| Nemacolin Castle |
With 22 rooms to cover, we knew that we would not have enough
cameras to cover the whole place, but we made do and split up
into separate teams and began covering the majority of rooms.
We set up our infrared cameras in the rooms where most activity
was reported and proceeded with our investigation. Paula and
Heidi began with a baseline EMF sweep, and immediately things
began to happen. They took the stairway up to the maid's
bedroom and got an EM spike while in there. It couldn't be
recreated. The two got a spike in the hallway, just outside of the
maid's bedroom, as well. But, this one could be recreated again
and again, so it was attributed to the electrical wiring inside of
the wall. There was another, smaller, EM spike in the main
hallway that could not be recreated.
Heidi went into the maid's bedroom to make some notes, since
this room is right above the bright outside lights, and it was dark
in the house. So, she went to stand near the window to write.
Paula left and went out into the main hallway. Heidi sat the EMF
meter on the old wooden ironing board, and her camera and
flashlight on a nearby chair, then walked to the window. As she
was writing in her notebook, the meter suddenly spiked. She
immediately grabbed the camera and started to take pictures.
However, after she took just one photo, the camera
malfunctioned and wouldn't work anymore. So, she tried to
recreate the EM spike, but couldn't. After a moment or two, her
camera began to work again she could take pictures.
It seems that Paula and Heidi had more activity that night,
because once they went downstairs they had 3 more spikes on
the meters. One was in the foyer between the library and
drawing room. Another was while the detector was lying on the
table beside Heidi in the library. And the third was while Paula
was holding it in the solarium, talking to Bob.
One final thing that happened here, but was not caught on video
or audio, has us very excited about going back for a return
investigation. As we were beginning to wrap up for the night,
Renee, one of the members of incumbent paranormal team, was
sitting alone upstairs near the tower bedroom taking pictures,
hoping for some activity. Bryan was downstairs, and about to
come up the main staircase. Just then she and Bryan heard
footsteps running up the main staircase, but nobody was there.
Bryan then came up to see if he had missed someone, but he did
not. So, he and Renee sat and watched for someone to show up,
but no one did. They both heard it, but neither saw anyone, or
anything. Heidi and Paula had already taken the back steps down
and met up with Tom, Pete and the others in the solarium. Maybe
next time we'll have a camera focused on the main stairs!
We spent a lot of time trying to get EVP (Electronic Voice
Phenomena) here. However, we did not come up with any. After
reviewing the video and still photos, we found nothing, although
we did have a few pictures that came out completely black.
This castle is splendid and charming. It's like stepping back in
time. The furnishings are all original. We are in awe of the
beauty of the house itself. The stories make it that much more
interesting. Is there something going on here? Maybe. We'd
love the opportunity to explore further to find out. We would
definitely recommend visiting the Nemacolin Castle for a day tour,
or a holiday tour. Whether you're a history buff, love serene
beauty, or are into paranormal, this place is worth a drive.
cameras to cover the whole place, but we made do and split up
into separate teams and began covering the majority of rooms.
We set up our infrared cameras in the rooms where most activity
was reported and proceeded with our investigation. Paula and
Heidi began with a baseline EMF sweep, and immediately things
began to happen. They took the stairway up to the maid's
bedroom and got an EM spike while in there. It couldn't be
recreated. The two got a spike in the hallway, just outside of the
maid's bedroom, as well. But, this one could be recreated again
and again, so it was attributed to the electrical wiring inside of
the wall. There was another, smaller, EM spike in the main
hallway that could not be recreated.
Heidi went into the maid's bedroom to make some notes, since
this room is right above the bright outside lights, and it was dark
in the house. So, she went to stand near the window to write.
Paula left and went out into the main hallway. Heidi sat the EMF
meter on the old wooden ironing board, and her camera and
flashlight on a nearby chair, then walked to the window. As she
was writing in her notebook, the meter suddenly spiked. She
immediately grabbed the camera and started to take pictures.
However, after she took just one photo, the camera
malfunctioned and wouldn't work anymore. So, she tried to
recreate the EM spike, but couldn't. After a moment or two, her
camera began to work again she could take pictures.
It seems that Paula and Heidi had more activity that night,
because once they went downstairs they had 3 more spikes on
the meters. One was in the foyer between the library and
drawing room. Another was while the detector was lying on the
table beside Heidi in the library. And the third was while Paula
was holding it in the solarium, talking to Bob.
