A paranormal investigator and researcher of strange happenings in Northern Virginia is hosting a series of talks at Arlington Public Library starting today (Monday).
Alex Matsuo, the author of “Haunted Northern Virginia” and other books about supernatural mysteries and explorations, will speak about “scientific ghost hunting” at Glencarlyn Library from 6:30-7:30 p.m. today.
“Learn about the tools, methods, and ethics investigators employ to document paranormal activity, and discover how folklore, psychology, and environmental science all play a role in what people call a haunting,” an event description says. “Perfect for skeptics and believers alike.”
Matsuo will return to Arlington on Thursday, Oct. 30 — the day before Halloween — to discuss Arlington’s “haunted history” at Westover Library. An event description promises a blend of storytelling and historical context, “shining a light on the spirits, strange happenings, and folklore that have shaped Arlington’s haunted reputation.”
Finally, the writer and artist will visit Aurora Hills Library on Saturday, Nov. 1 for a talk about eerie landmarks, historic battlegrounds and haunted houses throughout Virginia.
“From chilling apparitions to lingering mysteries, we’ll uncover the stories that make Virginia — and especially Arlington — an unforgettable destination for those fascinated by ghosts and the paranormal,” a description says. “Come prepared for history, mystery, and a touch of the uncanny on the heels of Halloween.”
While a county known for its sleek office buildings and high-rise apartments may seem an unlikely place for spirits with unfinished business (of the supernatural variety, at least), a few ghastly stories have cropped up over the years.
Back in 2012, for instance, tales of a mysterious teenage girl in Victorian clothing proliferated among construction workers demolishing an old clubhouse in the Overlee neighborhood.
In another instance, police were summoned to Arlington Hall after front desk personnel reported hearing footsteps from the floor above.
“After a supervisor was summoned to the scene, this activity was heard again, causing the supervisor and additional personnel to investigate the second floor, to no avail,” an Arlington Public Library post from 2010 recalls. “At the same time, a second patrol which was en route to the scene, noticed what appeared to be a female figure clad in a floral print dress who repeatedly entered and exited an upstairs ladies bathroom, pausing to regard her reflection in front of a mirror.”
The Old Post Chapel on Fort Myer is also listed on a website dedicated to Virginia’s haunted houses.
“Witnesses say they have heard unexplainable footsteps and voices, and seen locked doors open on their own,” the website purports. “An apparition has been spotted in the bridal room, which was previously a private mourning room, and on one occasion a soldier walked into a room to find every cabinet door wide open.”
