fanciful narrative to keep the young boys away from the
dangers of the canal and the tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-47829236321385944752013-01-25T10:43:00.001-08:002013-01-25T10:43:37.472-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend Visiting The Tunnel in the 1990s<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Visiting
the Tunnel in the 1990s</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> I
first heard of the tunnel from a friend-of-a-friend (isn't that how
Urban Legends go?) and I was told that it was haunted and a great
place to check out. In the 90s I was mildly interested in the
paranormal and began chatting on Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) about
local haunts and experiences and one user indicated that they knew of
another tunnel, and unlike the popular-Screaming Tunnel, this one was
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>really</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
haunted.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> A
few high school friends had heard of the tunnel as well and together
we made plans to meet others from Thorold High at the entrance to the
tunnel. We decided to make the trip down to the tunnel using a flock
of beaten-down BMX and mountain bikes. The initial idea was to visit
the tunnel and to experience whatever ghost was there but it quickly
turned into a get-together as plans were devised to bring a case of
beer. We were hoping that perhaps with this new component a few
girls might be enticed to make the journey as well.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> We
managed to make it to the tunnel and found that the get-together was
actually a convention of losers with a six-pack and two girls between
a dozen boys. We dropped our bikes and proceeded to look over the
dark mouth of the tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> It
had an eerie feeling to it and we were all apprehensive about going
in. We shared stories about the tunnel but I only remember one of the
half-dozen that floated around, each ending with one of us declaring
it bullshit.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
story went that a little girl was kidnapped by her deranged family
friend and brought into the woods near the tunnel. Finding no way to
cross from Thorold to a less populated area across the canal where he
planned to sexually assault the girl, the man entered the train
tunnel. The girl broke free when she was near the back end of the
tunnel and the man quickly caught up to her and strangled her to
death to stifle her screams. Frantic he took her body and buried it
into the East-end woods and it was said that he escaped to the United
States and was never heard from again.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Upon
hearing the conclusion of the tale, one of us said it was bullshit
and mustered enough courage to enter the tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
rest of us followed, and the only one of us smart enough to think of
bringing a flashlight was assigned to take up point. At that time the
tunnel did not have any support beams nor much ground work and we
quickly came to a halt, stopped by standing water that appeared to go
the length of the tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> We
stood there for several moments and continued to talk about ghosts
and ghost stories. One of us spoke of some teens that drowned near
the tunnel in the canal some years ago and that tale, which seemed to
be based in fact, scared us back out of the tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> That
was my first visit to the tunnel. The beer having been quickly
consumed and curfews overrun we decided to ride back home. The girls
were scared, but not enough to get undressed or even take comfort in
the form of a warm embrace. Aside from eerie feelings and being
spooked from the tales, there was no encounter, no ghostly presence
and no evidence that would suggest that the tunnel was anything more
than a damp, dark hole under the Welland Canal, not worthy of another
scouting trip, even with more beer and more willing female
participants. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Years
later, as my interest in the paranormal grew, the tunnel came up
again as a definite hot spot for paranormal activity. Together with
a college friend I explored the tunnel and the surrounding area. My
friend brought a tape-recorder that we used in class to record
lectures and we hoped to capture Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP),
or in other terms, ghostly voices.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> On
this visit I noticed a well-constructed fire pit had been built and
several empty bottles of beer were lying near. It had become a
popular spot for local teens to escape reality, share a beer, and
wonder about the unknown with the tunnel as the backdrop.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
tunnel had changed. Support beams were put into place and railway
ties were placed along with fill on the tunnel floor. To the left, a
drainage ditch was constructed to allow the flow of water to continue
and exit the tunnel. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> We
recorded about an hour worth of tape from the tunnel using a
micro-cassette recorder, and we took several photos. None of the
photos produced any anomalies and the sound we recorded produced only
what we considered the natural sounds of the tunnel. The tunnel had
been damaged by the constant water flow since my first visit, and
water was slowly dripping down, echoing like footsteps and knocks,
producing an eerie sound.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> A
year or so later, I visited again, with members of a Bulletin Board
System (BBS). We descended the trail with the assistance of General
Motors employees who helped us re-locate the tunnel which for some
reason we were not able to find, even though two of our group had
been there previously. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
GM employees joked about the tunnel's “ghost” and generally tried
to scare us for their own amusement. They indicated the ghost was a
man that was killed in a train wreck and that we should be careful.
Thanking them for directions and cursing them under our breath we
proceeded to the tunnel entrance where one of our group members
started feeling ill. The wave of nausea did not pass so we decided to
leave him at the entrance while the rest of us ventured inside. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Again,
photos and audio were recorded, and a videotape was also documenting
the experience. This time we heard an audible scream, and whispers.
We also heard footsteps running down the length of the tunnel. We
remained there, trying to get further evidence and trying to validate
the sounds we perceived for several hours. However, nothing
noteworthy occurred after the first fifteen minutes.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> It
seemed we did hear what we concluded was paranormal, however, our
audio equipment only recorded the sounds of the footsteps. Later one
of our group determined the sound must have come from water dripping,
but some of us were not entirely convinced of this theory.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> For
several years after I heard about the tunnel and the ghostly goings
on, but each time the tale was different. It had become an
alternative spot for teens to gather, to share experiences and enjoy
being apart from the world around them. The tunnel provided solace
and for several years it remained nothing more than that—a place to
hang out.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
early 2001, I read about a paranormal group who had encounters with
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Screaming Tunnel</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
but their description and location of the tunnel did not match the
one on Warner Road in Niagara Falls, Ontario. At the time I believed
the poster was either incompetent or simply making up yet another
story about </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Screaming Tunnel. </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
didn't realize that this poster was talking about the tunnel behind
General Motors, the one we now know as The Blue Ghost Tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> However,
the message thread caught the attention of a young paranormal
enthusiast from Welland, Ontario, known online as Russ. He had
already visited several haunted locations in the Niagara Region and
was interested in learning more about the tunnel and visiting it
himself.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> After
several visits, Russ quickly defined his entire online persona by
declaring the discovery of the tunnel which he dubbed </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Blue Ghost Tunnel</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.
His web page quickly became devoted to the tunnel and he began
writing about his experiences in an online journal which he said
would lead him to a book deal documenting the encounters with an
entity known as September. I followed the online journal and then
found out that Russ had taken the website down and abandoned all his
work and interest in the paranormal. According to online rumors, he
had been so scared about his last encounter at the tunnel that he ran
off to Florida to escape its evil grip. Whether or not the rumor was
true, Russ disappeared, both online and offline.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> At
that time I was working on </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Shadows
of Niagara, Investigating Canada's Most Haunted Region</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
a book that chronicled and documented firsthand all of the haunted
locations in the Niagara Region. At first I did not include </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Blue Ghost Tunnel</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
but as Internet chatter picked up about the tunnel and others such as
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Hamilton
Paranormal</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
and </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Amateur
Spirit Seekers</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
visited the tunnel, gathering evidence to suggest the tunnel was
haunted, I proceeded to make plans to revisit the tunnel with a few
psychic-mediums and a host of equipment.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Perhaps
my previous visits had missed something extraordinary.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> During
the work on </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Shadows
of Niagara,</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
several visits to the tunnel were made and recorded. One of the
investigations included over a dozen eye-witnesses and produced some
interesting results including an audible scream so loud that all in
our group heard it, our EVP recorder picked it up, and three
video-cameras picked it up. The audio was subjected to analysis and
it was determined that the scream heard was indeed real. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> All
of the visits to the tunnel produced some results and I was convinced
that the tunnel was indeed haunted, but there was a lot more work to
be done in order to find out by whom and why.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-67747649054918788172013-01-25T10:41:00.002-08:002013-01-25T10:41:29.523-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend The Lost Tunnel and Human Remains<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The
Lost Tunnel & Human Remains</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
2010 paranormal enthusiast Dave Willson, who had previously
documented his visits to the tunnel on his web page, posted that he
accidentally stumbled upon another tunnel near the Blue Ghost Tunnel.
Those interested in the history and the paranormal aspect of the area
quickly dismissed the contention that this new tunnel, dubbed the
“Lost Tunnel”, was anywhere near the Blue Ghost Tunnel. In fact,
this new tunnel is in Ancaster, Ontario and it is called the Tiffany
Tunnel. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> However,
Dave entertained those who were gullible enough to believe that
seemingly a decade after Russ' “discovery” of the Blue Ghost
Tunnel, another haunted tunnel was discovered just steps from the
original. For those looking for additional information on the Blue
Ghost Tunnel and area, this new myth clouds their research and gives
those who mock the paranormal community additional fodder.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> That
same year Niagara-area resident Linda Randall who began blogging
about everything from new French fashion designs to Justin Beiber
found a topic she was attracted to. As a self-proclaimed
psychic-investigator she began to visit The Blue Ghost Tunnel and the
surrounding area. Linda claimed to have found human remains at the
Lakeview Cemetery, but was quickly dismissed after it was discovered
she had only found the bones of an animal. She visited the tunnel and
area frequently and blogged about her experiences, coming to the
conclusion, allegedly through psychic encounters, that the tunnel is
in fact haunted and that she had discovered its source.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> According
to Linda Randall, the tunnel is haunted by a protective spirit who
wishes to warn people about the dangers of the tunnel and the canal.
The spirit is said to be that of George Keefer, a Thorold resident
who owned and operated local mills and had a large interest in the
development of the earlier canals.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Others
are less convinced that George Keefer would be hanging out as a
spirit in an abandoned tunnel he was not connected with, warning
teenagers of danger. </span>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-20359668984465051782013-01-25T10:39:00.003-08:002013-01-25T10:39:39.125-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend Visitor Experiences<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Visitor
Experiences</b></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> It
was close to Halloween and me and a friend decided to visit The Blue
Ghost Tunnel. We had visited other tunnels like The Screaming Tunnel
before, but this tunnel is way different. It’s huge and dark and
very scary inside. If you don't have a good flashlight you wouldn't
be able to see your hand in front of your face. We brought along two
flashlights and as we entered one of them did not work so we ended up
with one light between the two of us. At first, nothing was
happening. We took a few pictures and my friend thought he heard
voices coming from the front of the tunnel and decided to go see if
anyone he knew was coming up on us. We met three groups leaving the
tunnel as we were going down the roadway to it. I just sat in the
darkness and I could feel an overwhelming sense of fear build up. I
looked to where my friend had walked and I saw a flashlight point in
my direction. He was coming back, or so it appeared. It wasn't him,
because he was right beside me and had walked right up to me in the
dark. We thought it was another group of people coming down to see
the tunnel, but my friend said no one was out there. We turned and
walked out and no one was around. We sat at the end of the tunnel and
smoked a cigarette and snapped some more pictures. Suddenly, from
inside the tunnel we heard a scream. Now no one was inside the tunnel
because we just were in it and we came out. We both heard the scream
and looked at each other. I tried to flash my flashlight in the
tunnel but my light simply faded and the batteries drained. I heard
ghosts can do this. With no light source we decided to leave the
tunnel.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="RIGHT" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Justin</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> I've
had several experiences within the tunnel including the vision of a
man holding a cane pointing it at me. This experience left me shaking
and not wanting to return. I was alone near one of the beams that is
really low and I ducked down and under it and saw a man standing
there in old-time clothing holding a cane and pointing it in my
direction. He was angry and I was just about to say 'sorry' thinking
he was real when suddenly I heard a loud 'thump' sound and I heard
footsteps running away from me. A friend who had been further in the
tunnel said he heard the footsteps as well. Other times I heard a
woman crying, and a bunch of whispers as well. The man scared me the
most and left me shaking because I could feel his hate for me. It was
like he was mad at me for trespassing on his land. When I saw the man
it was the last time I went down to the tunnel.</i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="RIGHT" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Mark</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> I
was in the tunnel and we were trying to speak to the ghosts in there
when suddenly I felt a tug on my hand. I looked around and asked
which one of my friends had tugged on my hand. That is when I felt
another tug and it really scared the crap out of me. I then heard the
word “Help” whispered. My one friend immediately said before I
could say anything, “Did you hear that?” I started to cry and I
felt really horrible. It felt like a child spirit around me. I picked
up the name that begins with M. We tried to communicate further with
the ghosts and the child spirit, but something was blocking us. We
were all exhausted that night and some of us were ill the next day.
