Was The William A. Irvin Trying To Get Our Attention?

A lot of people believe that William A. Irvin is actually haunted. That's why they've turned it into a haunted attraction each year, and it's been a staple of Halloween in the Northland. But I experienced something on the William A. Irvin that was creepy and unsettling when the ship was nearly empty before the actors and the special effects were turned on.

Live Broadcast From Haunted Ship In 2008

Back in 2008, we had a live broadcast planned for our morning show on the Haunted Ship to promote the event. I went to set up equipment the afternoon before. I, along with an intern from our radio station, went to run extension cords and set up our mobile transmitter at the ship. We met a new DECC employee who was going to show us around and help us set up.

We Got Lost On The Empty Ship

I don't remember the specifics of how it happened, but we ended up getting lost because the DECC employee wasn't sure how to get around the "maze" in the cargo hold. The route through the cargo area was all set up for the Haunted Tours the next day, and some of the decorations were motion-activated, meaning you'd walk by and they would jump out at you.

It was particularly strange because it was super quiet, and that made it perhaps even more terrifying. Imagine going through a haunted attraction when you're not supposed to be there. My intern was so freaked out; she clutched to the back of my shirt and screamed the entire time while we tried to get through with the flashlights on our phones. (This was probably my first-ever iPhone at the time, and they didn't have the best flashlights.)

Chris Allen

That was terrifying, but it wasn't the creepiest thing that happened.

We finally got through the ship's hold and headed up to the area where we were going to set up to broadcast. That's when we heard three loud bangs down the hallway. I asked the employee if people were still setting up. Her eyes were wide, and she said we were the only ones on the ship. We didn't want to investigate. We were creeped out enough, so we shook it off and kept moving.

Courtesy of DECC / William A. Irvin

Psychic Medium On The Ship

The next morning, during our broadcast, we had a psychic with us who was going to tour the ship and see if there were any spirits still on the ship. One of the first things she mentioned was that the Captain was upset that the boat wasn't still operating on the water. She pointed in a direction, saying that he's over there and has been trying to get our attention.

The direction she pointed was down the same hallway where we heard the loud three bangs the previous day. My hair stood up. Coincidence? I don't think so.

To our knowledge, the psychic didn't have any previous information about hauntings on the ship. She also pointed out the presence of a sailor in the engine room, which backs up other stories of people witnessing a sailor who had died years ago in an accident.

Psychic Medium's Personal Message To Me

I've always been skeptical about psychics. She was trying to prove her gift to me, so she said she wanted to tell me something. She said to me, "Do you feel that?" At that moment, my hair stood up on the back of my neck. She went on to describe my grandfather, who had died when I was very young, and said that he had a message for me. "Don't be afraid to make a mistake, just do it." She went on to say that every time I was beginning to date someone, I'd find a reason that it wasn't going to work, and that I shouldn't be afraid of a relationship or getting hurt; just do it. That was the message from my grandfather, who died when I was 3 years old.

Later that day, I called my dad to ask him what he thought, and he confirmed that was something his dad always told his kids. Don't be afraid to make a mistake, just do it.

I got goosebumps.

The Message Stuck

A couple of months later, I went on a first date that went really well. We went on a second date, and then a third. She had a 1-year-old boy, and that frightened me. If this goes further, how's it going to play out? I was nervous about the situation, and a few months ago it could have been enough for me to end the relationship. But after the psychic's message to me, I decided to jump in with both feet and not worry about it and see what happens. I proposed to her about a year and a half later, and we've been married for 15 years now. I honestly can say I don't think it would have happened without that day on the William A. Irvin.