Upcoming appearance on Bio Channel's 'Haunted Encounters'

Based on my recently taped stint as Boston's paranormal expert on the Biography Channel's "Haunted Encounters: Face to Face," spirits are serious business. The on-camera interview, which was shot in front of the Central Burying Ground and facing what I called Boston's “haunted corridor” near the corner of Boylston and Tremont Streets, explored the residual energy, or psychic imprint, left over from the 1897 gas-line explosion.

Yes, the "Haunted Encounters" crew managed to explore the abandoned subway tunnels connected to the country's oldest trolley station, Boylston Street. Fast forward to 1:16 on the video above to get a sneak peek of my appearance on the new paranormal show. Click here to read the Common Haunts chapter in "Ghosts of Boston: Haunts of the Hub," which gives the historical back story to the alleged hauntings.

"Haunted Encounters: Face to Face" premieres on Friday, Nov. 30 with an investigation of one my favorite regional haunts, the Lizzie Borden house in Fall River.

"Ghosts of Boston: Haunts of the Hub" author Sam Baltrusis's segment, called "Boston's Haunted Underworld," is tentatively slotted to air Friday, December 7 at 10 p.m. on the Biography Channel.

Click here for the lowdown and here to order my book before the holiday rush.

Harvard scare? Cambridge Haunts Halloween tours at 7 p.m.

Listen up, guys and ghouls. Forget Salem this Halloween and head to Harvard Square to get your fix of ghoulish ghost stories and ghastly tales of murder. Yep, our "haunted happenings" is only a T ride away.

Thanks to the overwhelming success of our Cambridge Haunts: Haunted Harvard Square Ghost Tour at 7:30 p.m. nightly, we've added additional tours starting at 7 p.m. on popular nights in October and ending Saturday, Nov. 3.

Explore the secrets of old Cambridge with a lantern-led walk through Harvard Square's historic haunts. Travel back through history to witness the early days of Harvard Yard, learn about the city's ghastly tales of murder and uncover the truth behind some of Harvard Square's more infamous ghosts. Which Ivy League hall is the Yard's most haunted? Who is Holbrook Smith? Which Harvard Square church boasts a ghost of a fallen redcoat? What is the Nightmare on Kirkland Street?

The 90-minute long haunted Harvard Square Halloween walking tour leaves nightly--rain or shine--through Saturday, Nov. 3. We also have additional slots available for our 7:00 p.m..

Our tour hotline is 800-431-7422. Contact us via email at info@cambridgehaunts.com.

Historical-Based Ghost Tour Explores Haunted Harvard Square

When it comes to spirits, fact is stranger than fiction.

Cambridge Haunts is based on actual historical tales of paranormal activity. With our haunted Harvard tour, we don't boast over-the-top costumes or embellish our ghost stories for entertainment value. We don't need the grandiose theatrics ... our stories are creepy enough. The reported, first-hand accounts are based on actual research ... and not made up tales from the crypt.

The reviews are in and our spirit squad is smitten with Cambridge Haunts.

Explore the secrets of old Cambridge with a lantern-led walk through Harvard Square's historic haunts.

Travel back through history to witness the early days of Harvard Yard, learn about the city's ghastly tales of murder and uncover the truth behind some of Harvard Square's more infamous ghosts.

Which Ivy League hall is the Yard's most haunted? Who is Holbrook Smith? Which Harvard Square church boasts a ghost of a fallen redcoat? What's the Kirkland Street Nightmare?

The 90-minute long Harvard Scare walking tour leaves precisely at 7:30 p.m. seven nights a week--rain or shine--beginning Saturday, Sept. 1 through Halloween. Thanks to the overwhelming success of our Cambridge Haunts: Haunted Harvard Square Ghost Tour, we've added additional tours starting at 7 p.m. on popular nights in October and ending Saturday, Nov. 3. Click here to reserve a Cambridge Haunts Weekend slot.

As far as haunted sites, the information was pulled directly from the "Ghosts of Boston: Haunts of the Hub" book which was released on Tuesday, Sept. 11. In addition to the ghostlore, the haunted Harvard tour boasts spooky tales from the crypt pulled from the darker side of Cambridge's history.

Click here to pre-order tickets for one of the creepier, and historically accurate, tours around this Halloween season. Yes, fact is stranger than fiction.

John G. says:  
It was a great tour - the best my wife and I have seen in Greater Boston. Rob did a fantastic job. Look forward to seeing you guys grow. 

Corey R. says: 
Just took a haunted tour with Hank. I really enjoyed the experience and Hank was a phenomenal tour guide (ask for him if you can!) Just the right blend of humor and terror made for an enjoyably spooky evening! After living in the area for three years I never realized how much history there was that I didn't know. 

Cambridge Day article here:  
The Cambridge Haunts: Harvard Square Ghost Tour isn’t all scares. There’s plenty of history in it without death and gore. Guides on the 90-minute Halloween-time tour will note such spots as the Old Burial Ground, which put paupers, former slaves and Harvard presidents side by side as early as the 1600s, and Christ Church, which dates back to 1758 and has played host to such figures as Teddy Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. They’ll bust myths as well, explaining why you should never touch John Harvard’s toe for good luck in Harvard Yard or be sure exactly where George Washington declared that The Colonies were at war with England. But scares and gore there are.

