OPI INVESTIGATION

Kenilworth Lodge
Sebring, FL
July 2016

On this visit, OPI was represented by Greg, Angel, Sandi, Rena, TJ and MaryJo, was joined by our good friend, Larry, from the Florida Bureau of Paranormal Investigations, based in Fellsmere. We investigated our four rooms; Rena and Angels, Rm. 215; Sandi’s, Rm. 218; Larry’s, Rm 210; and ours, Rm. 110. We had visited Kenilworth twice before, and found it active paranormally, and charming historically.

In 1916, George Sebring had a vision. He saw a community where people were happy, healthy, and engaged in wholesome pursuits. He built a hotel to complement his town, Sebring. He called the hotel Kenilworth Lodge. Well to do people from the north came on his train to stay for a week or two, or for the season. Some returned to live permanently in the town. Some guests and staff remain. The train continued on to Indiantown and the Seminole Inn, the brainchild of his friend. It was once a Masonic Lodge, in the 1930s.

Our first site was Sandi’s room, 218. We encountered spirit activity and did communicate. The REM activated, showing spirit presence. Later, listening to our recordings, we heard the name Mike. A male voice commented, “Can’t fool them.” We used the K2 for a yes/no question session. In this way, we ascertained that we were with a woman whose parents worked for the hotel once, and was aware of Mr. Sebring’s anti-Indian feelings. A woman’s voice told us, “Keep on talkin’.” Later, she commented, “Anyway!” perhaps as a way to move on the conversation. We heard these two on the SB11. These are our Class As. There were many other EVPs. In the Class B category, I heard a woman’s voice answer Rena, “In the laundry room.” Rena asked where she worked. Another voice questioned, “What do you want me to say?’ The camera went out of focus for a second, as though someone walked in front of it. We found the room worthy of note.

Larry’s room, 210 was very interesting. We communicated, through a flashlight, with a ghost who said he was a young man who had worked on the highway. He was killed there, in an accident, between 1912 and 1919. We wondered if his family had been informed of his death. He said they had by turning the light on. He also liked us talking to him. We asked if he’d like to talk to us through the spirits box, and he indicated he would. We turned it on, and a voice came through. “Hi. Larry, coming from the box,” said a male voice. This is hard to hear, so we call it a Class B. Two other voices came through. One said, “I’m Jessie,” and the other, “I’m Jonathon.” A Class A was the word ‘up’ when we asked to turn the light up. Ovilus words included ‘adultery’, ‘dragged out,’ and ‘diseased.’ It also gave us the name Mark. The flashlight indicated this was his name. They were words that could have been relevant and were intriguing. We all saw a flash of light, and could not determine where it came from. On the second floor, cars wouldn’t be responsible. It didn’t come from outside. It didn’t come from any of the equipment. Unfortunately, the camera didn’t record it. After a time, the room was quiet, and we thought that Mark, or whoever we had been talking to was finished.

We thought that if hotel staff were communicating, they might gather in the Housekeeping Closet. The back stairs would have been a place where they cold exchange a word of gossip or lend a sympathetic ear to their colleagues. Sandi and I went into the closet. It was very quiet. I did hear the sentence, “Our people should know,” as I was listening later. We wonder what they should know. Maybe that guests were in the backstairs closet? My team was playful, and shined a light through the keyhole. “Do you see that light?” I asked. The K2 flashed to yellow in response. We did get some Class C EVPs, but they are difficult to interpret. The temperature did change from a 76.4 to a 78.0 during the few minutes we were in there.

Our final session was in our room, 110. I had been in contact with someone who said she was a young girl who used to come there with her family. She liked the lake, which is across the road. At one time, there was a walkway from the front steps of the hotel to the beach. I hope to speak with her again. Sadly, it was a rather uneventful meeting. We did get a couple of EVPs, but no Class As. The word ‘lakefront’ was spoken when we asked about the lake. The word ‘dam’ or ‘damn’ came through the box. Other than that, we had nothing. It was late, so we called an end to our investigation for this night. Chances are, we’ll go back.

OPI INVESTIGATION

July 2016

Clarie contacted us because she and her young son were hearing noises and felt they were being watched. She had taken pictures in her yard and captured many with orbs and one of a shadow person. She also has the steps from the old courthouse, because she attended church service there as a young child. The property has been in the owner’s family for generations. The tree was near where the courthouse used to stand, and is over 200 years old. Locals believe there were several hangings here. Only one has been documented. However, it is in a very rural area, and many events could have occurred without public knowledge. Also, the courthouse records have burned, and so there is no way to tell with certainty how many deaths can be attributed to legal executions. Clarie’s Native American grandfather is alleged to be buried on the property, although I did not know this before we investigated. An old cemetery is in the back. A street light was going off for no mechanical reason. There are many opportunities in this mix for paranormal activity. We only investigated the yard on this trip.

