hangman-tours

Unexpected Guests

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 11:42:39 GMT

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.

[Photo 1] It Seems a few extra patrons wanted to join us during our holiday parties! This customer, Tonie K., popped into Shakers for a cocktail this past December. Tonie claims there are 3 people seen in the reflection in the mirror that weren’t actually there.

[Photo 2] The following two photographs date back to 2016. Still, once this anonymous customer had them appear in her phone “memories,” she noticed something she hadn’t when they were originally taken. In the first photo, there is clearly a woman in a white dress. If you zoom in, you can see the face of what seems to be an angry man to her left.

[Photo 3] The same anonymous customer sent us this one as well. In it, you see our 3rd-floor fireplace, where there is very clearly an orb where Molly Brennan’s remains were burned. The customer says her sister swears she can see a face on the right side of the orb. In her email to us, she says: “I travel to NOLA every year, taking tours and many pictures. These are the best and most clear I have seen!”

[Photos 4-6] This series of photographs were taken and sent just this past Thursday from tour-goer Lenny P.

Have any paranormal beings decided they were ready for their close-up during your time with us? Send us your photos and experience, and get featured on the Hangman Blog!

Submit your ghostly Shakers experiences and pictures to marley@shakerscigarbar.com

Halloween Costume Gone Wrong

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 16:35:28 GMT

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

Reelin' In The Years

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 18:50:11 GMT

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.

An Extra Companion

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 19:20:37 GMT

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

3.0 Ghost Hunting - Secrets Revealed

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 19:30:22 GMT

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.]

Unwanted Advances

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 20:39:34 GMT

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…

Black Tourmaline

Sat, 01 Jul 2023 20:43:57 GMT

One of our longtime tour guides, Ciji, is a crystal healing practitioner. She carries crystals with her for a myriad of reasons and uses, including protection.

Ciji has reported feeling super negative energy near the cistern, located in our cellar basement, for a few weeks. She's been getting lightheaded, dizzy spells, and headaches.

On Thursday, August 3rd, 2023, she placed a piece of Black Tourmaline in front of the cistern during her pre-tour cleaning. The Black Tourmaline crystal stone meaning is connected to its deep pitch-black color. Because of its dark coloration, this stone has an intense energy and an ability to absorb negative energy without compromising its own energy . Because it can absorb negativity, it can both protect and cleanse you and your environment. Like most protective crystals and talismans, it is said that they will break once they've reached their capacity for absorbing bad energies.

Ciji's first tour came at 8:30pm. During that tour, she found her crystal had been kicked away from where she had put it and broken clean in half. The cistern is not an area with foot traffic outside of the tours. Staff would have no reason to walk over there, so it's improbable that someone had accidentally stepped on it, and it's very difficult to break crystals on your own.

This is the second time that one of Ciji's crystals has broken at Shakers.

The Robert Doll

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 13:57:57 GMT

Ghost Tales, 2021.

Many unusual things take place in the Universe, relatively few which we can understand.

Among the islands in the sum of Florida, the most infamous by far is Key West. No bucolic backwoods for ex-paths hiding from their ex-wives and the tax man here…

Key West is alive and well known to the international players set for its don’t-see, don’t-tell attitude and its succession from the rest of Florida by the conch-heads who reside here. Unknown to many is that Key West has a celebrated history in many naval battles, even before the Pirates of the Caribbean arrived on the scene. Early settlers discovered hacked-apart native bodies to be hanging in palm trees from myriad Indian nations fighting for possession of this fertile island. Cuban refugees have long searched out Key West, and brought their culture – food, cigars, and music – with them. Long before prohibition arrived to destroy the mainland, Key West was known as a destination for rum-runners of myriad contraband. During the high days of the 1980s, Key West was known for mounds of square groupers washing up on their shores, as Colombian drug mules threw their cargo of cocaine into the Caribbean to avoid DEA and other federal authorities’ capture. Festering under the surface was a storied reputation for quirky residents, necrophilia, grave-robbing, and vice. You still see the cutouts of select buildings showcasing carved hearts signifying the brothels, wine bottles signifying alcohol, and spades signifying poker games. All the while, the local police and politicians turned a blind eye to the not-so-subtle advertisements for nefarious business dealings.

Then, there is the rich history of ghosts and the paranormal. Among the most unusual stories is that of the Robert Doll, and boy, do I have a doozy of a story about ol’ Robert here. Robert the Doll is perhaps the most unique of the myriad inhabitants of Key West, of which there are many characters. Of course, you may suggest that as Robert is a three-foot-tall Doll, he cannot be an inhabitant. However, I promise you many people would disagree with that sentiment, including myself. You see, Robert resides in the East Montello Museum on Key West, which was a former military battlement, and has its share of ghosts. There are numerous signs posted around the Robert enclosure, some including from the then-governor of Florida, Jeb Bush. As Robert resides behind his glass, a la the Mona Lisa, people come to take his picture on a regular basis – but, perhaps, they should not.

You see, Robert was gifted to a little boy named Robert Otto by his servant, who detested the entire Otto family… According to legend, the doll has supernatural abilities that allow it to move, to change its facial expressions, and to make giggling sounds. Some versions of the legend claim that a young girl of Bahamian descent gave Otto the doll as a gift as a relationship for a wrong-doing. Now, you typically don’t think of the Bahamas being a hotbed for Voodoo, but that, indeed, is what this particular young lady practiced – and apparently, she practiced it quite well. Other stories claim that the doll moved Voodoo figures around the room and was aware of what went on around him at all times.

Robert Otto, the artist, married and moved to Paris. He was obsessed, though, with the reuniting with his doll. At one point, the family moved back to Key West, where the Robert Doll was kept waiting, and people reported seeing his image walking in the attic at night, pacing back and forth, waiting for his master to arrive. Robert Otto died in 1994, his wife two years later, and the Robert Doll was donated to the East Montello Museum. Still, other legends claim that the doll vanished after Otto’s house changed ownership a number of times after his death, or that young Robert Otto triggered the doll’s supernatural powers by blaming his childhood mishaps on that very doll. According to local folklore, the doll has caused car accidents, broken bones, job loss, divorce, and a cornucopia of other misfortunes. Museum visitors supposedly experience post-visit misfortunes for failing to respect Robert.

