WARSAW — A little known, unofficial holiday helps to kick off the Halloween season for paranormal enthusiasts worldwide — National Ghost Hunting Day. Since 2016, this day has been celebrated with the world’s largest ghost hunt.

Organized by Maria Pons-Schmidt, founder of Haunted Journeys, she was “motivated to start up something really incredible to promote historical preservation.” Each location and team throughout the world helps to raise money and support the historical site. “A haunting is a history wanting to be heard,” she emphasized.

The purpose of the event is primarily historical preservation of the location as well as “true public information on what a true paranormal investigation is all about.” Pons-Schmidt continues, “It’s not about demons coming out of closets.”

While, in the beginning she had to beg properties to participate, last year Pons-Schmidt organized around 150 teams which proved to be too much. This year there were approximately 80 locations and teams participating. The collective consciousness of so many groups engaging spirits at the same time along with those watching the live stream feed at home produces more energy yielding greater results.

As one of the locations that has participated since the beginning, the Old Jail Museum, Warsaw, lives up to Pons-Schmidt’s assertion “many of these walls have some intense history.” Built in 1870, there have been at least 10 confirmed violent deaths at that location beginning with a construction worker being crushed to death while the jail was being built.

Greg Steffe, co-director of the Old Jail Museum and host for the Spirits of Warsaw ghost tours, shared one of the most famous stories which has created two well-known hauntings at the museum. The story begins with Annie Chaplin who forges her father’s name on a check and then is arrested and left in jail by her father. After a few days, she names her co-conspirator, Guin Smith, who she was allegedly having an affair with. Smith posted bail and swore revenge on Chaplin. As Chaplin had gathered sympathy from the public and sheriff, she was removed from her cell and resided with the sheriff and his wife, assisting the matron with her duties. One fateful day Chaplin excused herself to use the outhouse when Smith saw her. He waited for her to emerge and shot her twice before turning the gun on himself. There were also rumors Chaplin may have been pregnant from their affair.

These two spirits are ones thought to be frequently heard or seen during ghost hunts. Steffe described two types of spirits: residual and intelligent. A residual spirit is unaware they are dead, left in the location by violent circumstances and their moments play out as if on a loop tape. An intelligent spirit, on the other hand, is aware and seeks to interact. Steffe explained typically they feel they must “protect their turf, have unfinished business or seek your help.” He believes both types reside in the museum.

While some popular spots to see or hear this paranormal activity include the kitchen, bullpen and library, he has felt things everywhere in the museum. Full body apparitions, voices, smells and even being touched by a spirit have all been recorded throughout the years in the museum. The most important part, Steffe emphasized, is respect. “Treat ghosts with the same respect as you would a normal human when entering their house,” he stressed.

Warsaw Indiana Paranormal Research Studies hosts the ghost hunts at the Old Jail Museum. Unforeseen circumstance made them unable to participate in the world ghost hunt this year, but they are already preparing for next year.

For more information on WIPRS visit www.wiprs.com. For information on the Old Jail Museum visit www.kosciuskohistory.com. For more information and locations for the world’s largest ghost hunt visit www.nationalghosthuntingday.com.