Something extra-worldly could be happening at the Moniteau County Historical Society Museum.
A team from the Midwest Ghost Hunters set up its equipment and spent several hours recording data at the building Oct. 14, 2016. Lead investigator Marcia Davis presented the findings to the society Sept. 11.
In her "Tales, Trivia and Tips from a Ghost Hunter" PowerPoint, Davis showed video and played audio recordings of findings from that night at the museum to about 40 who attended the talk.
Floating gold orbs were an unexplainable phenomenon that occurred in multiple locations, several times during their investigation. And, in the basement, a female voice whispering was captured.
The Midwest Ghost Hunters have investigated more than 100 sites in 22 states. Locally, they have explored the Historic Martin Hotel and the Morgan County Courthouse, both in Versailles, and Ravenswood, Bunceton.
They have set up their recording equipment in cemeteries and battlefields, prisons and mental institutions, tunnels, schools and plantations.
Unlike the television series, phenomenon aren't discovered quickly nor does the local team set out to prove the paranormal. Instead, they try to disprove it, by researching every other possible explanation for an anomalie first.
"Ghost hunting is fun, but it's serious business," Davis said. "There are things out there we don't know about."
She said her team is cautious, respectful and aware of the spirituality of good and evil.
Davis, who lives in Morgan County, grew up with the afterlife and other-worldly activities as part of the normal every-day conversations, she said.
She also grew up in a "haunted" house in Ohio. The home was built on the edge of a park, where burial mounds were discovered. She said that explained why a young Native American in full headress would walk through their basement regularly.
Her first legitimate investigation was in October 1977. At that time, she said her approach was: "I wanted to see what was out there."
But, after having a conversation with an apparition, who had a message to send to his family, Davis said her viewpoint changed.
"Spirits on the other side have messages that need to be heard," Davis said. "Our goal is to see if there is something there we can help with."
Link: