The Ghost Chronicles

by Maureen Wood

  When I was released by the hospital, I was no longer able to work, so I took a course in TV production. One of the course projects was to produce a show, and I decided to do the show on ghosts. It aired on local cable television and was so successful that WNDS in Derry, New Hampshire, picked it up. The more I investigated the paranormal, the more addicted I became to it. I started a website (it is the number one result when you Google “New England Ghost”) on which I published my findings. As my notoriety grew, I began to meet various people who wished to join me in my quest for the unknown. Each person that I have accepted into the Ghost Project along the way brings a special skill or talent, making the Ghost Project a strong and resilient organization.

  Q: How does the Ghost Project differ from other ghost-hunting groups out there?

  RON: Some of the other ghost-hunting outfits focus primarily on debunking, using only scientific methods, whereas we capitalize on the unique pairing of a medium and a paranormal scientist, using both spiritual and scientific methods to investigate the paranormal. The Ghost Project goes into an investigation open-minded, using all of our equipment and techniques to discover the truth. We provide the client with the evidence we uncover, and it is ultimately up to him or her to make a decision as to what to do next and what to believe.

  Q: Who’s on the team?

  RON: My partner is Maureen Wood, our psychic investigator and trance medium, and my co-host of the Ghost Chronicles radio show. My family is also involved—my son, Ron Jr., and my wife, Janet (also known as Saint Janet by most people, for putting up with my antics), help out as investigators. Various folks will float in and out of the episodes in this book: previous members of the team include Bob Corey and his wife, Gay, photographer Leo Monfet, and electronic voice phenomenon (EVP) specialist Karen Mossey. Current members include photographer Laura Wooster, EVP specialist Jim Stonier, tech manager Clay Rucker, thermal imaging specialist Dan Parsons, case manager Stacylynn Caira, and director of research Janet Rucker.

  Q: How did Maureen get involved with the Ghost Project?

  MAUREEN: Although I have been communicating with spirits all of my life, up until the day I joined the Ghost Project, I’d never worked with a paranormal investigative team. At a time in my life when the call to communicate with spirits could no longer be ignored, I happened across an article in a local New Hampshire newspaper. It featured a paranormal investigative team called the New England Ghost Project. After reading the article, and being a big believer that everything happens for a reason, I quickly emailed Ron. Curious, he invited me to tag along on the first of a four-part series with WNDS television in Derry, New Hampshire. Episode Two depicts that first investigation with Ron’s team: my “audition,” if you will. I guess I did something right, because not long after I was invited to join. And as Ron frequently says, the rest is history.

  RON: I didn’t believe in psychics when I started the Ghost Project. In fact, I always thought they were charlatans. But once I started working with Maureen, I began to realize that there was more truth to psychics and mediums than I had first believed. With a degree in environmental science, I still consider myself a skeptic, but open-minded enough to investigate the possibilities.

  In fact, that’s why I call myself New England’s own Van Helsing. The real Van Helsing comes from Bram Stoker’s Dracula—like me, he was a man of science, yet well versed in the arts and crafts. I didn’t believe in a lot of the metaphysical techniques that you’ll read about later in this book, but I have come to understand and accept and even use them.

  Q: What’s the deal with the typeface changing?

  RON: Throughout the book you’ll notice two different fonts: one for Maureen’s voice, and one for mine. Telling our stories in the first person makes for a much more visceral experience, but we wanted it to be clear who was doing the talking.

  Q: How did Maureen know she was a psychic? What is a trance medium, anyway?

  MAUREEN: I’ve been seeing and hearing spirits all my life, but it was difficult to realize what was going on. Think of how many little kids have imaginary friends. That’s not to say those imaginary friends are all spirits, but I wouldn’t rule it out. When we’re young, our minds are completely open. It’s not until wellmeaning teachers, parents, media, etc., tell us that what we are experiencing is not real that we begin to think it’s nothing more than our imagination. That we need to show them proof, you know, they-will-believe-it-if-they-see-it syndrome.

