Oakmont Paranormal Society, Library Team Up for Mysteries Tour

It's almost Halloween, which means it's time for stories about ghosts, haunted houses and other spooky happenings. But what if those ghosts really existed in your home town?

Oakmont residents Mark Bowan and Carol Gerds, an engaged couple, founded the Oakmont Paranormal Society in July to answer that very question.

Sitting at the Oakmont , which used to be a Giant Eagle, Gerds recalls working at the location and thinking there was a ghost of some sort.

"I used to work in the deli, and the cooler doors would always pop open," she said. "Those doors are hard to open and close. The deli slicers used to shut down by themselves, too. I'm a magnet for this stuff."

The has teamed up with the Oakmont Paranormal Society and local historian Gary Rogers to conduct a mystery walk throughout town on Friday, Oct. 21.

Rogers has unearthed spooky stories about Oakmont's past, and because several people in Oakmont have reported spooky activities in the area, the paranormal society was asked to join. Groups will begin leaving the library at 7 p.m. The cost is $5.

Immediately following the tours, members of the paranormal society will conduct an investigation at an undisclosed Oakmont location to track down any presence of paranormal activity. Bowan said it's one of Oakmont's oldest buildings and there have been reports of footsteps, doors opening and closing, and names being called out.

"An investigation isn't an exact science," Bowan said. "You can't tell a ghost to show up when you ask them to. You also can't expect them to leave when you want them to either."

Bowan said there are "significant amounts" of paranormal occurrences in Oakmont. Some locations include , , an apartment on Washington Avenue, a residence on Wade Lane, the Verona-Oakmont Cemetery and many other residences.

Oakmont Mayor Bob Fescemyer has even had some encounters, Bowan said. His and many other encounters will be shared with visitors on Friday.

Bowan and Gerds said they've had several run ins with the paranormal world since they were young.

Gerds had her first experiences at age 9, when she lived in Gettysburg. She said several of them were frightening.

"I wanted to be able to provide a service to help people who are going through things I experienced," she said. "I want to help them realize they're not crazy."

Bowan grew up in Oakmont and said he's been a curious person his entire life.

"I've always thought there has to be a reason for things," he said. "This helps us find reasons, and it's also good for a thrill."

There are 27 members from all over the Pittsburgh area—12 of them are active. Members come from Oakmont, Verona, New Kensington, Greensburg and more locations.

Some devices used during investigations include thermal imaging cameras, digital voice recorders, electromagnetic field detectors and forward looking infrared scanners.

Members, who are of many different religions and beliefs, have more than 20 years of training in paranormal investigations. However, new members don't have to be trained. Bowan and Gerds just ask that anyone who is interested have an open mind.

"We all have the common belief that something exists beyond rational explanation," Bowan said. "Oakmont has more of its fair share of paranormal activity, and we want to help prove or debunk the presence of an entity at any given location."

Anyone interested in learning more about the group or requesting their services should e-mail oakmont.ghosts@gmail.com.

Editor's note: This article previously stated that the members of the group didn't have any training. It should have read that the current members do have training, but new members aren't required to have any. We apologize for any confusion.