Click here for WCSH news video - Ghost Hunters determine Fort is Haunted

Click Here for Website of Bucksport Maine Ghost Tales

Click Here for Maine Supernatural Website and Video of 9/5/09 Investigation at Fort Knox

Retired Trooper sees ghost at Fort Knox 8/13/2011

What follows is an email received by the FOFK on 8/14/2011 describing his experience.

First, please allow me to introduce myself. I am not what many, even myself, might shake your head and call crazy. I am nearly 52 years old, a retired NH state trooper and father of three. My profession made me a "facts" kind of person. If I do not see things for myself or, see conclusive and even scientific evidence, I am not easy to convince. If I had not experienced what I did today, and had heard this account from another, I would chuckle and say okay, you saw a ghost and that's a neat thing, good for you. I would be convinced the recounting was from a whack job! But today, at the north end of the two step alley from about 15 yards, I saw an apparition.  I can not tell you if it was male or female. It happened suddenly and lasted only a second. I observed this apparition to be a white object that if it had legs, would stand about 5'8". I did not see a head or arms or legs. At first I thought it may have been a woman in a white night gown however, as I discussed what I saw with my girl friend, added to my consideration, that men of the civil war era, often wore long white night dresses. This "object" appeared suddenly in the arched door way and moved from my right to my left and disappeared. I went to the end of the alley to see if there was anyone, another visitor, moving down that hallway but, when I arrived at the end of the alley and looked left, it was a solid brick wall. There was no place a human could have gone. I wanted to pass this along for your consideration. Thanks, Keith Rayeski, Nottingham, NH

Ghost Hunter episode on Fort Knox

‘Ghost Hunter’ show finds unexplained activity at Fort Knox

By Rich Hewitt, BDN Staff

PROSPECT, Maine — The results are in.

“This place has some serious activity going on.”

That was the “reveal” Wednesday night on the SyFy Channel’s “Ghost Hunter” show that featured the investigation of Fort Knox back in February.

“They definitely believe it’s haunted,” said Leon Seymour, executive director of the Friends of Fort Knox, who was featured on the show giving the “Ghost Hunter” crew a quick tour of the fort.

About 50 people gathered at the Bucksport Golf Club to watch the show on a big-screen TV.

“It was a lot of fun,” he said, adding that the locals got a chuckle from the crew’s complaining about the cold and how they felt as if they were out in the “wilderness.”

The show’s stars, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, and co-star Amy Bruni roamed the 19th century stone fort with high-tech equipment searching for evidence of paranormal activity.

The ghost hunters didn’t see any ghostly figures in any of the areas where they investigated, but they did pick up some unexplained readings on their instruments. In Long Alley, where there have been reports of ghost sightings, there was a strange anomaly on their thermal imaging camera that they could not explain. And something broke through the laser grid that they had set up. They also heard some “crazy breathing.”

“It sounds like it’s right next to me,’’ Hawes said from the darkened alley “It sounds like it’s coming closer and closer.”

Near the cannon mounts, the crew also heard loud footsteps when there was no one there.

While there were no spooktacular apparitions during the show, being featured on the popular SyFy Channel show definitely conjured up some interest in Fort Knox.

According to Seymour, the Friends’ website got 951 hits by midnight Wednesday and another 270 by late Thursday afternoon, coming from all over the country. This time of year, the site usually gets about 60 or 70 hits a day, Seymour said.

“It certainly had the effect of getting the fort out all around the country,” he said.

GHOST HUNTER TV PROGRAM

Wraps Up Fort Knox Investigation

(Prospect) The Friends of Fort Knox working in partnership with the Maine Department of Conservation’s Bureau of Parks and Lands report that the SyFy Channel’s, Ghost Hunter TV program, has concluded their paranormal investigation of the State Historic site. The investigation and filming took place recently when a production crew arrived at Fort Knox, where Friends’ of Fort Knox executive director, Leon Seymour, provided the Ghost Hunters a tour of the site and recounted visitor reports of paranormal experiences.

