Ghostly encounters recalled at the Columns

Milford, Pa. — In an effort to appease the curiosities of many visitors and docents who have said to have experienced a strange “something” or other at the Pike County Historical Society’s Museum on Broad Street in Milford, the board recently allowed Mike Worden and Linda Zimmerman to do an investigation into the possibility of paranormal activity. Although the Museum Director, who has spent many hours there over the last nine years, has never felt a presence, there have been volunteers who have, and guests who have as well. Rumor has it that the Columns is the place where Juliette Peirce, wife of famed philosopher Charles Saunders Peirce, spends her time; caught between this world and another, perhaps attached to the last remnants of her possessions, which are housed at the Columns. Their story ended tragically when Charles, a morphine addict, died leaving Juliette to live in squalor. In the early 1900s Juliette lived alone in their family home, on the outskirts of Milford, known as Arisbe. A poor widow, she sold off personal belongings little by little to survive. Always proud and kind, Juliette put others first, helping the Community House raise money by doing tarot card readings with a deck of cards she owned that are said to have foretold the downfall of Napoleon. Results of the hunt So, what did the ghost hunters find? Linda Zimmerman had an encounter with someone she believes to be Madame Peirce. The spirit seemingly beckoned her, and eventually led her to the back room which houses the Peirce Family artifacts. The name “Beatrice” kept coming to Linda and she was surprised to see a picture of a woman named Beatrice Bailey hanging in the hallway leading to the room where she would find the picture of Juliette Peirce and realize she was the woman who she saw at the stairs. Interesting? Get this, something told Linda to go downstairs into the office and open a file. The file she selected included an old newspaper clipping about Milford and its ghosts and Ms. Zimmerman was referenced in it. That seems more than a coincidence, given that was probably the only file of thousands that might have included her name. The team of Worden and Zimmerman reported their findings in a phone conversation with the Museum Director. They still have many hours of audio and video tape to look at in the hopes of proving their findings further. They plan on returning to the museum for another hunt. We can only hope Madame is as accommodating the next time around. For more information on programming offered at The Pike County Historical Society’s Museum visit us online at www.pikecountyhistoricalsociety.org.