We held our first session in the yard under the Hanging Tree. We took baseline meter readings, which were normal. There were power lines across and above the yard, but no other electrical appliances. We set up first under the tree. The responses were relevant and intelligent. Almost immediately, as I said, “We’re under the hanging tree”, we heard a moan. This was while listening to the EVPs. We turned on the SB11 and a male voice asked, “Who wants us?” A female voice said her name and “mama.” The male asked, “What are these guys doin’?” The words hid and decapitated appeared on the ovilus. When I asked if any spirits were from the 1900s, a male replied, “Abe,” and then a female chimed in, “Me, too.” I asked about the Klan, since the location would historically have been a Klan stronghold. “That’s rotten,” a male voice declared. I heard this at the time. I then asked, “Why don’t you want to talk about the Klan?” “The killed me!” a young male voice called out. We asked about the family of this person. “Family?” the voice repeated. He then told us, “I’m Nate.” I wondered aloud if he was the shadow Clarie saw. “Not me,” he said. When I asked how many were on the property, he told us, “21.” During this time, we also used the K2 as a communication device and asked yes/no questions. One of the people thought to be hung at the site was man who had stolen a cow to feed his starving family. When we asked if he was with us, the K2 flashed to red, indicating he was. I asked if he was trying to feed his family and again the K2 flashed to read, as a yes.

Next, I used my phone to play some old spiritual hymns. I questioned if they had struck a chord with anyone. The K2 showed that it had, somewhat. I also tried the dowsing rods, but had no clear results. The K2 did flash several times, demonstrating a presence. The bugs were a real nuisance, so we used more insect spray. I asked if anyone there had used it. “Instant,” a female voice told us, through the spirit box. What looks like an orb shot from the K2. I asked if a woman was here. A female voice, not from the spirit box, said, “Yes.” I told them they were scaring Clarie and her family. “I know,” she responded. A female with an island accent retorted, “Need to get over eet!” When I mentioned the little boy, “Bless the little children,” was the response. We asked the spirits to go to the light. The K2 flashed to red, and then did it again. I ended the SB11 session as I always do, by counting back from 3. When I said “2” a voice queried, “That 2?” “Ask Bill,” a male voice stated.

I walked underneath the tree, where it was colder than where I had been sitting. I wondered if Native Americans were nearby. The K2 flashed to red, then orange, and then the camera went out of focus momentarily. I played some Pow Wow music, causing the K2 to again flash to red. I asked if he/she would like to hear more. The K2 flashed to red. We believe these were affirmative responses to my questions.

We moved to the area where Clarie had the photo of the shadow, which seemed to be crouching and propping his head with his hands. The REM activated, signifying spirit energy. I told the spirits that we were from Port St. Lucie, and asked if they knew where that was. “I don’t,” a voice replied. Port St. Lucie was only founded in the mid 1960s, so anyone before that would have no idea of it. When we asked about spirts, a male voice answered, “Ah be one.” I think that shows humor. “Did you die on the property?” was answered with, “I guess so.” This might have been a route of the Underground Railroad, so I questioned if someone was running away. “Runaway,” a voice answered back. A male voice then declared, “We’ll raise him right!” in a New England accent. I asked the spirits to cross the dowsing rods, and they crossed! One of the few times we had a real reaction that night!

Our final site was the steps. Clarie had two sets of steps in her yard that came from the old courthouse. She told me when she was a little girl, her family’s Baptist services were held in the courthouse, and that is why she brought them home. Many prisoners walked these steps going into and out of the courthouse. We asked if anyone knew about the streetlight that went out from time to time, with no mechanical reason. There was a “Nooo,” in answer. We asked about the shadow figure, and a male voice said, “Cop.” I wanted to know if someone resented Clarie living there. The response was an affirmative, expressing anger at her race, which is Black American. Because she told me she had seen her son’s Ironman mask fall from the shelf, I asked about it. “A good sleep,” a female voice replied. Maybe she thought the boy would sleep better without the mask, that she thought it scary. I asked that the spirits stay out of the house, since they were scaring the family. A male voice indicated, “We a visit.” We had a few toys as trigger objects for children, and I commented that the toys couldn’t hurt anyone, that they were there for the children. A child like voice responded, “Thank you.” “Were you in the courthouse as a prisoner?” we asked. “Never!” was the adamant male response. A male voice said, “Beat ‘em boys.” As I closed the session and asked if there was anything anyone wanted to tell me, I heard a “Thank you,” over the SB 11. Greg was able to catch on the Kinect a figure near me.

We will be returning to the property on Sept. 10th to investigate the home, and perhaps the cemetery.

OPI INVESTIGATION

Fort Mifflin
Philadelphia, PA
July 2016

In 1771, Fort Mifflin was commissioned. It guarded the city of Philadelphia from Mud Island, along the Delaware River. It was used in the American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, WWI and WWII. It was used, in fact, until the 1950s when it fell into disrepair. In the 1960s, the American government deeded the fort to the city of Philadelphia. The army Corps of Engineers still uses it. Fort Mifflin is the only military base in use that is older than the nation itself. Throughout the years, the fort has been largely restored, In 2006, new discoveries were made. There are several buildings which can be viewed including an artillery shed, soldier barracks, blacksmith shop, powder room, torpedo room, and casemates. During the day, it is open to tourists. By night, it’s open to paranormal investigators.

