Outskirts Press, INC.

Do you believe in Ghosts?

Ghost. The very word tempts the mind with lurid images of lost souls trapped in an alternate dimension. Many of us will never encounter a ghost or perhaps be aware of its presence. But that doesn’t mean they don’t exist – in fact, they do exist- in the battered walls of the Mayflower Hall, Pennhurst. With its morbid history, Pennhurst State School and Hospital left behind a tragic legacy of neglect and abuse. Opening in 1908, Pennhurst was created to isolate the mental and physically handicapped from “normal” society and institutionalize them. The most vulnerable lived at Pennhurst—children. Conditions quickly became strained by limited staff, overcrowding and lack of funding. Finally in the 1980’s, Pennhurst began closing its doors. Today the remnants of Pennhurst are hard to ignore with its towering fortress of crumbling buildings and rustic grounds. But during the Halloween season, Pennhurst Haunt offers several attractions for the curious or thrill seekers. Ghost Hunt is located in the Mayflower Hall. For several years, I have spent time in this dark, eerie building and have witnessed the paranormal first hand. This sequel to the original Ghosts of Mayflower offers a reader a chance to spend some time in one of the most haunted locations in Pennsylvania. And if you dare, please come visit us. If you love Pennhurst, then check out ASYLUM (thriller) now available.

Two elderly women stuck a cell phone beneath my nose with a picture of something lumpy lying on one of the beds from the first floor. It appeared to be a body of sorts and looked a bit too real. I doubted its authenticity and had to wonder if a customer had snuck into one of the rooms. It had happed before and I was sure it would happen again. Why anyone would want to lie on the filthy mattress was beyond reasoning. Perhaps if they saw the bed in the daylight, they would gag. Another man approached me, quite concern about a low whistling in his ear. He was sure something was following him. I assured him something probably was, giving him a hearty grin. He quickly left. And then came an older gentleman who said he had been shoved in the common room. He was sure something was really pissed off in that room.