Wednesday, February 23, 2011

N.A.P.S. Unveils New Demonology Site

The Natchez Area Paranormal Society is pleased to announce the unveiling of our demonology site!  It is the home domain site of Natchez Paranormal's S.O.R. Unit (Spiritual & Occult Research Unit), which is a small but dedicated group of specially called individuals within our larger group of paranormal investigators.  The "Seal," shown on the left, is the official crest of our S.O.R. Unit, and depicts the Archangel Michael, our patron Saint, with the words in Latin "Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle."  Those words are from the larger prayer that most are familiar with. 

Although the site is new and there is not much content posted on it yet, we would like to make our readers aware of it.  It is the second of four planned "satellite" sites that supplement our Main Website at http://www.natchezparanormal.com/

Here is the link: enjoy!  N.A.P.S. Demonology Site - Spiritual & Occult Research 

While the main site is dedicated and designed specifically for potential clients in need of investigation, the satellite sites are designed for other specific and special purposes.  The concept behind the new demonology site is to present and post the more spiritual and demonology/angelology aspects of paranormal research.  It will also present information and our views of occult practices - such as Wicca, Ouija, Tarot, Voodoo & Hoodoo, paganism/neo-paganism, and tons of others that are far too numerous to list here.  Additionally, there will be postings on scriptural breakdowns and an "apologetic" of our view of ghosts and how scripture, in our view, does support the concept of ghosts as human beings being caught up between this world and heaven.  We will also discuss famous cases of exorcism and demon possession that movies were based upon, such as Anneliese Michel (The Possession of Emily Rose); Douglas Deen (The Exorcist); and Doris Bither (The Entity); as well as famous historic cases such as the Watseka Wonder and the Loudun Possessions.  Finally, toward the bottom of the site, you will find the beginnings of what will become several topic specific Vocabulary and Concept "dictionaries" for resource and reference.  It will take us time, but eventually we will build an awesome site with tons of information on spiritual and occult research, from our perspective.  More content will be added weekly.  Earlier this year, we launched our Historical Archives satellite site.

Later in 2011, we hope to unveil the last two of our four "satellite" sites:

Case Files & Evidence Site - which will showcase some of our audio, video, and photo evidence, as well as non-technical evidence; and make available our case files that are releasable to the public.

Paranormal Investigation Education  Training Site: which will be educational and pedagogical in nature, in many categories of paranormal investigation, including specific pieces of equipment, methods, ghost theory; strategies of field investigations, etc.

Thanks for dropping by our site.  Please bookmark us under your favorites!  We are strongly dedicated to being a great source of news, evidence, education and activity in the paranormal research field.  Stay tuned!

Cryptozoology: Lake Windermere Monster

The latest news on the cryptozoology front is a sighting last week - along with a photo - of a Loch Ness type "monster" in England.  The photograph to the left was taken by two British kayakers on Lake Windermere near Bowness.  The creature has been reportedly sighted for many years, but this is the first photograph produced. For a report on the story, click on the link below:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1357987/Loch-Ness-monster-sighting-picture-Is-Bownessie-Lake-Windermere.html

Friday, February 18, 2011

St. Michael the Archangel Prayer (Latin & English)



Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio, contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur: tuque, Princeps militiae coelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo, divina virtute, in infernum detrude. Amen.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Legends & Folklore of the Myrtles Plantation

LEGENDS OF
THE MYRTLE’S PLANTATION
Research compiled by NAPS Paranormal Investigator Cheryl Freeman


Widely regarded as one of “America's most haunted homes," the Myrtles Plantation is supposedly the site of at least 12 ghosts with 10 murders occurring in the home.  However, the facts are far different from the legends and stories surrounding the site.  Historical records only indicate the murder of William Winter.

The Legend of Chloe:
Chloe, the most well known ghost, was Clark Woodruff’s slave mistress.  She was also a household servant who had to give in to Woodruff’s sexual advances in order to stay in the home and not have to work the fields.  Woodruff grew tired of Chloe and chose another mistress.  Chloe, fearing she would be sent back to the fields, started eavesdropping on private family conversations and she got caught.  To teach her a lesson, her ear was cut off.  To hide her shame, she wore a green turban on her head.  She decided to poison the family and then nurses them back to health as a way to get back onto Woodruff’s good graces. 

