Thursday, August 25, 2011

Tragedy at Bostian Bridge - One Year Later

As many of you may remember, a young man lost his life one year ago while attempting to see the infamous ghost train of Bostian Bridge.

CAPS takes its responsibility as stewards of the paranormal community very seriously. In that vein, it is our advice and admonishment to any would-be train seekers, to stay home. Norfolk Southern Security as well as Iredell County Sheriff Department officers will be patrolling the tracks and area of the tracks. This is private property belonging to the railroad and YOU WILL BE ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING!!

AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS AN URBAN LEGEND. THERE IS NOTHING TO SEE, THERE IS NO GHOST TRAIN.

The last reported "sighting" was well over 50 years ago (supposedly on the 50 year anniversary of the crash) by a local woman whose story of course cannot be substantiated. This would have been the year 1941.

There have been no sightings since, nor will there ever be. Hundreds of people have come out over the years in an effort to see this supposed phenomena.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF ANY ACTIVITY IN ALL THESE YEARS NOR BY ANY OF THE HUNDREDS WHO HAVE MADE THIS USELESS JOURNEY AND STAYED UP ALL NIGHT FOR NAUGHT.

On the 100 Year Anniversary, the site took on a carnival atmosphere, complete with T-shirts! Again, it is only a local legend, much like The Mothman Festival being celebrated in Pt. Pleasant, WV, and nothing more!! Stay safe…stay home, and stay out of jail!!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

July Meetup is This Friday

This Month's Meetup is centered on the west side of Charlotte. Dinner and a Ghost Hunt. See www.meetup.com for details.

Friday, July 1, 2011

On the road again…

This time to Ohio. My CAPS team members and I are off to our first haunted destination, Prospect Place in Trinway, OH. We should arrive for our investigation around 7pm Friday evening. This family mansion is quite imposing as it sits alone on a hilltop. A most foreboding and outright creepy place. It was built in the 1850′s and was used as part of the underground railroad, offering the escaping slaves a safe haven as they made their way to Canada and true freedom. It is reported to be the ghostly home of the lady of the house, as well as a young girl. The barn is said to harbor a more sinister presence, a bounty hunter who found himself on the end of a hangman’s noose in a mock trial followed by swift local justice. We’ll try our best to capture some evidence of the spirit world. Maybe the essence of a fleeing slave or an injured passenger from a horrible train wreck that occurred nearby.

We’ll then make our way on Saturday to Mansfield, OH and investigate the Bissman Building in downtown Mansfield. This family owned business has a few ghost stories of its own. A mysterious ghost girl named “Ruthie”, as well as an unfortunate gentleman who lost his life on his last day of work at the building. On the day of his retirement, he had forgotten an item and got back on the elevator to return to his office to retreive it. The elevator malfunctioned and fell, beheading him.

There’s an old theatre just across the street, and we’ve been told we’ll get a shot at it too. Almost every old theatre you hear of is said to be haunted. This one is no exception.

Finally, we’ll end our “Ghosts of Ohio” tour at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield. OH. For some of us, this will be our second trip to this infamous prison. I for one, had an encounter in the Assistant Warden’s living quarters. I heard footsteps coming from the room to my left, then they walked right up to me. I also saw a series of lights near the ceiling of the room for which I have no explanation. This is the facility that was used in the filming of The Shawshank Redemption. Prisons are famous for their paranormal activity. Hopefully, we have a few new experiences of our own.

Stay tuned for our results…

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

WSOC-TV Summer Food Drive is TODAY!!



WSOC-TV's Summer Food Drive is today. Please bring your non-perishable food donations to our studios between 10am and 7pm.

For the second year, we're also collecting pet food donations!

Channel 9 anchors and reporters will be on hand all day to help unload your donations.

The Summer Food Drive benefits Second Harvest Food Bank and helps feed kids in the summer when school meals aren't available.

Please help us make this year's food drive the most successful yet.

WSOC-TV is located at 1901 N. Tryon Street, just north of uptown Charlotte

Friday, June 10, 2011

CAPS Founder & Director to Appear on WSGE 91.7 FM

Tina R. McSwain, CAPS Founder & Director, to appear on WSGE 91.7 FM The Gaston College Roundtable's Sunday edition this Sunday - June 12th at 9am.

Tune in.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Thank You to ConCarolinas

CAPS wishes to thank the Con Committee of the 2011 ConCarolinas for their hospitality and the courtesies extended to us at this year's convention. We also want to thank the ConSuite on behalf of our charity partner, The Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, for their generous donation of the food items left over after the Con.

Again, a special thank you to Ron, Frank, Stephanie, Jada, Carol, and Donna for making our experience at ConCarolinas 2011 a great one!!

Sincerely,

Tina R,.McSwain, Founder and Director

The Charlotte Area Paranormal Society (CAPS)

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

ConCarolinas is This Weekend in Charlotte

ConCarolinas is the area's premier Science Fiction/Gaming/Horror/Fantasy Convention held annually in Charlotte, NC. Located at the University Hilton, and lasting 3 days, the spectacle lasts from Friday June 3rd at 3pm until Sunday June 5th at 5pm.

Come meet the Special Guests of Honor, your favorite writers and gamers, have your picture taken with the Ghostbusters, StormTroopers, Darth Vader or a Jedi or two. Visit with Star Fleet Officers, Klingons, and characters of all types.

See www.concarolinas.org for more details.

CAPS Founder & Director, Tina R. McSwain, is a featured guest and will be speaking on several paranormal panels. Followong is the Paranormal Tract Schedule

Friday - 6/3/2011
03:00 pm Best Evidence of the Paranormal - University Ballroom B - Programming 2
05:00 pm The Paranormal in Other Cultures - Walden - Programming 4
06:00 pm Urban Legends - Walden - Programming 4

Saturday - 6/4/2011
9:00 am Ask a Ghost Hunter - Walden - Programming 4
11:00 am Too Much of a Good Thing? - Walden - Programming 4
12:00 pm Skeptics vs. Believers - Walden - Programming 4
07:00 pm Shawn Sellers - Walden - Programming 4
07:00 pm - The World Premier of Ghost Trek TV Pilot - University Ballroom D/E Programming 1

Sunday - 6/5/2011
12:00 pm Cryptozoology - Walden - Programming 4
01:00 pm Paranormal Then and Now - Walden - Programming 4

CAPS will have an information table at the Con. Drop by and say Hi!