The next weekend we returned and just at the front of the tunnel I
could feel a presence. The entity was guarding the tunnel. It felt
male. We entered the tunnel and heard audible cries and we could make
out whispers from the end of the tunnel. Our whole group that night
(six of us) heard this. We recorded EVPs of it as well. Some of us
captured mist in our photographs.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Lori</span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I
have been going to the BGT since about 2004 and have made many visits
at night and during the day. I often come across groups of people
down there looking to find a ghost. They sit in the dark for a few
minutes, take pictures and leave. I have never encountered anything
like a ghost down there at all. I get a weird feeling sometimes but
that is all. </i></span></span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Dave</span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I've
been investigating the tunnel for the past five years and have found
that trigger objects work for me. I set up a candle and a shot glass
of whiskey. When I called out to the ghosts in the tunnel to take the
whiskey the candle was blown out. I also got an evp at the same time
of footsteps. </i></span></span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Mark</span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I've
been pushed inside the tunnel. Literally hit from behind in my lower
back. I turned around and didn't see anything and my friends were all
in front of me at the time. I swore out loud at whatever did it and I
got out of there pretty quick.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Carl</span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I've
heard a train-whistle in the tunnel one time. Other times I've heard
what sounded like sobs and cries coming from a girl. I never got
anything on camera except for the orbs that we all know aren't real.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> John</span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Me
and my mom went down near Halloween and we came across a photo of
some old guy posted to one of the wooden beams. We left it there but
it was really freaky to see. Later we felt cold spots and heard
whispering coming from the tunnel.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Dianne</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">SHARE YOUR OWN STORY - COMMENT BELOW!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-17241838417261130082013-01-25T10:37:00.002-08:002013-01-25T10:37:34.343-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend Skeptics Canada Invesitgates<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Skeptics
Canada Investigates</b></span></span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
2005 Skeptics Canada sent a small crew to the Blue Ghost Tunnel to
debunk any paranormal activity that had been witnessed or experienced
by the thousands of visitors. The Blue Ghost Tunnel was a hot topic,
and persons visiting guaranteed activity. </span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
their report they claim to demonstrate natural explanations for the
many orb and mist photos and I agree with their findings. These types
of photographs are common at the Blue Ghost Tunnel, and as explained
earlier are not paranormal in nature.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Skeptics
Canada also dismissed the EVPs captured in the tunnel as the natural
sounds of water dripping into the pools below. However, Skeptics
Canada did not send a team in to investigate during the winter when
the tunnel is deathly quiet and there are no water drops disrupting
or interfering with a recording.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-48768783798163251232013-01-25T10:33:00.002-08:002013-01-25T10:36:09.086-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend NAGS Investigates<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>NAGS
Investigates</b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> As
Internet rumors swirled about a fantastic haunted location, a new
group set out to seek the tunnel. The Niagara Amateur Ghost Seekers
(NAGS), started by local resident Kevin Valencourt, began
investigating rumored haunts across the Niagara Region. Kevin, along
with several friends formed the group to discover historical
locations, uncover the truth and provide information to those who
were disenchanted with other paranormal groups who showcased orb
photos, sold trinkets or featured “Ghost Tours”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> NAGS
was the only established paranormal group in the Region and after
hearing about the tunnel on the Internet they set out to investigate
for themselves. Here are the original notes and photographs from the
earliest investigations. Please keep in mind when reading that this
group was in its infancy and it is evident that the group was excited
and eager to investigate the paranormal as they were indeed new to
the study. </span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Blue
Ghost Tunnel Investigation</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Location:
St. Catharines, Ontario <br />Arrival Time: 11:20PM<br />Team Members In
Attendance: 7<br />Weather: -2C, Winds 10Kph, Slight Cloud
Cover<br />Equipment: 35mm, 4 Digital Cams, A&V</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Our
first journey to the “Blue Ghost Tunnel” was an excellent one.
Not only did it seem the perfect night, but it also seemed the
perfect time. We entered the tunnel at exactly midnight. This was
most of the team members first time at the tunnel.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Before
entering, several team members took pictures directed at the mouth of
the tunnel, as well as around the entrance. One picture seemed very
interesting, as it caught a white mist with a blue mist in the
middle.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> We
entered the tunnel and continued in about 400ft before hitting the
walls of ice</i></span></span><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
</span></i></span></span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>These
amazing creations of nature have to be seen in person to thoroughly
enjoy. At this point we actually stopped and turned off all lights
and tried to stay as quiet as possible. It wasn’t easy to hear
anything due to the constant dripping of water.</i></span></span><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></i></span></span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
ice around us had started to melt in the tunnel from the recent mild
weather.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> We
all seemed to have different experiences when listening to the
tunnel. Two members of the team heard music, which they described as
being something that would be heard coming from a very old music box
for jewelry. One member had specifically heard conversations in the
tunnel coming from the east end. Several members also heard the cries
as well as sobbing of what sounded like a young child, as well as
whistling. The whistling was first dismissed as the drops of water
falling from the melting ice, but as we listened closer, there was a
distinct tune.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> As
for visual encounters, there were two separate sightings. Two of the
members that stayed behind at approximately the 400ft mark, were in
near darkness and could see the west entrance of the tunnel clearly.
One member thought they saw a dark figure cross in front of the
entrance, the other member had saw the same thing. This happened
twice. While this was occurring, three of us continued to the very
end of the tunnel, at least as far as we could go without swimming.
We hit the 600 foot mark and couldn’t go any further due to the
water level, but we could clearly see the east entrance, which was
rumoured to be blocked. We can now confirm that it was not. At this
point we all turned around and headed back towards the West entrance.
We did not hear, see, or capture anything on audio or film on our
walk back out.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Once
we exited the tunnel, several members of the group witnessed one last
possible paranormal activity. A ball of dim yellowish-orange light
shot straight up above the tunnel, and then came swooping down and
disappeared inside. No one at the time had a flashlight on or was
using any sort of lighting or flash photography. There were also no
other people at the tunnel that evening. </i></span></span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> All
in all it was an excellent night and for many a great first trip to
the Blue Ghost Tunnel, everyone is very excited for a return trip.</i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Blue
Ghost Tunnel Investigation</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Location:
St. Catharines, Ontario <br />Arrival Time: 10:00PM<br />Team Members In
Attendance: 3<br />Weather: 0C, Windy 10Kph, Wet Snow<br />Equipment: 2
Digital Cams, A&V</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>If
you remember, our first journey to the “Blue Ghost Tunnel” was
definitely an excellent one indeed, however, this night seemed to
draw the NAGS team to the tunnel, however seemed to be an almost
risque night to go.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> The
evening was very wet, and very snowy for an April 2nd evening. We
decided to go out to the BGT for a second investigation, only to find
that the drive out alone was challenging, due to the amounts of snow
that we had received in St. Catharines that same day. There was
nearly a foot of snow on the ground within that day, when on April
1st, it was a pleasant and warm rich-green day of spring.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> We
found it interesting that we were going out to the Blue Ghost Tunnel,
on the day between April Fools' Day and Daylight Savings Time. As it
was also the very day that Pope John Paul II had died. God rest his
soul. However, we also realized that when we first went to the
tunnel, it was on the day after the First Day of Spring, the day
after Palm Sunday.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> After
arriving at Gate 12 to park the car, we realized then that we had a
bit of a hike to do through all the wet snow that we were receiving
that cold night. As cold as it was though, we felt refreshed. Quite
the exercise that hike had been, and by the time we got to the
railing to go over and down to the tunnel, our adrenalin was
definitely pumping. Perhaps driven a bit by what the tunnel was
feeling to us at the time as well.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> The
hike down the steep incline at the mouth of the tunnel was quite
slippery, as we found it advantageous to slide down on our rear-ends
in order to safely make it to the bottom. As two of our members came
into view of the tunnel, about 3/4 of the way down, they had to stop.
The tunnel seemed inviting, yet seemed to pulse with a very strange
energy. </i></span></span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> As
we all made it down the hill safely, and stood in front of the
tunnel, we all paused and felt like we probably wouldn't be hiking
too far into the tunnel that evening. As we all huddled together,
kept close, and walked into the mouth of the tunnel, we felt a
feeling that we certainly hadn't felt a week before on our first
visit. A feeling of a cold emptiness, it was damp and cold to the
bones, and even almost too quiet. We don't recall hearing much.
However, one of the members of the team recalls hearing a little
child's voice again, softly talking from the distant walls of the
tunnel. </i></span></span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Around
the same time that this was observed, we all felt at once that we
should not be there. We had stopped walking about 30 feet into the
tunnel when all of this was felt and heard. Deciding then to call it
a night and that it was time to leave, we promptly turned around and
exited the tunnel.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> It
was still snowing outside, as we started to climb back up the side of
the escarpment. One of the members stopped at the same spot on the
way up, as on the way down when the two members had felt the initial
strange energy off of the tunnel. He had felt the same energy again,
this time turning towards the tunnel and proceeded to take some
pictures of the tunnel's mouth. It was not until later that evening
and back at home, when he had realized that they had captured a very
interesting shot indeed. What was in the picture was definitely not
what he saw, but most likely certainly what we had been feeling since
arriving at the Blue Ghost Tunnel that evening.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> An
eventful evening this was, and it was certainly quite spooky. We will
always remember the feeling that tunnel had given us that cold and
snowy night.</i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Blue
Ghost Tunnel Investigation</b></span></span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Investigation:
Blue Ghost Tunnel <br />Location: St. Catharines, Ontario <br />Arrival
Time: 10:00PM<br />Team Members In Attendance: 2<br />Weather: 8C, Light
Winds,<br />Equipment: 3 Digital Cams, A&V</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Going
out to the Blue Ghost Tunnel a week after our last strange
experience, led to very different experiences this time around. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> The
weather was different, as the snow had all melted, and the
temperature had certainly risen. This was the night we had met up for
the first time with two of the team members from
www.HauntedTunnels.tk</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> We
had been greeted with more young teens, but not as many as the
previous night, which was a probable benefit to us encountering
paranormal activity. However this night was going to prove much
different than any of the last times we had been to the tunnel.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> As
there were about 7 of us with guests included, we had set up two
teams, with 3-4 of us posted at the end of the tunnel, monitoring the
eastern entrance to the tunnel. The other three of us would alternate
between the tunnel-end post and the front of the tunnel.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> We
thought we had heard distant moans and groans, and even a few times
we thought we had heard footsteps. Closer investigation showed that
it may have just been water dripping down from the week's spring
melting.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> At
the East of the tunnel, where we had set up a post, we found what
seemed to be a dark figure walking quickly from the one side of the
tunnel to the next, across the eastern entrance. We couldn't make out
a face, nor did we capture anything on film, but it did seem like
“something was guarding the entrance to the tunnel”.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> We
remained at the tunnel for approximately two hours, but really didn't
encounter anything. Other than a few apparent moans, and the
occasional shadowy figure guarding the eastern entrance, and the
possible footsteps--it was a fairly uneventful evening.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Perhaps
it is starting to recognize us as regular guests to its cold
limestone walls, and decided to just let us pass through without
giving us a sign.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> With
previous visits to the Blue Ghost Tunnel, we have pretty much
confirmed that there is definitely a ghost there, and that the tunnel
is haunted. Due to this uneventful night, we have come to the
conclusion that even though a place may be haunted, doesn't mean you
are always going to encounter something there. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> For,
you may just have to make another visit, as you never know what might
happen.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> NAGS
continued to investigate several locations in the Region and as an
active member of their message forums I was asked to join the group. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> I
met with two members, Kevin Valencourt and Gord Westwater, and found
them to be honest and sincere in their approach. They were certainly
amateurs in regards to paranormal investigating but they were eager
to learn and unlike most counterparts in the field were not
interested in acquiring fame and fortune as a result of their
experiences.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Some
earlier NAGS members lost interest. Kevin had assembled others to
continue the investigations and the core team consisted of Kevin
Valencourt, Gord Westwater aka Dr. Gord, David </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Horhota</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
aka Makeajazznoise, Stephan Willet aka Naz and myself aka Ghostboy. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> As
we investigated private homes and historical locations across the
Niagara Region we avoided conducting an investigation of the </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Blue
Ghost Tunnel</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
as we were simply tired of hearing about it on the message forums and
in discussions. It was a location that was almost impossible to
investigate properly.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Orb
photos, as well as images of mists, were displayed as evidence. NAGS
repeatedly suggested that Orb photos were simply dust particles,
water droplets and objects close to the camera that the flash had
reflected against. The mist photos, in which individuals saw dogs,
ghosts and people, were also dismissed as pareidolia and the mist a
result of the photographer's breath or cigarette smoke.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Investigating
the location as a team would be rather difficult considering that on
some nights as many as a hundred thrill-seekers and paranormal
enthusiasts were visiting. As a team we were also sick of hearing
about the tunnel. It was the hot topic and it was fast becoming
over-exposed.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> We
were also disgusted about how a significant historical structure
could be exploited and destroyed in a few months after being
displayed on television. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Earlier
I had posted on </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Haunted
Hamilton'</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">s
message forum in an attempt to gain volunteers for a cleanup effort.
The message posters who were so keen about the history and paranormal
aspect of the tunnel simply did not make an effort, and not one
person from</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
Haunted Hamilton's</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
message forum, nor the operators, attempted to come on the cleanup
date. Instead, retirees and those who had an interest in history and
not the paranormal, made the effort, and a cleanup was conducted.
Afterward the tunnel was once again in decent shape, except for the
graffiti that marked the tunnel walls.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Kevin
Valencourt, also interested in maintaining the tunnel as a clean and
decent historical location, proceeded to propose another cleanup
event to be held on a weekend date.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> His
goal was not only to clean up the trash left behind by visitors and
party-goers, but also to clean off the graffiti that covered the
tunnel walls. He, too, posted on several message forums asking for
volunteers, but no one, besides NAGS and friends, got involved. The
general cleanup and graffiti cleanup were both successful.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> As
a newly formed group we had never assembled to investigate the tunnel
together. Each of our encounters with the BGT were conducted as
individuals or with people other than our core team. Kevin Valencourt
contacted The Seaway Authority to seek permission to visit the tunnel
at night and investigate it thoroughly. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
Seaway Authority provided us with waivers and allowed us, along with
a news reporter, to document the investigation. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> It
was the first, and only officially sanctioned investigation, of The
Blue Ghost Tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Here
are the original notes and news articles that were produced:</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Blue
Ghost Tunnel Investigation</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Location:
Thorold, Ontario<br />Arrival Time: 9:00PM<br />Team Members In
Attendance: 5<br />Weather: 20C, Clear, no wind.<br />Equipment: Digital
Cameras, Audio, EMF.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Notes
from GhostBoy:</span></span></strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
</b></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">This
was my first visit as NAGS team member to the ever-famous Blue Ghost
Tunnel. We had acquired express written permission from the Seaway
Authority to be on the private property and conduct an investigation.
