April 2021 - Vol. 1 Issue 3

Welcome to a special edition of "A Word from Beyond". This issue focuses on the beautiful and haunted Ventfort Hall and Gilded Age Museum in Lenox, Massachusetts. Our 2021 season is kicking off and our group paranormal investigation events are just weeks away!  Meet some special guests in this month's newsletter! 

EVENTS THIS MONTH!

WALKING AMONGST THE SHADOWS: VENTFORT HALL AND GILDED AGE MUSEUM

Saturday, April 10, 2021 | 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

We sure had many amazing experiences conducting our group paranormal investigations at Ventfort Hall. This fast-paced online presentation will showcase some of the incredible evidence we captured and I will share some of the interesting experiences we have had throughout the years at Ventfort Hall. There will also be limited space available to attend this presentation in-person at Ventfort Hall. Suggested donation: $20. Click here to register for the online event. To reserve the limited seating at Ventfort Hall, please call (413) 637-3206. Proper social distancing and masks are required if you attend in person.  

A SPIRITED EVENING AT  VENTFORT HALL AND GILDED AGE MUSUEM

 Saturday, May 1, 2021 | 7:00 pm - midnight

Are you brave enough to explore the darkened rooms of a haunted mansion? Come join us for an exciting group paranormal event in which we attempt to see, hear and feel the energy of the departed who still walk amongst the hallways and room of Ventfort Hall. 

The evening begins with a brief historical lecture in the beautiful library. You will then see and hear a sampling of some of our favorite paranormal evidence. Then, it's lights-out for an exciting group paranormal investigation! 

Due to the limited space available, reservations are required. Tickets are $38 per adult and $20 for those aged 12-18 and 19-23 with a valid student ID. These events sell-out quickly, so please call Ventfort Hall at (413) 637-3206 for your reservation. All of the ticket proceeds goes towards the preservation and restoration of Ventfort Hall. 

All guests are required to sign a waiver. While Ventfort Hall and Gilded Age Museum has not had any issues in the past, please be aware that - although rare - there are inherent risks involved in paranormal investigations.

Please note that all guests must follow safety guidelines during the pandemic. Facemasks and proper social distancing will be enforced to ensure everyone's health and safety. 

If you cannot make our May 1st event, we will return to Ventfort Hall for our group paranormal events on Friday, July 9, 2021 and Saturday, November 6, 2021.  

THE INVESTIGATOR'S CORNER

In my never-ending quest to gather important answers from the spirits, I spend a lot of time, thought, and planning into how the team investigates or by researching new techniques or technologies to try. This year I decided to conduct a few different experiments just to see if we can gather even more paranormal evidence. Within this section, I will highlight some of these new experiments we will try this year at both our private and public investigations.

The Estes Method

We utilize a number of different technologies to attempt to verbally communicate with the spirits. We utilize Phasmabox, SB-7, SB11 and Sbox spirit boxes, as well as the standard EVP sessions. This year we intend to experiment with the Estes Method to see if we can have a more dynamic spirit box session. We will ask for a volunteer to wear noise-cancelling headphones and listen to responses in real-time while we ask questions. The volunteer would state what words or phrases they hear without knowing what questions were asked. It's a way to get more people actively involved in investigations and provide a more dynamic investigation as it is often difficult for us to hear responses as we are asking questions.   

Fueled-up EVP Sessions

The purpose of this experiment is to see if we can get louder and clearer EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) if we provide a "fuel source" for the spirits. In March, I spent some time building four electro-magnetic pumps that emit 12.0 milliGauss (mG) of energy. I plan to surround a digital recorder with the four EM pumps to see if there is a marked increase in quantity and quality of EVPs. 

The energy does not compound, meaning there will be a pocket of 12.0 mG and not 48.00 mG. What is exciting is that there will be four pulsating waves crashing into each other. Hopefully, this increase in energy would also provide enough energy for a partial or full-bodied apparition to appear for us.  

We will try this experiment out first in a private investigation prior to rolling it out in a public event. We will also be taking precautions during an investigation with this experiment. We will not place the EM pumps near guests although the energy pocket developed is confined to a small space. In fact, desktop fans and normal appliances emit higher levels of electromagnetic energy.  

Spirit Box Tweak

This year we added new technology to our spirit box in an attempt to increase communication. We noticed that with the use of the Phasmabox, spirit box communications have mostly ceased to exist. Although we are still getting SBox replies when the Phasmabox is not in use. It could be that the spirits prefer to use one piece of technology over another. However, in an attempt to increase interaction, we reconfigured the setup and added new pieces to see if there is a marked increase in communication. 

