Battlefield Bed & Breakfast - Gettysburg, PA

Battlefield Bed & Breakfast
2264 Emmitsburg Road
Gettysburg, PA 17325

My first impression as we drove up the driveway was - Are you kidding me? All of THIS is just minutes from downtown? 

Located basically in the heart of Gettysburg is the Battlefield Bed and Breakfast, owned and operated by Florence Tarbox. Ms. Tarbox and her wonderful staff turned a great stay in to a memorable one. The b&b got it's name because it is, quite literally, located on 30 acres of the actual battlefield.  We arrived a day early which gave me time to go to some local sights such as the Jennie Wade House and the Gettysburg National Military Park. After settling in to the Reilly's North Carolina Artillery Suite I was ready  to officially start the weekends activities and waited in anticipation for the next day.


Once again, I had the privilege of attending another Truth Traveler event... Halloween weekend which included a meet & greet, presentations, speakers and an investigation of several locations in and around the property. 

A wine and cheese meet and greet was a fantastic way to get to know the other participants and get a feel of our surroundings. After some free time, we gathered for a wonderful sit-down costume dinner Normally, a formal dinner is not offered but is done on special occasions. -- I do want to make special mention about Bill, the manager, who not only made sure my meals were vegetarian but set a place setting at both the main dining room and the Swan Cottage for Ognassanti. (In my house we always set an extra place for our non-fleshies to visit and feast) The picture to the right is the table set for our feast. The salad dressing was "bread-dipping worthy". Can you guess which setting is mine? Yes, you are probably right. 

After dinner there were presentations, a live broadcast of Everyday Empaths and speakers. I was honored to be one of the guests on Everyday Empaths as well as one of the guest speakers. I covered a topic very near and dear to me "the benefits of keeping an open mind". Other topics included fairies and the history of Halloween. I was a team lead and my group was entirely made-up of first timers. It was harder for me because I could see, hear and feel things that not only could I not share with the others, but wouldn't know how to explain "it" to them. I am sure to some of them, I looked a tad strange having a conversation with a barn post. They were a great group. Some skeptics, some with minds wide-open. We covered 4 locations, the Civil War Room, the basement, the dining room and the barn.


The basement was a challenge due to the fact that there was recently some flooding and there was a sub-pump going off in timed intervals. Once I figured out the frequency, we were able to conduct an evp session. Some people said they felt as if they were being touched or that someone was standing nearby. I had an interesting game of hide & seek with a small non-fleshie who liked hiding in the back of the basement in an area I could not access. At one point in the basement, I (and a few others) smelled bread baking. When we returned upstairs to find out if the chef was baking bread, we found out that not only is he not baking bread, but the kitchen was completely empty as the staff left at least an hour before.

The barn was cold. A lot of the photos had a phantom mist that I had to explain was their breath. While we were downstairs we heard boots heading up the stairs. We were in short pursuit. Upstairs we heard shuffling of hard-soles. Everyone present was in rubber-sole sneakers. I had a conversation with a non-fleshy who was a worker on the farm. When I told him to come out of the corner and talk to us, he inhaled, spat and told me "I am workin' ma'am". He later went on to say that one of the men in my group looked like a duck. This man was wearing a baseball cap which he found amusing and confusing - informing me that "He looks like a duck, look at that bill on his face. That's not a proper hat." 

The Civil War Room is located off the main sitting room. It is part of the original building. We conducted an evp session in which we got knocks as answers. My attention was being drawn to my right, which is where the entry door, a set of windows and stairs to the second floor were located. Foot traffic of the non-fleshy kind. One member of the group started to feel ill. She was sitting in what looked like a 'chamber chair' by the window. I had her move out of that chair and she did feel a bit better but later in the investigation she excused herself from the group because of a headache.


The dining room was not originally a rotation but was added on because light movement was picked up on the monitors. Not being part of the original investigation, noise contamination was a problem because some people were present in the building but not part of the investigation. We had to rely on having any activity recorded by the video camera.

After a late night investigating, I was looking forward to my bed. It was so comfortable that I am pretty sure I didn't move, at all, all night. I wasn't looking forward to the morning because it meant a mad dash to the airport, heading home. The only thing that had the power to make me rise and shine, with a smile, was the wonderful aroma coming from the kitchen.  I quickly got dressed and stumbled out to the little sitting area where I was bid a good morning by.... a Civil War soldier? I rubbed my eyes and thought about running back to the room for my camera because it HAD to be the most solid apparition I had ever encountered. A cup of coffee and a giggle later, I sat down and listened to the historical re-creationist. (Not sure that is a word, but it is now.) After his educational tale, we headed outside where I shot a musket. It was HEAVY! How often would I get a chance to actually do that? I wish I had a picture of it because it's once in a lifetime.

