DARLINGTON — Dusk was just starting to set as Chad Lewis started his presentation ‘Haunted Wisconsin’ at the Johnson Public Library on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
Lewis, an Eau Claire native, is an author, researcher and lecturer on topics that focus on the haunted, strange, mysterious, and unusual. He has earned his Bachelors and Masters in Psychology. He said he was grateful for all those in attendance of his presentation.
About 30 people attended, and all seemed to have had one type of ghost encounter or another. Some spoke of a vanishing hitchhiker. Others of a lost loved one, or to have seen someone in their room, as if a break-in had occurred, only to find that no one had ever been there. From objects moving around the room, to Grandma’s perfume smells; the audience, like Lewis, could all relate in some way, the likelihood of the unseen world.
For 30 years, Lewis has traveled the globe searching for the next ghost story. In Wisconsin, he found several stories to talk about, including the Ridgeway ghost — Summerwind — and the Bray Road Beast. Those mentions were in addition to his original presentation.
Lewis opened the eyes of his audience by talking about some more unknown areas around the Dairy State. Among the areas discussed, few in the audience were aware of such places such as: Norwood Pines in Minocqua; Riverside Cemetery in Appleton; Devil’s Punch Bowl in Menomonie; Steinthal ‘Thing’ at the Steinthal farmhouse, mill and tavern; Milwaukee’s Pfister Hotel; Desoto Hotel in Galena; Weary Road in Evansville; Bloody Bride Bridge on Highway 66; Highway 12 Sauk County Army-uniformed hitchhiker; Second Salem Witch’s Tower in Whitewater; the Book of the Dead at Anderson Library at UW-Whitewater; the Goat Man of Marsh Road near New London; the haunting of the Elk Lake Dam; and the location where Ed Gein’s farmhouse once stood in Plainfield.
Traveling around the world, Lewis has looked for sea serpent creatures of maritime folklore, such as the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland; and Pepie in Pepin Lake in Wisconsin. He has stayed in haunted castles in London and Deadwood, South Dakota. Lewis has interviewed witnesses who have claimed to see Big Foot, Moth Man, gnomes, elves, fairies, vampires and windigos. He has visited the Villisca Axe Murder House; and has traveled to New York to visit and experience in person, the Amityville Horror House.
No matter the experience, Lewis has somehow become involved in whatever folklore has fallen upon his ears. He has listened to the testimony of the eyewitness accounts, and he has visited the areas that hold the most energy. Lewis understands and believes in realms outside of the known world, although he will not claim to know everything there is to know. More experiences will likely be encountered during his lifetime, he said. Lewis is open to all suggestions and interpretations as people begin to reach a better understanding of what it is they think they just saw out of their peripheral vision.
Lewis brought several books for purchase after his presentation. His books are available to check out from the Johnson Public Library with a library card.
For those that missed the presentation and are interested, online orders are available for one of his several books. To place an order, to learn more about Lewis, or find out where his next presentation will be held, go to chadlewisresearch.com.