Photo at Left: The infamous photo supposedly of Chloe, seen standing between the two buildings just to the right of the column.

Chloe added the extract of a handful of crushed Oleander to the children’s birthday cake.  Only 2 of the children and Sarah ate the cake.  Once sick, Chloe tended to the needs of the family but within hours they died.  Knowing what Chloe had done, and fearing they would be punished, the other slaves hung Chloe from a tree and then threw her body into the Mississippi River.

The poisoning took place in the children’s dining room and so after the death of the three family members, it was never used again. The historical record does not support this legend. There is no record of the Woodruffs owning a slave named Chloe or Cleo. The legends usually claim that Sara and her two daughters were poisoned, but Mary Octavia lived well into adulthood. Finally, Sara, James, and Cornelia Woodruff were not killed by poisoning, but died of yellow fever.  Regardless of the factual accuracy of the Chloe legend, some believe a woman wearing a green turban haunts the plantation.  The ghost of Chloe has been reported at the Myrtles and was even accidentally photographed by a past owner. The plantation still sells picture postcards today with the cloudy image of what is purported to be Chloe standing between two of the buildings (see photo above). The former slave is thought to be the most frequently encountered ghost at the Myrtles. She has often been seen wandering the place at night. Sometimes the cries of little children accompany her appearances and at other times, those who are sleeping are startled awake by her face, peering at them from the side of the bed.



Other Legends:
It has been alleged that as many as six other people had been killed in the house.  Lewis Stirling, the oldest son of Ruffin Grey Stirling, was claimed to have been stabbed to death in the house over a gambling debt. However, burial records in St. Francisville state that he died in October 1854 at the age of 23 from yellow fever.


According to legend, three Union soldiers were killed in the house after they broke in and attempted to loot the place. They were allegedly shot to death in the gentlemen's parlor, leaving bloodstains on the floor that refused to be wiped away. One account has it that after the Myrtles was opened as an inn, a maid was mopping the floor and came to a spot that, no matter how hard she scrubbed, the spot would not disappear. Supposedly, the spot was the same size as a human body and was said to have been where one of the Union soldiers fell. The strange phenomenon was said to have lasted for a month and has not occurred since. No soldiers were ever killed in the house. There are no records or evidence to say that there were and in fact, surviving family members denied the story was true.


Another murder allegedly occurred in 1927, when a caretaker at the house was killed during a robbery. No record exists of the crime.  The story may have spawned from the actual occurrence of the death of the brother of Fannie Williams.  He was killed while being robbed but this did not occur in the main house, as the story states.
The only verifiable murder to occur at the Myrtles was that of William Drew Winter and it differs wildly from the legends that have been told. In the legend, Winter was shot and then staggered back into the house, passed through the gentlemen's parlor and the ladies parlor and onto the staircase.  He then managed to climb just high enough to die in his beloved's arms on exactly the 17th step. It has since been claimed that ghostly footsteps have been heard coming into the house, walking to the stairs and then climbing to the 17th step where they, of course, come to an end.  Winter was indeed murdered on the front porch.  However, the truth is that he was shot, fell down and died immediately.  He never made it one foot inside the house, much less the 17th step of the staircase.


The Haunted Mirror Legend:
Another "haunted highlight" of the Myrtles is a large mirror that is said to hold the spirits Sara Woodruff and two of her children.  According to custom, mirrors were covered after a death, but legend says that after the poisoning of the Woodruffs, this particular mirror was overlooked.  The uncovered mirror reportedly trapped the spirits of Sara and her children. 


Those who photograph the mirror will often find that the developed picture holds the images of handprints of several seemingly inside of the glass. When these spectral images first appeared, the mirror was thoroughly cleaned but the prints remained. Perplexed, the owners then tried replacing the glass, thinking that perhaps they were flaws in the mirror itself. Strangely though, the handprints returned!

