Posted on 10/23/2004 4:37:00 PM PDT by CurlyBill
HUDSON -- A headless man in a fine blue officer's uniform floats above the Fort Meadow Reservoir day and night, but his ghost is seen only by women.
"The Blue Man," as he is known, is so crisp that the weave of his coat and the gold on his buttons are clearly visible, said ghost hunter and story teller Nancy McMillan.
Another ghost, who some recognize as a former Marlborough mayor, peers up at those on the Fort Meadow Reservoir docks.
"It looks like he's peering up at you from under a sheet of ice," said McMillan, who will lead a free discussion of "Historical Ghosts of New England" on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the First Federated Church Hall at 200 Central St. The event is being hosted by the Hudson Historical Society.
McMillan not only leads ghost tours and writes novels during her spare time, she also heads her own ghost detective agency called "In Spirit." It investigates supposed paranormal activity free of charge.
"I don't see dead people," McMillan said with a laugh.
But her business partner does.
McMillan investigates possible hauntings with a friend and silent partner who is "sensitive," a medium who can tap into spirit energy.
McMillan said she approaches ghost hunting as a science to prove spooky phenomena have natural explanations, like power surges or loose floor boards.
"I'm a skeptic," McMillan said from her home office on Lincoln Street. "I go in more to prove there isn't, rather than there is."
Of the 20 or so hauntings "In Spirit" has investigated since its inception two years ago, only two or three were not explainable phenomena.
One such haunting occurs at Stones Public House in Ashland, well known for its haunted happenings. McMillan said she and her partner recorded evidence of the ghost of a little girl there, capturing her in light images, and recording "Electronic Voice Phenomena" of the girl saying "I am not dead."
McMillan said she would not discuss investigations at private homes and businesses, even if they turned out to be easily explained.
A ghost history could affect the value of a house and how sane neighbors think you are, she said.
"The confidentiality is as strong as if you were doing a counseling session," she said.
McMillan, a psychotherapist and non-denominational minister, said he has always been drawn to help people. Her investigation of the paranormal is simply an extension of that desire and her interest in the afterlife.
She began thinking more about life after death when she was ordained by the Universal Church.
"People would ask me, where do I go after I die?" she said. "Nobody can really answer that question, it's a matter of faith."
McMillan's first ghostly encounter took place in the historic Wayside Inn in Sudbury 17 years ago, when a mysterious presence visited her in the night.
McMillan was writing a romance novel at the time, and chose the picturesque inn as the book's setting.
Then, laying alone under the covers in the middle of the night, "I felt someone standing next to me," she said. "It was just like someone was there, looking down at me."
McMillan frantically turned on the light, she looked under the bed, she looked in the closet. She found nothing.
After climbing back into bed, "I felt a touch on my cheek and the name John came to mind."
To her surprise, another guest had had a similar experience, and the innkeeper said "John" was a former proprietor who liked to check in on the guests from time to time.
McMillan would not necessarily determine the Wayside Inn harbors a ghost on that experience alone.
"Is there evidence? That is the key word," she said.
McMillan's ghost-detecting kit includes infrared video cameras, digital cameras, tape recorders and electromagnetic field detectors to record ghost activity.
Before "In Spirit" sets up the equipment, McMillan's partner interviews the clients about their experiences and the history of the house, and asks them to keep a journal of the activity. Strange occurrences are easily explained when they take place at the same time or during the same weather conditions, McMillan said. Then, "In Spirit" researches the property and its history through town records.
The vast majority of haunting are tricks of light and shadow, hallucinations, peculiar atmospheric conditions, geological or electromagnetic influences and animal noises, according to McMillan. Some are pranks and others could be displaced psychic energy.
Most people have suspected a haunting or know someone who has seen a ghost, McMillan said.
"I think a lot of people have experienced this, they just don't want to let people know."
McMillan, as well as "In Spirit," New Beginnings S.O.U.L. Clinic and the Tree of Life Spiritual Center, can be reached through nancymcmillan.net.
Haunted Ping!
Haunted Ping!
I have only seen one ghost. But the same ghost spoke to me another time. It was my father after he died. If you want to call him a ghost. I really thing it was his soul, his pure bright light white soul that appeared to me right after he died. He did not speak then. A couple of days later he spoke to me but I didn't see him. He said in his earthly voice, "Your daddy's going on now." I said "WHAT???" and again he said "Your daddy's going on now" Then he was gone. I didn't see him or hear him again like that. But he appeared to me in a dream, and he had my little boy with him, a little boy I lost in a miscarriage.
Thank you for the Ping!
We ate at a place in Pasadena Calif that used to be a morgue and funeral chapel. I asked if it was haunted. YES it was. I heard several stories from the owner and employees.
I wonder if the ghost of Bill Clinton will only be seen by women?
I understand that he is not looking good at all these days.
Ping!
Thanks for the ping
Hey Curly, put me on your Haunted Ping list will ya?
I love ghost stories! The only ghost I've ever positively seen was one of my dogs, but I take photos with orbs in them all the time. I also took a photo of my aunt with my grandfather's urn behind her and you could see his face, but I didn't see it when I took the photo, that's for sure!!
Thanks! GG
The dead are so restless because they're tired of being taken for granted by the Democrats.
The existance of hauntings should be easy to prove and/or disprove. All one needs to is spend a single night at ground zero - for if there are disturbed spirits anywhere that is where they will certainly be seen!
Well if they're tired of it, perhaps they'll vote Republican this time!
I've never actually seen a ghost, but had a really weird experience with a "cold spot" in a reputedly haunted house years ago.
I've never really seen a ghost. I did have a very strong
waking impression of my Daddy dressed in an overcoat, hat
and scarf walking in fairly deep snow - just like I
remembered him when I was little. He pointed down to the
snow downward with his thumb as if telling me to enjoy the
everyday things of life and not worry about all the stuff
we tend to worry about, to live in the moment. He sort of
kicked at the snow in a carefree manner. - Shortly after
he died, I awoke from a nap inwardly hearing one of the
songs he used to sing bubbling to the surface; one that I
had completely forgotten. I could almost hear his voice
singing it.
I really don't believe in ghosts, but supposedly in
Williamsburg, one of my Maupin ancestors owned the former
Market Square Tavern which was later turned into a bed
and breakfast. He and his brother were French Huguenots
who were driven out of France because they were Protestants.
They went to England after staying Holland for a short time.
Then they were in the British military and the king gave
the Huguenots in general land for a settlement, with
individual land grants for service. The story is that the
old tavern is haunted. If there is some mysterious
negative energy around there, it would be my theory (as a
Maupin descendant) that Daniel didn't like it being turned
into a b&b, or maybe exercised more control over who stayed
there in his day than is possible now.
I never have seen one and don't want to (LOL). I have often had the feeling of being watched when alone.
Please, could you put me on it? Fantastic post!
I grew up in a haunted house.
You are very fortunate. What a blessing for you.
Wow, that's very moving. Thanks for sharing.
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