Joining us was Petr Cihacek, a reporter with the Niagara News. This
was his first visit to the tunnel and his first ghost
investigation.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /> As we arrived there were already two groups of
people descending into the tunnel or just about to. I always find it
interesting that visitors go into the tunnel stick around for a few
minutes and then walk out expecting a paranormal encounter to occur.
They do not take the time, nor execute an investigation in a way that
is respectful or tactical. Ghosts simply do not show up, wave a big
“Hello” and then send you on your merry way. I am not saying I
know the right way, but I know a way that works for me.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /> We
allowed the other groups to go in and out and as another group exited
I entered the tunnel alone. I made myself known of who I was and what
I was there for. I immediately could feel something, but could not
figure out what it was.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /> The team then joined and we walked the
length of the tunnel and noted that it has deteriorated rapidly since
my last visit. The tunnel it appears, will not last more than three
winters. It will simply collapse under the stress of time and water
erosion.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /> We decided to kill our lights and enter into a circle
and try to communicate with the ghosts that reside in the tunnel. At
first we started off generically asking questions and talking openly
with the spirits. I then wanted to see if we could speak directly
with the two firemen, who past on due to the collision of the trains
outside of the tunnel. I called out for Charles Horning and tried to
communicate with him. I didn’t get anything, nor felt anything at
this time. Other team members replied that they had the same
feelings. I then tried again for Abraham Desult and again, I did not
feel nor sense that this spirit was here. In my opinion, these two
gentlemen died, moved on and do not haunt the tunnel.<br /> When we
asked further questions Naz saw movement behind me and I also felt as
if there was something behind me about 10-20 feet. Naz indicated that
it was closer. At this time several EVPs were recorded and several
team members heard distinctive voices (mostly female) coming from
each end of the tunnel. The voices were not recognizable, however,
they only occurred after a question was asked.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /> We then moved down
towards the exit of the tunnel and conducted another attempt to
communicate with whatever spirit that was at this end of the tunnel.
Again, we could hear voices, but could not make them out. Several
EVPs were captured at this location as well. I tried to communicate
with the names I previously recorded by Pauline Raby during the work
we were doing for Shadows of Niagara, but none of the communication
attempts with these names were conclusive.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /> I decided it was
perhaps a good idea to split our team up. I don’t know why I did,
but I asked Dr. Gord to join me back at the first location we were
at. At this location Dr. Gord had his own experiences which I will
allow him to explain. At this location I could feel a cold spot in
front of Dr. Gord. I also picked up the name of “Carrie” and that
this ghost was looking for its mother. Naz joined us and indicated he
picked up the name “Margaret” – I could attribute this name to
the mother. It was like a recognition to the ghost. Naz confirmed he
could feel the cold spot in front of Dr. Gord and indicated he could
see something around his hand. Further questioning of the ghost of
“Carrie” determined that the spirit is stuck in the tunnel. The
words “Evil Bastard” also came forward. Perhaps this spirit is
being held against its will by another.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /> In several of the
communication attempts I asked how many spirits were present or in
the tunnel and the number seven was coming forward clearly. At the
front of the tunnel, again, Dr. Gord had an experience and I could
feel what he was feeling. Naz confirmed the cold spot that we both
felt.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /> At this time I asked both Dr. Gord and Naz concentrate on
the spirit and ask how they died. I wrote down the words “Choked”
on my pad of paper. I asked Naz and he said he couldn’t give me an
answer. Dr. Gord said, “Strangled,” and I showed him the pad of
paper and he looked dumbfounded. Independently, without knowing each
others thoughts we both came to the conclusion that this ghost died
of some sort of strangulation.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /> We then discussed the tunnels
history and our experiences in the tunnel with Petr Cihacek and we
concluded our night investigation of the Blue Ghost Tunnel. </span></i></span></span></strong>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Notes
from Dr. Gord:</span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
NAGS Team accompanied with Petr, a local reporter for the Niagara
News, went for an investigation to the Blue Ghost Tunnel. Upon
meeting at a close destination, we all piled in to vehicles and with
our trusty LEGAL WAIVER in hand, we set off for the tunnel at top
speed. Arriving at the tunnel, we waited outside while some local
tourists explored the tunnel for themselves as we wanted to
investigate in peace and quiet with little to no interruptions.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> After
the tourists left, we ventured in as a group with cameras and
recorders in hand. Upon arriving at the section just before the
waterfall, which on a side note appears to be the beginning of the
end for the old BGT, we gathered in a circle and attempted to
communicate with the spirits that are said to reside there. John
called out to the two boiler men that died in the train wreck to
which we got no response. Upon uttering a general question a faint
female voice could be heard from the end of tunnel.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Asking
it to be louder the voice grew in strength but still was unclear, at
this point; yours truly accredited it to the water droplets falling
at the right time. Watching Petr scribble notes like a madman kept me
fascinated as I tried to figure out the sounds in my head. We then
moved as a group to just outside the trussels and again attempted
communication.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Nothing
could be heard physically but upon examining my tape I got some real
good evp’s which will posted later this week. We then split up in
to two groups. John and I went back to the first location and the
rest went to the entrance of the tunnel. It was here that the fun
began.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Now
being the resident skeptic I have always downplayed the paranormal
activity in the BGT until this night as stuff happened I still cannot
explain. John called out to the spirits to communicate with us. All
of a sudden I became very very cold. Thinking it was just a breeze
being in a tunnel in all you would think that, so in true skeptical
behavior I put my arm out to the left, it was cool but not as cold. </span></i></span></span></strong>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> I
did the same thing on the right and the same result. It was then that
a vision popped in my head of a little girl to which I described to
John as a girl aged 10 – 12, out 5ft tall with long locky light
brown hair, dressed in a brown dress with a white aprony head piece.
I could see it clear as day in my head and I chocked it up to
imagination but something happened later that would question this.
Steve then approached and the cold dissipated, John informed the
spirit not to be afraid and it came back. Steve concurred that he too
could feel the cold spot in front of me. I began to feel emotional of
lost, sad and lonely and it was then that Steve got the name
MARGARET. This would not prove anything to me except this 5 foot tall
cold spot in front of me. It was then that we said our goodbyes and
turned and headed for the exit of the tunnel. I kept getting this
message that I was not wanted to leave but shrugged it off as active
imagination. Exiting the tunnel we as a group hung around and
answered Petr’s questions but still I was drawn to the tunnel. </span></i></span></span></strong>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Steve
asked me what I was feeling and I said I felt that something did not
want me to leave. Taking two steps back in to the tunnel there was a
significant temperature drop, Steve called John over who again
concurred the difference. It was then that the freakiest thing
happened to me.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> John
asked me to in my head ask how she died and he would write down what
he got. In my head I saw a man dressed in black jump her and strangle
her to death. When John asked me what I saw I told him strangulation,
he then showed me his piece of paper with the word “CHOKE” on it.
Of all the ways you could died, it puzzled me that they matched. All
in all was a very eventful night for yours truly and the whole NAGS
Team.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Notes
from nAz:</span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">This
was my first investigation of the tunnel with NAGS & my first
time at the tunnel at night. I’ve been to the tunnel before during
the day, but never at night, so I was looking forward to it. Also a
NAGS first, a newspaper reporter for the Niagara News, Petr C. joined
us.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> As
we were walking to the Tunnel, 3 people joined up. They didn’t have
flashlights, so we showed them the way. As we got down the hill to
the tunnel, several other people were coming the other way to the
tunnel, so we let both groups go through as to not interfere with our
investigation. Like the Screaming Tunnel, people seem to think that
something paranormal is going to happen just because they take a
quick walkthrough…</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> After
the sightseers left, we entered the tunnel. As a group, we got down
the tunnel to the 8</span></i></span></span></strong><strong><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></i></span></span></sup></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
support truss. The tunnel after the 8</span></i></span></span></strong><strong><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">th</span></i></span></span></sup></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
truss is leaking water very badly. Time has finally taken it’s toll
on the Tunnel.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> As
a group we turned off the lights and stood in a circle to start
attempting communication with the spirit’s there. GhostBoy was
calling on specific spirits. He attempted communication with the two
fireman who perished because of the train collision outside of the
tunnel and also called on the names of the spirit’s that Pauline
Raby had determined to be there during his investigation for </span></i></span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Shadows
of Niagara</span></i></span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> While
in this circle, we as a group, heard these loud “booms” that
seemed to be coming from the tunnel. Some of these noises almost
appeared “thunder” like. It was interesting.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> During
the circle, I noticed movement towards the entrance to the tunnel. It
seemed like that movement was coming towards us. At one point I
squatted down & felt something brush past me, between the wall
and I. Kevin and several members of the group also heard what
sounded like a girl crying and talking.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> We
moved further down the Tunnel towards the exit and started another
circle. Again, we could hear voices.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> After
attempting to communicate with the spirits in the Tunnel in the
second circle, GhostBoy stated we should split up into two teams.
GhostBoy and Dr. Gord went back to the original location, while
Kevin, Makeajazznoise, Petr and I went closer to the entrance. Near
the entrance I distinctly noted the presence of a spirit and started
asking questions. Here is where I got an evp of a spirit answering
me.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Kevin,
Makeajazznoise & Petr exited the tunnel while I went to check on
Dr. Gord & GhostBoy.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Upon
joining GhostBoy & Dr. Gord, I could feel cold spots right in
front of Dr.Gord. I was actually able for the first time, pick up a
name of a spirit. I got the name “Margaret”. Also, while I was
holding the recorder, I could see movement around it! I t was almost
like my hand & the red light from the recorder was blinking on &
off.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> After
we left the Tunnel, I noticed Dr. Gord standing just a couple of feet
inside holding his hand out and snapping pictures with the other. I
joined him and immediately noticed cold spots infront of Dr. Gord and
myself. I called GhostBoy over to help investigate. He asked us both
to ask the spirit how it died. At the same time, I got this strong
impression that the spirits were detained or held against their will
in the Tunnel itself. I was shocked! When GhostBoy asked us to ask
the spirit that question, I couldn’t answer but Dr.Gord answered
choked. It was then that GhostBoy showed Dr. Gord his notes and
they confirmed with each other “strangulation”.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Why
are these spirit’s in the Tunnel? There is nothing on record (that
we know of) of deaths inside the Tunnel. Why did GhostBoy and I both
get the feeling at different times that they (spirit’s) are being
contained in the tunnel? This is something worth checking into in the
future. Hopefully we’ll solve the puzzle before the deterioration
of the Tunnel is complete.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Notes
from David:</span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Well.
it was our first visit with the current group of N.A.G.S. team
members to the B.G.T. I have been to this locale numerous times with
various combinations of people... but this was the first time I went
on a proper investigation. This was at the request of Petr Cichacek,
a writer for a local newspaper, who wishes to write a story on the
tunnel. Most of our current team members, myself included, have
stated that prior visits lacked any significant paranormal events. I
thank Petr for requesting we do this, as we had kind of disregarded
the B.G.T. as a team... and the night turned into yet another
noteworthy N.A.G.S. outing. </span></i></span></span></strong>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> We
arrived at the Grand Trunk Railway tunnel at approximately 9pm,
amongst two other groups on their way into to tunnel. The N.A.G.S.
team and Petr hung back and allowed the other groups to proceed which
gave us a chance to advise Petr a little of what our group does and
on the history of the tunnel. Once we proceeded into the tunnel it
completely dark outside. We entered with magnetic tape recorders,
digital cameras, an electro-magnetic field detector and notepads. The
EMF detector went off a lot on this night, and all of us captured
EVPs as well. I have seen at least one interesting picture from this
night, and since I didn't have a camera with me on this night I'm
eager to see the investigation pictures myself! </span></i></span></span></strong>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Sad
but true...the tunnels decay is more apparent with every visit, it
doesn't appear it will last another year. The instability of the
ceiling kept us from going all the way in. We would have needed
rubber boots and rain jackets/hoods. We gathered as a group and
attempted to make contact about halfway in... after backing up from
the noise of the water closer to the end. If any EVPs were to be
captured on this night we had to step back. </span></i></span></span></strong>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> During
our session I audibly heard distant voices. They were unclear, but
they were in time to our attempts to communicate. I felt a cold
tingling sensation on my right arm and right side of my neck at one
point... but otherwise I personally had no other contact to report
from this evening. I do know that others had more intimate contacts
on this night, and I look forward to reading the others' reports...
as well as Petr's article in the Niagara News.</span></i></span></span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Note
from Kevin:</span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
have to admit this was one of my most rewarding trips to the tunnel.