The paranormal investigation took place amidst brief snow showers. As part of their investigation, the Ghost Hunter’s production company interviewed individuals who had reported as having a paranormal experience at the Fort to the Friends. One of those interviewed by the crew was local radio personality, Sky Taylor, who reported hearing various sounds and even seeing an apparition. Also interviewed was, Bureau of Parks and Lands Historic Site Specialist, Tom Desjardin, who provided the production company with a brief history of Fort Knox. The Ghost Hunter film crew also spent a good deal of time shooting exterior shots of the Fort from various locations and some shots of the Town of Prospect.

At the conclusion of the investigation, Ghost Hunter stars, Amy Bruni and Grant Wilson, presented their paranormal investigation findings to Friends’ executive director Leon Seymour. This portion of the investigative process known as the ‘reveal’ will be kept confidential until the TV program airs. Ghost Hunter producers told Seymour that he expects the Fort Knox episode to air this spring.

While filming the investigation the Ghost Hunter group stayed at the Four Points Sheraton, Bangor and kept local food establishments in Bucksport busy with take out food orders.

The Friends of Fort Knox report that they are giving some thought to having a ‘screening party’ the night the episode airs on the SyFy channel. The organization says that they will release details of the ‘screening party’ and how the public may obtain tickets in the near future.

The visit by the Ghost Hunter group was more than a year in the making. It began when the Friends of Fort Knox revived an email from the producer of the program in December 2009.

Over the past several years, local paranormal investigating groups have approached the Friends of Fort Knox to enlist their help facilitating nighttime research. Some of these paranormal research groups such as Bangor Ghost Hunters, Central Maine Paranormal, East Coast Ghost Trackers and Maine Supernatural have posted their investigation results on the Internet.

A good deal of preparation was necessary to ensure that the TV production crew would have easy access to the Fort due to the series of local snow storms. Bureau of Parks and Lands’ park manager, Mike Wilusz, other Bureau staff and Friend’s contracted local snow removal personnel, plowed, shoveled, removed ice and sanded to provide a safe environment for the crew in the frigid temperatures.

The following information describing the SyFy Channel’s Ghost Hunter program is taken from the Wikipedia Internet site: “Ghost Hunters is an American paranormal reality television series that premiered on October 6, 2004 on the Syfy Channel (previously SciFi). The program features paranormal investigators Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson who investigate places that are reported to be haunted. The two originally worked as plumbers for Roto-Rooter as a day job while investigating locations at night.
Since the show’s success, the series now takes precedence in their lives, but they are still honorary employees with the company and continue to do jobs for them if time permits.”

The Friends of Fort Knox, formed in 1991, work in partnership with the Bureau of Parks and Lands to preserve Fort Knox and enhance its educational, cultural and economic value for the people of Maine. The Friends sponsor numerous special events including Civil War reenactments, the annual Fright at the Fort Halloween scare fest, medieval tournament, pirate day and Scottish Tattoo. Last year, the Friends funded extensive repairs to the Battery ‘B’ retaining wall, wharf area and initiated erosion control measures.

Individuals interested in learning more about the Friends of Fort Knox, special events and the history of the historic site are encouraged to visit the following web site: fortknox.maineguide.com

MaineGhostHunters/Bangor Maine Ghost Hunters - Joint Investigation

TV’s ‘Ghost Hunters’ takes interest in Fort Knox’s haunting lore

By Rich Hewitt
Bangor Daily News Staff

The suspected ghoulies and ghosties and things that go bump in the night at Fort Knox may be getting a visit from television paranormal investigators the “Ghost Hunters.”

The producer of the SyFy channel’s “Ghost Hunters” series and Leon Seymour, executive director of Friends of Fort Knox, are discussing the possibility of filming a segment of the show at the fort. Story Producer Patrick Powell on Monday confirmed the show’s interest in the fort, but declined to discuss the matter until details had been completed.

“We can make it happen,” Seymour said this week. The fort was constructed between 1844 and 1869, and although troops were housed there during the Civil War, the fort never saw any action. And though no one actually died inside the fort, several people have reported hearing voices and seeing images inside.

At least one psychic has confirmed the existence of spirits in the fort. Some have suggested the spirits are those of a solider who had strong ties to the fort, such as Sgt. Leopold Hegyi, who served there for 13 years and died in the house where he lived across the road from the fort.

In addition to many unexplained experiences, visitors, over the years, perhaps sensing something in the fort, have asked guides about the possibility that the place is haunted.

