Barter Theatre
Abingdon, VA
History
On June 10, 1933, Barter Theatre opened its doors, making Barter Theatre one of the oldest professional theatres in the nation. Proclaiming "With vegetables you cannot sell, you can buy a good laugh." The price of admission was 40 cents or the equivalent of produce. About 80 percent of the Depression-era audience paid their way with vegetables, dairy products and livestock.
The actors performing at the building were distracted not only by the occasional squealing pig or clucking hen, but noise from the town jail, which was located directly beneath the stage. The jail space was later used as a holding area for dogs suspected of rabies. It was eventually converted into dressing rooms for Barter actors. To the surprise of many, all the seats for the first show were filled. The concept of trading "ham for Hamlet" caught on quickly. At the end of the first season, the Barter Company cleared $4.35 in cash, two barrels of jelly, and a collective weight gain of over 300 pounds.
The Barter Theatre, which is home to two spirits. One is said to be the founder, Robert Porterfield, who brought unemployed actors from New
York to start the theater during the Great Depression. Although Porterfield died in 1971, actors have claimed to see him in the audience. Another spirit, alleged to be malevolent, has been said to chase actors from dressing rooms.
Supposedly, there was a ghost of a confederate war soldier haunting the premises. According to legend, if he showed you his wound, then you would be dead within 48 hours!
From / History @ Bartertheater.com
http://www.vatc.org/
http://www.stage-directions.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=45&sid=04f582a0b40d6fdc77138536dd857d4c
http://www.overmountainpress.com/newpages/books/themysteryofghostlyvera.html
Captured Evidence
Photo Evidence
The front of Barter Theatre
These pictures were taken consecutively in the tunnel
This picture was taken from inside the tunnel looking at the entrance of the tunnel
These pictures were taken in the lobby area consecutively
Other lobby pictures
In the last two pictures here, there is some sort of possible apparition. It almost looks like someone nude with something white over their head.
These pictures were taken in the balcony lobby
These pictures were taken in the main auditorium
The investigator taking this picture had her hair up in a bun. There is a transparent object just under the "hair" you can see in the cropped picture.
Video Evidence
The camera sitting here is showing the only entrance to this room. There was no one else in the room when the investigators left. You can hear the stage crew leaving and goofing off, but then you hear something very close up on the camera saying "Get Out". There is a story that a spirit in this area likes to chase people out of that room (the old dressing room).
Captured EVPs
| Sounds like "Blankets/Tickets in the cold/gold/coat room" | In the tunnel. Tim asks a question. The response is... | Donna asks two questions. There is a response after each. | When asked if entity was a soldier, sounds like a snare drum response. |
| In the tunnel. "Can you give us your name?" Response...sounds like "Huffing or Huffinkle" or something similar. | In the balcony lobby by a picture of bunny. Sounds like it says "Stand back" | Sounds like it says "What was that" |
Our Conclusion
We believe Barter Theatre to have paranormal activity, however, we do not believe there is sufficient evidence to be labeled haunted.