In Wales, on Halloween, called Noson Galan Gaeaf, the living steer clear of graveyards, stiles, and crossroads in order to avoid coming in contact with spirits.

In Lansford, the Historical Society and investigators from Paranormal Sightings joined forces last weekend to attempt contact with these spirits at the Welsh Congregational Church on West Abbott Street and Mine #7 (Hauto Tunnel) on Dock Street.

Kathy Gieniec of Summit Hill “was expecting nothing” and was shocked when investigator Alice Bernhard’s Ovilus tool displayed the name “David” when Gieniec asked if any of her Welsh ancestors, historical members of the church, were present. David is the name of both her father, who passed away, and her teenage son who was with her at the event. She “didn’t know if they meant my Dad or my son, but I have chills all over,” she said.

Paranormal Sightings was founded in 2015 as a way for like-minded paranormal investigators to combine resources and serve the community. According to investigator Alison Garl of Lehighton, this group replaced a previous group founded by a local police officer who was sent on many calls where “there were no rational explanations for sounds and activity in houses.”

As a nonprofit group, Paranormal Sightings charges no fees to investigate paranormal activity. They purchase their own equipment, cover the costs of their own travel, and volunteer their time. They use various tools to make contact with spirits. While they cover Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Scranton and other local towns and communities, they often visit places like Gettysburg.

John Bernhard, president of Paranormal Sightings and resident of Jim Thorpe, says their main goal is to “help both sides coexist.”

In his introductory remarks at the Lansford Historical Society, Bernhard explained that spirits “often linger because they don’t feel they are worthy of crossing over.”

He further explained that spirits often attach to objects and not locations and can be transported from one location to another.

In the presentation, Bernhard explained the various equipment used to contact spirits, and discussed best practices for using cellphones and recording devices. Dowsing rods, also called divining rods, are often used to find water sources but double as paranormal investigation tools. Spirits can use their energy to cross the rods in response to yes and no questions. Other tools include Spirit Boxes, thermometers, flashlights, and K-II machines. The energy level of the spirit will determine what can be used in any given location.

In the Welsh Church, Alice Bernhard used dowsing rods to determine if the spirit was male or female. She said that it was “difficult to get good readings because there are so many people. This location usually has no one in it, and to suddenly have 40 people standing in the doorway can be confusing.” Both she and other investigators spoke of scaring spirits and overwhelming them. John Bernhard said, “imagine if, all of a sudden, 40 people walked into your house.”

At both the Welsh Church and the Hauto Tunnel, known spirits have made contact numerous times with the investigators. Residents near the tunnel have seen visions of a young boy on a bicycle riding into the mine even though it has been blocked off for years due to a cave in. Legend has it that a young boy was struck and killed by a train in the tunnel after it was converted from a mine shaft. According the Historical Society, about 15 deaths happened in or near the tunnel when it was both a mine and when it was converted to train tracks. Over the years, several spirits have appeared, Bernhard said.

One of the spirits, a young miner killed in the mine, “refuses to cross over because he is bitter that he couldn’t spend more time with his new wife.”

Approximately 100 people attended the society’s event and were split into two groups. The event, created to share the rich history of Lansford, is also used to generate funds for the Society.

When asked why he attended, Daniel Long, originally from Lansford and now from West Deptford, New Jersey, said while he doesn’t “really believe in all this stuff” was there to accompany his wife. However, he “thought it was interesting” that his grandmother’s brother, Morgan Morgans, was the slain police officer who has appeared several times in previous investigations at the Welsh Church.

Morgans had been shot by a young girl who had mistaken him for an intruder.

To learn more about the Lansford Historical Society, visit the group’s Facebook page.