Gettysburg is arguably America's most famous town and it boasts a various history. From the Colonial era through modern times, the village of Gettysburg has seen its share of visitors, and many believe some of those visitors have never left. Civil War Haunting, a family owned and operated ghost tour company, is an experience that teaches as much about the history of Gettysburg as it does about its phantoms.

"It's my way of teaching history," explains Tami Rasel, who with her husband, Jeff, operates the popular ghost walk. Tours depart from Servant's Old Tyme Photo, at 237 Steinwehr Avenue.

Civil War Hauntings offers a tour that is unique in Gettysburg following an easy half- mile walk that includes parts of the town and ends at the place where a portion of the grand scale Pickett's Charge began. Guides usually wear period dress. Those on the tour are given glow-in-the-dark bracelets for visibility in the dark, and each "ghost hunter" sports his or her own EMF meter - an acronym for "electro magnetic field detector"'. "We call it our ghost finders," Tami says.

Some of the places frequented by the tour includes the George George house, one of the longest-standing homes in Gettysburg, and the place where Gettysburg's highest ranking casualty was taken during the battles. (Recently, a descendant of George George took the tour.) The tour also passes by what Tami calls "the most haunted motel Gettysburg". While visiting various haunts, visitors learn of the people of Gettysburg, what they endured, and what happened to them. Guides artfully explain the poignant stories of people who are close to their hearts. "My mother always told me I was born in the wrong century," Tami says. "And I agree". The tours are family-friendly and photographs are allowed. Jeff and Tami have seen some strange things pop up in the photos - and sometimes eerie occurrences happen on the tour as well.

Weather permitting. Tours depart from Servant's Old Tyme Photo For reservations, call 717- 752-5588.

Strange things happen after the sun sets in Gettysburg. For a history lesson that is just a little bit scary, take a stroll with Civil War Hauntings for an experience that will be enjoyed and remembered for a long time to come.

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The Colonel Henry Ryerson Civil War Round Table
Jennifer C.S. Brylinski, President and Newsletter Editor
March 18, 2008 * Meeting Program Highlights:

EVERYONE LOVES A GOOD GHOST STORY!

Have you ever had a strange spooky "feeling?" Perhaps you thought you saw someone or something that vanished inexplicably before your eyes, or maybe you heard voices and sounds where, plainly, no one was visible, If you like that shiver running up your spine, you're going to love our March speaker Tami Rasel.

Tami is the proprietor of "Civil War Hauntings", one of the most exciting ghost tour establishments in Gettysburg (located at 237 Steinwehr Avenue), Dressed in Civil War period clothes, Tami is going to tell her chilling tales of the supernatural including strange happenings at Devil's Den and Seminary Ridge, as well as other local folklore. Tami has been a ghost story teller in Gettysburg for almost a decade and is currently working on publishing a book about the stories she tells.

For a history lesson that is just a little bit scary, step beyond the gray line of reality, and join us for an eerie experience that will be enjoyed and remembered for a long time to come. Strange things do happen after the sun sets in Gettysburg... Dare to join us?

Sussex County Community College, Newton, NJ, in the Theatre (D-Building).

www.ryersoncwrt.com

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For spooky thrills this Halloween, bag the treats and get your scare on atone of these allegedly haunted spots. We can't guarantee a ghost sighting, but the stories make for great fun.

Gettysburg Pennsylvania

To try to experience some of this otherworldly activity yourself, join one of the hour-long candle light walking tours conducted by Civil War Hauntings. While visiting near the Soldiers'National Cemetery, you'll learn of the orphanage that was once there, and how some of its small residents still can be seen tiptoeing among the headstones. Or at the historic Evergreen Cemetery, you might spot "Elizabeth" digging graves.
Spirit Guides: Civil War Hauntings (717) 752-5588

Parkersburg, West Virginia

You're in for a two-hour stroll through the haunts of downtown Parkersburg. Along the way, you'll hear accounts of supernatural phenomena that include stories of the Banshee of Marrtown, railroad ghosts, Civil War spirits, the. East End Ghoul, and the Mothmen of West Virginia, yes, the one of The Mlothman Prophecies legend and fame. Spirit Guides: Haunted Parkersburg Ghost Tour, (304) 428-7978

Tombstone, Arizona

There's more to this tiny Arizona town than gun slinging outlaws, During her three-hour nightly tours (or longer, if the spirit moves her), Tricia Rawson leads visitors to the highest concentrated areas of paranormal energy and activity. The late Miss May, a former schoolteacher, and the child spirit, "Little Kelly", are reputed regulars on the tour.
Spirit Guides: Friends of the Dead Tombstone Spirit Walks, (866) 311-1919

Downtown Victoria, British Columbia

To stroll amid this city's super natural sites, join historian John Adams and his team of expert guides. Victoria's charming Old Town fairly crackles with ghostly energy, with historic Bastion Square the epicenter. The Maritime Museum of BritishColumbia, located in the old Provincial Supreme Court building (the site of the town's first gallows), is supposedly haunted by the ghost of a famous "hanging judge". And nearby Helmcken Alley is said to echo with the footsteps and clanking chains of long-dead convicts.
Spirit Guides: Ghostly Walks, (250) 384-6698

Downtown Orlando, Florida

Following a 45-minute tour that reveals the history of several haunted buildings in downtown Orlando, you'll enter the Orange County Regional History Center, formerly the old county courthouse and currently an alleged hotbed of ghostly activity. Additional tours include those of Greenwood Cemetery, Orlando's oldest existing burial ground, and purportedly the most haunted.
Spirit Guides: Orlando Ghost Tours, (407) 247-0452

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Civil War Haunting businesswoman Tammy Rasel, whose operation is based along the 200 block of Steinwehr Avenue, loves sharing accounts of what many people believe is the most haunted motel in Gettysburg: The Colton Motel, along Steinwehr.

"We're constantly hearing about experiences that people have had there," says Rasel. "Everything from the showers turning on by themselves; to the doors locking automatically; to the beds being mysteriously turned down, and they don't have that kind of maid service there."

Rasel has seen interesting photography from guests who have stayed at the Colton. "One of the photos that arrived this week was a full-blown figure of a Confederate soldier. You could see the person very clearly," she says, adding, "I think it's the land that the motel sits on. It's the left flank of Pickett's Charge, and it is right beside the National Cemetery and Evergreen Cemetery. It just generates a lot of activity."


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