I have been on several occasions in the past, during the day, night,
winter, and I have experienced minimal paranormal activity.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> The
N.A.G.S. team, with granted permission and armed with signed waivers
from the St. Lawrence Seaway escorted reporter Petr C. a reporter
from the Niagara News Thorold edition to the well known Blue Ghost
Tunnel aka Grand Trunk Railway Tunnel.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Once
we got all of our equipment organized and the tunnel was clear of
other visitors, we all trekked in as a team. We made it up to the
area where the water leaks from the roof, and decided that the noise
of the water would compromise any EVPs that may be caught on tape, so
it was decided to move closer to the West entrance, just far enough
away so the water wouldn't be a problem.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> We
formed a circle, and right away heard a loud rumbling, almost
sounding like thunder; this repeated a couple times, I personally
don't have an explanation for this. Once we turned of all our lights,
John started asking questions, trying to get some spirit activity to
contact us. John and I both hear foot steps in the distance on the
wood floor, closer to the water, I asked if whatever was there could
move closer, and hear the mumbles of what sounded like a young girl.
John and I asked questions back and forth, David and nAz also tossed
in some questions. What got my attention the most was the sound of
crying from this young female, and as soon as I heard that, John
asked the question, “Why are you sad” this leads me to believe
that we both heard the same thing.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> After
a few more moments, the teams split up. David, nAz, Petr, and I
headed toward the West Entrance, stopped for a few more moments of
recording and headed out of the tunnel to discuss things with Petr.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Gord
and John headed towards the East Entrance and as you can see by Gord
and John’s notes, it was very eventful.</span></i></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></i></span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Note
that both Gord Westwater and David </span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Horhota</span></span></span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
were very skeptical about the paranormal and were often our voice of
reason. Kevin Valencourt also felt that our trip to the BGT was
rewarding and re-evaluated his previous experiences there.</span></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
Blue Ghost Tunnel was visited by members of NAGS throughout the
summer of 2005 and continued to produce some interesting results.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> That
same year an ex-member of NAGS, GhostDave suggested that he would
seal the tunnel off to prevent anyone from visiting, however, Seaway
Authority employees began work shortly before Halloween without the
help of GhostDave (even though he claimed to have done the work).
GhostDave was a self-proclaimed skeptic with no interest other than
the historical aspect of the tunnel, and he was usually online
stirring the pot and saying he was going to seal the tunnel once and
for all. The sealing of the tunnel began with the West Entrance using
cinder-block and mortar. The efforts to protect the tunnel actually
defaced and destroyed the entrance of the tunnel as the cinder-block
bricks were mashed into the tunnel walls and held together with a
concrete mix that oozed out. Many were furious that someone had
blocked up the tunnel and without delay, the next day of its
announcement of being sealed, someone took a sludge-hammer and bashed
an entire section out allowing access to the tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Some
time later, the iron door was opened as the lock was cut and
discarded and again, someone had bashed a new hole in the
cinder-blocks and created a new entrance. And with a fear that
someone would eventually seal the tunnel away in a proper manner,
many more individuals, who postponed a visit, made their way down. On
some nights there were as many as sixty or seventy people inside the
tunnel and the entire grounds and tunnel became full of garbage, used
condoms, hazardous needles and the walls were spray painted to a
point where the tunnel looked pathetic. Individuals seriously
considering doing a paranormal investigation were disenchanted. It
was simply impossible. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> GhostDave,
who was expelled from the NAGS group months before his undertaking as
an imaginary mason, decided to keep a low profile but then emerged
and cried foul of his ousting to other paranormal groups, stating
that members of NAGS had “fired” him because he believed The Blue
Ghost Tunnel was not haunted. In fact, he was ousted from the NAGS
group, not for being of a skeptical mind, but for driving to and
arriving at residences we were investigating intoxicated. If this
behaviour did not warrant terminating him, he then began befriending
and acting strangely around the residences' children causing
immediate concern. GhostDave has since faded from the paranormal
community and his interest in the historical aspect of the tunnel
abandoned.</span><br />
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
NAGS group visited the tunnel throughout the year, either as a group,
as individuals, or in small get-togethers. Each time, the tunnel
produced results and we were convinced that the tunnel was haunted.
As a paranormal group however, NAGS dissolved shortly thereafter and
the Blue Ghost Tunnel endeavor was abandoned.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Kevin
Valencourt continues his interest in history, exploration and
photography. Gord Westwater and Stephan Willett have continued
investigating the paranormal with the group </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Shadows Project</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
David </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Horhota</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
maintains a strong friendship. As for myself, I continue to
investigate haunted locations across Canada and the United States and
occasionally revisit old haunts like the </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Blue
Ghost Tunnel</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">. </span></span>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-60936580872557770542013-01-25T10:29:00.000-08:002013-01-25T10:29:01.787-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend More Blue Ghost Nonsense<br />
<div class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More
Blue Ghost Nonsense</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
the summer of 2005 a sealed plastic Ziploc bag was discovered at the
mouth of the tunnel containing a VHS tape labeled #2. Several other
tapes, sealed in plastic bags and numbered, were discovered.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
curious viewer would see a short clip containing visuals of the
tunnel, The Welland Canal, rusty objects, dead animals and a man in a
cheesy Halloween mask. The effect was to produce a tape similar to
the one found in the movie </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Ring</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.
The majority of viewers found it amateurish.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Chad
Irish was the person who actually found the tapes, and many
speculated it was he who was responsible for placing, and ultimately
finding, his own tapes. This was during the period that Chad was
engrossed with the tunnel and visited daily and nightly for months.
He was spellbound by the tapes and made extra trips to the tunnel
simply, he said, for the chance of finding another tape. Several
pages of his web site were now dedicated to the tapes themselves and
he developed his own hypothesis about the tapes. They were, evil, he
said, and the viewer would physically get sick, or even die after
viewing them. He cautioned his web site visitors about the tapes and
proceeded to amass a collection of plastic baggies and VHS tapes.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> When
the interest of the tapes faded, Chad devised another attention
grabbing scheme. He made his own video tape and had to discover it
himself after no one had noticed it sitting on one of the
strengthening beams in the tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
the months that passed, yet another video was made, by an anonymous
filmmaker, and mocked the whole videotape controversy. It contained
images of the tunnel as well as </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Thomas
The Tank Engine</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
cheerfully smiling as he tooted his whistle. Speculation about the
origin of this jeering video was centered on a local graphic artist
and paranormal enthusiast known on paranormal forums as Toadfuss.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
original producer of the first video and Chad's distribution created
yet another layer of the Urban Legend. Even though most people
dismiss the tapes as a cheap-practical joke and Chad as an eccentric
ghost hunter, the tapes still pop up in some conversations as pieces
of the story:</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>They
found these old movies there of a man killing a girl.”</i></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>They
found parts of a snuff film, but the rest of the film was destroyed
by water.”</i></span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
guy who made the film was murdered.”</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Not
even a decade old and many people fail to delve into the truth.
Instead, they read or hear about a video tape and somehow, somewhere
along the way, decide it is historic truth. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Of
course, each story, like branches of a tree, continuously grows new
branches and leaves. The legend grows and grows.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
original creator of the video series, James Straughan, was recently
exposed by Kevin Valencourt, founder of The Niagara Amateur Ghost
Seekers. During the time in which Chad was infatuated with the tapes,
James Straughan posted many entries onto paranormal discussion
boards about the video tapes, marketing them and pretending not to
know who did them. He lied about his involvement with the tapes and
his credibility was tarnished.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>On
Hamilton Paranormal's Old Message Forum:</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">By
James Straughan on Friday, December 10, 2004 - 10:03 pm:</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Hey
all, long-time no-post </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Since
spring I had not been back to the BGT, and wow has it changed. I
guess it's become pretty popular since that tv show aired cause it's
amazing what you'll find down there. I've been there three times in
the last month, and found things ranging from bikes to fires in the
tunnel. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>One
particular thing though, when I went tonight I found a vhs tape in a
ziplock bag ...left seemingly intentionally in the middle of the
tunnel. I took it home and watched it out of curiosity, and it is
flat out strange. Actually, it can't be described. You want to think
it's a joke, but there's such a frightening amount of effort and
impact with it. Why?</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">By
James Straughan on Saturday, December 11, 2004 - 02:27 am:</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I've
been trying to get my tv input card to work so I can take some stills
but to no avail. I'll try again tomorrow. To be honest, after viewing
the video I just felt ...well, bad....not only is it menacing but it
is also depressing. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>It
is relatively short...almost 3 minutes I think. I've decided the best
word to describe it would be “montage”. Among the things shown
are the tunnel itself, some VERY old gravestones somewhere, a
destroyed car/truck in the woods, a dead fox, a rotten door standing
on it's own, something emerging from the reeds wearing a policeman or
conductor uniform, a human skull sunken in the mud, and a piece of
paper in a tree that reads 27. The whole thing has unidentifiable
audio, with what sounds like a young girls voice and an old man. I
can't make out what they're saying though. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I
know that all must sound strange, and it is. Hopefully I can get some
stills tommorow. Night. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>-James</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> When
asked recently about the video and its purpose, James Straughan
provided this statement:</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “I
made the film in 2004, hold all copyrights, original footage,
soundtrack etc etc. If you have any follow-up questions talk to my
lawyer at Wilson Opatovsky (905) 835-1163. I do not consent to my
films usage, in whole or part, in any project/compilation/anything.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
statement in itself reveals the character of the man behind the
cheesy-Halloween mask in the video.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> You
may find the video online on YouTube. If the drivel does not
entertain you, some of the comments left behind by more creative
individuals will. Viewer discretion is advised, however, and this
author is not responsible for any illness henceforth caused or
immediate, and/or sudden death upon viewing. Perhaps contact Wilson
Opatovsky to seek compensation for any damages. </span>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-11941078335324405502013-01-25T10:26:00.001-08:002013-01-25T10:26:54.012-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend Schizophrenia<br />
<div class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Blue
Ghost Tunnel Schizophrenia</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> After
the airing of the BGT segment on </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Creepy
Canada</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
the tunnel became a tourist attraction with car loads of teens,
families with small children and investigators as far away as Germany
exploring the tunnel on a nightly basis. However, there are two
people who shaped the BGT legend more than any others visiting the
tunnel in the early days.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
first was a self-appointed “Ghosthunter” who frequented haunted
locations across Niagara, but concentrated on Port Colborne and Fort
Erie, Ontario. I met Mark “The Ghosthunter” at the tunnel one
night where he was performing a “satanic ritual”. I've never
witnessed a satanic ritual, but I got the impression that things
weren't going the way they were supposed to when I saw a few dollar
store candles and a few upside-down crucifixes, along with a man in
his 50s sporting a scruffy, untrimmed beard and a flashlight
chanting, or rather mumbling, magic words. After his ritual, nothing
extraordinary happened. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Apparently,
this “Ghosthunter” was opening a portal to hell, that he found
under the 2 feet of water near the East-end of the tunnel. According
to the “Ghosthunter” there was evil in the tunnel, and the only
way to free the spirits was to open a portal and send the demons
back. He didn't say if it worked out. The ritual ended without a
flash, a bang, or acknowledgment. I kept my distance. Not from the
presence of the portal, but from the sorcerer.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> This
same ghost hunter began telling his tales of evil inside the tunnel
online on various message forums and spent days and nights at the
tunnel trying to recruit members to his now defunct </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Yahoo!
Group.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> One
person he did recruit was a Burlington, Ontario resident named Chad
Irish. Chad's interest in the paranormal began when he attended a
ghost walk conducted by </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Haunted
Hamilton</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.
Chad's interest in the paranormal grew and he soon suspected that
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Haunted
Hamilton</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
was simply a business, and not seriously interested in the
paranormal. Feeling betrayed he looked to other sites on the Internet
and befriended an investigating team called </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Hamilton
Paranormal</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.
</span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Here,
he discovered </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Blue Ghost Tunnel</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
and quickly became obsessed with it. Driving daily from Burlington to
Thorold, he would remain at the tunnel for hours, sometimes alone and
other times with fellow investigators or people he befriended by
chance at the tunnel. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> At
first, his discoveries were consistent with others visiting the
tunnel: weird sounds, misty photos with orbs, etc. Each visit was the
same as the last, so he began creating tales about the tunnel, the
history and experiences.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Disillusioned
with </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Haunted
Hamilton</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
and the lack of investigating from </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Hamilton
Paranormal</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
Chad began his own paranormal web site. He named it </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Haunted
Tunnels</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
and featured The BGT with updates regularly.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
said he befriended the original “discoverer” of the tunnel, Russ.
However, Russ says he has no idea who Chad was, or is. Chad revealed
that he explored the tunnel during the earlier days with Russ and
again Russ' own accounts do not mention Chad whatsoever. Chad also
suggested that Russ had burned his Ouija Board and ran away to
Florida to hide from the ghosts of the tunnel, which apparently
seduced and then raped him just before he made his escape to the
holy-land of Tampa Bay.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Chad's
focus was on the tunnel, but he needed to expand. Soon, he pretended
to discover other tunnels around the BGT. He named one “The Devil's
Tunnel” - and gave directions to a drainage tunnel near the BGT. He
concocted a haunting and placed it on the Internet for the gullible
to read:</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>In
1978 a hooker by the name of Alice was doing her thing in the tunnel,
screwing a GM worker, no doubt after a long shift. Well she didn’t
get paid and then the guy sliced her neck open with a knife and
stabbed her over 50 times! Both Alice and the dead guy haunt the
tunnel. There is still a mattress in the tunnel that she used.
