I was looking for records, receipt of ownership, or even a photograph from the prison that included the cap. ![]() ![]() It was a prize taken when the chair was updated and rebuilt in the 1950’s” (WorthPoint 2020).Īs with any historic artifact, establishing the provenance of the object is extremely important to verify exactly where an item came from and hence its authenticity. The description states the cap was “pulled from a storage unit in rural West Virginia, originally from a Moundsville estate that consisted of many rare items …” and goes on to say “the story is that this was the headpiece to the original Old Sparky, the electric chair located in now-defunct Moundsville Penitentiary. I was able to locate a duplicate listing on, a website for “researching, valuing, and buying/selling antiques, art and vintage collectibles” (WorthPoint 2020). According to Hummel, he acquired the cap from an eBay auction some time ago and could only pass along the information included in the auction’s description, which to be honest wasn’t much. So, how did the missing execution cap end up in Hummel’s museum? Well, I’m not convinced that it did. In an interview for The Intelligencer, then-penitentiary general manager Tom Stiles revealed that “the cap went missing sometime after the facility’s closure in 1995 and before its reopening for tours in 1998, possibly taken by a former employee or volunteer” (Parker 2016). When the prison reopened in 1998 for tours, the original electric chair was put on display-minus the head cap. From 1951 to 1959, a total of nine men died in this chair. As you can imagine, once word got around, Glenn had to be transferred to another prison to avoid violent retribution from his fellow inmates. The electric chair, morbidly nicknamed “Old Sparky,” was constructed by an inmate named Paul Glenn. In 1951, the death penalty was carried out by electrocution. From 1899 to 1949, eighty-five men were executed at the prison by hanging. The penitentiary reopened as a tourist attraction in 1998 and has operated tours ever since. The West Virginia Penitentiary, located just a few minutes from the museum, first opened in 1876 and continued to operate until 1995. A sign placed on top of the table states “West Virginia State Penitentiary Execution Cap.” This cap is believed to be the long-lost execution cap from the prison. Inside an old glass-sided end-table-turned-display case rests a cap made from two welded metal bars, several strips of leather, a few rivets, and a buckle. These items were selected due to their popularity and their claims include details that can be properly investigated. There are hundreds of interesting items on display, but with only one night available for a hands-on investigation, we focused on three specific items to take a closer look at: the West Virginia Penitentiary execution cap, the Annie portrait, and a blood-stained Dr. After the museum closed for the day, Hummel gave us a private tour. Hummel greeted us with a friendly smile and a handshake. After a delicious barbeque lunch, we headed over to the Archive of the Afterlife museum. So, both Vickers and I got up early on a Saturday morning and drove (for many hours) until we arrived in Moundsville. ![]() Even after mentioning that we might be able to solve and/or debunk some claims, Hummel still gamely encouraged us to visit. In my experience, those that showcase/promote “haunted” or “cursed” objects usually tend to avoid detailed investigations, especially from skeptics. Hummel was not only open to the idea but very enthusiastic to be a part of it, which is an uncommon reaction in these situations. We had spoken with Hummel previously about investigating and testing some claims related to a few of the more prominent artifacts on display. It’s a museum of “oddities” one usually finds in tourist towns. The museum is owned by Steve Hummel, an avid ghost hunter and collector of all things strange and macabre-from an electrocution cap and various coffins to allegedly cursed bibles and dolls. We had been toying with the idea of visiting a museum called the Archive of the Afterlife, located in Moundsville, West Virginia. In the weeks leading up to this night, I had been in contact with Tim Vickers, a friend, colleague, and also cocreator (with me) of the EVP Challenge still in progress at the White Hill Mansion in Fieldsboro, New Jersey (Biddle 2018). Investigating claims of ghosts isn’t just for those that whole-heartedly believe in an afterlife it’s a fun hobby for many skeptics too … like me! On this night, hundreds of ghost hunting teams streamed live videos of their investigations, sharing their adventures with the entire world via social media. On September 28, 2019, many of my paranormal enthusiast friends celebrated the unofficial “National Ghost Hunting Day,” taking part in nighttime ghost hunts at various historical locations throughout the country.
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