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An investigation methodology involves two elements...(1) the overall approach
and philosophy of the investigators and (2) the specific steps taken during the investigation.
OVERALL APPROACH AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE INVESTIGATORS
There were slight differences in the approaches that Stewart Blackwell, Dave Bryant,
Shawn Geabhart, Laura Fischer, and Mark Stinson individually brought to the return investigation at the Strawberry
Hill Museum. But one thing remained very consistent...
We were constantly searching for a natural explanation for anything that happened that appeared to be out-of-the-ordinary.
For something to be considered paranormal, all natural explanations must be examined and excluded as possibilities.
- Early in the night, Stew, Dave, and Shawn were in the Old Kitchen and heard a
male voice speaking conversationally in the Children's Dining Room...just through a doorway from them. They walked
into the next room to find no one there, except Francie Sachen, our host. She was reading a book. They asked
her if she had heard anyone talking or if she had been talking. She said she was absolutely quiet...and had heard
nothing. Rather than immediately assuming a paranormal cause for the male voices, Stew, Dave, and Shawn looked
outside the building to make sure it wasn't someone outside the building that had been talking. They also got
on their radios and figured out where Laura and I were located, and determined we had been on the opposite end
of the large building.
- Later in the evening, two different teams were performing ghost vigils on opposite
ends of the building. Both teams again heard male voices talking...at the exact same time. After confirming each
teams locations, we experimented to see if it was possible to hear each other. Even yelling at the top of our
lungs, it was imposible to hear each other. We then identified the location of the other two people in the building,
and performed experiments where we talked quietly, then loudly, and then screamed to see if they could have been
heard by either or both of the teams. When we could not even hear the screaming, we then had an investigator climb
up on a chair and yell into the air vents, to eliminate that as a source for the male voices.
- Several times we measured odd levels of electromagnetic fields at unexpected
locations of the building. We would then bring out our more sensitive tri-field meter and remeasure the EMF levels.
We would follow the strength and direction of the field in order to identify the source of the EMF. In all but
one case, we were able to locate a power cable in the wall or floor, an electronic appliance, or some other cause
for the EMF other than a paranormal cause.
So while we all differed a little in our approach or motivations, our standards
and scientific approach were consistent throughout the investigation. As we gathered evidence, every piece of evidence
or reported activity had to be put into context and evaluated in relation to the rest of the evidence or reported
activity. This is something we will do on all our investigations.
SPECIFIC STEPS TAKEN DURING THE INVESTIGATION
Having already conducted an investigation at the Strawberry Hill Museum, we knew
which areas of the location we wanted to investigate more closely. We wanted to spend more time doing ghost vigils.
Our first investigation was rushed...considering this is a huge building with 42 rooms and a diverse paranormal
history. We wanted to spend more time in the Nuns Hallway on the 2nd floor and the "James Cruise" closet
on the 3rd floor. And we wanted to focus on the Chapel, an area of the location we had spent very little time on
during our initial investigation. This is the plan we created and how we followed it during the investigation:
- In the weeks prior to the investigation we prepared investigation maps of the
building's three floors and a basement, so that members of our investigation team not familiar with the location
would have something to guide their movements.
- We read over our investigation report from our first investigation at the location,
so that we were fully familiar it.
- We met as a group at a nearby restaurant to go over our plans and to ensure that
we all arrived at the Strawberry Hill Museum on-time and as a group.
- When we arrived at the location, we introduced everyone to Francie, our host.
She then took us on a short tour of the museum, so that the investigators not present at the first Strawberry
Hill investigation would be familiar with the building.
- We determined where to position the stationary cameras and stationary recording
devices...and working as a team we had those set up fairly quickly..
- By this time we had decided on the rooms of the location where we wanted to focus
our attention. We split into two groups, and began ghost vigils in those locations. We took photos, recorded
hand-held video, took meter readings, and recorded audio for the possible collection of Electronic Voice Phenomenon.
- Occasionally we switched ghost vigil locations, so that we could cover several
areas...and have each focus area covered by both the teams at some point.
- With our time almost up, we gathered up all of our equipment, took some final
photographs, and packed up to leave. We thanked Rocket and Teresa for allowing us access to the location...and
gave them some idea of when our analysis of the evidence would be complete.
This was Laura's first investigation, but she fit right into the team. All of
the investigators at some point mentioned to me how well she was doing. As a group we were able to deploy our
cameras and equipment, conduct our investigation, and successfully complete all of our research goals in a smooth
and organized manner. This was a very rewarding investigation...and a fitting follow-up to our first Strawberry
Hill investigation.
-Mark Stinson
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