Hollow Hill

Book Review: Ghost Hunting in Tilton, NH

This isn’t my book, but it includes a few of my Tilton stories. Other regional ghost hunters, including Lesley Marden and journalist Jim Fitzgerald, also contributed their stories to Rue’s book.

Ghost Hunting in Tilton, NH, by Rue Taylor Cote.

From the Amazon description:

Is Tilton the most haunted town in New Hampshire?

Tilton’s ghosts became famous in 2010 when the Ghost Hunters TV series featured Tilton’s haunted 1875 Inn.

After that, many ghost hunters came to Tilton and New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, looking for haunted places.

They found them… Lots of them.

Tilton may seem like a typical New Hampshire town.

After you learn about its ghosts, I think you’ll agree: Tilton is one of the Granite State’s strangest, most haunted towns.

I’m fascinated by the connections between the Tilton family and the Webster family.

Also, the Tilton area – very rural when those families moved there – seemed an odd place for two eccentric, powerful families to settle and, today, to be among the area’s ghosts.

I read this book in one sitting. (Yes, it’s short, but I was intrigued by stories that were new to me.)

For example, the Tilton link to the popular book & TV series, A Handmaid’s Tale, was a complete surprise.

Also, I’ll bet there’s more to Peter Tilton’s story. If two of Oliver Cromwell’s supporters are buried near Tilton’s Connecticut house, in unmarked graves… well, I’d be very interested in investigating there, as well.

Something about Tilton seems… off. Weird. It’s like it’s a little too cute. Too “quaint New England.”

It’s almost picture-perfect… and then the Tilton Inn is so haunted, it’s been featured on Ghost Hunters and other TV shows.

Something doesn’t add up. Maybe the rumored stories – underground tunnels, women locked in attics, and eerie rituals – are true. And maybe their energy lingers today.

Like author Rue Cote, I’m curious about Northfield, too. I’d researched near the abandoned town center, without realizing anything important had been there.

I never knew about the hidden cemetery, either. I’m always interested in haunted sites that have been concealed for, oh, at least 100 years.

Tilton is a sleepy little New Hampshire town off I-93, in the Lakes Region. If you’re going to be in that area, read this book to plan your own unique ghost hunting adventures.

(Also, if you have any Tilton-related ghost stories to share, leave them in comments. I’m very interested in that part of New Hampshire.)

“Living for the Dead” – Season One Review

If you’ve wondered whether “Living for the Dead” is worth watching, I understand. A lot of ghost-related TV shows aren’t impressive. In fact, they’re almost parodies of what genuine researchers do. (Can you hear my exasperation as I write that? Probably.)

However, “Living for the Dead” is different… on many levels.

In this 18-minute, unscripted review, I talk about the show and briefly describe what I liked (and didn’t) in each of the eight episodes.

(One episode was truly “meh” for me, but that’s not the fault of the cast. And, as an occasional location scout, I’ve seen this recurring problem far too often. I mention that in the video… while trying not to tell you too much, and spoil that episode altogether.)

Here’s my review, as a YouTube video. (I apologize for the audio quality. With seasonal allergies, my voice isn’t as reliable or consistent as I’d like, but I wanted to share this review as quickly as possible.)

And, if you’ve watched the series, I hope you’ll share your opinions in comments, below.

Are Ghosts Dead? Louis L’Amour’s Questions

This quote from Louis L’Amour resonated with me on many levels. Really… are ghosts dead, or is something else going on?

If you believe quantum theories about parallel realities, it’s easy to see a connection.

And, as both a ghost hunter and an admitted geek, I kind of love speculation about this.

I’ve talked about this before.

So have other ghost hunters, though most aren’t as outspoken as I am. (The late Rosemary Guiley was quietly convinced of parallel realities. She had some surprising evidence, too.)

Many times, it’s seemed to me that what we detect as a ghost is actually alive and well… but in a parallel reality.

Perhaps it’s a world that – in our reality – is in our past.

It’s a complex tangle to consider, because we’d have to dismiss our usual views of time and how it flows.

Despite that, many of us have had ghostly encounters that can’t be explained any other way.

Sometimes, it’s not just the entity that we sense at the haunted site, but an entire realm.

I’m not sure that explains the recurring procession of Anne Boleyn (headless or not) in the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula.

Is that ghostly, or just a repeating residual energy haunting?

Many other examples seem to suggest we’re not witnessing anything ghostly.

Instead, it seems like something that’s happening at that very moment.

And – for reasons unknown – its resonance is affecting us in a different timeline.

Is this a radical idea?

