My sister and I went on a ghost hunt journey. On an extremely cold Friday night in Weston West Virginia we voluntarily spent the night in an old, civil war era lunatic asylum. This building was several football fields long, made of stone. There were four floors, only emergency lighting, a lot of dust, peeling paint and authentic signage and hospital items scattered about.
The architecture of the building was amazing! Sculpted gargoyles atop the building, sharp peaks and detailed stone work. Amazing building to say the least. A wealthy man had purchased the building for his daughter. It had been state owned, but as it sat vacant for years, the investor came in to purchase the land/building. The daughter told the community that that she was looking to restore it to it's authentic state. Quite a large endeavor and an expensive one also, considering the age and condition of the building. The surrounding community is very poor. So poor in fact, that there is a curfew to discourage crime. More about that later.
The daughter Rebecca, has long, curly red hair. When we arrived, it was already cold. In the twenties and dropping as the sun set. The building seemed to "come to life" once the sun set also. My sister and I parked in the front and walked up to where others were gathering. When the door opened, I took a picture of my sister entering. It was to be the start of an adventure and a haunt we'd never forget.
The check in process was hilarious. We stood in line and when we checked in and gave our name, they assigned us a "new identity". We kept our name, but we were assigned a diagnosis that represented the reason persons were admitted to the asylum in the 1800's. My diagnosis was "excessive masturbation". My sister's was "prostitution". Our mother would be so proud!
The next part was to receive instructions for the night. The foyer just beyond the of the place was cold, with two very large, beautiful winding staircases in it. Also, pictures of some of the founding fathers and mothers of psychiatry. One was Dorthea Dix, who is also given credit for being one of the original founding mothers of Occupational Therapy, which is my profession. Many psychiatric facilities are named after Dorthea Dix.
We sat through a brief orientation, receiving some short stories of sightings and other experiences that former visitors and staff had reported. Stories to raise the goosebumps, build our fear and make us ready for the tour. We were broken into groups and given start times. I was in group two with my sister. We were made familiar with some of the "ghost hunting" equipment. An EMF reader, which stands for electromagnetic field reader. The idea behind it, is that when it comes into contact with a higher magnetic field, that a reading will show increased magnetic reading. In addition, the colors change from green to yellow, orange and then red, when a higher magnetic field is present.
We were shown a device that sounds like static, but then you'll hear a few single words that sound like someone saying something, but its actually just blips of sound as channels change as different radio frequencies are picked up. We were told about using a flashlight for communication. The flashlight had to be one that was activated by a sliding on/off switch. We were to slide the lever to the middle part, so that it was almost on, but in off position. Then ask the spirit yes/no questions and ask it to turn on the light for yes. FYI, if you place a flashlight anywhere in this position, it will turn on/off on its own. Even without questions asked. Just saying. I don't know the science behind it, but I've debunked this!
The other method of engaging was to use a handheld audio recording device and camera or video camera. With the audio device, supposedly one can capture disembodied voices. If you ask the spirits questions, then review the tape, you may hear them answering. When taking pictures, the hope is to capture an image or orb. Orbs look like white circles or dots. Sometimes, they can be other colors. These show up using film or digital cameras. The video is to hopefully capture video image of a ghost also. The last device they showed us was a thermal camera. The camera is used to capture heat signatures.
Our groups were made of five or six, each led by a person that volunteers at the facility to be a guide. The guides knew a lot of the history and when entering a new part of the building, they would recount reported ghostly events that had occurred there along with the historical purpose of the buildings location.
While touring the building, we were taken to each part to explore. Then after that, we could break off into smaller groups or on our own to investigate after each group had seen the entire building. Even with the place being immense in size and with windows available in most rooms, I cannot describe to you how dark it was in other locations. There were hallways that without a flashlight, you absolutely couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
My sister and I were together during the first part of the tour. We were escorted by a guide along the first floor to a room that was used as a multipurpose room per the guide. While we were taking pictures and voice recordings, the town siren, indicating a curfew went off at 10p.m. It was a reminder of a Stephen King movie I had seen at one time. Our next location was a section on the other side of the first floor, that was used a cafeteria. Two other rooms attached to this one going back towards the rear of the building. On a recent episode of Ghost Hunters, the guys had caught a shadow image in the far room. There was also an old kitchen off from this area. That area was creepy. The remnants of a functioning kitchen were still sitting around, including a freezer, sheet pans and drying racks. That room had a feeling to it. I can't explain it other than, eyes looking at you from all directions. Nothing happened during our session there, neither on K2 reader or voice recordings.