Those who studied the mirror have suggested that perhaps the handprints (or images like them) are in the wood behind the mirror and not in the glass at all. In this way, lights (like a camera flash) pass through the glass and pick up the marks on the wood. This would cause the "handprints" to appear in every mirror that hangs in this location, no matter what glass is used.





Indian Burial Ground Legend:
Legend also has it that the house built on Tunica Indian burial mounds.  General Bradford was supposedly the first to see a ghost – a naked Indian girl. 

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Next Team Meeting is Set for Feb 25

Our next team meeting is set for Friday, February 25, for 7:00pm at the Civil Service Offices downtown. 

We hope to have a special guest speaker, discuss some upcoming and ongoing cases, and then we will likely be going out to one of two places to do some investigating.  Mark your calendars!  Also, we have a new applicant: Lauren Smith of Jackson, MS.  Hopefully, Lauren can make this meeting and you all can meet her.  Remember, January dues are due by the end of February or you risk suspension.  We need everybody, so please make sure you get your dues paid on time. Thanks, and see you at the meeting!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Fright Fest in Jackson a Rowsing Success!

The February Fright Festival (F3) held in Jackson last Saturday was a big success.  We met a lot of people, and answered a ton of questions about paranormal investigation.  We also got to hear people's firsthand stories of their own experiences.  Mike even had a couple of people who told him that they came to the festival just because they needed to speak to a demonologist about a problem they were having.  That was special.  Many of our visitors listened with fascination at the EVP evidence, as well as watched photo and video evidence on the three laptop "evidence portals" that we had available.  We handed out lots of business cards and rack cards.  They also got to see some of the equipment we use and discussed how we use it.  People were very curious and impressed. 

It was also great to get to spend extended time with Dr. Alan Brown, who has written numerous ghost tale books, including one about Natchez entitled, Haunted Natchez.  Dr. Brown asked Mike to keep close contact with him, and keep him posted on the various investigations N.A.P.S. is doing in and around Natchez.  There were many creative artists there as well as authors.  The Q & A Panel was a hit, with many questions being asked by the audience about different aspects of ghost hunting and specifically about demonic presences.  It was significant that all three teams present were united in our responses. Mike gave a presentation at the beginning of the session of the investigative process that NAPS goes through when thoroughly investigating a site.

The humorous highlight of the day was when the ghostbuster guy came through - and had an extra suit.  So, Mike suited up and had some fun.

So, the event was a success in more ways than one, and our booth looked fantastic!  To our friends at MSSPI and SPARS - thanks for coming along, and making the event special.

N.A.P.S. is looking forward to many more public relations and education events in the coming months.

Ghostbuster Fun!

The photo says it all!  What a blast! 

We suppose this shows that the N.A.P.S. Team Leader (far right) isn't so serious ALL of the time!

He also apparently is afraid of a ghost!  :)


Photo taken at the recent February Fright Fest (F3) in Jackson, MS.  N.A.P.S. was asked to provide an education booth on paranormal research and investigation. 

Thursday, February 3, 2011

NAPS Team Update

The heart of the Natchez Area Paranormal Society is to help people through crisis.  That was the motivation for creating N.A.P.S. to begin with, and continues to be what pushes us.  Sometimes, this involves what is known as "spirit rescue," which is helping deceased humans whose spirits are not at rest and need to be helped along to find their way to God's peace and their "home of rest."  Recently, I came across a quote that I think sums up perfectly what we are all about when it comes to helping in this area:

"Those of us who have worked through our grief - and find there is a future - are the ones who must meet others in the valley of darkness and bring them to the light."  -Rev. Simon E. Stephens, Founder of the Compassionate Friends


Below is a listing of the main things that are going on currently:

Private Home Cases: Team Members - to get info on new cases see Mike or Kim
Greenville, MS Private Home (New): In-depth interview being scheduled
Clinton, MS Private Home (New): In-depth interview scheduled for Feb 12, 8:00pm
Pomona, NY Private Home: Ongoing weekly phone consultations; and evidence by email
Winnfield, LA Private Home: Ongoing weekly follow-up in spiritual formation and check-ups

Public Cases:
Cases we have started historical research on:
Goat Castle Murder: Glenburnie (Mike)
The Myrtles Plantation (Cheryl)
The Eola Hotel (Chris)
The Old Adams County Jail (Benjie) 
Longwood
Magnolia Hall

Cemetery Preservation:
Trail and clearing at Meadvilla cemetery continues!  The weather has really put a stop to this for now!