Yes. But others have considered it, too. Including author Louis L’Amour.

You don’t have to accept it.

Just keep it in mind, in case – in the future – it’s relevant.

Here’s a short, related video:

Demons or Ghosts? What People Believe

In a 2021 poll of Americans, slightly more people believe in demons (43%) than in ghosts (41%).

However, when we include those who answered “not sure” (as opposed to “don’t believe”), the numbers are equal… 65%, whether the question is about demons or ghosts.

That’s a lot.

In other words, the majority of Americans are willing to believe that supernatural beings exist, even if they’re not 100% certain… yet.

Of course, those were American studies.

People in other countries may have different views.

For example, an informal study of British people suggested that 50% of Brits believe in ghosts, and – interestingly – only 23% are afraid of them.

A more reliable – but older – British study [PDF] showed that 34% of Brits believe in ghosts… and 39% believe a house can be haunted. (Umm… how can a house be “haunted” if there are no ghosts? <– Rhetorical question.)

I tried to find statistics for France, but that led to generalizations that “the French don’t believe in ghosts, and pride themselves on their rationalism,” while – at the same time – finding plenty of reported ghosts in that country.

However, statistics suggest that 46% of Canadians believe in ghosts or supernatural beings.

What would make you believe in ghosts?

If you’re reading this article, you probably believe – as I do – that something odd is going on at haunted sites.

And, at many of those places, there’s no reasonable explanation for the ghost-like phenomena. We have to consider ghosts as a legitimate answer.

Some people don’t take a “good scare” seriously. They’re more comfortable laughing it off, if they can.

However, an encounter with a deceased relative can lead them to believe in ghosts… but not always.

In addition, some refer to the latter as a “spiritual” experience, while rejecting the idea of ghosts and hauntings.

Is that a matter of semantics, or religion, or something else?

Is science the answer?

In my decades of paranormal research, persistent ghost hunting – even by the most skeptical – seems to lead to a belief in ghosts.

By contrast, nearly every snarky non-believer I’ve met has been on just one actual ghost investigation, or a few light-hearted ghost tours.

In the light of day, it’s easy for them to dismiss anything baffling or alarming they’d encountered.

While I maintain that the best ghost hunting experiences are those that have a personal impact, it’s also clear that ghost hunting equipment is important, for baselining.

Why should ghost hunters “baseline” haunted sites?

When we “baseline” a haunted site, we’re using scientific equipment – sometimes sold as “ghost hunting equipment” – to look for anything odd, abnormal, or weird that’s already at the location.

So, before an investigation, you’ll need EMF devices, audio recorders, carbon monoxide detectors, carpenter’s levels, measuring devices, and so on.

You’ll also need any past evidence of ghostly activity at the site. That could be stories, weird videos, strange photos, odd recordings, and so on.

Even before you actually look for ghosts, you need to analyze that evidence and see which of them can be explained.

For example, if someone is convinced that the stairs in their home are haunted, you’ll look for a physical cause.

Here’s how…

Do all that BEFORE you start a formal ghost investigation.

That will save you time and embarrassment. (On more than one ghost hunting show, I’ve seen professional ghost hunters get fooled by people – and TV producers – who deliberately rigged their home to seem “haunted.”)

After ruling out normal (if odd) aspects of a haunted site, real ghost hunters do this…

We keep looking for non-ghostly reasons a site seems haunted.

Yes, you’ll do more of the same, just in more depth.

Seek more results.
Look for patterns that may result in normal (but unusual) explanations.
Identify those that defy explanation.
Follow-up with more research efforts at the same locations or similar ones.

Then, with enough evidence that we can’t explain, we’re led to the next level of research, and so on.

It’s like peeling an onion, and the outer layers – normal (if odd) explanations – must be considered.

Ghostly “oddities” DO exist.

Most people agree that ghost-like “oddities” exist outside mainstream science.

Whether some of them are actual ghosts… that’s another matter.

For now, an open-minded scientific approach can be helpful. (Of course, remain sensitive to the possibility that what we’re encountering may be sentient beings, and could be ghosts.)

Keep investigating. Keep gathering – and analyzing – evidence.

That’s the best way to find answers, whether or not you’re among the apparent majority who already believe.

Ghosts of Austin, Texas – Photos and Where to Find More

If you’re ghost hunting in or near Austin, mine was the first regional book to describe – with specific details and addresses – ghosts that haunt Austin, Columbus, and nearby communities.

The Ghosts of Austin, Texas, by Fiona Broome.

Discover over 100 haunted locations in and near Austin, Texas. Explore the eerie links between downtown Austin’s ghosts, including the city’s connection with Jack the Ripper, and the creek that keeps on haunting.

