Memoirs Of Ghost Hunter

By Serene Stewart

The Nelson Paranormal League is a group of enthusiasts interested in studying paranormal phenomena. The NPL are not scientists, but simply a group of researchers interested in studying local sites that have unusual histories or stories surrounding them.

Thanks, Kevin. But really, who is the Nelson Paranormal League?

Well, I guess the logical place to start is with myself. My name is Serene, and I guess I’m the believer of the group. Well, I was, no, I am, well, let’s get back to this…

I vividly remember, as a child, that feeling of fear so intense, you could taste it. The blood pumping in your head, the echoing thump of your heart, the very real sensation of what it is to be truly afraid of the ghostly encounter underway. But as an adult, not much more than spiritual beliefs and a desire to believe the afterlife exists. My beliefs have been neither denied nor confirmed by my involvement in the Nelson Paranormal League, or NPL (nipple), if you’re in the know. I have seen things that I believe to possibly be unexplainable, but on the whole, logic has prevailed on experiences thus far. I expect that is why we continue spending our spare nights hanging out in dinghy basements and haunted hotel rooms.

The next member of our team is Chris, fearless investigator, and also my husband. We are marketers by day. Marketing what? What have you got? My roots are firmly planted in good corporate communications stuff, BC Hydro, Environment Canada, solid, boring marketing with a budget. Chris on the other hand was molded in the dark confines of a night club in Vancouver. Nine years of promotions and pr through Granville Entertainment and onwards. Good solid marketing stuff also, but a little more flamboyant. We now own our own marketing company, Juggernaut, the force behind change. Not ghost hunting related at all, though. We were married in the Hume Hotel, in the suite upstairs, but sadly the most spiritual experience was the deep sleep that we got in the very comfortable bed.

Chris is a skeptical believer, if such a thing exists. He respects what could be, but challenges what is. Chris is the funny guy, who can get anyone to talk. He also talks a lot when he’s scared. But you’ll get to know Chris better after you see the action.

Kevin is our bonafide geek, our dude with the gadgets, and he’s not afraid to use them. When the time comes, when we are faced with the almighty paranormal proof beyond all belief or challenge, Kevin will be the one in the front, EMF Detector in hand, gathering the data. Despite the fact that Kevin is a pretty spiritual guy, he’s scientific through and through. He briefly lived in a retreat in the wilds of the West Coast islands, studying brain activity and frequency, and meditating amongst the cedars. An illustrator by trade, Kevin now works as at the local paper doing design and layout. He’s also Juggernaut’s #1 Graphic Designer.

Next is Thea, who refers to herself as a “listener” and engages her talent with the tarot cards as a medium of communication that bridges time and dimension. Her ability to tap into the energy of a place and listen to its story through the visual tools of the tarot raises some interesting stories that have been long since buried. Thea, accompanied by her faithful Great Dane Beauragard, are our spiritual detectors, alerting us to the unique energy experienced into our venture into the deep history of Nelson, BC, and its surrounding area. When they say Kootenay Ghost Towns, they’re not kidding.

So let’s start with our first foray into Nelson’s history, as it were. The Hume Hotel was opened March 17, 1898, by local pioneer family, J. Fred and Lydia Hume, and heralded a new era for Nelson, which was only incorporated one year earlier. It was a marvel to behold, with state of the art amenities including electric lights and steam radiators. National papers proclaimed “Between Winnipeg …and Vancouver…no such building exists.”

The Hume Hotel has always stood at the centre of Nelson, and has been home to countless families, guests, celebrations, and commiserations. But the “Grand Old Dame of Nelson” has a darker side, numerous reputed hauntings, and stories that have been covered like the old original fireplace in the Library Lounge. The Nelson Paranormal League decided to investigate, to find out about if the Hume is really as haunted as all the locals say.

Employees of the Hume tell mysterious tales of doors slamming, ghostly presences, TVs and lights turning on and off of their own accord, and unexplained feelings of being watched. NPL decided the Hume was the perfect location to test out our nerves of steel, and cool minds under crazy circumstance, not to mention our EMF detectors, digital thermometers and sound recorders. Our first job was to interview staff, and to find out what people who spent large amounts of time within the Hume, had to say about her.

Nelson Wants to Believe

Haunted Heritage Tour Huge Success

Nelson, BC – The Nelson Paranormal League was thrilled by the response to the Halloween weekend tour of the more colourful, and haunted history of Heritage Nelson. Four busses toured through Nelson, retracing the Resurrection Wagon Run, concluding with a late night drive through the City Cemetery.

“We sold out in record time”, says Serene Stewart, Nelson Paranormal League investigator, “People were phoning and begging for another bus to be added! I couldn’t believe the interest. This bodes very well for a repeat performance in the future”.

The local League comprised of Serene Stewart, Kevin Macintyre and Chris Holland, researched stories of Nelson’s history with the help of Shawn Lamb, Nelson Museum, archives, local library and Internet. “Once we got the word out there, the phone started ringing off the hook. So many people in this town have personal stories of hauntings, which they want to share. Many people said they had personal encounters with the paranormal, but no one to talk about it with. Some people were simply curious, others wanted proof, which we feel we might have gotten on our last stop,” states Stewart.

A digital picture, taken of the grave of Lydia and Fred Hume, shows signs of orbs; the term “orb” was coined back in 1996 with the development of digital technology. Photos and video taken during paranormal research showed a glowing ball or light that moved in an irregular pattern.

This picture was one of the last of the trip, taken as the group talked about Fred and Lydia Hume, a couple of the original pioneers of Nelson. Look at the right hand side above the gravestone, and a number of orbs can be seen. While these could be many things, including dust, pollen, water moisture and light reflection, the group is optimistic that the picture is evidence of the spectral presence felt by many on the tour. The photo has been submitted to the BC Ghosts and Hauntings Research Society (http://www.ghrs.org) for further analysis.

The Nelson Paranormal League is a volunteer organization, created to research and document paranormal activity in the Nelson area. Future plans include hands-on tours of haunted sites in Nelson and area. For more information, please call the Nelson Paranormal League at 505-5016.

Local Group Launches Haunted Heritage Tour

Nelson, BC – October 29th and 30th, the Nelson Paranormal League will be offering guided bus tours of a spookier side of Nelson. There will be four departures from the Heritage Inn, touring the more colourful, and creepy history of Heritage Nelson.

Inspired by the Halloween Graveyard tours in Victoria, the Nelson Paranormal League have dedicated their time to document some of Nelson’s most ghoulish history, including murder, mystery, intrigue and hauntings. Jump aboard the Trolley Bus of Terror and retrace the steps of murdered miners, past brothels, and learn about some notorious hauntings in the area. The tour will conclude with a late night drive through the City Cemetery, highlighting some of the many intriguing characters that are interred within.

“We have gathered some great stories about Nelson’s colourful past,” says NPL investigator Kevin Macintyre, “We have had great feedback from locals, Shawn at the Nelson Museum, old timers around town, and some people who wish to remain anonymous.”

The tour lasts just over an hour, and features stories, historical details and hopefully some ghostly interaction. There will be a special Kid-friendly bus on Saturday, October 30th, at 6:30.

Tickets are $10, or 4 for $30, and due to the limited seating, reservations are necessary. For tickets and reservations, or for more information, please call 505-5016.