John "Taz" Ramsey, a one-year paranormal investigator for the Global Paranormal Society of Cleveland (Tenn), sit in his truck flanked by a photo of a ghost he captured in a Hixson home earlier this year. Ramsey refers to the photo as, "My Demon."Chairs have moved on their own. Phantom voices have been heard muttering in the ears of Chattanooga Public Library patrons.
Apparitions have been reported to appear out of nowhere. Even when you're alone, you still feel as if someone or something, somewhere, is watching you. Chills crawl up and down your spine.
On March 17, the Global Paranormal Society and members of the library conducted a full-on paranormal research of the downtown library at 1001 Broad St. On Friday, they shared their results from the investigation and confirmed what so many people assumed: paranormal activity takes place at the library.
"But," added society member Gabriel Kordics during his presentation, "there's not enough to make it haunted. I'm sorry."
"That's only one investigation, though," Kordics said afterward. "This place deserves more than one investigation."
About 30 people sat in the library's auditorium Friday as Kordics and his crew presented their results. He first gave a history of the area, saying that the library currently sits on part of what was once a Cherokee nation settlement, explaining the possible roots of the specter that library employees refer to as "Eugene."
Spooky happenings were evidently afoot that one night in March. The investigation captured 68 Electronic Voice Phenomena recordings, seven personal experiences and a couple of loud bangs in the second-floor children's area and fourth floor.
"It was a long investigation," investigator John "Taz" Ramsey said. "It took about eight or nine hours. It's pure excitement."
Kordics played some of the captured EVP recordings. Using high-tech implements allows the Global Paranormal Society, based out of Cleveland, Tenn., to pick up frequencies and sounds that can't be heard by the human ear -- what he said was the sounds of spirits coming through.
As if librarian Della Phipps wasn't freaked out enough at the prospect of her place of employment being haunted, the EVP clip that played a phantom, female voice saying, "I got you," did the trick.
"I got chills every time I heard that one," Phipps said.
Phipps has never seen any apparitions herself, but she gets that "sense," she said.
The presentation fits perfectly with the Teen Summer Reading Program theme "Own the Night." Young kids were the most inquisitive during the question-and-answer session with Kordics.
That makes sense, because children are more likely to be exposed to paranormal activity, Kordics said.
Teen advisory board members Caleb George, 15, and Samuel Thompson, 18, were allowed to join the investigation back in March.
"Sometimes, one group would not get much on one floor, then another group would go on that floor and get a whole bunch of activity," Thompson said.
"There was more action on the second floor," George added.