The venues opened as a Poor Farm in 1911, and being the old-school type that I am, I wanted to use ghost detectors that reflected that period. That is, no modern electronics or techniques as seen on television. I intend to start release pictures soon.
Before the event, my wife and I set up our spacious hotel room with many (simulated) candles. I set out the many devices we could use as ghost detectors. Then, we went to the meeting place (the ballroom) to met the participants. We lead them up to our room where the mood was set.
“Please be sure your phones and all other electronic devices are completely powered off and put away before you enter the room,” I requested.
This is part of the Edgefield Lodge Ghost Hunting Kit. Leaning against the lid of the box is a photo album of historic Edgefield photos on the right and a scrying mirror on the left (used for the Edgefield Seance). Inside the box is spirit bell (lower left) and a glass for contacting the spirits (lower right), Uncle Ossie's Electroluminarygraph (a spirit lamp), various pendulums, and neatly packed in (upper portion) a Spirit Telegraph set.
Removing some of the ghosting hunting item from the Edgefield Lodge Ghost Hunting Kit, we have laid them out. From right to left: historic photos of Edgefield Lodge from the album (see here for the contents), A Bell and Bone pendulum (from my friend M.R. Darkness), a copper pendulum(from Bill Montana), and a deer bone and 99.9999% pure copper ring (of my own construction). We adhere to the theory that ghosts are attracted to copper, the purer the better. Leftmost is a glass bell that we hope the spirits will recognise and ring.
We set up a Spirit Telegraph
A (replica) No. 6 dry cell
We placed a strip of clean white paper between the electromagnet and receiver on both Spirit Telegraph units after hooking up the No. 6 dry cells and testing them.
We set them aside in hopes a spirit would recognise them and use them to communicate. If the telegraphs actuated when were we not watching, the activity woulf be registered on the white paper strips (not shown).
When the participants entered the candle-lit room, the found the pendulums, telegraphs, and these other spirit detectors spread out on a coffee table. From right to left: a classic mercury thermometer, Pete's Uncle Ossie's Electroluminarygraph (spirit lamp with its box above),
an E-M meter from the 1920s as we are working under the assumption that spirits interfere with E-M waves, a home-made Acoustic Spirit Amplifier of my own design, a pair of L-rod dowsing rods, and the Spirit Bell.
One participant prepared a set of blank school slates working on the assumption that the spirit would recognise the slates and be compelled to leave a message.
We added a very steampunk-looking Ectoplasm Illuminator to the mix, shown at the top of the above image.
Finally, a fine mesh copper screen mounting between cardstock; this device known to have the properties of visualising otherwise invisible ectoplasm.
We passed around the photographs as I told the story. One participant knew many facts and was able to contribute even more than the meager facts I was able to memorise.
To set the mood we passed around three mezzotints and talked about their ability to capture more than a ambrotype or photograph. We took turns reading from (portions of) “Stories of M.R. James – The Mezzotint”.
We talked about early ghost hunting and Confessions of a Ghost Hunter by Elliot O'Donnell and the later book of the same name by Harry Price published in 1936. Both authors could be described as famous paranormal researchers, debunkers of fault mediums and paranormal claims and endorser of real paranormal abilities and phenomena.
A participant read a couple of the opening paragraphs from O'Donnell's book which essentially says the best ghost hunter uses his psychic ability.
Then, I recited this quote: “Hans Holzer believed in life after death and the existence of ghosts, spirits, and "stay behinds". Ghosts were, according to him, imprints left in the environment which could be "picked up" by sensitive people. Spirits were intelligent beings who could interact with the living, while "stay behinds" were those who found themselves earth-bound after death. ”
I summarised that these early ghost hunters relied on mediums and their own paranormal abilities (called “sensitivities”) and not electronics. We all had a few disparaging remarks about the sort of ghost hunting seen on television. I briefly pointed out that the various ghost detecting devices I had lain out were authentic to the early 1900s - hopefully items the spirits lingering at the Edgefield Lodge would recognise.
I breifly lectured on Jewish beliefs of spiritual dimensions, that 'things' including the Meta'im reside there, but sometimes straddle their dimension and out physical world. They can be detected by “awakening one's Spirit”. And, I talked about Jewish (and other) views on spirits of the dead.
We took turns telling at least one personal (non-Edgefield) ghost stories or other stories of “strange occurances” to further set the mood. I told my own Story of the Chevrah Kedesha and the idea the final aspect of one's spirit, the Nefesh, slowly "leaks" out of the body and can make an easier transistion is kept constant company for 24 to 48 hours.
I explained that the ancient technique of spiritually awakening one of the five aspects to our own individual spirits may be used to make us more sensitive of spirits. Before we began I explained that, according to historic Jewish sources, speaking with the spirits required days if not weeks to prepare for, but that I have a short cut. After we had initiated the short cut, I elevated the aspect of the human spirit know as the Nefesh. This was done using an ancient guided meditation called the Hototyiot. The Nefesh elevation tied in with my previous Story of the Chevrah Kedesha.
To verify that the Nefesh elevated, I had the participants directly observe their own spirit.
Next, I handed each participant, eyes still closed, a small closed box with an unknown item, asking them to do remote viewing. Results were mixed, but I explained to them merely exercising their Nefesh Spirit would further heigthen their "sensitivities".
