PIHA was created specifically for paranormal investigations of historic sites and museums that have a history of paranormal activity.
PIHA is made up of a small group of experienced, dedicated paranormal investigators who have a passion for history and an interest in the phenomena of possible existence of paranormal activity. Our approach, equipment and procedures for paranormal investigating is primarily based on the use of technologically advanced electronic equipment and scientific logic in obtaining evidence of possible paranormal activity.
The objective of PIHA is to create additional public interest in our nations fascinating history by means of obtaining evidence of possible paranormal activity. Once PIHA has conducted its investigation, we then evaluate any empirical data that we were able to obtain and publish our findings. PIHA is not out to prove or disprove the existence of possible paranormal activity, but to obtain and publish any significant evidence collected at an investigation and let each individual decided for himself what to believe or not to believe.
Many people who think that something paranormal exist, physics and logic can debunk. That said, occasionally PIHA obtains evidence that neither physics nor logic applies. When this occurs, we classify it as paranormal evidence and let each individual decide for himself what to believe or not believe.
While the validity of the existence of paranormal phenomena is controversial and debated passionately by both proponents and by skeptics, surveys are useful in determining the beliefs of people in regards to paranormal phenomena. One such survey of the beliefs of the general United States population regarding paranormal topics was conducted by the Gallup Organization in 2005. This survey polled about one thousand people, and found that nearly 75 percent of them believed in some form of paranormal phenomena and 27 percent did not believe in any.
About McMenamins Olympic Club in Centralia, WA:
The bawdy Olympic Club opened in 1908 as a "gentleman's resort," and had a barber shop, shoeshine stand, cafe, bar, card room, pool room and cigar counter, complemented by urbane furnishings such as Belgian crystal and Tiffany lamps. The elegant trappings were meant to coax loggers and
miners to leave their week's salary behind. And they often did. Next door, what began as the Oxford Hotel and New Tourist Bar was built in 1913 for railroad travelers. The hotel became especially noteworthy when in 1921 the train-robbing bandit Roy Gardner was captured in the hotel after escaping from federal guards days earlier and riding to Centralia on the cow-catcher of a slow-moving train. Jack Sciutto, the Olympic Club's original proprietor was crowned "King of Bootleggers".
McMenamins Olympic Club's Paranormal History:
Candles mysteriously lit; rearranged chairs in basement; falling ax; music drowned out by mysterious tune; a man's laughter has been hears echoing in the building. A ghost nicknamed 'Elmer' has been seen standing by the cast iron stove. It is thought that this ghost could be of Louis Galba who had rented a room at the hotel formerly on this site. The hotel burned in 1908, and Louis jumped to the ground from his second story room. He died a few months later of his injuries.
