SOUTHWICK – Apparently, things really do go bump in the night, at least they do at Southwick Town Hall and the Old Library.
Last night the Agawam Paranormal Society presented its findings of an investigation of the two buildings and evidence points to activity from beyond the grave.
“There is a sufficient case to believe there is paranormal activity,” said Rob Goff of the APS. “We do not believe any of the activity is negative or evil in intent.”
Goff’s presentation included photos, videos and audio evidence that he said made him say “hmmmmm, there’s something there.”
Photos taken during the investigation last winter show several orbs, which are spots of light not explained by normal circumstance, such as dust or reflections. Several videos showed moving orbs, including one that disappeared into a wall. Audio evidence included the voice of a man not in the room who seemed to say “knock it off” when investigators asked questions.
Goff explained that they used electro-magnetic field equipment – EMF – to measure electro-magnetic activity that can indicate a paranormal presence. They also used mag light flashlights.
Goff said they set up a mag light and twisted it to barely the off position, then asked questions and instructed any entity present to answer by turning on the light.
Southwick Board of Selectmen Assistant Cindy Pendleton participated in the investigations and said there was a lot of activity.
“Those lights were going on and off,” she said. “They would ask a question like ‘If you are a man, turn the light on,’ and it would turn on. As soon as a question was asked, the lights would turn on and off.”
Pendleton is a longtime town employee and said she has seen and heard many unusual things throughout the years, but isn’t scared of the so-called haunted hall.
“It’s like they’re just part of the building,” she said.
Pendleton said there was much activity in both buildings, and said the most activity at Town Hall, previously the Consolidated School, seemed to be in the Senior Center. There, the billiards table was set up with the flashlight and orbs could be seen around the table.
Pendleton said she and one of the investigators also witnessed a stuffed animal move by itself when they asked what they believed to be the spirit of a young girl if she would like to play with it.
Pendleton said she the evidence validated what she has felt for many years.
“If you were there and saw and heard and felt those things, you just couldn’t deny what was there,” she said, adding that “they’re friendly.”
Goff said they believe there is a spirit of a young girl and a young boy, as well as other spirits in the building. He said a man in his 30s hangs out on the fourth floor, but he isn’t there to scare anyone.
“He enjoys joking and banter,” he said.
Another male spirit heard in the Senior Center was a bit less friendly. The APS psychic said he was not fond of her and refused to interact with the group. She said she believed he was in the service and enjoyed hanging out with the men at the center.
Pendleton said the activity at the Old Library was more pronounced and she could actually hear voices.
“It was definitely more clear there,” she said.
The presentation was given to a completely packed crowd in the Town Hall auditorium. Nearly every chair throughout the building was brought into the auditorium and there were numerous people standing outside the room. Nearly 350 people attended the event.
Among the listeners were Nancy Flagg and her daughter Heather Lavoie.
The pair came to hear the findings because they both attended the former Consolidated School, and said they have had experience with spirits.
Flagg’s husband died in 1979 of a heart attack, leaving his 29 year-old wife with their four children, ages six months to 10 years-old. Flagg said she had to find a job and raise her children, and although she was alone, she could feel her husband’s presence.
They often heard footsteps in their Point Grove home and felt he was still there for them.
“I had a friend I played with and she would tell me she could see him watching over us, but I never saw my father,” said Lavoie.
The youngest son never knew his father in life but Flagg said he often spoke to him.
“We would all be in the living room and he would go into the dining room where his toy box was and he would talk and laugh,” recalled Flagg. “When we asked him who he was talking to, he would say ‘Daddy’.”
Lavoie said her father had nicknames for all the kids and no one else used them. Her youngest brother knew those nicknames and said their dad told him.
Flagg made a career for herself and took care of her children, eventually moving to a new home.
Flagg’s birthday is Sept. 11, and on Sept. 11, 2001, when the world was being attacked by terrorists, her former family home on Point Grove Road burned down.
“After work I went to watch, and it was pretty much burned down when I got there,” she said. “I opened my car door and told him to get in, and I still feel him with me today.”
Pat McMahon of the Southwick Cultural Council also participated in the investigations and called the experience “wicked cool.”
“I felt things and saw things go by me – it wasn’t scary though,” she said.
Goff said he would like to do further investigations to uncover more paranormal activity in town
