ELDRED — The Eldred World War II Museum is so amazing, no one wants to leave — including the veterans who are honored there.
On Sunday, Spirit Hunters Inc. presented the results of an investigation held at the museum a few months back to a packed room of interested patrons, many of whom were families. Before the presentation began, the Wellsville, N.Y., Legion Riders presented a check for $1,500 to the museum, telling the crowd they had visited recently and were impressed with the way veterans were honored.
“You guys are doing a great thing here,” a representative told Steve Appleby, curator. “Keep it up.”
Appleby spoke to the crowd, explaining that when the museum was asked about having a paranormal investigation with the Native American group Spirit Hunters, they said yes.
“Gettysburg does it,” he explained, mentioning the famous Pennsylvania Civil War battlefield which honors veterans, attracts visitors and continues education.
“If it brings people to the museum and puts money in our donation box, we’re all about it,” he said with a laugh. The important part, he added, was honor and respect, which group leader Shane White Eagle said was the only way Spirit Hunters operates.
“Our father was a World War II veteran,” he said, gesturing to himself and his brother Lance. “It’s something personal for us.
“We need to remember all the veterans who sacrificed for us,” he added. “It’s a big deal for us.”
Explaining what they saw in the museum, the group recounted stories of shadow figures, noises, voices and even conversations with spirits.
Speaking of the Holocaust Room, with emotion heavy in their voices, the members explained feelings of sadness, sounds and voices, which asked to be left alone. Respectfully, the Spirit Hunters did just that.
“Most of the spirits were happy to have a voice,” Shane White Eagle said.
Yet several spirits told them they didn’t like a spirit that was attached to one of the horrific displays in the Holocaust Room, a woman who came to visit.
“Can we talk about it?” Hunter White Eagle asked museum director Jesse Case. He said yes.
“The lamp,” Lance White Eagle said. A lamp with an unthinkable story of unimaginable horror attached.
Their mother, also a team member, started to explain her experience at the room. “The woman attached to the lamp was an evil person in life,” she said, before breaking down in tears, unable to continue.
As they spoke about the Holocaust Room and the horrors inside, pieces of their paranormal hunting equipment on the table behind them started to go off. Spirits travel, they said.
As team members described personal experiences, several times they were overcome with emotion. Shane White Eagle explained, “Investigating, it’s really emotional. You feel all that anxiety, the pain, the loss.”
Overall, they shared, the museum offers much to be learned, and a look into the lives of those who gave so much for their country.
The Spirit Hunters have a YouTube Channel, a TikTok and Facebook where they share information from investigations. A video from the Museum’s investigation will be posted later in the week.
