Ghost Hunting in the Old Bradley Block

Occasional Exit133 contributor and forum moderator, Davest hung out this past Saturday while Washington’s own version of Ghost Hunters descended upon The Seven-Oh-One restaurant in the Bradley Block to seek out the ghosts and ghouls. The buidling’s second floor is largely Suite133, so I (Whitney) decided to skip the festivities. I hope you enjoy his account.

It’s 2:15am, the lights are out and I’m standing under the vaulted sidewalk at the north end of Pacific Ave listening to the rain water drip off the mini stalactites overhead while I wait to meet the ghost of a 1903 call girl. It’s cold, it’s musty – I hope her name is Trixie.

At 8:30pm the crew of Paranormal Washington – Kelly Beem, Michelle Power, Scott Power, Jackie Blackwood, and Kim Varian – arrived and began their set up in the basement of one of the oldest buildings in Tacoma. Built in 1890, the Bradley Block has served life as office space, a gentleman’s hotel, low income housing and an architectural firm among many things. Rumors abound on the brothels that were run here over the early years. A plethora of different and interesting souls have spent time working and living in this historic place. Tonight’s quest was to see if any of the historic spirits have hung around.

It turns out that searching for ghosts and other paranormal activity is like setting up a stage for a theater except you don’t know if anyone is watching the show. Cameras, EMF meters, full spectrum sensors and miles of cables along with a computer and monitoring system. Many audio recorders and rolls of duct tape. Then you sit. Waiting. Watching. If they see something on camera that they can’t explain, they grab their hand-held sensors and cameras and go check it out.

In talking with the crew, their main goal is to try and find a cause for every anomaly they find. Turns out that motes of dust floating through the air look like little glowing orbs. They are hypnotic to watch. They are also not ghosts. They did seem to have an interesting conversation with something in the back room of the basement.

The final report will be out in a few weeks and we’ll let you know if there’s anything interesting. In the mean time, why not head to the north end of Pacific Ave and grab a bite at the Seven-Oh-One. Oh and ladies, there have been numerous reports of a ghost in the ladies room that likes to blow out the candle.