Your home inspector wears many hats – and surprisingly – Ghostbuster can be one of them. What you may experience as “paranormal activity” could simply boil down to unexpected and overlooked home safety hazards. The truth is most “haunted houses” can be explained by conducting a home safety inspection. That’s not to say there isn’t our fair share of spooky places like Holy Cross Orphanage in Marquette and Old Town Negaunee. Gather round and join me for a frightening tale of actual haunted houses in the Upper Peninsula, the real reasons why your home is giving you the creeps, and more!
Top 3 Haunted Places in the Upper Peninsula
This blog is all about debunking the notion of haunted houses, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention some places thought to be haunted by otherworldly entities in the Upper Peninsula. Grab a bowl of popcorn and prepare for a fright.
- Old Town Negaunee – We recently talked about why moving to Negaunee is a smart move, and if you’re a ghost hunter, here’s just one more reason to consider relocating to the area. Negaunee’s original location had to be scrapped because it was literally built on top of an iron ore mine. By the 1950s, much of Old Town Negaunee had been transported to another – safer – area, leaving a ghost town’s remnants. Many people believe the spirits of wayward miners still roam Old Town searching for their now moved homes.
- The Old Catholic Cemetery – What’s spookier than an old cemetery with headstones dating back to the mid-1850s? Located at the intersection of County Road 553 and Pioneer Road in Marquette lies the Old Catholic Cemetery grounds. Though most of the headstones were removed at the turn of the century, one somber cross remains, marking the final resting place of a farmer who owned the nearby land.
- Holy Cross Orphanage – Located in downtown Marquette, the Holy Cross Orphanage started housing needy children in 1915. The building has now been revamped into an affordable housing complex, but stories from residents of sobbing children are enough to put a chill down your spine.
Whether you believe in ghosts and hauntings or just want to get into the Halloween spirit, these top haunted places in the Upper Peninsula are sure to provoke intrigue and mystery.
There’s Something in the Air
We all love a good ghost story, but if you’ve ever seen something otherworldly in the dark of night – the fun stops there. The very real experience of seeing things that aren’t there (or hallucination) is linked to a home safety hazard that should be investigated right away.
About 1 in every 3 Americans believe in haunted houses, according to a 2005 Gallup poll. Whether you’re a skeptic or believer, there may be a scientific explanation to rationalize these beliefs – carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a lethal gas that can cause symptoms like headaches, dizziness, vomiting, chest pains, and even death. Your home can become contaminated by carbon monoxide from a faulty furnace, gas dryer, water heater, and more.
A toxic mold infestation in carpets, bathroom fans, and more can also cause frightening hallucinations, psychosis, anxiety, and depression (common feelings associated with a “haunting”). And scientific research has shown a notable link between elevated mold in places that are generally thought to be haunted.
Exposure to pesticides and formaldehyde are also culprits of the familiar feelings associated with hauntings, so if you have a job that exposes you to these chemicals – speak with your doctor.
If you are seeing things go bump in the night and also feeling “off” health-wise, it is imperative that you either schedule a home safety inspection right away or invest in a carbon monoxide detector at the very least.
Scary Structural Issues
Now let’s move on to issues having to do with the physical structure of your home that may create conditions to make a home seem haunted.
- Sound Waves – Low-frequency sound waves are known to make people feel uncomfortable and uneasy. And did you know that sound waves can actually affect your sight, making you hallucinate? Ceiling fans, appliance motors, and engines put off low-frequency sound waves, so it’s a good idea to check any of those before chalking it up to Casper the ghost.
- Old Architecture – Do you feel an unexplained cold spot in your home that leaves you uneasy? It could be something as simple as a drafty window or crumbling chimney. A roof in disrepair can be to blame for the creaking sound of someone in your attic, and a settling foundation can also make it sound like your house is alive with activity in the middle of the night. A home safety inspection can help identify the source of the scary sounds keeping you up at night.
Who You Gonna Call?
U.P. Home Inspection LLC, of course! If you’re feeling “off” in your space, it may be due to dangerous mold, carbon monoxide, and more. We are happy to come to your property to perform a home safety inspection or a mold test. We’ll get to the bottom of what’s going on before you call in the ghost hunters – our findings may surprise and shock even the bravest horror movie fan.
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