|
MENOMONIE - With 15 years of
experience studying the paranormal,
Chad Lewis believes there are
unexplained phenomena around us.
"I talk to too many credible,
logical people who I don't think are
hallucinating or trying to hoax me,"
Lewis said. "I think they are seeing
things, but I don't know what it is.
I have more questions than answers.
I try to provide people with the
most evidence, research and
background I can and let them make
up their own minds."
Lewis, 36, of Eau Claire, a
paranormal researcher and author for
Unexplained Research, will speak
Sunday afternoon at the Menomonie
Public Library about Wisconsin's
most haunted locations.
Some of those locations are in
Menomonie.
"One of my favorite places is
Devil's Punch Bowl," he said,
referencing to the hollowed-out
bedrock known as a scientific study
area south of Menomonie. "Not only
do you get traditional haunted
stories such as balls of light or
strange apparitions, you get strange
creatures reported in the area. It
seems to be a gnomelike or
goblinlike creature 3-to-3½-feet
tall."
One of the strange sightings Lewis
said has been reported to him was
from a group of teenagers who parked
at the Devil's Punch Bowl one night.
They reported seeing a strange light
move around the parking lot and
enter their car. They fled from the
car when the light entered.
The Mabel Tainter Theater reportedly
has had strange sightings,
particularly since it was renovated,
Lewis said.
UW-Stout's Jeter-Tainter-Callahan
dormitory is another site where
several people have reported hearing
someone following them, only to find
no one there. Maintenance workers
have reported locking doors and
windows, but finding them reopened.
Lewis has a master's degree in
psychology from UW-Stout. He has
trekked across the world in search
of the paranormal, from tracking
vampires in Transylvania and chasing
the chupacabras in Puerto Rico, to
searching for the elusive monster in
Loch Ness and pursuing ghosts in
Ireland's castles,
Lewis said Transylvania was the
scariest place he has visited.
"I think it is the atmosphere
there," he said, noting residents
still use horses and carriages for
transportation.
Lewis has been featured on the
Discovery Channel's "A Haunting,"
ABC's "World's Scariest Places," and
in hundreds of radio interviews, TV
appearances and newspaper articles.
He is the author of the "Hidden
Headlines" book series and co-author
of the "Road Guide to Haunted
Locations" book series. He has
written or co-written about a dozen
books.
If people are interested in doing
their own ghost hunting, Lewis
suggests they go only to public
places or get advance approval from
property owners and always to be
respectful of property.
Lewis said he enjoys sharing his
adventures with people.
"Even if they are skeptical or don't
believe in the paranormal, it will
get them in the spirit for
Halloween," he said.
Powers can be reached at
715-556-9018 or
pamela.powers@ecpc.com.
If You Go
What:
"Wisconsin's Most Haunted
Locations," presented by paranormal
researcher Chad Lewis of Eau Claire.
Where:
Menomonie Public Library, 600 Wolske
Bay Road.
When:
2 p.m. Sunday.
Cost:
Free.
Web:
www.unexplainedresearch.com
|
