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There was an
article in the Times Leader in NE PA that basically blames ghosthunters
for trashing cemeteries believed to be haunted while doing
investigations there. We all know this is not true. I agree with
Kenneth and feel this article has damaged the good reputation of all
of us. You can read the article on line here: http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/living/9153963.htm
One group that
was working in that cemetery was Paranormal Investigators & Research Association
(PIRA). Their founder, Ken Biddle, has written a response to that
article. I think we should take a minute to write to the reporter JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES
at jandes@leader.netand,
and perhaps get her to write another article about how investigators
not only do investigations in cemeteries but also participate in
cemetery cleanups and preservation. This is an important part of
what we do that nobody sees. For example, SJGR is a member of the
Assoc fro Gravestone Studies and also the Camden County Historic
Society. Speaking for myself... I went to a conference in
Connecticut to learn how to restore broken headstones. I understand
that our profession is not accepted by some people, however I don't
think we in this field should be taking the blame for what others
do.
Newspaper Vandalizes Ghost Hunters’ Reputations
By Kenneth Biddle
An article has appeared on the Times Leader.com website which implies that ghost hunters are not much more than vandals. The article is titled “Sacred Ground” and is written by Jennifer Learn-Andes. It was posted on July 18th, 2004. I can only assume that it was printed in the local paper (local being the Wilkes-Barre, Pa area). I encourage you to take a few moments and read this article before continuing here...or else my writings simply won’t make sense.
The reason I have been so outraged by this article is because they have put a link up that takes you to this site. The link that you’ll see there, (located at the end of the article)
mywebpages.comcast.net/parainvestigator/Reports/hauntedCem.html, goes directly to my personal reports on what I have experienced at the St. Joseph ’s Catholic cemetery (which is also known as Weatherly Cemetery). This article not only promotes an extremely biased attitude towards paranormal researchers, it implies that we are to blame for the trouble, vandalism and over-all condition of the cemetery.
After reading the article, I’d like to take a few moments to not only clear up some things, but to make a few points as well. When reading this article, you would get the impression that paranormal investigators, ghost hunters or even the mildly curious were responsible for the extremely poor shape of the cemetery. The second paragraph of the article says it pretty clear "But they also hope there gathering will halt ghost-chasers and nighttime revelers who are ruining what’s left of this sacred burial ground." Without a chance to set the record straight, without a "do not judge others" attitude...we (all of us who explore the world of the
paranormal) are grouped together with "nighttime revelers" a.k.a. the local kids who drink themselves stupid. The entire article presents this same attitude towards people who have an interest in the paranormal.
After paraphrasing several things from paranormal sites (PIRA, All About Ghosts,
Para-Normal.org), A Mr. Frank Raynock is quoted as saying "That’s all ridiculous. It’s a fable. That’s all it is". This statement sounds like someone who simply makes decisions based on, well...just because he says so. He obviously has never tried to confirm or debunk the claims that the place could be haunted. It is simply easier to call it ridiculous, rather then give it another thought.
According to the article, Mr. Raynock and 14 other Knights of Columbus clean up the place every year in the warmer months. I’ve been visiting the cemetery for four years now, and I’ve seen what I believe is their handy work. Unfortunately, it seems that only the newer graves were ever taken care of. Now, they may indeed clean up the entire place, but I can only write what I have seen. Each time I have visited the cemetery, the newer section has been cleaned up and the grass was cut...but only around the new graves. As for the older section, it was obvious that it hasn’t been cared for in years. Many of the stones that were broken and fallen over actually were buried a good two to three inches themselves.
St. Joseph’s church, which had once been on the cemetery property, burned down in 1966. However, there were many reports of vandalism before that year (according to the article, the vandalism started around 1964).
Yet, somehow, those of us who investigate ghosts and hauntings get to share the blame, even though no one was looking for ghosts back then.
The article states "The Internet is helping to spread local lore about the cemetery, which pops up on at least three Internet sites as a hotbed of "ghostly" activity". Hmmm, well I guess the article, Times Leader and Jennifer Learn-Andes (the author) are doing this just as well as we are.
You’ll note at the bottom of the article (which tells of ghostly happenings and such), just under the title "IF YOU GO", that the exact location of St.
Joseph’s Cemetery is given. Yup, spreading the local lore with the rest of us! Nice job.
What I find actually funny is the line that states, "Some say cemetery stones serve as large private residential garden flagstones here and there". Hmmm, so I guess the ghost hunters and the local youth had an overwhelming desire to go out and steal headstones from this cemetery so we could all have flagstones in our gardens...OR, does that sound like the "Some say" people are covering up their own crimes. The “ghost chasers” and "nighttime revelers” are blamed for stones being stolen. Here’s a thought- why doesn’t the reporter actually follow up on the “Some Say” people who obviously know where some of the head stones are? She might actually find that some of the local residents have (insert the dramatic pause)... stolen from this cemetery!
The article also states, “For decades the local youth have been calling it “the Haunted Cemetery” and “Lovers Lane”. Well, guess what? The local “youth” from decades ago are now adults in there 30s, 40s and 50s. They are the people who told me about the place. The stories and/or rumors of the haunting activity I posted on my site are from them, the local people living in Weatherly.
One more point to bring up about the article. The statement “(Rev.) Burdess is trying to post warnings on the Internet saying that the cemetery is only open for daylight religious and genealogical visits, but he doesn’t know if he’ll have any success.” This cemetery is literally in the middle of nowhere. As you drive down Church Road, you enter a wooded area. The cemetery “pops” up on the right side. There were, as of my last visit, absolutely no signs (No Trespassing, Hours of operation, etc.) posted anywhere in the area. With it’s remote location, and the lack of police in the area...actually keeping the nighttime revelers out is impossible.
However, if there were warnings posted, I would honor them. PIRA does not break the law.
Let me make this clear to all of you who share an interest in the paranormal or are just here because you read that B.S. article. The members of the Paranormal Investigators & Research Association
(P.I.R.A.), as well as the teams we work with (B.L.PA., P.R.S.N.A.,
P.V.P.S., We Have Ghosts, and others) DO NOT, AND NEVER WILL participate in any form of vandalism. I have visited this cemetery several times, and have always taken the time to clean up. I’ve removed beer cans & bottles, trash, broken tree branches, car tires, beer cases and even potato chip bags. I’ve done my best to lift up some of the stones (by myself) and at least lean the back up against where they once stood.
To have my site connected to this story of vandalism in a cemetery I frequent is probably the most insulting thing I’ve dealt with in all my years of doing this. I was never contacted to get my side of the "story", if you can even call it a story. I want to assure you that the professional investigative teams, like
PIRA, and the others mentioned above simply do not take part in such nonsense. We take the time to clean up and restore, not destroy and damage. As in too many cases, the media has chosen to take one side to this, and that is to help point the finger and mock those of us who hold to different beliefs that are not always considered mainstream. With all of the movie, books and groups...you would think we were mainstream.
Kenneth Biddle
Founder of Paranormal Investigators & Research Association (PIRA) Founder of The Explorers Club (TEC) Co-Founder of the United States Paranormal Alliance
(USPA)
http://home.comcast.net/~parainvestigator/Index/sacred.htm
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