  I love Ghost Whisperer, but medium work is not as Hollywood as the show. Let me start by explaining the differences between a medium and a trance medium. Being a trance medium means having the ability to share the spirit’s energy. A trance medium can allow spirits to enter and speak through her, which is called “channeling” or “trance channeling.” On the other hand, a medium picks up information from the spirits and relays it—they are not actually using her voice to speak.

  It’s difficult to explain exactly what happens when I trance channel, but when we are investigating, I open myself up. Sometimes the spirits are timid, not strong enough, or not cognizant of how to share energy, to allow me to trance channel. Other times, the spirit is all too eager to speak through me.

  Most times, I have control of who I channel. But when I open myself up to spirits, it’s possible for another, not so nice spirit, to jump in.

  I’m also empathic. Which means I can feel the spirit, their energy, and, sometimes, how they died. Ron calls me the Queen of Pain, because sometimes those experiences can be extremely painful.

  Q: How does the Ghost Project find new investigations?

  RON: We’re often contacted through referrals, our website, and the Ghost Line (as we refer to the phone number for the New England Ghost Project). Ninety percent of our cases are those in which people are looking for verification that they aren’t crazy. They just want to know if they have ghosts or not. Sometimes we’re contacted by the media, who want to see what we do.

  Q: What tools do you use to conduct an investigation?

  RON: On one hand there’s the research arm of the Ghost Project. Janet Rucker, who holds a degree in library science, heads up that end of the investigating, which involves discovering the details of a particular location or person—the history of a property, genealogies, etc.

  But that takes place back at the office. On location, we have two types of tools. The first is Maureen, who uses her abilities to discover any paranormal activity. One of her methods is dowsing, a centuries-old way to use your own sixth sense, an extension of yourself, to tap into various energies. When you read about her using a pendulum or L-rods, that’s what’s going on. Although she doesn’t need a device to speak to the spirits, she uses it as a visual tool for those present during communication with a spirit.

  From the paranormal science perspective, we use a lot of equipment: a thermal imaging camera (which is used to view temperature differences), an electromagnetic field (EMF) meter (used to measure fluctuations in electromagnetic fields), and ultraviolet (UV) lamp (used to detect bodily fluids and dust particles in an environment). We also use infrared (IR) camcorders to see in low light, along with still cameras, both digital and 35mm, with infrared film (it’s believed that spirits dwell in the infrared range). Infrared film is expensive, however, and it has to be treated very carefully. Because it’s heat sensitive you need to load and unload the film in a black bag and the film has to be refrigerated. We also use hand-held digital recorders to gather EVPs.

  Q: What exactly is an EVP?

  RON: EVP stands for electronic voice phenomenon, also known as “voices of the dead.” We cannot hear EVPs as they happen; we can only hear them played back on a recorder. The spirits use the white noise in a recorder to manipulate energy to manifest their voices. Any digital or analog recorder will work. Ironically, the more inexpensive recorders are better, since they have more static/white noise. The recordings are then cleaned up and amplified through a software program like Cool Edit, allowing the listener to decipher the wor
ds more clearly.

  Q: How much do you charge for an investigation?

  RON: I’ve heard this question numerous times so I’ve almost come to expect it. The simple answer is: we don’t charge.

  Now you might be wondering how we get paid.

  The truth is we don’t. It’s voluntary. Since I started the Ghost Project, I made the decision that we shouldn’t profit at the expense of someone in need. We all have day jobs: I’m an author and radio show host, Maureen is an author, radio host, and a technical instructor. My wife, Janet, and Stacy are both administrators, Ron Jr. is a manager, thermal Dan is an assistant fire chief, Jim and Clay both work with computers, and Janet Rucker is a librarian. However, we do run lectures, seminars, and classes throughout the year to help cover the cost of our websites, the Ghost Line, film, equipment, and so forth.

  Q: What do you consider a successful investigation?