Lastly, before the actual ghost hunt, we reviewed the details of each spirit 'detector'.
For instance, the L-Rod Dowsing Rods, as pictured above. I explained that the compartments could be loaded with anything. For instance, it you were looking for gold, to place some gold in the chamber. Or water, or oil, whatever you are looking for. And here is why I am telling you this...
My wife and I drove out to the Edgefield Lodge a bit early. Early enough to make a short detour. A detour to Multnomah County Pioneer Cemetery. There we found a very recent excavation with a pile of loose dirt (see the far right of the above picture) and we grabbed a handful of dirt, shown three pictures above in the small plastic bag. Working under the assumption that if we fill the chambers of the dowsing rods with graveyard dirt it helps us find a spirit of the dead, two participants scooped a bit of the graveyard dirt into the two chambers.
We each choose which detectors to bring. We decided to take them all! We ended up trading one detector for another was we walked. Eventually, we each ended up with out favourites. Before we headed out, I reminded the walkers to please be quiet in respect for the guests both living and dead.
Finally, we were ready for the walk around the Lodge. "Tonight we may feel sensations of chills or cold. Watch for sudden temperature changes, sensations such as something brushing against your skin. You may even feel an itching or crawling sensation," I reminded the walkers. And off we went.
The walk took us down the stairs from the third floor to the first where we wandered the halls with little reactions from our “sensitivities” and then to the elevator to second floor. Although the elevator has a haunted history, we got nothing. We passed room 231, and listen for spirit noises with the Acoustic Spirit Amplifier. We found an intriguing dead spot where there was no noise. We heard a sad whining sound from behind one door. Pets are not allowed in the hotel, but ghost cats and dogs have been reported. Alas, one of the participants had seen a guest with a service dog earlier that day. Itg was the sounds of a real dog.
We passed room 215 and challenged the spirits to manifest or show a sign. Nothing. Eventually, we stood there in deep concentration and once, one participant felt “something” brush against their arm.
We took to the balcony (looking toward administration building). I bid the participants to stand against wall look for a presence in the infinity in the direction of the administration building. Very dimly a shape appeared to be on the roof of the building. Presently, we realised the shape was moving, very slowly. After that sighting, one participant, looking through the wire mesh, indicated that there as a distinct “fuzziness” surrounding one chair of four circling an inviting table. We lingered there for some time trying to get a sign or a feeling. I picked up Pete's Uncle Ossie's Electroluminarygraph and sat in the chair. We waited. We waited more. We waited longer. Finally, our attention waned, and as I was talking to my wife to the right, looking in her direction, the participant to my left started, saying that “the light lit! Then it went out!” I did not see it, nor did any one else. We sat there for a good 15 minutes longer, passing the Spirit Lamp around, but the spirits were done. From then on that participant could not let go of the Electroluminarygraph. Alas, despite her showing the spirits how to operate it and coaxing them on, we never got another sign from the Electroluminarygraph.
We lingered near the entrance of the second floor north bathroom and found a spot that the copper pendulum started swing wildly. Each of us pulled out a pendulum and asked the spirits which was to go: “left, straight, back, right...”. When we said right two pendulums started swinging again almost in unision. Okay, we go right. Unfortunately, is was not fruitful.
Discouraged, one participant suggested we go outside and investigate the other buildings. On the way we checked out the Winery Wing which used to be the infirmary – surely there would be activity there. Here is where the L-Rod Dowsing rod came in handy. Maybe it felt the death in the area, but it led us to a side hallway. Pulling out the Ectoplasm Illuminator we were rewarded to find a distinct fingerprint; it did not show up on normal light, it was only visible as ectoplasm. Eureka! The Dowsing led us to another side hallway where we found some blobs on the floor glowing from the excitation of the Ectoplasm Illuminator – these blobs were too large to be explained away is mere spills and there seemed to be a logic to them. Continuing down the main hallway we found more glowing marks, but there are not as indistinct as before; there were footsteps they led from one wall, diagonally across the hallway to another wall. They seemed to have walk into the wall!
Finally outside, we looked around the courtyard and found some places worth investigating, but after a long wait, found no evidence of ghosts. We looked in the area of the administration building were we had seen the rooftop spirit. Again, he courtyard and found some places worth investigating, but after a long wait, found no evidence of ghosts. On our way inside to retire for the evening, we checked out the Little Red Shed, but were politely told that that area was closed; it was nearing mid-night. Amusingly, the staff person asked if we were looking for something; we just giggled and made our way inside.
Returning to our room, we dropped off the ghost detectors and checked out the telegraph and slates. We inspected the strip of clean paper between the electromagnet and receiver on both Spirit Telegraph units. It was very difficult to tell if they had been actuated. Maybe, maybe not. The slates were devoid of intelligible marks.
We inspected the school slates; there were no obvious marks, at least nothing that could be construed as a communication.
Edgefield keeps a log at the front desk where patrons of the hotel can write down their supernatural experiences. Anxious, we ran down stair to compare our findings with those experienced by other guests. A quick flip through the ghost log shows that a lot of activity happens in room 215, the entire second floor, the third floor, and around the winery. We made certain to read out loud the logs from the rooms we each were staying in.
Did we come back with definitive evidence of hauntings? No, but we all had fun and experienced some “strange occurrences”.