My first ghost hunting excursion
Current mood: adventurous
Category: Dreams and the Supernatural

Last night I drove to Gainesville to visit the Hill House Manor - thanks to my friend on here - Sorcha - who organized this outing. 

When I arrived, Linda - the owner of the home, took me on a tour.  The house is very old and not much is known of its history, although it is rumored to have been a speak-easy.

This being my first experience I didn't know what to expect.  (It's something I've wanted to do for many years and I just didn't have the nerve to do so until now.)  Not more than 15 mins. after arriving I felt physically strange.  I felt pressure in or on my head and it was so intense I had a headache for most the time I was there.  Then my stomach was feeling queasy as well.  Another strange sensation was when we toured the 'storage' area on the 1st floor the tip of the index finger on my right hand started pulsating and it was painful.  After our tour was over and we went back to the 'safe' area (I refer to it as the safe area) of the house, the pain in my finger disappeared.

Three of us then went through the house with cameras and an EVP-type gadget to see if we could find anything.  One of the persons stated he felt goose bumps and chills in a couple of areas of the house.  They tried to get a sign of a presence - asking questions, etc. 

We stayed for a good length of time in what we called the 'fireplace room'.  When we first went in there I was warm and thought of taking off my jacket, but after a little while it got VERY chilly in there.  The other 2 people with me felt the same thing as me. 

It was in this room that I saw something.  My friend was taking a picture and when the camera flashed I saw a WHITE shadow against the taupe colored curtains.  (It was as if someone was sitting in the chair in front of the window.)  I told my friend to take another picture.  He did and I didn't see anything that time.  He did it for a 3rd time and I still didn't see anything like with the 1st flash. 

Now, when we looked at the pictures he'd just taken, there was undeniably a good-sized orb in the 1st picture - the one where I saw the figure. 

Through out the 'investigation', the people I was with would try to 'talk' to the 'spirits' and I just could NOT bring myself to do the same.  I don't know if it was out of unconscious fear or if it was because I was already feeling bad physically and I just couldn't open myself up anymore. 

I'm a balance of skeptic and believer.  I know things exist beyond what we know and can consciously see, but I also know some unusual things have scientific and logical explanations.

My eyes don't play tricks on me and I can say I'm convinced I saw an apparition or something to that effect in the fire place room.  Unfortunately that was the only thing that I saw, but the physical uneasiness was and is undeniable.  Once we left Hill House Manor I felt just fine physically.

I'm already making plans for a return trip and I know more people will be going.  This type of thing isn't for everyone, but I'm glad I know enough 'weird' people like myself that will go.  Sorcha is hoping to have a seance party at the house and if I can muster enough courage, I will be there.

 Looking forward to the next excursion with like-minded people.

Sheila