The world’s fascination with ghost hunting is not a recent phenomenon. Queen Elizabeth I, who began her reign on Jan. 15, 1559, a date chosen by her astrologer, John Dee, adhered to the teachings of a man who believed he could converse with the angels. And as early as 1661, poltergeists were being investigated, like the mysterious musician who was reported to haunt the small community of Tedworth in Wiltshire, England, antagonizing residents with his incessant drumming.

Ghost hunting activities further developed in the 19th and early 20th century with the surging popularity of séances…