Author: Laptop

The Paranormal Press
The Official Newsletter of the Northwest Indiana Ghost Trackers

Volume 2, Issue 5

MAY 2006

Inside This Issue

IGT News	1
Deadlines (Headlines)	1
The Library / (Articles & Stories)	2
IGT Exclusive / (Television Pilot)	3
What’s on Slab / (Upcoming Events)	4
Rest In Peace / (Porter County Home)	4
Local Haunts / (Places of Interest)	5
Gravesites (Websites)	5

Newsletter Creator
and Creatrix
Chris & Jennifer
Mojica

IGT NEWS

DEADLINES

Books that Make Your Skin Crawl
By Christopher Lee Mojica

Last month police in northern England discovered an abandoned book believed to be around 300 years old and are looking for the owner. Detectives say that the book may have been discarded after a burglary. What makes this story really interesting is that authorities believe the book is actually bound in human skin.
The “art” of anthropodermic bibliopegy began in the 17th century and was a common practice in the 18th and 19th centuries during the revolutionary war. As to why this practice was utilized is still the center of much debate. Most believe that use of human skin in such a manner should respectfully represent the content of these books. At the time it was customary that after a murder trial the court ledger would be bound from the skin of the convicted murderer and presented to the family of the victim. A new meaning to the phrase “an eye for an eye”. Another reason for the macabre tradition was that doctors would bind medical journals with the skin of their patients as a final tribute to those who aided them in furthering medical science.
However, there are cases where individuals were chosen merely by their status in life: Executed criminals, unclaimed bodies and even claims that the Nazis would use the skin of Holocaust victims to bind books and create lampshades.
Then there were those who chose to have their skin used in such a manner as was the case of criminal James Allen, alias George Walton. Walton was so impressed by Jonathan Fenno’s bravery during a robbery attempt, even receiving a gunshot wound fighting off Walton, that his last request, before his execution, was to have his skin used to bind his memoirs and given to Fenno.
It’s not quite known exactly how many of these books exist today because during the tanning process DNA may be lost. Some are kept in private collections while most are property of universities including; Harvard, Brown University and The College of Physicians. Including one book which has a visible tattoo on it.

Book found on London street

Dance of Death one of the three at Brown University

Our Chapter’s library will be brought to all meetings. Members can take books on loan. See Ed Henning.
The Hall of Justice for our Halloween Party. Any objections??
Suggestions for Halloween Party Costume Contest?? Email Jennifer at paranormalpress@hotmail.com
WELCOME
Chicago chapter has folded. Members have been invited to join Northwest chapter.
The Yard Sale fundraiser is no more. Too much time for such little revenue result.
Orr Mansion, LaPorte
Possible major fundraiser by hosting overnites (think Hannah House). Members will be needed. Speak to Wendy or Denise.
Member Michael Esposito asks for members to visit Sallie House website (www.salliehouse.com/goblins.html) and sign into the Forum.
The position of Research Coordinator is currently available. If interested, please contact Denise.
IGT merchandise is still for sale. Items are LIMITED!!
See Michelle Walavich for details

The Highwayman - The Memoirs of George Walton

Volume 2, Issue 5

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THE LIBRARY

GRAND GUIGNOL
(from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
The Grand Guignol (Grahn Geen-YOL) was a theatre (Le Theatre du Grand-Guignol) in the Pigalle area of Paris which, from its opening in 1897 to its closing in 1962, specialized in the most naturalistic grisly horror shows. The theatre owed its name to Grand-Guignol, a traditional Lyon puppet character, joining political commentary with the style of Punch and Judy.
Le Theatre du Grand-Guignol was small and intimate, seating no more than 300 people. This intimacy added an extra piquancy to the goings-on on stage, because the theatre’s stock-in-trade was special effects made from by-products of the butcher’s shop. The gouged-out eye trick was a perennial favourite.
The principal playwright of the Grand Guignol was Andre de Lorde who wrote at least one hundred plays for the venue between the years 1901 and 1926. His plays focused on the horrific potential of household objects, the suffering of innocents, infanticide, insanity and vengeance. The plays were typically short, and several were staged in the course of the evening. Occasional sex farces were thrown into the play-lists, partly for their own sake, and partly to keep the audience guessing whether these, too, would turn out to have gory climaxes. Original plays were also written by Pierre Bauche and Maurice Level.
The Grand Guignol theatre closed its doors in 1962, unable to compete with motion pictures. (& due to the realities of war, according to other websites)
The Grand Guignol theatre was recreated as Theatre des Vampires (on a sound stage) in 1994 for the film of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire.
A typical modern production of this genre can be found in Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which originally appeared in 1979 starring Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou. In 2005, a revival production of this gruesome story about a barber who gives extra clean shaves was staged on Broadway with Patti Lupone and Michael Cereveris.
Dying to learn more!! Check out: www.grandguignol.com and www.straightdope.com

