Connellsville Community Center History
Built in 1916 as the original Connellsville High School, the building at 201 E. Fairview Avenue served as an educational facility and junior high until 1972. After sitting vacant for a decade, the historic structure was repurposed in 1982 to become the Connellsville Community Center
Connellsville Area Community Center has earned a regional reputation among ghost hunters. Local researchers believe the building's massive limestone foundation acts as a natural conductor, trapping decades of residual student energy.
Notable Apparitions & Spirits
The Man in the Yellow Shirt: Investigators have reported physical run-ins with a tall male spirit wearing a yellow shirt on the third floor. The entity reportedly gasps when startled before instantly vanishing into thin air.
“The Watcher”: Dubbed by local paranormal groups, this distinct male entity is described as having a heavier, more sinister energy. He reportedly follows tour groups from the shadows, watching them from the edges of dark rooms.
Residual Student Energy: Because the building served as a high school and junior high for over 50 years, investigators note that its paranormal activity spikes during weekday daytime hours—the exact times children would have historically been moving through the halls.
Paranormal Hotspots
The Third-Floor Hallway: This area is widely considered the most active zone in the center. Visitors report experiencing a sudden "vacuum effect," where the air and energy instantly thicken like stepping into deep water.
The Third-Floor Bathroom: Located at the end of the active hallway, this room frequently triggers anomalous environmental changes and EMF drops during investigations.
Third Floor Balcony of the Porter Theater: Investigators have seen a shadow figure walking about on the third floor where the projector and sound equipment are located.
The swimming pool: Located in the basement (no longer accessible), is where 2 boys drowned according to local residents who attended school at this building.
History of the Porter Theater
The Theater was named in honor of Edwin S. Porter, from Connellsville, who directed the first major motion picture "The Great Train Robbery". The Theater seats 800 people in the orignal seats.
Mr. Porter's career producing films took off when he caught the attention of Thomas Edison, who hired him to work for the Edison Company, one of the major producers of moving pictures in the U.S. at that time. Porter obtained several movie industry patents and became Edison’s main film director, a job that allowed him to experiment with different ideas and film techniques, including dramatic editing and cross cutting.
Porter’s innovations are on display in his most well-known silent film, “The Great Train Robbery”. The film is known as the first “blockbuster” movie and even influenced famed director Martin Scorsese, who duplicated the iconic final shot in his movie Goodfellas.
The third floor is the location of Connellsville Metro Media Communications, HUGS 24/7 Radio, and Interdimensions Radio Show.
Interdimensions Paranormal Expo, Interdimensions Radio Show, 88.1 WCVI-FM HUGS 24/7 Radio, Connellsville Metro Media Communications and their sponsors and affiliates will not be responsible for any liability for lost, stolen or damaged merchandise/property, inside or outside during the Interdimensions Paranormal Expo.