
This photo, taken by Janis Worley in October 2005, reveals potential paranormal activity at the Perkins Mansion. The Summit County Historical Society is hosting a number of paranormal and true crime tours in October.
The Summit County Historical Society will host a number of paranormal fall events. And a new program introduced this year, “Akron and Summit County True Crime Tour,” will add an element of murder and mayhem to this lineup.
Following an adage by 19th century author Mark Twain that, “Truth is stranger than fiction,” the tour will cover how criminologists have collected and used physical evidence throughout history. The walk will feature historical crimes and near recent past murders.
Working with volunteers and current Akron Police Department records, the historical society has gathered information on cases that will be shared with attendees on this two-hour walking tour that starts at the Perkins Stone Mansion, 550 Copley Road. Tickets for the new offering are $25 or $20 for members. A discounted coupon to attend the Society’s Oct. 31 Lights Out Paranormal tour will be given to all attendees to this event.
The series is hosted in partnership with psychic medium Laura Lyn.
“Things can happen anywhere, walls hold memories,” said Lyn during a pre-tour, noting the interesting energy that she honed into walking by various homes and structures.
The society also will host Psychic Paranormal Tours on Friday, Oct. 14 at 6:30 and 8 p.m. Tickets for the event are $20, or $18 for members.
Guests are encouraged to bring a flashlight and a camera. Photography is only allowed in the house during these special paranormal events, as past attendees have witnessed psychic impressions.
Lyn debunks dust or pollen spores that show up in photographs, but she highlights areas to quickly take an image to potentially capture an orb or other energy.
Lights Out Paranormal Tours will be held this year, Monday, Oct. 31. Tickets are $15 per person or $10 for members. Guests may come individually or in groups for this event, where stories of past experiences in the Perkins Stone Mansion are shared with all the lights out in the home of Akron’s founding family. Completed in 1837, the Perkins Stone Mansion was built by Colonel Simon Perkins, son of Akron’s founder Gen. Simon Perkins.
The society also will feature Laura Lyn’s Realm to Realm on the property Friday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. During the course of the evening, guests will gather around tables as she taps into their family ancestral history, spirit guides and angels. Refreshments and a first-floor holiday walkthrough of the Perkins Mansion also will be included. Tickets are $30 per person or $25 for historical society members.
Tickets for most events are available online at www.summithistory.org/tickets.htm or by calling the Society office at (330) 535-1120.