Shuffling with trepidation across the dew-covered Sackets Harbor Battlefield at midnight, believers and skeptics alike looked for a sign that something else was out there.

About 30 people on WPBS Folklore & Frost tour Saturday night huddled around a digital voice recorder as it played back what was recorded seconds before.

"Pop! Pop! Pop!" came from the recorder.

"Did you hear that?" asked Phillip W. Creighton, co-founder of the Shadow Chasers, based in Potsdam. "It's gunfire."

A man's voice is heard next yelling something indecipherable. One by one people look across the battlefield with wonder and terror — looking to see if they can spot the source of the noise.

But they are alone, standing hushed and huddled in the vacant field.

During the recording of the electronic voice phenomena, or EVPs, the only thing that could be heard was breathing and shuffling of feet along the gravel walkway. No one expected they would hear the gunshots or the voices.

This tour is only one of many paranormal tours and events happening around the north country this month.

FOLKLORE & FROST

About a year ago, the Shadow Chasers conducted investigations at the battlefield, John Hoover Inn, Evans Mills; Jefferson County Historical Society, Watertown, and Mather House, Henderson, in conjunction with the historical society's Haunted Jefferson County exhibit.

Julie A. Weston, special events coordinator of WPBS, said she realized the popularity of paranormal topics and put together the Folklore & Frost tour.

The tour explores each of these places, with the exception of the Mather House, and also includes the Burrville Cider Mill and O'Brien's Pub in Clayton.

It started this past weekend with tours Saturday and Sunday and will run for the next two Saturdays.

Tour-goers board a chartered bus; between each of the five stops they view WPBS's accompanying documentary on the haunted places.

Mrs. Weston said about 215 people will take part in the tour over the three weekends.

The first stop on the tour was the Historical Society.

"Many say Olive Paddock still roams this house," historical society Director Timothy J. Abel said. "One person said they saw Olive in the garden one day in the middle of June dressed in a heavy Victorian dress and when they walked outside, the person was nowhere to be found. Another person said they were walking by the house late one night and saw the silhouette of a person in a Victorian gown in the upstairs window."

At each stop, everyone was allowed to tour the property, take photos and get his or her own sense of the place.

As her family tried to lead her down the stairs to the basement of the historical society, Jeane F. Moore, Henderson, said, "No! No! No! I'm not going down there!"

"I'm just a little freaked," she said after she returned from her frightful journey to the basement. "I was a little scared at first listening to the stories and hearing some of the audio that they recorded here. But it's really interesting stuff."

Cheri Revai Farnsworth, Massena, author of many "Haunted" books, including three books about hauntings in Northern New York, also toured the places, many of which are featured in her books.

"I'm most looking forward to the Burrville Cider Mill," she said. "There is enormous activity there. We'll probably see something tonight."

And indeed they did. The next stop on the tour was the cider mill, where owner Cindy L. Steiner shared her ghost stories.

A BUSY CIDER MILL

"It's been a very active season," she said. "But we don't think the ghosts are anything to be afraid of. We think they're just people who love this place and want to keep an eye on it."

Mrs. Steiner said she and her children and grandchildren have often heard the apple presses running after hours, seen the motion lights flash on and off when they should produce a constant stream of light and heard footsteps up and down the stairs.

One person on the tour was taking video of the waterfalls and the mill with her digital camera when she spotted the motion light flickering on and off. After a few children ran past it and there was no one else by the light, it continued to flicker. She went by the light and waved her arms in front of it, with no response.

She walked away, still recording, and documented more flickering.

Mrs. Steiner said that even after the light fixture and wiring were replaced, the new light continues to flicker.

The John Hoover Inn was next.

Stephanie Camini, owner of the bar, shared stories of patrons hearing Victrola music and seeing figures.

"After we opened up the kitchen after it had been closed for years, I set the table and the next morning we came in and all the forks were turned upside down," she said. "The spirits really enjoy messing with us."

Mr. Creighton took radio-frequency readings and found a strong reading coming from down the stairs.

Chandra M. Valis, Greig, said she thought since there was a strong reading she should take a photo with her digital camera.

"You can clearly see orbs at the bottom of the stairs," Mrs. Valis said, referring to the circular lighted objects that can be seen only in the photo. "I looked down to the bottom of the stairs after I saw the orbs and there was nothing there."

At O'Brien's, the Shadow Chasers shared more stories and let everyone wander around the dark upstairs apartment that is being renovated.

"The owners are trying to renovate this and have had several construction companies start the work," Mr. Creighton said. "But tools keep moving and vanishing so they can't get any construction company to stay long enough to finish."

The night ended at the battlefield.

Many people snapped photos of orbs and other mist-like photos.

"This is my favorite of the whole tour," said Mr. Creighton, who has done several investigations at the battlefield. "We've smelled gunpowder, heard gunbattles on our EVPs. We've had some really good stories."

For more information or to sign up for the tour, visit the WPBS Web site.

NORTHERN PARANORMAL

Another north country group that conducts paranormal investigations is the newly formed Northern Paranormal Society at Black River.

Founder and Executive Director Heather A. Sliter said she had experiences with what she thought was an animal entity as a child and has been interested in paranormal activity since.

She formed the group in July on www.meetup.com to get in touch with others who might be interested in joining the club.

The team has since grown to about 11 members and has been going through training on how to conduct investigations.

They recently conducted their first graveyard and client investigation, but the clients have asked that findings be kept private.

Mrs. Sliter said during the investigations, three teams go into the area with various equipment.

They use video cameras, digital recorders, noncontact thermometers to detect cold spots, and computers to document their findings.

Mrs. Sliter said the group is different from others because it takes its cases very seriously.

"We've gone through extensive training to make sure we're accurate," she said. "We also have two meetings a month for our members."

She said there are many policies and procedures in place for her team to ensure all members have proper training and know how to conduct investigations.

The society is looking for clients and members. For more information, call Mrs. Sliter at 777-1637.

OTHER PARANORMAL EVENTS

The Jefferson County Historical Society will host two other events this month for those looking for a paranormal thrill.

A one-hour candlelit walking tour of Public Square's most haunted places will take place at 5:30 and 7 p.m. Oct. 17, 24 and 31, starting at the Historical Society.

Tickets are available at the Historical Society and are $5 for children under 16 and $8 for adults.

Psychic Wilson Stevenson will be at the society from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 30.

Tickets are available through the society and are $10 for members and $12 for nonmembers.