I had told Bill, the manager, that my limo (yes, I said limo) would be there to collect me at 9 and if they could just make me a light breakfast I would appreciate it. I was thinking toast and maybe a scrambled egg... not at the Battlefield Bed & Breakfast!!! I couldn't end this post without showing you what was waiting for me at my table-setting. This WAS the "light" meal! It's a miracle the airplane was able to take off after I inhaled a breakfast like that... I really enjoyed myself and looking forward to returning... soon, I hope.

Happy Birthday Mr. Shanley!

October 28th brought me back to Napanock for another Truth Traveler hosted event celebrating the 137th birthday of James Shanley.
The Shanley Hotel has become a home-away-from-home for me this year. I can't help but to feel at ease here. Yes, there is some anger, sadness and frustration felt here, but I have never felt fear or threatened.

This time I was joined by my beloved. It was his second time there and after "sleeping with a non-fleshie" he decided that we are not staying in the bordello overnight again. After poking around a bit, he decided on the Blue Room. According to the Shanley Hotel website. "The Blue Room, also known as the Eleanor suite, it is spacious and sunny with four windows and beautifully hand stenciled floors. It is furnished with a queen size canopy bed." Yes, I felt like a pretty-pretty para-princess! Tell me you wouldn't if you slept in this room. Go ahead! He had a great nights sleep.

I opted out of investigating the hotel as a whole this time, I focused more on the Gentleman's Quarters. 

At one point of the evening, I did pop out to investigate the old post office located across the street behind the building I refer to as "Creepy Palace". 

I took many photos but few were worth posting because there are so many windows making for a lot of reflections. 

I did get a LOT of feelings around the property. For me, it was anything but a pleasant stroll in the moonlight. The best way for me to describe it is it was like walking in to an emotional mine-field.  Sadness. Fear. Depression. Panic. Oppression. Secrets. Hardly the words one would normally associate with a post office is it? I think there is a story embedded within (and under) those walls.

My beloved left at 3am to beat the blizzard. Yes, what happened the next morning was not just some freak snow, it was an all out blizzard! It took him nearly 9 hours to complete what normally takes just over 4 hours. I was worried about him and was relieved to hear he made it home safely. I had my OWN journey to make... from Napanoch, NY to Gettysburg, PA!

Wish me luck that I don't freeze to death. I packed a sweatshirt for an autumn evening... not a snowsuit for an Alaskan Adventure!

Shanley Hotel - Again.

The Shanley Hotel never fails to provide a good time and some lovely data. The August 20th event hosted by Truth Travelers (Mary Gasparo and Steve Shockley) was fantastic. I was really happy with the number of participants that chose to dress up for the Singapore Experiment. I admit, it's not the BEST picture of me (not that there are many) but as I hope you can tell, I am dressed up as a Bordello worker, standing next to the owner, Sal Nicosia.

I arrived a day early and had the run of the hotel. I chose the room with the twin beds, now known as the John Powers room. Steve Shockley arrived that afternoon and stayed in the Silent room down the hall from me. I wish I could say I slept, but I didn't.

The hotel was so active. Was it always this active overnight? Was it active because it had a captive audience of two? Walking around upstairs on the third floor, walking around in the hallways, shadows outside my second floor window, noises coming from downstairs... even the room I was staying in was active. All night I felt as if I was being watched from the chair. I did not feel scared, it was almost as if it was a parent watching over a child. Needless to say, I kept the light on in the event I wanted to run out with my camera.

The sun came up, but the activity continued. At 6am, I decided I needed coffee. It was one of those moments when I wished I had a video camera because my description of what happened next will never do it justice. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and said aloud "coffee time". As I was standing, I saw an outline stand up from the chair in my room and disappear. I walked to the door, which I kept propped open all night and turned off the light. I looked towards the room Steve was staying in, thinking that he too was up and in need of coffee. It was not Steve standing in front of his door but a woman with braided up hair and a floor length, high collar dress. She turned to look at me and I felt as if she was a Nanny telling me to get back to my room because it was too early to get up. She then returned to looking at the door Steve was sleeping behind. With that, I walked backwards through my doorway, turned on the light and sat on the bed and said "FINE" with a huff. Yes, I huffed. It's not very often I am reprimanded by a non-fleshy!

That night, the other guests arrived.  I was a team leader this go-around so I didn't have as many opportunities to take my own photos as I tried to limit my activities to allow the team to focus on their own investigating. At one point Mary, Bev and I snuck off to the bordello to do our own evp session. We didn't need a recorder to hear the answer to our question "Are we dressed appropriately to work here?" NO! I wasn't entirely shocked by the answer, it's not as easy as you would think finding period bordello clothing in my size online!

