Arrival
The majority of the team arrived shortly before 12:30 pm, and participated in a guided tour of Madison Seminary with a caretaker of the building. They took this opportunity to hear more about the history of the structures, and determine where equipment should be placed throughout the building. After the tour, the team was informed they would be able to bring in their equipment earlier than expected.
At this time, the team began to set up equipment throughout the building. Starting in the Wittenmyer Cottage (WC), where the team placed a Sony HDR-CX160 multi-spectrum camera in the Basement Hallway, facing the Bathroom that is reported to have activity. In shot of this camera was placed a Zoom H1 audio recorder, Mel-8704SDD single-axis EMF meter and “shadow detector”, and an EDI+ datalogger. As well, in the doorway of the Bathroom was a small Trigger Object bank consisting of a dirty magazine (as the claims in this area are normally in the form of seemingly sexual advances toward women). Trigger objects are miscellaneous items that are strategically chosen in hopes to invoke a response.
The EDI+ datalogger is a device that datalogs temperature, EMF, and humidity, and also has a geophone built into it. This device datalogs for the entire investigation, and records the data to an SD card that can be used to generate graphs of each variable over time on a computer after the investigation. If anything in the Trigger Object bank was manipulated, the EDI+ datalogger could be used to see if any of the variables it was recording changed when the event occurred.
On the 2nd Floor of WC in the Hallway, the team placed a Mel-8704SDD single-axis EMF meter and “shadow detector” to capture anything moving down the hall. Opposite that, a Sony HDR-CX160 multi-spectrum camera was placed, along with a Zoom H1 audio recorder. Within the camera’s view, the team also left an EDI+ datalogger.
Off of the 2nd Floor Hallway, in Elizabeth Stile’s room, was placed a Zoom H1 audio recorder – there were no direct claims of activity in this room, but the team aimed to capture the floor completely.
Behind the central structure connecting the two buildings on the grounds the investigators placed an outdoor recorder to capture and rule out any exterior contamination or interference during the investigation.
Moving into the Ohio Cottage (OC), the team placed a Zoom H1 audio recorder in the Basement Body Hole – A location where a murder victim was supposedly buried.
In the 1st Floor Administrative Suite, the team placed a Ghost Pro 2 multi-spectrum camera and Zoom H1 audio recorder inside of Room 14, where Mary died under mysterious circumstances. Within the view of the camera, the team also placed a Trigger Object bank and EDI+ datalogger.
On the 2nd Floor, the team spread their equipment throughout the space. They placed a Zoom H1 audio recorder near one end of the hallway, nearest a restroom where a previous caretaker had committed suicide by hanging. On the opposite side of the building, a Sony HDR-CX160 multi-spectrum camera was placed, facing down the perpendicular hallway that ends in Sarah’s Room, in the view of this camera an EDI+ datalogger was also placed.
In Sarah’s Room the team positioned a Sony FDR AX-53 camera to capture the room, as well as an EDI+ datalogger, hoping to add validity to the claims of a little girl’s spirit that is said to be found in this area.
The team made their way to the 3rd Floor, and placed a Zoom H1 audio recorder in the Attic area, as well as an EDI+ datalogger. Moving into the 3rd Floor Asylum, the team positioned a Sony HDR-CX160 multi-spectrum camera to capture the main hallway and an EDI+ datalogger that was placed on the floor nearby along with a Zoom H1 audio recorder.
On the 3rd Floor in a room dedicated to that of an “angry man”, the team placed a Ghost Pro multi-spectrum camera, as well as a new device to the team: the Phantom Science Lab datalogger.
This device is used to capture readings from ten different sensors, including radiation, touch, light and magnetism – this allows the team to gain a more complete understanding of the space in which paranormal activity may be happening, and help them gain insight into the environment a haunting creates or is most likely to occur within.
Every member of PIM is equipped with a Zoom H1 audio recorder, which is used as their control recorder, a Boblov body camera and either the Extech RHT50 or Extech SD700 datalogger. Control recorders are not only used as another recording device but also to document the sound contamination that an investigator might create during an investigation. Control recorders are started and time stamped first before any other equipment is started and they are turned off last to ensure any anomalous noises can be cross-checked. All audio recorders, including control recorders, are also placed in a Faraday cage.
A Faraday cage is a container that can block EMF frequencies. The construction of the cage will determine how many different EMF frequencies the cage will be able to block. Faraday cages work by generating an external static electrical field which causes the electric charges within the cage’s conducting material to be distributed such that they cancel the field’s effect in the cage’s interior. PIM’s cages are designed to specifically block out FM, and some AM, radio frequencies from interfering with their audio recorders, thus creating false EVPs.