Our hopes is that the introduction of these new methods and equipment will increase communication and create an even more exciting adventure. Will it work? There's only one way to find out - by attending one of our events. I never shy away from trying new things - some are tremendous successes while others flame out. Heck, we even threw a surprise birthday party for a spirit - and it worked! At the end of the party we recorded a voice thanking us several times and telling us that he loved us.  

We will be sharing our experiences with the new methods and technology as the year progresses. As of this writing, I am also building two new tools to be used during our investigations, more details to follow.  

MEET THE VENTFORT TEAM

This month I wanted to introduce you to some of my friends from Ventfort Hall and Gilded Age Museum. They are awesome ambassadors for Ventfort Hall and work extremely hard to make each event a success. So this month, I want to introduce you to Haley, Kate and Nancy - folks you will meet at Ventfort Hall during our events there. They will have a bigger role in the investigations as well. Last November, Haley and Kate led the second group during the evening - and did an amazing job. The spirits are very familiar with them, so it will be interesting to see what information the spirits provide them.

I met Nancy and Haley in 2018 - our second year at Ventfort Hall - they have shared so many paranormal experiences with us during our time there. We originally met Kate as a guest at one of our events, and she is now a volunteer at Ventfort - driven by her love of architecture and history. Kate recently told me that once you become involved with Ventfort Hall, it can really suck you in. I couldn't agree more, Kate! 

What was the most surprising moment for you during an investigation at Ventfort.

Haley: For me, it is a tie between two different experiences - both with the spirit box. The first was in August 2019 - our group was in the nursery/yellow room. My then fifteen year old brother was with us and he decided to make a joke to amuse the spirits. He told the joke, "What do you call milk that goes up to here? (Indicating his forehead). The answer was "pasteurized". All of us in the room laughed, and immediately the spirit box responded "You're funny." 

Also in the summer of 2019, we had a group in Sarah Morgan's bedroom. There were a pair of teenage boys, one of whom sneezed. Everyone in the room said "bless you" and the spirit box responded "God bless."  

Nancy: The second event I attended, one of your team leaders was in the Blue Room and his spirit box said my name followed with the words "find" and "alone". Since then I have made sure when I am the one closing up I always ask the spirits to be kind and respectful and ask that they do not startle me. Another event, a childlike voice mentioned the preacher and said "Preacher's coming." An angry voice called you a 'liar' when you questioned why the child could not talk to us.

(Note:  During that investigation a stronger male voice talked over the little girl every time we heard her voice. I tried to reassure the girl that she had nothing to be afraid of and if she felt controlled, no one could control her. When I told her that she has no reason to be afraid, that's when I was called a 'liar'.) 

Kate: My most surprising moments were when the lights on the wall sconces in the dining room started to flicker out one by one. Another is when we were in the library asking for Annie Haggerty Shaw and a voice through a device saying "Rob?" (Robert was her husband who died in the U.S. Civil War). During the last investigation we heard some very loud footsteps on the third floor above us as we were investigating in the nursery. (Note: The third floor is closed off to guests so any footsteps heard were not from guests during the evening.) 

What do you look forward to most about the upcoming investigations?

Kate: What I'm looking forward to most about upcoming investigations is sharing the spiritual side of Ventfort with new visitors as well as sharing new paranormal experiences with returning guests. It seems like the more we host the investigations, the more active the spirits become.

Haley: I most look forward to the possibility of following up with spirits from past sessions. I also look forward to the fact that every single session and experience is different and I am always excited to see what will happen and what the spirits will decide to give us that night. I also really enjoy when our guests are able to settle into the house and its history and get involved in the investigations by asking questions and having experiences - if they are open to having them that is!

Nancy: I always look forward to investigations, as even the "quieter" investigations usually have something that occurs. During one "quiet" investigation we heard what sounded like submarine warnings bells. I am ready for this season to see what may happen, especially since much work occurred on the third floor over this past winter - who knows if that has stirred anything up.  

Any other really noteworthy experiences outside of the investigations at Ventfort Hall? 

Nancy: Two months ago as I was leaving the main office and entered the hall, I was hit by a wave of very intense cigar smoke - which other people have experienced. It was rather shocking. I wished Mr. Morgan "Goodnight" after that.

The day after a spirit seemed to have called you a "liar", a guest asked a docent if he could speak with me. He said that he was a clairvoyant and that there was a spirit who was upset from the night before. The upset spirit had been watching us over the railing from above. He also said that there was a young girl in the nursery area who was not upset. She like to be around the toys, but does not like when the doll is missing something. I checked and the doll was missing a shoe and had a torn foot. 

(Please note: It is never our intent to upset any spirits. We had been hearing unsettling  information through several devices that evening and we were carefully addressing the situation. We never intentionally provoke spirits and prohibit guests from doing so. Prior to the next investigation, I went into the area to apologize to the upset spirit). 

