The StoryKnotty Pine Pub is a quiet one-floor pub off of Union Turnpike in Wharton, New Jersey. It is owned and operated by Jimmy Hill, a kind-hearted and giving man. Upon walking into Knotty Pine, you can’t help but feel at home. With an air of respect and admiration for local and national heroes, the walls of Knotty Pine are decorated with plaques and badges of firehouses and police stations. As a matter of fact, owner Jimmy Hill even houses the helmet of a local fireman who passed away on 9/11. If you’re looking for a small hometown pub to spend the evening or enjoy a Giants game, Knotty Pine Pub is the perfect home away from home.
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The Claims
Throughout Jimmy’s years of owning Knotty Pine Pub, he has been left to wonder if his pub is visited by unseen guests. Patrons have claimed to see a slender gentleman standing by the dartboards and they have reported hearing a whistling noise coming from that same area. Employees have reported feeling uneasy and uncomfortable in a certain area of the basement that is used for storage. Employees have also heard thumping noises coming from the tiny crawlspace attic. But, perhaps the most startling experience was had by Jim’s daughter, Cyndi, who witnessed an apparition move behind the doors of the office. It has been Jim’s real desire to have his establishment investigated in order to determine if these occurrences are truly something paranormal.
The InvestigationCity Lights Paranormal Society conducted a brief, yet thorough investigation of this relatively one-room establishment on the night of May 25th, 2010. CLPS understood Jim’s urgency to find legitimate answers, so we paid close attention to all the claims he’d pointed out. While we were able to debunk a majority of these claims, a few strange experiences were had. At one point, Olivia and Lisa were investigating on the basement stairs. They threw a battery out into the basement and asked an entity to throw it back if it was there. In a matter of seconds, they heard a whooshing sound fly between their heads and then heard something small hit the tin stairwell basement doors above them. Joe and Ed had two experiences that stood out the most. While investigating in the bar, they were able to hear a series of thumping sounds coming from the attic. Upon investigating, they did not find anything that could recreate that sound. Earlier in the evening, while they were investigating in the basement, they set a flashlight on “sensitive” so that it would operate with the slightest touch. Multiple times upon request, the flashlight would turn on and off on its own. Unfortunately when they moved into the area with a video camera, the activity immediately ceased. After doing all that could be done on-scene, CLPS packed up the gear and left the rest of the investigation up to the equipment.
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The DebriefingCLPS was honored to have the opportunity to investigate Knotty Pine Pub and befriend owner Jimmy Hill. It was truly a pleasurable experience. Throughout our investigation, we were able to dismiss a few of the claims. CLPS believes that the uneasy feelings experienced in the basement are a result of EMF illusion. We were able to document high electromagnetic fields that would take their toll on anyone over a period of time. We also looked into the apparition seen through the office doors. On numerous occasions throughout the investigation, we were able to cast a shadow that fit perfectly within the office doorway. Cyndi was sitting at the bar with her back to the pool table when she saw the apparition. CLPS noticed that with all the light reflection by the pool tables, a person’s shadow can be manipulated to look like a shadow in the doorway of the office on the other side of the room. We did not hear any whistling noises, and we were unable to explain them. Most unfortunately, the thumping sounds heard in the attic were not picked up by any of our recorders. However, CLPS did walk away with a couple of interesting EVP clips. At this moment, it is difficult to say that Knotty Pine Pub is truly haunted, but we all believe that with further investigations perhaps we can shine a better light on Jim’s unseen phenomenon. CLPS looks forward to a long-lasting friendship with Jim and the Knotty Pine Pub!
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EvidenceRecorder 4, Jim's Office: "I don't care!"Recorder 4, Jim's Office: Unclear speaking |