Water and the Paranormal

During a radio interview I gave, the question was asked if I thought water had any bearing on paranormal activity.  At the time, I hadn't given the idea much thought.  But if you consider that paranormal activity seems to be electrical in nature (draining batteries, pulling from heat energy, more prevalent during solar weather and causing changes to EMF) and water can be a good conductor of electricity, then it stands to reason that water could help fuel a haunt.

First, we need to clear up the science of water's ability to conduct electricity.  Water itsself does not conduct electricity.  It's the impurities in the water (minerals, pollutants, etc.) that conduct electricity.  So the more impurities you have the more conduciveness you have.  The Discovery Channel's "Ghost Lab" show featured the theory of water fueling the paranormal on their "Murky Waters" episode.  It was found that the waters of the Mississippi River near the Nottoway Plantation had a high level of conduciveness.  But what about other paranormal "hot spots"?

Gettysburg as a town is a paranormal hot spot, but what about locations within Gettysburg?  Spangler's Spring has always been an area of the battlefield that has produced paranormal experiences and evidence.  One of the best known ghost stories of Gettysburg, The Lady in White, takes place at The Spring.  Most of my own personal paranormal experiences in Gettysburg have also originated from Spangler's Spring, and most of these experiences have been some of the best/scariest.   So where is the water?  Spangler's Spring is so named because of a spring that is located on the property.  In 1895 the spring was capped off because of damage it had suffered from visitors to the area.  But the spring isn't the only source of water in that area.  Next to the spring is a large meadow that is bordered by Rock Creek.  Plenty of water available.

Bridges are also known for their ghosts.  There are several bridges in and around Gettysburg that are reputed to be haunted.  Sach's Bridge in Gettysburg, Starner's Dam Bridge in Harney, MD, Utica Covered Bridge in Thurmont, MD and Roddy Creek Bridge in Thurmont, MD all have ghost stories associated with them.

In the Tidewater region of Virginia, there is an area referred to as Old House Woods.  The 50 acres of trees has boasted paranormal activity since the 1800's.  The Baltimore Sun thought it was worthy of a news story in the 1920's.  Personally I feel it is one of the most haunted and spooky locations I've been in.  Every time I have been there I have experienced some bone chilling things to include hearing phantom footsteps, having a car door slam shut and having a locked and latched car trunk open on its own.  The Chesapeake Bay borders one end of the woods and White's Creek runs along the other edge. 

So the next time you're out investigating, think about checking to see what bodies of water might be in the area.