Spiritualism in America--and more specifically, spirit photography-- was taken to court in New York City in 1869. The case: a preliminary hearing for William H. Mumler, who was charged with fraud for selling photographs that he, claimed included images of ghosts or spirits. Testimony and arguments lasted for seven days. On Mumler's side, witnesses included a prominent former judge who was also a spiritualist. Among the opposing witnesses were several photographers who explained how the same effects could be achieved by darkroom tricks, and P. T. Barnum--who said he purchased some of Mumler's photographs to exhibit them in his museum as specimens of humbug.

The hearing attracted nationwide attention, including the full cover page (and back-page cartoon) of the mass circulation Harper's Weekly.
In the end, the judge in the case reluctantly decided to drop the charges against Mumler, citing a lack of evidence. According to The New York Daily Tribune, the judge explained "however he might believe that trick and deception had been practiced [by Mumler], yet, as he sat there in his capacity as magistrate, he was compelled to decide...the prosecution had failed to prove the case."

Both sides were thus able to declare victory. The prosecution had exposed Mumler, revealing that the same "ghost" appeared in certain photographs taken in Boston and New York-- a "spirit" who turned out to be very much a living mortal.

Mumler went back to spirit photography and gloated a bit in a pamphlet he published in 1875. But his brush with the law took its toll, both to his reputation and to his finances. Mumler never recovered from the $3000 cost of his defense, a staggering sum for its day. He destroyed all of his negatives shortly before his death in 1884.

*Information obtained from www.photographymuseum.org*

Aruba is the ship wreck diving hub in the Caribbean and my self being a certified scuba diver love this!
While some of my Historic Haunts Investigations team was on vacation we went snorkeling over the most popular wreck in the Caribbean Sea. It is a German freighter from WWI and is named Antilla. It measures 400 feet long and is called the “ghost ship” and is the largest wreck in the Caribbean.
There are many wrecks in the area but there are also reports of ghost ships still sailing the seas. Many believe these transparent wispy ships are still sailing off the coast; possibly still seeking treasure or whatever mission they were on before they sank to the bottom years ago.
The reports seem to mostly come from nightly appearances that vanish only seconds after witnesses see them. It seems the ghost ship; Antilla appears on the anniversary of when she originally sank.
This isn’t the only ship seen in the area. Some report seeing what appears to be a pirate ship sailing along the coast line as well with three large masts blowing in the trade winds.
Aruba is a beautiful place to scuba dive, snorkel, and ghost hunt.

~Jamie Pearce
Founder Historic Haunts Investigations

Want to do something different for a birthday, anniversary, wedding, or other group event? How about a private paranormal tour with Jamie Pearce, author of Historic Haunts Florida, Historic Haunts of the South, and Historic Haunts Florida 2 and is founder of Historic Haunts Investigations.

Pearce books private tours for school groups as well and can give you a paranormal tour of St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city and possibly most haunted.

For more details on booking Pearce for a private tour, send emails to historichaunts@yahoo.com with the type of event, number of people, and possibly dates and someone will get back to you asap with rates and availability.

Many people ask me to tell them a little about myself. Well, do you want the paranormal side of me or the other side? I say this because there is more to me that just my writing and Historic Haunts Investigations. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE what I do and am truly blessed.
Besides the paranormal, I am an avid animal love and have a cat named Griffin. We call her the Marilyn Monroe of the feline world. I am also active with several animal charities locally.
I love sports! I used to play tennis and softball until I blew out my knee and ankle. I am a huge Chicago Cubs and New Orleans Saints fan. I am also very excited that Jacksonville Florida will be getting their own soccer team. It isn’t an MLS team but I pull for the Columbus Crew there! I also scuba dive.
I am a HUGE Disney fan. Huge doesn’t even begin to cover it. My husband and I honeymooned at Walt Disney World and visit there many times throughout the year.
Colonial Williamsburg is near and dear to my heart as well. I used to live there and miss it and my friends dearly. I could have such a strong love for it because of my ancestral connection with the Randolphs.
I am a genealogist and have family ties to Thomas Jefferson, Black Bart, Marie Laveau, Kings and Queens of England and Scotland, and even connections to two of the accused in the Salem Witch Trials.
Most of all, I am a major family and friends person. I love them dearly and some of my friends are more like family to me.
One question I get asked a lot, especially from the kids, is do you wear black a lot because you are a paranormal investigator? The answer is no, I don’t really know why so many in the field wear that color, but I wear it because I love it! I feel good and confident in it and that is why I wear it. Sometimes the questions from the kids are the most fun. I have had them ask me if ghosts fart. I still laugh every time I hear that one.