Available at Amazon.com and other fine booksellers.

Photos from haunted Austin, Texas and vicinity

Here’s the photo from the book cover, in more detail:

This picture was taken in Columbus, Texas, not far from Austin. I was there around dawn, and the sun had barely cleared the horizon behind me.

This is not a flash photo, and it was a normal Texas morning in Columbus City Cemetery.
There was no dust, and that’s not an insect, either.
As you can see from the photo (or if you visited the cemetery), there are no reflective surfaces to cause a lens flare.

I lightened the picture slightly (but did not alter the contrast or anything else) so you can see the orb and cemetery features more clearly.

That’s an extraordinary photograph, and it’s one of many from that cemetery.

This next photo was taken the same morning, pointing in the opposite direction. This isn’t a flash photo, either, but it has no orbs.

Nevertheless, I think you can see why I like researching at Columbus, Texas. It’s downright eerie.

Of course, Columbus is one of many locations in my book, The Ghosts of Austin. The main focus is on Austin, and it offers a wealth of haunted sites.

My favorite haunted cemetery in Austin

Oakwood Cemetery is among my favorite public haunts in Texas. It’s a large cemetery near downtown Austin. If you’re ghost hunting in Austin, plan to spend several hours there.

It’s surrounded by a fence you can see through. So, even after dark, you may get some great ghost photos and other evidence. (However, the neighborhood is mostly residential. Please respect their privacy.)

At any cemetery — including Oakwood — I look for grave markers with messages like this one:

“And never suffer me to be separated from thee” is a lovely sentiment. It’s also the kind of inscription that can indicate tragedy or at least deep unhappiness. Both are red flags that can suggest a haunting.

The marker, above, is one of many at Oakwood featuring emotional inscriptions.

Here’s another grave to look for. It’s a very damaged crypt. Any time you see a grave like this, check it for EMF, cold spots, EVP, and photographic anomalies.

In the following photo, you’ll see a similar, damaged grave in that same cemetery. Where’s the body or the coffin? (I hope it was moved to a safe location, or reburied in the ground beneath the open crypt.)

No matter where the body is, when you see an open grave like this, it’s a place to investigate with care.

Even more ghosts of Austin at Oakwood Cemetery?

The next photo features an odd family plot, also at Oakwood Cemetery. I understand the convenience of a low-maintenance grave site. However, this cement-covered plot is so unusual, I look at and wonder, “Are they trying to be sure everyone stays in their coffins?”

In general, always look for unusual graves.

For example, these two shell-covered graves stand out at Oakwood Cemetery.

In the next photo: Many of the cemetery’s headstones are worth researching. Here’s one to look into, if you’re planning a trip to Oakwood.

When I was there, I noticed odd EMF spikes around this grave. That doesn’t mean it was haunted, but it’s unusual enough to investigate.

I’m pretty sure it says, “M. Julia, wife of M. R. Reagan, & daughter of M. F. Bailey. Died July 23, 1861. Aged 26 years.”

(Double-check the actual stone to be certain. The photo isn’t clear and I may be misreading it, especially her parent’s surname.)

So, you’d be looking for records of a woman born around 1835, who married Mr. Reagan around 1855 or so, and died in 1861.

I’d start with death records for that date, and also check the 1860 census. It looks like her husband died September 30, 1865, so that’s another lead you can pursue.

With the EMF spikes I saw around that exact grave, I’ll bet there’s a tragic story, and perhaps a ghost.

Official book description

The Ghosts of Austin, Texas was written by Fiona Broome, the founder of HollowHill.com, one of the Internet’s earliest, largest, and most respected ghost-related websites.

This book shares locations and stories of over 100 ghosts and haunted places in Austin, as well as those within a few hours’ drive of Austin. Photos in the book include haunted sites in Austin, Columbus, and San Antonio, Texas.

Ms. Broome was one of the first to report hauntings related to Jack the Ripper’s early years in Texas. (Since Fiona’s book was published in 2007, many “ghost tours” have included those sites in their routes.)

Fiona also identifies paranormal patterns that link many of Austin’s most famous haunted places. With this information, you may find even more haunted sites in and near Austin. Fiona gives you the tools to make your own discoveries.

Originally from New England, Fiona spent four fascinating years in the great state of Texas, researching ghosts and haunted places from Austin to Galveston.

Fiona specializes in unreported and under-reported haunted places that are open to the public. She approaches ghost hunting from an historical viewpoint, verifying and documenting ghosts’ actual histories whenever possible.