During the Revolutionary War, the fort was bombarded by the British, who laid siege. American soldiers were able to hold off the British for a time, against great odds. The British did capture the fort in 1777, but not until General Washington had his men safely at Valley Forge. This event is thought by some to be the battle that saved the war. The walls of the fort today show the evidence of the siege. This was the only time fort Mifflin saw military action. The fort was rebuilt in the 1790s. During the Civil War, it housed Confederate POWs. A Union deserter was one of the three men hanged there. In WWII anti-aircraft weapons were stored. The first Negro Coast Artillery unit was stationed there.

OPI investigated the fort and learned some other history. We split into two teams: Rena and Linda, and Greg, Angel, and me. We stayed as far from each other as we could, to diminish chances of noise contamination. However, the fort is directly in the flight path of the airport, and planes flew by constantly. We had to stop EVP sessions often because of the noise. We started in the torpedo room, underground and near the river. The meters showed no increase in EMF. Using the Spirit Box, we heard a voice say, “Roger that.” That is a military term and so was very relevant. We also heard a male voice tell us his name was “Jackie.” When we asked, “Did you want to go to war?” he told us, “No!” We wondered if he died in battle. The ovilus spoke the word “fear.” It also gave us the word “disaster.” The camera went out of focus for a second, and we heard the words, “Stop it!” We also heard knocking. We think Jackie was a young soldier, probably from the Revolution. Angel tried an experiment with the dowsing rods. She thought the question, and waited for the answer. When it came, she told us what she had asked. In this way, we learned that he was young, but forgot how old he is. He didn’t realize he could leave the fort now.

From the torpedo room we went to the solitary confinement cell. It, too, is underground. This was where William Howe was held in 1864. Howe was a Union deserter who led an attempted escape of 200 prisoners. He was hung at the fort before an audience who had bought tickets for the event! The REM activated several times. We used the SB 11 and did get a few responses. A voice told us,”No,” when I asked, “Did you ever read Uncle Tom’s Cabin?” This was a very popular anti-slavery novel of the time. The voice also told us to “Shut up!” We went to the next cell, but had no communication at all.

In the artillery shed, Raggedy Ann lit up a few times, indicating the presence of a child. There were, of course, children at the fort who were officers’ families. I did hear a noise that sounded like footsteps, but it was not recorded. A male voice said, “Hi.” We turned on the spirit box. When we said that we came all the way from Florida, a voice repeated, “Florida.” We asked for a name. “Hans,” a male voice responded. I repeated the name, and he replied, “Sure.” It was as if he didn’t really want to continue talking. These are Class A’s. I did hear the words “phase 4 “and “northerner”, but they are not as clear. Therefore we classed them as B’s. They do point to a military connection, and a Civil War one. A male voice, not through the box, said, “half blast.” This is directly related to the military installation.

The Powder Room was active. We all heard a strange chirping noise in the next room. We looked around outside, but couldn’t find a source. Greg banged on the door, and it stopped. Maybe birds? The K2 went to red. We asked if a woman was with us, and it went to red again. A voice asked, “What is that?” We think she was referring to the K2. When we turned on the spirit box, we asked for a name. “Elizabeth?” There was a woman named Elizabeth who lived at the fort in the 1860s. The voice told us,”Victoria.” Then, because I asked again, “Victoria, Victoria I told ya.” She seemed to be impatient with our inability to hear clearly! She told us she was from Canada, she was French, she was here with her sweetheart. We heard a child’s voice and that of a male come through. She may have been playing, though, because near the end of the session, a voice clearly said, “Sucker in the room.” It might have been directed to us. Or he might have been saying that she was the sucker, for talking to us. A male voice uttered, “The general has been shot! Go to hell!” He also informed us, “Barbey’s gone.” It was most interesting, because in my research I found that there was an Admiral Daniel Barbey who served in WWI and WWII. There are reenactments done at the fort. This man may have been reliving a moment.

The blacksmith shop has an eerie feel to it. We have many SB11 EVPs from there, several Class A’s. A female voice asked, “Tell me you love me.” A male said my name, MaryJo. When we asked if he knew Matt, the guide who stayed at the fort while we investigated, the reply was, “Please! Ya know.” We take this to mean it was a silly question, that of course he knows Matt. We asked, “Do you know Elizabeth?” “I did,” was the answer. Elizabeth is said to have hung herself when her daughter died. Another voice, female, assured us, “Thank God I’m a Rebel!” I couldn’t find a record of a woman being held prisoner there, so maybe she didn’t mean a rebel from the Civil War. When I asked, “Do you have anything to tell me, a male voice replied, “What I tell you?” We think he was being funny. At the end of the EVP session, there is the sound of someone whistling, and none of us were. Other less distinct but relevant phrases are there, too. A voice asked, “Where are the horses?” When we asked if the Klan ever met here, a voice responded, “I did.” We asked about Bernard, one of the “Resident ghosts” a man’s voice told us, “He moved on.” It would be interesting to find out if anyone sees Bernard anymore.

