CHIPS Paranormal Research [ Lancaster, PA]

Lancaster, Pa. August 24, 2003

Investigators present: Donna, Laura, John, Edie, Pete

Lancaster is known for its beautiful countryside, small towns, Amish People, and small quaint stores with wooden porches.It dates back to the earliest days of European exploration and settlement on this continent.

Many of America’s most famous people walked the historic streets of Lancaster...George Washington. Ben Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, John Hancock, just to name a few.

Some of the old brick colonial buildings that line Main Street hold the secrets of the past, yet to be unfolded.

It was our hope to uncover the other side of history. We questioned quite a few of the locals that agreed to talk to us.The facts collected here are based on actual paranormal activity and sightings around the city of Lancaster.Every person we spoke to have another story steeped in mystery...

It is said that there are many different spirits that haunt these city streets.Lancaster was still ruled by the British, and it played a key role in the French and Indian Wars, during that time there was a massacre of woman, children, and men...It was a bloody massacre never to be forgotten.Today the screams are heard and these spirits are said to haunt the streets!

We tried to cover all the places in one day, and some we could not have access to...Some people frown on the thought of spirits and haunted houses. Most of the people we spoke to did offer their help, pertaining to the history of the town.

I have listed some of the famous stories we spoke about and haunted locations in Lancaster. The local people were very helpful and interested in what we were doing.

"The Courthouse" Haunted by the many disturbed spirits that were tried there and found guilty.Many hear crying at night, and lights go on and off.

"Central Market" People state they can still see and hear Fireman responding to the calls at the onetime firehouse, which is now central Market. Some state they can hear the fire alarm ringing on quiet nights.

"St James Cemetery" A final resting place for the wealthy and powerful Robert Coleman Family.Coleman had two daughters Ann and Sarah. Coleman meddled into his daughters love lives, and they were so unhappy they both committed suicide but under slightly different circumstances.

It is said that apparitions are sighted walking on Orange Street, side by side, and hand in hand. Are these the spirits of heartbroken Ann and Sarah? People that see them walking, actually call out to them thinking they are real.

"Augusta Bittner's Statue" This story tells of a statue walking through the cemetery on certain nights of the year...The statue has been photographed, but we were not the lucky ones!

'The Fulton Opera House" Many Paranormal groups have investigated this theater.Built in 1852.This is one of the crown jewels in Lancaster.We were not able to investigate this time but have plans to return in the near future..We did interview some locals and were given some very interesting information.It is our plan to go inside and get pictures, EVPs, and lots of tangible evidence.

Before the theater was built, there was a horrific crime at that location. The town jail once stood on this site, back in the 1700's.A tribe of Native Americans called the Conestoga’s were all murdered inside the jail.They were trying to seek shelter.The site became an ancient burial ground. A dig at the site uncovered human bones.Is there any reason this area is so haunted? There is said to be an evil spirit in the basement and spirits wander through the theater especially the balcony.

A section of the old jail can still be seen on Water Street behind the theater, an eerie sight of a stone wall set in time as a reminder. It is said to be a memorial to all the dead.

One woman named Mary told us she could sense the energy of the murdered Indians in the green room. One man interviewed said "it is almost like you feel someone is going to walk up behind you." Supposedly there are two ghosts on the scaffolding.Lights go on and off, apparitions are seen, cold spots are felt...One woman did take a few pictures while at a recital at the theater, we were not able to see them at this time..Too bad, I was hoping to see the Lady in White.

We did get much more information from the people we interviewed, but I chose to only use only the stories I found to be credible, and spooky.

Strasburg Cemetery...This was our favorite place to investigate!

The big iron fence, ancient looking tombstones, a huge Oak tree in the middle of the cemetery acts as a home to bat families.

As we entered the cemetery, I got such a strange feeling just walking into this place.I knew there were many stories from locals about the happenings on a daily basis.I kept feeling as though someone was watching me..Other Chips members gave their accounts and strange feelings surrounded them as well.

One team member heard someone call her name.When she turned, no one was there.

Many of Lancaster residents rest here, and it is said that many DO NOT! We had Patti present with us and she saw a misty form, like a woman.She told us her name started with an "M".

Laura and I saw what seemed to be the ghostly figure of a man in a suit.He crossed the walkway and disappeared...We both saw the same thing at the same time.

Eddie felt a tap on his shoulder while we stood talking under the tree.We know Eddie is a big skeptic, I guess he really felt the tap. OMG!

Many, many, personal experiences, no actual evidence.Pictures had no anomalies. We returned at night but the gates were locked.Pete our photographer, tried to get pictures but it was too dark and the stones were too far from sight.Talk about an eerie feeling.

