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I have been getting a lot of mail lately from people asking me questions about the site and the Library. This has prompted me to think "Do I LOOK like 411???" <grin> Ok, that's not true. It has prompted me to think "Hey Maer! Do a page with the answers to all these questions (as best you can) and then people will know." So, in that light, WLGhostChatters PRESENTS.... <ta ta ta taaaaaaa> A FEW ANSWERS.
Thanks to WebCam Watcher Collette C for starting me on this little venture.
How many ghosts are in the Library, and who are they?
According to Para-Vision Investigations, who investigated the Library in October of 2000, there are likely 9 ex-persons haunting those Hallowed Halls (or what Para Vision calls "non biological entities"). Various CamWatchers have reported at least one man, several children - both male and female (one appeared to be a young black boy), and at least 2 different women. As to who, specifically, they are...some believe the Infamous Grey Lady is none other than Louise Carpenter, herself. Louise was a daughter of  Willard and Lucina Carpenter. Willard was the money behind the building of the Library. The general concensus seemed to be that Louise was angry and upset that she was not awarded the Library as her inheritance from her father's estate. She did, in fact, take the case to court using the grounds that her father was never repaid by the board for the money he was owed. Louise was left little when her father died. We can speculate all we want, the fact is, that we just don't know right now. There WAS a story circulating that one of the ladies was a woman who may have drown in the area. Another is that one of the women died in the train station which was directly across the street from the Library. There were children at the library during the day. Perhaps some of them decided not to leave. Around 1917, an influenza epidemic whipped through North America killing a very large percentage of the population. Maybe some of these people died then. What are your thoughts on who they might be? Click here to drop me a line. I'll put the answers up here. Well, NEAR here, because this space is taken.
What got up Louise's nose??
Some people are just so damned fussy!! Her dad instigated her divorce from her
husband, then upped and died before it happened. Didn't leave her much to call her
own. Then her mom  (NOT exactly the cuddle-muffin sort), MIFFED that she HAD divorced the guy, died 6 months later. Didn't leave her anything either!! What's a girl to DO? Well, this one tried to sue for custody of a building! She had two young mouths to feed, and since mom wasn't coming up with the inheritance. She thought she'd go for the library. You may, or may not know that that was a losing proposition on her part. A final bit to the story: While there is a lovely stone with her name on it, Louise is NOT interred with her family in Oak Hill Cemetery. She is interred at Raynham, Mass. The finer points of the story can be gleaned through the VERY fine tome "Where There's A Willard" put out by The Friends of Willard Library. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, try contacting our beloved Director Greg and he will direct you to the place to buy.
I believe proceeds from the book go to the Library as well - FINE cause!
I see faces!
From the time we are born we are programmed to see faces. It's the first thing we see. Our mother's face -  two eyes, a nose, a mouth. And we spend a lot of time studying it. When our eyes see things that don't make sense, our mind tries to make them sensical. Hence "seeing faces". I call it the "Stucco Ceiling Syndrome" Those of you who have stucco ceilings (or that horrible flocked stuff that gets blown onto the ceiling) will know what I'm on about. You can look up at any given time and find faces and shapes in it. This is actually my own personal theory about why kids stick their fingers in electical outlets. Take a look at those things!! They look like faces! And if mom and dad let you stick your finger in THEIR mouths...why not THIS thing??. ANYWAY, I'm not saying you don't ACTUALLY see a face, but keep this in mind when you think you do.
I see something on the back wall in the Children's Room. What IS that?
On the wall to the left of the door in the Children's room, there is a portrait and  to the left of it is a small clear plastic plaque. The plaque tends to make people see a face or ghost. It's just the way that piece gets picked up by the camera (most of the time <grin>). The portrait is of Gray Davis Williams, head Librarian from 1941 to 1956. Many people see the face in the portrait move. One person told me she has seen it turn into a man. Hmmm!! I bet Gray isn't too chuffed about that!
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Gray Davis Williams
The Children's room looks all misty and yellow!
Sometimes even Children's Rooms have bad hair days. The camera is mounted on the ceiling just above an old china cabinet. To the right, as you look at it, there is a tiny alcove. The alcove has a security light in it. When the light is on, the camera picks it up as misty because it is shining from JUUST the right angle. Sometimes the camera angle gets moved and the mist either looks different, or is no longer there.