Orb or light anomaly? Spirited photo at the burial ground by Rob O.

Cambridge Haunts tour guides get into the spirit at OSMH

Book launch at Old South Meeting House

Want to get into the spirit? The Cambridge Haunts crew, on hiatus until Friday, September 21 to prepare for the super-busy Halloween season, enjoyed a spooky evening at the "Ghosts of Boston: Haunts of the Hub" book launch event at the Old South Meeting House.

Adam Berry, who was on assignment with Syfy's Ghost Hunters in Upstate New York and a paranormal resource for the Cambridge Haunts script, drove in and joined the festivities at what is considered the epicenter of the country's Freedom of Speech movement. Ben Franklin was baptized in this building. It's also the birthplace of the American Revolution.

Dan Blakeslee as Dr. Gasp

The tour's poster illustrator Dan Blakeslee, performing as the ghastly Dr. Gasp, kicked off the evening with his Halloween-inspired acoustic set. Comedian Jim Lauletta introduced author Sam Baltrusis.

Scott Trainito and Mike Baker, the lead investigators of Para-Boston, kicked off the panel discussion and gave a scientific spin on alleged paranormal activity in the historic building and chatted about their approach to investigating. Their findings? The Para-Boston team did record an EVP (electromagnetic voice phenomenon) of a male voice saying, "Who's there?" There were also first-hand accounts of chains rattling in the lower area of the OSMH and a bizarre recording anomaly coming from the building's steeple.

Adam Berry from Syfy's Ghost Hunters

Any evidence of the so-called Revolutionary War-era horse spirit lingering in the building? Naaaay .. or is it "neigghhhh." Of course, the EVP could have been an undead Mr. Ed. However, several visitors to the building have reported smelling hay and one woman who recently tied the knot in the Old South Meeting House said she had a close encounter with the horse spirit.

Ashley is your weekend guide

For the record, the Redcoats ransacked the building during the Revolutionary War and used it as a horse stable and riding school for British soldiers. George Washington walked by the building during the late 1700s and was extremely unhappy with how the Brits desecrated this important landmark.

Jeffrey Doucette, a tour guide with Haunted Boston, discussed his experiences with the supernatural in the Boston Common and Adam Berry, who was escorted to the stage by Cambridge Haunts tour guide and performer Ashley Michelle, chatted about a close encounter with a school spirit at his Boston Conservatory dorm.

Over the weekend, "Ghosts of Boston: Haunts of the Hub" ranked #42 on Amazon's Folklore & Mythology best seller list. Click here to check out the buzzworthy book. Also, there are several slots open this weekend with the Cambridge Haunts: Harvard Square Ghost Tour. Book now ... if you dare.

Cambridge Haunts tour guide Rob Oftring is your Wednesday host

Cambridge haunts featured in Harvard Square Ghost Tour

--Photos by Rob Oftring, ghost tour guide and photographer

Limited-edition Harvard Square Ghost Tour poster

Here's the limited-edition poster designed by illustrator/musician Dan Blakeslee and his Halloween alter-ego "Doctor Gasp" for the Harvard Square Ghost Tour running from Saturday, Sept.1-Wednesday, Oct. 31. Boo!

Upcoming 'Ghosts of Boston: Haunts of the Hub' book signings

There are a slew of book signings and events scheduled for September/October 2012. Here are a few highlights:

 * 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at the Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington Street in Downtown Boston. Launch event with special guests from the paranormal community. Tickets are $5 in advance here.

* 7-8 p.m. Thursday, September 27, 2012 at the Brookline Public Library, 361 Washington St. in Brookline Village.

* Noon-1:30 p.m. Saturday, October 6, 2012 at the The Book Shop, 694 Broadway in Somerville's Ball Square

* 7 p.m. Monday, October 8, 2012 at the Harvard COOP, 1400 Massachusetts Ave. in Harvard Square

* 7-8 p.m. Thursday, October 11, 2012 at the BPL's Brighton Branch library, 40 Academy Hill Rd. in Brighton. 

* 2-4 p.m. Saturday, October 13, 2012 at Johnny Cupcakes, 279 Newbury St. in Boston's Back Bay.

 * 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 18, 2012 at the Provincetown Library, 356 Commercial St. in Provincetown. 

* 7-8 p.m. Monday, October 22, 2012 at the Weymouth Public Library's Tufts Library, 46 Broad St. in Weymouth.

 * 2-4 p.m. Saturday, October 27, 2012 at the History Press booth Boston Book Festival in Boston's Back Bay.

* 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, October 29, 2012 at the BPL's Adams Street Branch library, 690 Adams St. in Dorchester. 

 * 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at Trident Booksellers & Cafe, 338 Newbury St. in Back Bay. 

 * TBD November 2012 at Paranormal Books & Curiosities, 627 Cookman Ave. in Asbury Park, NJ. Special preview book signing. 

To book the author, email him directly at sjbaltrusis@yahoo.com or contact publicist Katie Parry at the History Press. Check back for updates.