3201 Centenary Blvd.
Shreveport, LA 71104
32.480633,-93.733764
Before I go any further, I would like to take this time to give massive props to my Northern Chapter. Led by John Combs and Bess Maxwell, this chapter is definitely my hardest working portion of Louisiana Spirits. I jokingly tell them that there are some small towns in the northern portion of the state where I think they have investigated every single house in the town. The chapter conducts an investigation almost every weekend. When they aren’t investigating they are conducting preliminary interviews, researching, or reviewing evidence. Their years of experience and wisdom has garnered them almost every historical location in the Shreveport and Bossier City area. Our next location has gotten so much attention and activity, our Northern Chapter decided to set up shop there, turning the basement into a makeshift office.
The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in Shreveport is one of twelve museums established by David and Marsha Karpeles across the United States. Founded in 1983, these museums collectively contain the world’s largest private collection of original manuscripts and documents. Relics such as stones containing Egyptian hieroglyphics and Civil War documents can be found at the Shreveport installation. The museum is open to the general public daily for free of charge. Construction on the building began in the 1920's. Due to the Great Depression, finances held up completion until 1938. This was the home of Shreveport's First Church of Science. The church moved into the building and held services in the basement while the building was undergoing construction. The building has been home to the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum for about the last ten years.
For years, Karpeles Museum has been rumored to being haunted. An interview of any of the staff there and you will get a plethora of strange experiences. Thanks to the in-depth investigations and analysis of our Northern Chapter, we are able to give a very detailed description of the areas of activity. A podium from downstairs was found moved onto the stairway leading up to the balcony, while no one was around to move it. Shadow figures have been seen near the stairway by the ladies room. This is one of the areas where an unseen presence is noted by both visitors and those working in the building. In the balcony, papers and documents pertaining to a wooden model ship are often found moved from the display table and arranged on the floor beneath the table. Additionally, staff have reported that several of the balcony seats fall down after being placed in the upright position. Attempts at replicating this failed due to the fact that the seats require a lot of force to put the seats down.
The auditorium area has been a hotbed for much of the activity at the museum. Those walking into this area often feel they are being watched from the balcony area. Heavy chairs have been found the next day to have moved in specific positions across the floor. Often times, the chairs are placed to where they are blocking the doorways. What’s most intriguing is that alarm systems, which include motion sensors, are activated every night. Whatever is causing the chairs to move on their own is doing so at such a slow pace, the sensors are unable to detect them. In the front foyer area, the main front entry doors are often found unlocked, after being locked and no one was around to unlock these doors. Business hours for the museum are shorter than 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, so these doors are often locked during these hours, but found to be open at some time later. In the kitchen, electrical appliances are often turned off and on, with no one in the area to do so. One evening, as the director attempted to turn off a lamp in the kitchen, she felt her hand pushed onto the hot light bulb, and still carries a scar from the encounter.
Even the grounds of the property have had their share of odd occurrences. Benches on the north side of the building are often found turned upside down. It is noted that benches in other areas are not disturbed. In one instance, John Combs, exited the front of the building, walked down the sidewalk and inspected this area which took about ten minutes. No visitors were at the center, nor were any observed while this inspection took place. The sidewalk area was in plain view. As he returned to the front of the building, a large flat rock was in the center of the side walk, and was not there ten minutes earlier. There is a gentle slope toward the building, but this rock, approximately twenty-five pounds, would not have rolled the five feet from its former resting point where it had depressed the ground on which it rested. It was also noted that the sidewalk area between the rock and the building showed no sign of dirt or other debris which would have been consistent with this rock rolling down the slope.
Last but not least is the basement area. Here, doors also open and close on their own, strange whispers have been heard and visitors have reported the feeling of being watched. As mentioned, instead of scaring our Northern Chapter away, they embraced the activity. They have conducted so many investigations of the museum the staff have been gracious enough to allow them to set up an office in this area. Here, our members have regular group meetings and prepare their investigation reports. What better place for a paranormal group to have an office than in a haunted building?
It is uncertain as to who exactly haunts the museum. No deaths have been reported on the property but perhaps a former employee of the building from its days at a church may stick around. Over the span of several investigations, our members have recorded multiple electronic voice phenomena that seem to warm up to them with each visit. This has always been a major reason that we normally conduct follow-ups of any location. History has shown that spirits do seem to become more comfortable with you the more you visit the area. If this is the case, then John and the rest of our Northern Chapter will soon be having tea and cookies with the resident haunts at Karpeles with as much time as they spend there!
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