The supernatural in our backyard: Author explores area’s ‘monopoly’ on the abnormal
Paranormal author and researcher Maxim Furek无毛视频檚 book, 无毛视频淐oal Region Hoodoo: Paranormal Tales from Inside the Pit,无毛视频� explores unexplained occurrences in the Chestnut Ridge counties of Fayette, Westmoreland and Indiana.
无毛视频淐oal Region Hoodoo: Paranormal Tales from Inside the Pit无毛视频�
Furek
While author and researcher Maxim Furek lives in northeastern Pennsylvania, the Luzerne County resident said this area of the commonwealth 无毛视频渟eems to have a monopoly on the weird and the strange.无毛视频�
无毛视频淚 think people in Western Pennsylvania need to be in awe of the fact that they无毛视频檙e surrounded by a whole lot of paranormal elements, whether they know it or not,无毛视频� Furek said.
His book, 无毛视频淐oal Region Hoodoo: Paranormal Tales from Inside the Pit,无毛视频� examines the Chestnut Ridge counties of Fayette, Westmoreland Indiana. From Bigfoot to UFO sightings, the 100-mile stretch of mountainous area is steeped in what Furek calls 无毛视频渨eird, inexplainable energy无毛视频� 无毛视频� be it unexplainable or cinematically-manufactured.
Fayette County residents may immediately recognize one location in 无毛视频淐oal Region Hoodoo,无毛视频� a beautiful Victorian-style house nestled in Perryopolis. This 1910 home was the fictional residence of Jame Gumb, or 无毛视频淏uffalo Bill,无毛视频� the antagonist of the 1991 psychological horror film, 无毛视频淭he Silence of the Lambs.无毛视频�
The book explores one of the inspirations behind 无毛视频淏uffalo Bill,无毛视频� real-life serial killer Gary Heidnik, who, in 1999, was the last person in Pennsylvania to be executed by the death penalty.
But, said Furek, the area无毛视频檚 entanglement with the peculiar extends beyond cinema.
无毛视频淢ore documented Bigfoot and UFO reports emanate from Chestnut Ridge than any other area in Pennsylvania or West Virginia,无毛视频� he said.
While the book无毛视频檚 tales are diverse, Furek said he took care to examine the possible causes with a critical eye.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 approaching the paranormal like an academic,无毛视频� said Furek. 无毛视频淸With] 无毛视频楥oal Region Hoodoo,无毛视频� I take a look at the paranormal and the spiritual, and I try to bring it a little bit closer to the scientific.无毛视频�
Some of the groundwork for 无毛视频淐oal Region Hoodoo无毛视频� took place during Furek无毛视频檚 research for his 2015 book, 无毛视频淪heppton: The Myth, Miracle & Music.无毛视频� In 无毛视频淪heppton,无毛视频� Furek investigates Pennsylvania无毛视频檚 1963 Sheppton Mine Disaster, in which three miners were trapped underground for two weeks after the coal mine无毛视频檚 roof collapsed. Two of the miners, David Fellin and Henry Throne, were rescued. The third miner, Louis Bova, was never found.
What Fellin and Throne would recount of their time trapped in complete darkness left a lasting impression on Furek, then a high school student.
无毛视频淚 was fascinated with Sheppton, as were a lot of other people out there,无毛视频� said Furek.
Fellin and Throne both shared intense visions of religious iconography: a stairway leading to a Golden City, angels playing harps and even the late Pope John XXIII. In his book, Furek wanted to write about their experiences through a 无毛视频減sychological lens.无毛视频�
无毛视频淔ellin and Throne had a symbiotic relationship that was sort of like the parent/child relationship无毛视频� [they] depended on each other,无毛视频� said Furek. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 an example of human survival.无毛视频�
Humanizing the subjects of these stories while maintaining a healthy skepticism is a balancing act. While many people are genuine about their experiences, Furek knows some are only interested in their 15 minutes of fame.
无毛视频淭he whole field of the paranormal and ufology has been riddled by people who are hoaxers,无毛视频� said Furek. 无毛视频淸They] just contrive all kinds of ridiculous things that take away from the scientific authenticity of our craft.无毛视频�
Furek also believes it无毛视频檚 important not to attribute everything we can无毛视频檛 explain to the paranormal; for example, the theory that aliens built the pyramids or the Easter Island statues.
无毛视频淭hat disrespects the sophistication and the awesomeness of early man,无毛视频� said Furek. 无毛视频淚 am, in that respect, a debunker and a nonbeliever.无毛视频�
Readers intrigued by Furek无毛视频檚 take on the abnormal can look forward to his next book, 无毛视频淔lying Saucer Esoteric,无毛视频� which he hopes to finish this year.
无毛视频淚 think it无毛视频檚 going to resonate because it takes a unique look at ufology through a bunch of different lenses,无毛视频� said Furek.
Furek will also be speaking at the WPA Cryptid and Supernatural Expo in Johnstown. Scheduled for Sept. 30, 2023, Furek will share the stage with others in the field, such as paranormal researcher Stan Gordon.
Ultimately, Furek无毛视频檚 experience studying Western Pennsylvania无毛视频檚 supernatural realm has been an enjoyable one.
无毛视频淚 can无毛视频檛 believe the acceptance I无毛视频檝e received in the paranormal and UFO community,无毛视频� said Furek. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 been a great ride.无毛视频