Massachusetts Paranormal Institute

The Ghost is in the Chimney!

The first thing that happens after the initial call comes into the Massachusetts Paranormal Institute is an interview takes place between the client and a MPI Case Manager. One of the most common occurrences reported as part of a paranormal disturbance to our Case Managers is the "closing or slamming door."  It doesn't seem to matter whether the structure is old or new. 

In the newer structure, and by newer I mean post 1970, there has been a overwhelming trend, fueled by high energy costs, to "seal up" houses making them as tight as possible to prevent heat and/or air conditioning from escaping and maximizing the energy dollar.  The flip side of this is the creation of Negative Air Pressure.  When you consider all the appliances in the home that vent air and oxygen to the outside; gas water heater, furnace, stoves (wood, gas & coal) vented range hoods, chimneys, etc... you get the idea, the realization comes that there are far more avenues for air and oxygen to exit the interior of the structure than to enter it. This causes negative air pressure. When the house has expended more air than has entered, it needs to "take a breath". Where and how does this happen? As a down draught in the chimney or puff back.  Negative Air Pressure has been the cause of many a slammed door and the origin of many a roving cold spot, but not all!
 
This phenomenon applies to investigations in older homes as well. Here on the Cape we have no shortage of vintage homes dating well back into the 1700's. The New England Society of Paranormal Investigators has investigated quite a few and most are not as "air tight" as the more modern homes. In fact, some are down right draughty.  Now, when the wind blows outside it can actually suck the air out of a draughty house causing doors to open or close and cold spots to fly through a room or up the stairs. Many of these older homes have original doors which tend to sit loosely in the door frame. These can rattle in the frame, if latched, causing the appearance of someone or something attempting to open the door. At night this can be very unnerving to the occupant especially if they are in bed! These kinds of draughts can help explain other symptoms of a haunted house as well.

A year ago we did an investigation in a small cottage which was a furnished winter rental in Centerville. The tenants, who we'll call Jim and Susan, reported the bedroom door rattling and a loud party could be heard just outside but upon investigation no one was there. What really bothered them, though, was that their 4 year old son, Steve, was continuously complaining that someone was waking him up during the night. He was not afraid and didn't see anything, but stated that someone was gently shaking him until he awoke. Whenever a child is involved the Massachusetts Paranormal Institute  responds immediately and we were in the house and set up that night. This building proved to be quite draughty and we were able to recreate the door rattling. However, we were not able to capture any sounds of a party that particular night. On a subsequent visit we, again, failed to capture the "party". But there was no doubt in my mind it was residual energy. We'll talk about residual energy in an upcoming blog. However, I was doing the EVP / Electronic Voice Phenomena work on the first night, and caught what sounded to me like a faint, almost imperceptible, older male voice slowly repeating the word "Bed...Bed... Bed."  I had a set of headphones on and looked over at Susan and asked if the word "bed" meant anything. I could tell by the look she immediately gave her husband that it meant something.

Apparently, when they had moved into the house they felt that Stevie's bed was too high up and he could fall onto the hardwood floor injuring himself so they purchased a small, lower, racing car style bed for him. This replaced the original bed which was dismantled and put in the storage shed. It didn't take Jim twenty minutes to move the race car bed into their room, put Stevie in it, and replace the original bed back in Stevie's room.  We stayed in touch with Jim and Susan throughout their remaining lease and they reported that Stevie slept just fine but the door still rattled and party continued!

This also points out the importance of documenting the weather conditions prior to any interior or exterior investigation.

Please remember, if you or someone you know, has a Cape Cod ghost story or is suffering as a result of a paranormal disturbance,  please contact me directly and discreetly at Dave@massachusettsparanormalinstitute.com or visit the website at http://www.massachusettsparanormalinstitute.com/