We then toured the physician living quarters, nurses living quarters and children's living quarters which were all uneventful. The downstairs area, or basement had an ominous history. This is were the criminally insane were locked up in individual holding areas that looked like jail cells. Also, there was a cage, that was used to place persons in after they had been given a lobotomy or other procedure as they were typically very agitated, combative. Persons died in that cage when the lobotomy was done poorly. The area was dark and the air was thick. You could feel the misery, the grief, the fear, the agony. I personally think that emotions that strong permeate into the surroundings. The trauma remains behind, like a stain on the surface. I personally found that area to be the saddest in the entire building. So much suffering, much if not all was unnecessary but unfortunate results of the medical treatment of the time.
When given a chance to break off and tour different areas, I went with two other girls up to the children's area for an independent investigation. This unit housed patients children. Very sad! I can't even imagine why any family would think that the children would be better living at the state hospital vs with other family members. The entrance to the corridor had a double door. Once we entered and walked towards the hallway end, there was absolutely no light other than our flashlights. We each had an EMF reader and did a sweep of the hallway to find any areas of magnetic readings, there were none. We sat on the floor together, close enough to feel the other touching us, since it was completely dark. One of the girls had the idea of placing our EMF readers in front of us and asking the kids to walk towards the green light.
The EMF readers were about three feet apart from one another. The small green lights seemed to be floating in the distance, providing the only light that we could see. We asked a series of questions and got a few flickers of light. We then sang "Ring around the Rosie" and that is when the most wonderful thing happened! As we were singing, the girl to my right (I was sitting in the middle), said "I just felt my hair get tugged." The K2 meter on the far left lit up from green to red, then the middle one, then the one on the right. As they did, the lights from the K2 meters reflected onto the wall next to us. As the wall was lit, the shadows of legs were also on the wall, moving, running as the children played.
I don't know if children died on that unit, but I'm assuming some did given the era of 1880's, 1900's and limited medical options for childhood diseases.
Trans Allegheny is a beautiful place, both inside and out. I'd love to make another trip there with my experience as a ghost hunter to conduct a more in depth investigation. So many persons died there during their stay, their treatment. The building still holds their souls, for some, the last home they knew.
The architecture of the building was amazing! Sculpted gargoyles atop the building, sharp peaks and detailed stone work. Amazing building to say the least. A wealthy man had purchased the building for his daughter. It had been state owned, but as it sat vacant for years, the investor came in to purchase the land/building. The daughter told the community that that she was looking to restore it to it's authentic state. Quite a large endeavor and an expensive one also, considering the age and condition of the building. The surrounding community is very poor. So poor in fact, that there is a curfew to discourage crime. More about that later.
The daughter Rebecca, has long, curly red hair. When we arrived, it was already cold. In the twenties and dropping as the sun set. The building seemed to "come to life" once the sun set also. My sister and I parked in the front and walked up to where others were gathering. When the door opened, I took a picture of my sister entering. It was to be the start of an adventure and a haunt we'd never forget.
The check in process was hilarious. We stood in line and when we checked in and gave our name, they assigned us a "new identity". We kept our name, but we were assigned a diagnosis that represented the reason persons were admitted to the asylum in the 1800's. My diagnosis was "excessive masturbation". My sister's was "prostitution". Our mother would be so proud!
The next part was to receive instructions for the night. The foyer just beyond the of the place was cold, with two very large, beautiful winding staircases in it. Also, pictures of some of the founding fathers and mothers of psychiatry. One was Dorthea Dix, who is also given credit for being one of the original founding mothers of Occupational Therapy, which is my profession. Many psychiatric facilities are named after Dorthea Dix.
We sat through a brief orientation, receiving some short stories of sightings and other experiences that former visitors and staff had reported. Stories to raise the goosebumps, build our fear and make us ready for the tour. We were broken into groups and given start times. I was in group two with my sister. We were made familiar with some of the "ghost hunting" equipment. An EMF reader, which stands for electromagnetic field reader. The idea behind it, is that when it comes into contact with a higher magnetic field, that a reading will show increased magnetic reading. In addition, the colors change from green to yellow, orange and then red, when a higher magnetic field is present.
