Have you ever sensed an energy that made you shudder, heard a pacing when you were home alone or felt a spirit in your presence?
In the theme of Halloween, fans of the holiday on the search for a fright came to Moonlight Winery, Rt. 724, Tuesday, Oct. 28 for a real experience with the supernatural.
Berks native, ghost historian and author Charles Adams III welcomed two tours of willing visitors to search for unbodied energy, with a glass of sweet wine in your hand.
The setting for the evening was exemplary, taking place on a warm October night, the haze of the sky blanketing a bright crescent moon. Armed with divining rods and his own intuition, it comes natural to Adams to inform the crowd, “This place is quite haunted” as soon as his tour began. “There’s evidence that there’s something out there and (there is energy that) swirls in here.”
Adams shared that he learned to use divining rods as a means to detect energies 40 years ago in Ireland, working his way through the Irish countryside to find spirits still present in this world.
Not a fan himself of the hoaxes and “haunted” attractions of the area, Adams shares the true history of the Ridgewood Estates property from its original owner’s fateful death to the businesses who occupied it afterwards. The farmhouse, built in 1811, was home to successful farmers Jacob Dick and his wife Susanna.
Adams led the group to the second level, to the spot where Jacob was murdered.
“It was known that they were a respected family until something happened to Jacob Dick right here,” Adams said, stopping in time for a train whistle to break up the silence of the night.
“Jacob died from ‘a bad shaving accident’ when in reality it has been confirmed that the owner of the home was murdered by his wife.” He was unfaithful to her, Susanna wanted him dead.
“It was orchestrated…,” Adams said. “This was a pretty deep cut.”
Whether you believe or not, an energy was present during the evening. The divining rods crossed one another when Adams walked across the spot Jacob died, and then again outside while he walked across three unmarked graves. Guests could try the divining rods themselves, only to see the same results.
“I wasn’t even holding them tight, they were moving in my hands,” said one participant. Many people felt energies, a tightness in their chest, or energies surrounding them. Adams himself felt a shortness of breath, and one guest even had to leave the premises because what she felt was too strong.
But it was during the second tour where one guest found herself with some real evidence. Standing behind the farmhouse, taking photos, one woman snapped three separate photographs on her smartphone where a woman is present. The images are eerie in themselves, but owner Tracy Smith has heard from guests that they see a woman in white in the home. Could this have been Susanna making herself known?
One thing is for sure, when Charles Adams III tells you “This is for real,” he is telling you the truth.
If you are looking for a real haunted house, a sense of the supernatural, or more history of the home, visit Moonlight Winery. Jacob and Susanna would love to join you for a bottle of sweet homemade wine.
Moonlight Winery is open from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and are located at 2039 Philadelphia Ave., Reading, Pa.
