Ghost Hunting in Eatonton

 The television in the little girl's bedroom suddenly comes on in the middle of the night.  She stares at the screen that reveals only a snowy picture.  Walking over to the TV, she calmly says, "They're here."  The entire theater screams in fright. 

 

It is a memorable scene from the 1982 hit movie, Poltergeist crafted by Steven Spielberg and ranked as one of the most frightening movie scenes ever created.  The girl and her family are living in a house constructed on top of an old graveyard.  Ghosts confront them from the graves under the house.  Ultimately, a paranormal medium (played by Zelda Rubinstein) is called in to "clean" the house of ghosts.

 

"They're here" in Eatonton!  And a paranormal specialist, Denise Rolfe and her team from the Southeastern Institute of Paranormal Research will lead a ghost hunt in eleven locations in downtown Eatonton, including the old city jail, the Bronson House and the 1830s Masonic Lodge.  The event will be held on October 16th and 23rd at 5:30 pm, starting at the Georgia Writers Museum with dinner and a short lecture.  The cost is $45 per person ($80 per couple) and includes dinner and the first drink.

 

Attendees will learn what to look for and how to use special paranormal investigating equipment. Then, grouped into teams led by an investigator, they will explore eleven potentially haunted sites.  Think of it like following along with modern-day versions of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Harold Ramis; only you get to participate, not just observe! 

 

The Southeastern Institute of Paranormal Research (SIPR) was founded in 2008 by Denise Rolfe, author of the highly acclaimed book, Ghosts and Legends of Charleston and Diane Culpepper.  Their world headquarters is located near Atlanta.  While SIPR uses technical equipment to collect data from the physical environment, they also utilize psychic research methods.  They bring their psychical research team into the investigation "cold." The data collected is then validated through "hard" evidence from historical documentation.

 

How can you prepare for this life-altering event sponsored by Georgia Writers Museum? Start by registering for the event on www.georgiawritersmuseum.org.  Second, get kids you know to submit a spooky story for the 4th annual Spooky Story Contest held between September 13th and October 15th at www.georgiawritersmuseum.org. Winners will be announced on Friday, October 29th. Prizes will be awarded for 1st – 3rd place in each grade level. All first-place winners will have their story and picture printed in the local newspaper!  Check out the website for details.

 

And if you think this ghost stuff is just a bunch of nonsense, withhold your final judgment until you have read the "Do You Believe in Ghosts" article on the Georgia Writers Museum's website. Then, you just might change your view.  So, who you gonna call?  Call the Georgia Writers Museum and learn more details about these amazing events in October.

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Georgia Writers Museum is dedicated to inspiring today’s writers/readers and celebrating Georgia’s literary heritage by exploring the history and life stories of local writers Alice Walker (The Color Purple), Flannery O’Connor (A Good Man is Hard to Find), and Joel Chandler Harris (Brer Rabbit Folktales), along with others in the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame. Currently, small group tours are available by appointment. Admission to the museum is free; the museum relies on donations from guests and supporters to deliver quality programming, exhibits and classes. To learn more, visit www.georgiawritersmuseum.com, Facebook: georgiawritersmuseum, and Instagram: georgiawritersmuseum8.