Warning: don’t touch it.”</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Next,
he “discovered” caves near the Lakeview Cemetery. One was “The
Creepy Cave” while another was christened “The Bat Cave”. The
caves had once been accessible, but they had been filled in for
safety reasons long before Chad knew of their existence. He kept
their directions private on his web site because, well, the caves
didn't </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>really</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
exist.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
also suggested that he found tunnels under the Welland Canal that are
haunted as well. There are no other tunnels under the Welland Canal
that were accessible, but Chad knew that in order to keep an audience
he would need to keep adding haunted tunnels with ghost stories
associated with them. These stories sometimes make their way into the
fabric of the legend of </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Blue Ghost Tunnel.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Growing
in popularity, he needed to form a team. You've heard the expression
before: There is no I in T-E-A-M. Well in Chad's world, there is. He
had some lovely, well-endowed women on his team, along with a host of
smart-looking men but none of them actually </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>did</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
exist. I am sure they did somewhere, as Chad lifted the images from
the Internet and proceeded to make Team Member Profiles for each.
Many fell ill or were away on business or vacationing each time he
made a visit to the tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> When
members of NAGS questioned and exposed the none-existent haunted
locations and fictitious Haunted Tunnel team members, Chad was
furious and defaced the BGT in an attempt to anger the NAGS members. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Chad
decided to change his online alias several times and was known as:
Skully, GhostChad and Daddy-Long-Legs. This last one, he thought
would be a hit with the ladies.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Chad's
interest in the paranormal faded and he took down his web site in
2006. He has never made an attempt to visit the tunnel again.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Mark
the Ghosthunter, however, is still lurking in the Niagara Region and
is spreading more ridiculous lies. This time, he is concentrating on
a historical cemetery in Thorold and visiting it with a crowbar (that
glows!) in an attempt to banish the town of a vampire. I am not
joking. I can't make this shit up.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-6634397544362912292013-01-25T10:23:00.000-08:002013-01-25T10:23:27.952-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend Paranormal Investigators Visit The Tunnel<br />
<div class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Paranormal
Investigators Visit the Blue Ghost Tunnel </b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Russ'
goal was to attract as much attention to the tunnel as possible,
either for promotional purposes or to obtain a different level of
investigation, and he began asking other paranormal groups and
individuals to join him on his quest. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Hamilton
Paranormal, a very active group in the late 90s and early 2000s,
decided to visit the tunnel and, with directions and information
about the haunting provided by Russ, they made their way to the
location. Previous to their visit, they researched the tunnel, the
area, and the historical deaths and tragedies in the area that may
have been the essence of the hauntings Russ was experiencing. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
investigations revealed similar, yet not as dramatic, encounters with
the spirits of the tunnel. Hamilton Paranormal made several visits to
the tunnel, all of which produced results, and online chatter about
the tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Throughout
the investigations Hamilton Paranormal presented what they believed
was photographic evidence of spirits manifesting before the camera in
the form of ectoplasm and orbs. It is unclear if they remain
convinced of the authenticity of the photos. However, to this day,
other paranormal enthusiasts have taken the photos at face value and
still maintain the photographs are proof-positive of the hauntings at
the tunnel. Others are unconvinced.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> On
Facebook and other social media sites, individuals and groups post
these photos and discuss what they see in the mist that seemingly
manifested before the camera. What the armchair paranormal
investigators may not realize is that the photos can be recreated,
not only within the tunnel, but in any particular location—haunted
or not.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Orbapalooza</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Orbs
are pale and circular anomalies that have been linked with the
paranormal. Orbs can be of any color, but are typically off white.
They can be any shape, but are usually circular.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> They
can appear crisp or fuzzy, in isolation, multiples or clusters. Orbs
are seen on still photographs (usually from digital cameras). With
the mass distribution and consumption of digital cameras Orbs became
evidence of “spirits” and paranormal activity. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Investigators,
including myself, believed they were capturing a ghost on film. Orb
photos within the tunnel were and still are extremely popular—we
have orbs in groups, loner orbs, red “evil” orbs, blue orbs,
moving orbs, “sad” orbs and the list goes on...but the truth is
what we have is a reflection of dust, water, moisture and insects
reflecting light from the close proximity of the flash back into the
camera lens, causing an orb anomaly to appear. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Orbs
are natural, and are not paranormal. But, still today, the orb
photographs present themselves as evidence that the tunnel is
haunted.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ectoplasm/Ectomist</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> There
are countless photos of ectoplasm, seemingly manifesting within the
tunnel. Ectoplasm is a term originally coined by Charles Richet to
denote a substance or spiritual energy “exteriorized” by physical
mediums. Ectoplasm is said to be associated with the formation of
spirits, but since World War II reports of ectoplasmic phenomena have
declined and many psychical researchers doubt whether genuine cases
ever existed.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> However,
the photographs that reveal “ectomist” at the tunnel, which have
been circulated on the Internet as proof-positive of ghostly
manifestations, in reality show one of two things:</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<ol>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Breath,
or</span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Cigarette
Smoke </span>
</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
majority of the ectomist photographs were time-stamped in the fall or
winter when the temperature inside the tunnel can be very cold. As
the photographer exhales during the photographic process the flash
bounces off the condensation of the breathe causing eerie and
instantaneous photographs that somewhat resemble the historical
photos we see of ectomist. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Cigarette
smoke is another culprit in the creation of ectomist photographs.
Cigarette smoke swirls around the camera unseen by the naked eye in
the dark tunnel, but when one takes a photograph the flash bounces
off the smoke, revealing what some consider a ghost. In many
photographs of paranormal investigators we see cigarettes in their
hands.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
bright white images are common among BGT enthusiast and many claim
that they see faces, objects and animals within the swirl of breath
and smoke. The vast majority of paranormal researchers have dismissed
these photographs and have offered explanations ad nauseam on message
forums, Facebook Groups and other web sites, but droves of
photographers, paranormal enthusiasts and the like still believe,
without a shadow of a doubt, that these photographs are
proof-positive of the paranormal.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> They
claim that the photos </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>must</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
be that of a ghost because of the images they reveal. Some claim to
see canine heads, faces of demons, butterflies, hammers, winged
gremlins, grandfather clocks, locomotives, witches, cats, rocking
chairs, recliners, Kirby Vacuums, Justin Beiber and images of Jesus
Christ. These believers do not believe that the images they see may
be the result of pareidolia.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Pareidolia
is a psychological phenomenon involving a vague and random stimulus
(often an image or sound) being perceived as significant. Common
examples include seeing images of animals or faces in clouds, the man
in the moon, and hearing hidden messages on records played in
reverse. Pareidolia is a type of apophenia.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> I
believe that the investigators with Hamilton Paranormal currently do
not believe that these photos are those of spirits or ghosts, but
their web site remains a key attraction for those interested in the
BGT. The web site has not been updated in a very long time and the
early documentation of Hamilton Paranormal's investigations, as well
as their photography, add to the legend and misinformation of The
Blue Ghost Tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
2005, not wanting to miss out on publicity, a ghost tour group from
Hamilton, Ontario ventured to the tunnel:</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Haunted
Hamilton says “It's Haunted!”</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
dark history of the Canal and the accident combined to make this
place hauntingly intriguing.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Haunted
Hamilton was just a baby when a paranormal explorer named Russ made
his way to the Merritton Tunnel (Blue Ghost Tunnel). </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> According
to the TGHRS (paranormal group out of Toronto), Russ was given
directions to the Screaming Tunnel, but got lost and somehow stumbled
his way to Merritton. He would return many times to investigate and
take pictures of this historic find. During one of these
investigations he captured a blue ghostly mist which would give Russ
the inspiration for the now famous name, “The Blue Ghost Tunnel”.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> The
reputation started to grow and Haunted Hamilton wasn’t going to sit
back and not be a part of it. Investigation nights were setup with
our resident psychics and friends from two other paranormal groups.
</i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> We
knew of the train crash, blue mist, and reports of a ghost dog that
had been seen around the entrance of the tunnel. This was
intriguing, but it was the tunnel’s reputation that brought us
there for two nighttime investigations. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> The
investigations were quiet and uneventful; with only one experience I
personally took part in - the sighting of the ghost dog. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> We
were halfway in when a member of our team noticed something walking
back and forth at the entrance. A few of us (including me) ran as
fast as we could to get closer, prove the ghost dog was real and
maybe get a picture. And as we got close enough to confirm, we saw
nothing. Whatever it was had vanished.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> That
was the “report” that Haunted Hamilton, a ghost tour company out
of Hamilton, Ontario formulated. They claimed that The Blue Ghost
Tunnel was haunted by a ghost dog, similar to the one Russ had wrote
about in his online journals. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
droves of online visitors to Haunted Hamilton's popular web site read
about the ghost dog, and for the crowd hanging out at Haunted
Hamilton it was popular belief that the Blue Ghost was in fact a Blue
Ghost Dog. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
rumor of a ghost dog weaved its way into the fabric of The Blue Ghost
Tunnel once again thanks to the imagination of Russ and the hype of
Haunted Hamilton.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Later
Haunted Hamilton convinced viewers of a </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Creepy
Canada</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
episode that the Blue Ghost Tunnel was extremely haunted and that
they had witnessed paranormal activity.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Recently,
however, Haunted Hamilton came to the conclusion that their previous
report of witnessing a ghost dog and their experiences while filming
the Creepy Canada episode were, well, not umm, anything. In fact,
Daniel Cumerlato, founder and operator of Haunted Hamilton, says the
tunnel isn't haunted after all and they knew it all along.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Here
is a recent statement and article written by Daniel Cumerlato of
Haunted Hamilton concerning The Blue Ghost Tunnel. My personal
comments follow.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Dear
paranormal enthusiast… </b></i></span></span>
</div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Ignore
The Blue Ghost Tunnel! </b></i></span></span>
</div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>By
Daniel Cumerlato</b></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> So
why do we shun the tunnel today at a time when so many people are
talking about it? </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> First
off, we are unable to guarantee the safety of those going. The
tunnel is falling apart. The space has always been flooded because
of the supporting stones violently leaking from above. The overall
tunnel may be sinking into the ground and it’s possible the
structure could collapse. The previous statement is a personal
viewpoint; something we would never expect the landowners to admit
due to liability concerns. However before and after pictures would
prove something’s not right.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Along
with the unsafe tunnel, there’s the dark, steep and rocky decent
and the abandoned Canal Lock located along side of the main path.
The Lock is an over 50 foot drop and has little to no safety fences.
</i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Not
to mention the reports of a nasty element hanging around the area at
night. People have been threatened and many cars vandalized while
sitting in the make-shift parking lot. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> And
if that wasn’t enough… we find it hard to believe this place is
truly haunted. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> After
the many years of random investigations, this location lacks results.
As with many spots, there are orbs, strange sounds (and ghost dogs),
but overall the results are insubstantial.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> If
we believe energy, experience and tragedy is what creates ghostly
activity, then the Blue Ghost Tunnel would rank a mere 2 out of 10.
One train accident causing the on-site death of one man, and the
eventual death of another many kilometers away… a few other
tragedies which didn’t actually happen in a tunnel with only 39
years of actual use, would not put this high up on the paranormal
scale.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> There
is a submerged cemetery on the flooded end of the Tunnel. We at
Haunted Hamilton feel this is a terrible disrespect, and is a huge
reason for building up this historic landmark, but is no reason for
ghosts.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> The
image of the Blue Ghost Tunnel made it perfect for legends and
fictitious stories which have gotten out of hand. This has caused
the legitimate and respected history / ghost hunters to run for the
hills. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> The
Tunnel has become a location for drinking, partying and scaring
girls, but not investigation. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Every
history lover should see The Merritton Tunnel (Blue Ghost Tunnel)
because this is a space frozen in history which may not be around
forever. But if you go at night you’re missing the best parts.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Go
during the day instead and see the Tunnel in all its glory. Take in
the abandoned Canal Lock with the rusted out Ford at the bottom (How
the hell did that get there!) and the calming hike down the rocky
hill, ending at an amazing monument to Canadian engineering. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> You
will not miss anything ghostly, because if it hasn’t happened in
over a decade, chances are it’s not starting with you.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Save
yourself the hassle, the danger, the damaged car and possibly damaged
friends, and go when the sun shines. After all, if there are ghosts
at The Blue Ghost Tunnel… they’ll find you.”</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Surprise.
