Contact RISEUP:
Phone:
(401) 624-1782
Email:
Other Site Features:
Network with RISEUP :
Website Powered by:
Western, R.I.
December 17, 2008
RISEUP was contacted by a source wishing to remain anonymous in November of 2008 to gauge our interest in researching and investigating claims of paranormal activity at an historic site in the western part of Rhode Island. Because of the prestige and historical significance associated with the location - as well as a stated desire by its stewards to discourage any and all paranormal groups from submitting requests for investigations - RISEUP will post this case file while maintaining complete respect for the conditions set forth by those involved in the building's function and preservation. No information regarding the building's location, history or inhabitants will be disclosed. Likewise, no photos of the exterior or interior will be published.
RISEUP is both humbled and honored to be the first and only group to be invited into this location for the purpose of a professional paranormal investigation.
Temperature: 22 degrees (outdoors)
47 degrees (indoors)
Weather: Clear
RISEUP Investigators present: Ken DeCosta
David DeCosta
Chris Blanchette
Geographical and Historical Data
Data withheld to protect the confidentiality of the investigation .
Activity
Shadowy figures darting about the home, doors slamming shut with no apparent cause, doors found open after being secured, footsteps heard upstairs in the otherwise empty building, apparition of original owner seen in first floor window, the presence of "something" inside the building felt by staff and guests alike.
Orientation
At the agreed-upon date of the original investigation, RISEUP investigator met with our host "George" at his home. We were then driven to the location and arrived there at 6:00 pm.
We were initially struck by the outward appearance of the property as it was readily apparent that the directorship had gone to great lengths to preserve the building with all resources available to mirror its original form. The grounds were neat and well-kept and the entire setting embodied a kind of regality and serenity. It was indeed a trip backwards in time to a early point in the development of our nation.
Upon entering the building, one is immediately struck by the attention to detail in the placement and style of its furnishings, most of which remain in the original form that once graced the home. While inspiring to view the same fixtures used by the original inhabitants, great care would be needed in order to navigate through the soon-to-be-darkened house around such fragile and significant pieces. A great deal of time was spent familiarizing ourselves with our environment.
Our extensive historical research of the property would prove beneficial in our approach to investigating the claims of activity and what energies might have remained behind here whether residual or intelligent. This research was greatly aided by the vast array of knowledge of the family who resided here and the history of that era by our host George, who would join us on this night not only out of a sense of responsibility to the property but to satisfy his own curiosity about the reported activity here.
It is important to note that in doing a baseline sweep of the building - in order to establish electrical power sources and anything else that might result in false positive readings - that the presence of electricity was minimal at best. Only three sources, the security code keypad on the first floor, the breaker box and the oil burner circuits both located in the basement displayed any "bleed" at all. In fact, many of the rooms we would investigate had no electrical sources at all and remains in its original state. A fact that would prove vital upon review of our audio and video recordings.
As this was our initial foray into the building, we thought it best to minimize the amount of equipment brought in. Therefore, we focused on digital audio recordings and video documentation. We were also thrilled that we would be granted complete access to the location, including places that are otherwise prohibited to guests.
Investigation
After the initial walk-through which took about an hour, we broke for dinner. While we were gone, we set up a IR video recorder on a bench at the far end of the upstairs hallway and trained it on a KII meter that was stood upright against a stairway banister at the far end. It was hoped that if there was any disturbance in the atmosphere in this area where footsteps have been heard that it might register on the meter while the building was empty and sealed.
On our return we broke up and started audio (EVP) experiments in various rooms. While inside a second floor bedroom - sitting on the floor in the empty, darkened room - Ken asked a series of questions including one that centered around the possible presence of a son or daughter of the original owners. The KII meter would light up at this point. Ken was soon joined by David and the questioning continued. A control question regarding the presence of offspring was asked and again the meter would illuminate in response. No further questions elicited any response and the session ended with nothing further to chronicle.
The night wore on without anything significant occurring until the point where we were about to finish for the evening. Ken requested George accompany him to an upstairs bedroom thought to be the bedroom of one of the younger female family members for an EVP/KII session which George readily agreed to. The video camera placed in the upstairs hallway earlier in the evening had remained in that spot to this point. A KII meter and a digital recorder were placed in separate areas on the four-poster bed and the session started.
