Explaining the Unexplained by Darcy Fargo

While Christopher and Shannon Nye worked to restore and renovate the nearly 200 year old home he and his wife purchased, they began to notice strange things happening.  "Before We even bought the place, I came in here with my uncle to take a look around," Christopher Nye said, giving a tour of the historic home at the corner of Center and Covington Streets.  "Of course, there were no lights, so we bought heavy duty flashlights just to tour the building.  We made our way to the center of the house and into this room (known as the library).  We were looking around when, at the same time, both of our flashlights went down."  After purchasing the house, the Nyes set to work renovating.  While filling gaps in a stone wall with mortar, Christopher Nye had another experience he said frightened him.  "It was around midnight, and I was in here working," he said.  "No one else was in the building.  When I was working, I heard a woman's voice - it was very clear and distinct, but with a slight reverberation.  She said 'hello' just as calm as can be.  It sounded like it came from just a few inches behind my head."  Shannon Nye said she, too, has had experiences in the house.  "I would come in to work in a good mood," she said.  "And for no reason at all, just this extreme feeling of grief or sadness would come over me.  I would come in the building smiling and leave sobbing for no reason at all."  The Nyes said neighbors have reported seeing lights going back and forth in front of a certain window in the residence, as well.  The neighbors told the Nyes they saw lights even when the house was locked up and occupied.  Having had these experiences, and after hearing town residents say the house has a reputation for being haunted, the Nyes called on the services of the Northern New York Paranormal Research Society (NNYPRS).  "People call us when they have things happening in their home or business - whatever - that they can't explain," said NNYPRS President Merrill McKee.  "We come in and use equipment to try and explain what is happening.  A lot of times, the problem can be explained by something natural and we recommend ways to fix that problem.  If we can't find a natural explanation, and it's likely or at least possible that something paranormal is going on, we have things we can suggest to people to fix those problems, as well."  Saturday night, NNYPRS visited the Nye house - dubbed Nye Manor by team members - to gather data with the goal of determining the cause of the strange phenomenon reported by the Nye Family.  "We use equipment that has ever day applications," McKee said.  "We collect a series of data over a series of visits to, in this case, the home, and we try to come up with an explanation for what's going on."  At Nye Manor, six NNYPRS team members used infrared and traditional video cameras, digital and film cameras, surface reading thermometers, ambient temperature thermometers, digital audio recorders, and Electromagnetic Field (EMF) readers.  "We measure the temperature of surfaces and the temperature of rooms," McKee said.  "In a lot of reports, people say they experienced a drastic temperature change - either to cold or hot.  The idea is that in order for a spirit to manifest in some way, it needs energy.  Heat is energy."  NNYPRS also uses a device that constantly monitors temperature, dew point, humidity, and other variables in a room over a period of time.  The device is plugged into the USB port of a computer, and it gives you a chart measuring the data.  The cameras are used to detect any activities or changes in the environment that can be seen, while the EMF reader, used by electricians to detect the presence of an electrical field, measures electrical fields created both naturally and by man-made devices.  "The idea is that when a spirit tries to manifest, it creates an electromagnetic field," McKee said.  "We take base readings around the house, and then we try to find if there are any areas where there are spikes."  In an earlier visit to the house, McKee said his EMF reader detected a high amount of electromagnetic energy near a spot where servants' quarters used to be attached to the house.  "When I was doing demolition - I brought most of the building down to just studs -  I was being pretty aggressive with the sledge hammer, " Christopher Nye said.  "When I got to that portion of the wall where Merrill got the high EMF reading, for some reason, I decided to slow down.  I found a hidden compartment in the wall."  In that compartment, Nye said he found a broken fiddle, two flasks and a diary belonging to the second owner of the property.  McKee noted, though, that the team members use one tool more than any other.  "A notebook," he said.  "It's probably the most important thing.  When we're setting up equipment and when we're actually going through collecting data, we go out in pairs.  That's for safety and so that everything is recorded and written down.  If someone sneezes, we write it down.  If something gets dropped, we write it down.  That way, when we're going through all the video and audio, if we hear a strange noise or see something fall, we can reference our notes to see if someone caused it."  McKee said his team spends on average two to three hours  collecting data at each visit.  "Then we have to review it all," he said, noting the process can take more than a week.  As the team investigates, the client is supplied with several reports outlining NNYPRS' findings.  "we'll keep working for the client until they're satisfied that we have done what they asked," McKee said.  "And we don't charge anything."  McKee said the group is funded entirely through donations and the dues of team members.  **More details to follow when the results of the investigation become available.  dfargo@mtelegram.com

Studying the Paranormal (Side Box)

The Northern New York Paranormal Research Society (NNYPRS) was founded in 2001, by now group President Merrill McKee.  Currently the group has 18 members participating in two teams - one based in Malone and the other in Albany.  According to the group's website, it's mission is to "confidentially and scientifically research all aspects of the paranormal realm while assisting clients experiencing the unexplained.  According to group members, NNYPRS: *Conducts 10 to 15 investigations per year, per team.  *Studies and seeks information regarding the paranormal, UFO's, and cryptozoology (Bigfoot, Champy, Chupacabra, Loch Ness Monster, Yeti...).  *Conducts multiple visits for clients.  *Produces reports for clients during every step of an investigation.  *Provides it's services free of charge.  For more information about NNYPRS, or to arrange a consultation, call Merrill McKee at (518) 651-4315, e-mail merrill@nnyprs.com, or visit www.nnyprs.com.