With Halloween just around the corner, lets explore one of America's most haunted buildings.

JHP_160320_0130Outside the Washoe Club, Virginia City, Nevada

Last spring we visited a old, historical town in Nevada called Virginia City.  Many of the buildings still boast original flair, decorations and very little change since the heyday of the mining treasure trove called the Comstock Lode.  Of course any place that retains its roots, especially those of a rough and tumble town, is going to embrace its history, legends and of course it's ghosts.  This is a look at a few ghostly images taken within the Washoe Club. 
 

JHP_160320_0094Washoe Club Tour

The Washoe Club offers a 40 minute tour of the upstairs (Millionaires Club), a ghostly museum and is completed with a stop at the oldest historical bar downstairs.  Adults entry fee is $8.00.  Our tour was lead by a well versed guide who was able to answer many questions, point out interesting details and provide a good historical understanding of the building.

JHP_160320_0058Washoe Club, Nevada. Orb

An orb is typically a circular artifact on an image, created as a result of flash photography illuminating a mote of dust or other particle.   In this photo you should note the orb floating over the hat of the guide.  In this instance the orb was probably created as the cell phone flash was taken and refracted off my lens and dust.  Most people, including ghostly believers would discount this as an artifact.  Spiritualists believe that, in the absence of a flash that it is likely a visualized orb is either a spirit, an energy or a time warp.

JHP_160320_0067Virginia City, NV. Upstairs, Washoe Club

This is my favorite photo from the haunted tour. It is the only one that I cannot explain away the green anomaly on my own. Technically, I think this would be considered an orb; but it is not perfectly symmetrical and seems to bend to the corner.  Also, it is translucent and appears in a strange spot on my lens.  To add to the creepy factor: the framed clown in on the wall.... I mean, really?!

JHP_160320_0113Washoe Club, ghosts

In this image, you might be able to see the red and blue anomaly? What do you think it could be?  I think it is my camera strap and jeans and they are blurred as I scampered down the stairs.  The shutter speed on my camera is very slow for the dark rooms so this anomaly can be debunked.  But, its fun to think it could be a ghost running past the lens.

JHP_160320_0053Washoe Club, reflection

The power of suggestion of course is high when you are on a tour of this nature.  The group is encouraged to take lots of photos and I took this one in the mirror to see if I would capture anything.  So the question is did I?  I see a skull in the reflection of the mirror over my head on the right hand side.  I know this is simply a play of my mind as the light reflected off the brick and mortar just right and the human mind likes to find facial patterns in its surroundings, as they are familiar.

JHP_160320_0121Washoe Club Crypt

This is the Crypt inside the Washoe Club.  It had many uses but one of which was where the dead were kept as it was like a natural refrigerator.  Many ghost hunters believe this to be the most haunted spot within the Club.  The narrow, tall stone room was cold and a little drafty and boasted good acoustics, adding to the ghostly feel.  I ended up with no anomalies while photographing in here.

JHP_160320_0019washoe club, door and handle

And with that, we will close the door on this adventure. 

Have a safe and fun Halloween

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