I had my own significant mishaps after taking pictures of Robert without asking permission. I received a gash in my forehead when only an ex-girlfriend was with me, and I was spurting blood throughout the entire museum. A little bit later in the day, on the way out of Key West, still bleeding, we came upon the bodily remains of Cuban raft people at the Bahia Honda Beach. We missed our flight back to Milwaukee, I had my head coshed in on a bus, I left my car keys and my glasses in a rental car, and upon returning home, I found my car in my driveway to have numerous flat tires.

My takeaway here is that there is something going on with Robert, something very profound of a supernatural presence, and that you should not lightly take his presence. You should not take his picture without asking permission. But, by all means, you should visit Robert, and you should enjoy. Cheers.

- Bob Weiss, Owner

Creepy Photo from The Archives

Tue, 02 May 2023 14:05:39 GMT

The above picture is one of our most apparent photographed apparitions to date.

The photo was submitted by a tour guest back in 2018. The girl you see in the picture wanted to do the Shakers Original Ghost Tour for her sixteenth birthday. In the background of this photograph, you will see a very obvious figure peering in at her from the window.

This level of our building is located on the third floor. It is impossible for someone to be peering in this window from outside.

Mirrors, windows, photos, water - most reflective surfaces serve as a portal to another world. Those who believe in ghosts believe them to be gateways to the other side.

While it's up to interpretation as to what or who this figure may be, in the zoom-ed in image (below), it seems to us as if it might be the spirit of a young boy. Several people have reported the ghost of a little boy here at Shakers, including one of our current tour guides and one of our guest mediums.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments on our social media below...

Depth + Darkness

Mon, 01 May 2023 10:21:42 GMT

Those of you who have taken our Shakers Original Ghost Tour are likely familiar with our mysterious cistern located in our cellar basement. The cistern holds many airs of mystery - one of them being that the consistency, color, and clarity of the water changes often. Sometimes it's quite clear and you can see down into the well, other times it's murky, cloudy, or hard to see through. At times, it looks solid, or gelatin-like, and cloudy-white.

Last week, Tour Guide Paris reached me on messenger with some photographs she took.

"Marley!!! The cistern was black last night..."

Paris told me that she noticed on her tour that the cistern was dark black - darker than she had ever seen before. In addition, she said that there were very many bugs all around it, which she had also never seen before.

More pictures below.

Can't Escape It

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 14:33:51 GMT

I was doing a tour for a Bachelorette party. All women. The photographs were taken by a bridesmaid.

In this picture (above), I was standing to the left of the shot.

While in that spot, I kept feeling my hair get pulled – hard. The women on the tour saw me continually reacting to the aggressive hair pulling. No living human was in this shot when it was taken, but a figure showed itself in the picture. It appears to be a man.

(Those of you that don’t yet know this – Ciji seems to get a lot of attention from our resident basement spirit – a man named O’Connor.)

In the other picture (below), it was simply a photograph of an empty hallway taken on the walk back upstairs from the basement portion. After it was taken, nothing showed… at first.

The dark figure you see didn’t show up in the pic until two days later.

- Ciji (Tour Guide)

Peek-a-boo!

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 14:29:19 GMT

The above photo and following text is a customer submission. The above photograph was taken on a tour Sunday, May 28th.

"I think I caught something in the mirror with me on last night's Ghost Tour. I was the last one out of the bathroom [part of the tour] and I was alone... or so I thought.

Before the tour, I used the bathroom and felt scared. I tried to get out of there as quick as possible. At that point, I didn't know about the history. This photo was taken during the tour, and I felt intrigued - but not scared. I'm not sure what the image is, but I think it looks sort of like a young child in the reflection. I'm 5'2" so it's got to be at least a few inches shorter than I.

I'll be sure to be back. It was a great tour!"

- CIN (tour-goer)

Editor's Note: For those of you who've not been on our Shakers Original Ghost Tour, our women's bathroom is occupied by a resident spirit named Elizabeth. Elizabeth is the ghost of an 8-year-old little girl.

The Doctor Is In

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 10:38:37 GMT

Saturday, April 29th.

I had about four different tour groups that night. Two people who weren't in the same group and had been strangers prior to their tour both saw shadows on the third floor - in Molly's room with the bed. They looked at each other and freaked out at the same second. On the same tour, on the B-Floor, one of those people (male) had asked if anything had happened in the area where the sewing machine is. He reported that it felt extremely "charged" to him.

Later that night, on my next tour, I was giving my B-floor presentation while standing in the archway that separates the rooms. My group was standing near what was the doctor's office, where forced-abortions and other traumatic procedures took place. In the middle of speaking, I was cut off by a clear as day man's cough. It came directly from the spot that the man on my previous tour said the energy felt "charged."

I was startled when I heard it, and thought it was a group member that had snuck past me at first. Yet, my entire group was standing in front of me. I asked them if they heard it, and it turns out that I was the only one. It had me so flustered that it threw off my presentation for a moment because I was thinking, 'what the hell just happened?'

That was the first day I hadn't really spoken much on the doctor or what happened in that room, but I think that will be my last time doing that!

Later on, I used the divining rods on the second floor to try and get some answers. I was confused why I male spirit would be upset and demanding my attention on the second floor. I thought that it was possibly the doctor since I didn't mention him much in my segment that tour. It seemed like that cough was him going, 'ahem - tell them what I did up here!" Sure enough, through my series of questions with the rods, it was confirmed that it was the doctor. He also crossed the rods "yes" to me asking if he was worried about being forgotten about. Clearly, he wants to be acknowledged for the heinous medical procedures he performed.

- Paris W. (Tour Guide)

Color-Changing Hair

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 14:42:04 GMT

Tour guide Ciji has had a lot of various experiences here at Shakers, both on and off the clock.

Ciji recalls giving a tour for a husband and wife a short while back. With the first portion of the tour taking place in the cellar basement, Ciji didn't take note of what color the woman's hair was, as it is dark in our cellar anyway. As Ciji continued her tour upstairs, she swears she noticed that the woman had beautiful, 'Julia Roberts-esque' red hair. The woman expressed how connected she felt to our third-floor resident spirit, Molly.