The Friends organization helps to bolster that idea of ghosts with its annual Psychic and Paranormal Fair and the Fright at the Fort celebration at Halloween in which real-life spooks haunt the dank and dark alleys inside the fort.

Seymour stressed, however, that the Friends group has not taken any position on whether there are ghosts at the fort, but he said the “Ghost Hunters” investigation could be a boon for the fort and the surrounding area.

“A television show that is seen by millions will certainly put the area on the map,” he said. “It would focus attention on the fort and the observatory, and increase visitation, which can only be a benefit for everyone, except maybe the ghosts who might be disturbed.”

In recent years, several local paranormal groups, such as Bangor Ghost Hunters, Central Maine Paranormal and Maine Supernatural, have conducted investigations at the fort and have posted their results on their Web sites. According to Seymour, the Bangor Ghost Hunters were featured on a local television news program where they offered their opinion that the fort is indeed haunted.

The SyFy Channel’s “Ghost Hunters” is a one-hour weekly reality show that follows a group of real-life paranormal researchers as they investigate hauntings throughout the country, according to the show Web site. Led by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, plumbers by trade who head the Atlantic Paranormal Society, the team investigates “seemingly unexplainable disturbances.”

Seymour said he has contacted the Maine Department of Conservation’s Bureau of Public Lands, which manages the fort, for approval to have the TV crew film there. He said he is awaiting an activity permit for the shoot from Public Lands.

There has been some local interest in the program, and Seymour said he already has forwarded about 10 names of area residents who have expressed a willingness to be interviewed for the show. Despite Maine’s winter cold temperature and heavy snowstorms such as the one last weekend, Seymour said the producers indicated the “Ghost Hunters” could arrive in town as soon as February.

Anyone interested in participating in the show with a personal paranormal experience at the fort can contact the Friends at FOFK1@aol.com or by phone, 469-6553.

Ghost Hunters Determine Fort Knox Is Haunted

 Kara Matuszewski, Reporter/Anchor WLBZ   10/09

Click Here for the Newscenter Video

PROSPECT (NEWS CENTER) -- With Halloween fast approaching, and Fort Knox ready to host its annual Fright At The Fort, some local ghost hunters say they have proof the fort is haunted.

Stacy Stack and Ken Ort of Ghost Trackers of Bangor recently went to Fort Knox after close, set up cameras and recorded several hours of their investigation. What they found has convinced them they weren't alone.

"What I believe is Sgt. Leopold Hegyi was stationed here for 15 years, and that he still roams this place making sure it's kept safe, doing rounds, his daily duties. And he doesn't know any different," said Stack, after reviewing the hours of video they recorded.

At one point of the recording, there is something that sweeps from the right side of the screen to the left, and Stack and Ort say it's the soldier.

"We're thinking it was some sort of apparition getting ready to form," said Stack. They say he was headed up Two Step Alley, an area where they say other people have seen something.

A psychic went along with the duo for their investigation, and reportedly told them there was a lot of paranormal activity and many spirits present. The team also did sound recording during their investigation.

During one clip of sound, Ort and the psychic were talking, and a third voice is heard laughing. "As you can tell it's a totally different voice than what's our psychic sounds like and what I sound like. And it was laughing at the same time I was speaking," said Ort.

They can't say for certain what it is, only what they think it is. And they say they try to discredit each finding, explaining it away. But in some cases they say it just isn't possible.

"It's a very active place to be if you want to experience paranormal activity," said Stack. "Fort Knox is the place to be."

Stacy Stack and Ken Ort are also interested in investigating other locations. If you would like to get in touch with them, you can call Ort at 951-2970 or Stack at 249-3188.

Worker ‘creeped-out’ by ‘Fright’ at Fort Knox

By Rich Hewitt    Bangor Daily News 10/22/08

 PROSPECT, Maine — When the Cowardly Lion stood in the Haunted Forest wringing his tail saying, “I do believe in spooks, I do believe in spooks,” he had good reason.

He was surrounded by trees with faces, flying monkeys, a wicked witch and, yes, spooks.

Now, Teddy Cooke, 19, of Verona Island has a good reason to say the same thing.

