Return to Haslams
9.12.02
Article Posted below the images on page. Also posted on Haslams II Part B. Scroll down for article.
EMF was registering in and around the chair. No electronics were nearby. Sandy and Susan sensed a presence in this area. Note the very small orb image that appears on the chair. It could be a light refraction, but notice the light images one the rest of the chair...they appear almost smeared. This orb is contained within itself and almost appears to be floating in front of the chair. Detail above.
Note the light mist and orb floating near the bottom of the bookshelves. Detail below.
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Once again, not as clear cut an orb as I'd like. However, it appears to be self-contained....it's hard to rule out the possibility of reflection, though. Note the estate books all around this area.
Brandy 35 mm film. Same time period as the digital photographs, I took several images in a sequence. Note: the area in question appears to have no flaws on it from this angle.
OK, this is strange. This image actually has two anomolies in it. One is near the second to top bookcase. It's a small white blob that comes over two books at the far end of the shelf (see detail). I had the film developer check the image. A man with 17 years experience, he also magnified and checked the negative. He found that the film did NOT have a flaw in it, and that the image DID appear in the negative. It is the only image to show up with this particular shape. Also, note at the bottom left of the photograph, there is a fog image (see second detail). I am not sure what to make of this at this point in time. This is on 35 mm film, 400 speed black and white. (Brandy)
What is this star shaped image that appears in the distance behind Ray and Susan? Enlarged, it appears to be free standing. The blinds behind it are closed, so I do not feel it is a light from outside. I almost did not see it at first, but upon closer inspection the image lept out at me. What is this? Do we have someone watching us? It does not appear to be a flaw in the film, and is in the negative and 35 mm photograph.
(Below) This chair gave off EMF. In digital images (below) a potential orb was captured. In 35 mm film, a small mist appears on the edge of the chair. Please note flash reflections. Light appears stretched and goes across the surface of the chair. These appear to be above the seat. Brandy, 35 mm. 400 sp. black and white film. (right) NO images on the chair, though this photograph was taken in sequence and near the same time, as the other two.
S.P.I.R.I.T.S. of St. Petersburg
PARANORMAL RESEARCH TEAM
Field Investigation Form
Brandy Stark
Location: Haslam's Books
Date: 9/12/02
Time:
Weather Conditions: Rain from tropical storm
Temperature: store: 78 degrees
Lunar Cycle: Post new moon, waxing 1 week.
Equipment used: Brandy's equipment: Olympus digital recorder, ELF meter, Samsung digital, 100 speed professional film, negatives,. 35 mm with 4-00 speed film, b&w and color, walkie talkies ( NO), Radio shack IR Thermometer, Polaroid 600, Susan: EMF meter, Panasonic digital/video camera, Sandy: EMF
Alan: Portable recorder, and digital camera. (Brands unknown).
Investigators Present: Brandy Stark, Susan Granby, Sandy Bard
Others Present: Alan, editor of Imago Magazine, Dick Zimmerman, photographer, and Ray, manager of Haslams.
EMF: YES 
Range of Reading/Spike_several minutes
Range of Reading/Spike_several minutes Time & duration: ___7:10 PM, steady reading with a field that expanded and retracted. Ray didn't believe there were any live wires in the area, but Sandy followed a line of EMF consistent with wiring.
Location: Art Section, rear of store. (Old People's Gas Building).
Other occurrences: This is an unsubstantiated reading. There was also a temp fluctuation a short time later about midway between this room. A computer is central to this area. Several sensed cold, Sandy and Susan sensed multiple presences. EMF readings null. A/C was shut down in that area of the store, and Dick validated no air was moving through the vent. Temperature dropped from 79 to 72 degrees, then 80 to 68. A third reading went from nearly 91 to 73 degrees. Sandy sensed a heavy feeling in her chest. Susan caught the name Bill K. He is described as a man with salt and pepper hair, dark eyebrows. He possibly came in with books, or a teacher's estate. He was tall, curious. The number 72 came up, as either his age or the year he died.
Cigarette smoke was also smelled in the room. Dick reported the restroom has a smoke smell. All confirmed they were not smoking in the area. Brandy and Susan do not smoke, Sandy changed clothes and had not smoked. Alan and Dick refrained; Ray was not smoking. Ray did mention that he thought the cigarette smell was so strong that he had wondered if someone (Dick) had started smoking inside.
An interesting, but not necessarily scientific, idea came to Susan and Sandy of an elemental attached to the land and earth who resided in the store. The elemental, they felt, ran the gambit of the store, completing a circuit. It was described as a dog pacing a kennel.
EMF: YES Range of Reading/Spike 1.5/Susan's meter; "Caution", Brandy
Time & duration: 30 seconds, time: unknown.
Location: Central part of the back section of the store; near the children's books.