“It could be because Molly had gorgeous red hair like you do!” Ciji said.

“My hair’s not red…” The woman replied.

Ciji looked at the woman again. Her hair was a very dark brown – almost black.

On another occasion, Ciji was giving a 2.0 tour and a gentleman was using the divining rods to communicate with the spirits. He was in the midst of talking to the ghost of Sam, the doorman. Some of the other tour-goers communicated with Sam using the rods as well, but with this particular gentleman, every time Sam would cross the rods to answer “yes,” the handles on the dresser in the bedroom would tick.

These are only a couple of the endless stories from Ciji and other Shakers Tour Guides. Check back on the Hangman Blog regularly for more Ghost Tales. Happy Haunting...

Click here to hear Ciji tell a few of her tales on Shaker’s TikTok!

Fire's Getting Hot Upstairs on Beltane

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 10:45:17 GMT

After having some heavy activity on my tours this past weekend, I wanted to stay upstairs overnight. My fiancé and I spent the night on the third floor - the spirit of Molly Brennan's penthouse suite.

I was really excited because I'd been wanting to do this since before I even started working at Shakers. I have always felt a strong connection to Molly's spirit. We couldn't have picked a better night, so I thought, as it was Beltane and the veil between the living and the dead is said to be as thin as it is on Halloween. Being very spiritual, my fiancé and I knew we were in for an experience.

We hung out on the main level for a while with a friend until around midnight. We headed outside to grab our stuff, came back to the bar to do a nightcap shot, and off we went upstairs.

We were both super excited. Almost right after getting up to the third floor, I turned on my Spirit Box (a paranormal research device used for spirit communication by detecting EVPs) and immediately started getting some strange stuff. The first word the spirit box picked up was "seventeen." I asked Molly if this was her speaking.

"Yes."

"Were you murdered when you were 17?"

"Yes."

My fiancé felt super drawn to the room with the blue lighting, so he went in there and smoked a cigar. I asked the spirits if there were any other A-Girls that lived up there besides Molly. I was using the divining rods in addition to my Spirit Box, and the rods crossed for "yes." I then asked for a name. The Spirit Box recited, "Lucille." I asked if she was the A-Girl that threw herself out of the window in an attempt to take her own life. I just had a feeling that she was the one. The rods crossed, "yes."

"Did you live here after Molly Brennan?"

"Yes."

"Did you experience Molly's ghost while living here?"

"Yes."

I sensed that there was another presence in the room, so I tried to address it to see if it would talk to me.

"Please get out," the Spirit Box said.

I asked if this was another A-Girl (yes) and for a name. "Florence." Through a series of questions and answers using both devices, I learned that Florence was apparently the A-Girl prior to Molly. She didn't want to talk anymore, so I couldn't get many more answers from Florence. In our short conversation, she seemed disturbed by our presence.

The Spirit Box spoke again, "There's three of us," and then, "My body is around here." It repeated that several times. Knowing the history of the building, I figured perhaps I was talking to someone who was buried in the cemetery before the building was built over it. Or, perhaps it was Molly, Lucille or Florence.

I was feeling very tired after all this. I put the rods away and we got settled for bed. My fiancé turned off a couple lights and we just kind of laid there, not sure what to expect. I actually wanted to sleep, so I was trying to force myself to drift into slumber. I was right on the verge of falling asleep when my toiletry bag, sitting on top of Molly's dresser, falls off the dresser all by itself, jolting me awake. This really frightened me, because I placed the bag in the center of the dresser specifically so it wouldn't fall off - yet, somehow it still managed to. This promptly woke me up, and both my fiancé and I felt like we couldn't sleep at that point. Any second either of us began to doze off, we heard a shuffling, or creaking, or a noise from somewhere in the room that was trying to keep us awake.

I truly believe this was Molly's spirit trying to keep us up, maybe so that a more malicious spirit couldn't harm us.

Around 2:45am, it happened again. I'm on the verge of falling asleep when I wake up with a HUGE pit in my stomach. I started sweating bullets and feeling extremely lightheaded. I told my fiancé about it, and he said he was feeling abnormally warm, too. The room itself was cold. We were right by the windows which - typical for an old Milwaukee building - are not well-insulated. Cold air was leaking in right next to us.

This feeling is something I'll describe as primal. This was a fight-or-flight type of feeling, and I was feeling flight. Almost like a feeling of intense dread. A feeling that if we didn't leave, something terrible was about to happen, and soon. I felt delirious, but like I only had a few minutes to get out of there before things got extremely bad. I legitimately felt like my safety was at stake here. I told my fiancé that we needed to leave immediately. We packed up and quickly headed out. The second I got out into the fresh air on the street, I felt better.

I've had experiences with ghost several times in my life, but this was just so strange. I've never felt so unwelcome in Molly's space before, and I felt so disappointed that we couldn't make it through the night. Maybe we just picked too active of a night due to the thin veil, or maybe we made something very angry somehow. I'd like to spend the night again someday, but I'm not sure if it'll be anytime soon!

- Paris Wolf (Tour Guide)

A Bit About Bob

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 14:49:16 GMT

Owner Bob and Marketing Manager Marley sat down to have a long discussion about Ghost Encounters, Paranormal Occurrences and Spiritual Experiences.

Upon talking about his upbringing, Bob told us a few stories about how he noticed his connection to the otherworldly.

20:25-21:17

“Suddenly I’m this kid who has these otherworldly experiences, and that’s taboo alright. My grandmother was a Greek Spiritualist. Every Sunday, there was a line of women that would be there. I’m talking about 10-20 women that would come to see her, and she would read their teas or coffee grounds or whatever and tell them what’s going on in their life. Just like the tarot card readers here, or something else, right? People need reassurance. So she was that person and she had that ability with people, and I have had that since I’ve been a little kid. I find myself in places all the time. I don’t go to places that are known for psychic activity. It’s often, you know, I’m off [work]. I don’t necessarily go looking for things. I know they’re going to find me anyway.”