Questioning began surrounding the history, events and identities of the family and whether any possible contact was possible. When the question "Are you a son or daughter of ___________?" The KII lit up significantly to George's surprise and Ken's delight. At that point, Ken retreated into the hallway to get the camcorder to document what was hoped to be a prolonged period of activity.
Note: The theory surrounding the KII meter (pictured below) is that it is designed to register fluctuations in the magnetic fields in the area in which it is placed. It is further suggested that spirits or entities may interact with the device by coming into close proximity to it. Their presence can cause the series of lights on the device to illuminate to various levels. This can also in theory be used to signal a response to a question in a "yes" or "no" manner.
It is also vital to note that the device can be falsely triggered by the presence of cell phones or walkie-talkies. In this particular case, all cell phones were turned off (a RISEUP requirement on all investigations) and no communication devices were present. As we also have noted, in this particular room - there are no sources of electrical power whatsoever.
On previous investigations where we have had spikes in the KII, we have encountered what appears to be quite random lighting of the device. This is always considered and usually dismissed as something non-paranormal. In this particular investigation, we are satisfied this is not the case. No one else was in this room or on this floor at the time.
Questioning continued in the bedroom and as it ran its course, there were numerous KII spikes that were for all intents and purposes direct responses to questions. The entire session was videotaped and is in our archives. Responses to questions such as "You lit up this device before (spike).....can you do it again?" (spike), and "Can you see us right now?" (spike), all seem to follow a pattern of intelligent responses. Control questions were asked, positions were changed and appropriate pauses were made in questioning to eliminate coincidence, extraneous sources or simply random illumination of the lights.
At one point in the session, Ken asked if an audible sound like rapping or knocking could be made to signify a presence. He demonstrated by knocking on a wall three times. A few seconds later, David called for the tape to be marked as tapping was heard from his and Chris' location on the floor below.
It should also be noted that we received spikes in response to politeness and kindness toward the "subject". The session would end at George's request as the hour was late and a long ride home awaited everyone. A final goodbye was said to whomever was in the room at that point and the KII would light up in response.
Conclusion
After a slow start, it appears on the surface that the reports of activity surrounding the property may have some merit to them. The KII session in the upstairs bedroom was a fascinating experiment that seems to have yielded great results.
One of the ways we chose to debunk the results was to check under the bed to determine whether or not any metals might be present that could conduct any sort of electrical or magnetic currents. This was done with the knowledge that certain antiquated four-poster beds (particularly in 17th and 18th century England) had copper mesh frames under the mattress to support it. This was not the case here as the composition of the frame was completely wooden - with dove-tail and tongue and groove joints and wooden pegs rather than nails. The bed contains no metals whatsoever.
Nothing was picked up on the digital recorder that was present in the room. However, the tapping noise heard by David and Chris was synchronized against the video recording and it was found that at that point, indeed three taps that mimicked Ken's were recorded on a different digital recorder in an adjoining bedroom to the one where mere seconds before - Ken had made his request.
A review of the video we recorded during our dinner break of the second floor hallway displayed two things of note. The first was a single spike in the KII meter that was leaning upright against the stairway banister. In the empty house that was perhaps random, but cannot be adequately explained.
The second was a loud click that was picked up by the video recorder. This click seems to echo what we heard many times on this visit, the latches of the interior doors being manipulated. This may actually be the most interesting phenomena we experienced. All interior doors are the type that were common in this era - those of thumb-latch mechanisms. Our attempts to recreate the sound were successful - it is indeed the same sound.
The final interesting experience was as the group was about to leave. Ken was standing outside the first room to the right of the entrance downstairs speaking to George. Chris was seen in this room for a brief time earlier. While conversing, the familiar sound of a latch being lifted was heard inside the room to Ken's immediate left. Peering inside the room, expecting to see Chris fiddling with the door, Ken saw no one. Seconds later, Chris appeared at the front door having been outside making a phone call.
The experiences and the taped evidence at this location was if nothing else - compelling. We are extremely pleased and grateful to have been invited back for more sessions at this intriguing location along with a stroll around its grounds. As we move forward, our next visit will center around debunking the reported activity and invalidating our own experiences in order to find more rational explanations before making any definitive claims of a haunting.