Location: Private Residence (Civil War Hospital)
Jefferson County, Florida
Date: 25 April 2003
Time: From approximately 8:00pm until approximately 11: 50 PM
Weather Conditions: Clear and warm
General Info: Humidity 96%
*Wind speed calm
*Cloud cover: Cloudy
*Temperature: Outside 66ºF / Inside 74ºF
Lunar Cycle: 2 days past last quarter
Solar Flares: Solar X-rays erratic
Any cold spots or sensations: none
Any unusual occurrences: Visible "sparkle" burst, slight perfume smell in one room
Equipment:
Thermometer: Ex-Tech 42520 Laser Thermal Scanner and Digital thermometer
EVP: yes Recorder(s) used: Digital RCA Model 50108(1), Magnetic
recorder: GE model 3-5383 with external microphone (1)I
EMF Gauss meter Range of Reading: .01 to 10.0 mg
Digital Camera: HP-235 Photosmart (2), Sony Model MCV-FD (1), Sony ModelF707(1)
35mm Camera Pentax IQZoom 60S (1)
Infrared Video Camera: Sony Hi-8 with inferred night shot (2) Sony Super Night Shot 8mm (1)
Regular Video Camera: Yes
Motion Detectors(2) EMF detector (alarm) (1)
Investigators Present: BBGT Investigators Betty, Valynda, Jim, Chris and Michele
Other People present: Homeowner and his wife
Observations and Conclusions: Based on preliminary interviews with the owner of the home and previous reports by other witnesses to activity in the home the Big Bend Ghost Trackers investigated the antebellum home of a prominent local attorney , in Jefferson County, Florida at the homeowner's invitation. The known history of the home is it was built sometime in the late 1830's as a one-story structure with an attic floor. The first floor was later raised (late 1850's) and the ground floor was then built beneath it, making it basically a three-story house. Since the current owners have had the house, they, and many of their guests and clients have heard, seen, and smelled various apparitions and phenomena including sounds of footsteps on the stairs, opening and closing of doors, strong odors of putrid flesh, and some odors of perfume. The home was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers of both the Union and Confederate forces following the battle of Olustee in February 1864 as were several other houses in the area. Hostile Native Americans in a raid also attacked it in the 1830's and a woman was said to have been killed with an arrow from the bow of one of the warriors.
The upstairs attic floor, what is now the 3rd floor of the house, is in its original condition, and has never been wired for electricity. Prior to the Civil War, it was used as servant's quarters as evidenced by the beautiful and striking designs painted on the framework of the fireplaces in the two bedrooms on that floor.
The Big Bend Ghost Trackers investigation team consisting of Ghost Trackers Betty, Valynda ,Jim , Chris, and Michele, arrived at approximately 8:00pm. After introductions and standard protocol protection, Jim and Chris began taking baseline temperature and EMF readings both inside and outside the house and yard area. Infrared Video cameras were set up on all three floors near areas where activity had been previously reported, and an EVP recording was started in a 3rd floor bedroom.
Motion detectors were placed in the left and right 3rd floor bedrooms as well. Temperature and EMF readings were taken by Jim and Chris on a half hourly basis throughout the duration of the investigation with no abnormal readings or variations until approximately 10:00pm when Betty and Michele experienced a sudden burst of activity in the left side 3rd floor bedroom (the former slave quarters). Betty saw a brilliant series of "sparkles" followed by the motion detector alarm going off. This activity was accompanied by a sudden increase in EMF from 0.9millegauss to 7.0milligauss. It was noted that there is no electricity or wiring at all on the 3rd floor. Subsequent photos revealed several orbs in the room. As luck would have it, this was the only bedroom that did not contain a video camera.
There were two other notable incidents during the investigation. One in the back office area of the first floor when Chris suddenly experienced the slight smell of a toilet water-like perfume at approximately 9:15pm. Another when Jim took outside temp and EMF readings outside at approximately the same time as the motion detector went off upstairs and experienced a 7.0 milligauss reading beneath the 3rd story window. Several orbs were captured on camera both inside and outside the house. One anomaly was captured on video on the 1st floor where Chris smelled perfume, which appears to be a figure moving very rapidly across the room. This is currently being analyzed for validation.
Conclusions: of the investigation were that there are several spirit presence's in the home, none of which portray a malevolent nature. There also seems to be some residuals they're i.e. the smells and some of the sounds heard. Most houses of this vintage seem to retain a "living history" all their own. This one definitely does.
The current owners of this beautiful old home are very comfortable with their spirits and wish it to remain that way. A special thanks to them for their hospitality and allowing us to investigate they're home.