We were shown a device that sounds like static, but then you'll hear a few single words that sound like someone saying something, but its actually just blips of sound as channels change as different radio frequencies are picked up. We were told about using a flashlight for communication. The flashlight had to be one that was activated by a sliding on/off switch. We were to slide the lever to the middle part, so that it was almost on, but in off position. Then ask the spirit yes/no questions and ask it to turn on the light for yes. FYI, if you place a flashlight anywhere in this position, it will turn on/off on its own. Even without questions asked. Just saying. I don't know the science behind it, but I've debunked this!
The other method of engaging was to use a handheld audio recording device and camera or video camera. With the audio device, supposedly one can capture disembodied voices. If you ask the spirits questions, then review the tape, you may hear them answering. When taking pictures, the hope is to capture an image or orb. Orbs look like white circles or dots. Sometimes, they can be other colors. These show up using film or digital cameras. The video is to hopefully capture video image of a ghost also. The last device they showed us was a thermal camera. The camera is used to capture heat signatures.
Our groups were made of five or six, each led by a person that volunteers at the facility to be a guide. The guides knew a lot of the history and when entering a new part of the building, they would recount reported ghostly events that had occurred there along with the historical purpose of the buildings location.
While touring the building, we were taken to each part to explore. Then after that, we could break off into smaller groups or on our own to investigate after each group had seen the entire building. Even with the place being immense in size and with windows available in most rooms, I cannot describe to you how dark it was in other locations. There were hallways that without a flashlight, you absolutely couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
My sister and I were together during the first part of the tour. We were escorted by a guide along the first floor to a room that was used as a multipurpose room per the guide. While we were taking pictures and voice recordings, the town siren, indicating a curfew went off at 10p.m. It was a reminder of a Stephen King movie I had seen at one time. Our next location was a section on the other side of the first floor, that was used a cafeteria. Two other rooms attached to this one going back towards the rear of the building. On a recent episode of Ghost Hunters, the guys had caught a shadow image in the far room. There was also an old kitchen off from this area. That area was creepy. The remnants of a functioning kitchen were still sitting around, including a freezer, sheet pans and drying racks. That room had a feeling to it. I can't explain it other than, eyes looking at you from all directions. Nothing happened during our session there, neither on K2 reader or voice recordings.
We then toured the physician living quarters, nurses living quarters and children's living quarters which were all uneventful. The downstairs area, or basement had an ominous history. This is were the criminally insane were locked up in individual holding areas that looked like jail cells. Also, there was a cage, that was used to place persons in after they had been given a lobotomy or other procedure as they were typically very agitated, combative. Persons died in that cage when the lobotomy was done poorly. The area was dark and the air was thick. You could feel the misery, the grief, the fear, the agony. I personally think that emotions that strong permeate into the surroundings. The trauma remains behind, like a stain on the surface. I personally found that area to be the saddest in the entire building. So much suffering, much if not all was unnecessary but unfortunate results of the medical treatment of the time.
When given a chance to break off and tour different areas, I went with two other girls up to the children's area for an independent investigation. This unit housed patients children. Very sad! I can't even imagine why any family would think that the children would be better living at the state hospital vs with other family members. The entrance to the corridor had a double door. Once we entered and walked towards the hallway end, there was absolutely no light other than our flashlights. We each had an EMF reader and did a sweep of the hallway to find any areas of magnetic readings, there were none. We sat on the floor together, close enough to feel the other touching us, since it was completely dark. One of the girls had the idea of placing our EMF readers in front of us and asking the kids to walk towards the green light.
The EMF readers were about three feet apart from one another. The small green lights seemed to be floating in the distance, providing the only light that we could see. We asked a series of questions and got a few flickers of light. We then sang "Ring around the Rosie" and that is when the most wonderful thing happened! As we were singing, the girl to my right (I was sitting in the middle), said "I just felt my hair get tugged." The K2 meter on the far left lit up from green to red, then the middle one, then the one on the right. As they did, the lights from the K2 meters reflected onto the wall next to us. As the wall was lit, the shadows of legs were also on the wall, moving, running as the children played.
I don't know if children died on that unit, but I'm assuming some did given the era of 1880's, 1900's and limited medical options for childhood diseases.
Trans Allegheny is a beautiful place, both inside and out. I'd love to make another trip there with my experience as a ghost hunter to conduct a more in depth investigation. So many persons died there during their stay, their treatment. The building still holds their souls, for some, the last home they knew.
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