Reprinted from www.spirit-sanctuary.org

Volume 2, Issue 5

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As some of you may know, the Indiana Ghost Trackers were invited to take part in a paranormal television project last month. “Dead Whisper” is the creation of author /psychic Robbie Thomas in conjunction with RJT productions out of Arizona. The program is a collaboration of Mr. Thomas using his psychic abilities to read different haunted locations and the Indiana Ghost Trackers performing an investigation. The IGT investigation team consisted of: Mike McDowell (Northwest Chapter), Michael Esposito (Northwest Chapter), Michelle Huff (Indianapolis Chapter), and myself, Christopher Lee Mojica (Northwest Chapter). The taping followed a grueling one-week production schedule, covering three different haunted locations from the late, late night hours into the early, early hours of the morning. Monday, March 27th Mr. Thomas and production crew arrive from out of town; meet with some team members and confirm agenda. Tuesday March 28th (Arriving at around 6pm and completing just after 2am) The crew visited Ricco D’s in Willow Springs, IL. The restaurant/ bar is said to have been a safe haven for mobsters; allegedly owned by Al Capone himself. Supposedly, the speakeasy housed a brothel on the second floor where “guests” of Capone’s would frequent regularly. Additional stories indicate that there have been several deaths in this building, which would not be that uncommon for a mob hangout. The home court advantage would make eliminating and disposing of enemies an easy task. In addition to the occasional “whack” committed, two individuals were found dead in the attic in the late 70’s, apparently from a drug overdose.
Investigation items of interest (this is not a final nor detailed account on all the evidence obtained): • Several EVPs were picked up on recorders. • Alone on the second floor stairwell, I did get the feeling of being followed and at one point turned to acknowledge someone/something behind me, but nothing was there. This also happened to Michelle (same scenario and location but at different times). • While in the “card room”, a moment of complete silence ensued, several members of the team and crew (as well as the owner of the establishment) at the same time heard a disembodied voice, clearly state “F**k you”. This was one of the more eerie incidents of the night! Unfortunately, no media was recording. • Video footage showing a possible orb move through the air . • Video footage of strange, unidentifiable movement within the video frame recorded. (more examination is required).
• Several orbs caught on still photography.
Wednesday, March 29th (Arriving at 9pm and completing at 2am) The crew headed to Manteno, IL to investigate Manteno Asylum. Opened 1929 and closed 1985, it was home to more than 2600 mentally ill patients and it’s safe to say Manteno Asylum was the site of much pain and misery.
Investigation items of interest: • Several EVPs captured. • During taping the team and crew hear someone in the next room stumble on debris. After investigating the location, no one is there. • Upon investigating the basement, Michelle captures mist on digital camera.
Thursday, March 30th (Arriving around 6pm and concluding at 2:30am) The team traveled to South Bend, Indiana to investigate the Tippecanoe Place Restaurant. This is the former home of the Studebaker Family. The haunting may be from two alleged incidents. The first is an employee who committed suicide by hanging herself over the second floor banister and a second death was said to have occurred when an employee fell down a steep staircase.
Investigation items of interest: *Several EVPs captured
Friday, March 31st (Early afternoon to around 3am) Evidence review session; interviews. A few team members return to Ricco D’s for additional footage. It will take some time to study all the video and audio recordings, but results varied from location to location. Several EVPs and orbs were captured, as well as
unexplained noises heard by several team members and the production crew.
The program is currently in post-production and will take a couple of months to complete. From there the production company will shop the pilot around which may take a few more months. No guarantees are promised but if the show is picked up it will be announced immediately.

Psychic Robbie Thomas/ Indiana Ghost Trackers Television Pilot
By Christopher Lee Mojica

Manteno Hydrotherapy room

Steep and dangerous stairwell cause of death?