Other occurrences: Chiming sound heard; Ray informed us it was the phone. Second sound was a gurgling, also described as change rattling, or a cricket. Discovered it to be a toilet running in the back. (At least that was something "paranormal" we discovered, but more of a natural nature.). Sensed the spirit of a child named Peter with blonde hair. Laughing. He enjoyed playing with the books. Susan reported that her daughter often asked to play with the little boy at Haslams, and she thinks the entity is he.
EMF: YES Range of Reading/Spike: 1.5 /Susan
Time & duration: Unknown
Location: Children's section
Other occurrences:
Susan and Sandy sensed the Spirit of a child named Rebecca. She was lost and looking for her "Mommy". She described a car accident in which she and her mother were hit by a black car in an area near Haslams. The mother survived, the child did not. Her spirit wandered to Haslams. She doesn't understand why her mother left her. Susan asked the child to sit with her. She was lonely, afraid, and didn't want her picture taken. Susan's body temperature measured from 89-91 degrees on her left side but dropped in the area she said she felt the child to 76-77 on the left side. Information has not yet been researched or validated. Ray had not heard that before. Sandy reported that there was a guardian figure, who went for the child and shut down communications (like a wall came down) when he noticed the child was upset.
Two chairs contained the spirits of a prim woman who liked her "spirits" and cooking, and the salt and pepper haired man. Both seemed amicable to the investigation, and curious about it. Polaroid images turned up nothing; pictures of the area may have found an orb or a mist. Both chairs did emit EMF, though no wires could be found around the area. Similar phenomena happened during the last investigation.
Shortly thereafter, several spirits were sensed in the room including Joy, with blond hair, a "Florida girl", who was tan. A cookbook, which caught the eye of several, had a strong impression of a Donald or Ronald.
The hallway behind the children's section, which is used as storage, has an exit, and holds estate books, really startled Susan and Sandy. They sensed a negative presence and did not want to go down there. Brandy and Alan went with Ray through the hall. Didn't sense anything, but did note the cleanliness of the store (no dust despite the books) and caught a potential orb image (unsure). It did smell musty to some in the area of the hallway.
EMF: YES Range of Reading/Spike: Strange duration, caution, Susan's meter also spiked, didn't record reading.
Time & duration: Various
Location: Metaphysical room
Other occurrences:
Susan sensed a woman named Emily who is a very strong believer in Christianity. She didn't like Susan, who is of a non-Christian Faith. Susan sensed a heavy pressure on her throat, and had the idea that Emily had white hair; she had some problem with her gallbladder/stomach/or liver, and that she considered all non-Christians "heatern" (phonetically spelled).
Alan reported that his head hurt in the area of the metaphysical section. He does report that he has a sinus condition, but believes this particular sense of pressure is related to the entity, and not to the pressure.
In this area, EMF was sensed along the back wall near the Bibles. However, it was of intense duration, and consistent -- most likely a wiring system. Brandy remembers that a lot of wires are on the other side of the wall.
In one corner of the room Susan sensed a friend named Ron who stayed in Haslams quite a bit. Susan quotes him as saying that Books are his idea of heaven.
At the end of the investigation, Ray reports that he sensed a vortex that was opened in the area of the metaphysical section. He did not sense that energy there earlier in the day. He the area sometimes has unusual energies and reports that a lot of work has been made to get the area stabilized and positive.
EMF: NO
Location: Front room, right of main entrance
Other occurrences:
Sandy sensed a person reading a book. Felt it was a place memory of a man reaching up to get a book, and reading it. Possible temperature flux, but very mild and I didn't record the information.
EVP: NO - Not done on this hunt.
Other occurrences:
Possible doors slamming; could have been Ray's wife who came to work in the store for a while.
Other Notes:
Ray reported that the cat that was at Haslam's for the first investigation died one year ago. He sometimes senses her walking up behind him.
Observations & Conclusions:
This investigation was rather unusual for us. Several points are illustrated below:
A) The legend of Haslam's ghosts is well known. Jack K., is said to haunt the store. Also, several of the SPIRITS know people who have been "tapped" in the store.
B) Brandy investigated the store before and has talked with others about it. This is the store where she got her award winning ghost photograph of the mist image near the arts section, which she has displayed for others of the team, and public, to see.
C) Imago Magazine had two representatives: Alan, the editor, and Dick, the photographer. Though they stayed out of the way and also participated in the investigation, it was a distraction. Dick left early at approx. 8:30 p.m.
D) Most of us had gotten off of work after a long day. Sandy left directly from work to come to the investigation and looked quite drained by the end of it. Susan also had a long day and Brandy taught classes. Ray had also worked, and Alan came after a long list of prior commitments. Many already felt drained and tired at the start of the hunt (Brandy felt fatigued). Brandy, personally, found the investigation to be less organized than usual.
