Upon further inspection of some photographs taken at Shakers Cigar Bar, some customers seemed to have spotted something (or some one ) not initially visible to the naked eye.
I first got my start here as a model on the third floor during our busy season – Halloween season. I was impersonating Molly Brennan, our most famous brothel worker to ever work here. Her story has been heard by many, and it's quite memorable, but I didn't even know her story until I was up there acting as her. I didn't jump out or scare anyone in an inauthentic way, but I would saunter past them like they simply didn't exist. I was dressed in 1920s-style lingerie and a robe. I had my hair all tied up in a little bob. I was looking the part of the era, and I definitely spooked some people. Some thought I was the actual ghost of Molly! During my time doing this, I ended up hearing a lot of stories. I listened to every tour guide's narrative of the story, what they had seen, what they felt, stuff like that. I also sat in on many sessions with divining rods on the 2.0s and found that Molly is a very sweet spirit. She was killed rather young, but she still lives here and is often seen looking out the window because she likes to watch the world go by. She never really got a chance to experience it, if you think about it. She's probably the one who people feel sitting on the bed when they stay overnight. It was her residence, after all. Her lover, Patrick Harvey, who led to her misfortune and death, is often present upstairs as well. He's usually sitting in this specific chair. I didn't know he sat in this particular armchair until I was once sitting in it on Halloween. My whole body went cold. This was minutes before the tour guide went on to describe that he's almost always sitting there. I was just walking about in my costume, doing as I was supposed to be doing – but once I sat down in that chair, I was frozen. My hair stood up on end. I felt so uncomfortable. Once I felt this intense feeling, I slowly got up, trying to remain in character. It felt like it took all of my power and energy just to get up from that chair. - Michaela Mueller, Bar Manager
While it is true that many things can come home with you from Shakers, there are spirits that can follow you to Shakers as well… Those who have died, like our loved ones, do tend to stay with us, watch over us, or guide us from the ethereal realm. Because Shakers is as active as it is, spirits frequently find it easier to manifest and better make themselves known at this paranormal “hot spot.” We have many tour guests on our 2.0 Tour communicate with their departed loved ones using our divination rods, but my favorite story comes from one of Shaker’s séances. The first séance I ever attended was in October of 2018 at Shakers Halloween Séance Series. Over two nights, we had two different psychic mediums holding the séances, each bringing something different to the literal table and offering a unique experience. On night one of the Séance Series, several connections were made during the gathering. Personal ties to the departed were reaffirmed, as known relatives and friends of the participants came through the medium. The medium was impressive in her ability to grasp the messages being sent to her. One of the participants then spoke up, “My father recently passed away. Do you think you can contact him? Is he here?” The medium paused momentarily, closed her eyes, and took several heavy inhales. Her brow furrowed and she grimaced slightly, as if she was straining herself to tap into something, or perhaps grappling with unexpected revelations. “I’m sorry,” the medium finally told her. “I’m not getting anything. If he is here, he doesn’t feel like talking. He’s not coming through for me.” The girl was disappointed, but tried to shrug it off. “Sounds like dad,” she remarked with bittersweet humor. That moment, the song playing on the bar speakers downstairs changed, and the volume seemed to increase dramatically. It was suddenly loud enough that we could hear it clearly from the second floor. If I remember right, it was some Steely Dan song. Before the medium had moved on, the inquiring girl gasped, “Oh my god!” She began laughing and weeping at the same time. The rest of us exchanged looks with each other, eager to know the reason for her sudden outburst. “This was my dad’s favorite song,” she said. As it turned out, her father had chosen a different way to convey his presence. He may not have wanted to say much, but he certainly made himself heard. Sometimes, actions indeed speak louder than words. - Marley Decker, Marketing & Media Manager Have your own Shakers seance experience this Halloween Season at our upcoming Full Moon Seance Series with Isabelle Rizo. Friday, October 27th & Saturday, October 28th 8:00 & 10:00 PM in our haunted second floor brothel, The Redlight Room Seance. Midnight in our notoriously active cellar basement, Cellar Depths Seance Click here to view our tours and book your spot.