- Bob Weiss (Owner)

Ghost Tour Footage

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 15:51:46 GMT

Video (above): This video was taken on a Shakers 2.0 Tour. One guest was using our house Dowsing Rods to communicate with spiritual entities while the tour guide filmed. Dowsing Rods are a divination tool used to indicate the presence of water, minerals, and (yes!) even spirits. Users may ask surrounding entities 'yes' or 'no' questions and use energy to move the rods in response. The rods crossing over one another, as seen in the video, gives the reply, 'yes.' Beyond that, though, it seems that the might of whomever spirit this tour-goer was speaking with emitted SO much energy that it began moving the tool hanging in the background as well.

Two Photographs (above): These two pictures were taken in immediate succession by a tour guest. It appears to be a red-headed woman moving in front of the camera - almost caught in completely different lighting than the rest of the photo. However, there was no on one the tour with red hair that evening, and the tour guest claims that nobody (herself included) moved during the pictures as she took them "within a second of each other."

Photograph (above): What you see here is a picture of our Cistern located in the basement. A cistern is a very deep well filled with water, and ours was likely a primary location for disposing bodies during the Capone-era. The water in our cistern mysteriously changes in clarity - sometimes being crystal-clear and sometimes appearing so dark you can't see into it at all. On the night that this photograph was taken, the water appeared murky, white and cloudy, as shown. The tour guide also reported a very peculiar smell and uneasiness.

Two Photographs (above): These are two photographs taken by tour guests on two separate tours. Both were taken of a framed photo located on the third floor. In each one, an outside apparition seemed to appear (circled). These figures are not located in the original photograph, nor are they a reflection of anything in the room.

All of the media included in this article were taken by tour guests at Shakers Cigar Bar. Each photo was taken on a tour with tour guide Ciji, each on separate occasions. Aside from text and circling/pointing, the images have not been tampered with.

Pushed To The Edge...

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 16:01:32 GMT

It was my husband, a friend of ours, and myself taking a tour. We were on the 3rd floor in the spirit of Molly Brennan's room and listening to her story. Then, something very disturbing happened to me that I wasn't expecting.

To preface, I am a very bubbly person and full of life. I always have a smile on my face and always make the people around me smile and laugh. All of a sudden, I got really sad and wanted so badly to cry. I had an intense feeling of missing my family.

This devastating sadness in me continued to increase. It became so overwhelming that I was feeling like I wanted to jump off of the top of the building. I'm not normally suicidal, but I basically wanted to jump to my death.

I told the group that I was with what was going on with me, and every single person told me to get downstairs immediately. They were practically pushing me back down to the main level. Once I reached the last stair and stepped back into the bar area, I felt relieved to regain normal feeling. I was back to myself as quickly as I had seemingly left. I was happy, yet confused.

After speaking with the guide and staff, I learned that there were once women who worked in the brothel who would become very depressed and miss their families dearly - similar to what I was experiencing. Come to find out, that at least one (if not more) of those girls had reached a point in her depression where she took her own life by jumping off of the building.

It was a very heavy experience...

- Michael K. (Tour Attendee)

Editor's Note: This is not the first time that we have had someone experience similar feelings. You can read another account resembling this one here.

It is not uncommon for people to experience feelings - either emotional or physical - that mimic those of which residents of the past had once felt.

Want To Play A Game?

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 16:11:20 GMT

Last week, while we were receiving countless reports of activity at Shakers, we received this part of a video sent in via email.

A customer tells us that she was using the ladies room when this balled-up piece of paper towel rolled under the door and into her stall. The sender requested to remain anonymous, but reported that she was the only one in the bathroom at the time.

That little ghost girl Elizabeth sure likes to play, doesn't she...

The Door Opens...

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 16:18:58 GMT

Shakers has been particularly active as of late – even more than usual. I, myself, have been getting bombarded with messages, pictures and video footage from staff and customers alike alerting me of the strange occurrences the past several day.

Then, last night, it happened. The ominous white door in the cellar basement – notorious for its sinister energy and dangerous warnings from psychic mediums – unlocked itself and opened. The door stays padlocked shut due to the various warnings, reports, and strange vibes it emanates. It has been marked with an “X” on the front as a protection spell.

Here is what we know about last night…

“The safe moved again tonight…

Actually, on the tour prior, the white door aggressively swung a bit and loosened the padlock hinge. Quite an active night all around…” [See Photo 1]

- Kirsten W. (Tour Guide)

“We were on the tour last night with Kirsten. I apologize if I miss spelled her name. She suggested if we caught anything in pictures to send the pictures to the bar email.

While on the tour, I could definitely feel energy, had moments of claracognition and could smell certain things that were not from this current time. I had a strong feeling in the bathroom. It was especially strong when I walked between the sitting area and into the bathroom. I was taking a picture of the photos. I was the only one in the bathroom. I took this photo after the tour was over.

Please show this to Kirsten. She might remember me as the Burn nurse who smelled smoke outside at the start of the tour.” [See Photo 2]

- Jodi N. (Customer)

“Two days ago on my tour, a girl was walking next to the door and one of the screws had fallen out. Didn’t think too much of it. But that was two nights ago. Today, all of the screws are out during my tour. And the door is just wide open. Bob and I went down to investigate and try to get rid of any bad spirits. So we’ll see what happens.” [See Photo 3]

- Leah M. (Tour Guide)

“So the white door was open, not by us. The lock hasp was ripped out of the frame. Kirsten had issues on Sunday night and I had a conversation with the spirits and burned sage. Yesterday Leah came to get me to show me the door. I had another, firmer talk, burned tobacco and sage.” [See Photo 4]

- Bob W. (Owner)

The Tour Guiding Experience

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 17:49:11 GMT

I think the hardest part about being a tour guide is people asking, "What have you experienced here? How many spooky things happen here? What's the most haunted part of the building? What's the most haunted time of year?"

So many things happen to so many people all around this building. It's difficult to think of the top stories to tell. I could tell them my stories or I could tell them other people's stories. I almost feel like, it's never scary enough just hearing about it. Some people really want to be just horrified by it. I've had my experiences, but I think sometimes it's just one of those things where it has to happen to you for you to really get the full feeling of it. Which is why I recommend doing the tour multiple times.

