Greene County Museum opens for paranormal investigations
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Ryan Zacherl speaks about paranormal investigations he conducted at the Greene County Museum during Para-Con earlier this month. The county historical society that operates the museum offers the opportunity to conduct private paranormal investigations for a fee.
Courtesy of Danny Strakal, Spirit Walk Paranormal
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Danny Strakal (right) of the web series “Spirit Walk Paranormal” appeared at the Greene County Museum’s Para-Con event on July 6. Strakal, who spoke with Janis Rohanna of the Greene County Historical Society, has been conducting paranormal investigations at the museum.
Courtesy of Danny Strakal, Spirit Walk Paranormal
For Janis Rohanna, the paranormal is nothing new.
The executive assistant and event planner for the Greene County Historical Society has heard footsteps and voices and seen the apparition of an elderly woman with long white hair in a nightgown in the county’s former poorhouse, now a museum.
“For as long as people can remember, people have reported activities there and stories are constantly being told about it,” Rohanna said.
The poorhouse – a 19th-century term – was a home for people who had no place to stay, and often provided shelter for the mentally ill. Historical society records show that more than 800 people died on the property during the house’s 100-year existence.
Rohanna believes this plays a role in paranormal activity.
Members of the historical society that runs the museum have decided to let those who dare go and investigate for themselves. For a fee, anyone can conduct their own paranormal investigation.
Rohanna said the group came up with the idea after the possible hauntings at the museum were reported on the Travel Channel’s “Destination Fear” in August 2021. After the show aired, nearly 100 requests were received from individuals or groups wanting to investigate, she said.
“Many people don’t even know the museum is here, so it makes them aware,” Rohanna said. “That was a bonus effect that we didn’t expect.”
Since then, an average of about one paranormal group per week has rented the space in the hope of confirming or debunking ghost stories.
While there are a variety of apparitions that people have seen, one of the most common is a young boy who is usually seen in the barn. Rohanna suspects that some paranormal activity also comes from the artifacts that people have donated to the historical society.
In addition to increasing the museum’s profile, the research also had financial benefits.
“Keeping the museum running has become a very important part of our income,” Rohanna said.
The additional revenue has allowed the historical society to work on new projects, such as refurbishing the building’s 150 windows to make them functional again. The museum has no air conditioning, so before the windows were refurbished, the building got very hot during the summer months.
“The windows make a huge difference here,” said Rohanna.
Another benefit has been deeper relationships with the paranormal community. Earlier this month, the museum hosted the Poor Farm Para-Con, which featured speakers on paranormal topics and a VIP-led investigation in the evening led by members of the “Spiritual Walk Paranormal” web series.
For the Historical Society, the conference is another opportunity to capitalize on the museum’s unique history.
“I want to thank all the people who have come here in the past to do research and for their support at the museum,” said Rohanna. “We have met some really amazing people who have really fallen in love with this place and have become friends at the museum and with the staff.”
Paranormal investigations can be scheduled for six, eight, or ten hours and are not open to anyone under 14. For more information, email [email protected] or visit greenecountyhistory.org.
