A workshop & investigation at Strauss Mansion

Ghost Hunting 101

Paranormal investigator for 5 yearsCo-founded “Haunted Travels” web-series with Jake

Reid in September 2013Have investigated/filmed at: Proprietary House (Perth

Amboy), Spy House (Port Monmouth), Crybaby Bridge/ Cooper Road (Middletown), Dempsey House (Leonardo), Rose Hill Cemetery (Matawan), Strauss Mansion (Atlantic Highlands), Whipporwill Road (Middletown), Dorsett Town Historic Cemetery (Holmdel), a UFO incident, Allaire Village, and numerous private residences

First group allowed to investigate/film INSIDE the Spy House, back in February 2014, and Allaire Village in June

My belief is that paranormal investigating is a window in the past, and a chance to interact with history

Personal Information

1. The skeptic who believes nothing2. The skeptic with an open mind3. The believer who is skeptical4. The believer who believes in everything

Remember, there are NO experts in this field!

The 4 types of people who come to ghost hunts

Almost everyone has an interest in ghosts, whether they are believers or skeptics

People try to find answers of what lies beyond the grave

Anyone can believe in ghosts, religion (or lack thereof) has nothing to do with it

I have seen and heard enough to where I know that ghosts are real

Why an interest in the paranormal?

Though it can happen, there is a 99% chance that a spirit will NEVER appear in full bodied form or speak to you so you can hear them clearly

However, children are susceptible to contact with them

Very rarely is there any physical contact made between a ghost and a human, though I know several people who have been touched

Voice-to-voice communication is extremely rare unless you have the right equipment

It’s not like the movies or TV

1. Camera2. Tape recorder3. Common sense

Don’t be fooled into thinking you need to spend thousands of dollars on equipment to be a good investigator

Key Items Needed for Investigating

Investigators rely on Electronic Voice Phenomenon to capture the voices of ghosts

Tape recorders, cameras, and even cell phones can capture noises that are inaudible to the human ear

That said, most of the time clear words cannot be understood, and it takes expensive sound equipment to sift through the static and background noises

EVP’s

A type of radio that scans frequencies in reverse (up to 10 stations a second, depending on the speed set) to create white noise

Through the white noise, it then becomes possible for investigators to communicate directly with spirits

Allegedly opens up a portal with the white noise, to allow the spirits in

Not to be fooled around with

SB-7 Spirit Box

“Ghost Radar”

“Tower” in the Tower Room

Popular form of evidence that is scoffed at by most Orbs are transparent circles of light that show up in

pictures Only question is, are they dust or actual forms of spirits?

Orbs

Floorboard creakingSmall animals in walls/floorboardsShadows and reflectionsLight sourcesNoise pollutionPower of suggestion (Do not plant the seed!)

And finally, it is my strong recommendation to not eat before an investigation!

Common Mistakes

Paranormal research is a lot of fun, but it can be dangerous

You never know what ghosts are capable of-- some can latch on and follow you home

It is of the upmost importance that if you are ever investigating a haunted house to be respectful of where you are.

“Its not the dead you have to worry about, it’s the living”. For that reason, NEVER investigate alone!

Warnings and Advice

Haunted Strauss Mansion???Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey

Built as the summer home for the wealthy Strauss family in 1893. Father Adolph made his fortune as a businessman in New York City

Built in Queen Anne Style with two towers (only of such houses open to the general public in Monmouth County)

After it left the Strauss family, it was an apartment building and low-income housing, and also the set of a horror movie in 1979

History

Aside from the “usual” aspects of a haunting, such as footsteps and disembodied sounds, Strauss Mansion also features a ghostly piano player

Lots of children’s voices come through on SB-7

A trophy that ended up in another roomMysterious ticking clock in the library

A lively SB-7 Spirit Box session

Hauntings

At the time Strauss Mansion was built, Spiritualism was at the height of its popularity in America, especially with the wealthy

A belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living

Promoted the use of psychics, séances, and Ouija Boards

(We conducted our own 1890’s style Wine Glass Séance here at Strauss a few months ago, and had interesting results)

Spiritualism

Footsteps and what sounded like people talking upstairs while everyone was in the parlor

Spirit Box Responses and NamesOrbs and activity following a visitorK-2 and EMF spikes (as high as 5 and 7) in

library and Lenape Indian room (near wheelchair)

Shadows breaking the laser gridSéance spells out names, makes a design

Overall, a very active night!

The May 10th Open Investigation

A psychic convention (yee-haw, saddle up!) Disembodied scream heard by everyone in

the houseFamily contacted a dead relative through the

wine glass séance, which was incredible (and have since returned)

And this picture:

May 24th Investigation

Too good to be true?

Yes!

Thanks Carly Vena, for ruining my life

Several times communicated with a spirit named Bob

Received a strange confirmation that he really did live (and die?) at Strauss Mansion in the 1970’s

Death? Murder? Intrigue? BOB???

Communication with the spirit of a servantJoanne’s dog plays with someone who wasn’t

thereConstant shadow movement on the stairsHunter welcomed to Haunted Travels when a

ghost says his name through the SB-7

The Board Investigates (Aug. 2014)

Evidence Captured on the Jersey Shore

Ectoplasm or just a largeOrb at Rose Hill Cemetery in Matawan?

A shadowperson behindone of our investigators atChapel Hill Cemetery inMiddletown.

Zoomed and croppedimage of bottom-leftwindow.

Image of “Byron”, aShadowperson at theProprietary House in Perth Amboy. (2011)

Any questions?