Looking for a scare this Halloween—and not the kind provided by the cute ghosts and goblins who come to the door for candy?

Try reading fellow researchers’ spooky ancestor stories at the Creative Gene blog and Gettysburg Ghost Stories. Or, for a more close-up encounter with the supernatural, visit one of the places listed at HauntedHouses.com or Haunted Cemeteries.

If you suspect specters have taken up residence in your home, ThisOldHouse.com advises making sure it’s not just creaky stairs or a drafty window. Then you can hire a professional ghost researcher to find out whether and why spirits are hanging around, and help you make peace with them.

According to a survey by movie rental company Blockbuster, two-thirds of people either believe in ghosts or are willing to entertain the possibility they're real.

No doubt genealogists the world over fervently hope ghosts exist. I know if my ancestors' souls ever show up in my living room, there's  a thing or two I plan to clear up with them.