Published: September 25, 2008 02:29 am      

MARJIM MANOR: Winery attracts TV show 'Ghost Hunters'

APPLETON — The sound of footsteps on the porch. Objects moving around, apparently on their own. A history of mysterious deaths and strange happenings, always at 3 p.m. on a Thursday.

The Winery at Marjim Manor has enough ghost stories to pique the curiosity of any paranormal enthusiast — and now it’s receiving national attention.

The winery will be featured on the Oct. 15 episode of “Ghost Hunters,” a SciFi Channel show that puts the spotlight on places rumored to be haunted.

The show follows Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, founders of The Atlantic Paranormal Society. Hawes and Wilson are plumbers by day and ghost hunters by night, traveling around the country with their crew, investigating rumored hauntings.

The crew uses sophisticated technology, such as digital cameras and sound recorders, temperature sensors and infrared and night vision cameras, hoping to capture evidence of paranormal activity.

Bittner said the show’s producers contacted her in May about the legends at Marjim Manor.

Since the home was built in the 1830s, several mysterious incidents have been reported. Bittner said she’s heard several reports of ghostly experiences since she purchased the property in 2003.

Bittner said she’s not afraid of the ghosts — in fact, she finds them helpful.

“Everyone is friendly,” she said. “They like to help people.”

One employee was talking to customers about a certain brand of wine, when a bottle of that wine in a nearby rack stood up on its own, she said.

Just a few weeks ago, Bittner was sitting in a chair, preparing to open for the day when the stereo turned on by itself.

“They wanted me to get up out of my chair and start setting up,” she said.

Customers have reported feeling like they’re being followed. Others spoke of a mysterious man upstairs.

Bittner’s daughter, Janet Bittner, said she’s heard footsteps, mainly on the porch.

“They’re never in the room that I’m in, but I’m the only one around, and I’ll hear footsteps,” Janet said.

The “Ghost Hunters” crew arrived at the winery on June 5 and set up cameras and audio equipment inside the house for an overnight stay.

After the investigation, the crew filmed around the area and conducted interviews with several people who have had experiences.

“They were fabulous,” Bittner said. “They were absolutely wonderful. The crew was really good.”

She said she put out coffee and snacks for the crew and served them a spaghetti dinner.

“Every time they came back, I made sure to give them food,” she said.

The crew were also fond of the winery’s five resident cats, she said.

After going through all the evidence collected, Hawes and Wilson returned to the winery to give Bittner their verdict: Haunted or not haunted?

Bittner can’t reveal the answer until after the show has aired.

The winery is hosting a viewing party from 8 to 11 p.m. Oct. 15, Tickets are $20, and the cost includes a keepsake wineglass, refreshments, door prizes and a copy of a special label made just for the “Ghost Hunters” crew.

“We personalized a label for the guys and gave it to them,” Bittner said.

Part of the proceeds from the party will go to Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

For information, call the winery at 778-7001.

Contact reporter April Amadon at 439-9222, ext. 6251.