Published: October 31, 2009 01:16 am      

Groups seeks to capture paranormal activity in county

Halloween is here and while some enjoy dressing up and collecting candy or reeking havoc with toilet paper and eggs, still others look forward to visiting sites of historical and haunting significance.

The Hunt County Courthouse is one such site that has drawn people in, including Chad Miller, published author and founder of Paranormal Research and Investigation of North Texas (PRINT).

“The courthouse was amazing,” he said. “It was well worth the wait. It was everything you’d expect from an old abandoned jail.”

The group captured several examples of electronic voice phenomena (EVP) on digital media. Most voices could be made out quite clearly saying things of a violent, sexual and racist manner.

“We’d hear doors moving, even though they’re padlocked, and knocking on the walls,” said Miller. “We’ve got some video of it up on our Web site.”

Another place Miller suggests is the old Katy Train Depot, now renamed the Petticoat Junction.

“The one place people could go if they wanted to be in a place that’s claimed to be haunted is the Katy Train Depot,” he said. “We’re fixing to do our third investigation there. It’s pretty active.”

Miller has yet to discover why this area is reported to be haunted. More investigation into the history of the site is needed, though according to Miller cooperation has been almost nil.

“The main thing we got at the depot was EVPs, which are unexplained voices on digital media, and we’ve taken a few interesting photographs, though we’re still going through the debunking process,” said Miller. “The people that work there are very open about the stuff that happens. They’ve been touched quite a bit and have seen a good number of things, like shadows.”

Soon, PRINT will be investigating the Ende Gaillard House, the oldest standing structure in Greenville, which was built between 1857 and 1859 by Charles Frederick von Ende for his wife, Emilie Amelia Rinecker von Ende.

“I get so many e-mails about that place,” he said. “It’s like an urban legend house. I can’t wait to get out there.”

So, whether you enjoy candy, chaos or communing, Hunt County definitely has something for you.