Valley Paranormal Investigates Ghosts Year-Round

If you ask someone what they associate Halloween with, they might say carving pumpkins, eating candy and dressing up as ghosts. Debbie Berger, Director and Lead Investigator of Hellertown-based Valley Paranormal Research, wants you to know that ghosts are a year-round phenomenon, however.

“People only think about ghosts during Halloween, but they’re with us 24/7, every day, every month," she said. "(People) always want to know if we’re busier in October than any other time."

Berger says she has been dealing with paranormal activity for most of her life, but it wasn’t until she moved to this area that she got the idea to start her own paranormal investigation team. 

"I’ve been doing this for over 20 years," she explained. "When I moved to Pennsylvania five years ago, my kids were old enough and my best friends were here and said, ‘We have to do our own group,’ and that’s how it started."

Berger defines "paranormal research" as the study of things that are unknown to or undefined by conventional science, such as UFOs, cryptozoology, hauntings, crop circles, fairies and gnomes. Valley Paranormal Research focuses its efforts on investigating hauntings, mainly in residential homes and other buildings. 

“We do basic hauntings to demonic hauntings. Those are less than one percent so we really don’t see any. With the demonic hauntings, we’ll go in first. Then, we have specialists we can call to come in and help us. We specify in ghosts,” Berger said.

Although there are many historic houses and buildings in the Saucon Valley area, it is a common mistake to think that it is a building causing the hauntings, Berger says.

She explained that it could be the land the house is on, an object in a building, or a person that a ghost wants to follow that is the source of a particular haunting. Some of Valley Paranormal's calls come in because a previous homeowner recommended the team for an investigation.

"There’s so much involved with ghosts or hauntings. It really is a science," Berger said. "You really have to try to figure out what it is that’s causing the action, causing the disturbance."

A paranormal investigation can be very complex, and Berger's team likes to go into the investigation knowing no information, as it will be easier to confirm what they see or hear with the homeowner if they know nothing in advance. The team takes photos during the day to compare with what they see in their night vision cameras. Once paranormal activity is confirmed, the team will do research with historical societies, and look at records to figure out what and why the activity is occurring.

"A case could take one day, (or) it could take a couple weeks, but some could take years, just because the homeowner might want you to stay involved," Berger said. "There are cases...(in which) the homeowner knew what was there and just wanted it to be justified and the case will be closed, but we check in from time to time. Each case is different." 

According to Berger, many of Valley Paranormal Research’s clients are initially nervous about the team going into their home for an investigation. In these cases, the team will be as discrete as possible, even if it means not wearing their Valley Paranormal Research t-shirts. Any investigation can remain confidential as well, to make the client more comfortable.

Although most of the team members at Valley Paranormal Research are local, they haven’t been able to do any investigations in the area, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t trying.

Berger said she wants to investigate and the above all, simply because of the history that could be revealed.

“We’re very much into the history. Just to have that chance to be in the same place that a coal miner was in, or if there was a fire, a cave-in--it’s just very exciting. If somebody else appears, that’s a bonus!” she said enthusiastically.

Not only does Valley Paranormal Research conduct investigations, but the group also fundraises for known haunted buildings as their way of giving back to the community. They sometimes host or take part in public events, and next month the group will conduct investigations at the Albright Mansion in Jim Thorpe, as part of a "Dinner and Ghost Investigation" at the Victorian mansion on Oct. 1, Oct. 8 and Oct. 15, from 7 to 11pm.

“Some people get into it, and some get really freaked out, depending on how many spirits want to join us!” Berger said.

The cost to participate in this special event is $15 per person, with dinner at the mansion available for $30 or $55 per couple, plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 1-570-325-4440. 

Overall, Berger and the rest of the Valley Paranormal Research team want people to know that they can help anyone who has been haunted.

"Whatever the client wants, we do. It’s a lot of fun," she commented.

"Some people believe. Some people don’t," Berger added. "We’re not here to change anybody’s mind. We’re here for people who want us and are afraid because they have a haunted location."

For more information, or to contact Valley Paranormal Research, visit www.valleyparanorm.com.