Haunted Hamilton says “The tunnel isn't haunted!” First, Daniel
Cumerlato begins by telling the reader that the tunnel is sinking. In
over 130 years the limestone rocks have yet to sink into the earth,
one millimeter. This is a complete fabrication making no sense and
one wonders where Daniel received his structural engineering degree.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Next,
he explains that all the investigations conducted by the likes of
Hamilton Paranormal, The Niagara Amateur Ghost Seekers (NAGS),
Niagara Amateur Spirit Seekers, The Shadows Project and dozens upon
dozens of other reputable paranormal groups and individuals were
simply random and produced no results.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Again,
this is pure nonsense. The investigations were not random, and it
appears that the tunnel often produces results.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> He
then ranks The Blue Ghost Tunnel on a Paranormal Scale of 2 out of
10. A pretty low score for someplace he once was touting as “700
feet of Hell on Earth!” and describing on paranormal forums as
“scary” and “very haunted.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Then
he goes on to describe a submerged cemetery on the flooded end of the
tunnel. This clearly shows that Haunted Hamilton did not do any
significant research and simply believed online rumors, taking them
in as fact.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Let
us rewind a bit and be witness to one of Haunted Hamilton's previous
encounters with The Blue Ghost Tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>700
Feet of Hell on Earth!</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> During
the early 2000s, producers of </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Creepy
Canada</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
a new Canadian paranormal show, began researching possible haunted
locations across Canada. In the first seasons they had exhausted
locations in Ontario that would allow filming and were looking for
new opportunities.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
show featured recreations of haunted encounters at various locations
with deplorable F-grade acting, false histories and script-written
hauntings. The show was scoffed at by paranormal groups as misleading
and exploitative. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> However,
the producers of </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Creepy
Canada</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
had read about </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Blue Ghost Tunnel</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
and proceeded to ask paranormal researchers and groups to be involved
in the filming of the episode. Individuals and groups with a shred of
dignity, not only to themselves but to the field of study, turned
down the offer because they did not want to be associated with the
show.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> However,
a ghost-tour operating group, who posed as “paranormal researchers”
named </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Haunted
Hamilton</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
took the bait and were showcased on </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Blue Ghost Tunnel</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
episode.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Creepy
Canada Transcript:</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Promo:
</b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Up
next! Paranormal researchers investigate 700ft of Hell on Earth!”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Narrator</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In
St. Catharines, Ontario, paranormal researchers and outdoor
enthusiasts alike have discovered a previously undiscovered haunted
location. The 700 foot passage is known as The Blue Ghost Tunnel.
Though the tunnel is off the beaten path, those that venture there
are rarely disappointed. A hiker who had heard stories of the
mysterious tunnel decided to investigate for herself. As she made her
way through the dark interior she heard strange moaning sounds. She
told herself it was the wind. The she saw a misty blue apparition
moving in front of her. The shape disappeared and at the same moment,
inexplicably her flashlight died. She knew she had just encountered
the spirit of the Blue Ghost Tunnel.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>On
Camera Host</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Serious
paranormal investigators are willing to travel through the darkest
depths and over the most challenging terrain to solve many of life's
unexplained mysteries. This passion sent one group on a quest into
the terrifying interior of the legendary Blue Ghost Tunnel in St.
Catharines, Ontario, where a 700 foot passageway brought them
face-to-face with the unknown.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jeff
Ostrander “Historian”</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">When
you go into the tunnel it’s a different world and it’s like, uh,
you get eerie feelings, feelings of being watched, maybe looked over.
People have seen strange apparitions in the tunnel, sounds of
footsteps, uh, whispering that I've personally heard inside the
tunnel. Photographs that are strange and sometimes unexplainable. In
1903 there was a fatal rail collision at the tunnel, umm, at the west
end. Trains collided head-on and both engineers were killed. The
train wreck, umm, very well may have something to do with the
hauntings here. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Narrator</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Another
hiker came upon the tunnel by chance. He saw a blue spectral figure
whirling at the entrance. It moved inside and vanished. Curious, he
followed. Many paranormal investigators feel the blue apparition is
not the spirit of one particular individual, but the manifestation of
the many trapped souls of the tunnel trying to remind travelers of
the tragic accident that took their lives over a hundred years
earlier. Suddenly, a strange light appeared aimed directly at the
hiker. He swore for a brief moment he thought a ghostly train passed
through the dark tunnel. He quickly turned to leave wishing he had
heeded the warning of the mysterious blue apparition.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">A
paranormal research group volunteered to perform an investigation of
The Blue Ghost Tunnel. They brought two experienced psychic-mediums
and an array of night-vision cameras and electronic detection
equipment. The mediums sensed the spirits of the two engineers that
had died although they were not told about the train wreck prior to
entering.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Psychic
#1</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Do
you get anything about an accident?” </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Psychic
#2</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
do get the sensations of those two men. One is bleeding on his face.
The other one has blood on his outfit, his clothes.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Investigator</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
just had my third flashlight… the bulb has burnt out. I've been
having problems with my infrared thermostat tonight for some reason.
I've had two camera batteries go dead on me and that doesn't usually
happen. Supposedly spirits drain power from batteries and until this
point in time I have never experienced that.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Psychic
#1</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This
is my first night using this, uhh, little talisman. When I come in
here with it though, it gives a very negative reaction. It’s
spinning counterclockwise.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Psychic
#2</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This
is similar to what Kate was using with her talisman. It picks up the
energy, umm, the, of the spirit. It’s definitely not a happy
energy. I asked if the spirits here were happy and it’s saying no
they aren't happy. There is a sadness definitely in the air.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Psychic
#1</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
was just sitting here by myself because it is easier getting a
reading on your EMF reader and your light was turned off and then I
was hearing screaming and I was guessing there were kids out there
playing but then something else started, a long high-pitched cry and
turning around here you’re asking if you want to go further into
the tunnel and I am getting a great big no. Stuff is going to start
happening as soon as we go down there. They are not happy that we are
here this late.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Psychic
#2</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">There
is a banging that we've been hearing down at the end of the tunnel
and umm it has stopped for a while until we started talking about
approaching this area again and, umm, as we got closer it started to,
umm, bang again as if it was telling us yes, yes, come down this
way.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Psychic
#1</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">There
is something else down here. It is not human. There is some kind of
energy that comes down here at night like I said this is its spot and
it’s rushing through the tunnel. I see this big black thing, ugly
looking face flying through the tunnel, screaming, running right at
us.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Stephanie
Culamerao of Haunted Hamilton</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Coming
into this place, umm, I don't think any of us expected it to be like
this. So much stuff has been happening tonight and, umm, a lot of our
equipment has been going wonky, umm, Kate and Michelle have been
feeling a lot of weird things in here, umm, I'm personally, uh, am
not psychic and I'm feeling uncomfortable in here, umm, it’s just
really odd.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Narrator</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Though
the group did not make psychical contact with the spirits the mediums
psychic impressions and the unusual photographs taken that night
offer compelling evidence of paranormal activity in The Blue Ghost
Tunnel. Whether the entities are the ghosts of those victims killed
in the railway disaster or some metaphysical energy left behind by
this tragic crash is unknown. Perhaps future investigations will shed
some light on this unexplained mystery.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Post
Notes:</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> After
the original air-dates and years of re-runs of the </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Creepy
Canada</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
episode, </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Haunted
Hamilton</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
and those involved were chastised for the obvious fakery and the
amateur investigation of the </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Blue
Ghost Tunnel. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Haunted
Hamilton</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
admitted that the time stamps of the video were changed by producers
to enhance the dramatization of the episode. More glaring and
eye-opening is that they admitted that the evidence was not real.
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Haunted
Hamilton</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
puts the blame on crafty producers while the production staff of
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Creepy
Canada</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
have said that they received all the photographic evidence from
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Haunted
Hamilton</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Jeff
Ostrander, the episode's “Historian” also was questioned about
his involvement and he said that the camera operators simply put the
camera on him and asked him questions and that he either forgot the
information or did not know the correct information because he was
nervous on camera. He also said that he did not know he was going to
be labeled as an historian until he viewed the episode.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> According
to the show's producers, both psychics who were involved in the
episode were told of the history of the tunnel by </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Haunted
Hamilton</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
and also by the production staff prior to and during filming. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
addition, a simple Internet search would have yielded hundreds of
results about the tunnel's history and haunted legends and both
psychics were active on the Internet and within paranormal message
forums where the hot topic was </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Blue Ghost Tunnel.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Later,
Niagara News reporter Petr Cihacek interviewed The Seaway Authority
about the trespassing and dangers of the tunnel. The Seaway Authority
put direct blame on both </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Haunted
Hamilton</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
and </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Creepy
Canada</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
for exposing the tunnel to a mass audience and increasing the
likelihood of a serious injury or death.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Both
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Haunted
Hamilton</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
and </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Creepy
Canada</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
deny they had trespassed on private property and that they are
responsible for exposing the tunnel on National Television.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Regardless,
countless viewers have endured the episode and the misinformation and
“psychic impressions” are feeding a part of the legend.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Included
in the back peddling article of Haunted Hamilton are further lies and
misinformation, feeding more and more into the fabric of The Blue
Ghost Tunnel's legend. </span>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-57305844411281207312013-01-25T10:18:00.000-08:002013-01-25T10:18:03.428-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend The Death of a 5-Year-Old<br />
<div class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
Death of a 5-Year-Old</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
1912, the steamship </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>La
Canadienne </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">suddenly
lost power in lock 22 of The Welland Canal causing a huge rush of
water to hit Lock 21 and flooding the entire area. The tidal wave
rushed towards three children who were fishing along the canal. Two
of the boys were rescued but tragically five-year-old Willie Wallace
Tiffney, adopted son of the Tiffney family in Thorold, drowned in the
tidal wave.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Some
believe that the ghost of the child seen, heard and felt at the
tunnel may be that of Willie. Many, however, believe the spirit is
that of a female and not a male. And one wonders why the spirit of
Willie would be haunting a tunnel that lies a considerable distance
from the location at which he was drowned.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-56066569493248848832013-01-25T10:13:00.000-08:002013-01-25T10:13:08.837-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend The Real History of The Blue Ghost Tunnel<br />
<div class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The
Real History of the Blue Ghost Tunnel and the Surrounding Area</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
Niagara Region of Ontario was beginning to see growth and prosperity
in the late 1800s and in 1871 the Dominion of Parliament authorized
the second phase of the Welland Canal to be built to suit large cargo
and passenger ships.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
work commenced in 1873 and the new route now bypassed its traditional
route in the natural river valleys next to St. Catharines. The new
canal was aligned on a direct route from Port Dalhousie to Thorold,
which necessitated a new rail crossing.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
railway would not accept the early plans for a swing bridge over the
canal as they anticipated long delays and the potential for danger
and accidents and therefore they insisted that a tunnel be built
under the waterway to ensure safe and efficient passage of rail
traffic. It was a grand proposition and many were opposed to the idea
as it would take a great deal of engineering and hard labor.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> As
the Welland Canal was slowly being constructed it was clear the
landscape would need to change significantly. When the land surveyors
completed their first task, they came to agreement that an old burial
ground near St. Peter's Anglican Church, as well as the church itself
needed to be moved to accommodate the canal system. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Previously,
a log-built Lutheran Church resided on the consecrated land and
burials as early as 1752 had taken place within the churchyard. As
the land was being surveyed and construction crews hired from nearby
Slabtown (Merritton), the cemetery and church were spared, but future
plans insisted that the land be used for the canal.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Meanwhile
the canal developers and railway companies came to agreement of where
the tunnel would be constructed and work began in the spring of 1875
with loads of Queenston rock being cut and delivered to the
construction yard. Several hundred workers labored on the stone
cutting and fitting while Irish immigrants, numbering near a
thousand, entrenched the land and tunnel area. Teams of horses
brought heavy limestone from the Queenston Quarry to the site. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> There
were several serious accidents at the construction site, including
three reported deaths. In one report from 1875 a young Irish
immigrant, aged 14, was crushed under the weight of the large stones.
Other injuries occurred on a daily basis, but none serious enough to
stop construction.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
tunnel curving on a gentle arc is 665 feet in length providing a
semi-circular arch 16 feet wide and 18 feet high. A single track ran
its length connecting lines of the Great Western Railway. The
railway, now connected with points in the Niagara Region, could
express cargo and passengers from New York to Toronto and almost all
points in between. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> During
this time the Welland Canal construction was completed and several
men perished building its walls and reinforced lock system. Many of
the injuries and deaths occurred in the Thorold area, within miles of
the tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
first train, loaded with dignitaries and engineered by Harry Eastman,
ran through the tunnel in February 1881. Harry Eastman was also the
last Engineer to blow the whistle and pilot a train through the
tunnel. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> To
prevent cows and other grazing animals from entering the tunnel and
causing a derailment, a post-guard was set up on each side of the
tunnel. These men watched the rail, chased away animals and kept the
track clear. Their wages were extremely low and they were often paid
in pints of ale as well as wages.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Amalgamation
of the Great Western Railway and the Grand Trunk Railway was approved
by the Great Western Railway shareholders in 1882 and the post-guards
received better pay as well as uniforms and small shelters which were
built on either end of the tunnel.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> These
improvements, however, did not prevent a tragic accident occurring in
1903 just 100 metres shy of the western entrance to the tunnel. At
7:03am a light mogul train weighing 80 tons collided head-on with the
Number 4 Express running at full-steam. The engines smashed into each
other and the cars followed into an entanglement of iron and fire.
Both train engineers survived the wreck and only suffered minor
injuries. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>BAD
TRAIN WRECK, No.4 Express Collides with a light Mogul Near Merritton
Tunnel.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Charles
Horning, the fireman on the express train, was killed instantly when
his body was pinned between two massive pieces of ironwork, the
flaming hot boiler and the tentler. Attempting rescue, his badly
mangled body was pulled on by engineers and post-guards, however,
when they pulled at him, his arms and legs pulled from his body. One
train worker commented that Horning's watch still ticked while he
held the severed arm in his hands. His body was never fully recovered
from the wreck.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
fireman for the mogul train, Abraham Desult, was smashed into the
boiler of the train. He was rushed to hospital only to die of his
terrible burns five hours later.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Mr.
