YOU ARE INVITED TO A SPECIAL DISCUSSION -
What: Introduction to Ghost Hunting
When: Saturday, August 1, 10 AM - NOON
Where: Offices of the Tampa Marketing Company
1906 N. Armenia Ave. #306, Tampa, FL
How much: FREE Event
Who can attend: Open to the public
PLEASE RSVP to bill@tampaghostwatchers.com
Call Bill Sharpe at 813-283-0760 for more information
or email bill@tampaghostwatchers.com
There is no cost to attend this two hour discussion designed to answer questions and to provide an introduction to paranormal investigations and more.
Topics to be discussed will include:
1. what to know before you go
2. what questions to ask
3. equipment you may require
4. what to do when you find something
5. this is very interesting, now what do I do ?
What do you need to bring for the seminar ? An open mind and a lot of curiosity.
Tampa Ghost Watchers, with over 200 members, is the Largest Paranormal Investigation group in Florida.
www.tampaghostwatchers.com
Friday, July 17, 2009
Ocala National Forest 2009
HERE ARE ALL THE DETAILS. If you have not signed up, please let me know ASAP ! So we can be ready for you. $25 per person to attend. Bill's cell phone number is 813-770-3902. BUT NO GUARANTEE THEY WILL WORK IN THE FOREST. OCALA NATIONAL FOREST - Register here
Saturday/Sunday - August 8 & 9.
The plan is to meet at SILVER GLEN SPRINGS at 2 PM in the Ocala National Forest. This is a beautiful swimming/picnicing location. It is also easy to find. It takes about 3 hours from our office. Directions are as follows: Take I-75 North to Ocala, In Ocala, take the Hwy 40 exit EAST, go approximately one hour to the middle of the Ocala National Forest, you will pass an area called Four Corners (there is a grocery store there) and continue on Hwy 40 past Juniper Springs to Hwy 19 (just a couple miles past Juniper Springs) turn NORTH on Hwy 19, several miles north you will find SILVER GLEN SPRINGS. We are to meet there by 2 PM on Saturday. And will depart from there at 4 PM. Get there early, or visit Juniper Springs if you are early. These are beautiful Florida treasures. Look for my yellow Smart Car in the parking lot.
Our camping site is about 30 minutes away from the Springs, in the middle of the forest. Remember this is primitive camping. You will be very close to your car, and a 45 minute hike or so to the former settlement. We will get situated and then hike in to the settlement before dark to get a real look at the area. Then we will return around 9 PM and again in the very early morning as the sun rises. We are ready to provide you with hamburgers and hotdogs for dinner, so not to worry. Bring your own drinks, and remember water. Remember this is primitive camping. Bring toilet paper, flashlights, tent, and whatever you may require. AND A CHAIR TO SIT IN. I expect us to be leaving the campsite by noon on Sunday. BUT stay to enjoy this spectacular forest. Map to Silver Glen Springs here http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/local-resources/images/maps/oca/canoe_silver.pdf Details of the Settlement here : The Yearling Trail Pats Island is one of the most popular historic attractions on the Ocala National Forest. The area was named after it's first postmaster Patrick Smith who settled there in the 1840's and the unique relationship of two ecosystems, long leaf pine and sand pine scrub. Much of the land bounded by the St. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers consists of the largest concentration of sand pine scrub in the world. Within this vast area there are oases of fertile soils and moisture that support growth of longleaf pine, wiregrass, turkey oak and other trees and plants not found in the surrounding arid scrub. Pioneers who settled in these areas called them islands because a sea of scrub surrounded them. The Reuben Long family came to the area around 1872 and individual family members applied for and were granted homestead acres that they worked and lived on for many years. Human habitation on the island peaked before the turn of the 20th century when about a dozen families sought to eke out a living on the 1400-acre island. A living was made from farming, running woods cattle and hogs, hunting, fishing, making moonshine whisky, and trading with boat travel on the St. Johns River. There is an ecological uniqueness of this of a longleaf pine island surrounded by scrub pine, which creates a single community isolated from the mainstream of central Florida life. The imposed remoteness contributed to a community essentially untouched by outside forces. The community had its own church, school, post office and self-appointed lay ministers. Life was hard on the island and after the big back-to-back freezes of 1894 and 1895 the population began to decline. Most of the settlers had sold or leased their homesteads before the Ocala National Forest was formed in 1908. Outside forces were slowly bringing life as it had been on the island to an end. In 1935 the island was abandoned by man and surrendered back to the elements after less than 100 years of human occupation. The natural beauty of the area and the colorful