As we were taking a break, I saw a figure walking by the artillery shed, and then disappear into the shadow. Rena saw a figure later, on the parade grounds that disappeared. Greg and I both saw a figure come into the barracks, but when we turned, it was gone.

We went into several of the casemates, but found nothing of note.

Rena and Linda had several experiences, too. Rena’s behind was pinched.

The following video clips contain EVP’s from our recent investigation of Fort Mifflin. We highly recommend use of high quality head sets when listening. Ear buds don’t provide adequate noise cancellation.

OPI INVESTIGATION

Pennhurst Asylum
Spring City, PA
July 2016

Pennhurst Asylum opened in November, 1908 for those who could not care for themselves or whose family was unwilling to care for them. They were physically and mentally disabled. In 1913, the theory of eugenics gained popularity. This theory proposed that anyone who was mentally unfit was a criminal and a danger to society. They were, therefore, to be put away. This theory caught the attention of Adolph Hitler, who capitalized on it in the 1930s! By 1913, the asylum was overcrowded. Epileptics, physically deformed, mentally and/or emotionally disabled, and mutes, to name a few were, lived there. The quality of care deteriorated. In 1916, cottages were built for women, to prevent, at least in part, unwanted pregnancies. Pennhurst was a small town, with a railroad stop, greenhouse, dairy farm, swimming pool, treatment plants and power house. It became more and more overcrowded and the residents suffered. They were left alone much of the time, uncared for. Treatment was often inhumane. In the 1980s, following a television expose, Pennhurst closed. People were horrified to see how the patents were treated! Today much of the old Pennhurst has fallen into ruin. Some buildings have been maintained and are used as offices. Mayflower is open to paranormal investigators.

OPI investigated the Mayflower building and found evidence of paranormal activity. We had a full team for this one! Mayflower is a large building, with three floors. One of the rooms is the infamous “chair room” which was used to pull the teeth of biting patients, without anesthesia. So much suffering occurred in the building, for so many years! The grief and anger within the walls is something we clearly felt. Those of us with sensitivities were affected by the agony, both physical and emotional, that the people who lived there endured. This is not a place for a fun investigation.

We split into two groups. Greg, Bernie, Luke, Angel and I in one, and TJ, Rena, Sandy, Leah, and Linda in the other. We went to different floors, to lessen the possibility of noise contamination. My group started on the second floor, in a bathroom. Bathroom can be places where people go when they are feeling emotional, so they can be alone. We used the SB11 to get these Class A EVPs. A child’s voice stated, “You understand!” “Wow,” was the reaction when we said that Bernie and Luke had come from Virginia Beach. Someone asked, “Do you know where Bernie is?” She must have a fan! When we asked, “Are there any spirits here who are hurtful?” we heard the answer, “18.” That’s a lot of spirits! Considering how wronged patients were at this facility, there must be a lot who are angry and want to strike back. When asked, “Do you ever leave Pennhurst? A male voice replied, “No!” We had some Class Bs and Class Cs, too. They include: “I love you; Jimmy; teacher”; and a giggle.

The “chair room” is supposedly the room where patients had their teeth extracted without Novocain or any type of anesthetic. This was done as a punishment for biting. An old cane wheel chair is the only item in there now. We again utilized the SB11. We asked if a member of the staff was with us. “Let me continue!” a female admonished us. We wondered, “Do you ever go to the train station?” “Yes, ma’am,” a young girl’s voice told us. “Who brought you here?” we continued. “My mama,” she replied. When we asked, “Are you watching us now?” we received an answer that shows humor. ‘You were in here!” a child’s voice retorted. These were our Class As. Some other EVPs were “I touched it: Who goes there; and damn spirits.” Luke, who is developing his mediumship abilities, told us there were some children with us.

On the second floor landing, we all felt cobwebs on our face, but couldn’t find the cobwebs. This is a form of spirit touching.

In the soundproof room, we had a conversation using the K2 as means of answering yes/no questions. We believe the spirit we communicated with was an older man, but with a limited mental capacity.
Our K2s and Mel meters didn’t register any significant readings.

We investigated several other areas in the building. However, one of our cameras malfunctioned, and the sound was not recorded. This is a big disappointment to us. We had interactions, but lost the wording and the noises.

The other group heard footsteps and noises that were not from any of us. Sandi captured a voice in the soundproof room. It sounds like a male trying to speak, but perhaps can’t articulate. This would connect to those who were considered “imbeciles”, someone who had their teeth pulled out or someone who was deaf.

The following video clips contain EVP’s from our recent investigation of Pennhurst Asylum. We highly recommend use of high quality head sets when listening. Ear buds don’t provide adequate noise cancellation.