You have different experiences on each tour. You also get different guides. You could do the Original Ghost Tour and then the 2.0 Tour. Similar tours, but also very different because you get to speak with the divining rods and talk to spirits on the 2.0 tour.

I've had it happen on a couple 2.0 tours where girls will come on the tour and say, "Oh, we didn't expect for anything to happen on the tour. We're not believers." But then they use the divining rods, and try really hard to make sure they don't move - and they do anyway. They'll freak out, or even run out of the tour.

I don't want to say it's a job well done, because it's not my job to scare people. It's my job to inform and entertain. But... I kind of feel like it's a job well done.

- Leah M. (Tour Guide)

Hear more of Leah's stories on Ghost Tales - A Shakers Milwaukee YouTube series.

You can view Leah's episode here .

The Muscles On That Ghost!

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 18:00:19 GMT

“I had something happen on one of my tours somewhat recently, and I thought you may want to add it to our tales of spooky occurrences.”

On 1/21/23, I noticed that the energies of the building were a bit more active than usual. I told my tour group to pay attention to this, as they may notice something out of the ordinary. When we approached the safe in the cellar, I explained its strangeness (as usual).

As we moved along to the back of the basement, I discussed the occurrences and happenings that I typically do on my tours. Nothing particularly out of the ordinary occurred back there during my tour.

As my group made their way back toward the stairs to head up for intermission, two ladies continued to ask questions and walked slower with me behind the rest of the group. Then, the three of us paused around the safe. I was stunned to see that the safe had moved since we had last seen it less than 10 minutes prior. The women, intoxicated, weren’t paying attention, so I pointed out how it had shifted. I told them that the safe had moved more than I had ever seen it since this past summer…

It had shifted angles and moved itself right next to our haunted and much disliked “white door.” After mentioning this to the ladies, my heart immediately started racing. In the back of my mind, I knew to keep my eyes off the door and what may remain beyond it. I informed the women to head up the stairs urgently, as I could sense the shift in the surrounding energies weighing down on me as if to say, “Leave the safe. Go back upstairs quickly.”

I snapped a quick picture and resumed my tour thereafter. On the following tour that night, I saw the fresh and bold scratch markings on the cement floor where the safe had just moved.

For those who don’t know as well, the safe is very heavy and makes noise when it moves. However, no one in my group heard this sound when we were just 15 feet behind it in the back of the basement.

The energy of the night remained heavy – as that second tour watched one of the overhead lights turn off for a moment and right back on up on the “B Floor.” I asked my guests to make sure that somebody hadn’t accidentally flipped the switch. I also asked them if they felt an unusual weight in their chest on either the 2nd or 3rd floor, and many of them agreed.

(These photos are of the safe before and after it moved.)

- Kirsten W. Tour Guide

The Mystery Of the Sinister White Door

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 18:11:41 GMT

The following is an experience from Shakers guide, Leah. Listen to Leah tell this story and more on our latest episode of "Ghost Tales" on Shakers Milwaukee YouTube !

(Click here for full video)

I get a lot of people on my tour asking about the door that’s downstairs by the safe. People say, “We’ve heard this about it or that about it, what can you tell me?” All I can say is that I’ve never heard a full story. It’s all very vague. You know, like some hecklers on the tour or something being disrespectful to the spirits, and then the door will shake or hit them. They’ve been known to never come back to Shakers again… or something like that. Could be why it’s locked. Some people have claimed to see a girl behind it... a dog... a portal to hell... what have you.

When I interviewed to work at Shakers in 2020, I had never done the tour before, but I was hired. After I was hired, I did the tour. Our tour guide [at the time], Michelle, took me down to show me what I would be doing.

We’re down in that cellar portion of the tour, and I’m standing over by the safe near the door. After hearing her talk for a little about the safe, I start to feel like I’m being suffocated. Not just a little short of breath – I feel like there is a hand around my throat. I’m not able to breathe. I almost fell down to my knees. Eventually, I walked a little bit away past the safe, and I told Michelle.

“Hey, I just felt like I was suffocated. Is that normal?”

She’s like, “Oh, yes, that’s nothing we haven’t seen before,” and then she told me all about the door.

I was, you know, a little concerned, *giggles* because nothing like that has ever happened to me before… or since. My mom’s a nurse and she’s like, oh, you had a heart attack. No, I’m in my mid-twenties and fairly healthy… I can guarantee this was not a heart attack.

How I felt like I was being suffocated, I cannot tell you. I think something or some-… yeah, something or someone, decided that they saw a newcomer and did not take too kindly to me being down there.

- Leah M. (Tour Guide)

The Story of the Safe

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 18:21:34 GMT

Video Narrator: "So, there's a safe that sits at the basement over at Shakers Cigar Bar - a haunted bar over in the walkers point district of Milwaukee. Legend has it that the safe's never been cracked. There had been many attempts to do so by, like, expert safe crackers from all over, including a federal agent that used to go there. FBI agents unsuccessfully tried cracking that safe for years.

Owner, Bob Weiss, stopped trying to open the safe after a psychic told him it was cursed and dangerous. So, you know, that's pretty startling to hear.

People have reported the safe being at different locations than the last time that they were down in the basement, so, yeah. The thing has been moving on its own.

The building and the land it sits on has a very unique history, and was once a cemetery back in the 1800s. And, uh, not all the bodies were able to be found for relocation. Al Capone and his brother once owned this place back in the roaring 20's, and all types of murders have taken place here. One of Jeff Dahmer's bar hops.

Fascinating Ghost Tour at Shakers that breaks down all the events that have taken place there. You can even rent an apartment upstairs for a night. Most people can't make it through a whole night, though."

This video was submitted by Alex Midence, who came to Shakers with his crew last year to conduct a paranormal investigation and collect video footage.

Sticky back here, huh?

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 18:24:36 GMT

I was closing the bar and I let [the server] go home early that night. While I was standing behind the bar by myself, I heard very clear footsteps behind there with me. They sounded like heavy boots that were sticking to the mats with each step. It was a very clear sound of someone adjusting their footing.