life style of these rugged people fascinated the author, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. She stayed with the last two inhabitants of the island, Calvin and Mary Long in October 1933. During this and other visits she recorded many stories told by the Longs. Calvin's childhood story of nursing a deer from a fawn gave her the idea for the Pulitzer Prize winning novel "The Yearling". The book was made into a movie starring Gregory Peck, Jane Wyman and Claude Jarman, Jr. and was filmed on location in the early 1940's. Today you too can visit Pat's Island via the Yearling Trail. The trailhead is located on SR 19 across from the Silver Glen Springs entrance. From there you can hike up to 6 miles visiting various sites of historical significance and enjoy the natural beauty of the island. Pats Island is located in Juniper Prairie Wilderness where natural processes are the primary influences and human activity is limited. Forest Service management of Pat's Island preserves and protects its physical and biological characteristics and allows us to experience this treasure without intention to disturb or destroy natural processes. As wilderness, the island is closed to motorized equipment and bicycles. As you circle the island, stop and notice the sites where the residents once lived. When you once again see the sand pine scrub, you will be arriving back at the trailhead. Perhaps you may want to complete your trip with a visit to Silver Glen Springs. Snacking at a shaded picnic table or swimming in crystal clear 72 degrees year around water is a great way to top off the day. You may want to visit the Boils Trail at the glen where Jody (of The Yearling) built a "flutter mill" with palmetto leaf and sticks. It was here that he nodded off to sleep when he was supposed to be home attending his chores. The Lake George Trail from the Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area to Lake George also offers another hiking adventure.
Saturday/Sunday - August 8 & 9.
The plan is to meet at SILVER GLEN SPRINGS at 2 PM in the Ocala National Forest. This is a beautiful swimming/picnicing location. It is also easy to find. It takes about 3 hours from our office. Directions are as follows: Take I-75 North to Ocala, In Ocala, take the Hwy 40 exit EAST, go approximately one hour to the middle of the Ocala National Forest, you will pass an area called Four Corners (there is a grocery store there) and continue on Hwy 40 past Juniper Springs to Hwy 19 (just a couple miles past Juniper Springs) turn NORTH on Hwy 19, several miles north you will find SILVER GLEN SPRINGS. We are to meet there by 2 PM on Saturday. And will depart from there at 4 PM. Get there early, or visit Juniper Springs if you are early. These are beautiful Florida treasures. Look for my yellow Smart Car in the parking lot.
Our camping site is about 30 minutes away from the Springs, in the middle of the forest. Remember this is primitive camping. You will be very close to your car, and a 45 minute hike or so to the former settlement. We will get situated and then hike in to the settlement before dark to get a real look at the area. Then we will return around 9 PM and again in the very early morning as the sun rises. We are ready to provide you with hamburgers and hotdogs for dinner, so not to worry. Bring your own drinks, and remember water. Remember this is primitive camping. Bring toilet paper, flashlights, tent, and whatever you may require. AND A CHAIR TO SIT IN. I expect us to be leaving the campsite by noon on Sunday. BUT stay to enjoy this spectacular forest. Map to Silver Glen Springs here http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/local-resources/images/maps/oca/canoe_silver.pdf Details of the Settlement here : The Yearling Trail Pats Island is one of the most popular historic attractions on the Ocala National Forest. The area was named after it's first postmaster Patrick Smith who settled there in the 1840's and the unique relationship of two ecosystems, long leaf pine and sand pine scrub. Much of the land bounded by the St. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers consists of the largest concentration of sand pine scrub in the world. Within this vast area there are oases of fertile soils and moisture that support growth of longleaf pine, wiregrass, turkey oak and other trees and plants not found in the surrounding arid scrub. Pioneers who settled in these areas called them islands because a sea of scrub surrounded them. The Reuben Long family came to the area around 1872 and individual family members applied for and were granted homestead acres that they worked and lived on for many years. Human habitation on the island peaked before the turn of the 20th century when about a dozen families sought to eke out a living on the 1400-acre island. A living was made from farming, running woods cattle and hogs, hunting, fishing, making moonshine whisky, and trading with boat travel on the St. Johns River. There is an ecological uniqueness of this of a longleaf pine island surrounded by scrub pine, which creates a single community