Jamie Pearce
Author and Founder of Historic Haunts Investigations

On June 8th, 1984 the movie Ghostbusters hit theatres and was a huge success and is a cult icon to this day.
The movie stared Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, the late Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson, four men hunting down ghosts in New York City to keep the town safe from specters and ghouls.
I saw this movie when I was about 5 years old and fell in love with it. I had already seen my first apparition so it really connected with me, plus I had a crush on Egon.
Now, 30 years later the movie is still a huge hit and will never be forgotten. It is even the reason that some investigators got into the paranormal field.
Happy 30th Anniversary Ghostbusters!

Happy Hauntings,
Jamie Pearce and the Historic Haunts Investigations Team

Looking for someone to talk with a school group or any other event or group on the paranormal? Look no further. Jamie Roush Pearce, the author of Historic Haunts Florida, Historic Haunts of the South, Historic Haunts Florida 2, and more is also a paranormal investigation and founder of Historic Haunts Investigations.

Pearce has also appeared on more than one television show on the paranormal and has spoken at several different conventions, including Dragon Con. She has even worked with Chip Coffey, John Zaffis, and several members of the hit show Ghost Hunters.

If interested in booking her, please send an email to historichaunts@yahoo.com and give a description of the event and what you are looking for and someone will get back to you asap with availability and rates.

This is a story about the house I lived in. 
It was a reconstruction in 1940, but it sits on the original 18th century foundation and it used to be an "ordinary" (Similar to a coffee house). It was called "Burdett's Ordinary" in the 18th century. Some of our founding fathers visited this establishment, including: Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington.

At 3am on Halloween night 2005, I was awoken by something. I had the feeling someone was watching me from the foot of the bed. I looked and saw a man who stood over 6 feet tall and was dressed in a dark brown colored colonial suit, with graying hair.  I looked closer and soon realized this man strongly resembled George Washington! The next morning I got up and spoke with two friends and told them what I had seen.  
I then began to research this interesting phenomenon and found out some very interesting facts. Indeed, Mr. Washington had visited the ordinary on numerous occassions while in Williamsburg. I also found a portrait of him in his inauguration suit and it looked exactly like the one I saw the apparition wearing.  
We also often felt a presence in the house and heard footsteps. Everyone who visited me while I lived there said they felt a presence. Often times when I would be setting downstairs in the study it would sound like someone was moving furniture upstairs. Or if I was upstairs it would sound as if it were downstairs.
Could what I have seen really have been the ghost of George Washington? Who knows?!?!

~Jamie Pearce
Historic Haunts Investigations Founder

My mom and I decided to go antiquing and hit all the junk shops one day. We stopped at one we had never been to before. It was a very old building full of the smell of musty and dusty old antiques and all around junk. We started roaming through the building, it almost appeared to have been an old warehouse at one point and time. The building had a strange feel to it but we just chalked it up to being old and musty smelling. My mom decided to go off in one direction and I headed for the upstairs.
As I made my way up the steps and through the first room of the upper level I noticed all the vintage clothing, which I love! I headed in to the back room of the upstairs and immediately started looking at a clothes rack. I was only there for about 30 seconds or so when I started smelling this horrible stench, it smelt like blood. I started feeling very nauseous and as if something was behind me. I turned around and to my surprise there was a woman lying on the floor in a pool of blood around her head. She was obviously dead but her eyes were wide open and she was focused right on me. I could see her in complete detail. She was not transparent, she appeared to be in her 60s and looked as if she had been mugged. She had been bashed on the head and her handbag was old and was avocado green with a broken hand strap. She looked like she might have been mugged. She was wearing a cream colored sweater torn and tattered with a stripped dress.
I got so sick and immediately ran downstairs. As I started down the steps I got the tunnel effect feel and felt so sick. I went and found my mom. She took one look a me and said "What did you see? Your color is completely gone and you look like you re going to be sick!" I just told her to go upstairs and see if she saw or felt anything.
She wanted me to go upstairs with her and I didn't want to. Finally I decided to face my fears and go back up there. Mom started through to the back room and I stopped at the door. I told her I wasn't going in there. She headed toward the back of the room and then over to the area where I saw the woman. There wasn't anyone else up there at either time and she shouted over to me that she didn't see or hear anything but her chest really hurt and felt very tight. She came back over to the doorway where I was standing and asked me what I saw. I pointed to the area and explained the entire event. She went back over there and was standing right next to where I saw the woman and asked if she was still laying over there. I stepped around the rack that was blocking my view and saw the woman still lying there. I felt like I was going to pass out and started crying. Mom came over trying to comfort me and all I wanted was out of there.
We left the building and when I got home I immediately started doing research trying to find the history of the building and turned up zilch. I even contacted the newspaper and still ended up with a goose egg. As soon as I get a chance I am going to head down to the court house and see if I can find the rest of the pieces to the puzzle.
One reason I believe my mom didn't see anything is because she is precognitive and I am post cognitive. That could have a lot to do with it. One thing about being post cognitive is, it isn't a very pleasant thing sometimes. You never know what you might see!

Jamie Pearce
Founder Historic Haunts Investigations