PENNHURST GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER II

If you didn't get a chance to visit Pennhurst State School & Hospital (Pennhurst Asylum, Pa) this past Halloween season, you can still pick up a copy of GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER: A PENNHURST HAUNTING & PENNHURST GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER II at Amazon.com. 

Take a walk through the Mayflower building with me, one of the most paranormal buildings at Pennhurst and share in the ghostly encounters of not only myself, but staff and customers. And if you dare, come visit Ghost Hunt fall, 2016. 

Author Tamera Lawrence 

DEVON BUILDING: PENNHURST

This it the front of  the Devon Building, Pennhurst, facing the Quaker & Tinicum Buildings, along the catwalk side. 

Overgrown with fall foliage, the Devon is barely visible behind the growth. But the colors stand out in the gloomy atmosphere.  


Author Tamera Lawrence

Ghosts of Mayflower: A Pennhurst Haunting 
Pennhurst Ghosts of Mayflower II 

PHILADELPHIA BUILDING: PENNHURST

Fall colors give the Philadelphia Building at Pennhurst State School & Hospital a bit of life, though the building, for the most part, remains deserted - at least of humans. 

Often people get some interesting photos of this building. Spirts, shadows and faces in the windows show up in pictures. 


Author Tamera Lawrence

Ghosts of Mayflower: A Pennhurst Haunting 
Pennhurst Ghosts of Mayflower II
Available:
Amazon.com

PENNHURST: MAYFLOWER HALL

SOMETHING SHADOWY IN THE DOORWAY ENTRANCE

Last Weekend: Pennhurst Haunt: October 29, 30, 31 & November 1^st 2015

Over the course of four days, Ghost Hunt had been filled with curious folks, unsure of Mayflower’s haunted reputation. We had a lot of return guests, who shared their Mayflower experiences. Past and present photos of orbs, shadows and faces were shared.Eagerly, customers went on a ghost hunt, looking for that special picture, cell phones in hands. 

Our first-floor bat made quite a show, flapping his wings, flying low to the ground and scaring people. Since I handled the front foyer for entering guests, I was in a direct line for our creepy friend. As I was warning a group of people about the bat, he suddenly showed up near my feet. Midsentence, my voice ended in a scream.  

Here are a few other highlights of the weekend.

THURSDAY night, I had reason to be in Mayflower’s basement to help a coworker set alarms. Blackness greeted us upon entering the main hallway. Our flashlights were pitiful in the bleakness, casting eerie shadows against the walls. Mike was in front of me, when he jumped, startled. His flashlight had lit upon something in the middle of the room, something that reflected the light. This invisible thing was about the size of a person. Within seconds it vanished. Cold air descended upon us, giving us both chills. Mike snapped a couple of pictures. We completed our task, keeping a wary eye on our surroundings. Both of us were unnerved by the experience.

On SUNDAYnight,  Mike went down into the basement to gather up the alarms. Usually, I accompany him, but I was following the last of our guests as they explored Mayflower. When Mike came up, his face was ash white. He was touching his ear.

“Something hit me in the ear.” He was clearly freaked out. “I was walking across the room when I felt a burning sting.”

Indeed, something had sliced the top of his ear, leaving it scratched and bleeding. White flecks of something covered his shoulder.

After Mike composed himself, he shared a picture he had taken in the basement. In one pic, something hovered by one of the pillars, murky and just out of sight. It was as if it were hiding behind the pillar. In the next picture, it had vanished. 

“This was the same area that I got hit,” Mike said.

“Something doesn’t like you down there,” I said.

When I left for the evening, I thought about my past five years working in Mayflower. Several paranormal experiences flickered through my mind, leaving me cold.  I have no doubt Mayflower was and is still haunted. Not only have I heard voices, seen shadow people and orbs, but I had once seen a full-fledged ghost walking down the middle of the second-floor hallway. The outline of his body was distinctive, but I could see through him. For whatever reason, he had revealed himself. I don’t know what he wanted, but the experience was unnerving.

In any event, Mayflower Hall is an exceptional building for anyone looking to ghost hunt.

**** IF you don't get a chance to visit Pennhurst or the Mayflower Hall Building, you can still walk through the building in one or both of my books.

Ghosts of Mayflower: A Pennhurst Haunting

Pennhurst Ghosts of Mayflower II

Available Amazon.com 

Author Tamera Lawrence 

PENNHURST EPISODE: GHOST ASYLUM

  Pennhurst State School and Hospital was recently explored by Destination America Ghost Asylum. The Tennessee Wraith Chasers geared up to try to rescue trapped spirits at Pennhurst. They tracked down, interacted and then eventually trapped a ghost “Mary.”