The cam in the Children's Room. The alcove opening is seen on the right. Sorry about how dark the picture is. Someone needed scanning lessons when this was done. I think the original pic met with a terrible messy office/windex accident. It's too horrible to talk about.
I sent my capture in MONTHS ago, why isn't it there?
It was a really good one!
Sorry guys! I don't have anything to do with the publication of proofs at the Library site. The LIBRARY doesn't even do that! What happens is, there is a tiny little old man...nah, that's a lie. The fact is, there is a guy at the Courier Press whose job it is to take care of  this ON TOP of his regular job. The pictures come in from ALL OVER the world. That's a lot of stuff to sift through. My guess is that he just grabs "proofs" at random and puts them on the site. So even if you got a really good one, you can't be guaranteed it will get in. I'd like to see it though. If it's a REALLY good one, we'll put it up. However, I'm not looking for spoofs.. Maer's Email
When are they going to update the Library site?
You have me on that one. The truth is, I don't know. The same guy (as is mentioned above) from the Courier Press was starting things. He did the VERY impressive moaning stuff when the site window opens (although likely NOT his voice <grin>). But then the work seemed to stop. The proof pics are certainly in need of updating. They did start to put the 2002 October investigation information in, but it is not complete at this time. There is some very interesting evidence from Para Vision's 2000 visit, and also MESA's visit. I am hoping I will be able to copy some in here from the Para Vision report, and am waiting for permission to do so. Also, I do have paperwork from some of MESA's 2002 findings, which I will be posting on a separate page. I am hoping to get further explanation as to the meaning of the squiggles. Stay tuned.
I see a red light in the window of the Research Room. What is it? What is the red/orange glow in the back room of the Children's room?
Those, my haunty friends are what is known in the Paranormal Investigation Community as "Parking Lot Lights".  Part of he parking lot is on that side of the building, and has tall light standards. The occasional orange red glow in the Children's room (it got me for a while too) COULD also be a reflection from the nearby stop light. It's a REALLLLLLY long stop light, too!
When is the best time to watch the cameras?
An entitiy will show up any time it wants to, but from what I have gleaned, I would say between 10pm and 3 am are pretty productive. Also, solar flares appear to have something to do with the visibility and frequency of energy. Some paranormal sites actually give you solar flare data to help you out. MESA has solar weather information links. You will want to see it on Internet Explorer, as Netscape (at least the older versions) is not supported there. Click on the "Current Solar Weather" link in the contents list.
What should I be looking for?
At first glance this question appears to be a "DUH" waiting to happen. But the truth is, it's a good one. You should be looking for something markedly different than what is there the majority of the time. The BEST way to know that is to have base pics you can compare your capture with. If you see an anomaly, save it, and then take after pics. The cam refreshes every 30 seconds, so while you see the anomaly, take a picture each time the cam refreshes, and for a few frames after. You can then make yourself a little movie after you have retrieved the captures. The "movie" will tell you more about the movement of what you saw. Sometimes you'll realize your eyes were playing tricks and other times you'll KNOW what you saw was remarkable. Sometimes, what you thought was an anomaly is only what we in the know like to call "camera goo". That's the technical term for the varying colours and things which happen with a web cam <grin>. Orbs can happen on webcam, but it's really unusual. Look for mists, formations, and movement of objects when the room is empty. The kids room cam only refreshes every 10 minutes during open hours to protect the children who visit there. Sometimes actual children, and even the Librarians are mistaken for entities: "I see a blurry blue object". The only "live stream" cam is the basement hall cam, so you will see blur if someone is moving. Room lighting WILL make a person in the back room doorway look like a shadow, keep that in mind.
I have been watching for months and there is an odd light now that wasn't there before.
If this is something you find yourself saying during the day, keep in mind that the
planet shifts its tilt  over the months and sunlight which would have been elsewhere before is now streaming into the room. The rooms in the Library are surrounded
with windows - even in the basement. Light comes in, makes patterns on the floor
and steps, and even makes ghost lights on the bookshelves. That is another reason
to take extra pics. You can check back and see any differences or similarities.
So, to the best of my memory, those were the most asked questions. If you have one which hasn't been answered, contact me.
I rarely bite. Maer's Email
Who owns the cams? Who takes care of them?
HOW FORTUITOUS that this questions should arise!! I just happen to have a copy of Interview With A Director here!! Willard Library Director, Greg Hager tells us all we want to know, and MORE!! See the article in our very own pages!
Updated
March 10th, 2003