A Ghost Hunter's Notebook by Amanda Springer

After the museum closed for the day, Hummel gave us a private tour. Hummel greeted us with a friendly smile and a handshake. After a delicious barbeque lunch, we headed over to the Archive of the Afterlife museum. So, both Vickers and I got up early on a Saturday morning and drove (for many hours) until we arrived in Moundsville. Even after mentioning that we might be able to solve and/or debunk some claims, Hummel still gamely encouraged us to visit. In my experience, those that showcase/promote “haunted” or “cursed” objects usually tend to avoid detailed investigations, especially from skeptics. Hummel was not only open to the idea but very enthusiastic to be a part of it, which is an uncommon reaction in these situations. We had spoken with Hummel previously about investigating and testing some claims related to a few of the more prominent artifacts on display. It’s a museum of “oddities” one usually finds in tourist towns. The museum is owned by Steve Hummel, an avid ghost hunter and collector of all things strange and macabre-from an electrocution cap and various coffins to allegedly cursed bibles and dolls. We had been toying with the idea of visiting a museum called the Archive of the Afterlife, located in Moundsville, West Virginia. In the weeks leading up to this night, I had been in contact with Tim Vickers, a friend, colleague, and also cocreator (with me) of the EVP Challenge still in progress at the White Hill Mansion in Fieldsboro, New Jersey (Biddle 2018). Investigating claims of ghosts isn’t just for those that whole-heartedly believe in an afterlife it’s a fun hobby for many skeptics too … like me! On this night, hundreds of ghost hunting teams streamed live videos of their investigations, sharing their adventures with the entire world via social media. On September 28, 2019, many of my paranormal enthusiast friends celebrated the unofficial “National Ghost Hunting Day,” taking part in nighttime ghost hunts at various historical locations throughout the country.

A Ghost Hunter's Notebook by Amanda Springer