Ghosts of Salem
June 3rd, 2009 by John Wolfe
While paranormal voices and ghostly sounds are my favorite aspects pertaining to the supernatural, I do enjoy looking through the net’s visual evidence now and again. Specifically, I’ve always found the ghostly “mist” phenomenon to be one of the more fascinating among paranormal photography. Both images are courtesy of Haunted America Tours. The first, was taken by Faye Beasly at the Salem Graveyard.
The second image was captured by licensed paranormal researcher, Mollie Stewart at Gallows Hill in Salem. The Gallows Hill location played prominently in the tragic witch trials of 1692. Though I can’t vouch for the legitimacy of these photos, I’m prone to accept their authenticity (more now than ever before) due to several personal experiences in the last six weeks.
In fact, during our most recent EVP session, my mom and I came across a lone woman wandering amidst the graves of a desolate, fairly isolated cemetery at nine in the morning. Completely alone and with no car, she completely refused to acknowledge our presence despite our efforts. Yet, she walked closer and closer to our location (twenty feet away) without fearing us.
We watched her maneuvers for a short while but eventually turned our backs. Upon turning around (roughly thirty seconds later) to once again locate her position, she had completely vanished. I searched the entire location, including the exterior fields and roadway for thirty minutes, but to no avail. I’ll share more about this encounter in the next EVP post.
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June 4th, 2009 at 3:17 am
Pictures of mist is always interesting. It can kind of play tricks on your mind. I mean in that second photo, you can totally see a ghouly face.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
John, you have just posted an entry that is near and dear to my heart for reasons I will not get into through a public matter. However, I will say that I “studied” heavily into the horrid “witch” trails for over 2 years as the alleged “trails” were absolutely BOGUS by, yet again, “govt” officials during that time era who based their judgement off of what the hysterical people of the villiage told them. Did you know that over 150 people were arrested and imprisoned? If they refused to “claim” that they were a witch, they experiences tremendous torture and one man by the name of Giles Corey, who refused to enter a plea was crushed to death under heavy stones in an attempt to force him to do so. At least five more of the accused died in prison.
Essentially what it came down to was this, in my opinion, in 1692 if you did NOT fit in with the rest of the villiage OR you stood out as different in some way, the finger was pointed at you, you were taken to “court”, asked to admit to the accusations of the insane and if you did not comply, you were hung or in Giles case crushed by a bolder. But, forgive my rant dear friend, like I said, near and dear to my heart for reasons that “YOU” and only you know.
On the off note, great photos. Talk about a fantastic place to do some EVP recordings, then again perhaps not because their lives were ended on purpose for absolutely no reason at all. What I have also found highly interesting are my own personal recordings of EVP’s. Wow, as you know, the difference from the same location and then the cemetery, btw–I sent you the link to your SOS email caddy, has just been incredible and they are absolutely 100X as curious about us as we are of them. My own encounters on Saturday proved that to be very true. I was questioned over and over again, “what is that…..what are you doing….can I see that?” and so on. I’m definately going back again this Saturday because the turn out at that location was amazing. Plus, I think they like the company, they enjoy our curiosity. Oddly enough, the photos and videos I took of the location didn’t show a single spirit, nor did an orb appear, unlike at “my spot” last Friday night. That place was hoping……and for the off note again, the “baby monitor” is now whispering :-0 Whoa!!! One more REAL week to go and then no longer can I conduct mantle recordings. LoL, it’s like they know
Sorry for such a long posting my friend but this is a great entry and I’m really glad you touched on this for the first time on your website. Also thank you deeeeeeeeeply for all of your “medicine” last night. I look forward to your video, like BIG TIME dude, I can’t wait!
All My Best, Goldie
PS–sorry for typo’s, I’m in a bit of a rush this am.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:41 am
LoL…..oh, I don’t think so……tempting but I don’t know….that “cemetery” we’ve been talking about lately…….John, they offer LANTERN evening tours. Ooooooooo, I don’t know about that one
Sure would be interesting though, oddly tempting, and yet not really, LoL. Could you just imagine the recordings that night???? Yeah, me jumping at every little sound or touch I experienced!
June 5th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Andrea,
You’re absolutely right. According to the photographers, the mist was completely paranormal in origin as there was no fog, smoke or natural conditions present to create the phenomenon. However, since it’s quite easy to find faces in clouds, fog, etc, it’s even easier to see faces in something which is said to be supernatural. Now, whether or not the mist is an actual manifestation attempt of a spirit or if it’s some phenomena due to a spirit’s presence (yet doesn’t signify an attempt to appear) is impossible to say. If it’s the former, then the faces may be intentional, if it’s the latter then it could just be our mind doing what comes natural even during a paranormal experience. Great to hear from you as always.
Goldie,
Thanks for sharing some important information about the Salem trials. I was fortunate enough to visit the Salem Graveyard as a kid, but have forgotten much of the history. According to the Haunted America Tours site, the man you spoke of was actually murdered in the cemetery itself and I do mean murdered. I agree with your take on the trials. It’s sad to think of the committed atrocities that humankind has convinced itself of being “fair and just” punishment over the centuries. And, we’re still doing it to this day.
I think a lantern tour would be amazing! If it’s a guided tour then there may be far too much contamination from many people talking, but it would still be quite an experience.
June 6th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Agreed. The lantern tours ARE guided and I would imagine through more of the spooky places, of course, that entire area would be spooky at night. I was 50% tempted to think about actually signing up for it but, for the reasons why I would want to go at night, your spot on in that there would be far too much contamination for the EVP’s in both webcam and recorder. Plus, think of the tremendous mix of energy there would be of the humans walking with me! Arg! I know what my energy intentions are, however, I cannot say the same for theirs (humans on tours) not to mention if some of them decided to get high or drunk before the tour from their car or something. I think it would be a rather dangerous mix.
However, what a GREAT way to go through the cemetery at night, especially THERE, wow……by lantern, nice gentle lighting. My God John, the ORB shots would be incredible. 25,000 people buried is ALOT of people, of course, not saying that they all have lingered around but as you saw from the website plot map, there is a huge mix of a variety of humans buried there. Mom wants to have a picnic there tomorrow, which is fine with me
I know, we’re such weirdos…..or are we? 