One final thing that happened here, but was not caught on video
or audio, has us very excited about going back for a return
investigation. As we were beginning to wrap up for the night,
Renee, one of the members of incumbent paranormal team, was
sitting alone upstairs near the tower bedroom taking pictures,
hoping for some activity. Bryan was downstairs, and about to
come up the main staircase. Just then she and Bryan heard
footsteps running up the main staircase, but nobody was there.
Bryan then came up to see if he had missed someone, but he did
not. So, he and Renee sat and watched for someone to show up,
but no one did. They both heard it, but neither saw anyone, or
anything. Heidi and Paula had already taken the back steps down
and met up with Tom, Pete and the others in the solarium. Maybe
next time we'll have a camera focused on the main stairs!
We spent a lot of time trying to get EVP (Electronic Voice
Phenomena) here. However, we did not come up with any. After
reviewing the video and still photos, we found nothing, although
we did have a few pictures that came out completely black.
This castle is splendid and charming. It's like stepping back in
time. The furnishings are all original. We are in awe of the
beauty of the house itself. The stories make it that much more
interesting. Is there something going on here? Maybe. We'd
love the opportunity to explore further to find out. We would
definitely recommend visiting the Nemacolin Castle for a day tour,
or a holiday tour. Whether you're a history buff, love serene
beauty, or are into paranormal, this place is worth a drive.
| Castle sign near the entrance |
| The drawing room |
| The library |
| The trading post, in the original part of the house |
| Exterior shot, with some ecto mist |
| Inside the Bishop's Bedroom |
| Foyer where Heidi and Paula got an EMF spike |
| Main staircase, where a maid fell to her death |
| The beautiful exterior of the castle |
| The maid's bedroom, and the ironing board where Heidi's EMF meter got a spike |
| The nursery |
| Is that an orb near the ceiling in the Bishop's bedroom? Probably not. |
| Another shot of the maid's bedroom, taken shortly after the EMF spike |
| The original well from Fort Burd |
| Second floor hallway |
Towering above Brownsville, Pa is Nemacolin Castle. It was built
in 1789 by the Bowman family originally as a trading post. Only
three generations of Bowmans actually lived at the castle, but a
total of 10 Bowmans died here. The castle also used the library
as a funeral parlor, as was tradition in that time period.
There have been many reports of hauntings at the castle. In
recent years, the Brownsville Historical Society, who maintains
the building, has begun giving ghost tours. This seems to be a
success.
Heidi is the only member of our group who had ever been to the
castle before. She had been on day tours, and loved the old
building. She did some research and found that they have a
working relationship with a local paranormal research group in
the area. Heidi contacted the caretakers of the castle through
their website, www.nemacolincastle.org, and made arrangements
for CPSI to conduct our own investigation. We were thrilled when
the invitation was extended to us.
On an chilly October night, our five member team headed out to
the castle. We took the our tour and found it to be a truly
fascinating place. Heidi found it to have all the same charm that it
held from her childhood. We met with Bob and Nellie, and also
with three members of the local paranormal group that regularly
investigates the place. They were all very helpful and friendly
and told us of true stories and legends, about the former
Bowman home. They did inform us that it felt like a "quiet" night,
tonight.
in 1789 by the Bowman family originally as a trading post. Only
three generations of Bowmans actually lived at the castle, but a
total of 10 Bowmans died here. The castle also used the library
as a funeral parlor, as was tradition in that time period.
There have been many reports of hauntings at the castle. In
recent years, the Brownsville Historical Society, who maintains
the building, has begun giving ghost tours. This seems to be a
success.
Heidi is the only member of our group who had ever been to the
castle before. She had been on day tours, and loved the old
building. She did some research and found that they have a
working relationship with a local paranormal research group in
the area. Heidi contacted the caretakers of the castle through
their website, www.nemacolincastle.org, and made arrangements
for CPSI to conduct our own investigation. We were thrilled when
the invitation was extended to us.
On an chilly October night, our five member team headed out to
the castle. We took the our tour and found it to be a truly
fascinating place. Heidi found it to have all the same charm that it
held from her childhood. We met with Bob and Nellie, and also
with three members of the local paranormal group that regularly
investigates the place. They were all very helpful and friendly
and told us of true stories and legends, about the former
Bowman home. They did inform us that it felt like a "quiet" night,
tonight.
| The front, overlooking the river |