Ghosts from the Whaling Days

Having investigated over sixty presumably haunted locales over the past several years, it's nice every once in awhile to go back and revisit some of these wonderful ghost stories. The very first place I had written about appeared in one of my earlier books on Huntington's history, and later, I re-investigated it for my book Ghosts of Long Island; Stories of the Paranormal. It was the story of three ghosts who haunted an old inn in Cold Spring Harbor, and it remains a fascinating tale filled with history, ghosts and intrigue.

Way back when in the 1980's and early 1990's, it was known as the Old Whaler, and it had been converted into a pub-style restaurant. It was a fun place to visit, and I recall being there one night for dinner when I ran into Davey Johnson, manager of the '86 Mets. I was a huge Mets fan back then, so it was a thrilling experience to meet him and get his autograph. During other visits to the Old Whaler, I overheard conversations about ghosts. Could it actually be haunted? Who would have thought that years later I would be there ghost hunting with a paranormal investigator!

During my first interview at the Old Whaler, I was primarily interested in the building's history, since the Ghost of Long Island books weren't even a thought in my mind yet. Still, I couldn't help but ask about the rumors I had heard about the ghosts. Once I was told the stories, I was hooked! I decided to write about its history and the ghosts and it turned out to be a huge success; something I would pursue with other places years later. So it was the Old Whaler that started this whole ghostly quest of mine.

Located across from the picturesque seashore along Route 25A, the Old Whaler has changed hands many times, and I've had the opportunity to interview the various owners throughout the years. Currently, the upscale restaurant is known as Harbor Mist, and is owned by a delightfully friendly couple, Michelle and Barman. Although the names and owners have changed, the ghosts have most certainly remained.

It all began back in the mid-1800's. Cold Spring Harbor was a bustling whaling port, and a man by the name of George Van Ausdall purchased a tavern and inn from Oliver Jones for $2100. Shortly thereafter the name was changed to the Van Ausdall Hotel, and whalers from around the world would visit the inn when they were in port. Throughout its history, many have claimed the hotel was also used as a brothel. Several women from the town would work there because their husbands were away at sea for long periods of time and they were lonely, and they needed money.

On one occasion, a tired whaler came back from his long voyage a little earlier than expected, and decided to have a drink at the tavern before going home. Well, to his surprise, he found out his wife was working at the inn! Before anyone could stop him, the whaler ran upstairs and killed both the wife and the seaman she was with. The seaman's name was Van Whether, and he became the first ghost to haunt the place. The wife is believed to possibly be the second.

A strange story surrounds the third ghost. Through my research, I uncovered a newspaper article which spoke of a terrible accident that took place in the building in 1960. The article indicated that "a woman slipped in the ladies room and cut her throat on the ragged edge of a soap dish". That sounds very odd indeed. Perhaps it was a suicide, but in any case, the woman died in the bathroom before the ambulance arrived. This woman's presence, as well as the ghosts of the two who were killed there, have been strongly felt by many psychics over the years.

All sorts of phenomena has been reported. Doors would open and close, lights would turn on and off, faucets would run on their own, and a stereo would play music when no one had turned it on. This type of phenomena, on occasion, still occurs today.

Just a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go back to Harbor Mist with clairaudient medium and paranormal investigator Joe Giaquinto, and well known Long Island medium Richard Schoeller. This was Richard's first time at the "inn" and we were interested in what he'd pick up. Without any prior knowledge about the resident ghosts, Richard spoke about the types of ghosts who haunt the place, as well as the possible locations of where certain events took place, including the ladies bathroom!

Twenty years have gone by since I did my first interview there when it was the Old Whaler. Although much has changed over the years, one thing is for certain. Harbor Mist remains a hot spot for not only good food, but for the spirits who have haunted it since Cold Spring Harbor's infamous whaling days.

For more information on this story and others, visit www.ghostsoflongisland.com.

