Haunted Oak Lawn?

Ghost hunter shares stories, leads investigation at library

Daniel Kittredge
Posted 3/19/14

What is a ghost?

“It’s a spirit,” answered one child.

“It’s an angel,” said another.

For paranormal investigator Carl Johnson, one answer stood out.

“A ghost,” a youngster …

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Haunted Oak Lawn?

Ghost hunter shares stories, leads investigation at library

Posted

What is a ghost?

“It’s a spirit,” answered one child.

“It’s an angel,” said another.

For paranormal investigator Carl Johnson, one answer stood out.

“A ghost,” a youngster said, “is a memory of someone who lived before.”

Over the course of Johnson’s March 14 program at the Oak Lawn branch of the Cranston Public Library, no conclusive answer emerged as to whether the historic building is home to any apparitions, or what the exact nature of those “ghosts” may be. But those on hand overwhelmingly felt they had seen enough to believe the presence of something unexplained is possible.

Bringing others to that point, Johnson said, is at the heart of what he does.

“I still can’t accurately answer, ‘What is a ghost?’” he said. “I’ve seen enough to know there are things out there that cannot be explained.”

Johnson’s pursuit of the paranormal has been a lifelong journey. He recalled witnessing unexplained phenomena at his childhood home, which initially stirred his interested in the field.

“I knew something was strange,” he said. “I’ve been at it for 30 years.”

Along with his twin brother Keith, he has appeared on SyFy’s “Ghost Hunters” and other television shows, and he now works with Beyond the Veil Paranormal Research and the Slater Mill Museum in Pawtucket. His specialty is as a demonologist.

Johnson also leads programs at libraries and other community sites, and his recent visit to Oak Lawn drew an eager audience of youngsters and parents seeking a window into the unexplained.

“This is one of the most fun things I do,” he said.

Stephanie Blankenship, Oak Lawn’s branch librarian, and the library’s Sue McMillan both say they have experienced such activity at the library, part of which served as a schoolhouse from the 1830s until 1895. In 1896, the Oak Lawn Public Library Association was formed.

Blankenship recounts seeing “glimpses of things” and lights suddenly shutting off, hearing taps, feeling cold drafts and occasionally having the sense that “something doesn’t want me here.” McMillan says she has seen visions of people, a boy and a woman – the latter of which, it turned out, was Harriet Shaw, who was librarian through the 1960s.

“We’ve seen a lot of things,” said McMillan, stressing that she was “never afraid” or concerned for her safety.

“A place that has a lot of history might have some things hanging around,” said Blankenship, likewise emphasizing she is more curious than concerned.

Johnson’s visit included an overview of the basics of investigations, and some demonstrations meant to gauge the library’s paranormal activity.

He shared stories and images from Slater Mill, where he leads ghost tours, and played video clips from his TV appearances. He drew gasps as he played recordings of “electronic voice phenomena,” or EVP, from various investigations.

During the brief investigation at Oak Lawn, Johnson used “dowsing rods” to attempt communication with any otherworldly entities at the library. A temperature gauge was also utilized in an attempt to detect a paranormal presence.

The group spent several minutes in the former schoolhouse portion of the building, and also journeyed briefly into the basement – the latter of which Johnson said had a “strong, palpable, real emotion” that indicated something had happened there.

At the conclusion of the program, Johnson gauged the room as to who thought the library might be haunted. Almost every hand went up. The audience also agreed that whatever paranormal presence inhabits Oak Lawn is not malevolent but perhaps unhappy.

“You’re all very good investigators,” Johnston told the youngsters. “We got some surprising results in just a few minutes.”

As the gathering concluded, tentative plans were made for Johnson to make a return visit in the summer, hopefully at night, to investigate further. Blankenship also urged youngsters not to try such investigations on their own, and instead seek guidance so they proceed properly and do not become scared.

“Never try to do this alone,” she said.

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