A friend of ours just moved to Pennsylvania for a new job. He called me today to tell me about what's been happening in his apartment. He lives in a really old building, and he's been there for a week now.

Yesterday, he was looking for his laundry key. He searched the entire apartment – every vertical surface – multiple times and finally gave up. He got a neighbor to let him into the laundry room. Then, when he got back to his apartment the key was sitting there on his otherwise empty table, which he'd searched several times.

He has a clock radio alarm that he set across the room from his bed. It isn't tuned to a radio station – just static, and he lets the alarm wake him rather than the radio. This morning, his radio turned on and a loud voice said, "It's time to get out of bed." He got up and got moving before he realized it was a few hours before his alarm was set for. He checked his alarm and it was still set for the time he'd set it for.

He's going to keep me updated.

That's cool. Can't wait to hear more.

OK I have more info about my parent's experience. Since I moved to Maryland my parents have driven out each year to visit. Usually it includes a side trip to Gettysburg to visit the outlets or Boyd's Bears. This year they drove out in September. It was getting late so they decided to stay in Gettysburg and chose your motel. When they arrived the next day I asked her if anything had happened at the motel. She said they heard a loud crash during the night. It was so loud my Dad had gone outside to see if someone had hit their car and saw nothing. I then told them the motel was haunted. You can imagine their reaction. I showed them your column in the magazine and they couldn't believe it. Your photos verified they were at you hotel. I tried to get the room number but they couldn't remember. Mom said there was a sign in the room stating a woman had died there. Mom says she doesn't believe in ghosts but she isn't staying there again. LOL

On a related note, we recently took the kids skiing at Liberty Mountain. (This is very close to Gettysburg.) On the way home we stopped at a convenience store outside of town. As I walked up to the building I heard a loud crash. I can't say for sure but it sounded an awful lot like a canon firing.

We are looking forward to staying at your motel and the Cashtown Inn. I will let you know before we go so you can give us a good room!!

I know which room your parents stayed in. The lady did not die in that room. There is a plaque on the door that states that the last Confederate widow stayed in that room.

Alberta Martin from Elba, GA was 90 years young in 1997 when she was invited to a ceremony at the National Cemetery in Gettysburg to attend the burial of a Confederate soldier whose remains were found in the railroad cut behind our hotel after a heavy rain. Her husband, William Jasper Martin, had served with the 4th Alabama Regiment, Co. K and had passed in the 1930's. She stayed in Room 116, which is in our lower section of the hotel. The hotel sits on a ridge (Seminary Ridge) and Room 116 is on the lower side of the ridge.

Trust me, you would know if it was cannon fire you heard. It is louder than thunder crashing over your head and the ground vibrates. I have been present on the battlefield during artillery demonstrations many times. When we hear it in the office, the windows actually vibrate and we can feel the concussion through the floor. I have heard it anywhere from 10:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. There are no artillery demonstrations during those hours. Our guests have reported it to me in the morning as well, many times.

FYI, the upper level of the hotel (across from the office) in the wing where Rooms 136 through 142 are located is where four artillery pieces sat during the afternoon of Day One of the battle. Two more artillery pieces were situated across the railroad cut. These guns were heavily engaged and were almost captured.

Please reassure your parents that no one has ever been harmed or hurt by any spirit present on the grounds of the hotel property. They are more playful and mischievous. If you have read the column, you can surely see that. Most of the time, they make me laugh out loud.

Do let me know when you will be thinking of a visit. I will do my best to get you into one of our more active rooms. Remember, we never know what they are going to do or when they are going to do it.

And, thanks for sharing this story. We love to have our experiences confirmed by our guests.

Carolyn /wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='<_<' />

(it was suggested that i put a copy of this post in this thread)

i am very leery of sharing experiences i've had concerning caitie. people here don't know me enough to know if i am delusional, a broken-hearted mom grasping at straws, a mom who has had experiences and gone thru all other explanations and 'debunked' as much as possible or just a crazy lady.

in the end, i know what i've experienced and i know myself. i am not trying to prove anything to anyone. i can only tell what i've experienced. i will take a baby step here.

the first time i 'saw' cait was after we had moved 2 times after we lost her. mick, danny and i were getting ready to leave the house, it was very hectic. it was winter, danny was 3 and we were getting his snow suit, boots etc on him, getting ourselves ready…most of you know how it gets crazy doing all that.

i stood there waiting as mick was zipping danny up when this 'shadow' (not the right word, really) just walked past me. it wasn't really a shadow, more like sepia colored shape of a person. it seemed comprised of tiny dots of colors mixing to make the color. it was the exact outline of cait: my height, her curly short hair…her walk, everything. it seemed to last forever but was over in the blink of an eye. i know that makes no sense, but it's how it felt. there was no cold spot or anything like that. it anything i felt suddenly flushed, but that could have been due to my reaction to seeing what i saw.

i felt my eyes get big and i had a quick intake of breath. it was loud enough so that mick asked if i was alright. i just nodded as i couldn't speak. i was digesting what had happened.

so that's it. it happened when i was totally distracted, was not expecting anything, not looking for anything. but that would be just like caitie to just casually stroll by in the midst of bedlam…

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Sometimes, they are just that quick, but moving nonetheless.

Carolyn

Its not roof its floor. Settling? Anythings possible. But it sounds just like when I walk over the floor. As to the haunting…..well you know the rest thats been going on yeah its possible. Just wanted to see if it could be anything else before I jump to conclusions. Whatever it is when it wakes me up it scares the crap out of me thinking someones in my house. Especially when the dogs are growling too. I even heard them charge whatever it was once. I was sure someone was in here that time.

I hope you get some rest. /smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /> This all sounds very stressful, and not sleeping doesn't help.

Hope you find the cause. I believe pets sense more than we ever can, paranormal or normal.