My East Coast Paranormal Tour

Special Note:
The pictures that Nikki Warner submitted would not copy over for her article. To compensate that, I included public pictures of some of the locations that she is describing. Best, Paul Dale Roberts

I had the opportunity to fly to the East Coast to visit my family the end of June. And of course, I started researching different paranormal hot spots. I usually don’t get to play tourist very much, so the idea of fitting in several haunted places made me giddy; my husband, not so much.

First stop: Eastern State Penitentiary

This structure was the first real penitentiary in the world. It housed several of America’s most notorious criminals including Al Capone (who I was told that during his stay, he used to scream “Jimmy don’t” a lot because he was being haunted by someone he murdered).

There is a total of 15 cell blocks (originally there were 6).
Most of the prison is made up of crumbling cellblocks and decay. Several of the cell blocks were off limits to the public. We had the most activity in the woman’s ward and in death row. It’s a very eerie place. I have to admit I felt like I shouldn’t be there. But at the same time, I totally wished I was alone (without the tourists) and had access to the prison at night. They do have some night events there. If you are near Philadelphia, I highly recommend it. They do allow you do go into some cells, and there are also additional cells that have prison interpretive art in them depicting how the prisoners lived etc.

In the woman’s cellblock, someone says “help me” multiple times. In death row, a male voice says, “Go to hell, striper). Here is the photobucket link for additional photos HERE

We were going to stop at Valley Forge, but we had spent longer at Eastern State then I had initially intended. The drive out to Gettysburg is very very long. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but as a sensitive, I thought that it would feel much heavier there (due to the amount of deaths that occurred).

The 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg was on July 1-3. It took place in 1863 and the battle had the largest casualties in the American Civil War. It is considered the turning point of the war, since prior to that, the South had the upper hand against the North. It is considered to be very haunted. It is also the site where Lincoln delivered his infamous Gettysburg Address.

Upon our arrival, we checked in to our room only to find out that it was a converted barn that was used as a hospital during the battle. I’ll just chalk that up to fate! There is a driving audio tour you can follow. Although we didn’t actually go get the CD, we did follow it so that we could see all the hot spots. There are lots of monuments that are dedicated to different states and infantry etc. all over the battle field, as well as canons. The whole area has a very light feeling to me. There was only 1 occasion where I felt really heavy and that was in one of the graveyards. I have been to way more haunted places. But, it is humbling to realize how many people died and just how brutal the war was. I only got a few evps outside (due to the constant wind). But, I did get several in our room. Here are some really interesting photos I took at Devil’s Den at sundown. You can find the photos normal size at: HERE
This is the first picture:

Third Stop: Norwich Inn, Vermont

I was visiting family and she suggested we go do a tour of the Inn. They don’t mind you walking around at all and even provided a printout about the inn and it’s reported hauntings. Supposedly, room 20 is haunted by the spirit of Mary Walker who died there. She was involved with prohibition and sold bootleg down in the basement (which now has a wine cellar, a bar, and has some tables set up in it).

We first went into the library. I got responses to questions including a very weird voice. I did go up to the room, but I got nothing up there. When we first walked through the front door, there are steps going downstairs and it was partially dark. I was definitely drawn to this area so we went down there to explore. It definitely felt different down there and I did hear some voices as well as the others that were with me. All the voices we got were male.

I would love to investigate when it’s completely quiet in there. If you’re near Vermont, I would recommend you check it out.

Fourth Stop: Salem, MA
I have to admit. I was beyond disappointed. It is so commercial there. We stayed in this old house which is a bed and breakfast and frankly it smelled so bad in there, I hardly got any sleep. Most shops didn’t open until 12 noon and closed @ 8:00 pm. So, we ended up walking around and went to the old graveyard twice. But, I didn’t get any evps in there (a first). There are plenty of other places to visit in the New England area. I’d highly recommend you skip Salem and visit them!

Fifth Stop: The Lizzie Borden House Tour

I really wish we had sucked it up and driven down to Lizzie’s house and stayed there. Even my husband felt a real heaviness upon walking in. For those of you who aren’t family with this story. On August 4, 1892, Andrew Jackson Borden & his wife (Lizzie’s stepmother Abby Borden) were brutally murdered while Lizzie was home. She also had an older sister named Emma. The father was struck 10 to 11 times with an axe while he sat on the couch. The mother was killed prior to the father in another part of the house. She received 19 blows to the head. Nothing was taken in the house. Lizzie was arrested but later acquitted. She changed her story numerous times, and upon visiting the house, there is no way that someone could be chopping up her stepmother right above her while she was ironing her handkerchiefs and her not hear it. She also burnt her dress in front of someone possibly burning the evidence of what she was wearing. The day before, Lizzie actually went to a store in town to purchase some rather lethal poison (but they wouldn’t sell it without a doctor’s note). She had the dream team for attorneys and they got her off. But, there is still a lot of controversy over it to this day. She was shunned by the town and purchased another house near by.

It’s definitely a fascinating story and if you are in the area and can spend the night, put on your depends, and do so!
The tour guide was very informative and funny. I did get several evps. We even went to her gravesite afterwards and while I did get evps, I don’t believe it was Lizzie or her family. Someone had actually left a vase next to her grave. I also saw a shadow person dart between headstones.

I tried to hang back when we were moving from room to room to try and get evp’s and take some pictures. We got lucky and there were only 4 other people on the tour. When I was in the father’s bedroom, I had quickly snapped some pictures and later noticed that there was a white light on the backboard (I did not use a flash). I blew it up and I see a face. In fact several people see 2 faces (one facing the front and another profile).

I think next summer I’m going to have to plan on sleeping overnight. Even though I was only there for an hour, the energy in that place is very strong. Link to photobucket: HERE
Overall, I loved my trip and had a blast. Even the hubby got into and he’s really not into the ghosties.