isolated from the mainstream of central Florida life. The imposed remoteness contributed to a community essentially untouched by outside forces. The community had its own church, school, post office and self-appointed lay ministers. Life was hard on the island and after the big back-to-back freezes of 1894 and 1895 the population began to decline. Most of the settlers had sold or leased their homesteads before the Ocala National Forest was formed in 1908. Outside forces were slowly bringing life as it had been on the island to an end. In 1935 the island was abandoned by man and surrendered back to the elements after less than 100 years of human occupation. The natural beauty of the area and the colorful life style of these rugged people fascinated the author, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. She stayed with the last two inhabitants of the island, Calvin and Mary Long in October 1933. During this and other visits she recorded many stories told by the Longs. Calvin's childhood story of nursing a deer from a fawn gave her the idea for the Pulitzer Prize winning novel "The Yearling". The book was made into a movie starring Gregory Peck, Jane Wyman and Claude Jarman, Jr. and was filmed on location in the early 1940's. Today you too can visit Pat's Island via the Yearling Trail. The trailhead is located on SR 19 across from the Silver Glen Springs entrance. From there you can hike up to 6 miles visiting various sites of historical significance and enjoy the natural beauty of the island. Pats Island is located in Juniper Prairie Wilderness where natural processes are the primary influences and human activity is limited. Forest Service management of Pat's Island preserves and protects its physical and biological characteristics and allows us to experience this treasure without intention to disturb or destroy natural processes. As wilderness, the island is closed to motorized equipment and bicycles. As you circle the island, stop and notice the sites where the residents once lived. When you once again see the sand pine scrub, you will be arriving back at the trailhead. Perhaps you may want to complete your trip with a visit to Silver Glen Springs. Snacking at a shaded picnic table or swimming in crystal clear 72 degrees year around water is a great way to top off the day. You may want to visit the Boils Trail at the glen where Jody (of The Yearling) built a "flutter mill" with palmetto leaf and sticks. It was here that he nodded off to sleep when he was supposed to be home attending his chores. The Lake George Trail from the Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area to Lake George also offers another hiking adventure.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Next Meeting - Sunday, July 12 - 7 PM
Members, Guests, and Interested Persons are welcome to attend this general meeting.
Sunday, July 12 - 7 PM
Tampa Marketing Company, 1906 N. Armenia Ave. #306, Tampa, FL 33607
Agenda:
Introduction of all in attendance.
Gettysburg Trip Summary Andersonville/ Americus Investigation - SummaryUpcoming Pat's Island/Ocala National Forest Camping TripSt. AuGHOSTine
Conference Call
Open Discussion
Meeting will end at approximately 9:30 PM
Refreshments will be served.
Sunday, July 12 - 7 PM
Tampa Marketing Company, 1906 N. Armenia Ave. #306, Tampa, FL 33607
Agenda:
Introduction of all in attendance.
Gettysburg Trip Summary Andersonville/ Americus Investigation - SummaryUpcoming Pat's Island/Ocala National Forest Camping TripSt. AuGHOSTine
Conference Call
Open Discussion
Meeting will end at approximately 9:30 PM
Refreshments will be served.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Andersonville/Americus a Great Trip we will do Again !
Thanks to everyone that participated in the Andersonville/Americus trip. I cannot thank Fred Sanchez and Kevin Frye with the National Park Service enough for the assistance and guidance. While I am sure we are all slowly digging though our pics and audio, I think we all stayed busy and saw and experienced some really great things in South Georgia. The Windsor Hotel was a beautiful place to stay and the historic charm of Americus had everyone's attention. We had time to visit the incredible Providence Canyon and spent several hours at historic Westville. The town was filled with relocated historic stuctures and surprised us all with the size and number of structures to visit. We briefly stopped at Andersonville Village to see the original train depot before going on to the National Park. The park closed at 5 and we began. We had five hours of almost complete, exclusive access to the cemetery, prison, and headquarters area. While it started as a very hot Georgia day, it gradually cooled off as we investigated in small groups various locations in the park. We cannot thank the Andersonville National Park enough for their time and permissions to experience such a true national historic landmark. To see where over 33,000 prisoners were kept and over 13,000 had died was an emotional experience. We had approximately 6 different small groups of investigators scattered throughout.
