Earlville Opera House hosting paranormal tours of 130 year old facility
The nearly 130 year old building is said to be haunted by the benevolent ghosts of former musicians who once performed on this stage. (Submitted photo)
EARLVILLE — The historic Earlville Opera House (EOH) will be hosting paranormal tours on Friday, October 22, led by paranormal investigator Kenny Harris. Time slots are 7 to 9 p.m., and 10 p.m. to midnight, and admission is $20.
Constructed in 1892, and turning 130 next year, the EOH has seen hundreds of performers. Executive Director Michelle Connelly said it has always served as an opera house, and a place for the community to gather. It also may be home to the spirits of former musical performers.
"It's always been a kind of communal gathering place for things," she said. "Back in the day it used to be, there used to be vaudeville acts, an occasional snake oil salesman, and, you know, silent movies."
In 2019, the EOH held paranormal tours and came into contact with several spirits, Connelly said. Luckily, it appears all entities within the building are benevolent.
"It's only good entities, because we have nothing but fun here," explained Connelly. "Most of the people we came in contact with were musicians that had played here in the past. So that was, you know, it's only goodness that's here. And I'm here by myself a lot and I've heard a few things, but it's mostly like people laughing. Like, good things."
Connelly said paranormal investigator Kenny Harris will lead visitors through the building while explaining and using his equipment, as well as his various methods for contacting the departed. She also said it is likely a musician will be performing onstage during the tours, as that has shown to increase paranormal activity.
"What we've found is there is normally more action when we have music that happens on the stage. So normally we have like a performer, somebody to come in and play some music, and that's when activity really starts to happen," she said. "[Harris] does many different methods where we just try to, you know, talk and listen, and just keep our eyes peeled. Maybe ask questions in the open air and see if there's any kind of response."
During their 2019 investigation, Connelly said she and visitors witnessed several instances of spiritual activity, including orbs, electrical malfunctions, and voices through a spirit box, which is a device that sweeps through radio stations at a rapid speed. It is thought that through the white noise produced, spirits are able to speak.
"When we were getting talking with the spirit box we got a lot of different people and things come through," Connelly recalled. "I talked to a ghost back and forth named Daniel, who was a drummer here back in the 1940's, and that was really kind of cool because every time we have a show, I sit in the back and I sometimes take a couple video clips. And I always notice like this orb over the drummer. Not all the time, but [with] really lively groups."
She added that at the end of the event, after guests had left and the crew was packing up, the last light to be turned off began flickering, went out, and then turned back on when she asked.
"The ghost hunter said to me, 'well, you know, during theater at intermission when you want people to go back in, you flicker the lights a few times ... What happens at the end of the show? You turn the lights off. It means goodnight, the show's over, we're done.' And that's kind of what happened at the end of our session, so that was just really cool," said Connelly.
Amateur ghost hunters and skeptics alike that are interested in attending can reserve a spot on the EOH website, earlvilleoperahouse.com, or by calling 315-691-3550.
Connelly gave prospective visitors one piece of advice: keep an open mind.
"People enjoy music and arts when they pass just as much as they do when they were alive," she said. "Always have an open mind. The music never stops."
The EOH is known for their musical performances, and is a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization, used to promote the arts in central New York, according to their website.
In 1970, Connelly said the building was going to be abandoned and torn down, until activist Joey Skaggs got involved.
"Joey Skaggs, who's still a very heavy duty, worldwide activist, bought the space and he took proposals from people for what they would do with it. And there were proposals from all over," said Connelly. "It was a group of local people, some Colgate alumni people that are still on our board today, that ... had a multi-arts purpose. So he sold it to that group for one dollar. And then, you know, since then we got incorporated in 1972. By 1974 we were on the National Register for Historic Places. And we've been going as a multi-arts center since."
Constructed in 1892, and turning 130 next year, the EOH has seen hundreds of performers. Executive Director Michelle Connelly said it has always served as an opera house, and a place for the community to gather. It also may be home to the spirits of former musical performers.
"It's always been a kind of communal gathering place for things," she said. "Back in the day it used to be, there used to be vaudeville acts, an occasional snake oil salesman, and, you know, silent movies."
In 2019, the EOH held paranormal tours and came into contact with several spirits, Connelly said. Luckily, it appears all entities within the building are benevolent.
"It's only good entities, because we have nothing but fun here," explained Connelly. "Most of the people we came in contact with were musicians that had played here in the past. So that was, you know, it's only goodness that's here. And I'm here by myself a lot and I've heard a few things, but it's mostly like people laughing. Like, good things."
Connelly said paranormal investigator Kenny Harris will lead visitors through the building while explaining and using his equipment, as well as his various methods for contacting the departed. She also said it is likely a musician will be performing onstage during the tours, as that has shown to increase paranormal activity.
"What we've found is there is normally more action when we have music that happens on the stage. So normally we have like a performer, somebody to come in and play some music, and that's when activity really starts to happen," she said. "[Harris] does many different methods where we just try to, you know, talk and listen, and just keep our eyes peeled. Maybe ask questions in the open air and see if there's any kind of response."
During their 2019 investigation, Connelly said she and visitors witnessed several instances of spiritual activity, including orbs, electrical malfunctions, and voices through a spirit box, which is a device that sweeps through radio stations at a rapid speed. It is thought that through the white noise produced, spirits are able to speak.
"When we were getting talking with the spirit box we got a lot of different people and things come through," Connelly recalled. "I talked to a ghost back and forth named Daniel, who was a drummer here back in the 1940's, and that was really kind of cool because every time we have a show, I sit in the back and I sometimes take a couple video clips. And I always notice like this orb over the drummer. Not all the time, but [with] really lively groups."
She added that at the end of the event, after guests had left and the crew was packing up, the last light to be turned off began flickering, went out, and then turned back on when she asked.
"The ghost hunter said to me, 'well, you know, during theater at intermission when you want people to go back in, you flicker the lights a few times ... What happens at the end of the show? You turn the lights off. It means goodnight, the show's over, we're done.' And that's kind of what happened at the end of our session, so that was just really cool," said Connelly.
Amateur ghost hunters and skeptics alike that are interested in attending can reserve a spot on the EOH website, earlvilleoperahouse.com, or by calling 315-691-3550.
Connelly gave prospective visitors one piece of advice: keep an open mind.
"People enjoy music and arts when they pass just as much as they do when they were alive," she said. "Always have an open mind. The music never stops."
The EOH is known for their musical performances, and is a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization, used to promote the arts in central New York, according to their website.
In 1970, Connelly said the building was going to be abandoned and torn down, until activist Joey Skaggs got involved.
"Joey Skaggs, who's still a very heavy duty, worldwide activist, bought the space and he took proposals from people for what they would do with it. And there were proposals from all over," said Connelly. "It was a group of local people, some Colgate alumni people that are still on our board today, that ... had a multi-arts purpose. So he sold it to that group for one dollar. And then, you know, since then we got incorporated in 1972. By 1974 we were on the National Register for Historic Places. And we've been going as a multi-arts center since."
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