The cemetery was linked to an amazing story regarding one of Lancaster's 100 year old mansions, The Gonder Mansion.This mansion holds one of the most fascinating legends in all Lancaster County.Every local person we asked knew the history of this mansion, and many offer their input.They were all very helpful to us.

Located in Main Street the legend has it that animosity and a tormented soul haunt the house and family.

The house belonged to a railroad tycoon B.B Gonder. Before the house was built, B.B. and his family lived in a modest home next door to the mansion. The family including Mr. Gonder and his wife, and two children.The whole family moved into the mansion leaving Annie behind in the old, small house. Annie was B.B.'s sister who people thought had a few mental problems. He did not want the stigma attached to him.Annie's small house that was shaded by the mansion, and needless to say she was very distraught over the fact her brother shunned her.

Annie was not happy with the arrangements and a few years later, as the story goes she became ill and moved out of the town.A few years later, she committed suicide by drowning herself in the Pequea Creek outside Strasburg.Annie might have been gone, but certainly not forgotten. She planned her revenge and carried it out.

The legend says that Annie was not able to spend her life here on Earth in the mansion, so she lives her after life there. It is believed that Annie only haunts the men in the house; they hear her laughing, and showing herself in the corridors. B.B. Gonder and four other men died in the house. Did Annie get even with her brother?

The story continues.

As you enter the cemetery, on the right side you see the Gonder Family plots.There in a row is B.B, his wife, their children and other Gonder Family members. Where is Annie??Where is Annie's grave? It is facing the opposite direction of the Gonder plots.

Did Annie really get the last laugh? Who decided on the burial arrangements? What order were the plots to go in and who arranged it? Did B.B.'s wife still carry out this vendetta with Annie?

That information I was not able to ascertain. No one knows why Annie's grave faces the opposite direction.Maybe Annie herself did it while she was alive.

It is said that Annie still roams the mansion and does visit the graves of her brother and family. Annie has been caught on film in the cemetery near her tombstone.

The mansion is off limits to the public but Pete was able to get pictures. We were introduced to the man that lives in the mansion presently.He told us both his parents passed away in the mansion, his mother in the front parlor and his father in the back at the top of the stairs. The locals claim if you walk up the steps and peak in the windows, you will see a woman in a rocking chair. Truth or Fiction? We will never know!

Unfortunately we did not get any audio, anomalies, EVPs but what we did get were personal experiences and they were more than enough for me.It was well worth the trip!