  RON: When we go into an investigation, we never know what we’re going to encounter. The EVPs, photos, psychic impressions, video, and any other evidence collected during an investigation are reviewed, and we provide our clients with the results, whether there is paranormal activity or not.

  Some cases may require special treatment, including spirit removal and/or exorcisms. At the NEGP, we want to help both the living and the dead, but it’s our belief that everyone has free will. Unless a spirit is crossing the “karmic line,” which we consider to be interfering with the living, we don’t force them to leave. But we do ask the spirits if they want to leave. Believe it or not, most times they don’t.

  To be honest, we can never be 100 percent sure why spirits are here. Maureen can tell you what she’s feeling and what she’s picking up on. But it’s conjecture. What if a spirit is here to help another, living or dead? What if that spirit is part of a bigger master plan? We don’t want to interfere by forcing an entity to do anything. So while many people might consider eradicating the ghosts as a successful operation, that’s not what the NEGP sets out to do.

  Q: And you have a radio show?

  RON: As I mentioned before, part of the goal of the New England Ghost Project is to educate the public. To do this we always accept offers to appear on various radio and TV stations. One day after an appearance on WCCM radio in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the station asked me if I would be interested in having my own show. Never shy, I jumped at the chance and on Friday the thirteenth, 2004, Ghost Chronicles was born. For three years Maureen and I entertained the rush hour traffic (our motto for the show was, “Rush hour just got scarier”). We were then approached by Ghostvillage (the largest paranormal site on the Internet) and TogiNet (an Internet radio station), and now I produce and host three shows: Ghost Chronicles, the podcast on Ghostvillage, iTunes, and Podcast Alley; Ghost Chronicles Live on TogiNet and Para-X Radio; and Ghost Chronicles International, which is UK– based, on TogiNet and Para-X Radio.

  In addition to our studio shows we also take “road trips” and broadcast from haunted locations…which is what the seventeen episodes you’re about to read are all about.

  Be prepared for the unexpected.

  DISCLAIMER

  The contents of this book are for informational purposes only. Although these episodes are based on factual events, under no circumstances should they be interpreted as a recommendation for novice or inexperienced paranormal investigators. In no way will the New England Ghost Project or any of its entities be held liable for misinterpretation of this book or any companion websites.

  BOOK BONUS EXTRA

  To enhance your reading experience, go to www.ghostchroniclesthebook.com. This site includes bonus features such as photographs, video, history, and additional information on the places and incidents described in each episode of this book.

  episode one

  CHANNELING THE DEAD

  CASE FILE: 6242684

  WINDHAM RESTAURANT

  Location: Windham, New Hampshire.

  History: An 1812 farmhouse, once owned by the Dinsmore family, has been occupied by several businesses and now houses the Windham Restaurant.

  Reported Paranormal Activity: Ghostly apparitions, glasses shattering, objects moving and disappearing, and unexplained noises.

  Clients: Lula (owner), Vess (owner).

  Investigators: Ron (lead investigator), Maureen (trance medium).

  Press: Melissa (reporter from Boston.com), Jen (Melissa’s photographer).

  The sign over the door of the Windham Restaurant reads “Food and Spirits,” and it may be truer than you think.

  TRANCE MEDIUM

  An individual who allows the spirit of a dead person to take over his or her body for the purpose of communication.

  I could scarcely breathe.

  The beating grew louder and louder. I thought my heart might burst.

  I gasped for breath.

  Then I felt a hand on my chest. It was oddly familiar, and I realized it was my own. My breathing was heavy. Raspy.

  I clung to the banter between Ron and the reporters from Boston.com, who were standing a few feet away from me, but the crisp, clear syllables of their words became nothing more than an echo in the distance. Even my fear of spiders in the dank cellar was slipping away. I could no longer focus. There was no turning back.

  I had reached the “in between,” the place where heaven barely touches earth. I knew because I could feel it. The air was charged, sizzling with electricity. The way it always felt when “they” arrived. An ominous presence swirled around us, bringing with it a sense of foreboding. I had a feeling this night was a bad idea. It was Friday the thirteenth after all.

