HOUSE ON THE RAVINE
May 4-5, 2012
May 12, 2012
HISTORY
This 2 bedroom home was built in 1929. The owner bought this house to rent out and has had many renters come and go, some asking if the place is haunted. The house is situated next to woods which are supposedly haunted. The owner even found a sign that said "Haunted Woods." If this didn't make the place creepy enough, the property is located next to a cemetery with gravestones dating back to the 1800s all the way to present day and a couple houses down a couple was brutally murdered. There is an attic in the house with walls covered in old fashioned wallpaper. Some letters written by teenage girls were found in the attic.
While researching I found an interesting article of a legend at the Haunted Woods. There is believed to be a dark entity called the Ditch Devil that resides in the ravine in the woods. These stories begin with the Potawatami Indians and continue until present day. This entity is described as a lifeless, tall, dark, shadow figure with a snake-tail who floats above the ground and arises from the crack in the ravine. The crack supposedly formed from the New Madrid earthquake in Southern Illinois, and created a passage to hell from which this figure originated. A full moon and a campfire attract the Ditch Devil. Animals are deathly afraid of it. Anyone who comes in contact with this creature becomes sick, dies, or even possessed by the evil spirit.
There have also been Bigfoot sightings in this area.
This 2 bedroom home was built in 1929. The owner bought this house to rent out and has had many renters come and go, some asking if the place is haunted. The house is situated next to woods which are supposedly haunted. The owner even found a sign that said "Haunted Woods." If this didn't make the place creepy enough, the property is located next to a cemetery with gravestones dating back to the 1800s all the way to present day and a couple houses down a couple was brutally murdered. There is an attic in the house with walls covered in old fashioned wallpaper. Some letters written by teenage girls were found in the attic.
While researching I found an interesting article of a legend at the Haunted Woods. There is believed to be a dark entity called the Ditch Devil that resides in the ravine in the woods. These stories begin with the Potawatami Indians and continue until present day. This entity is described as a lifeless, tall, dark, shadow figure with a snake-tail who floats above the ground and arises from the crack in the ravine. The crack supposedly formed from the New Madrid earthquake in Southern Illinois, and created a passage to hell from which this figure originated. A full moon and a campfire attract the Ditch Devil. Animals are deathly afraid of it. Anyone who comes in contact with this creature becomes sick, dies, or even possessed by the evil spirit.
There have also been Bigfoot sightings in this area.
CLAIMS
Many of the tenants have claimed they heard noises coming from the attic especially footsteps, a knocking at the back door when nobody is there, and seeing someone in the window. Voices are heard in the woods. When we interviewed the owner we could hear voices in the woods during the day and didn't see anyone.
Many of the tenants have claimed they heard noises coming from the attic especially footsteps, a knocking at the back door when nobody is there, and seeing someone in the window. Voices are heard in the woods. When we interviewed the owner we could hear voices in the woods during the day and didn't see anyone.
INVESTIGATION
NIGHT ONE - HOUSE
INVESTIGATORS PRESENT
Cyndi, Joe, Joey, Austin, and guest investigators Sharon, Rhonda, and Debbie
NIGHT ONE - HOUSE
INVESTIGATORS PRESENT
Cyndi, Joe, Joey, Austin, and guest investigators Sharon, Rhonda, and Debbie
CONDITIONS
Full Moon
Partly cloudy
Low of 63
Full Moon
Partly cloudy
Low of 63
OUR EVIDENCE
These clips are best viewed at full screen.
Personal Experiences
While in the attic, 3 out of 6 people present felt a coldness come over them while we were getting hits on the K2 meter. Since half of our group did not feel a thing and there were no drafts or windows open this could be a paranormal experience.
Two times throughout the night we had equipment batteries drained in the Mel-Meter and full-spectrum camcorder.
Audio
While conducting an interview with our client prior to the investigation, we went outside to talk and left the audio recorder running in the house. You can hear us talking outside and you can also hear something in the empty house.
These clips are best viewed at full screen.
Personal Experiences
While in the attic, 3 out of 6 people present felt a coldness come over them while we were getting hits on the K2 meter. Since half of our group did not feel a thing and there were no drafts or windows open this could be a paranormal experience.
Two times throughout the night we had equipment batteries drained in the Mel-Meter and full-spectrum camcorder.
Audio
While conducting an interview with our client prior to the investigation, we went outside to talk and left the audio recorder running in the house. You can hear us talking outside and you can also hear something in the empty house.
These audio clips came from a ghost box session in the attic. The name "Mary" has special meaning for the homeowner.
These last audio clips came from a ghost box session in the Kitchen and Living room area.
Video
This first video clip, recorded with a full-spectrum camcorder, was taken while we are setting up for an EVP session in the attic. Our Mel-Meter is drained and Joey goes to get a new battery. You can hear Joey and Cyndi talking about the battery in the background. Then we get some hits on the K2 meter while waiting for the Mel-Meter's batteries to be replaced. Joe has his phone out with a ghost app running. We don't consider this app evidence of the paranormal, but it sometimes comes up with interesting words.
These are video clips taken in the attic. We get some great K2 hits in response to questions.
This video clip was in the attic. The flashlight turns on and off in response to questions and the K2 meter goes off at the same time.
Here is another clip of the flashlight turning on and off this time in the bedroom.
This video clip is recorded by a stationary IR camera set up in the bedroom. It was recorded at the same time as the clip above. We wanted a second source to prove the flashlight is not being manipulated by a person. You can see where everyone is in the room. Sharon, Debbie and Rhonda had left for the night. Austin is operating the full-spectrum camcorder straight ahead. Joey is to the right and Joe and Cyndi are to the left.
This video clip in the attic is not paranormal. The orbs are dust but there are so many orbs it appears to create a vortex. There were no windows open, no vents or drafts.
NIGHT TWO - HAUNTED WOODS and CEMETERY
INVESTIGATORS PRESENT
Cyndi, Joe, and Joey
Cyndi, Joe, and Joey
CONDITIONS
Crummy
Scattered rain showers
Low of 51
Crummy
Scattered rain showers
Low of 51
OUR EVIDENCE
Personal experiences
We did not have any personal experiences at the Haunted Woods or Cemetery. We determined the voices that are heard in the woods come from the road and carry through the woods. We did not find any paranormal evidence during this investigation and did not find the Ditch Devil.
Personal experiences
We did not have any personal experiences at the Haunted Woods or Cemetery. We determined the voices that are heard in the woods come from the road and carry through the woods. We did not find any paranormal evidence during this investigation and did not find the Ditch Devil.
Photographic
This photo taken in the Cemetery has an orb to the left side. Most orbs are moisture, dust, or bugs but out of the hundreds of photos that were taken this is the only one with an orb.
This photo taken in the Cemetery has an orb to the left side. Most orbs are moisture, dust, or bugs but out of the hundreds of photos that were taken this is the only one with an orb.
HAUNTED HUMOR
Nothing paranormal in these video clips, only humorous investigators.
Is there a hungry ghost in the room?
Here are some photos taken at the investigation.
After our investigation the owner had a house cleansing performed. We wanted to see if any spirits remained. Check out our follow-up investigation here to see what we found.
Do YOU want to investigate House on the Ravine? Click here for details.
Special thanks to the homeowner for allowing us to investigate this very active house.