OPI INVESTIGATION

May 2016

Dana wanted a team to investigate because she and her daughter had seen faces in the mirror, her forks were disappearing, it sounded as if someone had broken in but no one was there, and she felt cold spots. Dana wasn’t really afraid, but wanted to know what was happening. Her mom had died two years before, and she thought her mom might be the cause of some of the activity. She hoped her mom just wanted to communicate. The home was jointly owned by Dana and her mom, Carol, before Carol’s death. Before that it was owned by several others. Nothing that we know of happened that would have encouraged paranormal activity. Presently Dana lives with her teenage daughter and a roommate.

When the team arrived, we did our baseline sweeps. Nothing unusual was recorded. The team for this investigation was Greg, Angel, Shawnie, and me. We began in Carol’s old room. Carol answered to the name Gammy. We had several Class A EVP’s. I asked, “Can you tell us who you are?” A man’s voice replied, “Ray is here.” We asked, “Do you know Taylor?” A woman’s voice said, “We do know her.” Angel, Shawnie and I commented that Taylor looks young, and she’d be glad about it someday, as Angel and Shawnie are. “I think so, too!” a man told us. We heard that clearly at the time. Shawnie searched for the word that represented the shiny specks on the mirror. “Sparkles,” said Greg. “Diamonds,” a female voice said. The word beat came up on the ovilus. A man’s voice said, “Policeman.” There were several Class B’s and Class C’s, too. The suite had a large walk-in closet.

I felt a presence in the closet, so Shawnee and I went in. A voice said, “Hey, Shawnee,” and there were two knocks. I asked if this was a safe place. A female voice replied, “Stay in the closet.” Shawnie also felt the presence. A male wanted to perform a sexual act with her, and used some profane language. We felt a cold spot, and there were a few Class B’s. This was an area of personal experiences along with evidence.

Dana wanted to participate, so we included her in a session. When I turned on the spirit box, I asked if anyone could say hello to Dana. A male voice said “You’re welcome,” and another said, “Hi.” A female voice spoke the names Shawnee and Angela. This is interesting because we introduced her as Angel. When Dana asked if anyone wanted to play, a male voice answered, “Sure, why not.” Shawnie asked who was with us, and a boy’s voice told us, “Mike.” When Shawnie asked if Uncle Julius was with us, a woman told us, “Surely.” As Dana told us a story, two children’s voices said, “Hi mamma.” When I announced I’d be turning off the box, a man asked, “And you are?” When Greg told us the Kinect had died, a female voice said, ”OH!” There were some Class B’s and Class C’s.

The team moved on the family room. I asked if anyone was from St. Augustine. “Yeah,” a voice replied. “Help,” a voice said, just before Shawnie asked, “Do you need help?” The ovilus said wave, and I asked if somebody wanted us to wave. “That’d be good,” a young voice replied. As I spoke about going to the light, and what Terri told me about it, the light in the next room went on. None of us were in there. It went up two more levels. A woman’s voice answered us, “We’re going.” A young male voice said, “Found it.” Angel and Shawnie went over to investigate and found that the lamp needed to be tapped with some force to come on – it wasn’t just a strong gust of air that would make it turn on. A girls voice said, “Love you, Angel.” A voice from the SB 11 said, “I love you.” She repeated it. She also said, “Dana.” As I ended the session, I mentioned that “You made Dana happy.” “As did you,” a man’s voice answered.

We investigated the garage, especially the car. Dana says she gets many pictures of orbs in the car, and believes they are angels. We found no anomalies in the garage, and had no EVPs.

Finally, we checked the bathroom. This is where Dana and Taylor, her daughter have seen the faces in the mirror. We have no anomalies in the bathroom, except for a picture of a man’s face in the mirror. One EVP – I said I was here alone. “You’re not,” a voice declared.

Our conclusion is that there is paranormal activity in the house. We will probably return for further investigations.

OPI INVESTIGATION

Gilchrist County Jail
2nd Visit
Trenton, FL
June 2016

When we visited the jail this first time, we had so much activity that we wanted to come back and further investigate. We did! Our team on this venture was Shawnie, Greg, Angel and me. There were no unusual readings in our baseline sweep. The electricity for the building is outside on a pole. It was a hot and muggy night, typical of Florida in the summer, and the bugs were out!

Our first session was held in Sam’s cell. It’s upstairs. We set up the meters and recorders. We were rewarded with several EVPs, including some Class As. We were using the SB11 and talking about the officers killed here. “I don’t like you,” juvenile voice announced. At about this time, the camera went out of focus for some reason. A male voice told us, “We want to help you.” We said, “We hope you don’t mind us being here.” A female voice retorted, “Alright, don’t really care.” She wasn’t very enthusiastic, but at least she wasn’t angry. She also said, “Shadowbox voodoo.” She might have been talking about the SB11, since it can help spirits to speak to us, and the jail is in a very rural area where some previous residents might not have been familiar with modern technology. It is not voodoo, though! There were several other times the camera went in and out of focus, as though something was passing in front of it. We have some Class Bus and Class C, too. One was childlike voice, not from the box, saying, “Looking for my mommy.” Children may have visited the jail to see a relative, or been with a policeman father. The family who lived in the house had children, too.

