Hollow Hill

Are Ghosts Hiding in Plain Sight?

Are you looking for a “hiding in plain sight” haunted location?

Start with your local library.

Really. I mean it.

In large and moderately large public libraries, there’s almost always one room that everyone – including the staff – prefer to avoid.

Often, it’s a room dedicated to genealogical and historical records. Do the spirits of the dead linger there, hoping to read about their lives, or even their obituaries?

Another likely haunt is the library’s storage room with dusty old magazines and newspapers, if they weren’t yet digitized.

Or, it might be the library’s collection of law books.

Those haunts are usually in the basement or on the top floor, in a room few even notice.

That quote by author Shirley Jackson, is her typically understated way of pointing ghost hunters in the direction of old bookstores and libraries.

In fact, Ms. Jackson’s book, The Haunting of Hill House, may be the most compelling and accurate ghost story ever written. I’ve read it at least a dozen times, and still enjoy it.

Skip the movie remakes of her story. The old b&w version with Julie Harris – called just “The Haunting” – is pretty faithful to Jackson’s tale. I’ve probably watched it a dozen times. It’s available on some streaming services. (The 1999 version with Catherine Zeta-Jones was regrettable.)

From time to time, libraries offer “ghost cam” views of their most haunted areas.

The Grey Lady of Willard Library offers the most opportunities to spot something odd among the books and hallways. (And though I wince at the editing, the first episode of Haunted Collector was filmed at a haunted library in Deep River, Connecticut.)

Or, you might check the list of the 10 most haunted libraries in the U.S. and the 10 most haunted libraries in the U.K.

Go local

Libraries are so haunted, you’ll probably find one near you. A friendly librarian may admit to the site’s ghosts, but other staff members may give you a stern look and tell you to go away; they don’t want anyone to know they believe in ghosts and actually have to work near one.

Start local, anyway. You may stumble upon something fascinated and very haunted.

For example, I visited the Tilton-Northfield (NH) public library regularly, not realizing its basement was haunted. I shared some of that story in my article about Tilton’s “Mystery Tunnels.”

(I think you’ll find more about related ghosts in Rue Taylor Cote’s book, Ghost Hunting in Tilton, NH. I contributed some stories to that book, but it’s been awhile since I read it.)

Remember that community libraries may be the tip of the iceberg if you’re looking for haunted libraries.

Also look for university libraries, law libraries, family history libraries, and so on. Not all will open their doors to you and some may object to you investigating their ghosts.

However, as Ms. Jackson suggested, if you’re looking for “hiding in plain sight” haunts, libraries and old bookstores are good places to start.

Or… once you know what to look for, you might find one in your own home.

When to Take a Break During a Ghost Investigation

When you’re ghost hunting, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or stunned. You may feel too tired to think.

That happens to everyone. Even to pros.

At some haunted sites, it can seem as if the ghosts have an agenda. Or perhaps just one does; that’s all it takes to experience brain fog or an unexpected emotional response.

Remember that ghosts are people, just in a different form. They can behave the same as people you know in real life… including those that annoy you.

Maybe they don’t want to be disturbed. (Previous investigators may have tried provoking them.)
Perhaps one or more ghosts want to be alive again. (Some seem to think that’s possible.)
Others are distraught, not sure how to “cross over.” (That’s when specialists — and ONLY specialists like psychics and spiritualists — can be helpful. Don’t try this if you’re not trained and experienced in this kind of work.)
And then there are the ghosts that, in their own misery, seem to be predators. In true “misery loves company” for, they want to terrify and intimidate the living.

In any of those situations, a ghost — or the combined energy of several ghosts — can make you feel tired. You may realize you’re not thinking clearly, or feel overwhelmed.

During a ghost investigation, take a break.

Leave the site, or go at least far enough away so you’re not under the influence of the ghosts.

Important: Never leave a site by yourself, especially if you’re not feeling well. Contrary to what you may see on TV, no one should be entirely alone and unsupervised during an investigation. Things can go very wrong, very quickly, and with no warning.

Generally, ghosts seem to be too weak and frail to invade your thoughts or cause problems.

However, if your thoughts feel “heavy” or you’re having trouble focusing on your research, pause immediately.

The problem could be simple tiredness, or stress, or even allergies. (Many haunted indoor sites are dusty and can have mold or mildew. Outdoors, some plants, odors from nearby factories, or animal paths can trigger allergic responses.)

Get away from the site for at least a few minutes. Then, you can evaluate what’s going on, and whether you can safely return to the investigation or should just go home.

Skeptical of Ghosts and Haunted Places? It’s Okay.

Ghost hunting attracts a wide range of people. Some are believers who just want proof that ghosts exist.

Others are skeptics, and they want to see for themselves how silly and gullible ghost hunters are.

Most people fall somewhere between those two extremes.

Generally, I’m skeptical when I arrive at a haunted site.

Oh, I firmly believe that energy or entities that we call “ghosts” are real.

Likewise, at a haunted location, I’m sure people have experienced something odd there.

I just don’t know what that “something odd” might be, and I’m cautious about announcing that the cause is a ghost.

However, I raise an eyebrow when someone at a ghost hunting event is loudly and obstinately skeptical. I become irked if they insist, belligerently, that an anomaly must have been caused by [add any unlikely explanation here]. Usually, I’ll ask that person to leave.

If we assume that ghosts are real, I can’t imagine how distraught a spirit would feel, not only ignored most of the time, but then dismissed as “a fragment of underdone potato,” to quote Ebenezer Scrooge.

