South Shore Spirit Hunters

Our Investigations

Hec's Bar

We'd like to thank the wonderful owners of Hec's for allowing us to investigate this historic location. 

Hec's was built in Ashland, WI in the 1890's, and was originally used as a general store.    It has had many functions since (rumor has it, it even has housed "ladies of the night"), and is in it's sixth year of business as a tavern with the current owners.

The current owners report shadowy figures, objects moving by themselves, and strange noises.  Personal experiences by the members of SSSH include banging, doors opening by themselves, and a responsive tapping sound.

The most significant findings, however, were noticed after the investigations were over.  Hec's provided us with several EVPs (electronic voice phenomena).  Listen in on the links provided below...

This evp was caught while Amy and Sophie were in a bedroom in the apartment upstairs.  Sophie states "anyone who knows me knows this," and a voice appears to respond, in a very low whisper (we've found this clip is much easier to hear if you are wearing headphones).  To the members of SSSH the response sounds like the statement, "I'll bet."  Neither member of SSSH present was speaking at the time, and no one else was present.  This statement was not heard by either member of SSSH at the time of the recording.

*note:  The apartment above Hec's bar is unoccupied, and not accessible to the public. 

The following EVP was also recorded in the apartment upstairs.  Amy had heard garbled voices, and mentioned that she believed that she was hearing them again.  Immediately before she mentions this, you will hear what sounds like a man's voice, possibly saying the word, "come."

The above clip is the first piece of unexplained audio SSSH gathered at Hec's.  It was aquired on an evening that Amy was guest bartending.  It was a slow night, and all of the patrons had left.  When the bar was empty, Amy had a personal experience of loud banging coming from the upstairs apartment (which is unoccupied).  She called Sophie, who brought her digital recorder to the location.  While they were sitting quietly, the recorder picked up a low, garbled voice, which was not heard by either member of SSSH.  Immediately after, Amy states that she was "still feeling a little 'aaaah!' right now."  Although it's hard to make out what the voice may be saying, the members of SSSH found it interesting that once it was put into a computer program and reversed, it sounds a lot like the word "stop."

The above clip was also captured in the apartment above the bar.  This is the only unexplained audio clip so far that resembles a female voice.  To the members of SSSH, it sounds like the word "hello."  This was captured at a time when both SSSH members were sitting quietly in the living room area.

Is Hec's Bar haunted?  You decide.