Olivas Adobe ghost face

The Olivas Adobe in Ventura, CA, is one of the most haunted places in the American West. This picture taken of the second floor window shows a face. Many pictures of ghosts have been taken over the years. Its an ideal place for a psychic investigation. I wish I could alert "Ghost Adventures" the TV show to the many unique elements in this old hispanic hacienda. I myself have seen several things here and I know of many others who have experienced the paranormal at this site. As close as I can figure there are four ghosts: a lady in a black dress, a little girl in a white night dress and cap, a woman with no eyes, and a grey woman with a wooden spoon. There may well be more.

Ghost Hunting changes lives!

Hunting Ghosts can change people for the better. It can bring out the spiritual side of their nature and give them a confidence that can't be found in many other places. I believe youth at Risk could be transformed if they could be taken out and make them part of a ghost hunting team. You may have noticed ghost hunters walk with a swagger of confidence. They have a spirit to them. Ghost hunting teaches teamwork and forces people to work together--I mean those who do not run away in terror.

Ghostly events for August 2012

AUGUST EVENTS WITH Richard Senate August 11, 4 to 5 PM, Lecture on Lost Treasures of Ventura County from the Lost Padre's Mine to the Olivas Adobe Treasure. AUGUST 16 8 to 10 (Thursday) The Ghosts of Olivas Adobe--Part tour & Part Ghost Hunt at the 1847 Adobe --Tickets 805-658-4726. August 24 7 to 9 Bank of Books tour & Talk--the Ghosts of Downtown Ventura. fee $5. August 31 Friday night Cemetery walk--Tickets can be purchased at 805-658-4726. This place never fails to produce events!

Ghost Hunting's Related Cousins

Ghost Hunting has several related disciplines. They face the same unrelenting skepticism and mocking tone from established science. We have several features that link our related studies. A Partial list includes: 1. UFOLOGY: the study of Unidentified Flying Objects—sometimes called “Flying Saucers” Having roots in the 1950s they have several good cases—-including the events at Roswell, New Mexico. At landing sites they have found strong EM readings just as we find them in Haunted Places. MUFON is the best group out there so far. Keep searching the skies. “The Truth is out there!” 2. CRYPO-ZOOLOGY: The search for mythical animals such as Bigfoot. So far weak evidence for bigfoot but they have proven some monsters do exist such as Octopus Giganticus, The Canadian Red Bear and the Scottish Jumping Cat. Keep looking you may just encounter The man of the woods! (or at least record his call). 3. CRYPO-BIOLOGY: The search for mythical plants such as the Strangling Tree of Madagascar —So far the Tree That kills has eluded them but they did find some pine trees that lived at the time of the dinosaurs—thought extinct —living in one valley in Australia. Keep looking for the tree and watch out for tendrils! 4. CRONOLOGY: The search for time travel—both historical and man made. There have been a few cases of natural time travel in the historic record. The 1901 time travel of two English Teachers at the French Palace of Versailles is the best case. 5. ARKOLOGY: Our Christian Friends are seeking the remains of Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat in Turkey. They have some interesting photographs of something that does look like a really big boat! 6. DEMONOLOGY: Seekers of evidence of Demonic creatures and related paranormal events—Many linked to Christian Fundamentalists and there interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. Don’t forget the Holy Water! 7. OROLOGY: Also known as Treasure Hunters. They seek lost gold and lost loot. Many such treasure troves are haunted and cursed! They have some things in common with ghost hunters. Keep looking and searching, there is a lot more lost gold out there!

Harry Price Ghost Hunter of England

“A poltergeist is an alleged ghost, elemental, entity, agency, secondary personality, “intelligence”, “power”, spirit, imp or “familiar” with certain unpleasant characteristics… The poltergeist is mischievous, destructive, noisy, cruel, erratic, thievish, demonstrative, purposeless, cunning, unhelpful, malicious, audacious, teasing, ill-disposed, spiteful, ruthless, resourceful and vampiric. A ghost haunts, a poltergeist infests!” — Harry Price, English Ghost Hunter and author of Poltergeists over England.

Wormie Annie ghost lady of Silver City

"Wormie" Annie Sullivan is rumored to haunt Silver City Ghost Town in Bodfish, CA. She got her strange nick name because she owned and operated a worm ranch selling the earthworms to fishermen. She was an eccentric lady who seems to check out the town from time to time. they named the saloon in the place, "Wormie Annie's" in her honor. They have lantern ghost tours every two weeks for $12 dollars each. Take a camera--you might even get a picture with Annie!