Cooke, who works as a tower and gate attendant at Fort Knox Historic Site and the Penobscot Narrows Observation Tower, didn’t have to deal with the Wicked Witch of the West, but he did have a close encounter of some kind last Saturday night inside the fort.

“It creeped me out,” he said.

It happened Saturday night as Cooke was closing up the fort after the annual Fright at the Fort event. He wasn’t one of the ghouls, trolls or ogres stationed in the fort to spook the nighttime visitors. Cooke was part of the tech crew, in charge of the fog, the lights and the scary audio for the event.

The fort was dark except for the “Fright” effects.

“My job was to lock up, shut down all the electrical stuff, the fog machine and the strobe lights,” he said. “I was going to the upper level of the officers’ quarters when I saw it — it was the back of a leg moving at the end of the hall.”

At that point, he said, he thought there was a straggler from the Fright event, and he called out to say the fort was closed and to follow him out. There was no response.

From the hall, a set of stairs leads up to a long corridor known as “Two Step Alley.” Cooke walked up the steps and as his eyes reached the level of the floor, he saw the dark shape of someone walking down the alley.

“About halfway down, I could see the figure of a person,” he said. “There was a red floodlight at the other end and it clearly blocked out the light.”

He called out again, but there was no reaction.

Cooke said the figure looked like a “solid shadow.” He saw no face or details, but could tell it was walking, not gliding. It did not react or turn when he called. And it made no sound that he heard.

Although he said he felt a little jittery, he didn’t feel any emotion or any presence from the figure.

He reached for his flashlight and the figure was gone.

“I looked down for just a second and when I looked up again, there was nothing there all the way to the end of the alley,” he said. “At this point, I’m still thinking it’s a person. There are pillars all the way down the alley, and I thought they may have ducked behind there. I thought maybe someone was going to jump out and scare me.”

Cautiously, he checked each pillar all the way down.

No one was there.

“There’s no way anyone could have gotten down the alley in that time,” he said. “Up until I got out I thought it was a person. I don’t know what it was. I got out of the fort as quickly as I could.”

Cooke admits to being a fan of the “Ghost Hunter” television show, but said he wanted proof before he’d believe in ghosts. He says he has it now.

“I considered myself a skeptic until something happened so that I would know,” he said. “This was kind of that ‘it’ that happened.”

Some might discount Cooke’s account as imagination, but he’s not the first to have a supernatural experience in the fort. According to Leon Seymour, executive director of the Friends of Fort Knox, there have been reports for years from visitors and fort staff of unusual happenings.

“I’ve heard hundreds of stories,” he said. “People having their hat taken off, people being pushed.”

The fort is a likely spot for spirits, according to Sky Taylor, a Bangor radio announcer and co-founder of the Down East Paranormal Society.

The granite and the fort’s proximity to the water all help to store and conduct spirit energy, Taylor said.

Taylor and her husband have had unexplained encounters in the fort before, one of them in the same area where Cooke saw his spirit on Saturday. Several years ago, she brought in a psychic, who confirmed there were spirits dwelling in the fort.

Although no one actually died inside the fort, Taylor said, the spirits could be soldiers who had strong ties to the fort. One might be Sgt. Leopold Hegyi, who spent 13 years at Fort Knox and died in a house across the road from the fort where he lived.

Taylor produced a special radio broadcast about the spirits at the fort and included the story from a former guide at the fort during the 1980s. The guide reported that on one of her tours, a soldier showed up at the edge of the group. She assumed it was one of the Civil War re-enactors who hold encampments at the fort.

She learned later that none was at the fort that day.

“A little later, she saw a photo and said [the soldier] looked just like Sgt. Hegyi,” Taylor said. “If anyone had ties to this place, it was Sgt. Hegyi.

Although Hegyi’s widow, who lived in New York, collected his belongings after the sergeant died, she did not claim his remains. He is buried in a cemetery a short distance from the fort down Route 1 in Stockton Springs, Taylor said.

Cooke is not sure what he saw, but he’s convinced he saw something. He’s a little “uneasy” about going back in for this weekend’s version of Fright at the Fort, and admits that anytime he comes back into the fort, he’ll recall this incident.

“I’m not sure I’d want it to happen again,” he said. “But I’d be excited if it did.”