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Searching for Dahlonega's haunt spots
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By Matt Aiken
The Dahlonega Paranormal Investigators aren't really ghost busters. They're more like ghost photographers.
This is something that a particularly interesting photo of an overcast day in Mt. Hope Cemetery last week can attest.
Does the frame capture a blurry spirit crossing West Main Street? Does a hazy ghost girl hover in front of a nearby hedge?
Holly Prince thinks so.
In fact, as a founding member of the team of approximately a dozen local paranormal researchers, she's the one who took the shot.
“That's the first time we've ever taken pictures in the daylight before,” she said. “When I got home I downloaded it and that just popped out, the little girl and the guy in the road.”
So if you've ever suspected that your house is harboring haunts, then the Dahlonega Paranormal Investigators (DPI for short) would like to hear from you. The group of local spook hunters enjoys combing corners of supposedly haunted spots with digital cameras and voice recorders. Their research then takes them to the back shelves of local libraries as they study the background behind each building.
At the end of each investigation, the DPI presents each client with a report of the paranormal proof, if any, that has been obtained.
It's all free of charge and, Holly added, confidential.
“Dahlonega is so old of a town,” she said. “And there's so many stories here. And there's so many places that people know things are going on in their house. They just haven't told anybody or they're afraid to say something or somebody will think they're crazy.”
While digital cameras are the main tool of these paranormal researchers, the typical ghost hunt also involves the search for an EVP or Electronic Voice Phenomena.
Often digital voice recorders are placed throughout an investigation site as members attempt to pick up otherworldly sounds.
“There's unbelievable stuff that you can get if you just be patient,” said her husband, and fellow DPI member, Gary. “Even though you're not getting anything on an EVP...you'll go home and hook it up and it's like “Where does this come from? That's not our voice.”
Recently the group was investigating a house in Winder in which a child had died at an early age. Upon studying their recordings they heard what they described as the notes of “Pop Goes the Weasel” being played on a Jack-in-the-Box.
Then a few days later, while investigating a building in Dahlonega, their recorder appeared to pick up the same chill-bump inducing sound once again.
“So it's following us,” said Holly.
Still she didn't sound too worried about potential poltergeists. In fact, Holly points out that a healthy does of skepticism is key to ghost hunting.
“We're always skeptical,” she said. “You have to be skeptical when you do this because you want to rule out everything it could be. You can't go in thinking everything you hear and see is a ghost.”
The group is on a continual search for living souls to join their ranks as well. But those who are prone to frightened outbursts are encouraged to stay at home since many of the group's ghost hunts take place at night in a cemetery.
“If I have any members that come out here and get scared and scream they're gonna have to leave,” said Holly.
For the mother of two, Holly's work is really much more than just a hobby. It's a search for the afterlife on earth, an interest that was ignited by the death of her brother six years ago.
“After that I just always felt the need to find answers and proof of the afterlife, just to find that peace and in knowing that life does not stop at death, that our loved ones are always with us,” she said.
And Holly believes the evidence is out there. All one has to do is stop, look and listen.
“The energy is still here,” she said. “You can feel it, sense it and sometimes you just know it.”
And occasionally, if the spirits are willing, you may get a picture of it.
This is something that a particularly interesting photo of an overcast day in Mt. Hope Cemetery last week can attest.
Does the frame capture a blurry spirit crossing West Main Street? Does a hazy ghost girl hover in front of a nearby hedge?
Holly Prince thinks so.
In fact, as a founding member of the team of approximately a dozen local paranormal researchers, she's the one who took the shot.
“That's the first time we've ever taken pictures in the daylight before,” she said. “When I got home I downloaded it and that just popped out, the little girl and the guy in the road.”
So if you've ever suspected that your house is harboring haunts, then the Dahlonega Paranormal Investigators (DPI for short) would like to hear from you. The group of local spook hunters enjoys combing corners of supposedly haunted spots with digital cameras and voice recorders. Their research then takes them to the back shelves of local libraries as they study the background behind each building.
At the end of each investigation, the DPI presents each client with a report of the paranormal proof, if any, that has been obtained.
It's all free of charge and, Holly added, confidential.
“Dahlonega is so old of a town,” she said. “And there's so many stories here. And there's so many places that people know things are going on in their house. They just haven't told anybody or they're afraid to say something or somebody will think they're crazy.”
While digital cameras are the main tool of these paranormal researchers, the typical ghost hunt also involves the search for an EVP or Electronic Voice Phenomena.
Often digital voice recorders are placed throughout an investigation site as members attempt to pick up otherworldly sounds.
“There's unbelievable stuff that you can get if you just be patient,” said her husband, and fellow DPI member, Gary. “Even though you're not getting anything on an EVP...you'll go home and hook it up and it's like “Where does this come from? That's not our voice.”
Recently the group was investigating a house in Winder in which a child had died at an early age. Upon studying their recordings they heard what they described as the notes of “Pop Goes the Weasel” being played on a Jack-in-the-Box.
Then a few days later, while investigating a building in Dahlonega, their recorder appeared to pick up the same chill-bump inducing sound once again.
“So it's following us,” said Holly.
Still she didn't sound too worried about potential poltergeists. In fact, Holly points out that a healthy does of skepticism is key to ghost hunting.
“We're always skeptical,” she said. “You have to be skeptical when you do this because you want to rule out everything it could be. You can't go in thinking everything you hear and see is a ghost.”
The group is on a continual search for living souls to join their ranks as well. But those who are prone to frightened outbursts are encouraged to stay at home since many of the group's ghost hunts take place at night in a cemetery.
“If I have any members that come out here and get scared and scream they're gonna have to leave,” said Holly.
For the mother of two, Holly's work is really much more than just a hobby. It's a search for the afterlife on earth, an interest that was ignited by the death of her brother six years ago.
“After that I just always felt the need to find answers and proof of the afterlife, just to find that peace and in knowing that life does not stop at death, that our loved ones are always with us,” she said.
And Holly believes the evidence is out there. All one has to do is stop, look and listen.
“The energy is still here,” she said. “You can feel it, sense it and sometimes you just know it.”
And occasionally, if the spirits are willing, you may get a picture of it.
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For example, if Mr. Fill-in-the-Blank says something you don't agree with, don't tell the world that Mr. Fill-in-the-Blank is a no good dirty scoundrel who cuts off people in traffic and has owed you $20 since 1997. The Nugget asks you to please just stick to the issues at hand. That way we'll keep the debate lively, without getting personal. And remember, above all else, keep it civil and directed at the topic that's being discussed. We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
Carrie wrote on Jul 17, 2008 2:36 AM: