By Bill Wolcott<br><a href="mailto:wolcottb@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Bill</a>
APPLETON — Ghost stories and good wine go together at the Winery at Marjim Manor.
The mix was intoxicating Wednesday night for the television viewing of “Ghost Hunters.” The party for 180 was fun for believers of the paranormal and the non-believers, as well.
The team from the Sci-Fi Channel show visited the site on a dark and stormy night — just right for ghostly activity — and came away scratching their heads, maybe even believing. The first 30 minutes of the 60-minute broadcast was bland. Few could have been convinced of Connecticut ghost.
The Appleton visit was enlivened by Margo Sue Bittner, owner of the winery. Whether or not she believes there are ghosts on her property, she loves to tell the stories and puts on a good party. She said that the Sci-Fi Channel left out some good parts.
In the broadcast, the two ghost hunters told of mysterious noises and dark figures moving across the door.
“I saw somebody walk from the right side of the doorway to the left,” Jason Hawes said. “It went by quickly, so I didn’t think much of it. All of a sudden, it happened again. Grant was lucky enough to be looking that exact way with me.”
“It looked like a person,” Grant Wilson confirmed. “It didn’t look like a shadow. It was a person.”
Lightning plays on lights, but these were solid black masses, they told Bittner.
“I saw the same thing in this doorway, which gave the impression they were there checking us out. They were out of range, but keeping an eye on us.”
The ghost hunters played back digital recordings. One sounded like a child saying, “Hello.” Another seemed to be saying, “Who’s in the house?”
Bittner said the deeper voice sounded familiar. “Sometimes at night, I hear deep sounds like that, but not anything I can ever determine,” she said.
The ghost hunters had no explanation for it.
“It’s not only interesting. This place is fascinating. We caught some great stuff,” one said. “There’s a mystery there and I don’t know if we helped solve the mystery, but we certainly added to it.
The ghost hunters recommended that Bittner keep a log book.
“The house seems to have some paranormal activity — to what extent, we’re not sure yet.”
Further investigation is needed. They were impressed that the activity happened where they expected it to happen. ‘It all adds up and adds credibility to her story. We definitely got to come back again.”
The audience applauded the mention of “Appleton” at the beginning of the show and gave some cheers at the conclusion.
But, they could not confirm there are ghosts at the former Appleton Manor.
“I didn’t see any, but it’s hard to convince the guys on the TV show,” said Audrey Wagner of Newfane. “They say, I’m sorry, we didn’t see any paranormal activity,’ and they’re here to debunk it. When they do hear something, it’s always interesting.”
Their party got to the viewing early and had good seats on the second row. “I didn’t see anything peculiar, but I wasn’t here in the night in a lightning storm either,” said John Heinz. “It would have been nice to see something move or unexplained, but I didn’t see anything. ... The guy did bring up a good point during the show. He wondered how much people were under the influence when they see the odd things happen.”
This is a wine place.
Sharron Patin of Wilson corrected her son. “They were hearing things!” she said.
Bittner was upset that “Ghost Hunters” did not mention the mystery bouncing golf ball. “They didn’t put that on the air,” she said. “It was one of the most suspicious things and they didn’t put it on the air.”
Bittner also said, “One of the cameramen told me later that every time he held up the camera to start taking pictures. Somebody stood behind him telling him to go. He said it got to be a little bit spooky after awhile.”
Helen Miller of Pembroke may have been touched by a ghost while watching in the chapel. “It’s very new to me and I tend to be very skeptical,” she said. “I’m not exactly sure. I was sitting watching the show and It almost felt like somebody gently took my elbow, like I was going to be escorted.
“I had nothing to drink, nothing at all,” she said. “I wonder if it’s something I actually felt or if I’m letting my imagination and the ambiance get the best of me.”
Many visitors were hoping to have a paranormal experience.
Beth Cirbus of Lockport watches “Ghost Hunters” all the time. “They try to debunk it to see if it’s not real. Are there really apparitions and really ghosts? It’s really neat. They find stuff all the time.”
Re-enactors who dressed up as ghosts circulated through the audience. Sisters Megan Destro and Michelle Loucks of Lockport dressed up as Raggedy Ann and Andy.
“We thought we would have fun with the whole concept of the rag doll,” Megan said. “They were in the toy box too long together. Kids don’t play with the rag dolls. We do crazy things for Halloween all the time.”
Contact reporter Bill Wolcott at 439-9222, ext. 6246.
