With over 100 years of accumulated history and plenty of historical artifacts that may or may not contain their own energy, the county museum has had its share of stories attached to it over the years. As such, it has become a magnet for paranormal investigation.

The group, Midnight Paranormal, from Benton was the last group to spend the night at the museum on Saturday, May 14^th, 2016. The group consisting of Stephen Parola, Pamela Parola and Stephanie McGrew spent four hours in the museum using cameras, EMF detectors and phone apps to try and wrangle supernatural energies.

An EMF detector went off for over an hour in the foyer and when queried as to who it was, the answer came back as “Tucker Hell”. The spirit Tucker later mentioned “prison” and “bars”. Apparently, Tucker may have been a smoker because the mentioned, “smoke, need”. Two other specific names that were mentioned during their investigation were Carter and a reference to “Kelly buried” while investigating the coal mine exhibit.

An invisible tour guide appeared to have taken over while on the third floor of the museum which mentioned “poison” while standing next to a pair of WWI gas masks. They were later directed to the storage room by the guide. A number of orbs were captured by the group in various locations in the building and it became apparent that not only the museum itself might contain something other worldly but that also the many artifacts donated over the years are thought to drag some residual spiritual energy with them as well.