We decided to explore another cell. We had a few EVPs. Most were from the spirit box. Two were voices not. Only one would I classify as Class A: “I know you survived,” from a young child. We also experienced a warm sensation, making us even more uncomfortable on that hot night.

In the holding cell, we held a K2 conversation. We asked if the one who was with us was afraid to cross over, if that’s why he stayed in the jail. The answer was a ‘yes’ as the K2 flashed to yellow. We asked if he was afraid of being judged. Again, the K2 went to yellow, indicating a ‘yes.’ There were several questions that went unanswered. We then inquired if this was a touchy subject. Listening later, we a male voice affirm, “You know.” This was not through the box. We had the camera go in and out of focus again. We asked about Willy, the man who was found dead in the jail years ago. A woman’s voice, through the box told us, “Bill went.” It sounded like the same woman who didn’t care if we were there. Did Willy cross over, or just move on to another place? We‘re left wondering. Through the box came a disturbing revelation. “Daddy abused us. Don’t tell ‘em,” a male voice stated. We can’t know who he was talking about or when or where it happened. It does make us sad to hear things like that.

Since we had some good results with the K2, we tried it again in the tiny cell. We asked, “Did you see us traveling her?” The K2 went to yellow, indicating ‘yes.’ I told the team I had felt a presence in the car. Shawnie asked, “Did you visit MaryJo?” Again, a flash to yellow. We had the same affirmative answer to the rest of our questions. “Were you anxious to meet us? Where you in the car with us? “Did you make that noise?” There was also a male voice, heard later that said, “F*** you!”

In the end cell, with arrows painted on the wall, we set up Raggedy Ann for any child. “You can touch her,” we invited. A female voice replied, “I love her.” A male voice declared, “I can’t see her.” We don’t know who he was referring to. It could be the doll, the spirit, or the one of us who was asking questions.

Downstairs are two bedrooms, a bathroom and a combination kitchen family room. There was a fire there, and it is in total disrepair. We set up in the left bedroom. The camera went in and out of focus several times, for no apparent reason. We were all just standing still. We heard some Class A EVPS listening later. The street light went off, and the room was dark. A woman’s voice exclaimed, “Why, it’s dark now!” We commented that spirits might not like being reminded that they are no longer in this world. “No,” a male voice agreed.

We were all very uncomfortable and tired, so we called it an early night. We believe the old jail has spirits, and hope to visit them again.

Old School
Fellsmere, FL
Dec. 2015/Jan 2016

In the early 1900s, Fellsmere was an idea in the mind of E. Nelson Fell. He wanted people from the northern states to move into the area to farm. The soil was rich, the weather usually warm. He even managed to bring the train to his new town, allowing easy access for potential new farmers and residents. In 1916 the first town school was built. It even has a basement of sorts, unusual in Florida. By the 1990s the school, abandoned for years, was slated for demolition. Thankfully, it was saved, and today houses the city government, Community Theater, and Boys and Girls Club. It also is host to several, if not many, spirits, most of them children! No violent deaths have ever been reported, and no suicides, but the spirits seem to like the old building with its wooden floors, high ceilings, and echoes. OPI spent two evenings investigating. Our team included Sandi, Shawnie, T.J., Greg and MaryJo. Larry of the Florida Bureau of Investigations, who has access to the building, accompanied us.

We used our Mel and K2 meters, recorders, still camera, video camera, spirit box, ovilus, and periscope. We did focus on the theater, choir room, Boys and Girls Blub area, and the electrics room. Sandi’s ovilus gave us the name Liam. Liam is a young boy who has been on investigations there before and interacted with one of the spirits. It is an unusual name, and we consider it relevant.

The 3rd floor is occupied by the choir room and theater. The stage area was an active spot. We did hear knocking on two occasions. Sandi said “hi” and a male voice responded, ‘Hi, how’d ya do?” It sounds like a regional expression. When asked where the office was located, a female voice answered, “Down the hall.” Several Class B and Class EVPs indicated a child or children, a man, and a woman there. A friend with dowsing rods asked if someone knew Liam, and the rods indicated an affirmative answer. Two of us felt a young boys presence in the room off the stage, but we had no evidence.

In the choir room, Raggedy Ann’s meter lights indicated a spirit interacted with the doll several times. We heard a bang, but it was probably Larry on another floor, The sounds are very audible in the school, and echoes and noise can be a problem if we aren’t careful. We would rather discount if in doubt. TJ sensed a woman in blue, most probably from the 1920 or 30s. She might have been a teacher there, but we have no evidence.