The Extech dataloggers take temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure readings once a minute (RHT50) or every 5 seconds (SD700), and is used to try and correlate environmental data with any personal experiences an investigator might encounter during an investigation or anomalous audio/video data captured during an investigation.
At 6:05 pm, the team moved throughout both buildings and began to start devices running, giving them timestamps as they went.
The team also took inside and outside baseline readings at 6:27 pm. These readings are listed below.
At 6:33 pm, after all devices in the building were running, the investigators left the building to settle. They took this opportunity to get a few group photos and got dinner before the investigation started.
Later at 8:38 pm, the team returned from their short break, ready to start the investigation.
Investigation
9:03 pm – OC 3rd Floor – Hallway
The team began in the OC 3rd Floor – Hallway, the investigators spread themselves throughout the area, making sure to maintain line of sight, and prepared to begin their first EVP Session of the night. Within a minute or so, the team began control silence. Control silence is the practice of sitting quietly and getting accustomed to the normal sounds of the building. It allows for investigators to get a baseline of normal building sounds.
After about a minute, control silence was concluded. The team noted hearing birds and crickets outside, an airplane overhead, and the sound of a buzzing insect in the area.
At 9:09 pm, The investigators began the EVP session by introducing themselves, and asking for responses.
After a while at 9:16 pm, Tom, who was sitting in the Attic portion of the 3rd Floor, noted that the windows facing the street were producing a large amount of light movement within the room. This was due to the headlights of cars driving past.
Moments later, Noah reported the EDI+ datalogger that was sitting on the ground near him flashing one of its indicator lights. This was caused by the change in atmosphere in the room as the sun set and temperature in the space decreased. This would continue throughout the remainder of the session. Moments later Mitch also mentioned that in the area where he was sitting (down the hall from the team), that he could hear some sort of animal making noise within the wall.
Upon Noah asking if there was a patient from the asylum, at 9:18 pm, he heard a thump. Members of the team pointed out that this sound was likely from outside, believing it to be a house or car door slamming. Almost immediately thereafter, multiple investigators heard what sounded like a muffled conversation occurring. Mitch, who was sitting nearest the window, confirmed that no one had been near the building talking loudly at the time. However, considering the number of tagged stomach noises during this session, it is safest to assume this was the noise’s origin.
After numerous questions and debunking opportunities, the team headed down to the 2nd Floor of the OC, to Sarah’s Room, at 9:27 PM.
9:30 pm – OC 2nd Floor – Sarah’s Room
While Noah and Gravy made a trip back to basecamp for a piece of equipment, the remainder of the team took seats within the OC 2nd Floor – Sarah’s Room. After about a minute, the team began control silence, reporting mostly stomach noises.
The team began their next EVP session, at 9:32 pm, with Marilsa introducing the group and trying to elicit interaction for the reported apparition of “Sarah”.
At 9:39 pm, investigators reported the sound of a bang, potentially a distant firework going off.
Later at 9:46 pm, the team noted that there was a dog barking somewhere nearby. Then, multiple team members reported what sounded like distant voices, but they were unable to ascertain the origin of the sound. Shortly thereafter, Gravy noticed an odd sound, but after investigating, he found the source to be a piece of plastic moving near the window due to a slight breeze, at 9:51 pm.
After a while at 10:05 pm, after a quiet EVP session, the team decided to move down another floor.
10:09 pm – OC 1st Floor – Administrative Suite
Following the move to the OC 1st Floor – Administrative Suite, the investigators spread out inside of the area, just before noting that a bat was present. Then, at 10:12 pm, the team began their EVP session, with Brandon introducing the group.
With the only activity being a very friendly bat on the 1st Floor, they decided to move onto other parts of the building, at 10:26 pm. Almost immediately thereafter, the team took a short break to rehydrate in the heat.
10:50 pm – OC Basement – Body Hole
After the break, team proceeded to the OC Basement – Body Hole and spread out in the area. After about a minute, the investigators began control silence. Control silence was ended about a minute later when Noah, Gravy and Brandon heard two very distinct, odd noises in the Body Hole Room – the noises were described as a thump as well as a large weight shifting. The latter sound was enough that it was felt through the floor by Noah.
At 11:01 pm, after discussing the strange noises being heard and another visit from a local bat, the team began their EVP session.
Later at 11:17 pm, after an exciting, but ultimately uneventful EVP session, the team decided to move down the hall into the common area. This is where a spirit nicknamed “Grandpa” is said to linger.
11:22 pm – West Basement – Common Room
After the move, the team spread out along the “L” shaped room with Mitch at the far end and Noah nearest the entrance to the central building.
