PIONEER ARIZONA

LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM

SPIRIT PHOTOGAPHY WORKSHOP

NOVEMBER 9, 2003

We all met in the parking lot at the Pioneer Living History Museum located at 3901 W Pioneer Road in Phoenix, Arizona about 1PM.  The complex consists of 90 acres of an old 1800’s village.  Some are actual buildings moved from their original locations spared from demolition.  Other buildings are historically accurate reproductions.  Some of the historic relocated buildings arrived with spirit residue left from some of their former occupants.

 Our first stop was the old Opera House.  It was rebuilt from the original bricks of the Elks Theatre in Prescott, AZ.  Lily Langtree sang in the former location.  We all went to the upstairs of the building where Jeff Martino of Paranormal Research Investigators of Tucson was setting up equipment.  He gave us a demonstration of some of the latest ghost hunting tools out in the field.  We later learned a ghost was sited upstairs during a recent wedding reception held in the Opera House. One of the groomsmen had dashed upstairs to grab a clothing bag.  He opened the door and first thought he had walked in on one of the bridesmaids.  But to his surprise, this lady was dressed in period clothing and suddenly disappeared.

 Another potential haunted building is the Flying “V” Cabin.  Apaches raided the cabin during an uprising near Young, AZ.  The schoolhouse that came from Gordon Canyon could contain ghostly energy from its former students. 

 The State Hood House built in 1885 was originally located in Glendale, AZ.  The Victorian House was located in Phoenix.  Volunteers in both buildings have heard footsteps and felt the sensation of being watched.

 The Pioneer Restaurant and Saloon has a visiting cowboy ghost.  Perhaps he comes to    have a drink served from the cheery wood bar built in 1861.

 We visited the museum complex during daylight hours making this workshop only an initial investigation.  A full night investigation would be highly productive and recommended.

 I 17 lays parallel to the former stagecoach line.  Perhaps it’s still a drop off destination for its former ghost riders!