On the first floor, or basement, is the Boys and Girls Club. The art room and computer lab they use is on the 2nd floor. In the art room, the REM pod sounded several times, evidently being manipulated by some spirit or spirits. Words from the ovilus were odd: filthy, dark, grotesque, and adventurous. When we asked, “Can you clap?” we all heard a noise. We don’t believe it was from an outside source. In the lab, the ovilus words again were confusing: suicide, woof, and carnivore. We all heard a “snap” noise we classified as a Class A EVP.

In the basement level, in the club area, we had very little interaction. This puzzled us, because this seemed to be the location where the children’s energy would be highest. Young children are here every day after school, playing and interacting with each other.

Finally, we checked out the small room where the electrical equipment is. It is a fear cage, meaning the EMF readings were exceedingly high. This is reasonable, considering the amount of electricity passing through. We had a few Class Bs and Cs, but nothing we could call clearly audible.

While we found nothing spectacular, we did find enough to call the site haunted. We believe most of the spirits are children. They may have been playing Hide and Seek with us. The presence of one female and one male is also indicated, probably teachers. The community is small, and many spirits may feel comfortable staying in the location where they went to school, met with their friends, and enjoyed childhood. OPI hopes to return soon!

Ashley’s Restaurant
Rockledge, FL
Oct. 2015

Ashley’s restaurant has seen more than its fair share of people coming through its doors. It wasn’t even always Ashley’s, named for the notorious Ashley Gang of the 1920s. In 1933, it opened as Jack’s Tavern. It has changed hands a few times since then. It was, however, in 1933, that a young woman named Ethel Allen was allegedly murdered on the location. Her headless, mutilated body was discovered on the bank of the Indian River Lagoon. She was identified by the tattoo on her leg. Other spirits said to be residing at Ashely’s are a little girl, a young boy, and an older man. Employees tell of noises in the ladies room, furniture being moved, dishes being broken, and images in the mirror. Customers have complained about being choked by invisible hands. A train track runs right by the building, so maybe the railroad brought some spirits. Others say it may be close to an Indian burial ground. The boy is supposed to have been killed in a car accident in front of the restaurant. A waitress who once worked there may have returned after her death.

Jack’s may have been a speakeasy and brothel! There are hidden buzzers and a secret room, so there might be more to the story than we know! The inside of the restaurant looks like an old English pub with dark wood and leaded windows.

OPI was naturally curious about the stories, and arranged to investigate. Rena, Greg, and I were joined by our friend Larry from Florida Bureau of Investigations.

We started off upstairs. Since a little girl has been reported here, we brought both Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy, hoping they would trigger interaction. Initially, we had them sitting next to each other, and they seemed to be reacting! The lights in the hands kept lighting up. Then we wondered if maybe they were reacting to each other. We verified this by moving them apart. The light did not come back on!

The periscope did light up, indicating some spirit interaction. This was only momentarily, however. A train rumbled by, and the geophone showed action, but we attributed that to the train at that time. Later, when it was quiet, the geophone did display movement. We asked if someone would turn on the flashlight. A voice spoke! “Can actually turn it.” Rena wanted to know if Ethel was near. It seemed to be the wrong question! “Get out,” a voice demanded. We asked about the little boy. “If he could come with me, he’d come,” a male voice told us. We turned on the spirit box. A male voice clearly told us, “That’s my girl!” “Freak-out!” and “That’s impossible!” These were not in response to questions, but willing utterances. Rena and I, retorting to the ghost comment, asked, “Ghosts? Where?” This began a conversation! A woman’s voice replied, “You’re livin’ in it!” We asked, “Are you looking at us?” “Yes, I suppose I am,” was the rather flippant response. “Can you see us,” we asked. “I guess,” a voice answered. A male voice told us, “The energy’s in here!” We heard the names Gary, Linda, and Michael Peedy, or Peety. I checked, and there was a Michael Petty who died in the area in 2011. Our Mel reached a 3.2, an impressive reading! It sat on the same spot for a long time both before and after the EVP session, and didn’t register anything close to that!

Greg was taking pictures, and Larry went into the ladies room to do an EVP session. Rena and I sat by the fireplace downstairs. I smelled gingerbread, and I don’t know where that came from. I heard a male voice appeal, “Please help me.” A child’s voice also asked for help. It was very clear. Suddenly, we heard Larry shout out from the ladies room. We rushed over to see if he was alright. He was! He told us he had his flashlight wedged in the corner of the door to the stall, and it was pushed down to the floor! He demonstrated how the light was, and it would not have fallen on its own! We told him the lady spirits didn’t want him in there! It wasn’t proper! Rena and I went in and asked, “Did you not like Larry in here because he’s a guy?” “Thanks for your help,” a voice responded. Rena was chuckling about a man in the ladies room, and we heard corresponding laughter! However, a deep male voice demanded, “Get out!” We don’t know who he was or why he would be in there!

We sat at the bar, but didn’t get much activity. The periscope did seem to activate once, and there is an unexplained noise. We then moved over to the area that was the original front door, and talked about the pictures hanging on the wall. There was no reaction.

