Paranormal activity in Salina? Site's staff say Masonic knocking, strange lights evidence

While Halloween is when people are usually spooked or haunted, one site in Salina that is nearly a century old has tales of strange noises, images and even touches as people work and walk through its halls and rooms.

Host to activities that range from a 1927 concert by John Philip Sousa to open the building to USO events during World War II and now weddings, dances and more, dozens of stories could be told about the history of the Masonic Temple in Salina.

According to some, many of these stories live on in the form of spirits, ghosts or other supernatural beings that reside in the building.

"We have ghost tours and paranormal groups that come in (all the time)," said Mary Landes, executive director of The Temple.

Landes, who runs Salina Innovation Foundation out of the building, said she's been working in the building since about 2017 and has herself experienced things like whistling or knocking noises that she can't fully explain, though she believes paranormal beings that may occupy the building have no ill intent.

"I think the ghosts are happy that we're here," Landes said.

What sort of paranormal activity do people experience at The Temple in Salina?

Landes said that while she has experienced the unexplained at several times while in the building, most of the paranormal activity happens after events that are hosted there.

"We have security cameras (throughout) the building and that's when we really see things like orbs or things I can't explain," Landes said.

Orbs are images on camera thought to be a transparent ball of light that are believed to be the remnants or manifestation of energy from ghosts or spirits.

"Orbs look like maybe dust on a camera, but there's been times when I've seen them change size and they stop, hover and change direction, maybe circle around someone's head during a wedding," Landes said.

Other instances have been orbs or other things triggering motion-activated cameras in the building.

Landes said one of the more interesting things she's experienced has been the sound of someone knocking when no one is actually there.

"I was up on the sixth floor by myself and heard 'knock, knock, knock,' " Landes said.

Landes hasn't been the only one in the building to hear unexplained knocking.

"We have a new tenant ... on the third floor that came down and told me someone was knocking on her door," Landes said.

In both instances, three knocks were heard in a row, something that Landes said is important to Masonic rituals.

"When they had their ceremonies upstairs they would knock three times on the door," Landes said. "It's something we've all heard (here)."

In addition to strange noises and things caught on camera, Landes said there are times when people will tell her they've seen apparitions of people during and around events hosted by The Temple, particularly in the grand theater that spans multiple floors.

"There's a top hat man that they see up in the balcony," Landes said. "He sits right in the corner on the fourth floor."

One of the favorite places for ghost hunters and others looking to experience the paranormal in the building is the sub-basement, which goes down two stories from ground level.

Much of the inner workings of the building were or are housed there, including steam pipes and a decommissioned boiler that was fed by coal that was stored in stalls.

"The main thing down here is touches," Landes said. "You'll come down and feel something ... and then (maybe) see a shadow."

Landes said the sub-basement, with uneven floors and a history as one of the oldest parts of the building, is a favorite place for ghost hunters.

"It's really dark (with) no light coming in from outside," Landes said.

Professional ghost hunters bring in devices to detect ghosts, and this darkness works well for one such device.

"They'll project this pin light that kind of looks like a disco ball (to detect movement)," Landes said.

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Ghost tours are available at The Temple

Even though there is so much that goes on in the building, such as events happening and people in and out of coworking spaces, ghosts are one of the most popular things that people want to talk about when they talk about The Temple.

Landes said the building is open to having groups come in and experience the paranormal for themselves.

In addition to professional ghost hunters and paranormal investigators coming to the site on occasion, Jennifer Kuntz, the event coordinator at The Temple, takes groups around the building with a lot of knowledge about the history and paranormal things she and others have experienced.

"(She) just had a group a couple of weeks ago, on Friday the 13th," Landes said. "She'll do it just about any time she's available."

Those interested in booking an event or tour, including a ghost tour at The Temple, can find more information by visiting www.salinatemple.com, emailing happening@salinatemple.com or calling 785-201-3132.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina Masonic Temple staff say historic site a real Halloween haunt