I was spooked, so I closed up really fast. A couple of days later, I was stocking the bar with a new girl whom I was training. Our stock is in the basement, so we had to go down there to get stuff. At one point, we went down there together so I could help her find some things. The lights were off, so I told her that while she’s stocking, she can leave the lights on and doesn’t have to turn them off every time she heads back up.

She told me she hadn’t turned the lights off.

- Kathleen R. (Bar Manager)

Mo(u)rnings Hurt

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 18:28:24 GMT

After having started as Shaker’s official videographer, Bob had suggested I spend the night in the 3rd-floor penthouse. I was so excited – staying overnight in such a notoriously haunted space was a thrilling opportunity that I could not wait to jump on. I was so excited, in fact, that I agreed to share the experience with an absolute stranger.

I was having some drinks at Shakers one night when a girl I had just met and had been conversing with told me that she wanted to do the overnight stay in the Dead Hookers Bedroom. Who’s to say if it was my eagerness or the number of drinks I’d had, but I told her I wanted to do it with her.

As Shakers approached bar close, we headed upstairs for our haunted slumber party. We chatted both amongst ourselves and with any present spirits in the room using the divining rods. At one point, we heard three knocks on the window behind us on the couch in the sitting room. It was not a windy night. There was another instance where we were sitting on the bed, and heard loud stomping right at the end of the bed – like someone was having a tantrum, or simply trying to get our attention.

Several strange occurrences and glasses of champagne later, we decided to try and get some sleep.

I am not the type of person to have too much trouble sleeping. I don’t typically wake up in the night at all. But that night, it was different. I had very broken sleep all night – waking up several times and feeling this weird pressure on my chest. After about the third time, the other girl and I realized we were BOTH in-and-out of sleep, waking up at the same time each time.

Morning came, and that’s when the real terror happened. Down the hall, near the bathroom, I heard a heart-wrenching cry of a man.

“Did you hear that?” I asked my new friend. She said that she did.

We heard this deep, moaning sobbing. You know how it hurts your soul to hear a grown man in your family cry? Like your dad, or your grandfather? It made me feel that same way. It shook me to my core.

After inspecting the whole floor, we found no one there.

We were spooked – but curious, so we took our sweet time getting ready to leave. At about 10 AM, we heard footsteps coming up to the third floor. It sounded like a woman wearing heels. We assumed that it was most likely one of the employees coming to wake us up and let us know that we needed to leave soon. No one arrived. Maybe they were just getting into work and walking around.

Eventually, we gathered our things and exited through the bar. No one was there, either.

- Brooklyn W. Shaker's Videographer

Spirits May Tease, But At Least They're Polite

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 18:34:42 GMT

The following is an email sent to staff by Shaker's owner, Bob, earlier this week:

"Active Happenings This Week At Shakers"

Hello,

On Wednesday afternoon, I was at Shakers at about 2:00 PM.

I was in the kitchen making a Cajun-based stock. After adding Cayenne Pepper, I sneezed loudly – as I am one to do with some chilies in the air.

Immediately, I hear a female voice say, "Bless you!"

Knowing I was alone without any music on, I quickly turned around and seeing no one, said, "Thank you."

I can still hear that voice if I close my eyes.

I'd suggest a woman in her thirties-forties.

When I was talking to Michaela at the end of the bar, I felt someone tug my hair.

I thought perhaps a server had snuck in and was teasing/saying hello. I turned to see who it was... no one was there, and I asked Michaela if there had been someone behind me.

Nope.

I am told that Kathleen had an experience this week at close, where she could hear/sense someone walking on the bar mats next to her.

Keep your senses sharp this week, I suspect there is more paranormal activity to come.

Please share your stories with Marley, or directly to Ghost Tales.

Thanks,

Breaking Dishes

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 18:41:37 GMT

"My name is Valentino. I’ve been working at Shakers for about three to four months now.

When I first started working here, me and one of my associates were in the dining room. There was no one in the back room, where we do our dishes and everything. Above the dish sink, there’s a ledge, and on that ledge there was a jar. If anything falls [off that ledge], it would just go into the sink. But instead, something pushed the jar so hard that it smacked into the ground and shattered all over the place. We went back there. There was no one there. It was completely empty.

This happened when I was only probably two weeks into working here, but after that - probably like another week later - I was walking downstairs in the basement. At one of the doors that they say is haunted, I heard something scratch against it.

Nothing really happened after that, but it was definitely not normal"

- Valentino, Shakers Staff Member

Pop Goes The Protection Stone

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 18:45:01 GMT

The evening after the Full Moon - Sunday, September 11th:

One of our tour guides, Ciji, usually keeps a protection crystal in her brassiere. Ciji is extremely spiritually sensitive, so she keeps the stone on her person at all times. Especially when working her shifts at Shakers, she never forgets it. It even helps her clarity remain when the energy in the cellar basement or other floors turns heavy.

The day after the full moon felt a bit "off" to everyone, as mentioned in our last blog post. The weather had experienced a drastic shift that day, and many staff members reported it feeling especially heavy at 422 S. 2nd Street.

Two of our employees felt particularly uneasy, and suspected that there was an energy that was attacking the both of them.

"It was so weird. Ciji had told me that she was having a weird experience one day and had a bad headache. I was fine when I came in, but after a few hours my stomach started to hurt and I had to sit down. It got worse, and then I started to feel light-headed. My ears rang really loud, and I almost passed out. I sat in the alley for a few minutes and felt better. I came back in and within minutes, I was sick again - ears ringing, light-headedness, nausea. I got really pale. I was shivering and sweating at the same time. I had to lay down in the alley until I felt better. After the 2nd bigger episode, I was fine the rest of the night. I had some bouts of not feeling well, but nothing like what had happened earlier. It was just that day, nothing more after."

- Tanya (server)

Ciji was reached out to for comment, but reported that she was still shaken up from what transpired that day, and was not ready to talk about it.

After the fiasco was over, Ciji noticed that her protection stone had broken; Split in two. Oftentimes when protection amulets break, it means that they've absorbed so much energy that they can no longer contain it, and will no longer work to serve you. It seems as though whatever had attacked them last night was so powerful that it had expired Ciji's crystal.

