Whether it’s disembodied voices, apparitions or just something that goes bump in the night, U.P. residents have several options to call for some good old fashioned ghost busting.
While there’s no green ectoplasm goo involved, several groups in the area do investigations for ghosts, just in a little different fashion than depicted in the movies.
In Marquette, the U.P. Paranormal Society (UPPS), is one such option. Founded in August 2006, the team investigates paranormal activity of all kinds in homes, outdoor locations and other buildings.
“We’re always willing to help,” said founder Maryanne Brown. “Sometimes people just need to know that something really is going on in their homes, and that they’re not crazy.”
UPPS has six people on their team—a photographer, a researcher, a spiritual specialist, a journalist and a manager, as well a codirector. They carry a range of beliefs about the paranormal, including some extreme skeptics. Brown said this keeps them honest.
“We disprove a lot of things just by really questioning whether or not it’s real,” Brown said. “It’s good to have people that are skeptical around.”
The process of investigating a potentially haunted site starts with an interview with the home or building owners.
“We can usually tell a lot by personal interaction,” she said. “We have guidelines of questions we ask to get a feel of the situation.”
Brown said many times, you can get a feeling from a home when you enter it.
“It’s a lot like when you walk into a house right after your friend has had a fight with their spouse,” she said. “You can feel the energy. Paranormal energy is similar. It gives you an uncomfortable feeling.”
After the interview, the team generally sets up a timeline for the investigation.
“We rarely turn someone down,” Brown said. “It takes a lot for people to ask for our help, and they’re almost always really serious about it.”
Brown said her team prefers to investigate a place when nobody is home.
“We set up recording equipment and cameras,” she said. “We try to target the areas of the reported activity.”
Some symptoms of a haunting that people typically report include unexplained cold spots, footsteps, raps on the wall or disembodied voices, nightmares, objects being moved around the house or misplaced and mysteriously returned, appliances that turn on and off by themselves, and pets reacting to something the human eye cannot see.
Brown, originally from New York, said the U.P. is a great spot to gather paranormal evidence because ghosts are attracted to metals and water, and we have plenty of that in the area.
“There’s also a lot of history here,” she said. “There have been a lot of struggles and hard-knock life in the area.”
Despite the potential of a “hot-spot” location, obtaining conclusive evidence from an investigation still is rare. Paranormal researchers generally use EMF, EVP and various types of cameras to document things.
EMF or Electromagnetic Field detectors pick up on spikes in electromagnetic radiation or electricity in the area. EVPs, or electronic voice phenomena, are things we cannot hear with the human ear, but are captured by a recording device. Cameras can catch figures, mists, which all can indicate that something out of the ordinary is going on.
Top-notch equipment is expensive, and Brown said they are limited in what they have available, but they sometimes team up with other groups to be able to expand their investigations. Brown said working with other paranormal investigation groups is important, and she doesn’t feel like her group is in competition with any other group.
“We share ideas and swap findings to get each others opinions,” she said.
One such group, the Shadow Watchers of Escanaba, works with UPPS in this capacity. They share stories, evidence and background on potentially haunted sites. Brown said she also will call another group in to get extra eyes and ears—and equipment.
“A lot of things can be found at Radio Shack or online,” she said. “But you can substitute, also. Like a compass will register disturbances in the electromagnetic field, similar to an EMF.”
After the investigation is over, the team takes some time to evaluate the evidence, and then reports its findings to the homeowner
“We let them know if we found anything,” she said. “A lot of times people say, ‘I just want you to tell me I’m not crazy.’ They just want to know that something is going on in their home.”
If the team determines there is something paranormal going on, the homeowners have options.
“We can bring in a medium to try and help the spirit cross over,” Brown said. “Or sometimes the family has a priest come in to bless the house. There are options, depending on what you believe.”
While the team enjoys the investigations, currently they are focused on planning the second annual Crossings Weekend, scheduled for November 2 and 3 at the Landmark Inn. They are co-hosting the event with the Shadow Watchers.
“This is a chance for people to explore their self and healing and spirituality,” Brown said.
The event features workshops, ghost tours, vendors, a masquerade ball and more. Brown said she was excited by the turnout last year, and expects even more attendees this year.
Ghost tours, narrated by local talent Bobby Glenn Brown, will stop at the Landmark, Jackson’s Cut, Delft Theatre and other places with a reputation for being haunted. The cost is $5 per tour, and they leave the Landmark Inn every hour, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Friday night.
Workshops include energy healing, dream analysis, ghost hunting, Laho-Chi, past-life regression, spirit guides and others. One highlight is the inner-self workshop “Behind the Mask” with Kim Nixon, in which participants make a mask, which can be used for the masquerade ball. The cost is $5 per workshop.
In addition, mediums, authors and other experts in the field will be on hand to offer their expertise. Plans also are in the works to offer an actual haunting investigation where the public can join in and learn how to use equipment and validate results.
Live music will be provided by Sycamore Smith at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday in the Harbor Room. Cost is $5 at the door.
“We were impressed with the variety of people who came and enjoyed themselves last year,” she said. “It takes all kinds of people to make a community, and this event is here to stay.”
Rooms at the Landmark are going quickly for that weekend; to reserve one, call 228-2580 and mention “Crossings Weekend” to get a special price. Vendors interested in selling their wares should call 228-2369. For details on and an updated schedule, visit www.crossingovermqt.com
—Kristy Basolo

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