New Port Richie Ghost Walk
Feb. 7, 2003
Want a way to beat the summer doldrums? Looking to stimulate lagging brain cells during the vacationing summer months? Then here is the perfect answer for you: ghost walks!
For those not in the know, ghost walks combine history with folklore, and ghost stories with investigation. Public buildings and private homes may be included on a tour, with the compliance of both living and non-living residents.
Many a paranormal investigation team has formed ghost walks. In Florida, tours can be found in St. Augustine, Cassadaga, and Orlando, among other major metropolitan areas.
This month, we focus on the SPIRITS role as guests on a New Port Richey ghost walk.
The tour started off in the Crab Trap Restaurant, off of Grand Blvd, where participants met to partake in dinner and conversation. The history of New Port was discussed, including its infestation by disease in the 1920's. In addition, several of the town's wealthy committed suicide during the Great Depression.
The area was also billed as the "New Hollywood." Many a young starlet came to the town only to find that the starring role she dreamed of did not exist. The only available job for these women was that of a prostitute.
The Crab Trap, itself, is reputed to be haunted. The primary ghost is that of a woman dressed in elegant evening wear who drifts through the restaurant. At least one cook has quit after seeing her.
Once the meal was completed, the tour officially started. Equipment was made available for all participants to borrow. The SPIRITS came with EMF meters and cameras aimed and ready.
The areas of highest activity during the tour included:
The Moose Lounge Ally: Here, there was continual EMF flux from .5, to strong spikes of 2 - 4. Digital cameras captured orb images, and the team sensitive felt a man's presence. He had be ambushed and killed in the area many years ago.
Lake Orange: Situated near a former hotel, it is said that one of the town elders and his wife climbed into his car, an old Model T Ford, and drove straight into the lake where they drown. People still claim to hear the Model T motoring its way down to the lake.
The New Port Richey Museum: This Museum hosts the spirit of an officer who fought in the Civil War for the Union. It appears that his ghost is attached to his old desk, which was donated to the Museum. He jealously guards against anything of Confederate bearing and is rather picky about what is set about; Museum workers report finding things placed on the desk tossed to the floor. The officer makes himself known through the smell of cigar smoke.
Overall, it was an interesting tour of the city. Strictly speaking, outdoor investigations, especially ones of such a fast-moving nature, are not ideal investigation situations. Outdoor conditions are less controllable, as, among other things, particles and humidity may obscure cameras and produce false orbs.
However, it is a wonderful way to interact with the paranormal in a safe group setting, guided by experts. It might just be a way for you to add a supernatural chill to those dog days of summer.
Brandy, 35 mm. 400 speed black and white film
This shows the contrast in images, likely due to high humidity that night.
Orb photos taken by digital camera by Amy (left) and Brandy (right) show a bright spot that appears to move from one door to the other.
Sky orbs caught over a SPIRITS teammate. No EMF was recorded. Image by Amy, digital.
Orb caught in tree; Sandy, SPIRITS sensitive, felt a presence here.
Amy, digital, orbs around Museum. Amy also caught orbs in front of the museum, right.
Below: Orb caught in Moose Lodge Alley. EMF recorded in the area. Brandy, digital.
Amy, orbs, humidity, digital.
The church has no known hauntings, yet Amy caught multiple orbs with her digital camera. Humidity, or something else?
New Port Richie Ghost Walk
Feb. 7, 2003
8 pm.
Brandy, Sandy, Sue, Amy of the SPIRITS present.
History of New Port: In the 1800s, one woman and her husband, the Sims family, came to Florida and saw the potential of NPR as the next Hollywood. They worked hard to bring down ritzy and powerful men into the area. It eventually evolved to a men's club, where husbands from New York and Northern states traveled without their wives. Young women were seduced by promises of stardom, only to be suckered into prostitution, or other such work.
In the 1920s, diseases heavily hit the town. In the Depression, wealthy town folk committed suicides.
