Paranormal Group Zeroes in on Twin Cities

Paranormal Group Zeroes in on Twin Cities
June 23, 2009
By Eric Schwartz
Chronline.com

Neil White says he hasn’t seen it or heard it, but he knows plenty of people who have.

The owner of the The Aerie Ballroom in downtown Centralia is speaking of course of “Jorris,” the name given to the ghost said to haunt the halls of the historic building.

White is among a growing list of locals to be visited by the Northwest Paranormal Investigation Agency, an organization of about 18 “ghost hunters” from throughout Western Washington. A team from the organization collected evidence and readings at the ballroom earlier this month.

“We got the full examination,” White said, adding that “I’ve never seen anything but I know people who I respect their opinion and they swear to God they have seen the ghost.”

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“Jorris” is a reference to former building owner Jorris Haarstad, White said.

Northwest Paranormal Investigation Agency Case Manager Vaughn Hubbard said The Aerie was paranormally active, though he said the findings haven’t been completely vetted and the results won’t be released for a while. The group uses digital recorders, cameras and other tools to log bumps, creaks, moans and anything else that might allude to a ghostly presence.

Hubbard said the group also visited the Lewis County Historical Museum in Chehalis. It marks the second time ghost hunters have descended upon the old train station after South Sound Paranormal Research visited earlier this year.

Hubbard said the museum visit and subsequent returns to Lewis County are examples of a new strategy for his band of ghoul chasers. He said the NPIA plans to visit other suspected haunted sites throughout the state. In Lewis County, he said the museum pointed his team toward The Aerie and the Olympic Club, where they plan to return in mid-July.

“It helps us find out exactly where there might be a history of paranormal activity going on,” Hubbard said. “We don’t have a lot of money or resources, so it helps to get that information.”

The potential for ghostly tourism isn’t lost on Hubbard either. He said that by visiting more rural, less-publicized haunts, his organization has a chance to conduct its tests and draw attention to historic locales at the same time.

“It’s a win-win situation for everyone,” he said. “We get to do our paranormal investigation and hopefully we can bring more interest to towns like Centralia and Chehalis.”