My friend Jade Walker asked me not too long ago, “What makes a place officially haunted anyway? Is there even such a thing?”
Since this is a question I’m asked all the time, and since tonight is the big premiere of Syfy’s newest show, Fact or Faked, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to officially address the topic.
The answer is: yes and no.
LISTS OF HAUNTED PLACES
There are places that have haunted reputations. There are sites, such as the ones listed on my Find Haunted Places page, that list such sites. There’s also William Hauck’s always popular Haunted Places: The National Directory.
But is there an organization that makes an official determination about a place’s haunted-ness?
Yes.
The Department of Commerce’s List of 20 Official Haunted Places. (Or 30. It’s sometimes also referred to as that.)
THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE’S LIST OF OFFICIAL HAUNTED PLACES: FACT OR FAKED?
William C. Uchtman, who sometimes guest blogs here as Thor2000, brought the Dept. of Commerce’s List of Official Haunted Places to my attention. He made reference to it in his guest blog about the Whaley House.
Since I had never heard of it before, I immediately started checking into it. I scoured the Department of Commerce‘s site for the list. I turned up zilch.
If I’ve learned anything from my idle, Javier Ortega at GhostTheory, it’s this: if it sounds official but you find no evidence, be skeptical. That’s advice that hasn’t failed me yet.
When I couldn’t find the Dept. of Commerce’s list, I asked Thor where he’d gotten the info. He told me from a news clipping. Luckily he’s uber diligent about documenting his haunted places too and was able to scan the clip to share with me. (Exhibit A below.)
EXHIBIT A
FAKED: NO OFFICIALLY HAUNTED DESIGNATIONS
There is no such thing as the Department of Commerce’s List of Haunted Places. Or, as I found out via another article about “authenticated” ghosts, there is no government agency of any kind which has ever made such a declaration. Apparently to give a haunted place more weight, some authors take liberty about putting in an impressive sounding name of an organization that authenticates ghosts. Little is more impressive sounding than a governmental agency.
WHAT MAKES A PLACE HAUNTED?
You’re not going to believe me of all people is stating this but: there is no such thing as haunted places.
There are stories of haunted places. That’s about it.
There are those instances, like the Brown lady ghost pic taken in 1936 of a ghost floating down a staircase. No one has yet been able to debunk it. The verdict on whether it’s fact or faked might never be reached.
Then there are the paranormal investigators who claim to catch evidence in the form of orbs, EVPs, meter readings, and (mostly) questionable pictures and videos.
It’s interesting. It’s kind of weird. But no one has caught legitimate, irrefutable proof of ghosts –yet. True proof won’t come until an “actual” ghost (whatever that turns out to be) is “captured” (via film or some other as yet unidentified means) and the results can be consistently replicated.
Until that happens, all there is are stories. Pure and simple.
Which means people like the ones on “Fact or Faked,” as well as the rest of us who love paranormal mysteries, will have plenty more evidence to review.
And all that means is there’s a whole lot more haunt jaunting to allegedly haunted places in search of possible answers!
Okay, so this is a really great post, as always! I will re-read it after I get over the shock of how great you did with your blogs face-lift! You can’t even see the scars! It looks amazing doll!
Mommy D!
Great post, and I love the new layout!
Anyways, it’s interesting to point out that since the advent of TV shows like “Ghost Hunters,” “Ghost Adventures,” and the like, you have to be very careful about places claiming to be haunted, especially if they will profit from it. Once Fort Mifflin was featured on “Ghost Hunters” they raised their prices for a paranormal investigation to $900 for one night! Other places are doing similar things, and a lot of the “ghost tours” now feature guides who blatantly fake “experiences” during the tour as to create a buzz. So it’s always good to look for stories pre-”Ghost Hunters” to see what’s a real story of a haunting and what’s propaganda in order to boost business or maybe get on TV.
There are more inaccuracies in the Whaley House article you presented here.
Washburn story – No birth certificate, no death certificate and no Washburn family. However there is a spirit of a little girl. As of yet she has not identified herself to me or anyone else that I am aware of.
Yankee Jim Robinson hung on the property – No evidence there was ever a gallows on the property, also no logical reason for there to be a gallows at that location. I am actively investigating this. There is strong evidence of another location and perhaps a reason why Yankee Jim would be haunted Thomas Whaley.
My understand on the certification issue is that this was used for publicity back in the 1960′s to generate interest in Whaley House as a house museum. Commerce being the critical word. They do not certify houses, think about how silly that sounds. This has been repeated over and over. It is roughly like when the Travel Channel gives their top 10 most haunted houses, it is by reputation not certification.
Regards,
Bonnie Vent
THANKS, Mommy D! I’m no graphics genius like you, but if I have a template I can fiddle enough to get something going on.
THANKS, Jason! I didn’t know that Ft. Mifflin had cashed in like that. I knew about Eastern State and some others so it doesn’t surprise me. I completely agree with everything you said. Caution is key. Too many people trying to cash in on the “ghost” craze.