The Shanley Hotel

Knock 3 Times and Speak-easy~

Oh My -- Haunted Knickers!

I will be heading up to Napanoch, NY for another Shanley Hotel investigation on 20 August. 


Once again I was asked to be a team lead for this Truth Travelers event. The honor of being a lead aside, I wouldn't have missed this overnight! I already have my room staked out and my costume is almost complete.


What's that? You don't know why I am talking about a costume? 


The reason this overnight will be different is because it a recreation of an era long past. We hope to bring the Shanley Speakeasy back to life... no pun intended. The dress code is that of the 1920's with the men dressed as gangsters, rum runners, etc and the women are to dress as bordello workers. I have been talking to some of the other women and I am in awe of their creative costumes.


Will I be a bordello babe? Probably not. I'm thinking I fit more as the maid or the discount hoochie. Tight and slinky make me look like a sausage. Sausages aren't sexy. 


Speaking of sausages... there will be an Italian themed dinner. I don't want to give away the entire menu, but I know it's going to be delicious! Yes, there will be cheesecake. Anyone who has ever attended a Truth Travelers event, listened to one of the shows on Thursday nights at 7pm est or ever logged in to UberRadioNetwork.com knows that cheesecake is pretty much the answer to everything.


Food, costumes, food, piano tunes, food... and then the investigation begins! After we have rotated through the hotel and our last drop of energy has been spent; it's time to turn in to our waiting beds. Normally I do not sleep during an investigation but the beds are just too comfortable to pass up. A long soak in the white footed tub is on my list of things for the next morning, followed by a HUGE cup of coffee and some breakfast nibbles.


Don't delay in reserving your spot as this is a limited entry event. You must have a reservation and paid entry to be on the premises. Contact Mary G for information or the Shanley Hotel for reservations.

Fort Mifflin Investigation - 16 July 2011

Fort Mifflin on the Delaware River is known as the "Fort that saved America". Many books, television and radioshows talk about the history of the fort. The paranormal tales are just as exciting. 


When the Truth Travelers asked me to be a team leader for the investigation on July 16/17, 2011, I jumped at the chance. I have been to the Fort before and the fort is alive with energy and I felt it.

A limited number of tickets were made available for the investigation. Please note, I said investigation, not event. Some events held at the fort have staggering large numbers. While being in a crowd is great for networking. It's really hard to gather and later review data when you and 20 others are standing in one casemate.

Haunting the High Seas - ParaNormal Cruise

http://hauntingthehighseas.blogspot.com/

Come join us on the Carnival Glory for a 6 day/5 night cruise from Boston, Massachusetts to Canada with port calls in St. John, NB and Halifax, NS - home of the Fairview Cemetery, the final resting place of many the Titanic victims.

This is planned as an informal gathering. There will be no conferences or speakers. Instead, we hope to make new friends in the field and reconnect with some old ones.

Meet-ups will be planned for activities such group photos - please send me your room number so we can leave notices for you in your mailbox. - paracruise2012@yahoo.com

Cost: vary depending on your room choice and number of guests per room (all prices are starting rates, based pp/double occupancy)
interior: 459/pp
ocean view: 579/pp
balcony: 709/pp
suite: 1059/pp

Dinner: 6:00 pm

T-shirts: available through purchase at http://www.cafepress.com/HauntingtheHighSeas2012

Booking: call Barbara at Carnival at 1-800-764-7315 x87421and mention Paranormal to be seated at dinner with the group.
PLEASE NOTE: All attendees are responsible for their own travel accomodations, reservations, excursions, border documentation and on-board expenses.

Helpful Information-
There is a $11.50/pp per day "tip" added to your s&s account and will need to be paid before the end the cruise.
Each person is allowed to bring a 12 pack of soda OR water aboard, as well as 1 bottle of wine to be consumed in their room without additional costs.
The ship docks "downtown" close to many attractions, restaurants and shops.
Your luggage will not be available right away, keep medicines, money, valuables and some snacks to hold you over until your room is available.
Don't forget that you need to place your luggage outside your door the night before we arrive back in Boston, keep your departure clothes in your room or you WILL be leaving in whatever you wore to bed.

PARKING - Black Falcon Cruise Terminal
One Black Falcon Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
Port Parking: $12.00 per day (rates subject to change by the Port Authority)
5-Story, indoor parking garage.
Full payment due upon entering the parking garage.
Accepted forms of payment: U.S Dollars; Visa and MasterCard.
No advance reservations required.