History & local legend
The former Stritmater Brothers department store on East Washington Street in New Castle later housed Lanigan's Irish Pub. Stories of running footsteps in a back hallway drew investigators from the 24:00 Projekt in 2010 and again in 2011.
During one recording session, an investigator asked whether someone liked running in the hall at night. On playback, the team interpreted a whisper as an affirmative answer. Near the basement boiler, another recording sounded to them like a refusal to activate their equipment.
A separate basement recording seemed more welcoming: the investigators believed they heard a man inviting them to return.
Sources
- The 24:00 Projekt, Stritmater Building case report with audio clips, separate accounts of running feet and contact, and investigators’ interpretations
- The 24:00 Projekt, October 2011 follow-up visit to Lanigan’s, back hallway and boiler-room results
- The Vindicator, February 24, 2008, interviews with owner Rick Russo and his wife about restoring the store for the Irish pub
- Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office, Stritmater’s, 126 East Washington Street, resource 2001RE00768
- Lawrence County Memoirs, Stritmater Brothers Store, circa-1890 historic engraving of its Washington Street façade