Silver City Ghosts!I

In the 1960s a family in Bodfish began to save old buildings from the local ghost towns and preserve them so they wouldn't be lost forever. The collection from five ghost towns were put together and renamed "Silver City". Now its open as a museum where the old west comes to life with gunfighters and dance hall girls. But this is no tourist trap becaus,e Silver City has something other places do not--Real Ghosts! It has been featured in the show Haunted Discoveries where ghostly voices were recorded in the old Saloon and church. Others coming for the late night 'Lantern Tour' have seen paranormal events and phantoms! Doors open and close, lights on on and off, bottles float about and there are phantom sounds. the old jail was moved here and in 1905 it housed local gunfighter Newt Walker (who killed two men in an uneven gunfight on the main street of Halvalah). One ghost said to walk these streets owned the land before the buildings were moved here. Called "Wormie" Annie Sullivan she owned and operated a worm ranch here, selling worms to the local anglers. An eccentric woman, they have honored her with a display and they have named the saloon after her. It seems her ghost stops in from time to time! they even have a photograph that might show the heavyset woman looking in a window! If you are ever in Bodfish, look up the place and if you can, take one of the "creepy" Lantern Tours--keep an eye open for one of there wandering ghosts!

Herne -England's ancient ghost

Herne is perhaps the most famous ghost in All of Haunted England. He haunts Windsor Park and dates back to the 14th Century. Legend says he was an excentric gamekeeper (imagine that an eccentric Englishman?)who dressed up to scare poachers. Somehow, he disgraced himself and hung himself on an old oak. As he was hanging, lightning hit the tree and now, dressed in his deerskin with his Antler mask, his ghost rides though Windsor Park. He is mentioned in Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor So he was well known to the people in Tudor London. He is described as “…a wild, spectral object, possessing a slight resemblance to a human being, clad in the skin of a deer and wearing on its head a sort of helmet, formed of the skull of a stag, from which branched a large pair of antlers. It is surrounded by a blue phosphoric light.” Interestingly, I have seen and photographed the blue light at haunted places. Maybe Herne is seeking forgiveness for his sins?

Ghosts can come in many forms. The most curious took place over England in 1909, when phantom Zeppelins were reported to the police. There were none of these flying ships in Britain at the time—only one nation had them—Germany. At first some thought they were on spy missions over England—but Germany never sent them! They were given the name “Scareships” by the press and those who saw them were mocked and accused of drinking too much. Was it a form of panic? Relations between Imperial Germany and the British Empire were strained at the time. Recently invented moving pictures had shown people in England what these airships were like. Could these films have caused the sightings? Then came World War One in 1914. In 1915 the Germans did send Zeppelins loaded with bombs to drop! Could the images in the sky have been a form of precognition? Looking into the future when real airships would come to do their evil work on England? Could this give us a clue about the nature of ghosts? Maybe they are visions from the past or future? Ghosts could be linked to time?

A Classic Ghost Movie

One of the best movies on Ghost Hunting. It tells about ghost hunting as solving a mystery. Some cases can be very complex. It has some great lines in it--Like: "Be afraid, be very afraid," and " "It seems that Dogs can see the blasted things!" A great old movie, I like to watch it at least once a year.

Headless Ghosts a mystery. Why are so many ghosts lacking their head? Now in places like China and France where people were decapitated historically one might be able to understand why the spirits of such victims might be seen lacking a head but the sightings of headless figures seems to exceed the number of such events. Why? Could it be that the ghosts are Not headless we just can't see their head. Its a failure on the part of the ghost to manifest itself completely. In the case of the illustrated Bishop, now a saint, his actions were symbolic to prove the pagans who killed him were wrong. It left a real impression on the peasants and went a long way to confirming his saintly statue. This is an image one isn't likely to forget.

The Flight of the Hercules was my first published novel and is now on Kindel for 99 cents. Its set in 1895 and features a balloon voyage attempt to circle the earth. No ghosts but a fun read. It is written in the style of Jules Vern.