An Atmospheric Shift

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 18:50:11 GMT

If you live in the area (Milwaukee, WI), did you notice the drastic change in weather right after the night of the full moon?

Sunday, September 11th at 1:53pm, the day following the full moon:

"I've always had prophetic dreams for as long as I can remember. I'm covering a serving shift today and I just woke up from a dream in which I was at Shakers and was cleaning the back bar to get ready to open when Bob came over to me.

He said, 'Just so you know, it's supposed to storm pretty heavily today, so don't go into the basement and mess with any divining rods or divination tools of any kind. And keep an eye on the cistern, but DON'T touch it.'

I woke up a minute or so later and checked my phone. The weather was beautiful and clear last night and earlier, but now there's supposed to be a chance of flooding. I find it very odd."

Later that evening, 8:01pm:

"I just came from [the basement] with Kirsten, and I definitely felt a little more airy in the head. I've been seeing so many figures out of the corner of my eyes all day today - like, the most I have ever seen - and when I was down there I swear I saw a red figure. When we were in the very back, I felt like someone kept holding the back of my head.

When we were starting to head upstairs and we passed the white door, I just stopped for a minute and felt this heavy sadness. It was like there was a whole collection of people behind the door wanting to get out. We kept walking, and paused by the steps so I could see if I felt anything else. Then I started connecting with a female spirit.

When I've been in the basement before, there has been a female spirit whom I've connected with that has sung in my ear or throughout the basement. Usually, it's only when I'm alone. At first I assumed this entity to be her (maybe it was), but when I connected I heard, 'She lost her baby.' I had a vision of a woman weeping. I also felt a hand on my upper arm, just holding me.

We came back upstairs and I stood by the humidor. I felt the cold hand on the back of my shoulder. I'm still feeling it now.

I set my phone down to go check on a table, and when I returned the voice-to-text button was up and it typed out the words, 'just text Michaela already.' I promise no one was around my phone, no one touched it - the audio to text was still going when I came back."

It proceeded to storm that evening.

- Kaleigh L. Shaker's employee & tarot reader

The Dead Hooker's Bedroom... A Haunted Penthouse Stayover Q&A

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 20:19:21 GMT

Did you know you can stay the night in our third-floor haunted penthouse?

A spiritual awakening ghost adventure for the spiritual adventurer. Experience the vestigial rhythm of the Victorian Era. Our top-floor haunted penthouse, a former Capone Brothers Prohibition Era Brothel, and the scene of the brutal hacking murder & dismemberment of an ill-fated bordello girl.

She quite enjoys slumber parties - though you may not get much slumber.

Here's are some FAQ/Fine Print to give you a better idea of what's in store...

Q: Is it really haunted?

A: Yes, This is a genuinely haunted attraction, and is intended for mature audiences only.

Although there have been numerous sightings/experiences of spirits at this location, there is no guarantee you will experience any paranormal activity yourself, as the spirits have their own sense of timing.

Q: Can I stay here as a hotel room, while in Milwaukee?

A: This is not a hotel room, your stay is at your own risk as this is a journey into paranormal investigations and discovery and you likely would not sleep well.

Q: How many can stay in this large space?

A: This experience is intended for two (2) adults, no more or it becomes a party and we charge you!

Q: what happens if I get scarred and who is responsible?

A: In the event of paranormal emergency or spiritual inhabitation; RUN! screaming into the night.

Any resulting injuries, (either psychic or physical), or death, (due to any causes) are wholly and incontrovertibly, at your own risk & responsibility.

Neither management, nor staff, is in any way responsible for your safety.

Q: Can I bring my dog, ‘cuz we’re really close

A: This is covered in the Whoring 20’s Tour…No pets allowed, nor welcome in the Penthouse be they guppies or ponies.

Q: What if I think I’m a rock star and smash stuff?

A: Then you’re got to pay like a rock star. Prepare for it - you may be charged for any damages, missing objects, and a cleaning fee.

Q: If we cannot check in until after the last tour, when must we check out?

A: Check-out is by Noon, or you will be assessed a fee.

Q: What if I’m an enterprising young lady who would like to entertain a favorite client in your Brothel?

A: That’s Former Brothel…..However, then he may as well pop for a bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne at Shakers and some Absinthe as well as for the pied-a-terre. Cheers!

Stay for a while... we double-dog dare you to make it through the night!

To reserve your night of adventure, 414 272 4222 or

www.hangmantours.com

Afterlife Cat-Fight

Sun, 03 Jul 2022 20:24:36 GMT

"Bob and I had just left Shakers, and only five minutes after, Tanya and Angelicia (staff members) pointed out that there were lots of glass and fragments of wood spread out across the patio. They looked up and saw one of the upper windows to the third floor completely knocked out.

Mind you, Bob and I were sitting on the patio exactly where the glass had fallen. The bazaar part is that nobody heard anything. No smashing, no scraping - nothing. That window had been sealed, locked, bolted, painted over and in-place - yet it fell out seamlessly.

[We thought that, perhaps, it was from it being so windy outside that evening. However, as we pondered that explanation, we realized that if it had been from the wind, the glass would have broken inwards and the mess would have been on the inside of the building. We then decided to investigate further.]

Tanya and Angelicia went upstairs to ask Molly with the divining rods what happened. Molly said that she had gotten into a fight. A fight with one of the other spirits.

"Was it one of the resident spirits?"

The rods answered yes.

"Was it one of the men?"

No.

"One of the B-Girls?"

Yes...

The following day, I was curious. I wanted to know what other information I could get from the situation. I went upstairs and after asking Molly a series of questions, I learned that she had a very brief disagreement with a B-Girl spirit. This particular brothel girl was mocking Molly for her position as the A-Girl. She mocked [the gentleman she had as] her sponsor and called her a 'gold-digger.'

Molly confirmed that she threw this girl out of the window - ergo the fallen glass - and the fight ended right then and there.

I haven't the faintest idea how she could have knocked out that entire window pane. All I know is that she must have tremendous physical and spiritual strength..."

