GRAFTON — As a paranormal investigator, Brian Parsons often finds himself in places most people tend to run away from — haunted places.

Parsons, who resides in Solon, will be speaking about his findings as a paranormal investigator 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Thursday at the Grafton-Midview Public Library. His program, “Investigating the Paranormal,” will touch upon the history and basics of psychic research, parapsychology and how it relates to amateur paranormal investigation.

And, if time allows, Parsons, who oversees the Ohio Paranormal Investigation Network, will tell guests how he and his partners investigate a paranormal claim from initial contact through evidence.

According to Parsons, Ohio is full of haunted places and urban legend locations.

“One of the big places to investigate is the Mansfield Reformatory in Mansfield. In the Cleveland area, there are Gray’s Armory, Agora Theater and Franklin Castle,” Parsons said.

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Parsons’ curiosity about the paranormal world began in 1996 after he and a friend debated over local urban legends.

“I was raised to believe that ghosts did not exist. I never had any experiences growing up and was not aware of the reality of this field until after getting out of high school,” Parsons said. “I found it interesting how many different people heard the same stories despite a complete lack of evidence.”

After researching urban legends, Parsons found that he preferred ghost stories over the legends.

At the end of 1996, Parsons and a group of friends founded the Ohio Paranormal Investigation Network.

Through his organization, Parsons brings a sense of relief to his clients.

“Many times when a client is presented some evidence (of a spirit), it actually relieves them a little. Most clients think that they are going crazy or that others will think that of them,” he said. “Every case is different and people react differently in various situations, but most want confirmation that the experience was real.”

The first case Parsons took was one that still sends shivers down his spine. He said he was visiting a co-worker, who believed — but didn’t really care — that she had a ghost in her apartment. Her boyfriend had never experienced anything while there, and he didn’t believe there was anything to her suspicions, Parsons said.

So Parsons went to the apartment to hear what had happened.

While there, he said his pen rolled off the coffee table — jumping a lip on the table and falling to the floor.

“I didn’t see it move but wasn’t sure if it would be possible to happen on its own, and after trying it, there didn’t seem to be any way possible,” he said.

The co-worker told him she thought the ghost was nice, and that it liked to take care of things in the apartment and that it just wanted Parsons to know the ghost was there. Later, Parsons determined that the ghost likely was a former renter who spent many years in the apartment before moving into a retirement home, where she passed away.

While his co-worker was talking about her suspicions, Parsons said he looked up to see her hair flip up and over her shoulder — seemingly on its own — something she often did herself.

“I took this as a caretaking gesture, but this startled her and made me a bit nervous even after she laughed it off,” he said. Finally, as he was saying his good byes, Parsons said he felt a heavy press on his right shoulder, as if someone were putting a hand on it. There was no one nearby.

“It sent chills down my spine and yet was actually a very calming feeling soon after,” he said.

Parsons said it is experiences such as that that convinced him to accept the paranormal world.

“Most spirits and ghosts are not violent,” Parsons said.

But for some residents, they simply want to know why the spirits/ghosts are there in the first place.

“We have to first discover a real way to validate their existence or be able to communicate effectively before figuring out their true purpose,” he said. “For many who have visits from departed loved ones it seems obvious that there is comfort through communication. For others who discover ghosts in their home of no relation there still seems to be communication happening for a variety of reasons.”

Want to go?

• What: Brian Parsons, “Investigating the Paranormal”
• Where: Grafton-Midview Public Library, 983 Main St., Grafton
• When: Thursday
• Time: 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.
• The two books Brian Parsons has written, “Handbook for the Amateur Paranormal Investigator or Ghost Hunger: How to Become a Successful Paranormal Group” and “Betty’s Ghost: A Guide to Paranormal Investigation” can be found at http://stores.lulu.com/ ghosthelp. A few copies will be available at the presentations.
• Seating is limited. For reservations, call the library at (440) 926-3317.

Send your Grafton/LaGrange/Columbia news to Melissa Linebrink, 329-7155 or mlinebrink@chroniclet.com.

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