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Erin Sullivan: NEW PORT RICHEY — It was Sunday night and the ghost hunters stood on the steps of the West Pasco Historical Society, trying to talk with William Barber, a Union soldier whose desk is inside the building.

The desk dates to 1850 and was donated to the society in 1983. It is said that Barber's spirit is still very fond of his desk and that he doesn't like things put on it. Museum volunteers say people often smell wafting cigar smoke when they pass by the desk.

The museum was closed. The ghost hunters — Courtney Micalizzi, 20; Sarha Chapman, 21, and Nathan Thomas, 20 — like to go at night, when all else is sleeping. They addressed Barber as "colonel," although his actual rank is…