I’d only been working at Shakers less than six months, and already had my fair share of ‘weird’ occurrences. October had just passed, and after what felt like a never-ending string of conducting Ghost Tours, I often left my shift with an eerie feeling that clung to me like a persistent shadow. Initially, I wrote it off as having ‘spooky’ on the brain too much. You know how your job can sometimes invade your dreams? I assumed it was something like that. However, I’ve always been an overly-sound sleeper. Even with thoughts of ghosts lingering in my mind, once I drifted to sleep, I was out like a rock. I’ve never been one who’s prone to waking up in the middle of the night. I’m a heavy, heavy sleeper and it takes a lot to wake me. That is, until one night when something, or someone, jolted me awake in a state of sheer panic. After wrapping up my tours for the evening, I enjoyed my customary shift drink and headed home, my weariness weighing heavily on me. I decided to go straight to bed, and by one, one-thirty, I was tucked in for the night. Then, at around 3:30 in the morning, I awoke with a jolt, my heart racing, and a wave of anxiety washing over me. It felt as if something was gravely amiss. I sensed someone else in my room with me – like a dark, looming figure peering over my bed. I adjusted my eyes to look around the inky darkness, but there was no one there. I tried to convince myself that it was just work stress, or perhaps a forgotten nightmare that had frightened me awake. I made several attempts to drift back into slumber, but no matter what I did, the sensation persisted. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was someone standing right next to my bed. I finally decided to sit up, rub the sleep out of my eyes and flick on the lights, determined to prove to myself that my fears were unfounded and NOBODY was there. That’s when I noticed my cat, who was at the foot of my bed. Normally, he was a heavy sleeper, too, dozing away at my feet with his belly up. But now, he was wide awake – eyes fixed on the very spot next to my bed where I felt the ominous presence. His fur was bristling, tail stiff and raised, and ears pinned back – clear signs of feline fear. He saw what I had been feeling. Without hesitation, I scrambled out of bed, turning on every light in my apartment to illuminate every corner. I promptly turned on the TV and played an episode of ‘Friends’ in hopes that a feel-good, cheesy sitcom would bring some comfort to my unsettling night. The following day at work, I confided in Bob about the harrowing experience. His response was immediate; he handed me a big container of salt and advised me to sprinkle it throughout my apartment, specifically leaving lines of it at any entryway. He emphasized that the most crucial step was to verbally assert to the spirit that it was not welcome in my home and needed to depart. I followed Bob’s guidance, and from then on, the spirit did not trouble me again. It seemed to have heeded my plea and left, or perhaps it just got better at hiding. - Marley Decker: Marketing & Media Manager, Former Tour Guide
Michael Taylor is a nationally renowned Ghost Hunter known at Shakers for leading the exclusive Tour 3.0. This spine-chilling journey delves into the supernatural mysteries of the witching hour, from Midnight to 3 AM. This unique three-hour investigation allows participants a more profound and interactive spiritual experience, uncovering the eerie hauntings that lurk within the confines of Shakers Cigar Bar. Equipped with ghost-hunting tools such as digital voice recorders for capturing EVPs, infrared thermometers, EMF detectors, divination rods, and an array of other paranormal equipment, those brave enough can explore the enigmatic depths of this historic venue alongside experienced paranormal investigators. However, the Tour 3.0 is only available on a select few fateful nights each year. In March of this year, Michael Taylor graced the tour with his presence, conducting the chilling 3.0. What he encountered that night sent shivers down his spine as he reported the tour's findings to our marketing and media manager. "Molly reacted heavily to all the devices in the kitchen on the third floor. She was extremely responsive, as if she had been waiting for us. At one point, I distinctly heard the sound of crying emanating from the dreaded abortion room." Taylor's expression grew graver as he continued, "But the most disturbing revelation came when the paranormal devices on the third floor started going haywire. They indicated something unthinkable - the possibility of more than just memories lingering there. It suggested the presence of more cadavers concealed behind the very brick walls that surrounded us. Molly hinted at something even more sinister—a cryptic message of weapons stashed away in the ceilings, as if these spectral remnants were guarding secrets even in death." As he concluded his chilling report, Michael Taylor couldn't help but wonder what other horrors lay hidden within the walls of Shakers Cigar Bar, waiting for the next intrepid souls to uncover their spectral secrets during the witching hour. He awaits his next appearance to uncover more. Michael Taylor returns to lead another 3.0 Ghost Hunting tour this October - Friday the 13th and Saturday the 14th, 2023. Spots are extremely limited. You can secure your spot here. [The above report is from the 3.0 Tour in March, 2023. Featured photograph is from the 3.0 Tour during Halloween, 2022.]
Kelly was a tour guide with us about a decade ago. She was a hairdresser with vibrant, long red hair and a large bust. Kelly also practiced a form of witchcraft and had a fascination with the Occult and making “horror dolls.” She was a very good tour guide. She had a passion for her work. One Friday night, she had two full tours scheduled for 15 people each. Shortly after the first tour had gone into the cellar, the entire group hurriedly came upstairs and came to the front bar. Kelly, among them, was white as a ghost. Kelly normally did not drink; however, this night, she ordered and pounded three shots of tequila in succession. It took several minutes to discover what had happened on the tour, as so many people were chattering at the same time. It turns out that Kelly was using the rods and speaking about the spirit O’Connor, who likes to tug on women’s hair or caress their butts – especially blondes and redheads. It was then that Kelly’s hair was violently tugged to the side. It was pulled so hard that people describe seeing her hair dragged to that side and sticking straight out, as if someone had a hold of it. After drinking her shots, Kelly dutifully continued her 7pm tour upstairs in the brothels without further incident. Next up for the 8:30 tour, at about the same time that she was in the cellar, again everyone ran upstairs. This time (and it’s an all-new group of people), everybody was describing Kelly being pushed up against the fieldstone wall in the back of the basement and depressions in her voluminous bodice, which people described as looking as if handprints were on her dress. Kelly ran out the door. Many months later, Kelly came back into Shakers. She had cut her long, beautiful red hair and dyed it black. She swore to never go into that cellar again. She admitted that she was mocking O’Connor on the tours for being a typical, lazy, brutish, and ignorant Irish bastard who could not handle a live woman when the attacks took place. Careful what you wish for…
Upon further inspection of some photographs taken at Shakers Cigar Bar, some customers seemed to have spotted something (or some one ) not initially visible to the naked eye.
