Spiritual Historians of Paranormal Evidence (Spiritual H.O.P.E) Society in 2007

Cincinnati Observatory in Mount Lookout evokes thoughts of constellations, historic architecture, and the world's oldest telescope still in use.But ghosts?
DeShane Watkins says there's a good chance those might be there too. He aims to find out this weekend - and is enlisting the public's help to do it.
Watkins, 33, of Dent, founded the local ghost hunting group Spiritual Historians of Paranormal Evidence (Spiritual H.O.P.E) Society in 2007. It investigates what he calls ghostly phenomenon in historic buildings in Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and elsewhere. The group has a philanthropic side too, donating half of the proceeds back to the venues, many of which are struggling because of government or agency budget cuts.

"I have a real chance to help save history by doing this," said Watkins, who's booked several ghost hunts this spring. "It's been a heck of a rollercoaster ride."

Spiritual H.O.P.E will conduct the first-ever public ghost hunt at the Observatory March 20.

Participants spend about four hours at the building where they'll hear about its alleged haunted history, learn how "paranormal investigations" work and use "ghost hunting techniques" and equipment themselves. Watkins started investigating the paranormal about 10 years ago and formed Spirtual H.O.P.E in 2007 with partner Crystal Ayers and Kodi, a 14-pound dog named Schipperke who Watkins says may be sensitive to spirits.

Other investigations by the two-person, one-dog group included the Warren County Historical Museum and Glendower Mansion in Lebanon.

The organization conducted a private investigation of the building in February 2009 and believes it found enough evidence - including unexplained voices and music - to schedule a public hunt.

Although ghost hunting and astrological science may not seem to fit together, "It's a good way to get people who might not have been here to the Observatory before to come," said Dean Regas, outreach astronomer for the Observatory. He's heard the "urban legends" about ghosts at the Observatory, although he's never experienced any himself during his 10 years working there.

"It's a fun thing and people are really fascinated (with ghost hunting)," said Regas. "They can judge for themselves and if there is a ghost here, I'd want to know about it."