VILLAGE OF BALDWINSVILLE – The ghosts who inhabit the Angry Garlic aren’t exactly angry. In fact, they spoke politely and sounded a tad sad.
In autumn 2020, a team of paranormal investigators visited the Angry Garlic eatery in downtown Baldwinsville to assess the possible presence of spirits in the building which dates back to 1832.
The Ghost Seekers of Central New York who were there that evening included Dennis Webster, an author of 15 books including his newest, “Haunted Central New York,” published by the History Press of Charleston, S.C. as part of its popular “Haunted America” series.
Among the new book’s 29 studied sites is a chapter about the Baldwinsville restaurant named in honor of the world’s most savory seasoning, garlic.
Webster points out that owners Jeff and Tiffany Rogers renovated the old building more than five years ago in order to establish their garlic-inspired eatery at 29 Oswego St.
“It’s common for spirits to become active and increase their connection to the living once their permanent spiritual home becomes disturbed by hammers and nails,” Webster writes. “The multiple-story structure has been the host of deadly fires that claimed lives – yet their ghosts stayed to haunt the heartiest of eaters.”
Before beginning the formal probe, Webster ate at the Angry Garlic and interviewed Jeff and Tiffany, who regaled him with tales of dishes tossed by unseen hands and staffers so scared they refused to visit the basement alone.
Webster thoroughly enjoyed his garlic bites, garlic meatballs and garlic boardwalk fries before he and his fellow Ghost Seekers unloaded their electronic voice phenomenon equipment and reportedly heard from the ghosts.
As the investigators sat at the darkened bar, “within seconds of asking, the sprits started to announce their presence with the gauss meter and Mel Meters, blasting up to a digital score that assures ghosts are present,” according to Webster.
Webster had identified two of the building’s fire victims as a Mr. and Mrs. White. When a female member of his team asked if Mr. and Mrs. White were present, the answer she got was “Yes, ma’am.”
After about 20 minutes, the probers were startled by the sound of a piece of silverware “thrown in the kitchen.”
After descending into the basement, the Ghost Seekers witnessed a black mist “lingering in a corner” and heard a male voice speaking incoherently.
“The last thing picked up was on a digital recorder,” Webster writes. “A whimper and sob from the other side.”
Webster closed his Angry Garlic report by advising, “The next time you dine there in tasty garlic delights, be sure to tip your glass in honor and memory
EVP electronic voice phenomenon of the spirits who remain.”
A graduate of Utica University, Webster is the author of 14 previous books including “Adirondack Mysteries,” “Haunted Utica” and “Wicked Mohawk Valley.”