Ghosthunting Pennsylvania

by Rosemary Ellen Guiley, John B. Kachuba (Editor)

Rosemary Ellen Guiley is a renowned expert on paranormal, visionary, and spiritual topics. She puts her expertise to use in this guide to the scariest sites in the Keystone State. Each destination includes a detailed description and photographs so readers may test their own ghosthunting skills or visit from the safety of their armchairs. Firsthand accounts of otherworldly encounters bring the spooks into view, while a Ghostly Resources section points ghosthunters to further information.

Genres: Paranormal, Folklore, Ghost Stories, Ghosts

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Rosemary Ellen Guiley is a leading expert on the paranormal, and is the author of 45+ books, including ten single-volume encyclopedias. Since 1983, she has worked full-time in the paranormal, researching, investigating and writing. She has done extensive field work investigating haunted, mysterious and sacred places, and has had numerous strange and unexplained experiences. When she is not on the paranormal road, she is working on new books and writing for TAPS Paramagazine, FATE magazine, and the Journal of Abduction-Encounter Research. Rosemary lives in New Jersey, and spend much of her time traveling the spooky byways of one of the most haunted states in America, Pennsylvania."

Reviews

[Sharon A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of ghost tourism books like this unless the stories have some more substance beyond the typical tall tales repeated over and over. I picked this book up for a read because I had a familiarity with several of the places mentioned. It's unimpressive. I've no doubt the stories in here are typical ghost folklore but they remain just stories, unsubstantiated. There are no references or notes linked to the claims. It's short and not comprehensive at all. I guess the best you can say is that it's not as amateurish as the hundreds of cookie-cut books like this. I didn't notice any typos, though I did wonder at Ms. Guiley promoting herself as "PhD". I did not find information about this but I suspect that the degree is in a metaphysical or unorthodox subject area. I find it distasteful for authors to use letters after their name just to seemingly boost credibility.

Also, I found it jarring that Eastern State Penitentiary was referred to as an eight-petaled "flower", an analogy I've never heard used and that seems incredibly inappropriate considering the history and current function of the facility.

I found Guiley's Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits to be useful at times but am not a fan of her work. It's far too credulous, speculative and unsupported. And, generally boring - same old stories, nothing else.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

50 States and At Least 50 Authors 2017 Reading Challenge. MARYLAND.

Although the book is set in Pennsylvania, the author resides in Maryland. A long list of haunted sites in Pennsylvania with some comments about research that has been done on many. For some places, there are comments about the possible identity of the ghosts. So much is not known.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thoroughly entertaining and interesting book to read. I enjoyed learning more about these different historical areas in my new home state of PA, and hearing about the different types of hauntings that the owners and customers are experiencing at them.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect day to spend some time with one of my early Christmas presents - this book! It's a quick read, yet it provides fascinating stories of hauntings from throughout Pennsylvania - from rural to urban settings, from the beginnings our our country to present day, there are tragic, creepy and fun ghost stories included here. I was particulary interested in the story of the Johnstown flood where hundreds of people perished - including some of our great-grandfather's cousins.

A special thanks to Abby Kubiak and her family for this great Christmas gift - you know what books I like!

[Linda Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading about the history of places I visit and the ghost stories have always fascinated me. This book was no exception! Well written and I have to admit, not a great book to read at night before you go to bed. 👻🤣👻🤣

[Calvin]

Seemed an appropriate, and wonderfully quick, read as Halloween approaches.