Gettysburg, PA seems to be feeling the pinch between history and pop culture as some tourist operators in the town have begun promoting it as "America's Most Haunted Town" (funny, Tombstone claims the same thing). Like Tombstone, those in the town who are working to preserve its history are finding themselves at odds with those out to make a quick buck off amateur "ghost hunters" and naive paranormal groups.
Recently, the superintendent of the Evergreen Cemetery in Gettysburg has raised concerns over late night "ghost hunters" prowling the grounds without permission. The cemetery closes at dusk but that hasn't deterred "paranormal groups" and "ghost hunters" from barging in anyway to snap photos of dust orbs, cigarette smoke or their breath and pronouncing them "ghosts".
The cemetery was established in 1853, a full 10 years before the major battle of the Civil War that would burn the sleepy college town of Gettysburg into the national psyche forever. According to Brian Kennell, the superintendent some of the first soldiers laid to rest after the battle were buried in Evergreen Cemetery. Perhaps even more significantly from an historical point of view, it is the location of Lincoln's immortal "Gettysburg Address".
While tourism is playing a part in Mr. Kennell's woes he notes that some tour operators actively discourage their patrons from returning to the cemetery at night. Most of the trouble comes from amateur ghost hunting groups and fans of television shows.
The solutions discussed have been beefing up signs warning trespassers away. A fence has been ruled out due to cost. While some in town have urged Mr. Kennell to call police and have the illegal ghost hunters arrested he has been hesitant to do so because of fears of vandalism in retaliation.
Once more, television and arm-chair "ghost hunters" are causing problems for everyone.
Here's a tip guys and gals. Get out of the cemetery and find something else to do. If a cemetery is the only place you can find to investigate, it's time to find another hobby. If you're just a tourist and want a thrill turn off the lights in your hotel room and "investigate" it. Have a little respect and decency.
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3 comments:
Amen!
Sadly, it is a double edged sword. I like the idea of people being interested in and respecting both the paranormal and history. Sadly, people who disrespect sacred places and local law give us all a bad name. Perhaps some enterprising local group will establish ties with the town in such a fashion that both the history and sactity of the site can be preserved while at the same time allow "real" investigations to take place.
Yes, it is terrible. I'm sure it might have been possible once for a legitimate group to investigate there, but now probably never.
This is the sort of thing that gets me about this field. The TV shows spur people on who don't have any real understanding and who do things like trespass. Even some groups will do it if they find a group received permission at some time but they were not able to secure permission themselves.
Another bad thing about all this is that now any group of kids drinking in a graveyard (yes, I did that when I was a teenager) is called in the press "paranormal investigators" or "ghost hunters" rather than drunk kids trying to scare their girlfriends or boyfriends (?) into the sack.
I agree. What's with the morbid fascination with cemeteries? True, some old stones are certainly works of art, but this archaic view that ghosts linger in cemeteries is a bit old and tired. Sure, they can have a Gothic beauty to them at night, but there are ways of getting permission.
I understand issues with vandalism all too well. Several places I've investigated over the years were heavily patrolled by police due to damage or arson by teens and grown-up idiots alike. I've seen a few haunted places disappear because of it too. Honestly, if you just want to goof off or destroy something, be honest about it and don't pretend to be an "investigator".
I honesty wish our society taught people to respect death and history.
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