Armstrong worked in the express car that followed the engine of the
Number 5 and regained consciousness in the roofless, upturned car.
Covered in ruined goods he managed to crawl through the rubble to
safety. He recalls that they were given clearance in Merritton by the
dispatcher to enter the line and blamed the wreck on misinformation,
a single track and poor visibility.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
line and the tunnel, however, were continuously used until plans for
a double-track were developed. The track was returned to its original
alignment when the Fourth Welland Canal was being constructed.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> A
double-tracked swing bridge was built in the late 1880s and the
tunnel was used sparingly until the 1930s when the track was removed
altogether.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
burial ground, now in disuse by Thorold citizens, was moved to the
New Lakeview Cemetery (now called the Old Lakeview Cemetery). The
land was needed to establish a pond area for excess water from the
canal and in July 1923, Thorold residents were asked to pay and make
arrangements for their interned family members to be moved. Only 253
of the 842 bodies interned in the burial ground were actually moved.
Families simply could not afford the re-internment and many graves
had no family members to care for them.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> When
excavation and re-internment of the bodies occurred, some corpses
were misidentified and some went missing altogether. Adding to the
confusion is the fact that some remains were not recoverable and only
some body parts and coffins were moved to the new location.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> According
to the superintendent of Lakeview Cemetery, there were 118 graves
full with no record of whom they contained and another possible 72
which may have contained only body parts with no further records. He
also stated that a number of the monuments were damaged or destroyed
when they were moved to the new location.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> During
construction of the Fourth Welland Canal several more men lost their
lives, including ten during the worst accident in the history of the
Welland Canal System.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> On
August 1, 1928, a roar was heard for miles around when at Lock 6 a
large locomotive powered crane fell into the lock chamber taking with
it a 500 ton steal lock gate. In less than a minute eight men lay
dead while two others were dying from massive chest and head wounds.
The two seriously injured men were sent to St. Catharines General
Hospital and Homer Construction Hospital only to die of the terrible
wounds two days later. Twenty-two others were seriously wounded and
rushed to each of these hospitals. Thirteen would never return to
work on the canal.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> On
August 1, 1930, exactly two years to the day, another accident
occurred at Lock 6 and like the previous accident this one was
fatal—eight men were killed while twenty others were seriously
injured. It was rumored that the canal was cursed and some abandoned
their positions, refusing to work on its construction and
maintenance. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
total, the Welland Canal claimed the lives of 107 men and injured
thousands of others during its construction.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Could
the train wreck victims be haunting the tunnel? Or could it be the
victims of the Welland Canal construction? What of the forgotten
spirits of the cemetery? Could they be the source of the paranormal
activity?</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-62410339373681579812013-01-25T10:08:00.001-08:002013-01-25T10:09:36.208-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend Russ Exposes The Tunnel<h2>
Russ Exposes The Tunnel</h2>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In
1999 a group of paranormal enthusiast began visiting known haunted
locations across the Niagara region. Headquartered in Welland,
Ontario, the group often visited sites in Niagara Falls, Fonthill and
Port Colborne. After visiting the likes of The Screaming Tunnel and
the Old Fonthill Cemetery, they were determined to find additional
locations to explore and investigate while simultaneously gaining
interest in dowsing, Ouija boards and casting “spells”.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Russ,
a teenager and member of the group, became active on paranormal
discussion boards and developed his own web site, sharing haunted
locations, stories and experiences.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Questioning
those on paranormal forums about other haunted locations, he found
information about another tunnel named “The Screaming Tunnel”, in
an article written by Nick Blay, who visited the tunnel on a regular
basis with friends years previous to Russ' discovery. This was not
the same “Screaming Tunnel” near Warner Road in Niagara Falls,
Ontario that Russ had already visited. This was a new tunnel,
untouched by paranormal enthusiasts.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Nick
believed that the tunnel might be haunted, but did not believe all of
the tales about it. He provided the following history of the tunnel
and nearby cemetery, which fascinated Russ, who planned to visit the
tunnel for himself.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>At
the time my friends and I were going to what is now known as the Blue
Ghost Tunnel, we were calling it the Screaming Tunnel. Although we
were aware of the actual tunnel in Niagara-on-the-Lake of the same
name we felt the Blue Ghost Tunnel was more ominous and more
deserving of the name, so that's just how we referred to it
throughout our tenure there.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> We
used to go there and have bonfires, a few drinks and just gather as a
group. It was our spot that very few people knew about or felt the
desire to trek out to, so the place was like our own personal escape.
A few times we had explored the tunnel during the day, but mostly
came at night when we had groups of people.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Many
times we would be able to get about halfway in but due to the joist
beams collapsing midway through we never got all the way through
during the night. There were definitely some ominous overtones to the
tunnel itself, we always sat just outside of it at the mouth of the
tunnel and throughout the years we had compiled stories of what we
believe caused the tunnel to be haunted. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Once
or twice we would catch something out of the corner of our eye moving
through the tunnel. The smoke from the fire would filter into the
tunnel, and that very well could have been it, but a big part of me
knows that it probably wasn't just the smoke. We also a lot of time
went to the old pump house and frequently walked to the cemetery up
the road until the bridge next to the pump house had collapsed. I do
not know if it has since been fixed.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> One
of the earlier accounts we had of the tunnel was that above the
tunnel was an old cemetery. When the canal began to expand and the
tunnel was created to move ore (I believe) from one side to the other
the cemetery was transplanted to the current Lakeview Cemetery, I
think, which we would often walk to, which was an odd experience in
itself.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> On
one such visit to the Blue Ghost Tunnel we trekked to the Cemetery
where it was completely dark, upon turning to leave candles began to
light up. Now being that it was late and pitch black we didn't see
anyone else in the cemetery but we decided not to stick around to
find out. Back to the transplantation of the bodies from the tunnel
though, as the story went all the bodies had been relocated save for
the bodies of some children, whether it was that the graves were
unmarked or the children were purposely not relocated I can't be sure
but that was one of the stories we had come to accept.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> After
digging around the Internet and local records we found that indeed
the tunnel had been used to transport something from one side of the
canal to the other but it was actually done by train.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Apparently
a one-rail track was laid through the tunnel and a train would pass
through delivering the material. Two different stories emerged from
this, one being that a train coming through was going too fast and
upon hitting the curve outside of the tunnel fell off the track and
crashed killing the driver.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Another
version has it that two trains collided on this single track going
through the tunnel and that the occupants of both trains now haunt
the tunnel and surrounding areas.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> It's
hard to determine what has validity and what has been thrown in and
mixed with the truth with regards to the accounts of how and why this
place is haunted. I personally think that there were more than just a
few incidents involving people losing their lives in and around this
tunnel throughout the time that it was used.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> At
the time of our visits to the, now coined, Blue Ghost Tunnel we were
just looking for a place to call our own and enjoy our summers nights
with friends. We also were on somewhat of a ghost hunting kick which
most likely lead to my original post on the Haunted Niagara websites,
but all in all from the time we were 18-20ish we were just looking
for a place to have fun.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> We
definitely weren't the only ones, as there were always smashed
bottles and remnants of old fires prior to our arrival but we always
tried to keep the place clean because, again, it was our spot.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> As
I said earlier we caught glimpses of something in the tunnel from
time to time so we always felt like something was around us.
Occasionally we would also hear sounds we couldn't explain emanating
from the tunnel, and we would always try to find where in the tunnel
they were coming from but to no avail.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> The
sounds would generally cease once we got close to halfway in.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> I
think the last time that I visited the tunnel was in early 2007. By
that time the landscape of the tunnel had changed drastically. The
ominous feel of the open mouth tunnel of the defunct Grand Trunk
Railway system seemed muted. The entrance way was closed up with
cinder block bricks and mortar and a gated entrance, reminiscent of
an old jail door. It was clear that the Seaway no longer wanted
people on their private property. I assume that the next group of
people that took over after we left didn't keep it so clean, and the
graffiti was definitely a strong indication of that.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> It
was definitely sad to see the change at the tunnel, I have always
felt that perhaps if Russ and his crew hadn't tried to make it such a
spectacle that it wouldn't have gained as much notoriety and the
Seaway wouldn't have been forced to close it up and add security
requirements around the area. Although it is on private land it is a
part of Niagara Heritage, like the Decew House, Queenston Park,
Beaverdams Park and so on. It should have been restored so people
could use the trail to walk through and experience a part of history.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Now
it has been coined the Blue Ghost Tunnel. A place that most people
will never see, never have a chance to walk through, even if only
half way, because the owner of the land is tired of people
disrespecting their land and property.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Perhaps
if I had never mentioned our place the current state of the tunnel
would be different, but then again there would have always been
someone to occupy their nights in front of the tunnel and not all of
them would have respected the place as much as my friends and I did.
It was probably inevitable that the Seaway took action to try and
prevent people from being there, but who can ever really say for
sure. When I was last there it was evident that people didn't take
kindly to the Seaway locking up the tunnel as the door was not locked
and a cinder block or two was missing.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> All
I can say with absolute certainty was that I loved each and every
night I spent there with my friends. We respected the tunnel and the
area because we considered it our own. I will always remember the fun
we had and the explorations we did. It's definitely a time in my life
that I miss.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Before
Russ visited the tunnel, he decided to gather as much information
about the tunnel and the surrounding area as possible, and began
questioning the Toronto Ghost and Hauntings Research Society (TGHRS)
about “The Screaming Tunnel.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
his correspondence with Matthew James Didier, co-founder and operator
of TGHRS, Russ indicated that he didn't find the tunnel </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>that</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
haunted.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Initially
Russ did not claim to have any ghostly encounters at the BGT aside
from numerous photos he took that contained 'orbs'. Even way back in
those days we doubted that 'orbs' or 'mists' were much more than
something natural (rather than supernatural) in true origin, (not to
mention it was snowing in several of Russ' shots) so we felt no need
for further investigation (by ourselves) based on his evidence,”
says Matthew James Didier.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> However,
Russ maintained that his first visit to the tunnel wasn't until 2002
and his claims of paranormal activity at the tunnel were reported to
others and within his online texts as extremely high even on that
first visit.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Russ
first visited the tunnel in April, 2002 and decided to document his
entire experiences so he began an online journal. The web site which
stored the original journal was deleted by Russ shortly after he
disappeared from the paranormal community. Here are the original
journal entrees, unedited:</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Russ'
First Journal Entry</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> So
last night (saturday) our group decided that we would investigate
this “other” screaming tunnel that we read about.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> There
were four of us and it was raining and generally miserable out.
Nevertheless we got our gear together. We found the road and the dirt
mound and parked the car and walked for about a mile or a mile and a
half. We checked out a few of the paths along the road that lead to a
river with a dam.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> We
began to get audible manifestations once we were about half way to
the original graveyard area. At one point we were standing right on
top of the tunnel without realizing it and our emf went off. We
investigated a pathway that leads you right atop the tunnel entrance.
It was a very steep but short path off the main road. Directly on top
of the actual tunnel. It was very creepy.<br /><br /> </i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>We continued down the
road until it bent right and found the stoney path that leads down
the hill to the tunnel. When the tunnel came into sight I took out my
divining rods and went slowly forward with the rest of our group. Our
friend JJ was ahead with the flashlight and emf. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> We
got about 20 feet away from the entrance to the tunnel and stopped to
prepare to enter. At this point a couple of members in the group
described that they felt dizzy and overheated. I was a little dizzy
but felt like I was plugged into a 12 volt power source. You know how
when you are near a haunted location you get that feeling?</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Anyway
the feeling intensified and intensified as we crept slowly toward the
entrance of the tunnel. At this point I wanted to test the divining
rods. I have a really good set that I got from divining mind, anyway
so I take them out of my pack that I carry all of my equipment in.