The American Civil War has a supernatural side to it. Many of the battlefields where brother fought brother are haunted to this very day. The bloody Battle of Shiloh was so awful that it is said the creek ran red with blood and the losses were so high for the Confederate forces that no one in the south smiled for a year. Ghosts were reported here weeks after the fighting. The reports of ghosts are what inspired the robes used by the Ku Klux Klan in the believe they would frighten and intimidate the newly freed blacks. Many other places have ghosts. Gettysburg is a hot bed of sightings as is Vicksburg and Stone Mountain and Bull Run. Even Fort Sumter has her share of ghosts. Lincoln has seances in the Red Room of the White House (to please his wife, most believe) and his assassination has many psychic links to it. If you are looking for ghosts, battlefields of the Civil War would be a good place to start.

The Ghosts of Cemetery Park Ventura The low hill has been a burying ground in Ventura, California, since 1866. How its a park and the headstones were removed. The place is haunted and has been for a long time. Headless ghosts have seen seen here as well as a phantom woman in a large hat and long dress. Ghost lights are seen here as well. On June 29, Richard and Debbie Senate will lead a unique Ghost Tour of this site and try to contact the many spirits said to walk there. The Tour starts at the Bank of Books shop on Main Street (across from the funeral home). The fee is $5 a person. DO bring cameras, Flashlight and any other ghost hunting tools. Tour starts with a talk at 7:00 PM. Many believe the ghosts may well be linked to the veterans of the Civil War who rest there now. As this is the 150 anniversary of the war--that may be why they walk!

The Crisis Apparition--a most common

Of all types of ghosts, the most common and most reported are crisis apparitions, they are a phantom of a loved one who appears at the moment (or near the moment) of their death. Even if that death was many thousands of miles away. Most are silent and some call the the “Goodbye Ghosts”. Many cases of this sort of ghost fill the files of ghost hunters. Many of them are linked to wars and the military service. One of the best is the strange account of Vice Admiral George Tyron, of the British Royal Navy. On July 22, 1893 he was in command of a fleet operating off Syria. He committed a terrible blunder and ordered the HMS Camperdown to turn, causing the ship to ram his flagship, the HMS Victoria. The accident opened a 12 foot hole in the British Monitor causing her to sink. 357 crew, including the Admiral, went down with the ship. At that same time, George’s wife was holding a party in their posh London home. The attendees became hushed as they saw The Admiral, in full uniform, walk down the staircase, march across the room, open a door and walk out! Perhaps he was looking for Lady Tyron? Many report this type of sighting.

The headless Ghost of Anne Boleyn

The Ghost of Queen Anne Boleyn has been seen for centuries walking the Tower of London where she was decapitated accused of witchcraft. Perhaps the best reported sighting was in 1863, when a guard fainted away at the sight of the woman, holding her severed head. Another saw it as well. She has been seen many times, some say she seeks the ghost of her husband, King Henry VIII to tell him that the charges against her were false. She did have several unique elements about her person--such as six fingers on one hand and three breasts! I have investigated the Tower and it lives up to its reputation as one of the most haunted places in the world. It is creepy! Anne is encountered in several locations, sometimes with, and sometimes without, her head. If you ever get across the pond to the UK, do visit the tower of London! You will be glad you did.

Ghost of Hollywood-By-The-Sea

The beach community is known for its party life more than anything else. This is the tiny community called Hollywood-By-The Sea. Yes back in the days of silent film a few movies were cranked out here, mostly short comedies made by a distant ancestor of mine-Mack Sennett. Some believe "The Sheikh" was filmed there in the sand dunes. The houses are small and some old enough to date back the the 1920s movie companies. More than a few are haunted. We were investigating reports of a ghost on Burbank Street that warm afternoon. We found the address and it was one of the older ones. We met the owner and toured the tastefully decorative place. Even I could feel the cold that seemed to suck the life out of anything that came into the room. She believed it had something to do with the moving picture people—but I didn’t The psychic I brought went into a sort of trance and felt that the ghost was that of a young man who died in the 1960s. She saw him in a doorway and described his ripped shirt and long blond hair and beard. She gasped and said he was coming towards her—she fell onto the floor—When she recovered herself she was speaking in another voice! Deeper raspy, She demanded who we were and why we were here? I could feel she was possessed by the young man’s spirit. I told him he was dead and we were here to help him. He screamed that he was alive and we were dead! He could see right though us! He had forgotten the drug overdose that killed him so long ago—he was waiting for someone. We told him to move on—he wasn’t in the world of the living! We asked if he had seen a light—were there others to help him. After a time, he moved out of the psychic’s body and toward “the others”—-after that the small house was no longer haunted. This was the first time I had ever had such a thing happen to me. I had thought such things were just for the movies--but I found things like this can happen.

