At Barkeater Chocolates, we’ve been very open & welcoming to the ghosts that share our space. After all, they’re fun to have around (most of the time) and customers love the opportunity to interact with our playful spirits. But maybe you want to know if your house or workplace could be haunted and you don’t want to voice your suspicions out loud. Here’s a little cheat sheet that you can use to start your investigation:
If you suspect your building might be haunted, there are a few signs and methods people traditionally use to explore this possibility. While these are based on folklore, personal experiences, and paranormal beliefs, they can help you determine if something unusual might be happening:
1. Unexplained Noises
- Banging, footsteps, or voices: If you hear noises that don’t seem to have a source or can’t be explained by normal building activity, this could be a sign. This was our first sign something was up. Within days of moving our chocolate making operations to our current location, the banging and the footsteps began. Construction workers have heard voices and we have recorded voices that were not heard until after we played the recordings.
- Scratching or knocking: Some people report hearing knocking or scratching sounds coming from walls or floors with no apparent cause. Thankfully, we have never heard scratching! But knocking, doors slamming and doorbell chimes going off for no reason have been a common occurrence.
2. Cold Spots
- Sudden temperature drops: If you notice cold spots in specific areas of the building, particularly if they are localized and sudden, this could be a sign of paranormal activity. We’ll take it a step further and call it heat fluctuations. We’ll also add to the list a very annoying occurrence of our thermostats being messed with.
3. Unusual Smells
- Unexplained odors: Strange, unexplained smells like perfume, tobacco, or sulfur that appear suddenly and without a clear source are often reported in haunted locations. We’ve had chocolatiers and packaging associates smell a strong men’s cologne when no one was in the building.
4. Electrical Disturbances
- Flickering lights or electronics malfunctioning: Lights flickering, appliances turning on or off by themselves, or electronics behaving strangely can be signs of paranormal activity. In the room with the most activity, our ceiling light will flicker when certain people are in the room. Usually these people are customers, but the timing is not consistent and we haven’t been able to pinpoint a pattern.
- Batteries draining quickly: Devices that lose battery power more quickly than usual may indicate the presence of a spirit.
5. Unexplained Shadows
- Seeing shadows or apparitions: If you see shadowy figures, particularly out of the corner of your eye, or full apparitions, this could be an indication of a haunting. One of our store and experience team members has experienced this on a few occasions, usually in the form of a black streak.
6. Feelings of Being Watched
- Sense of presence: A feeling that you are being watched or not alone, especially in certain areas of the building, is commonly reported in haunted locations. This is a frequent occurrence with employees and customers.
7. Objects Moving on Their Own
- Items being misplaced or moved: If objects seem to move on their own or disappear and reappear in different locations, this might be a sign of a ghostly presence. On three occasions, we’ve had chocolate fly off the shelves when customers were in the store, but nobody had approached the particular chocolates in question. Additionally, after a paranormal investigation yielded some interesting results, one staff member who was alone most of the weekend following the investigation experienced strange items being moved and placed in the middle of the floor.
8. Animal Behavior
- Pets acting strangely: Animals, particularly cats and dogs, are believed to be sensitive to paranormal activity. If they seem to be reacting to something unseen, it could be worth investigating. We don’t allow animals in the building, so we can’t vouch for this one.
9. Strange Dreams or Nightmares
- Recurring disturbing dreams: If you or others in the building experience unusual or recurring nightmares, especially those involving the building or its past, this might be connected to a haunting.
10. Historical Background
- Research the building’s history: Knowing the history of the building, such as previous tragic events, deaths, or other unsettling incidents, can provide context for potential paranormal activity. We have a very, very detailed accounting of the history of this building and can say that YES, there have been a few tragic events, deaths and unsettling incidents over the last 150 years.
What to Do If You Suspect a Haunting:
- Document your experiences: Keep a log of strange occurrences, including dates, times, and descriptions.
- Investigate logically: Try to find logical explanations for what’s happening. Many times, unusual activity can be explained by environmental factors or structural issues. We’ll be the first to debunk an alleged paranormal occurrence that we can explain.
- Consult with professionals: If the activity is troubling, consider reaching out to paranormal investigators or spiritual advisors who specialize in these matters. We’ve had five paranormal investigations over the last four years, plus a number of amateurs who have caught some otherworldly events on their cameras and digital recorders.
It’s important to approach the situation with an open mind but also a healthy level of skepticism. Most hauntings have natural explanations, but if you feel uneasy or disturbed, it’s best to take appropriate steps for your peace of mind.
Join us for any of our Haunted Chocolate Making Experiences or Fireside Ghost Hunts and sharpen your investigation skills. Are you a part of a paranormal group? You can book a three-hour investigation with us.