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Ghost Hunter's Guide to Portland and Oregon Coast
Ghosts and spirits abound in western Oregon. The imprints of pioneers, soldiers, prostitutes, and murder victims haunt the places they trod in life, searching for loved ones, reliving joyful times, protecting favorite haunts, and seeking revenge. This guide, history, and comprehensive how-to offers tantalizing information about the lives, deaths, and locales of the Portland area�s lingering past.
Areas include Central Portland, East Portland communities, Vancouver and North Portland, communities south of Portland, and Oregon�s coastal communities. The infamous Shanghai Tunnels have long reverberated with the screams of kidnapped victims, doomed to a brief life of forced servitude. Lone Fir Cemetery is visited to this day by the spirits of the Chinese laborers, mental asylum inmates, and Civil War veterans who rest there. Thelma Taylor can sometimes be felt in Cathedral Park, under the St. John Bridge. Historical hotels still host the spirits of guests who died, sometimes by their own hand. Opera houses and ballrooms tell a happier the imprints left by decades of entertainment and energy can be felt even now. These sites, and many others, are vividly described, and entries include locations and contact information.
Informative sections cover what a ghost is, how it can manifest, ideal ghost sighting conditions, and types of imprints. Techniques included are preliminary historical research, physical and mental preparation, and the two primary schools of ghost the technical and psychic methods. The technical method section covers equipment use and suggestions, and the psychic method section discusses using your intuition and sensitivity to sense phenomena. Helpful appendixes include a sighting report form; suggested readings, videos, and websites; a list of tours and events; and a collection of area museums and historical societies.
Areas include Central Portland, East Portland communities, Vancouver and North Portland, communities south of Portland, and Oregon�s coastal communities. The infamous Shanghai Tunnels have long reverberated with the screams of kidnapped victims, doomed to a brief life of forced servitude. Lone Fir Cemetery is visited to this day by the spirits of the Chinese laborers, mental asylum inmates, and Civil War veterans who rest there. Thelma Taylor can sometimes be felt in Cathedral Park, under the St. John Bridge. Historical hotels still host the spirits of guests who died, sometimes by their own hand. Opera houses and ballrooms tell a happier the imprints left by decades of entertainment and energy can be felt even now. These sites, and many others, are vividly described, and entries include locations and contact information.
Informative sections cover what a ghost is, how it can manifest, ideal ghost sighting conditions, and types of imprints. Techniques included are preliminary historical research, physical and mental preparation, and the two primary schools of ghost the technical and psychic methods. The technical method section covers equipment use and suggestions, and the psychic method section discusses using your intuition and sensitivity to sense phenomena. Helpful appendixes include a sighting report form; suggested readings, videos, and websites; a list of tours and events; and a collection of area museums and historical societies.
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 2, 2015
A warning: this is titled Ghost Hunter's Guide..." for a reason. The first quarter of the book is dedicated to describing equipment and techniques for ghost hunting.
The book contains quite a few black and white photos and includes a concise history of each location. Many also include the author's psychic impressions. I prefer the history, though.
*I received a free review copy from San Diego Book Reviews.
The book contains quite a few black and white photos and includes a concise history of each location. Many also include the author's psychic impressions. I prefer the history, though.
*I received a free review copy from San Diego Book Reviews.
June 18, 2018
I can't get enough of ghost stories, and it's been awhile since I'd cracked open a book like this, so it was a lot of fun to return to an "old friend" as it were.
This book would probably be 4 stars for people who actively hunt ghosts, as there is quite a bit of material at the beginning, ending, and within the stories about equipment, tips, and similar items. None of that was useful to me, but from a glance at those areas, it looked like really helpful information if you're into that sort of thing.
Even if you're not, this is a fun read. Dwyer takes you all over Portland, from the terror of the old downtown hotels to the houses looming near Fort Vancouver. There's also sections on the outer cities like Salem and Oregon's coast, too. Ranging from the region's earliest days to tragic shootings of the modern era, Dywer respectfully approaches each one, right down to being extremely sympathetic for those spirits who can't move on.
The end effect is a brief history of each space, along with a legend (or three) associated with it. My favorites include the idea of a woman who jumped out a window, cursing every floor, or the shanghaied crew who returns to run a Portland basement. Some are fairly familiar tropes (drowned maiden, grieving mother, angry former tenant) but given their own Portland/Oregon spin.
Also, just assume any McMenamin's is haunted. Trust me on this.
If you enjoy ghost stories, this is worth seeking out and reading on a gloomy afternoon or evening. You never know what might haunt your own apartment or home...
This book would probably be 4 stars for people who actively hunt ghosts, as there is quite a bit of material at the beginning, ending, and within the stories about equipment, tips, and similar items. None of that was useful to me, but from a glance at those areas, it looked like really helpful information if you're into that sort of thing.
Even if you're not, this is a fun read. Dwyer takes you all over Portland, from the terror of the old downtown hotels to the houses looming near Fort Vancouver. There's also sections on the outer cities like Salem and Oregon's coast, too. Ranging from the region's earliest days to tragic shootings of the modern era, Dywer respectfully approaches each one, right down to being extremely sympathetic for those spirits who can't move on.
The end effect is a brief history of each space, along with a legend (or three) associated with it. My favorites include the idea of a woman who jumped out a window, cursing every floor, or the shanghaied crew who returns to run a Portland basement. Some are fairly familiar tropes (drowned maiden, grieving mother, angry former tenant) but given their own Portland/Oregon spin.
Also, just assume any McMenamin's is haunted. Trust me on this.
If you enjoy ghost stories, this is worth seeking out and reading on a gloomy afternoon or evening. You never know what might haunt your own apartment or home...
September 17, 2017
Saw this book at Powell's and had to buy it since I moved to the Portland area fairly recently and want to learn more about the history. This book contains some interesting spots, some that I was aware of and had some of my own paranormal feelings, and others that I was not aware of and really want to check out. A great book that I will be keeping.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews