MADISON – Pitch-dark rooms and utter silence permeated Madison Station Antiques, 110 Main St. for its paranormal investigation on March 22.

The location “originally peaked our interest during a sweep of downtown Madison for the Madison Ghost Walk,” Kevin Thompson said. Thompson founded and is lead investigator with the Madison County Paranormal Research Society.

“Our mediums independently reported activity,” Thompson said. Andy and Kristy Stewart invited the team to investigate Madison Station Antiques.

Thompson and investigators Molly Spence and Scott Peterson led the paranormal venture. This trio also investigates for the Huntsville Ghost Walk. “Paranormal investigations are often long hours of boredom, peppered by moments of sheer excitement,” Thompson said.

They first set up diverse devices throughout the store and took base line readings for temperature and ‘reference photos’ and ‘hot spots.’

Their K-2 meter reported changes in magnetic atmosphere and used colored lights to “invite the spirit to light it up in response to questions,” Thompson said. The team used digital cameras and audio recorders for “electronic voice phenomena (EVP)” in a question-and-answer session.

Their full-spectrum camera recorded both ambient and the entire light spectrum. “Theory is, spirits exist in a different spectrum. We can’t see them but the full-spectrum shows evidence,” Thompson said.

Network cameras recorded live action, which sometimes gives natural explanations.

“My favorite is the OVILUS X,” Thompson said. Using two tiny computer processors, the device measured magnetic field. When detecting a change, OVILUS assigns a number and “pulls a word to match that number and speaks aloud. ”

“OVILUS responses, in context to questions, asked me to leave the room. The spirit stated it didn’t appreciate my presence,” Thompson said.

The team still is reviewing 11 hours of audio and 25 hours of video. The group felt cold spots, about a child’s size, that appeared/disappeared in response to questions. The K-2 readings were responsive to multiple questions.

“Madison Station Antiques does have spirit activity,” Thompson said. “To hear the story, come to the Madison Ghost Walk” this summer, Thompson said.