| This article was written in response to a recent | | | | group--shortly after informing me that TAPS had |
| newspaper article (published in the Keene Sentinel, | | | | contacted her and had expressed interest in setting up |
| Keene, NH on Saturday, July 10, 2009) pertaining to | | | | on the location. It was also at this time that the reports |
| The Atlantic Paranormal Society's (TAPS) recent | | | | of purported paranormal activity at the location |
| investigation of the Amos J. Blake House Museum in | | | | increased significantly. |
| Fitzwilliam, NH, the museum of the Fitzwilliam Historical | | | | It is clear to me that TAPS was interested in this |
| Society, and their intention to use the footage on their | | | | location, and--at least according to the curator--that |
| television show Ghost Hunters. | | | | there was some contact going on during this time |
| As a paranormal investigator, I have participated in | | | | between them and the museum.. |
| three investigations at the Amos J. Blake House | | | | In an open query to the Board of Directors of the |
| Museum. The group I am a member of was invited to | | | | Fitzwilliam Historical Society, I would ask the them to |
| investigate the location by the museum's curator. I am | | | | consider the publicity that may be garnered from the |
| aware of approximately six different paranormal | | | | location's appearance on a national television show. In |
| groups that have investigated the site. | | | | my experience, considering locations like the museum, |
| Though there are some indications of paranormal | | | | publicity is a good thing. |
| activity at the museum, all I have personally | | | | Many similar sites have capitalized on such attention |
| experienced is one cold spot, an unexplained voice, as | | | | for monetary gain and recognition. The board will |
| well as capturing photographs of some strange mist. | | | | certainly want to consider how they are going to |
| This is certainly not enough evidence to declare the | | | | handle requests from individuals and groups wanting to |
| place haunted by the standards of most paranormal | | | | complete paranormal investigations of the location--if |
| investigators, however, we are all aware of the rarity | | | | you choose to allow them at all--as well as other |
| of such phenomena and the difficulty of catching such | | | | recognition and media attention that arises from such |
| phenomena on tape. | | | | an event. |
| More recently, reports have been made of multiple | | | | Some places charge special fees for unique "haunted |
| apparitions, objects moving, and intelligent spirits | | | | tours," and others even arrange all-night ghost hunts. |
| haunting the location. These phenomena--as well as | | | | The U.S.S. Salem in Boston, MA, The Queen Mary in |
| other strange events--have been reported by several | | | | Long Beach, CA, and Waverly Hills Sanitorium in |
| groups, though most of these claims were made by | | | | Louisville, KY are examples of locations that are |
| Conscious Spirits Paranormal Group (CSPG), a team | | | | earning revenue and recognition secondary to their |
| founded by the museums curator. | | | | haunted status, and are places where one can |
| These events were documented on CSPG's Web site | | | | participate in a paranormal investigation, above and |
| as recently as Thursday July 8th. Upon review of the | | | | beyond taking a simple tour. |
| groups site on Monday July 13, all references to the | | | | In general, I would say that most ghost hunters are a |
| Amos J. Blake House investigations had been | | | | respectful bunch, and the good ones appreciate the |
| removed, though there is documentation of the groups | | | | historical significance of such locations, as well as the |
| investigation of the location at the Web site of the | | | | potential for any paranormal activity. |
| Keene State Equinox, a local college newspaper. | | | | The Amos J. Blake House Museum is a wonderful |
| There are several links-- accessible via Google | | | | example of a New England historical society museum |
| searches--to CSPG's Web site that portray their | | | | with an interesting and varied collection of artifacts, |
| involvement with this location. | | | | and--in my mind--this fact FAR outstrips the possibility |
| It is unclear to me why this information was deleted. I | | | | of any paranormal activity occurring there. |
| certainly enjoyed following the reported activity and | | | | I have participated many paranormal |
| even though our group considered the purported | | | | investigations--and have experienced some very |
| "evidence" to be highly exaggerated--being more | | | | strange things--however, on a scale of 1 to 10 related |
| attentive to debunking then many groups--I found it | | | | to possible paranormal activity, I would rate the |
| very entertaining. | | | | museum a 2 or 3. Considering its wonderful collection |
| At this point in time, two of the few sites where I can | | | | and the history contained within its walls, I would rate it |
| find any significant documentation of paranormal | | | | a 10. |
| activity at the museum is on Dark Nights Paranormal's | | | | Of course TAPS, with their top-of-the-line equipment |
| as well as ECTO Paranormal's, two teams of | | | | and considerable resources may certainly be more |
| competent and tech-savvy investigators based in the | | | | successful then an amateur ghost hunter such as |
| general area. There is at least one other Web site | | | | myself when it comes to finding evidence of possible |
| where documentation of an investigation of the | | | | paranormal activity. |
| museum is posted, however, the location is not being | | | | It is obvious to me that the board of the Fitzwilliam |
| disclosed--though it was previously identified as such. | | | | Historical Society needs to seriously consider if this is a |
| Apparently,there was a minor controversy involved | | | | direction they would like to move in, and how the |
| with "Ghost Hunters," filming at the location, as it was | | | | museum got to this point in the first place--a national |
| reported that the museum's Board of Directors had no | | | | television show filming in the location, apparently |
| prior knowledge of the TAPS investigation of the | | | | without it's knowledge and consent. |
| museum. The newspaper article published several | | | | At this time, it appears that consent has been given, |
| comments from a member of the board pertaining to | | | | albeit in a method in which the board was not aware, |
| this fact, and--as of the time this article was | | | | and that the investigation will air on national television. |
| written--there is still appears to be some question as to | | | | The board should consider how they can take |
| who signed the release form that allowed the filming in | | | | advantage of this. My guess is that the situation be |
| the first place. The paper also reported that the | | | | viewed as a positive one, an opportunity to increase |
| curator of the museum--who participated in the | | | | attention for the museum, possibly resulting in revenue |
| filming--had no comment. | | | | that could be used to help maintain this historic location. |
| I find it interesting that the board had no prior | | | | It may also have the added benefit of drawing some |
| knowledge of a film crew being invited to the location. | | | | tourism to the town of Fitzwilliam, and the Monadnock |
| It is also of interest to note that the curator of the | | | | area in general. |
| museum is a former member of the group I am | | | | Of course, the board could certainly decide to let the |
| involved with. This individual left our group abruptly in | | | | spirits rest as well. |
| February or March--and subsequently formed her own | | | | |