Kate: One of the most profound experiences I've had at Ventfort Hall was one morning this winter. I was turning on the lights on the second floor landing to prepare for guests. I brushed through a shadowy male figure by the stairs that lead to the third floor. We have consistently photographed shadow figures there. He was just dark and smoky. I couldn't distinguish facial features or specific items of clothing. My right shoulder and arm brushed through him as I was passing through the chapel to turn on the light. I expected it to be cold when I made contact with him but it felt like pins and needles or static electricity. As soon as I turned back to look who was there, he was gone. That was one of several multi-sensory experiences including smelling perfume and cigars, and having my clothing tugged and my hair stroked. 

Haley: I always find that younger people are extremely interested in the paranormal. While many adults will ask about paranormal experiences when they visit the house, I most often get this question from the majority of the children who come through the house. I virtually spoke to a few classes at a middle school down in North Carolina, and after giving them a presentation about the house one of the first questions that came up was about potential paranormal activity in the house. 

***

I would like to thank Nancy, Haley and Kate for your contribution to this newsletter and look forward to an exciting 2021 investigation season at Ventfort Hall!  

WALKING AMONGST THE SHADOWS

Ventfort Hall and Gilded Age Museum - Lenox, Massachusetts

When I first stepped foot in Ventfort Hall back in 2017, I honestly did not know what to expect. Although I had led many group events at other locations, I was nervous. Ventfort Hall was a mysterious stranger to me as I did not know where the active hot spots were and I did not interact with the spirits there before. Being my first investigation, I had an added pressure of making a great first impression on the fine folks who invited us to their beautiful museum. But it was not my first rodeo - far from it - so I figured everything would turn out fine. 

When I arrived, I learned that a local newspaper reporter would embed with our group to write a story on the evening's event. Yikes! So not only was I concerned about the fact that spirits could be uncooperative due to their unfamiliarity with me, but now a news reporter was going to witness and write about the evening. I reassured myself that I would be fine - what's the worst that can happen? When I met this reporter, however, it got worse. He hinted that he was a skeptic and did not necessarily believe in ghosts and spirits. Needless to say, that added a bit more pressure to the night.  

We made our way to the first room (Mrs. Morgan's bedroom) and to my surprise, my head snapped back twice as I had felt an invisible finger poke me in the forehead. I just asked for Mrs. Morgan to let us know that she was there. Okay, it's haunted - I was relieved. True, I had researched the mansion and of other's claims, but I need to experience things for myself as many paranormal claims can have logical explanations.

We then entered the room that I call the nursery due to the presence of the crib and various vintage toys. Several of the guests had K2s (electromagnetic field detectors) with them. My device started to register an anomaly in the electromagnetic field. Then, others started to light up. What was interesting is that the K2s were lighting in a pattern, as if someone had been running around the room in between all of the guests. Interestingly enough, several of us could actually feel that energy zipping by - some even feeling a moving cold spot.

Then a guest became startled and said that her hair had been pulled. Shortly after that, she announced to the group that she had been pushed from behind. My wife who was standing near her, felt someone touch her elbow and then suddenly the camera that was around her neck popped into the air as if someone had hit it from below. Again, the K2s started to trace the motion of the mischievous energy around the guests and throughout the room. The reporter who was standing next to me was uttering curse words under his breath. In the dark I had a smirk on my face as I have seen the conversion of many skeptics during my time - but this one felt great! 

Later in the evening, we were in the dining room and several of us saw a bright light mysteriously appear in the hallway. I immediately rushed into the hallway to see if it had been a person, but there was no one. The door to the bathroom further down the hall shut slightly - I heard it and saw it move, but the door did not shut all the way, which I thought was odd if someone went into the room. I walked slowly towards the bathroom and did not hear anything. I started to knock and call out, but no one answered. I opened the door, again calling into the room - but no one was there. I peeked into the billiards room, and again, it was empty. 

That night the spirits of Ventfort Hall gave me just a glimpse of what it had in store for me over the years. It turned one skeptic into a believer that night. It also intrigued me to learn even more about the spirits that still roam the hallways, a longing to hear their voices, to see them appear - to hear their story. It was also the start of a great partnership that exists to this day. I have grown quite fond of not only the building, but the amazing people who are passionate about that historic building. I also enjoy meeting the many fine folks who attend one of our events - some of those faces have become quite familiar as they are repeat guests - I'm proud to give them an escape from all the craziness from our time and give them a distraction of going back in time by interacting with spirits from a different era. 

I know that everyone in the mansion is excited for the start of another exciting year of events. I look forward to meeting new faces and seeing familiar ones - I hope to see you at the beautiful and haunted Ventfort Hall this year and beyond.  

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