Halloween always puts me in mind of jack-o-lanterns, black cats, witches, ghosts and goblins. In most cases, they are accompanied by giggles and shouts of “Trick-or-treat!” However, what about the real thing? I am often asked, “Do ghosts really exist?” As a member of Corpus Christi Spook Central, my experience tells me they do. How far would you have to travel to find one? I’ve encountered the paranormal in San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Goliad to name a few, but the local “hotspot” in this area would have to be The Berclair Mansion in Berclair.

The Beeville Art Association conducts tours of the Mansion the last Sunday of each month. It’s really a shame that the last Sunday of the month was last week, but they will be open every Sunday for the holiday season starting right after Thanksgiving.

How does one prove the existence of the paranormal? You can’t just demand they show themselves. CC Spook Central has a variety of gadgets in their tool box, but my favorites are a parabolic microphone and a digital voice recorder. These can be purchased just about anywhere. A parabolic microphone is simply a sound enhancer, much like those used by bird watchers. It has a dish attached to a device that picks up sounds usually not heard by the normal ear drum. I actually purchased mine in the “spy” section of Toys-R-Us, but it works just fine. Attach a good set of headphones, turn it on, and just listen. However, without the digital voice recorder, you have no proof. Anyone could say they heard a voice, but when you have the proof on the recorder, then no one can say it was your imagination.

My favorite experience at the Mansion occurred a couple of years ago in early October. There were several of us doing a follow-up investigation, and as a member of both Beeville Art Association and CC Spook Central, I was entrusted with the job of key holder. The accompanying member of the Association was on her way, so it was my first time to “open up” alone. I was more nervous about setting off the alarm than finding a ghost. I gained entry through the back door with no problems. Then I announced my presence to any of the ladies who might be lingering in the area. “It’s just me, Carol. We’d like to visit for awhile.” I find it rude to come into someone’s home unannounced, don’t you?

After walking in, I proceeded to the front door. There’s a key on the inside that you have to turn to unlock it. I started having trouble right away. No matter how I turned the key, it would not unlock the door. The rest of the group patiently waited outside the locked front gate, but I simply could not manage that key! After a couple of minutes of unsuccessful twisting and turning, I finally vented my frustration by remarking, “Would somebody please let me out of this door?” Click! The door suddenly opened quite easily. Feeling a bit sheepish and more than a little nervous, I looked around and murmured, “Thank you!” I hurried to let the others in through the gate.

We entered the house and proceeded to set up our equipment. Our first stop was “Genevieve’s room” where we settled down on the floor. Monty, who was wearing the parabolic microphone, said, “Wow!” We all asked, “What?”

“No, I heard, ‘Wow’” he stated. Sure enough, the next day, while listening to the evidence on my digital voice recorder, I heard a voice say, “Wow!” before Monty said it.

As we got comfortable, and began our investigation, we suddenly smelled a burned electrical smell. That made me nervous. I would be mortified if the place caught fire. “We have to find the source!” I insisted. I placed my recorder on the edge of the bed and did not bother to pick it up as we left the room. We split up to search, but found no odor anywhere but that one room. Since we discovered nothing burning, we filed back in to continue our investigation.

The next day, when I was listening to the recorder, I heard the “Wow,” heard us discussing the smell, and heard us filing out to search. Then, I heard something I did not expect. A voice whispered, “Ha, ha! Got ya! Got ya!” I have no explanation for that voice, but it tells me we were not alone.

I won’t promise you that if you go to Berclair Mansion, you will definitely see a ghost or experience anything paranormal, but it’s a beautiful place to visit. While cameras are not allowed for insurance purposes, I know the ladies of the Association usually have no objection to digital voice recorders. Bring one with you when you tour. Who knows? You might find some evidence of your own.

My name is Carol Riley Cain, and I have been called many things. Among them are “The Ghost Lady,” and “That crazy lady who writes those ghost story books.” No matter what you call me, you can usually find me “In Search of a Ghost.”