MIDWEST PRETERNATURAL RESEARCH/FOX VALLEY SPIRIT HUNTERS CO-INVESTIGATION REPORT
Date Of Investigation: Monday, August 25th, 2008
Investigation Site: Private Business, Appleton, WI
Investigators Present: Matt S (Midwest Preternatural Research), Katie K, Rachel R, Tina K, Jeni K, and Ann L (Fox Valley Spirit Hunters)
Clients/Visitors Present: Clients B and X
Equipment Used: Two Surveillance Video Cameras, Hand Held Video Camera, a Compaq V200 Laptop Computer, Trifield Standard EMF Meter, Trifield Natural EMF Meter, K-II EMF Meter, Dual Infrared Non-Contact Thermometer/Air Probe Thermometer, Thermometer/Hydrometers, Zoon H4 Digital Field Recorder, Digital Cameras, Digital Voice Recorders, Motion Sensors
Report written by: Matt
Background: The clients report lots of temperature changes, things falling off shelves for no reason, phantom noises and footsteps, lights going out without the switch being flipped, a child's toy with the imprint of a child's face on it (no children were around or had been for hours), chalk boards being erased... all things that they said could easily be written off as pranks by other employees, and that stuff DOES happen as well, but these things are happening when people are completely alone or when the only people in the building are witnesses.
Investigation Overview: FVSH researched the history of the site and also conducted interviews with the owners and some of the staff prior to the investigation.
We got a late start on the investigation and didn't get going until almost 11PM. Matt had already taken baseline EMF and temperature readings. We split up into small groups and spread out, doing EVP recordings and taking pictures and EMF and temperature readings. Video cameras were set up in two hallways where activity was reported, and one person monitored them from a laptop. Motion detectors were placed around the site. FVSH also brought an extra person along to do security and make sure nobody else got in the building.
We wrapped up at about 2:30AM, after doing one last EVP circle in the bar with everybody and the owners present.
Findings/Personal Experiences: Rachel's thermometer/hydrometer that she had set on the table with all her stuff showed a 25 degree drop at one point in the evening.
Matt's Impressions: We didn't have any other strange readings, nothing on video, and nothing on audio that can't be ruled out as being made by a living person. While we only spent a few hours there and the spirits could have just been shy, my feeling is that the building isn't haunted. The owners contacted us to do an investigation and then present any findings at a paranormal conference as part of an anniversary celebration. However, they already set it up before we even did our investigation and gave them a report, so that plus the fact that the historical research that Fox Valley Spirit Hunters did didn't turn up anything makes me feel like it wasn't haunted, or it was residual.
Sound also carried in the building, and any sounds or voices heard during the day could easily have come from one of the adjoining buildings.