In February of 2014, I packed up the car and made a two hour drive to one of my most favorite places to visit; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Being a huge fan of history, particularly Civil War history, what better place to visit than a town where Union and Confederate Armies met and battled for 3 days. Later, those 3 days came to be known as the bloodiest battle ever fought on American soil. I arrived in the late afternoon. Once I settled in, I began searching for something to do for the evening in town. Of course, with the research I conduct, I decided to attend the Ghostly Images Tour of the Homestead Orphanage and Jennie Wade House.
During this tour, our guide shared many pieces of information, such as the history and reports of paranormal activity.
In the orphanage, she took the group down into the basement and shared the horrific stories of Rosa Carmichael who would chain young children to the wall, place them in a dark area known as the “dungeon,” and when really bad, make them spend days in a cold dark hole called “the pit.”
Next on the tour, we walked approximately a quarter of a mile down the street and entered the Jennie Wade House. The guide proceeded to explain how the house really belonged to Jennie’s family and she made her way there when word came through town that soldiers were coming and fighting began on the other side of town. Then, after keeping cover for 2 days avoiding stray bullets and cannon balls piercing the walls, Jennie unfortunately was shot and killed by one of those bullets as she was preparing bread in the kitchen on the 3rd day of the battle. The guide then took us down into the basement where a mannequin was placed with a quilt laid over it portraying Jennie Wade’s body. It was placed in the same location where Union soldiers placed her body after rescuing her family and moving them there until the fighting ceased. There, she explained that the spirit of Jennie’s father was said to stay protecting his daughter, apparitions of soldiers have been seen, as well as feelings that Jennie herself was present. Once the tour was complete, I very discretely approached the tour guide and asked what kind of process was required for ghost research teams to investigate the locations. She provided this information and then the tour came to an end.
When I arrived home several days later, I took the information provided and sent an email to Ghostly Images requesting information for the possibility of the JUMPS Team to investigate both locations. A few days later, I received an email response explaining the particulars and requirements to do just that. I gathered the information and placed it aside to get back to at a later date.
Just when I thought that was the end of it, I received a telephone call approximately one week later. It was a volunteer by the name of Alexis who wanted to discuss more about the JUMPS Team and the possibility of coming to Gettysburg to investigate the Jennie Wade House and Orphanage. After a long conversation, she invited the JUMPS Team to investigate on April 17, 2014. Therefore, on the day of April 17, the JUMPS Team loaded the equipment and made the 2 hour drive west to one of the most haunted and historic places in the country.