I’m standing there with my friends fairly close and the rods out
pointed toward the tunnel entrance.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> JJ
approaches the tunnel entrance and is approximately10 feet from the
entranceway and he begins to flash his flashlight inside. He also
snapped a few pictures. About 20 seconds after he flashed the camera
and the tunnel got dark again he was getting his flashlight ready to
go inside. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> I
caught a glimpse or visual manifestation. It was ice blue and fog
like. It formed the face of a wolf or dog like animal.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Before
I had a chance to ask if anyone could see it, it was gone, and I was
wondering if I saw it at all.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> At
this point my feet are glued and that feeling of being plugged into
an electrical socket increased about 1000 times. The divining rods
started acting very peculiar. There was a force on them that pushed
the one in a complete 360 degree counterclockwise direction while the
other rod went completely horizontal at 90 degree angle. They then
came around and crossed and uncrossed, crossed and uncrossed. Things
got a bit surreal at this point.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> I
shouted to the group to look at my rods. There was definitely a
charge that was building up in the area and I had the feeling like
something was going to happen. Then BANG something like a rock or a
part of the structure of the tunnel fell from inside.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Evidence
of poltergeist activity.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> At
this point everyone in the group was acting a little odd and there
was an overwhelmingly strong sense of fear. I was actually quite
frightened which is not common for me.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Seconds
after the BANG noise from inside the tunnel an apparition as plain as
day appeared that all four of us can confirm. (wondering if it will
show up on our film).</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> It
was ice blue and fog like and hovered for approximately 10 to 15
seconds at the tunnel entrance.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> It
was shifting in form and was amorphous but I could make out several
shapes at once. A face, a body, demonic, wolflike, human, all at the
same time.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Later
we discussed this and everyone sort of interpreted the apparition
differently but there was no doubt that all of us witnessed it. At
this point the fear was overwhelming. We were not prepared to go
inside the tunnel because of whatever was guarding the entrance. Two
members of our group are returning there tonight with more equipment
to record and measure the level of activity here.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> As
far as I am concerned this area is the single most haunted spot in
Niagara. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> I'm
still debating whether or not I want to return to investigate the
graveyard sections and the inside of the tunnel itself. I'm thinking
that it might be safer by daylight. <br /><br /> </i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>It was obvious that whatever
was guarding the tunnel was not about to permit us entrance without
consequence. I am wondering if I can persuade it by bringing flowers
for the headstones, or asking it to grant us access. I'm not sure
what I'm going to do about this, but last night we were ill prepared
for what actually happened. I wasn't expecting much at all, and
really it was way crazier than what I thought it was going to be. I'm
going to be prepared next time.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Russ'
Second Journal Entry</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Yes
this place is very crazy.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> To
be honest i was not expecting, nor were we prepared for anything like
this...Whatever manifested itself was not letting us through the
tunnel. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> It
would have been suicide to get any closer. We are returning in two
weeks.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> I
have to prepare. Does anyone have any spells that we can use as
protection? Additionally, I need a way to insure that it does not
follow us home after. When we get the pictures developed I will post
them, but there are still many snaps left on this roll of film. We
are going back there with a ton of equipment to take video, evp
recordings, temp readings, etc etc.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> The
whole expedition will be documented.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
</span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Russ'
Third Journal Entry</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This
Saturday we returned to the tunnel at Gm gate 12. Things were
definitely weird but not as intense as last time. Here is an account
of things that happened, in the order that they happened. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Arrived
at 11:30 party members formed a circle and cast 5 layers of
protection spell, and did the hike down the road toward the tunnel. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> At
11:45 approximately we were on the road above the tunnel. Emf went
off. party members entered circle again to cast invocation spell. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Climbed
down the rocky decline and approached tunnel slowly. Took dowsing
rods out of pack, got camera ready. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Slowly
approached tunnel. Dowsing rods began spinning in 360 degree radius
just like last time except that this time both rods were completely
spinning quite rapidly. Approached threshold of tunnel.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Asked
several yes no questions where whatever “spirit” was there would
answer by spinning or not spinning the dowsing rods. Worked fairly
effectively.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Noted
several visual flickers inside of tunnel and strange fog. No really
strong visual manifestations this time. No real strong sense of fear.
</i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> There
were however several auditory manifestations.</i></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Hissing.
(could be an animal)<br /> </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Auditory:
Someone walking through the tunnel toward</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>us. Very defined sound
of footsteps.<br /> </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Noted
green slime on wall on outside of tunnel.<br /> </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Noted
banging noises inside of the tunnel.<br /> </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Noted
strange watermarks on the walls in the shape of three human figures,
two soldiers, one person hanging. (could be coincidence but it was
neat to look at) </i></span></span></h3>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Entered
tunnel. Wow was it cold in there! Approximately a 20 to 30 degree
temp drop with cold spots in the tunnel that you could see your
breath. Went deep into tunnel until entrance could no longer be seen.
Very wet in there. Reached the part of the tunnel where it is blocked
off. Not impassable but it is very very very deep in water. Can't
wait for summer to dry that up. Took several pictures in and outside
of the tunnel. Everytime we go back we just end up with more and more
questions about this place. it's bizarre. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Here
is the killer part. Took the pictures to be developed. Film returned
blank. Underexposed. EVERY PICTURE!!!!! </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> Very
weird indeed. We are returning there next time with EVP recorder,
infrared thermometer, more cameras, etc.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Russ
continued to visit haunted locations across the Region, but his main
focus remained the tunnel which in his next visit he would call The
Blue Ghost Tunnel. According to Russ the blue, fog-like apparition he
had witnessed previously danced at the front entrance and appeared to
him as a beautiful young female who later revealed herself as a
soft-spoken seductress named September.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
apparition was only seen by Russ, and others in his group say that
they did not witness an apparition named September. In the tunnel,
one of the members, who wishes to remain anonymous, recalls finding a
picture of a girl. The photograph was old, he recounts, and the image
was that of a girl, perhaps 16 years of age. On this visit Russ made
contact with the spirit of a little girl who he described as
“pretty”, and he provided photographic evidence of this encounter
by posting several images of the inside of the tunnel. Within the
images he saw “a beautiful girl”, “a demonic devil-like thing”
and “a dog.” When the photos were shared online, others pointed
out angels, cats, winged-beasts, severed hands and railway wheels.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
reality, the photographs in question show nothing more than Russ' own
breath expelled while the snapshot was taken in the cold, moist
atmosphere of the tunnel. Inside the swirl and mist objects became
defined through a psychological phenomenon known as “pareidolia”.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Russ
captured no ghosts on film but he captured the imagination of others.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> As
a result of posting his online journal and switching his entire focus
to the tunnel, the tunnel's name stuck: The Blue Ghost Tunnel and for
short The BGT. Several other groups quickly became interested in the
newly discovered hotspot. Russ continued to visit the tunnel and
became obsessed with it. Several of his friends were alienated by his
ambition and now insist that a lot of the events that took place with
Russ were manufactured within his own mind.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “It's
hard to believe what he was experiencing,” says Dave. “I didn't
witness some of the things he claims.”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> “Some
weird stuff did happen, but a lot of it was just Russ,” says Laura.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> But
these friends were not active online at this time and they did not
protest the statements made by Russ. Many of them abandoned Russ'
group and parted company with him. Russ continued to add to the story
and weaved a tale that he openly said would lead to a book deal or
even a movie deal because “...it is so intense and scary!”</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
one journal entry he said that he communicated with the spirits of
the tunnel and learned that one, the dancing blue misty female, was
named September. He learned she was nineteen years old and was
murdered at the tunnel. Russ developed a whole persona for September,
which he communicated and interacted with via a Ouija Board.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> As
Russ continued to expand the experience for the online crowd, others
joined in as they learned about the tunnel's existence and “extreme
haunting”. Groups like Hamilton Paranormal and Amateur Spirit
Seekers visited and posted their experiences which included several
parallel experiences to Russ'. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Russ
posted a weekly update and then turned it into a daily event because
the ghost known as September had, according to Russ, stalked him and
followed him home. It was all coming to a grand climax, however.
Russ tried to gain the interest of publishers, with no luck.
Hollywood was not calling either. Russ was lost and like the tunnel
itself—abandoned, save for the online crowd of paranormal
thrill-seekers—and needed an out. His personal life was being
affected as friends abandoned him, due to this abnormal behavior, and
he came up with an exit strategy.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> September
had seduced him, he stated, and was most likely, according to Russ, a
demonic spirit. This spirit had not only seduced him, but then
proceeded to physically rape him, according to his journal. Violated
and wanting to end this multidimensional relationship, he took the
Ouija Board that first made contact with September and burned it. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Suddenly,
Russ was offline. There were no more updates on his web site and his
journal ended in June 2002. In a short three months he transformed a
seemingly lost tunnel into North America's must-go-to haunted tourist
attraction.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Rumors
quickly spread that he ran away as far as Florida to get away from
the demonic, sexual harassment he found at the tunnel. But Russ
re-reemerged briefly in October of 2002 to say he was in Florida with
family. That same year he deleted his web site and removed his online
journal, never returning to the paranormal community again.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> One
has to question this entire affair, from Russ being totally engaged
with the paranormal to abandoning it altogether. Was his ambition of
securing a book deal and movie deal his primary goal? Was his only
motive to gain publicity and popularity? </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
2009 I caught up with Russ and questioned him about the tunnel and
his experiences within it. He remained silent and did not respond. In
2010, I again contacted him directly and questioned him, and
referenced this book idea and the possibility of it being published.
Russ refused to cooperate and to this day refuses to talk about the
tunnel. He wishes to remain anonymous, known only as “Russ”, the
one who discovered The Blue Ghost Tunnel, the single-most influential
spark to the legend.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-30744405157136680662013-01-25T10:02:00.001-08:002013-01-25T10:02:53.843-08:00The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend Introduction<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t0n6cTQarSk/UQLIi5tAnMI/AAAAAAAAAoY/w8WRSvrgZP8/s1600/product_thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t0n6cTQarSk/UQLIi5tAnMI/AAAAAAAAAoY/w8WRSvrgZP8/s200/product_thumbnail.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="page-break-before: always;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Introduction</b></span></span></div>
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<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
1999, an old rail tunnel was transformed from a forgotten engineering
feat into a supernatural legend. </span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The
Grand Trunk Railway Tunnel located in Thorold, Ontario, Canada was
for the most part undisturbed and undiscovered until a young
paranormal investigator and his friends publicized their encounters
at the tunnel and distributed directions to its location.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> In
just four months the tunnel metamorphosed from a forgotten historical
landmark into a paranormal hotspot rivaling the most famous in the
world. Internet discussion forums exploded with talk of the tunnel,
and paranormal groups and enthusiasts flocked to investigate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Exposed
on television a few years later, the tunnel was well on its way to
becoming an Urban Legend.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> And
that is what fascinated me. I have always wondered where Urban
Legends actually come from. How do they begin? How do they manifest?
And what truth is hidden within their simple tales?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> The
Blue Ghost Tunnel</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
as it has become known, developed and transformed online and within
paranormal communities to what it is today. The legend is
continuously molded and the truth becomes increasingly gray.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> This
book provides a time-line of events, people's encounters, and
historical facts to showcase how a legend is born, how it flourishes
and how we can learn from this modern experiment. </span>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267220927879936157.post-75940694743801958542012-10-23T20:08:00.001-07:002012-10-23T20:08:20.158-07:00Niagara's Blue Ghost Tunnel is exposed in paranormal researcher's newest book- The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend.<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--</div>
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<br />
</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>NIAGARA'S
INFAMOUS HAUNTED HOT-SPOT REVEALED</b></span></div>
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<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Niagara's Blue Ghost Tunnel
is exposed in paranormal researcher's newest book-</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Blue Ghost Tunnel:
Making of a Legend.</div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #333333;">In
paranormal circles across Canada and the United States, the hauntings
at The Blue Ghost Tunnel (BGT) frequent the conversation. Often
referred to as "The Most Haunted Location" in Canada or a
place where you are guaranteed activity, the tunnel is synonymous
with historical haunted locations across North America.</span></span></span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #333333;">A
few years of intense interest on the Internet, multiple
investigations and visits by paranormal enthusiasts prompted the once
popular TV program Creepy Canada to film at the location. Together
with a Ghost Tour Group, Haunted Hamilton, questionable psychics and
an impromtu "historian" of the tunnel, they exposed the
location to tens of thousands of viewers solidifying the legend and
suspected haunt. The episode depicted the tunnel as "700 ft of
Hell on Earth!" As a result of their illegal trespassing and
exposure of the location, the site became explosively popular and
thousands of visitors each year come to visit the tunnel prompting
the Seaway Authority to attempt to secure the location.</span></span></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #333333;">But
who really discovered this long, lost tunnel? What is the truth
behind the hauntings and experiences at the tunnel? Is the tunnel an
Urban Legend, conjured-up by a young wannabe author? Are we simply
developing our own experiences using our own minds? Or is the tunnel
really haunted? </span></span></span>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #333333;">The
book includes interviews, photographs and documents from decades past
including the first ever investigation in 1976. It includes
historical accounts from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s with
photographs and evidence supporting a number of theories. Photographs
have been generously donated by residents including Kevin Valencourt,
Niagara-area photographer. </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #333333;"><i>Without
question, it is a “must read” for anyone interested in folklore,
ghosts, urban legends, or all points in between...especially in
Southern Ontario,” Matthew James Didier, PSICAN</i></span></span></span></span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The
BGT is thus a microcosm of all that is best and worst, but mostly
worst, in paranormal research. Savoie evaluates the various accounts
that have accumulated around the BGT, considers whether there might
be any truth in them, and looks at possible explanations for people’s
experiences,” Tom Ruffles, SPR</i></span></span></span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This
book is extremely entertaining, and a worthwhile read for anyone
interested in ghosts, ghost hunting, history, urban legends,
folklore, and the internet’s role in creating, and spreading mythos
with break neck speed. While the Blue Ghost Tunnel became an internet
phenomenon it is an excellent example of how urban legends begin,
evolve, and how they can endure as folklore that will be passed
through generations.” Sue Demeter-St. Clair, PSICAN</i></span></span></span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>...the
book is a valuable contribution to studies on folklore, urban
legends, and paranormal experiences.” Christopher Laursen,
multimedia historian and author</i></span></span></span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">The
book is available for purchase online in print and as an ebook.</span></span></span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">For
more information please visit the author's
blog</span></span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://ghosthuntingchronicles.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b3768;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>http://ghosthuntingchronicles.blogspot.ca/</u></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><strong><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making Of A Legend Facebook
Group</span></span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/240314552666679/"><span style="color: #135cae;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">http://www.facebook.com/groups/240314552666679/</span></span></span></a></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
author is available for interview via johnjsavoie@yahoo.com</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">-30-</span></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0