Sunday we visited the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Americus before proceeding on to Plains, Georgia for a visit to the home town of Jimmy Carter. A visit to his boyhood home, school, and family gravesite was followed by some fresh peanut butter ice cream before the long trip home. It was great to see Steve and Becky from Memphis that made the long drive down to participate.
My worst fears in organizing the trip was the weather and trying to keep everyone not lost. The weather was very hot - 110 heat factor, but dry. We lost one person beginning on Friday night, she never checked in with me and decided later on Saturday to go home, she is fine. Two people did get lost, but they figured it out and found us again. The biggest problem was when two participants decided to get into a big argument in the hotel late on Saturday night. This was not their first time doing this and I had warned them previously. They added great stress to everyone and ruined one participant's trip entirely - as well as their own. I have insisted they NEVER attend any of our events again.
Overall however, the incredible story of Andersonville with the generous access allowed by Fred Sanchez and the wealth of information provided by Kevin Frye made for one of the best trips Tampa Ghost Watchers has ever had. Thanks to everyone that attended and to those that helped along the way in making it a success. We encourage and welcome your comments. You can see my unedited pictures here.
Don't forget, our next meeting will be Sunday, July 12, 7 PM
at our offices at 1906 N. Armenia Avenue in Tampa -
PLEASE NOTE: we have moved to the third floor, we are now in #306. We have a conference all planned, will have summaries of our trips to Gettysburg and Andersonville and more.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Andersonville/Americus REVISED SCHEDULE
NOTE: We still have space for more participants on this trip, but email bill@tampaghostwatchers.com ASAP to be able to participate. I feel this may be our most exciting trip ever due to our access to facilities and due to the obscurity of the location.
Camp Sumter and Andersonville National Park closes to the public at 5 PM, Tampa Ghost Watchers will have exclusive access to the park from closing until 10 PM on Saturday night ! We will be accompanied by a Park official and noted volunteer historian Kevin Frye.
If you are looking for or have space for another person to ride with you or if you are looking to share a room, let me know asap. One lady is looking for a room share now. This is a good 5 hour drive from Tampa. PLEASE WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES, DRESS FOR THE SUMMER HEAT, AND BRING YOUR OWN COOLER WITH PLENTY OF DRINKS ! (DO NOT WEAR SANDALS WHILE AT CAMP SUMTER) We will have additional drinks for you, but it gets very hot and dry in south Georgia in late June.
Friday, June 26 - Late Night Meeting as you arrive in Floyd's Pub in the Windsor Hotel. We will all be arriving at different times so it will be a late and casual get together as we arrive.The Windsor is said to be haunted on the second and third floors. Ghosts of a little girl and former housekeeper are thought to roam the hotel. Both were pushed down the elevator shaft in the early 1900's. Windsor-americus.com
Late Night - EVP investigation of the Windsor Hotel. Andersonville background story.Saturday,
June 27 - 8 AM Complimentary Breakfast Buffet for hotel guests
9 AM - Visit to the Global Village and Discovery Center. Center for Habitat for Humanity /www.habitat.org
11AM - Visit to Providence Canyon (admission included)
Noon - 3 PM Historic Westville - pioneer town from the 1800's. Visions of pioneer farmers and Civil War veterans have been reportedly seen here Westville.org - Admission included - Lunch at the Kiser House Restaurant (on your own)
3 PM - Visit to Andersonville Village including Pioneer Farm - Admission Included
5 PM - 10 PM - Andersonville National Park Visit/ Investigation - EXCLUSIVE NIGHT VISIT FOR TAMPA GHOST WATCHERS ONLY ! (Box snack and drinks provided)Special Presentation by historic researcher Kevin Frye.Reports of tragic feelings reaching to you have been reported. Of 45,000 Union soldiers imprisoned at Camp Sumter, almost 13,000 died, mostly of starvation. More info at www.andersonvillegeorgia.com
Sunday, June 28 - 8 AM - Complimentary Breakfast Buffet for hotel guests - Hotel Checkout
9:00 AM - Visit to the Oak Gove Cemetey in Americus. Opened in 1856, the Oak Grove Cemetery is the final resting place of many of Georgia's historic figures, from state chief justices and an 1865 candidate for governor to soldiers from the Native American, Mexican and Civil wars. http://www.georgiatrust.com/
