As Halloween approaches each year, people question the legitimacy of old legends and ghosts that “exist” in the Athens area. Those who believe in ghosts may have had personal experiences, while others are skeptical of the dead coming back to haunt the living.
Despite the doubts, there are people, such as Patrick and Janette Quackenbush, who have turned ghost hunting into a side job and hobby. The couple studies documents, recordings, thermometers, still photography and videos in the hopes of detecting possible ghost movements.
Today, students will have the chance to experiment with this ghost equipment when the Quackenbushes visit Athens as part of the University Program Council’s Shriek Week. Students will discuss the process of ghost hunting and later venture into Strouds Run State Park after dark.
“Most people are skeptical about the existence of ghosts until they have had a personal experience with them,” Patrick said. “That’s what I find so interesting about ghost hunting.”
Patrick and Janette have been researching and compiling ghost stories for about 10 years. They have released two books that together contain background and history on more than 100 ghost stories in Southeast Ohio and operate a website called “Haunted Hocking.”
“We’ve been working on these stories for several years,” said Patrick. “We get great information, but the hardest part is separating urban legend from something that might be real.”
The couple will briefly present their findings, stories and images before taking the students on a tour around campus and Strouds Run, where students will experiment with ghost hunting equipment.
“Personal experience draws me to ghost hunting,” Patrick said. “Stories with state parks got me going with the idea because of all the historical structures that have cool stories involved.”
Shriek Week started last night at The Union with a showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” by the Lost Flamingo Company and will continue throughout the week with events such as HallowEATS Day, pumpkin painting and HallOUween Safety 101.
“Our goal is to provide activities during the week before Halloween weekend, because there aren’t usually many providers,” said Mallorie Jones, Week-Long Events Co-Executive and a junior studying health services administration.
kr257109@ohiou.edu