E) Three of the SPIRITS did not attend the hunt, though they had confirmed they would come. This reduced the investigation force by half. The store is quite large, and a tertiary trip may be needed to investigate the remainder of the area.
F) It was not scheduled during a new or full moon, as most of the investigations tend to be.
G) Several of the ghosts are new to Ray. He also suggested that the SPIRITS check to see whom they bring with them. Sandy acknowledges "Adam", a guardian figure, and notes when he is present. Susan feels that she and Brandy do not carry entities with them. Brandy does not believe that many people DO carry entities with them. It is her understanding that only in very rare cases do ghosts attach themselves to people. She has not found evidence of an attached ghost on herself, Susan, or Sandy.
H) The investigation results have been posted faster than usual. The SPIRITS have spent a lot of time over the weekend pouring over the results. Not all of the research will be completed by the time the magazine goes to press.
I) The team did NOT attempt an EVP session as we normally do. Not enough time and the store was very large.
J) Several anomalous images did show up in Brandy's photos. Photo technicians examined the negatives and determined the film was OK and the negatives were not tampered with; some of these unusual images are part of the photograph. A second opinion will be sought out to validate this.
1) One digital image shows what Brandy believes is a well-formed orb, with a potential mist around it.
2) One 35-mm image shows a fog image and a strange crab like blob moving across two books. Technician looked at the image and said it is not the film or negative.
3) A possible orb showed up in the area of the hallway near the estate books. However, it's hard to validate as it is light in color. Other images do not contain the orb image.
4) Several possible images showed up around two chairs that had EMF energy. One is a mist; the other is an orb. However, it's, again, hard to confirm this information due to light refraction.
5) No images appeared in the 5 Polaroid images Brandy took
K) Haslams does remain consistent with manifestation phenomena. However, how many ghosts are there, and who they are, remains a mystery. Sandy did not identify an individual named "Jack".will try to verify with Susan. I (Brandy) am not sure how many of the ghosts we can validate. The man with the salt and pepper hair evidentially has been active before. He may have been the entity from the first investigation sensed by Lee, Karen and myself. Ray told us that he has reputedly tapped a skeptic on the shoulder and asked him "How are you?" Turning to reply, the man found himself staring at empty space. This entity, whoever he is, is quite witty and seems to have a sense of humor.
Jack K. may be at it again:
Brandy, (9/29)
I think I did make contact with Jack Keouroak (sp?) While you and the boys were (against our better judgment) snooping in the hallway where the elevator shaft is I got a sharp pain in the neck. Sandy "saw" a man leaning his chin on my shoulder. She got out the EMF meter and got spikes that did move, oddly enough from my posterior! So all I can figure is that Jack goosed me.
Susan
Haslam's New and Used Books September 12, 2002
Sandy's Report
Present: Brandy Stark, Susan Granby, Alan (Imago editor), Dick (Imago photographer) and Ray (Haslam's owner)
Start time: 8:00 pm
End time: 10:30 pm
History & Activity:
See previous article on the SPIRITS website at http://centralflghosts.homestead.com/haslams.html
Investigation:
In the Front of the store I sensed an older man as well as several other spirits who were curious as to what we were doing. They found it rather amusing and were eager to be recognized. There was a roaming cold spot felt by all of us and temperature readings were taken. I also sensed a man who was taking books off the shelf and reading them. This is a place memory I believe.
Susan and I picked up a large presence that I got the word "elemental" on. It was as tall and wide as the doorway it was standing in. Possibly connected to the land and it roams a certain path within the store. I get very negative vibes in one of the hallways from this entity and would not return down it.
In the Children's Section I sensed the presence of an older man and got the word "Guardian". I think he looks over the kids who come into this section. Also Susan and I picked up the presence of a little girl lost that we believe had been killed in a car accident near the store. She is alone, scared and confused and while Susan was trying to offer comfort, the Guardian shut down communication with her. Varying temperature readings were taken during this time. There is a little boy here who likes to look and play with the books.
In the section with the cookbooks we picked up a man and woman sitting in the chairs at the end of the section. The man was stubby in appearance and had a bad left leg. The woman was very prim and proper and dressed in a tailored suit. They were aware of each other and though the woman was leery of the man, they manage to coexist peacefully.
In the Metaphysical Section Susan sensed and angry woman who was deeply religious and had issues with any of the books that were not of her faith. She especially had issues with Susan and considered us all "heatherens". Also in the far corner of the room Susan sensed a good friend of hers who had passed recently. He loved Haslam's and often spent many hours there while alive. He seemed an easy going and friendly man who enjoyed watching us work.
Conclusions:
Haslam's simply rocks with activity. There was so much going on and I was getting so much information so quickly it was hard to keep up. I was exhausted after word and it took several days to recover. I think it warrants further investigation, perhaps a section of the store at a time. I think spirits are attracted to the store due to its laid back and casual atmosphere; they're made to feel very comfortable there. And the energies are very positive.
