This morning when I was walking my dogs I was wearing my "Creepy Canada" hat. No, I don't have anything against Canada, it's the name of a popular ghost program on Canadian television. Last October I shot an episode for their third season, and here I am at the end of a long day of ghost hunting with two of my new Canadian friends. I know they do look a bit strange, but I just figured they were French Canadians. (Okay, so they were just masks they were going to use for another show about aliens, but I thought it made for a great picture.)

The investigation that night took place at the infamous Cemetery Gate House (see Ghost Investigator Volume 3) in Wappinger Falls, NY, which of course, is not in Canada. The show's producers decided to branch out this season and go south of the border for some good Creepy American hauntings. I really didn't know if anything would happen with an entire TV crew surrounding me at every step, but we actually had some clearly paranormal activity, such as banging noises in the garage--not to mention someone, or some thing, touching my shoulder. Ever since the owner brought home those cemetery gates, the place has been a Grand Central Station for ghosts, and apparently those ghosts aren't shy about being on television.

I also taped a segment with the crew the next day at the mysterious stone chambers in Putnam County, NY. The chambers were reputedly built in very ancient times by the Celts, and appear to have an unusual energy to them. Whoever built them somehow knew about the electromagnetic fields of the earth, so they weren't ignorant stone age brutes looking for a roof over their heads.

Anyway, the point is that as I was wearing my Creepy Canada hat this morning, I remembered that the new season was scheduled to begin soon. I haven't seen the show I'm in yet, so I hope it all came out all right. If you live in Canada, check out the show's website ( www.creepycanada.com) for local listings. If you're in the U.S. you're probably out of luck, but email the show and see if they plan to air it here, which would make sense since they are about American hauntings.

Here I am measuring the bizarre EM field that seems to be concentrated between the gates like some energetic funnel leading onto the property--but I guess that's what you get placing a portal between the living and the dead at the end of your driveway!

I have to say the crew and director were all very nice and I had a lot of fun working with them. I hope "Creepy Canada" continues to be a success, and I would be happy to do more investigations with them in the future.

So how did the ghost hunt with the girlscouts go? Actually, surprisingly well. I had not expected much to happen with such a large group (about 30 people all together), but I had some very intersting EMF readings, particularly in the 18th century part of the basement when I asked if any spirits wanted to make their presence known and as if in direct response my Trifield meter spiked. There was also what clearly sounded like a deep sigh from a man, and the two men present at the time hadn't made a sound.

Pictured here is the merit badge that was given to all the brave girls who attended. Considering we were all in the dark in a 200-year-old haunted house with strange things going on, and not one girl left (there was some screaming, but no one chickened out), I think they all earned this patch.

I will be returning this winter to conduct a more controlled investigation, perhaps spending the night. I will, of course, keep you posted. I have reviewed the digital photos and didn't see anything unusual, but I have yet to review all of the infrared video, for which I have to thank my volunteer cameraman, John. I also I have to thank Claude Horstmann, president of the Cornerstone Masonic Historical Society, who has led the crusade to preserve the building and create a museum.

And to the Monroe troops #524, 489 and 169, thanks for a very interesting evening, and happy ghost hunting!

(The foyer of McGarrah's Inn with some of our group the night of December 29, 2005.)