True Ghost Stories - Ghost Hunting in Salem Mass

I'm afraid of the dark...and dead bodies.

So a ghost hunt in Salem Mass is, of course, the perfect tourist activity for me. Makes perfect sense, right?

No?

Well it does if you realize my curiosity is stronger than my phobias.

Besides, ever since I went on a Ghosts and Gravestones tour in Boston a few years ago (excellent by they way, highly recommended.), I've learned I actually like to be in cemeteries at night. Especially the well-lit-right-between-a-Starbucks-and-a-Mariott kind they have in Boston. It's hard to feel threatened by the Great Beyond when a latte is just a few steps away.

The ghost hunt sponsored by Spellbound Tours in Salem is a little different. Led by actual ghost hunters, we found ourselves traipsing through dark graveyards-- complete with hollow graves liable to collapse under our weight-- and no Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts in sight. We toured the outskirts of an abandoned prison that once housed the Boston Strangler, too decrepit for anyone to buy and too historic to be torn down--a real estate paradox that's like rent control for ghosts. (Note to Reader: The spookiest photos I have are from the prison--you'll find them below.)

We also stared at the entrance of an office building set right over the original dungeon that housed the accused witches back in the 1600s. According to Spellbound Tours, no one extends their lease past 6 months, too many cold drafts and phantom hands touching people. An outside company has bought the property not knowing its history and is transferring in out-of-state employees who are also clueless. I wonder if employees can file 'hostile workplace' lawsuits once a ghost tries to throttle them and what legal obligation an employer has to rid the workplace of malicious spirits? Only in Salem would these questions become important--heh.

And, did you know every sheriff in Salem is cursed and dies young? Either a heart attack or some kind of blood ailment according to our guide. The last sheriff died in his thirties.

Oooo spooky!

And now for the even spookier pictures. These have me sleeping with the lights on much to my husband's annoyance.

Here is the flaming cross where no cross existed before. Doesn't it look like someone doing the sign of the cross with the threads of light outside the main body of the cross? Also notice the gray crosses in the lower right frame of the photo. I wish I had thought to go back and take a daylight picture because the foreground, immediately in front of me, was an empty gravel driveway/parking lot. Nothing cross like at all.

This is a digital picture, so no processing or chemcial intereference. The lens was clean. There was no local light source. Nothing for the flash to reflect off of.The cross is about 3 stories up from ground level and about 100ish feet away.

Notice the orbs in the lower left, supposedly those are ghosts. Actually, I think I can see a few faces in this picture.

I consulted with the TAPS* messageboard and was told this picture was caused by lint. Which I would believe if lint could flame like that from so high up and so far away. Also, I have never had a lint issue with photos before, why would it show up once and never again? Where is all the gray smoke stuff coming from too? I don't know. Why don't tell me what you think in the poll below?

*TAPS is a paranormal investigation group that is featured on the popular show Ghost Hunters.