The facts are:

We can’t prove that ghosts are real. Currently, beliefs must be founded upon personal experience. No ghost hunting tools can prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that apparently ghostly phenomena are caused by actual ghosts.
We can’t prove that a location is haunted. We can demonstrate that baffling anomalies occur at those sites, and they appear consistent with an explanation involving ghosts.

However, at many haunted sites, I’ll default to Sherlock Holmes.

“When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

~ Arthur Conan Doyle, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes.

And, since Carl Jung could be honest about things he couldn’t explain, I’d hope today’s skeptics can be at least as open-minded.

Ghost Hunting? Make the First Move Yourself!

After several decades of ghost hunting (yes, really), I’ve discovered a few shortcuts.

One is:

Act as if ghosts are there all the time, whether or not you sense them, or see a spike in EMF energy, or anything else.

Just talk to them as if (a) they are there, and (b) they’re alive and well and eager for communication.

And maybe they are.

Well-known haunted sites can seem like a “sure thing” for ghost investigations. Beginners should probably start there.

However, ghosts can be anywhere. If you get that “something’s odd, here” feeling, consider acting as if the site is haunted, even if it seems an unlikely place for ghosts.

One possibility is the history of the site.

An undocumented battle may have taken place at that location.
A crime may have occurred there, but was quickly covered up.
Someone (or several people) may have been buried beneath that park, battlefield, house, or other building. And then it was forgotten.

A ghost in an unlikely location

A classic example is the grave of Richard III that was found beneath a car park in England.

In my opinion, Richard III is one of the most likely British rulers to return as a ghost. But really, who’d think to go ghost hunting in a parking lot?

So, the next time you’re in a location that has an odd feeling to it, trying talking to ghosts that might possibly be there.

You can speak quietly, as if you’re talking to yourself.

You don’t have to go full-on Zak Bagans, addressing the ghosts in a loud voice.

And, above all, do NOT invite the ghost to communicate through or otherwise use your body in ANY way. Every time I see Zak do that, I wince. He’s taking risks that I consider foolhardy, even for a pro.

The point is, you can act as if a ghost is there, even if the location seems unlikely.

Then, if a ghost does seem to be at that site, you can research the location’s history.

Though you’re not likely to find a ghostly connection as dramatic as the Richard III’s corpse, you may find a strong historical reason for a ghost (or two or three) to linger at that location.

And, if you do find a ghost in an unlikely place like a grocery store, I hope you’ll let other ghost hunters know about it. Every unique haunting gives us an opportunity to learn more about what ghosts really are.

Do Ghosts Only Appear at Night?

Every day, you may go past haunted sites and not see the ghosts in them.

That’s because most people think ghosts only appear at night.

Some ghosts are just as visible (or even easier to see) in the daytime.

Sure, most ghost hunters prefer to investigate in the dark. You’ll have fewer visual distractions.

But… what would limit a ghost to nightly appearances? Really, where else would they go?

Try a few casual daytime investigations before work or school, or on your way home. (I always recommend a daylight visit before a formal investigation, anyway.)

Look carefully at everything around you. Check for anything odd or unexpected: a strange shadow, an unexplained flicker of light, and so on.

If you use ghost hunting tools, bring them with you. EMF surges and EVP are just as likely during the day as after dark.

Limiting yourself to nighttime investigations reduces your opportunities by 50%.

Give daytime ghost hunting a try. What you encounter may surprise you.

Related article: Ghost Hunting in Daylight, with tips and one of my more memorable experiences.

FEAR – Why It’s Important in Ghost Hunting

Do you jump when a light flickers in an empty room?

Many of us do that.

But others can dismiss a clearly outlined shadow person as if it’s just ho-hum. (I hope you NEVER become that jaded about ghost hunting.)

Fear depends on context.

When you’re investigating a haunted site, your experiences are your own.

Fear can be important!

Fear can signal something you should be afraid of. And, that fear may be deeply personal.

Sure, it might be something silly that startled you.

That’s okay. We all have those embarrassing moments.

Ask a more experienced ghost hunter about whatever worries you.

It might be something easily explained.
It might be something paranormal, but nothing to fear.
Or, it may be something other ghost hunters will want to double-check. You might have stumbled onto something that’s truly ghostly… OR DANGEROUS.

When you’re truly afraid…

Don’t let anyone dismiss your concerns as “nothing important,” or – worse – ask you, “Are you sure you didn’t imagine that?”

Whether they realize it or not, every ghost hunter has their own agenda.

They got into this field for a reason.

Usually, it’s a question related to something in their past. A scare they had as a child. Or a chilling story from a movie or TV show, or told to them by a relative.

They’re looking for answers they haven’t found yet.

Past experiences influence every ghost hunter’s reactions… pros and newbies.

They may be astonished by a door that closes itself, on command.
They may be terrified by a sobbing sound that’s behind a sealed wall.
Or, they may react to their own fears by trivializing others’ experiences at the haunted site. (That’s important to remember!)

Likewise, a new ghost hunter will have a different experience – and reaction – from someone who’s been in this field for years.

Be respectful.

Allow each person to witness what happens (if anything) during an investigation, or even a ghost tour.

However, since that’s not always possible…

When fear seeps into those at the site, it’s important to trust your senses.

Ignoring them could mean missing out on something truly fascinating.

Worse, dismissing your internal radar could put you at risk from the living and the dead.

If you feel afraid, maybe there’s a good reason for it.

Stay alert, and be mindful of others’ reactions during the investigation… and immediately after it.

And, if you’re truly afraid, it’s okay to leave the site. You don’t need to explain anything to anyone.

This video may help with the #1 reason many new ghost hunters become anxious…