Bertha Bell in the Smithey Hotel

It's hard to hear, but after a photograph of Bertha Bell was held up on the second floor of the Smithey Hotel in Wilkesboro, the cross-talk program clearly says "Bertha Bell" at least twice. Bertha was a school nurse who allegedly haunts the site. This was gathered on the morning of Oct. 24, 2009, by R.G. Absher and Paranormal Scene Investigators.

Haunted Wilkes candlelight ghost tour

Video of the Haunted Wilkes candlelight ghost tour, footage by David Harrill of Paranormal Scene Investigators

Smithey Hotel and Bertha Bell

R.G. Absher, author of "Ghosts of the Yadkin Valley," listens to a cross-talk program in Wilkesboro's old Smithey Hotel. After a photograph of Nike Smithey's relative Bertha Bell as held up and shown around the room on the second floor, the program twice said "Bertha Bell." The session was part of the 2009 Haunted Wilkes Paranormal Conference.