OCR Text |
Show | be. 4 ' oan b. il EC "WASATCH COUNTY COURIER 6, 1999 pirits A Plenty In Midways Book Store Courier staff | de minute | wate up stairs. ‘Tt didn’ t feel Beppe at2 all or threatening.” | It would appear that the first visitors to Jan Sloan and Val Chin’s bookstore, Books and Beyond in Midway,a x few years back weren’t satisfied with the selection. “One person told us there’s a vortex here, off to the left . “When L would leave at night, the book would be on the shelf, and in the morning, it would be on the floor again,” said Sloan. The book in stability-limbo was ~ of our front counter,” said Chin. More than a dozen . people in the past two years have commented on the . ‘stores spirits. And a customer last year even ventured ~ into the storage area under fli house, following | instinctual feeling. aia # “Last yeat | was knocking it down,” she said. Sloan changed the books direction on the shelf, wondering if that might make a difference. The book still showed up on the floor. “Tt got tattered from being« on the:floor sO much, f ~ she said. believes that the house was built on ancient Indian - | Then Sléari consulted a friend about ce Witching “* Hour dilemma: “She told me they didn’t like the book,” ground. the books promi- nent shelf position and tucked it back behind a couple: : other books. That was the first time Sloan a6 Chin relied tok. there might be someone or something else sharing the old Bonner house on Midway's Main. Street with them. -SThe person. we were ee fea said there were spirits here before we moved in,” said Chin. Some theorize that it was the eight children born in the house’s mid- ‘dle parlor. The former tenant told a he had seen each one. and Chin that : Sloan and Chin think it makes for a nice story. es But others chink it is just part of ia accounts for a. - much bigger story. In the two years since Books and é Beyond first opened its doors, more than a handful of customers have wandered through their doors- inquiring about the ghosts. No one told these customers of the stores reported spirit presences beforehand; the customers sensed, felt oor saw something that a “response. | pa eA _ their, | We had a big long conversation.” The cus- ‘tomer asked Chin if the store was situated on a hill because that would be the kind of topography indicaMidway’s Books and Beyond has no i - peemaniert residents, unless you count the eight ghosts who live just behind this window in the old house’ s middle parlor. “Everyone who walks in Sas a good feeling; we'd like to ‘think it’s because we’re so magical,” says. Chin. Accommodating personalities aside, the customers are talking about the spirits. tive of sacred Indian ground. Chin thought about it and ~ realized that, yes, the hill is built on the start of a rise. Chris Peterson, fonder of the Wiah Ghost Hunters Society, a Salt Lake-based organization that boasts a : membership. of couple hundred ghost hunters worldwide, admits ghosts go. that Utah is extremely active, as far as - “Urahn’s tend to be a little tight-lipped about [zhosts],” said Peterson. “Once you get someone started: on it, Both Chin and Sloan agree that most seaple say that ee though, they keep talking.” | | the presences they sense are in the houses middle par-lor, where the eight Bonner children were reportedly People from all over send ee ghost stories and paraborn. All agree that the see at ae and Beyond are ‘normal photos to Peterson who-analyzes the photos and positive spirits. puts the best of them, those that are almost certainly ~ Gail Pibesitaes owner of Basket ef Gold in Park Cin, remembers her encounter with the spirits. Roesinger, who created the dried flowers for Books and Beyond, _spent some time by herself in the house prior to the stores opening. “When | went upstairs,” ’ said Roesinger, “T felt rey and éerie. It was s just a sense, but I felt it ghosts, on his website, www.ghostwave.com. gets hits from all over the world. The As far as paranormal activity goes in the Heber Valley, Peterson said that at this aa Utah Ghost ‘Hunters SPIRITS continued on page 21 Planning your Holiday Travel how at Don't be ‘a- cea to see what's’ new! “# Frightful Floaters “4 Unusual Candies and Candles Your travel plans are nota _ part-time hobby at Castle Travel —it is our full-time profession. The difference is experience. . Over 25 years dedicated to the —& Qe’ ES SFE el TRIN Z Yaar eiehiiorincl Exo" a ES place. ww bike stove. — Located mers in the heartnef Heber Valley Books © Cards —— The choice is simple. : | 4 Seasonal Jewelry — Finger Puppets — “¢ Halloween Dishes and Decorations travel industry, Castle Travel - Unique Gift Items Special Orders Book Searches Coffee & Teas “A Store With Book Sense.” is Heber’s qualified choice. _ Call Debbie, our Office Manager, today and see what quality expertise is really about! ust, 1984 BASKETS AND GIFTS INC. Mexico - Hawaii 52 West 100 North- Heber City, UT - Www. LJ Suctte te Jil ll Pal AOU NTAIN” Europe - Asia + Cruises 44 West 100 South * Heber (435) 654-4141 rockymountainbaskets. com — 435. 63/. 0554 site | 435-657-BOOK 103 East Main < Midway, Utah Monday-Saturday, 10 am—7 pm tanita said Sloan. Finally Sloan took away this woman was in the store, standing in the front. She asked me what is it about this house. I started to tell her,” said Chin. “She thought it was coming — - from underneath.” So Chin invited the woman to look . under the house, and down the woman went. “I kept selling books. She comes back up and tells me that she ae ree 2 hasan gy thaveht it was me at first,” Sloan said oe didn’ t think an i ae di Anne Rice’s book, The Witching Hour, but forSloan, | it was more than just a thorn in her side. --aeeEENEEenneemtanenmmenentts Jean Croasmun, DL | Octobe |