February Fright Fest:
February 12 from 10:00am until 6:00pm in Jackson, MS (see separate post)

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

NAPS: Strong A.G.S. Representation

NAPS is proud to announce that five of its paranormal investigators are current members of the American Ghost Society (AGS).  They are: Mike Chapman, Kim Frith, Michael Hynson, Benjie Sanders and Cheryl Freeman.  NAPS is an Affiliate Member Team with the AGS.  Additionally, there are others of our members who will probably be joining soon.  We are strong supporters of this national organization led by Troy Taylor, and Team Leader Mike Chapman is an area representative for the AGS in the State of Mississippi and central Louisiana.  Mike is in contact with Troy on a regular basis, and reports NAPS's cases and activity such as PR Events, education, and cemetery preservation efforts to the home office in Chicago, Illinois.  A little about the AGS is presented below, from their website.

The American Ghost Society is a national network of ghost hunters and psychical researchers who conduct investigations into the paranormal in a non-metaphysical manner. One of our main goals is to seek out allegedly haunted locations and to assist those who are experiencing problems with the paranormal. The group members then look for authentic evidence of the paranormal and try to determine if the location is haunted. We are seeking genuine evidence and are careful about the presentation of this evidence... insuring that it is legitimate, researched and analyzed before being presented to the general public. By combining history with ghost research, we offer a unique approach to psychical research that few (if any) groups can offer.

Link to the AGS:
http://www.prairieghosts.com/ags.html

Butterflies & Rainbows

Did you know that the butterfly is the symbol for resurrection and the rainbow the symbol of life after death?  The butterfly is a spiritual symbol for resurrection due to its metamorphosis and transformation from being a caterpillar to a beautiful creature that soars.  Elisabeth Kubler-Ross often speaks of the numerous drawings of butterflies she saw in the barracks at concentration camps in Europe.  I personally have been to Dachau.  I have walked through the Warsaw Ghetto in Poland.  I went to checkpoint Charlie in Berlin when the wall was still up and there was no thought of the wall ever coming down.  I patrolled the fences - the "iron curtain" - that separated East and West Germany.  I saw the photos of the bodies of those shot trying to get to freedom.  I have lived in both Germany and Russia, and seen the effects of the horrors of pure evil. I have been to the site of Hitler's bunker in Berlin.  I have been to Stalin's grave, and I have seen the "pickled" body of Lenin in his glass casket in his mausoleum on Red Square, in Moscow. It is something that Wiccans, who naively claim that Satan is not real and that demons do not exist, should very carefully (re)consider. That is an extremely dangerous and deceived path to travel. If one doesn't believe in evil, there is no protection from it.

The rainbow is one of man's oldest symbols of hope and eternal life.  In a world full of misery and human depravity it's good to see such colorful reminders that there is something better.  One of my Deputy buddies reminds the rest of us on our shift (currently the night shift) all the time that we are sewer workers and garbage collectors, which is sadly, the truth.  That's why it's good sometimes to reflect and think about the better things in life: that there are good people, there is full life to be had right here and now, and there is a much better life to come. Yes, I believe that Satan exists, as do demons and personal evil. I believe there is a cosmic war going on all around us, and it is a war that has been going on long before Adam and Eve were created.  I believe, as CS Lewis said, that "man is born into a world at war."  Yes, there is darkness and evil.  I believe that those dark things are very real and that a dark kingdom with dark forces exist.  But, I also believe in butterflies and rainbows, and that in the end, it is they that shall triumph.


Inspiration drawn from: Hello from Heaven! by Bill and Judy Guggenheim