.........LANCASTER, PAH


		Lancaster, Pa. August 24, 2003 Investigators present: Donna, Laura, John, Edie, Pete Lancaster is known for its beautiful countryside, small towns, Amish People, and small quaint stores with wooden porches.It dates back to the earliest days of European exploration and settlement on this continent. Many of America’s most famous people walked the historic streets of Lancaster...George Washington. Ben Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, John Hancock, just to name a few. Some of the old brick colonial buildings that line Main Street hold the secrets of the past, yet to be unfolded. It was our hope to uncover the other side of history. We questioned quite a few of the locals that agreed to talk to us.The facts collected here are based on actual paranormal activity and sightings around the city of Lancaster.Every person we spoke to have another story steeped in mystery... It is said that there are many different spirits that haunt these city streets.Lancaster was still ruled by the British, and it played a key role in the French and Indian Wars, during that time there was a massacre of woman, children, and men...It was a bloody massacre never to be forgotten.Today the screams are heard and these spirits are said to haunt the streets! We tried to cover all the places in one day, and some we could not have access to...Some people frown on the thought of spirits and haunted houses. Most of the people we spoke to did offer their help, pertaining to the history of the town. I have listed some of the famous stories we spoke about and haunted locations in Lancaster. The local people were very helpful and interested in what we were doing. "The Courthouse" Haunted by the many disturbed spirits that were tried there and found guilty.Many hear crying at night, and lights go on and off. "Central Market" People state they can still see and hear Fireman responding to the calls at the onetime firehouse, which is now central Market. Some state they can hear the fire alarm ringing on quiet nights. "St James Cemetery" A final resting place for the wealthy and powerful Robert Coleman Family.Coleman had two daughters Ann and Sarah. Coleman meddled into his daughters love lives, and they were so unhappy they both committed suicide but under slightly different circumstances. It is said that apparitions are sighted walking on Orange Street, side by side, and hand in hand. Are these the spirits of heartbroken Ann and Sarah? People that see them walking, actually call out to them thinking they are real. "Augusta Bittner's Statue" This story tells of a statue walking through the cemetery on certain nights of the year...The statue has been photographed, but we were not the lucky ones! 'The Fulton Opera House" Many Paranormal groups have investigated this theater.Built in 1852.This is one of the crown jewels in Lancaster.We were not able to investigate this time but have plans to return in the near future..We did interview some locals and were given some very interesting information.It is our plan to go inside and get pictures, EVPs, and lots of tangible evidence. Before the theater was built, there was a horrific crime at that location. The town jail once stood on this site, back in the 1700's.A tribe of Native Americans called the Conestoga’s were all murdered inside the jail.They were trying to seek shelter.The site became an ancient burial ground. A dig at the site uncovered human bones.Is there any reason this area is so haunted? There is said to be an evil spirit in the basement and spirits wander through the theater especially the balcony. A section of the old jail can still be seen on Water Street behind the theater, an eerie sight of a stone wall set in time as a reminder. It is said to be a memorial to all the dead. One woman named Mary told us she could sense the energy of the murdered Indians in the green room. One man interviewed said "it is almost like you feel someone is going to walk up behind you." Supposedly there are two ghosts on the scaffolding.Lights go on and off, apparitions are seen, cold spots are felt...One woman did take a few pictures while at a recital at the theater, we were not able to see them at this time..Too bad, I was hoping to see the Lady in White. We did get much more information from the people we interviewed, but I chose to only use only the stories I found to be credible, and spooky. Strasburg Cemetery...This was our favorite place to investigate! The big iron fence, ancient looking tombstones, a huge Oak tree in the middle of the cemetery acts as a home to bat families. As we entered the cemetery, I got such a strange feeling just walking into this place.I knew there were many stories from locals about the happenings on a daily basis.I kept feeling as though someone was watching me..Other Chips members gave their accounts and strange feelings surrounded them as well. One team member heard someone call her name.When she turned, no one was there. Many of Lancaster residents rest here, and it is said that many DO NOT! We had Patti present with us and she saw a misty form, like a woman.She told us her name started with an "M". Laura and I saw what seemed to be the ghostly figure of a man in a suit.He crossed the walkway and disappeared...We both saw the same thing at the same time. Eddie felt a tap on his shoulder while we stood talking under the tree.We know Eddie is a big skeptic, I guess he really felt the tap. OMG! Many, many, personal experiences, no actual evidence.Pictures had no anomalies. We returned at night but the gates were locked.Pete our photographer, tried to get pictures but it was too dark and the stones were too far from sight.Talk about an eerie feeling. The cemetery was linked to an amazing story regarding one of Lancaster's 100 year old mansions, The Gonder Mansion.This mansion holds one of the most fascinating legends in all Lancaster County.Every local person we asked knew the history of this mansion, and many offer their input.They were all very helpful to us. Located in Main Street the legend has it that animosity and a tormented soul haunt the house and family. The house belonged to a railroad tycoon B.B Gonder. Before the house was built, B.B. and his family lived in a modest home next door to the mansion. The family including Mr. Gonder and his wife, and two children.The whole family moved into the mansion leaving Annie behind in the old, small house. Annie was B.B.'s sister who people thought had a few mental problems. He did not want the stigma attached to him.Annie's small house that was shaded by the mansion, and needless to say she was very distraught over the fact her brother shunned her. Annie was not happy with the arrangements and a few years later, as the story goes she became ill and moved out of the town.A few years later, she committed suicide by drowning herself in the Pequea Creek outside Strasburg.Annie might have been gone, but certainly not forgotten. She planned her revenge and carried it out. The legend says that Annie was not able to spend her life here on Earth in the mansion, so she lives her after life there. It is believed that Annie only haunts the men in the house; they hear her laughing, and showing herself in the corridors. B.B. Gonder and four other men died in the house. Did Annie get even with her brother? The story continues. As you enter the cemetery, on the right side you see the Gonder Family plots.There in a row is B.B, his wife, their children and other Gonder Family members. Where is Annie??Where is Annie's grave? It is facing the opposite direction of the Gonder plots. Did Annie really get the last laugh? Who decided on the burial arrangements? What order were the plots to go in and who arranged it? Did B.B.'s wife still carry out this vendetta with Annie? That information I was not able to ascertain. No one knows why Annie's grave faces the opposite direction.Maybe Annie herself did it while she was alive. It is said that Annie still roams the mansion and does visit the graves of her brother and family. Annie has been caught on film in the cemetery near her tombstone. The mansion is off limits to the public but Pete was able to get pictures. We were introduced to the man that lives in the mansion presently.He told us both his parents passed away in the mansion, his mother in the front parlor and his father in the back at the top of the stairs. The locals claim if you walk up the steps and peak in the windows, you will see a woman in a rocking chair. Truth or Fiction? We will never know! Unfortunately we did not get any audio, anomalies, EVPs but what we did get were personal experiences and they were more than enough for me.It was well worth the trip! Back To Investigations

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