Piano notes answer questions

Researchers claim evidence of supernatural activity at Long-Banta House

By CHRIS CLINE
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Editor’s Note: On Sept. 8 a paranormal group investigated alleged supernatural phenomena at various locations in Potosi. In addition to the Missouri Paranormal Research (MPR), a Daily Journal reporter along with the newspaper’s information technology manager participated in the investigation. The following is the third article of a three-part series that deals with the investigation.

POTOSI — Sounds of unexplainable footsteps and falling books prompted the Mine Au Breton Historical Society to contact Missouri Paranormal Research to investigate alleged supernatural activity at the Long-Banta House.

The house, originally built in the 1860s, is now taken care of by the local historical society. Tours of the home are now offered by the group. Several group members feel the home is haunted by the spirit of James Long.

“The house is furnished pretty much with original furniture from the Long family,” said Jerry Sansegraw, president of the Mine Au Breton Historical Society. “Five of them died here of natural causes over the years. One of our historical society members has said that when she walked through a room, it sounded like someone was behind her dropping a bunch of books. She said it happened to her twice. This past summer I was in here and I heard the same sound. At the time I didn’t know Kathryn had heard this same type of racket. It was only after I had experienced the noise that I learned what Kathryn had also heard .”

Joanne Elsey, a member of the Mine Au Breton Historical Society, said while she has not had any paranormal experiences inside the Long-Banta House, one of her friends has had strange events happen to her.

“Whenever she would enter the back kitchen door, she would hear an extremely loud noise,” Elsey said. “It was so loud, it scared her. This happened on several occasions.”

Elsey said the Mine Au Breton Historical Society invited MPR to investigate the Long-Banta House because they want to find out if there is a ghost inside the home.

“There are living descendants of the Long family that are also very interested,” Elsey said.

According to information provided by the Mine au Breton Historical Society, James Long purchased the property which the Long-Banta House sits on in 1865. The house was built soon there after. Long engaged in the mining and smelting business and eventually became one of the largest taxpayers in Washington County. He also served as the sheriff and collector of Washington County for four years. He was the county’s treasurer for six years.  

Long died in 1916 inside the home and is buried in the nearby Presbyterian Cemetery. Today the Mine au Breton Historical Society offers tours inside the Long-Banta House. Many of Long’s original furnishings are still on display inside the house.

“The Long-Banta home produced evidence which indicates that a possible intelligent spirit exist as it attempted to respond to questions asked by investigators through the old piano on the first floor,” said MPR President Greg Myers.

During an EVP session on the second floor of the home, several investigators said they heard notes being played on the piano downstairs in response to questions they were asking. No one was on the lower level at the time they supposedly heard the notes. Interesting enough, the piano is the type in which the keys are encased by a tri-fold wooden cover that is not easily removed. Jeremiah Niere, executive vice-president of MPR, tried to recreate the notes played on the piano and found that the cover could not be removed without making additional noises.

Judy Myers, a sensitive investigator with MPR, said she picked up on a spirit with the name of John inside the house.

“I also sensed there were three woman inside the house,” Myers said. “There were two children huddling in a second floor bedroom. I got the feeling there is also a spirit there that is concerned about people coming and going through the house.”

On Monday the Mine Au Breton Historical Society hosted night time tours of the Long-Banta House. According to members of the historical society, nearly 100 people took part in the tours. Several of them offered their own accounts of ghost sightings at the house. Some said they saw what looked like children looking outside a second floor bedroom. Others said they saw a woman looking out an upstairs window. At the time of all the accounts, no one was living at the house.

Chris Cline is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at 573-431-2010, ext. 114 or at ccline@dailyjournalonline.com.

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