However, once we turned on the spirit box, we did hear some EVPs! And we had some interaction with the REM and periscope! We asked about Ethel again. “Ethel is home,” a voice reported. I wonder if home is her old home when she was alive or her home in the next life? We did hear the same male voice several times, but couldn’t make out what he was saying. The REM feature on the SB 11 was triggered several times and once the periscope responded. As I was ending the session, a clear voice told us, “Thank you!” Whether thanking me for ending the session, or speaking with the spirits, I don’t know!

We had sensed some negativity in one corner of the upstairs, and Greg had a photo verifying that, so we commenced another EVP session. The responses seem to validate both of these. When asked for a name, the answer was a distinct, “No.” A child’s voice said several things. It could have been either the boy or the girl. They included: “The men,” “Kids think,” and “What’s this?” The last question might have been about the spirit box REM feature which did activate. A man’s voice told us, “Go back” and “leave.” The K2 flashed to yellow and orange several times, indicating spirit activity. The periscope also showed activity.

We tried the dowsing rods. Both Rena and I used them. The results were inconclusive
Our final stop was the stairs. The ovilus gave us the name ‘Paul.’ We asked if there was a Paul. Through the spirit box, we think we heard the answer, “Yes.” A woman’s voice called for ‘Maggie.’ It’s a Class A EVP. We asked if “Spot” was a good name for the tiny stuffed puppy Rena was using a trigger. The lights on the periscope seemed to indicate that someone did. The REM was drained! The activity seemed to stop, so we called it a night.

We did garner enough results that we credit Ashley’s with indeed having ghost activity. We can’t judge who interacted with us, but it was definitely somebody or somebodies. The staff who claims to have experienced activity probably has. Although there is a negative energy present, it doesn’t seem to want to hurt anybody. We think he or she is sad or angry but not blaming anyone at the restaurant or any of the guests. Maybe next time we will be able to gain even more knowledge.

Denice’s Antiques and Collectibles
St. Augustine, FL
Aug. 2015

https://www.facebook.com/Antiques-Uniques-Collectibles-143577332379922/timeline/

On this, our second visit to the shop, we found the garage area to be the most active, although Denice finds the area under the stairs to be her most interesting. The shop is on Aviles Street in the old part of St. Augustine, the oldest continually occupied European settled city in North America. The city is so rich in history and diversity! We love it! This building once housed a jail. Later, it was owned by a man named Ted, who doesn’t seem to like other people visiting “his home.” On this visit, Greg and I were joined by Paula.

We began in the garage, behind the store, and found it to most active! Turning on the spirit box, we distinctly heard the word “mommy.” This could be a reference to Denice who says children inhabit the building, and look upon her as their mother. We also have an EVP in which a woman’s voice says something sounding like “wilawila latchee” and a few other words that weren’t English and didn’t sound Spanish. It could be a Timucua, the people who lived here before Ponce de Leon came looking for the fountain of youth and the Spaniards settled. A male voice said the word “bitches” several times. It may have been Ted, not liking the fact that we were there. Another voice ordered, “Come on over here!” When I commented, “You are being aggressive,” the ovilus said “aggressive” and the answer “yes” came through the spirit box. We knocked twice, and herd an answering knock. The K2 interacted frequently, flashing to orange. This was done upon request as well as voluntarily. We took the opportunity to chat a bit, and using the K2 discovered that the spirit communicating liked chicken with grits, apple pie, and beer. It’s always gratifying to be able to know something about the person they are. We heard some tapping noises upstairs. Over the garage is the back porch to the small apartment Ted lived in. Paula and I investigated, and could find no reason for the noise. We wondered if Madison, Denice’s late young friend was with us. “Don’t call me,” a female voice said. Madison, though, was a young man. When we sympathized, “We are so sorry about what happened to you,” the K2 did flicker. Greg took several pictures showing both negative and positive energies. The activity seemed to slow, so we ventured into another room.

In the room with all the videos and records, we captured several clear EVPs. “Poke your nose,” was one that didn’t seem friendly. We also got the name Deana. We also hear, “What are you?” and “Where are you?” indicating someone couldn’t see us, but could hear us! We also heard the name Bubba. When I announced that I was ending the spirit box session, a male voice told us, “Don’t.” The REM feature on the SB 11 did react somewhat, but it was generally a quiet session.

Finally, we went to the room under the stairs, which always is a good spot for Denice. We had very little luck, however. Our only two clear EVPs were a child’s voice saying “Hey there!” and a female telling us, “Go back!” We did hear two bumping sounds. The first one did not get recorded! The second sound did, though. The K2 flickered once, and we had some pictures of a bright energy, which we think is protection.

All in all, we did have some results but not what we hoped. We understand that spirits don’t perform on request, and there is no scheduled matinee. There are many factors involved in investigation: weather, investigative traffic, personalities, time, season, etc. Maybe the next time, we will have more activity. We did have good results in the garage, so we will probably start there again.