Ouija or not to Ouija, that is a question.

Ouija Boards are almost universally condemned today. I have found that such things have been behind evil events, but most of the time they have been harmless--more game than gateway to Satan's realm. Maybe it was my earliest experiences with them that has caused me to be more accepting of the Talking Board. As a child my mother played with the board all the time, and many hours were passed talking to our spirit friends about such things as the Cherokee Nation and the Civil War. I knew more about "The Bloody Angle" and the Battle of Cold Harbor from those who were there. When ever anything negative came of the board my mother just sent them away! The tirade against Ouija Boards came with that low budget thriller "Witchboard" and such things. Strangely enough even the most hard headed Ghost hunters who put little credence in anything metaphysical, Condemn Ouija Boards. I do not--BUT I do urge people to be wary in using them. Some great poetry has been written using them, even several whole novels! One dictated by Mark Twain--some even said it did sound like the old sinner's work. Attempts to contact Shakespeare have met with little success--so there hasn't been any new plays--to date. Now the "Spirit Box" and "Omivox" dominate the ghost hunting discipline. We are getting reports of evil and negative accounts from sessions with these new tools. Maybe they too will be condemned in time. Tell me if you have had a positive of negative experience with the Talking Board. You can contact me at hainthunter@aol.com

Ghosts of Virginia City

Virginia City! A most haunted place will be the focus of my expedition into the Unknown set for September--five days of ghost hunting at some of the most haunted places in Northern Nevada. I have had several things happen in VC over the years and so have friends of mine. Some encounters are in my book Silver Ghosts I wrote with Psychic Sandie LaNey--You can get it on Kendal and Amazon.

Ghosts of Northern Nevada

The Northern Part of the Silver State of Nevada is sometimes called “the Comstock” and it has a wild and colorful history. The “Glory Hole” found in Virginia City, caused that mining town to be the largest city between, Chicago and San Francisco. Today its a hollow shell of its former glory but here the past comes to life in her many ghosts and paranormal happenings. Virginia City is a Disneyland for all ghost hunters! Perhaps no spot has such a collection of haunted houses and hotels in America. Anyone interested in ghosts or the paranormal should visit this area. I have been there many times and I have had things happen in this place—at the old Piper Opera House, The Silver Dollar and the St. Mary’s Art Center (formerly the local hospital). I have even heard the tap of the old priests cane at the St. Mary’s Church. A night in the haunted Gold Hill Hotel gave me a first hand experience with the ghost of Rosie, the hotel ghost! All the books call VC haunted but there are many lesser know haunted towns —Many in Carson City where a phantom lady haunts the old capital building, coming down the stairs, and there are even report of Mark Twain seen at the former home of his brother Orion. Other haunted places—the little town of Genoa where a ghost haunts the old Courthouse and hanging tree, and the boot-hill-like cemetery, Dayton with its haunted theater. There are many ghosts in Reno as well—haunting an old bridge and the courthouse that has known many violent acts over the years. It is really a place worth visiting. I am planning a special week long tour of the Comstock in September. Helping me is Janice Oberding--the author of Haunted Nevada and many other works. If you would like to get a ticket for this event —let me know at hainthunter@aol.com

The Mission Santa Barbara has a long history of Ghosts--In late June I will lead another expedition to this site. In the past we picked up an EVP in French saying "Remove your hat" (One member of the team didn't) Another time we got a full figure apparition of a Monk and Many orbs. Once we got a winged figure, like an angel, but all in black, in the old cemetery. A ghost man is rumored to haunt the second tower, where he leaped long ago to his death. What ever we find, I will be posting it. If you have had something happen here--do let me know at hainthunter@aol.com

June Events 2012

RICHARD SENATE'S Ghostly JUNE EVENTS

June 3 MUFON Meeting event in Ventura see you there! June 21 ghost Tour of the Olivas Adobe --For Tickets call 805-658-4726 June 24 Ghost Tour Mission Santa Barbara--A unique tour and chance to ghost hunt. June 29 Ghosts of Cemetery Park, Ventura, Bank of Books 7 to 9 the fee is $5 per-person. Discover the history of the cemetery

The historic 100 year old Glen Tavern Inn is located at Santa Paula, California. The three story Tudor Revival hotel has many stories of ghosts but, My team of ghost hunters were startled to run into one of them--and not one you would expect. Doing EVP research in room 307, on the 3rd Floor, we picked up a unique sound--the whimpering and bark of a dog. There were no dogs there and this was picked up on two machines at the same time. There was half a dozen witnesses as well. A psychic visiting the inn, hours before said she felt the presence of a large dog. What the group didn't know was that, this room was used in the late 1920s to house the Silent Movie Star--Rin-Tin-Tin. He made a movie here on location. The sound--in this room--made sense. This captured EVP confirms the haunted heritage of the Glen Tavern and confirms that ghosts are not always people.