- Kirsten W. (Tour Guide)

Need a Hand?

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 20:48:39 GMT

One of our guides, Ciji, had a friend of hers come on a tour this past Thursday, 8/11/2022. The following are pictures taken that night, along with Ciji's explanation of events that transpired afterward.

"With the handprint... [my friend] and I were driving home. I was driving. We were almost halfway there when I saw it. She said she saw it appear a few minutes before I did, but was trying to ignore it and praying it went away. But then I noticed it.

The handprint is on the inside [of my window], and looks different than the other handprints on the car. My oldest added one on the outside to compare later. I tried to see if maybe I was shifting and had done it by accident. I moved my finger to duplicate, but the angle would have been too awkward for it to have been me because I'm short, plus it seems quite a bit bigger than my hand. No one else drives my car. If I push on anything to get out, it's usually the steering wheel.

[My friend] also felt like her bracelet was removed. It was in her seat when she got out, and she said she hadn't touched it."

- Ciji S.

Tour Guide

"Pushed" Out of Skepticism

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 20:51:51 GMT

Tour Guide Kirsten had an event on her Sunday Ghost tour at Shakers the end of July 2022 which she told [our owner, Bob] about afterwards. [Bob] then checked the CCTV cameras for an overview.

A man asked for [Kirsten] at the host stand and said that [the owner] told him he could take a tour on [him]. Naturally, [Bob] had no knowledge of him. As Kirsten was the tour guide that night, it was an easy addition to her mid-sized group.

Now, on the tour, in the cellar the dude was unable to look at the safe or the white door with the cross upon it, or to listen to her presentation.

Those of you who have been here, know the story of the haunted safe and the portal behind the white door with the reappearing sideways cross upon it.

This man stood to the east of the tour group while in the cellar and, literally, by himself, leaning against the massive walk-in cooler as he was attempting to light a cigar.

As Kirsten was talking about the safe and the psychic energy within it, the dude fell over - seemingly unconscious - and, fortunately, slid down the face of the cooler so that he was not injured in the fall.

Kirsten and several people [went] to his aid, getting him up and toward the exit. He mumbled about going outside - as he could not stay in the cellar [because] the energy was too thick for him.

Kirsten continued with her tour.

As I understand it at the conclusion of the tour, she asked about his whereabouts; he was not seen walking outside of Shakers and she went to search for him in the upper floors of the building. She found him on the very top of the building muttering to himself.

As she got him down the spiral staircases from the rooftop, he told her that he felt compelled to jump off the top of the building. [It's] as if whatever Spirit was there was pushing him further toward the ledge...

O'Connor & His Bone for Blondes

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 16:59:39 GMT

This story comes from a customer submission, and includes her experience from a recent Shakers 2.0 Tour as well as a photograph taken by her sister-in-law (above).

You may notice in the picture the strange green/blue light that looks like a vertical series of X's. According to this customer, that light would move around when she would play back the "live" feature on her phone. In other pictures of the same spot, it doesn't appear at all.

In the paranormal world, X's have been known to have a variety of meanings. You may notice the X written on the white door, for example, which was placed there by a medium as a protection spell. X's and crosses also represent expansion (used in mathematics for multiplication/addition, or it’s sprawling out in all directions), religion(used to represent virtue & eternal life in being employed as an abbreviation for Christ, the cross as a symbol for Christianity), or evil (a swastika, censorship, or the skull & crossbones portraying death). A curious dichotomy, indeed. Spirits can also tend to leave X-marks places, because it is an easy yet discernible marking to make. It could be a sign ('look here - X marks the spot!'), or even a warning.

While you play with that unusual little idea in your mind, the following is this tour-goers experience on her tour that night...

"When we were in the basement and Britney, [our guide], was talking to us by the safe, my back was turned to the hallway leading to where Capone’s 'office' was.

I have a little blonde in my hair, so it may have been for that reason, but my ponytail that was rested on my shoulder was pushed off it! Now, there was obviously no breeze over there, so I knew that it couldn’t have been from that.

Shortly after that, as Britney talked about [the ghost of] O’Connor, she pointed me out because I have a larger chest – which was noteworthy because she told us he’s been known to touch women’s breasts and bums sometimes. Maybe 5 minutes later, I felt something brush against my lower back. I thought it was my husband, but when I turned around, no one was standing behind me.

At that time, I had mentioned that O’Connor was messing with me. I asked a few questions using the divining rods, and when I asked him where he was in the room, he was right behind me. The second that the rods turned to point; I got an ice-cold chill on the nape of my neck. That night was abnormally hot in the basement, so I was sweating pretty badly. When I felt that icy chill, it was both refreshing and exciting at the same time!

Once we went up to the brothel’s A-Floor, we learned about Molly’s story. During that time, I got this overwhelming heavy feeling and became nauseous out of nowhere. When another tour member mentioned that he felt like the room had a heavy presence, I knew it wasn’t just me.

I then asked Moly a few questions with the [divining] rods, and she came through quite strong!

My experience on this tour was phenomenal, and I’ve been recommending it to everyone that I’ve talked to! My boss now wants to make an office outing of the tour, so I will be coming back and I can’t wait."

- Jordan B. Tour-goer

Ghostly Party Crashers...

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 21:02:11 GMT

June 22, 2022. There were a few photographs taken in front of Shaker's of staff members enjoying some sunshine and drinks on the veranda.

What none of us noticed were these two unexpected guests that appear to be taking their own peak of the goings on from our 2nd floor window.

These nosey spirits were pointed out to me by one of our social media followers, who's impressive attention to detail beyond the distractions of the rest of the photograph prompted him to zoom in and send me this close-up via messenger.

Looking at the close-up, it seems as though there is one figure on the right side of the window that appears to be male, and another peering over the light-up ghost logo that appears to be female.

This capture was accidental, and we're glad it was pointed out to us before we took down the original post!

Get Featured on the Hangman Blog!

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 21:05:36 GMT

Have you had any paranormal experiences of your own while at 422 S. 2nd Street?

Seen something in one of your pictures that doesn't seem quite right?

Send us your stories and/or photographs, and we'll publish it here on our blog!