Haunted Wilkes

Visit the

Next conference date TBA: Visit the haunted Wilkes blog for photos, video, and other data.

The Smithey Hotel was built in 1891 and purchased by Nikeard "Nike" Smithey in 1906. No longer an operating hotel, it is used for special events by the current owner and houses Dooley's Tavern and a couple of other small businesses. Many people have reported seeing the ghost of Mrs. Smithey walking the hallways. Other experiences include seeing the ghost of the school nurse Bertha Bell and a lady floating around the painted ceiling at the top of the stairs.

The Old Wilkes Jail was built in 1859 to house Civil War prisoners and most notably held two famous inmates, including Otto Wood, who was incarcerated at 15 for stealing a bicycle. Otto escaped all 10 jails and prisons except for the Old Wilkes Jail. The most famous inmate was Tom Dula, of the ballad made famous by The Kingston Trio, "Hang Down Your Head, Tom Dooley." Many have claimed to have experienced paranormal activity here from footsteps, chains being dragged across the floor, and voices arguing in the upstairs cells. The ghost is credited as being Tom Dula, whom some believe was innocent of the murder he was charged with.

The Robert Cleveland House was built in 1779 by Robert Cleveland, an American revolutionary who was from Wilkes County, NC. The log cabin was moved from its original location and it's now near the Old Wilkesboro town square. The rocking chair in the downstairs room reportedly rocks on its own and many have reported seeing a woman dressed in era clothing sweeping in front of the fireplace.

The Tory Oak is on the town square between the Smithey Hotel and the Old Wilkes Jail. The historic tree stood for at least three centuries, and during the Revolutionary War, at least five Tories were hanged from its branches. A couple of severe storms finally felled the tree in 1992, and another oak was planted in its place. Do the Tory ghosts still linger there?

The historic Brown-Cowles House and former slave squarters have been added as hunt locations. A former owner of the estate, Hamilton Brown, built the central core of the house shortly after 1834 and it was considered the finest home in Wilkesboro for many years. In addition to the slave quarters, a slave kitchen and curing house stood nearby. Brown owned as many as 14 slaves who at times occupied the slave quarters, which is also a hunt location. The house is now owned by one of the original founders of the Wilkesboro Candlelit Ghost Tours.

The nearby Presbyterian Church graveyard features graves dating back to the Revolutionary War period and will be a hunt location as well. The church dates to the mid 1800's. We've also secured limited access to Graystone Manor, a historic bed and breakfast.

R.G. Absher and Jeremiah Greer, both veteran hunters of the locations, will be among those leading hunts. Absher literally wrote the book on the Wilkesboro hauntings: Ghosts of the Yadkin Valley.. Greer did a 24-hour broadcast from the haunted sites on Shadows in the Dark radio. The Historic Downtown Wilkes is a straight two miles from the hotel. This cluster of hunts is within walking distance of the downtown area and a leisurely schedule ensures you can get some quality investigating done.

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2009 CONFERENCE PANEL SCHEDULE

THE GREAT MENTAL EVP EXPERIMENT

CONFERENCE HOSTS
The conference is hosted by Appalachian author, supernaturalist, and folklorist Scott Nicholson, with presentations and ghost hunts by Jeremiah Greer, R.G. Absher, Paranormal Scene Investigators, and Jonathan Watts of United Skeptics and Believers. Tentative panel topics for 2009 include hunting techniques, ghost boxes and EVP's, "Healthy Skepticism," hunting ethics, Christianity and the Paranormal, and a healthy interactive debate on the elements of science and faith in ghost-hunting. There will be some multi-track offerings so you'll have a choice of panels and break-out sessions to attend, including "Ghost Hunting 101," "EVPs" and "Go Toward The Light." We also have a psychic experiment planned involving EVPs. Meet the hosts

The Haunted Computer Paranormal Conference is open to all members of the public and the paranormal community, with no discrimination on the basis of age, gender, religion, viewpoint, alliance, group affiliation, or experience. The only requirement to participate in the conference is to register and to sign a waiver. Whether you are a television celebrity with tens of thousands of followers, or a curious beginner, you receive the same respect and opportunities. Scott Nicholson and Haunted Computer Productions believe that all viewpoints are valid and welcome in the spirit of expanding our mutual knowledge and understanding.

Newspaper article on the 2008 event

check out the online Ghost Register for links to EVPs, stories, video, and other documentation

Scott Nicholson and Barry Fitzgerald of Ghost Hunters International at PSICon 2009 at the Lake Lure Inn.

The Second Annual Haunted Computer Paranormal Conference will be held in Oct. 23-25, 2009