Bonnie: EXCELLENT info in your comments. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving them. I’d love to know what you come up with. And that “commerce” thing. That immediately struck me as off when I first heard it, so I wasn’t too surprise when I found nothing about it. But it also makes me mad because others don’t always think to question it, keep repeating it, which doesn’t benefit anyone.
Anyway, thanks so much to you all for your wonderful comments!
@Jason & @Courtney Mroch; Fort mifflin has a long, 223 year, history of stange occurances. They do not need to “fake” them. Paranormal “groups now account for most of the funding that keeps Fort Mifflin solvent, said fort bookkeeper Lorraine Irby, who started bringing in paranormal groups in 2004.”Even though it doesn’t fit our [history-based] mission statement, it is considered a fund-raising program,” Irby said. “The paranormal program is making the money so we can pay for our programs.” http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/98656344.html
The $900 quoted is for 10 people from 6 PM until 8 AM with breakfast.
THANKS so much for stopping by with a comment, Save Fort Mifflin. Listen, I’m all for new forms of funding to help preserve our nation’s history. (Well, heck, history anywhere regardless of nationality.) The prices at Ft. Mifflin are actually a bit more fair than at Eastern State. You seem to allow more time AND you provide breakfast. (My most favorite meal of the day!) Plus, in the end it all goes to a great cause.
If I gripe about prices 9 times out of 10 it’s because I don’t have enough money to finance my haunt jaunting habit and go see all the haunted places I want to!
Again, thanks for stopping by with your comments!
A combination of all of the above. The scientific experements are now revealing the truths that many of us have know intuitively (whether they listen to their ‘feelings’ or not); such as quantum physicists. That having been said; even when a psychic/medium is involved in an investigation; they should investigate scientifically, in order to provide further proof.
Fort Mifflin is haunted! There have been pictures, EVPs, and many personal experiences.
The paranormal programs were started from popular demand by the local Paranormal communities! Many investigations have been done by Paranormal Investigators who have been doing this for MANY years and have always been professional with their findings and are more apt to debunk.
I don’t think anyone is disputing the activity at Ft. Mifflin, Lorraine. Just that it’s one of those places that’s both suffered and profited from its paranormal notoriety. Definitely it’s a haunted place. It’s now just a super popular one. That’s both a blessing and a curse.
I was replying to the subject! “FACT or FAKED”
I have to agree with Lorraine,Fort Mifflin is indeed haunted. My team and I have gotten many pieces of scientific evidence to prove that Fact.EVP’s for one thing,so many class A evp’s it’s unbelievable! I wouldn’t call any of it’s popularity a curse at all. It is helping bring people in to Fort Mifflin.To keep it’s history alive.As they say you can’t have the paranormal without the history..the sad thing however is when people come through the gates,and only care about catching an evp or a photo.Not taking into consideration these spirits are still human being’s ..just without the body.Also volunteering is a great way to help the Fort! Which is what my team and family does!
I would say that this historic location.Deserves all the recognition that it can get! If you truly want to spend the night in one of the most haunted places in America,go to Fort Mifflin. While you are there remember this is all to support the Fort…to keep it alive for generations to come!
In response to Jason’s comments about Fort Mifflin raising it’s prices after shows like Ghost Hunters ect. Fort Mifflin has been doing the paranormal programs since 2004.Long before any show was involved…It has been haunted all along..238 years of it. All GH did was make that public knowledge!
Lorraine: OH! LOL. Hey, I admire your passion for Ft. Mifflin to want to make sure the story’s known!
Lisa: Same with you. It’s awesome when people are as passionate about preserving historic places. And that ghosts bring in revenue to help support the cause is even better. I also liked your point that the “spirits” are humans. They deserve respect. That’s one of my pet peeves when people don’t show respect –for the people or the places.
And right on that you volunteer. Very glad you stopped by to share your thoughts and love for Ft. Mifflin!
Jason…. I belonged to a research group from Philadelphia in 1999, long before the T.V. shows were even thought of. Our group went to Fort Mifflin at this time to do a “5 hour paranormal investigation” and paid $100.00 each…. There were many of us who did get “scientific evidence” Now it is ONLY $90.00 each and get bed and breakfast and get to research all night! I have always given this money gladly, knowing it was going to this wonderful Historical Landmark and to be able to do what I have a passion for!
I am a volunteer at Fort Mifflin. Fort Mifflin has not “cashed in” on anything! Mike is correct. The price is only $90 each for any overnight. Other events by paranormal groups are presented there as well as those by the living history reenactors. Fort Mifflin on the Delaware is a gem. You will get incredible activity not only during the night but daytime as well. The daytime price is Adults $6, Seniors $5, Children (6 to 12) and Veterans $3. Children 5 years and younger Free! I’d say that is quite a bargain.
Thanks so much for stopping by with this info, Nance. One thing’s for sure: there are some loyal and dedicated Fort Mifflin people out there. HOLLA!