Auras

I never gave much thought to auras until two separate women came up to me at a lecture claiming to see my aura. It was the fall of 2008, and Ghosts of Long Island II: More Stories of the Paranormal had just been released. I had thirty speaking engagements lined-up over the course of a little over three weeks, and I was getting substantial media attention. I was completely engulfed in my book tour. I've always been comfortable lecturing, and it's something I truly enjoy. Having given so many lectures that particular season, I knew the material I was presenting quite well, and I was at ease. My overall passion for the subject matter prepared me for the weeks ahead.

Midway through my lecture series I was at a very small library in Glen Cove, NY. The area where I would be speaking was small, so I knew to expect a small group of listeners. It suited me fine. I had been speaking to groups ranging from forty to a hundred people, and I was looking forward to the intimacy a small group provides. Fifteen to twenty people showed up, and I could tell by the expressions on their faces that they were interested in what I was talking about. During the question period toward the end of the lecture, we had a wonderful discussion in which everyone was interacting. I can't tell you the happiness I receive when people "get" what I'm talking about. I love making a difference in people's lives through my stories and research. I felt truly in my element that night. Well, that energy must have shown through, because during the book signing portion of the evening, two women who did not know each other, nor were they sitting near each other, claimed to see an aura glowing around my head toward the end of the lecture. I was completely surprised and thrown off guard. I had never had anyone tell me that before, and at the time I really didn't know what to make of it. It was from that point on, that I became interested in auras.

An aura is an electromagnetic field that surrounds and radiates off people, animals and even plants. This auric energy, as it is also known, usually extends anywhere from two to three feet above the head, but can also appear below the feet. An aura is not easily seen, but people can be trained to see auras in themselves and others. Clairvoyants can often see these energy fields and can interpret their meanings.

A person's emotional state of mind and/or state of health can come through an aura, although it cannot be proven scientifically. It is believed there are seven levels or layers of auras, and each layer affects the others. The layers link emotions, feelings, behavior, health, spirituality and even divinity. That is why angels and saints are so often depicted with a glowing aura around their heads.

People have been encountering auras for centuries, and it dates back to Rome, Greece, India and Egypt. The aura is very subtle and can come and go quickly. Auras also come in many colors. It is said, that the more vibrant, colorful and brighter the aura, the more spiritually advanced the person. If the aura is very muddy looking, showing colors of brown, gray or black, it can mean health problems, emotional unrest, depression, disease or a dark personality. The one good thing is that auras can change depending on what is happening in a person's life. If the aura's energy is very uniform, the healthier and more balanced the person is in most areas of life.

There are many meanings and interpretations to the various colors which appear as auras. Red is probably the least favorite to appear, because oftentimes it represents a person who is angry, unforgiving and materialistic. This is not true in all cases. A deep red color can symbolize being grounded, powerful, and having lots of energy and will-power. Oranges and yellows appear above creative, detail oriented people or perfectionists. These people are often very uplifting, although sometimes they like to control others. They are more grounded spiritually, and they are inspired easily. Greens signify the heart both physically and emotionally. Those with greenish auras are people who are balanced, and enjoy and love people, animals and nature. They are restful and natural healers and they are very peaceful people, at ease with themselves and others. Blues represent balanced people who are calm, caring, loving and sensitive. They are also intuitive and can be clairvoyant. Purples and lavenders symbolize people who have great vision and imagination. It is not a very strong color, however, because it can also mean the person is a bit of a daydreamer who experiences fleeting thoughts and emotions. A gold aura represents divine protection and enlightenment. People with gold auras are often wise people who have inner knowledge and receive spiritual guidance. Finally, the white aura is the purest state of light and represents purity, truth, spirituality, and divinity.

There are many books out there about auras that delve much deeper into their meanings. To try to read a person's aura, you must be relaxed and calm. Look slightly past the person you are trying to read, and allow your eyes to focus on the area above the head, while still keeping the person in view. Within a few minutes, you may begin to see an aura. You can apply this same technique on yourself by using a mirror. The more you practice, the easier it will become.