Paranormal enthusiasts find something to believe in at third annual Haunted Harmony event
HARMONY — Josh Fries has encountered what he deems to be an otherworldly presence throughout the interior of The Harmony Inn, a quaint German-style eatery with a well-documented history of paranormal activity.
Armed with 13 years of experience in the field, he has investigated the old-style Mercer Street restaurant a half-dozen times as one of the founders of Allegheny Paranormal Investigations.
“We’ve showed them all the things that we’ve captured and the history we’ve figured out for them,” Fries said. “We want to be able to give them more and maybe even convince people that are undecided.”
His pop-up stand served as one of the main attractions during the borough’s third annual Haunted Harmony: Halloween for Adults, an all-day celebration Saturday, Oct. 25 that combined the eerie parts of Halloween with small-town charm.
Throughout the evening, Fries and his team showed off some of the group’s equipment, hosted live demonstrations and conducted a real-time ghost hunt.
Fries said he doesn’t mind making the drive to Harmony, largely because of what he’s uncovered thus far, including an unnamed stable boy that was confirmed to have died in the area.
“We want to show that there are authentic investigations out there and not everybody that indulges in this realm is fabricating anything,” he said. “We want to prove to people dealing with hauntings that they’re not crazy and help them understand that these things are real.”
From haunted investigations to live music and art galleries, the event gave visitors plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday.
At Bottlebrush Gallery, guests browsed creepy and creative works from artists including Missy Clark, Sally Rung and Dan Senneway and cast votes in the gallery’s popular Creepy Baby Doll Contest.
Clark’s body of work, affectionately called Baroque Bones, is especially distinct. She collects animal bones from multiple friends, including an archaeological diver from Georgia and an alligator hunter in Florida.
The Rochester native then spends countless hours crafting art pieces made out of those cleansed bones, with some of her more-detailed creations being a deer pelvis molded into a dragon and turkey claws turned into candleholders.
“I started doing stuff with resin and then I eventually started doing things with bones,” said Clark, who traced some of her fervent enthusiasm to being a designing tailor for 18th century clothing. “It just evolved because I’ve always been an artist, and I’ve always been a craftsman.”
The day’s ticketed centerpiece featured the Psychic Vincent Sisters at the Salon, where guests took part in a reception, gallery readings and a walking tour of the town’s downtown historic district.
Elsewhere, visitors could spot Vinny’s Haunted Hearses along Mercer Street, join the Harmony After-Dark Drum Circle or stop by ShuBrew Pop-Up Boo-Brew for local craft drinks. The evening wrapped up with The Harmony Inn’s annual Halloween party, featuring tarot readings, live music and a fire-dancing performance by Sirkus Dayz.