  Playing a tug of war with my consciousness, I struggled to recapture Ron’s voice.

  “You ready to communicate?” I barely heard his words over the electromagnetic field (EMF) meter, its continuous beeping an indicator of an energy shift in the room.

  The immediacy in his voice anchored me. For the moment. “Yeah, sure,” I said.

  EMF (ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD) METER

  A handheld electronic device used to measure electromagnetic radiation in milligauss. This instrument is widely used by paranormal investigators to identify normal sources of EMF, such as fluorescent lights and electrical wiring, as well as unexplained sources of EMF associated with paranormal activity.

  I could tell by the look of concern on Ron’s face that my response sounded a little flippant. What could I say? I was getting punchy. It was nearing the midnight hour, and this was the second event of my evening. Just prior to coming to the Windham, I’d given a lecture for the Ghost Project at a fundraiser for the Dracut Republican Town Committee. The long hours working with the NEGP, coupled with my nine-tofive, could sometimes be a bit much.

  My energy was waning. The last thing I felt like doing was attempting to communicate. Yet I could tell by the sudden onset of energy that this spirit was just as eager to converse with us as Ron was to talk with him. The energy surge was so full and heavy it felt as if the walls themselves were closing in on me.

  Suddenly feeling claustrophobic, I took a step back and widened the space between the reporters and myself, with Ron closer to me. I bumped into a white restaurant-sized freezer, tucked away in the basement, the storage area of the Windham. I clutched a pendulum between my thumb and forefinger.

  Then it happened.

  The weighted crystal began to swing to and fro. My third eye tingled. Vibrated. A pinwheel of energy enveloped my face. The spirit wanted more. More than just to speak to us. He wanted to speak through me. As someone who has channeled and spoken with the dead for much of my life, it was a difficult demand for me to ignore. Just then, my breath caught in my throat as my body struggled to adjust to the presence pouring through me. To compensate, my chest heaved up. Down. Once again, my breathing turned raspy. Heavy. Labored. The sound of Ron’s voice faded into the distance. It was like being given anesthesia, that final countdown as you prepare to go under into the abyss of unconsciousness. Ten, nine, eight…I breathed in and out, adjusting as b
est I could. No matter how many times I allow a spirit access to my body, I always take the prospect very seriously. Truth be told, dealing with the unknown is a risky business. I never know what I will come up against. Will it be a nice, benevolent spirit just wanting to communicate? A negative spirit intent on doing harm to others or myself? Or even worse, a demonic entity, attempting to steal my soul? It’s my belief, however, that for the greater good, it’s worth the risk.

  I closed my eyes, and began to say a silent prayer. “Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.” Gasping for breath, I continued. “Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God…rebuke…him, we…”

  It was too late now. My consciousness vanished into the darkness. My body was no longer my own. Jacob was here.

  * * *

  Even though the red light of my EMF meter lit up Maureen, because she was bent at the waist, I couldn’t see her eyes, and that physical sign is crucial when she’s channeling. “Who am I speaking with?” I exclaimed urgently. “Is it Maureen or Jacob?”

  Bent over in the corner of the cellar of the Windham Restaurant, Maureen attempts to make contact with a spirit named Jacob.

  Her only response was a deep moan, followed by a succession of slow, arduous breaths.

  I crouched low and looked up at her face. As if Jacob was reading my mind, Maureen brought her head up, slowly. Her stare burned. Her eyes were deep. Piercing. It was a look that would rip a hole through the soul of any man. I was looking into the sinister abyss. I had no doubts. It was Jacob.

  “Ah, Jacob, how are you, sir?” I said in greeting.

  As he spoke through Maureen, his guttural tone grated on my ears. “Why are you back?”

  “Don’t you like us here?” I asked.

  Through drawn eyebrows, Jacob glared at me. “No.” I shivered, as the chill in his voice mirrored the sudden drop in the room’s temperature.