The Kazmer Report

By Rick Kazmer
rickk@dailyamerican.com

I am usually a coward when it comes to ghosts.
I have no desire to see one — and I don’t even know if I believe they exist. But if they do I am quite content to be oblivious.
So I surprised myself last weekend when I willingly went on a “ghost tour” of the Jennie Wade house in Gettysburg. The home is notorious for its supernatural happenings.
She was making bread for union troops when her home was sprayed with gunfire. She died on the kitchen floor. Dough remained on her hands when she was buried.
Bullet holes and even a cannon shell are part of the relics that remain in the house from the harsh fighting that lasted from July 1 to 3 in 1863. The Civil War lasted about two more years, however, this battle is considered by many to have been the turning point. Thousands of soldiers were killed on both sides. Wade was the only civilian killed. She is buried in a cemetery a few hundred yards from where she died. The graves of thousands of Confederate and Union soldiers surround Wade’s resting place. If ever a place was haunted, Gettysburg would be it.
The tour guide had a disclaimer before the tour. Something about how certain people can experience ghosts, while others can’t. She cited several network shows that have documented the strange and unusual in the house. Its reputation as being haunted is legitimate.
Nothing happened on my tour. I felt claustrophobic in the home. But the ceilings were low.
The strangest part about the tour was a recording the guide played at the end. The audio was said to have been recorded during the offseason. The voice of a child is clear. So is the grumbling of an old man. If the recording is legitimate it is substantial evidence.
After the tour there was an unexpected fireworks show in town. Some people standing nearby thought the explosions were in celebration of the local college graduation. I closed my eyes and imagined the scene nearly 150 years before — as gun powder erupted and the cacophony echoed off the old brick buildings.
Gettysburg’s historic significance is reason enough to visit the town. And I recommend the trip. For those who like a supernatural thrill, there are plenty of people making money off ghost walks in town.
More on the town.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 6th, 2012 at 12:29 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.