Ghost Soldiers of Old Fort Niagara

 Photo © 2014 Marica Sutic

With more than 300 years of history, Old Fort Niagara is believed by many to be haunted with the ghosts of soldiers from its past.  With a history soaked in violence, death and misery, it is no wonder there are so many claims of paranormal activity at this location.  Once occupied by three nations - France, Great Britain and the United States, today Fort Niagara sits along the Niagara River and Lake Ontario perfectly preserved as it appeared in the 1700's.  

Recently, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to visit Old Fort Niagara, and attend the Para-History Festival taking place on site. A number of paranormal investigators were in attendance, along side members of the TAPS family and former Haunted Collector, Brian Cano. After saying hello to a few friends, I excitedly headed out to explore the grounds and take a step back in time.

A short distance from the building where the festival was being held, is a small  fenced in cemetery with numerous headstones, many of which are unreadable. Two monuments to honor the fallen soldiers from the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 are also in the cemetery. Beyond the cemetery, near the gated entrance to the fort, stands a historic, inactive lighthouse that served a great importance during its operational years.

Photo © 2014 Marica Sutic

Filled with excitement, like a kid in a candy store, I made my way over to the fort. My eyes were immediately drawn to the magnificent sight of the French Castle. It is within these impressive stone walls, where sightings and stories of paranormal activity are a plenty. As I stepped inside my eyes were drawn to a stone well. A longtime local legend tells a story of a decapitated French soldiers' body being thrown down the well and his head tossed in the nearby lake. According to this legend, a bitter feud erupted between two French soldiers over their love for the same woman, ending in the horrific murder.  It is said that the spectre of this headless soldier has been seen wandering the parade grounds and within the buildings on moonlit nights. * I have found no historical records to validate this story.*

 Photo © 2014 Marica Sutic

I continued my exploration of the building and grounds, taking numerous photographs; allowing my senses to guide me. I didn't capture any anomalies on film,  and I felt very comfortable throughout my exploration of the fort. At times I thought I heard a few odd sounds, but the winds were fierce coming off the nearby lake and I dismissed the sounds as mother nature being the cause. When I returned to the location of the event, I spoke to a number of paranormal teams who have investigated the site before. They told me that they captured a number of clear EVPs in the French Castle. Also, the sound of heavy boots coming from the upstairs level was heard and numerous shadow figures have been seen. Later that evening, a public investigation was being held at the fort. I did not participate and am waiting to hear from those that did as to what, if any, evidence was captured. I look forward to returning to this beautiful historic location in the nearby future.

Haunted Gettysburg Orphanage

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania has been a mecca to Civil War history buffs and

Photo credit: Gettysburg Tour Center

paranormal investigators for years. Thousands of people descend upon the town each year to watch the reenactment of America's deadliest battle, and to gain knowledge about those who lived and died there during that time. There are few places in Gettysburg one can venture to that are free of ghostly encounters.

A place well-known for its paranormal activity is the Soldier’s National Museum. In the 1860's and 70's it housed the orphans whose fathers fought and died for the Union. Rosa Carmichael was a teacher and disciplinarian at the orphanage. She was a wicked women who despised the innocent children. Rosa would abuse and torture the orphans by shackling them to walls and by locking them in a dungeon-like room she created in the basement. In that dark, dank room she would tie their hands together and force them to stand upright in vats of water until they nearly drowned. In 1876 she was convicted, fined and run out of town for her cruelties, and the orphanage was permanently closed.

Today, the museum is one of the most haunted locations in Gettysburg. Many believe it is Rosa whose ghost lingers in the building. A number of paranormal groups, including the television shows Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters have done investigations here. The tragic events that occurred here are certain to have imprinted the fabric of time; creating an atmosphere most suitable for hauntings.

Haunted Buffalo: Iron Island Museum

Buffalo's Iron Island Museum is said to be the place where sceptics become believers.  A host of paranormal activity has been documented at this location in recent years. Cold spots, the sounds of footsteps and voices, objects moving and strange shadows are some of the witnessed oddities happening within its walls.  

The building was built in the late 1800's and was an Episcopal church for years before becoming a funeral parlour in 1958 up until 2000;  when, The Iron Island Preservation Society of Lovejoy then acquired it. Shortly after taking ownership they made a number of startling discoveries. Most disturbing was the discovery of over 20 boxes of cremated human remains in a storage closet. Relics and antiques from the World War era were also found.

In recent past, the crews from Ghost Hunters and Ghost Lab have investigated the building; both capturing strong evidence to support reports of the paranormal activity. Teams of paranormal investigators continue to come to the museum with hopes of documenting their own veritable evidence.

An upcoming event, which I am most excited for, will be next weekend on October 18 & 19. Brian J. Cano (Haunted Collector) and Chris Mancuso (SCARED!) are going to be in town and invite the public to join them on a paranormal investigation.

There are a number of tickets remaining for both nights. Be sure to get in on this awesome event! All proceeds go to the museum.

For tickets, please go to http://www.ironislandmuseum.com/

Ghost Hunting 101

Recently I came across a ghost hunting site with equipment reviews and very useful information for the field. Check out The Ghost Hunting Parablog for tips, reviews, videos from the field and more.

American Ghost Hunter

American Ghost Hunter is a documentary film produced by Ryan Buell and Chad Calek. Director Chad Calek takes viewers on a personal journey into his life as a paranormal investigator and the demons that have haunted him and those closest to him for years.



I am very excited about this film. I think that this documentary will go where no other has gone before. There is no release date for this film. When more information becomes available I will post it here.

Haunted Fort Henry

Air Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 @ 9 PM on Syfy

Fort Henry – Kingston, Ontario

TAPS heads north to explore the most haunted place in Canada. Fort Henry served as a prison and execution site for hundreds of dangerous convicts. Over the years, employees and visitors have witnessed a number of strange, frightening events.

Built in 1812, Fort Henry served as a prisoner-of-war camp for captured Nazis during World War II. Today, the fort is a National Heritage Site and a memorial to Canada’s military history. Historical eyewitness accounts suggest that paranormal entities have long been haunting the fort.

Strange apparitions, mysterious sounds of shattering glass and other ghostly activities have been recorded in this great maze of a military complex. Could the restless spirits of dead prisoners be stirring trouble? TAPS investigates.

Source: Network TV Press Release

Haunted Hollywood

This article discusses a few well known Hollywood haunts. It may be of interest for paranormal investigators near the area.

Ghost Bars

Ghost Hunting 101

When it comes to ghost hunting, there are a number of things that should be taken into consideration for a proper investigation. Here are a few tips that should help get you started.

First, one must gather all necessary information from the client about the location and research the history of the site prior to coming in with the equipment. Second, the equipment you bring with you is going to be the most important aspect of the investigation. Documentation is key- bring audio recorders, cameras with plenty of backup batteries, EMF meters and flashlights (if at night). Other helpful items included: 2 way radios, probe thermometers, motion detectors and thermal imaging cameras. Lastly, it is important to be professional when on location and be respectful of your surroundings. Also, keep an open mind and rule out all "normal" possibilities before labeling the place to be haunted.