Volume 2, Issue 5

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WHAT’S ON SLAB

MAY

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	1	2	3	4	5	6 IGT MEETING
7	8	9	10	11	12	13*
14 Happy / Mother’s / Day	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29 / Memorial / Day	30
		Notes: / 5/6 Meeting at Valpo Elks @ 2 / * 5/13 Overnite at Barbee Hotel, Warsaw, IN

Rest In Peace

On March 15th, the unbuilding of the Porter County Home began. The 101-year old ”Poor Asylum,” built for a mere $25,000, was reduced to brick, lumber and metal; materials which will find new life elsewhere. The bricks are bound for restaurants and homes in Louisiana, the steam radiators for Chicago and the floor planks for a south county barn. While the building was structurally sound, the county refused to pay $435,000 to make the building handicapped accessible and to update the heating, plumbing and electrical systems. The demolition plans were in the works when an arsonist set 4 fires in November of last year. County Engineer Dave Schelling wished the Home could have been converted to apartments or a bed & breakfast. “With proper maintenance it probably would have lasted forever,” Schelling is quoted in a Times article. The demolition company, Chem Chek, Inc., had the roof removed by March 30th and were expected to have the rest of the building down within the next several weeks.

Porter County Home Demolition
By Jennifer L. Mojica

“All houses wherein men have lived and died are haunted houses. Through the open doors the harmless phantoms on their errands glide, with feet that make no sound upon the floors.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)
A 33-year old woman was found dead in a cemetery after a tombstone fell and suffocated her. Apparently she was relieving herself between two memorials when one toppled over.

Quote of the Month

Eerie Facts

OFFICERS

Northwest

Director
Denise Williams
Secretary
Jen Jacob
Treasurer
Michelle Walavich
Public Relations
Wendy Deiotte
Trainer
Mary Shea

Volume 2, Issue 5 Page 5

LOCAL HAUNTS

Orr Mansion
by Wendy Deiotte

“Growing up, the kids called it the haunted house.” “Check out the mist I just got.” “We both saw a shadow in the front yard.” “We feel the presence of the past unravel before us.” “This place blows Barker Mansion away!” These are just a few things that I have heard being said about the Gothic Victorian mansion.
The Orr mansion was built in 1875 by the Orr family who came from Donegal, Ireland. Joseph Orr, a Brigadier General in the Civil War, started his agricultural homestead on over 4,000 acres of land. This structure sits on one of the highest summits in LaPorte County.
The mansion stands three stories tall, and has a lookout tower. Many original structures remain; Georgian marble fireplace, shutters, wallpaper, Tiffany stained glass, and 130 year old velvet drapes, just to name a few. The crystal chandelier and sconces in the dining room came from the Palmer House ballroom in Chicago. Pictures of General Orr and his wife, and the original blue prints can be found in the mansion’s library. The family sleeping quarters and master suite are on the second floor. The rear hall of the second floor was the servant’s quarters. The large open third floor was the ballroom.
Dean White, owner of the mansion, was very excited to hear from IGT. An investigation has been done; the results still pending. The Northwest Chapter hosted an overnight hunt recently at the mansion. There will be more opportunities to experience this awesome place. The N.W. officers are currently working with Mr. White on a fundraiser project for the chapter.
If you are eager to experience the Orr Mansion, here’s your chance! It will be featured as one of our chapter’s ghost hunt locations after our general meeting on May 6th.

GRAVESITES

http://castleofspirits.com
Australian Ghost Hunter’s Society
www.lonestarspirits.org
Paranormal investigators in Texas

http://earthspirits.org
Where Olde Traditions meet the New Age
www.ravenandcrone,com
Wiccan & pagan gift shop, great for gifts and presents

When the full moon is pale
The autumn air chilled and crisp
The children of the night prevail.
As they peer through the evening mist,
Silence broken, your heart pounds strong.
Your time’s up before too long
Accept the truth, you must believe
May 1 is 183 days til All Hallows Eve
CTP

E-mail submissions for The Paranormal Press to: paranormalpress@hotmail.com

www.indianaghosts.org

Paranormal Press

It’s been over 10 years since The Nightmare Before Christmas was released and for Tim Burton fans it’s been 10 years too long since we have been blessed with one of his dark fantasy stop animation film. The Corpse Bride, now playing, is based on an old Russian fairytale about a

http://playtonium.com/g.php?g=halloween
(knock over ghosts & ghouls; if you dare!)
www.oakalleyplantation.com
(haunted Louisiana)
www.hauntedvoices.com
(EVP, articles)
www.frightshop.com
(Halloween supplies)
www.wicca.com
(self explanatory)
www.halloween-website.com
(history, recipes, party ideas)

CREATURE FEATURE

Volume 1, Issue 4

(Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed here are strictly of this film school graduate and should in no way be taken to heart.
Don’t take my word for it, see it for yourself!)

Volume 1, Issue 6

(Continued from page #)