11 AM - Visit to Plains, Georgia. Home town of former President Jimmy Carter.
Depart for home as you wishSchedule and events subject to change
Camp Sumter and Andersonville National Park closes to the public at 5 PM, Tampa Ghost Watchers will have exclusive access to the park from closing until 10 PM on Saturday night ! We will be accompanied by a Park official and noted volunteer historian Kevin Frye.
If you are looking for or have space for another person to ride with you or if you are looking to share a room, let me know asap. One lady is looking for a room share now. This is a good 5 hour drive from Tampa. PLEASE WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES, DRESS FOR THE SUMMER HEAT, AND BRING YOUR OWN COOLER WITH PLENTY OF DRINKS ! (DO NOT WEAR SANDALS WHILE AT CAMP SUMTER) We will have additional drinks for you, but it gets very hot and dry in south Georgia in late June.
Friday, June 26 - Late Night Meeting as you arrive in Floyd's Pub in the Windsor Hotel. We will all be arriving at different times so it will be a late and casual get together as we arrive.The Windsor is said to be haunted on the second and third floors. Ghosts of a little girl and former housekeeper are thought to roam the hotel. Both were pushed down the elevator shaft in the early 1900's. Windsor-americus.com
Late Night - EVP investigation of the Windsor Hotel. Andersonville background story.Saturday,
June 27 - 8 AM Complimentary Breakfast Buffet for hotel guests
9 AM - Visit to the Global Village and Discovery Center. Center for Habitat for Humanity /www.habitat.org
11AM - Visit to Providence Canyon (admission included)
Noon - 3 PM Historic Westville - pioneer town from the 1800's. Visions of pioneer farmers and Civil War veterans have been reportedly seen here Westville.org - Admission included - Lunch at the Kiser House Restaurant (on your own)
3 PM - Visit to Andersonville Village including Pioneer Farm - Admission Included
5 PM - 10 PM - Andersonville National Park Visit/ Investigation - EXCLUSIVE NIGHT VISIT FOR TAMPA GHOST WATCHERS ONLY ! (Box snack and drinks provided)Special Presentation by historic researcher Kevin Frye.Reports of tragic feelings reaching to you have been reported. Of 45,000 Union soldiers imprisoned at Camp Sumter, almost 13,000 died, mostly of starvation. More info at www.andersonvillegeorgia.com
Sunday, June 28 - 8 AM - Complimentary Breakfast Buffet for hotel guests - Hotel Checkout
9:00 AM - Visit to the Oak Gove Cemetey in Americus. Opened in 1856, the Oak Grove Cemetery is the final resting place of many of Georgia's historic figures, from state chief justices and an 1865 candidate for governor to soldiers from the Native American, Mexican and Civil wars. http://www.georgiatrust.com/
11 AM - Visit to Plains, Georgia. Home town of former President Jimmy Carter.
Depart for home as you wishSchedule and events subject to change
Tarpon Springs Investigation Report
Over 40 of us visited the Zone Lounge in Tarpon Springs for a very thoughtful discussion on paranormal communication last night. Bruce Moen helped members reach to their inner selves when seeking spiritual contact. For a four hour event the time seemed to fly by. We welcome your comments from the event below.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
St. AuGHOSTine will be held in October
We are putting together one of the most informative paranormal conferences in Florida history with speakers from California, New York, Colorado, Kentucky, and more !
We will have access to the famous St. Augustine Lighthouse for four seperate groups to investigate.
Get all the details at http://www.staughostine.com/
Get all the details at http://www.staughostine.com/
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