Into the unknown country

"Ghost hunters should tread lightly. They are entering an unknown country where dangers lurk in dark corners and the unexpected can be normal. Here the bizarre is common. Still, curiosity and science compels us to advance." Dr. W. Manfield-Gibbs The search for answers to the greatest riddle of our time is in many ways like an expedition into an unknown land and as such there are real dangers. This part of ghost hunting isn't talked about much on the popular TV shows. Its out there. I know because I have seen it in some of the cases I have worked upon over the years. Evil does exist and I see it coming out more and more in the work does in the field. The talking boxes, I believe, can be as dangerous as any Ouija Board. I have heard some really negative stuff coming out of them. The quest must continue but I ask ghost hunters to be wary. There are dark forces out there. I believe such things are small percentage wise but they are there. Learn to protect yourself from psychic attack. If you get into something too deep feel free to call for help from others. Richard Senate

White House Ghosts

"Now about those ghosts, I'm sure they're here and I'm not half so alarmed at meeting up with any of them as I am at having to meet the living nuts I have to see every day." Bess Truman, wife of Harry Truman about ghosts in the White House. Truman openly talked about hearing a knock upon his door in the residence and answering it saw nothing in the hall--he attributed it to the ghost of Abe Lincoln. People have been talking about the phantoms since the Lincoln administration with Mary Todd telling of hearing Andy Jackson and holding seances in the Red Room of the executive mansion. The Mrs. Grant said she saw Lincoln who is rumored to be the most seen of the ghosts but, according to legend, he only appears when the nation is in trouble. Maureen Reagan is said to have encountered him in the Lincoln Bedroom. I would love to investigate that old house but I don't believe that's going to happen anytime soon.

Ghosts of Creek Road

Many ghosts haunt Creek Road that tiny lane that runs from Oak View to Ojai in Ventura County. Perhaps the most frightening specter is that of the Headless Horseman of the Ojai Valley. Said to be an outlaw who was killed and decapitated by lawmen seeking a reward. He had given himself over to evil and now works for El Diablo himself. He rides a huge black horse--a gift from Satan, named "Brimstone"-- Now he seeks the souls of sinners to take back to Hell to please his boss. Strange thing is, people report seeing this fearful apparition!

Novel: Flight of the Hercules now on Kendel!

Richard Senates Steam Punk novel "The Flight of the Hercules" is now on Kendel and priced at a low price of 99 cents. He is thinking of posting the sequel: "The voyage of the Neptune" at an equally low price. he asks people to read it and comment if they like it. If enough people like it he may post the other novel. Its about a wild flight to Europe in a balloon in 1895.

Upcoming Event: GHOST HUNT AT OLIVAS ADOBE

June 21 Richard Senate will hold a special ghost investigation at the historic Olivas Adobe in Ventura, California. We will seek confirmation of Paranormal events. Fee $20--for tickets call 805-658-4726 The last investigation collected a great deal of information!

The two story home was built in 1847--Don Raymundo Olivas and his wife Teodora has 21 Children! That was large even for the 19th Century. What is that thing in the window of the door? A ghost woman or reflection? Several sightings have been made of a phantom woman here in the rose garden--she is wearing white and has long black hair--her most unique feature is that she has no eyes--only empty sockets where eyes should be. Who is she and why does she have no eyes?

Ghost Galleon seen off California CoastA

Ghostly ship has been seen by two people so far, one at dusk off Santa Cruz Island. Was this a lost Galleon? Why is this phantom sailing ship seen? From what they say it couldn't be any modern vessel. Ghost ships have been seen for ages! If you have seen this phenomena please let me know at hainthunter@aol.com Richard Senate Two more people have informed me that they have seen the sailing ship at dusk, one man said it just vanished away!