 Having taken part in the stage setting of this episode, I feel the need to clarify that Pennhurst was never called Pennhurst Asylum. It was never intended to house the criminally insane and although in the beginning of Pennhurst’s reign the state tried to slip them in, they were quickly weeded out. Pennhurst’s intention was to segregate the physically and mentally handicapped from “normal” society. There was a common belief that children with mental illness would grow up to become future criminals. The plan was to take these kids, educate them and teach them a vocation. And with any institution you have the good, the bad and the ugly. Children were not deliberately abused as the show suggests but rather were neglected due to staff shortage, lack of funding and misdiagnosis.  Orphans and epileptics were added to the stock pile of unwanted people. What we might consider current day abuse was deemed to be up to date and medically necessary in Pennhurst’s realm.

Once upon a time, parents thought their children could be cured of mental illness. Pennhurst gave them hope for the cure – a cure that never came.

People want to know if people died at Pennhurst? Of course they did. There was illness and disease within the Pennhurst compound. But most deaths occurred from medical issues, such as asthma attacks or complications from surgery.  Was there abuse? Of course there was, but this was more resident upon resident because of lack of staff.  The ratio for patient to caregiver was absurd. There was good staff and a few bad – such in today’s modern world.

Pennhurst was tragic because most kids grew to adulthood in Pennhurst walls. The quality of life is to be what is questioned. To be a small child and be separated from your family is a crime indeed.

On another note: I was never a security guard at the previous Pennhurst State School and Hospital or for the Pennhurst Asylum (current day Halloween attraction.)  I am not exactly a tour guide as well. I am consider to be “Event Staff" - which is a cross between security and a guide.   

Author Tamera Lawrence

GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER: A PENNHURST HAUNTING

PENNHURST GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER II 

Amazon.com 

GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER: A PENNHURST HAUNTING

Echos of the past lay in the hallways of the Mayflower Building, Pennhurst. Eerie and at times mystical, one has the sensation that around any corner, one might come face to face with something unimaginable - something from what nightmares are made of. 

But is the Mayflower Hall building really haunted as many people allege? 

Absolutely. Take if from a skeptic, now a firm believer. 

So if you are wondering what to do during the Ghost Hunt this Halloween season, open your eyes and let yourself absorb Mayflower's essence. Take  pictures with your cell phone. Listen. Pause and wait a moment. Is there something touching you? Perhaps stroking your hair or holding your hand? Could something really be whispering to you? For a better chance, come early before the crowds descend. Sundays and Thursdays are best. 

You might just get a once in a lifetime photo opportunity or perhaps that scare of a lifetime. 

Ghost Hunt  is open Thursdays through Sundays, until November 1st at the Pennhurst Asylum, Spring City, Pa. 

Author Tamera Lawrence 

GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER: A PENNHURST HAUNTING

PENNHURST GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER II 


Both books are on Amazon.com and on sale at Pennhurst Haunt: Thursday thru Sunday, until November 1st. 

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!! 

PENNHURST: MAYFLOWER HALL

Pennhurst: Friday night's storm

OCTOBER 9, 10 11 



Wicked rain and wind didn't stop the Pennhurst Asylum from opening its doors to the public Friday night. Fans still came to the haunt for a fright-filled evening.  Ghost hunt drew a slower paced crowd. Once again, people were getting pictures of orbs and shadow people. 

Saturday night turned out to be seasonally cold. People came from all around Pennsylvania, many traveling from other states. Mayflower Hall was bursting with energy from the rowdier folks, eager to seek out ghosts in a darkened environment. Someone reported the sighting of a little girl spirit on the 1st floor. Another claimed something breathed down his neck. Many aren't sure of Mayflower's paranormal activity. A few went away believers, others not so certain. But Mayflower made them think about it. 

Sunday night was damp and cool. But the drizzle stopped and fresh air traveled up the 2nd-floor staircase. The main hallway appeared foggy and mystical. Since the other attractions begin before ours, ghost hunt was slow to start. A few guests had the place to themselves though a few were looking over their shoulders. Reports began of invisible touching. This is not new to Mayflower, but it was happening in a pretty steady draw. Women reported having their hair tugged or a hand touch their head. This happened for most of the night. After all, Mayflower was a male ward. It's not surprising that these reports mostly come from females. 

A family arrived that has been coming to ghost hunt for the past four years. These folks had numerous interactions with the spirits in Mayflower, sharing them with me over the years. The son managed to catch a voice recording though it was hard to tell what was said. He was alone at the time, in the back hallway off the main staircase. Someone else shared a really great picture of our shadowy nurse from the previous year. Others were getting some pretty interesting pictures. 

As the night continued, I found myself walking up and down the hallway, pointing out areas of interest. But as I was standing in the middle of the hallway, invisible fingers touched my hair. This happened off and on for about fifteen minutes. Restlessly, I moved around, trying to shake off the sensation. If I had a hat, I would have probably shoved it down over my head. 

Ghost hunt will be open this Thursday night. This is a great time to explore Mayflower without the heavier weekend crowds. Come early and get to spend some alone time with the spirits. 

Hopefully, they will touch you and not me...:) 

Author Tamera Lawrence

Books:
GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER: A PENNHURST HAUNTING 

PENNHURST GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER II

Amazon.com or you can buy the books at Pennhurst 

Pennhurst is located in Spring City, Pennsylvania