SPIRITS Reader Observation:
In the course of surfing your site I read the section on Haslam's Book Store. Being fairly local (Port Charlotte) and found in fascinating. One thing I noticed, however. You found no evidence of jack Kerouac but you did sense the presence of a "John". Could this be the French "Jean"? Please see this quote from The Official Web Site of Jack Kerouac:
Jean-Louis Lebris de Kerouac was born on March 12, 1922 in Lowell, Massachusetts. Jack, as he was later called, spoke no English until he was around six years old. At home, his family spoke a French dialect called joual. Leo and Gabrielle Kerouac, Jack’s parents, were both descendants of French-Canadian immigrants who settled in New England.
As you can see, Jack would have been know by "Jean" until he was at least six years old. Seeing as how he moved to the Tampa area to take care of his mother, it is quite possible she called him Jean and this was the name he went by (at least at home) in his later years. It's a thought, anyway.
From Imago editor: Small white orb over two tiles. Digital camera.
This appears to be an orb. It shows up under analysis as 3-D. The only drawback: Note the large flash image to the right of the orb. Could this be a light refraction or is this an orb? Taken during a time of EMF and energy fluctuations.
SPIRITS article: 12/22/02
As 2003 dawns, the SPIRITS stand at the beginning of a new era. Through struggle, work, and a little bit of luck, the group stands firm in its quest to seek out and understand paranormal phenomena.
October was an exceptionally busy month for the team. In addition to nearly doubling in size, the media's spotlight fell upon us. Several individual publications opted to follow the team on investigations.
This left a bit of a quandary. The SPIRITS strive to maintain levels of privacy for the homes investigated. We needed known haunted areas that could be opened to the public, without fear of recrimination. Thankfully, Haslam's New and Used Bookstore agreed to host two separate investigations, both shadowed by members of the press.
The SPIRITS had some familiarity with the spectral happenings within Haslam's. The team had investigated the area in February of 2001, and experienced high levels of activity. A door rattled and footsteps were heard prior to the investigation. Unusual EMF (electromagnetic energy) was recorded coming from areas of the bookstore with no known active electronic equipment or wiring. As the group toured, one member felt compelled to snap a series of photographs aimed at a wall of books. Of the 5 pictures, the third developed with a mist-like image, later judged and awarded by other ghost investigators for its authenticity in appearance.
Would the results replicate during subsequent investigations? Or would the reporter's pen scare the ghosts away?
The answer to both questions appears to be "yes."
The first investigation, scheduled in September, was host to some unusual manifestations. The meeting took place on a weeknight, with the store manager, Ray, remaining after hours to work with the team. The two representatives of Imago magazine drove an hour and a half to get to this location. The SPIRITS members, many of whom maintain full time jobs, arrived after work. All appeared exhausted, though remained primed to see what types of manifestations, if any, would occur.
EMF was again recorded in unusual locations, but this time the readings remained consistent and most likely related to the internal mechanisms of the store. Unusual noises, consistent and steady, were tracked to a drip in the toilet of a bathroom.
However, SPIRITS sensitives recognized several entities who attempted to communicate with the team. The first was a little girl. Attracted to a member who was, herself, the mother of three children, this child-spirit stayed nearby for a time. Both EMF and temperature fluctuations occurred as the teammate attempted to soothe the entity. A digital image captured both an orb and a light mist in that area.
A second personality, relaxed and amused by the group, appeared to lounge in one of the store's plastic chairs, which emitted EMF. No known logical source of energy was located in the area. Subsequent photographs reveal potential orbs, though they may also be light refractions on the surface of the chair.
The most unusual phenomena came from an area that held no known prior activity. A 35 mm film photograph shows both a mist-like image snaking through a nearby internal doorway, and a small blot of dense white material hovering in front of shelf of books. The negatives were examined by a 12-year professional photography veteran who determined that both were part of the image, and were not created by external tampering or film defects.
A third trip to the store occurred when the Tampa Tribune asked to write a story about the SPIRITS. This took place in October, near the death date of Jack Kerouac, the ghost most often said to haunt Haslam's. While orbs appeared in digital and 35 mm photographs taken by the team, none seemed to related to Mr. Kerouac himself, who was thought to manifest near his own books.
The articles produced by both investigations are invaluable to the team. They have garnered the interest of the community and serve to educate the efforts of paranormal investigators. They also led to new faces and new opportunities for the SPIRITS as 2003 unfolds.
We wish to thank you for your continued support as we persist in improving ourselves and our investigative techniques, and as we maintain our efforts to eliminate the misunderstandings associated with the mysterious world of the unknown.
To see more images, read reports, and see the results of all three Haslam's investigations, please go to the SPIRITS website at: http://centralflghosts.homestead.com/home.html
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