It is interesting the buildings that people deem to be liable to haunting. They are often buildings associated with death like morgues or regular hospitals. Ok. This is understandable. Lots of people dying in one place, if you are going to find ghosts anywhere it will be one of those places.

However, other buildings seem to get picked not because of deaths occurring, but by virtue of the fact that people find them intimidating. Courthouses, jails etc. and, as it appears here, mental hospitals.*

Brandon Cochran, museum operations assistant for the historical society, said there have never been reports of ghosts or bizarre happenings at the building and bringing in a paranormal team is "kind of taking the pre-emptive approach."

What is it that people find so intimidating about these places? I can only conclude it is the residents. What sort of attitude does it show towards the mentally ill that this place is considered a possible haunting site?

Maybe I am being unfair and it is simply because the building is old and just looks unappealing?? Fine. Renovate it.

This worried me.

Chatham Oaks officials said there wouldn't be a problem with the paranormal team coming in as long as it didn't disturb residents.

These people are vulnerable, changes to routine and unfamiliar faces can cause a great deal of distress. You cannot assume that something that would not disturb a resident of a regular hospital will not disturb a resident of one of these places (especially a long term resident, set in their ways).

I do not think there are ghosts here. However, I am more worried about this shows about attitudes towards the residents than unthinking acceptance of the paranormal.

* The one exception to this is old public houses, which are fun places, however, the increased profits made by people visiting pleasant 'haunted' establishments (and owners spreading rumours accordingly) might account for this one.