There is a possible missing graveyard: known graveyards from this time period possess a 30 year span of time where no one was buried. This seems rather strange to the paranormal investigators of the area. They think that this graveyard is possibly found under US 19. They have not successfully located the gravesite as of yet.
Dinner at the Crab Trap Restaurant, Grand Blvd.
It had been a bar since the 1920s. Up stairs was condemned, and this is considered the most haunted area of the building. A female apparition manifests in evening dress in the restaurant. At least one cook has quit overseeing her.
One member watched the woman walk to the door and vanish.
Appliances that are unplugged have started up, and footsteps have been heard.
Sandy sensed a blond, petite, blue-eyed woman with a bob haircut outside the window.
Sandy also sensed what she thought was a hanging tree, which could be possible. Several African Americans were lynched in the area in the past.
Sandy also felt there were people moving across the street, perhaps a place memory.
Billy's Auto Lotto: an alleged area of haunting which did capture several potential orbs.
Moose Lounge Ally: Here, there was quite a bit of activity. There was continual EMF flux from .5, with no activity, to strong spikes of 2 - 4.
EMF activity moved back and forth through alleyway. Sandy sensed an entity there. It was the spirit of a man who had been ambushed and killed in the alley many years ago. I did capture orbs in the area with my digital camera. 35 mm pictures inconclusive.
Lake Orange: situated near a former hotel, a couple drove a Model T Ford into the lake and drown. It is said that people can still hear the Model T running on its way down to the lake.
The New Port Richey Museum: the spirit of a colonial haunts this Museum. He was a Northern officer who fought in the Civil War for the Union. His desk was owned by a woman who donated it to the NPR Museum. He is not happy with anything Confederate being set on the desk; Museum workers report finding things placed on the desk tossed to the floor. The colonial makes himself known through the smell of cigar smoke.
While at the Museum, Amy and I both got several orb images utilizing digital cameras. We attempted an EVP session, but my Olympus digital recorder died after only about 20 seconds of activity, despite new batteries in the machine.
Amy sat on a bench for a moment and felt someone touch her. She jumped up, surprised. Sandy sensed that there were spirits of school children about who were playing a joke on her.
Amy also had a total battery drain from her digital camera, though she had charged the batteries that day.
No EMF was detected.
Overall, it was an interesting tour of the city. I enjoyed learning the history of NPR, and the tour group was well prepared with equipment that walkers could utilize.
I am not as comfortable with outdoor investigations, and conditions are less controllable, and random elements can interfere with accurate readings. I observed, and stated to the others, that I saw droplets and particles in the light of my camera's flash. How many of these orbs are legitimate, and how many are produced by the humidity?
I would like to try a second ghost walk to see if we can replicate the results of the first investigation under clearer weather conditions. I would also like to get into the Museum to check out the desk.
Report of New Port Richey Ghost Tour
February 7th, 2003
Member Attendees: Amy, Brandy, Sandy, Sue, two tour guides and Brian
By: Amy Rohrsen
I was very interested during this evening and I must say my senses were running amuck the whole night. I didn't take very many notes - as my senses were just on "overload".
Trees near the Crab Trab gave off an unusual vibe. Sandy mentioned that they were probably "hanging trees". Photos produced some orbs - but the debate is whether or not it was humidity or not.
The most interesting point for me was by the museum. I felt all kinds of energy coming from the building immediately. I took a few photos of the building which produced some orb images - and then I walked up on the porch area. Sandy directed me to take a photo of the front door. A beautiful orb appeared in the image. I sat down on the bench to re-load some batteries in my digital (Battery drain) and within seconds a cold hand grabbed my neck. This was the first experience of this type that I had had - and I literally RAN off the porch. I think it brought amusement to everyone (including my husband who was with us). I then convinced Brian to sit up on the bench and I would take a photo of him. I invited who ever wanted to pose with Brian to do so. My image turned up several orbs behind him.
Later on we walked over a vacant lot that Sandy believed to be the "lost cemetery". She sensed "bodies". We believe that area needs further investigation.