This book doesn’t repeat the same old “ghost stories.” It’s a fascinating study of over 130 ghosts and haunted places in and near Austin, Texas.

Many of them were unknown, prior to Ms. Broome’s 2002 – 2007 research.

The sites include:

The Driskill Hotel
Shoal Creek… and its curse
The Texas Governor’s Mansion
Austin’s former “red light” district
And over a hundred more, eerie, haunted locations in Austin, San Antonio, and nearby cities and towns.

This book includes true tales of ghostly encounters, street addresses of the haunted sites, helpful tips for ghost hunters, and eerie insights from “the other side.”

“…Spell-binding stories backed up with historical data and loads of photographs… recommended reading.” — Margaret Byl, Paranormal Investigator and writer

BUY THE BOOK

The Ghosts of Austin, Texas: Who the Ghosts Are and Where to Find Them, by Fiona Broome

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing
Published: 15 June 2007
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0764326805
ISBN-13: 978-0764326806
Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pound
Available from Amazon.com

Ghost Hunting, Archaeology, and tDAR

Ghost hunting and archaeology Experienced ghost hunters routinely check the history of the areas where they’re investigating.

That’s especially true when a new house seems to be haunted.

Then, we want to know what was there before the house was built.

(For example, the Amityville Horror house isn’t a very old house. Its ghostly reports began in the 20th century.)

Explaining recent haunts in America

In the Americas, we look for really early history, usually Native, early Colonial, battleground, or pioneer records.

If the American haunted site is on or near a hill, its history is likely to include a Native community or a burial ground.

Or, we may find that an early American fort or outpost was there. Its history may include incidents of broad-scale violence at or near the site.

Digging for ancient history in the UK and Ireland

In the UK and Ireland, the history of haunted location may be surprising, as well.

For example…

The Falstaff’s Experience at Tudor World – one of England’s most haunted sites, and the strangest I’ve investigated in the UK – is in a building with a colorful history involving blood, death, and more than one tragedy that spread across England.

However, the land beneath it (and nearby) has an even older history, with additional reasons why Falstaff’s is home to myriad phenomena.

(If you think Stratford-upon-Avon’s ghosts are only related to Shakespeare… you haven’t visited the Falstaff’s Experience after dark.)

For serious ghost hunters, urban legends aren’t enough

Until recently, many of us struggled to find documentation suggesting a haunted history.

Professional researchers like me want solid, factual information.

That’s where archaeology enters the ghost hunting picture.

John Sabol, a professional archaeologist, and Mary Becker impressed me with their startling results in ghost excavation research.

However, many of us don’t have the advantages of a degree in archaeology, as John has.

We need access to archaeological information… at least enough to give us a guess as to what might have been at the location, and what we can rule out.

The tDAR

So, the Digital Archaeological Record (tDAR) can be among ghost hunters’ most useful resources.

Warning: If academic research puts you to sleep, that website may disappoint you. For the rest of us – an admittedly small group – it’ll make your pulse race.

At tDAR…

You can search for the history of your target location and its surroundings.
At a glance, you can see what time periods have been explored with archaeological digs, what they were looking for and what they found.
Maps can show you whether the reference is related to your location or not.
And, you can focus your database search with exact GPS coordinates.

Though the actual records may not be at the tDAR site, you’ll know exactly what to look for at public and university libraries. In many cases, those libraries have online catalogues, with notations about whether that book or report is in the library, or if it’s been checked out.

Thus is a huge step forward for serious ghost investigators.

Over 30 years ago, when I began my paranormal investigations, I was excited when I noted an odd noise or something weird in a photo.

Today, before I even visit a site, I usually spend a full day with databases and maps. And, with additional time and resources, I’ll study old newspapers, maps, and dusty history books.

Stories and weird, spectral encounters aren’t enough for me.

tDAR is the kind of tool you can use to delve deeply into paranormal research.

As ghost hunters, we need historical resources that take our reports beyond “well, it might be….” to “here’s solid evidence to explain the history of what’s going on here.”

Is the tDAR right for you?

The majority of ghost hunters investigate to confirm activity at a site.

Many homeowners only need to hear, “No, you’re not imagining things. Strange things really are going on, here.”

They’re happy to hear that, and the research team has enough other cases to deal with. We don’t always have the time (or interest) to dig deeply into why the house is haunted.

So, if the homeowner says something about someone dying there, a century ago, or a cemetery that used to be across the street… that may be good enough. You don’t need to conduct more research at or about that site.

On the other hand, if you want far more from ghost hunting and paranormal research, tDAR may be the academic and historical tool you need.