I first got my start here as a model on the third floor during our busy season – Halloween season. I was impersonating Molly Brennan, our most famous brothel worker to ever work here. Her story has been heard by many, and it's quite memorable, but I didn't even know her story until I was up there acting as her. I didn't jump out or scare anyone in an inauthentic way, but I would saunter past them like they simply didn't exist. I was dressed in 1920s-style lingerie and a robe. I had my hair all tied up in a little bob. I was looking the part of the era, and I definitely spooked some people. Some thought I was the actual ghost of Molly! During my time doing this, I ended up hearing a lot of stories. I listened to every tour guide's narrative of the story, what they had seen, what they felt, stuff like that. I also sat in on many sessions with divining rods on the 2.0s and found that Molly is a very sweet spirit. She was killed rather young, but she still lives here and is often seen looking out the window because she likes to watch the world go by. She never really got a chance to experience it, if you think about it. She's probably the one who people feel sitting on the bed when they stay overnight. It was her residence, after all. Her lover, Patrick Harvey, who led to her misfortune and death, is often present upstairs as well. He's usually sitting in this specific chair. I didn't know he sat in this particular armchair until I was once sitting in it on Halloween. My whole body went cold. This was minutes before the tour guide went on to describe that he's almost always sitting there. I was just walking about in my costume, doing as I was supposed to be doing – but once I sat down in that chair, I was frozen. My hair stood up on end. I felt so uncomfortable. Once I felt this intense feeling, I slowly got up, trying to remain in character. It felt like it took all of my power and energy just to get up from that chair. - Michaela Mueller, Bar Manager
While it is true that many things can come home with you from Shakers, there are spirits that can follow you to Shakers as well… Those who have died, like our loved ones, do tend to stay with us, watch over us, or guide us from the ethereal realm. Because Shakers is as active as it is, spirits frequently find it easier to manifest and better make themselves known at this paranormal “hot spot.” We have many tour guests on our 2.0 Tour communicate with their departed loved ones using our divination rods, but my favorite story comes from one of Shaker’s séances. The first séance I ever attended was in October of 2018 at Shakers Halloween Séance Series. Over two nights, we had two different psychic mediums holding the séances, each bringing something different to the literal table and offering a unique experience. On night one of the Séance Series, several connections were made during the gathering. Personal ties to the departed were reaffirmed, as known relatives and friends of the participants came through the medium. The medium was impressive in her ability to grasp the messages being sent to her. One of the participants then spoke up, “My father recently passed away. Do you think you can contact him? Is he here?” The medium paused momentarily, closed her eyes, and took several heavy inhales. Her brow furrowed and she grimaced slightly, as if she was straining herself to tap into something, or perhaps grappling with unexpected revelations. “I’m sorry,” the medium finally told her. “I’m not getting anything. If he is here, he doesn’t feel like talking. He’s not coming through for me.” The girl was disappointed, but tried to shrug it off. “Sounds like dad,” she remarked with bittersweet humor. That moment, the song playing on the bar speakers downstairs changed, and the volume seemed to increase dramatically. It was suddenly loud enough that we could hear it clearly from the second floor. If I remember right, it was some Steely Dan song. Before the medium had moved on, the inquiring girl gasped, “Oh my god!” She began laughing and weeping at the same time. The rest of us exchanged looks with each other, eager to know the reason for her sudden outburst. “This was my dad’s favorite song,” she said. As it turned out, her father had chosen a different way to convey his presence. He may not have wanted to say much, but he certainly made himself heard. Sometimes, actions indeed speak louder than words. - Marley Decker, Marketing & Media Manager Have your own Shakers seance experience this Halloween Season at our upcoming Full Moon Seance Series with Isabelle Rizo. Friday, October 27th & Saturday, October 28th 8:00 & 10:00 PM in our haunted second floor brothel, The Redlight Room Seance. Midnight in our notoriously active cellar basement, Cellar Depths Seance Click here to view our tours and book your spot.
August - December 2023
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