The team began control silence at 11:25 pm. Investigators noted hearing the sounds of crickets outdoors and cars passing on the road out front before beginning their EVP session.
At 11:27 pm, Tom introduced the group and began the EVP session, trying to welcome an interaction with any entity that may have been present.
After a while at 11:32 pm, Brandon reports hearing two very small taps on or near the table in the corner of the room, and asks Mitch (who was nearby) if he had heard the noise. Brandon noted suspecting a bug or mouse, but Mitch had not heard the noise. Within a minute or so, Noah reported a high-pitched noise coming from the central building connecting the Ohio Cottage to the Wittenmyer Cottage. The team members who heard it likened the noise to a scream or a moan.
Then, at 11:36 pm, Gravy noted a sound described as “wooden” coming from the same floor, but down the hallway or from the stairwell leading to the upper floors. It is important to note that the door separating the Common Room from the Body Hole area is old and wooden – this may account for the noise. Brandon and Noah investigated the area, finding nothing out of place.
At 11:40 pm, the investigators concluded their EVP session, planning to move into the WC where sounds had been heard shortly before.
11:42 pm – West Basement – Hallway
Once in the other building, the team spread throughout the small hallway in the Basement of the WC. It is important to note that there was a MEL-8704 EMF meter with “shadow detector” feature in this area – this device uses a beam of IR light to read if anything moves through an area. Unfortunately, in this case, each investigator is equipped with a body camera with onboard IR lights. Due to this, the “shadow detector” sounded very frequently, and the output of the device could not be trusted while investigators were in the area.
Noah mentioned the enormous, mummified remains of a very large spider in the Bathroom near the bottom of the stairs, so two members of the team moved in to see the hanging horror. Little did they know the true terrors that awaited them during Expedition 2022’s final investigation.
Then, the investigators began control silence. Shortly thereafter, control silence was concluded and the team noted hearing the IR lights, and Noah’s stomach.
At 11:48 pm, an EVP session was started, with Noah introducing the group.
The team concluded their EVP session without incident, and decided to move to another part of the WC, at 12:11 am.
At 12:16 am, before moving to their next location, Brandon and Noah trekked up to the Attic of the OC to replace a memory card in a stationary camera and returned to the group at 12:23 am.
12:30 am – West 2nd Floor – Hallway
Following the move to the other part of the WC, the team spread out along the Hallway.
After a while at 12:37 am, the team members began control silence. Investigators noted hearing the hum of IR lights and traffic.
At 12:39 am, an EVP session was started.
Later at 12:53 am, with a very quiet EVP session completed, the group decided to move once again up to the 3rd Floor Attic of the OC – breaking down equipment as they moved to lower floors in preparation for the end of the investigation.
12:57 am – OC 3rd Floor – Hallway
After the team proceeded to the OC 3rd Floor – Hallway, the investigators spread throughout the Hallway and made sure to end up in different spots than their first visit to this area.
At 12:58 am, the team started their EVP session with a prod toward the rumored spirit and an “angry man” in a back room of the Hallway.
After nudging the spirits to communicate on this floor, the EVP session was ended without any events of note. The team left for the next floor, after breaking down their equipment, at 1:08 am.
1:16 am – OC 2nd Floor – Hallway
After the move, the team members found places across the width of the 2nd Floor. Noah and Gravy were stationed near the Administrative Suite with Brandon and Mitch capping off the opposite end of the building.
At 1:17 am, Gravy began this EVP session by asking if “Sarah” was present and ready to talk with the team.
Later at 1:25 am, the team asked a multitude of questions and tried everything in their power to communicate with any entity present on the 2nd Floor, but no response was captured. The team began to break down their equipment on this floor, before heading down to the 1st Floor again.
1:30 am – OC 1st Floor – Administrative Suite
Once in the OC 1st Floor – Administrative Suite, the team found locations throughout the floor and prepared to begin their EVP session.
After a few minutes at 1:32 am, investigators started their EVP session attempting to reach out to “Mary”, a recorded suicide in this area of the building. Although, there is doubt cast on this suicide, as her husband was known to be violently abusive.
After much questioning, and without any responses, the team yet again broke down their equipment on the floor they were investigating. After this, the team gathered all remaining equipment, and ended their investigation, at 1:40 am.
Conclusion
PIM would like to first of all thank Adam and his awesome team of caretaker’s, especially Shelly, who guided the PIM team through the building and gave exceptional insight into the history of the structures. After a night of interesting personal experiences, the team was left feeling excited for the remainder of their 2022 Expedition.
