Elk's Club #248 - 414 Scott Street - Wausau, Wisconsin

 

 

MAY 25, 2002 1st INVESTIGATION

SYNOPSIS

Investigator Roll was contacted by Scott Fritsche after giving a talk to a group. Mr. Fritsche asked Investigator Roll if the WPRS would be interested in investigating the Elk'sClub, of which he is employed. The Elk’s Lodge officially formed in Wausau on December 19th, 1892. The Clarke House was originally built in 1875. The first Elk’s Lodge wasin the old J.C.Clarke house which was located on the same site of the current lodge. The Elk’s acquired the home in 1914. The Clarke House was razed to make way for anew Elk’s Lodge. It was constructed on the same site as the Clarke home in downtown Wausau and was completed in 1923.

THE FIRST ELK’S LODGE IN WAUSAU

THE CURRENT ELK’S LODGE BUILT IN 1923

 

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY THAT WAS REPORTED

An interview with Mr. Fritsche, and other members of the Elk's Club, was conducted on May 17th, 2002.  During the interview, Mr. Fritsche mentioned a number of paranormal experiences he had.

•Six months prior to our interview, on a Sunday evening, Mr. Fritsche had locked up the building and was working in his office. As he worked late into the evening, he was overcome with a sense of

 'foreboding'. He stated that he felt like an authority figure was reprimanding him. Yet no sound could be heard. 

•The Lodge Historian had an experience in the bowling alley, which is located in the basement. He clearly heard furniture being moved in the banquet hall, which is located directly above the alley. When

 he went to check the room, there was no one to be found and the furniture was untouched. 

•People who work in the Lodge tell the newer workers that "if you hear footsteps directly behind you while working in the 2nd floor ballroom. Don't worry, he's okay." 

•One of the members exited the 1st floor bathroom and entered the lobby in July of 1998. He felt a force trying to push or lift him into the air from behind, as he walked to the banquet room. His feet never

 left the ground. 

•People have often told Mr. Fritsche that they are very often drawn to the main hall's mirror. The mirror is placed directly over the mantle of the hall's fireplace.

 

INVESTIGATION RESULTS

The investigation started at 9:05pm on May 25th, 2002. Investigators Roll, Blaschka and Ludwig were present. The average temperature of the interior of the building was 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Many

 rolls of 35mm color film were taken of the interior of the 1st and 2nd floors of the building. EMF readings were taken on the 1st and 2nd floors as well. The readings were widely varied. The Night shot

 video camera was used in the bar in conjunction with an EMF meter. A second camera filmed the lobby and monitored the temperature in the room. Filming started at 9:32pm and ended at 11:20pm

 EVP recording was done in the bar as well.

The WPRS ended the investigation at 1:00am. After analysis of video and audio tape and review of the pictures taken of the Elk's Club, we found that we had inconclusive evidence of paranormal activity.

 The Night Shot camera picked up an orb at midnight, but this could be attributed to the air flow created by the air conditioning system. EVP was inconclusive due to the air conditioning noises as well as

the refrigeration system in the bar.  It is possible that we may revisit the site in the future at Mr. Fritsche's request.

 

AUGUST 5, 2013 2nd INVESTIGATION

Synopsis

The Wausau Paranormal Research Society approached the Elk’s Lodge Exalted Ruler, Kevin McCarthy in regards to allowing our group access to the lodge in order to perform an investigation of the site. The WPRS has not had the opportunity to perform an investigation there since 2002. Over the past 11 years the WPRS has had many improvements and additions of equipment and technology. We felt that these changes may allow for our group to detect paranormal activity present at the site that we may have been unable to detect with the technology used in 2002. Mr. McCarthy approached the Elk’s Lodge Board to ask permission for us to investigate. A vote was conducted regarding the request and the majority was in favor.  

An investigation date of August 5, 2013 was chosen. The lodge wishes for us to debunk some of the activity as well as validate some of the claims. The information gained by the investigation will be reviewed with the board.

 

Paranormal Activity Reported

Activity occurring in the lodge to date includes the following:

·        A former lodge manager had locked up the building and was working in his office. As he worked late into the evening, he was overcome with a sense of 'foreboding'. He stated that he felt like an authority figure was reprimanding him. Yet no audible sound could be heard. 

·        A former lodge historian had an experience while in the bowling alley, which is located in the basement. He clearly heard furniture being moved, the clanking of silverware and noises associated with  a party in the banquet hall, which is located directly above the alley. When he went to check the banquet hall no one was present and the furniture was untouched. 

·        People who work at the Elk’s, tell the newer workers that "if you hear footsteps directly behind you while working in the 2nd floor ballroom, don't be worried, he's okay." 

·        One of the members exited the 1st floor bathroom and entered the lobby area. He felt the sensation of a force trying to push or lift him into the air from behind as he walked toward the banquet room. However his feet never physically left the ground. 

·        People have stated that they are drawn to the main hall's mirror. The mirror is placed directly over the mantle of the lodge fireplace on the second floor.

·        An apparition of a man in a 1940’s style white suit is sometimes seen in the first floor bar demanding service.

·        Cold spots are also reported near the fireplace area.

·        Poker hands have been found in the past placed on a table in the basement with no explanation as to who placed them there. The area that is adjacent was once known as the poker room.

·        The apparition of a woman in a brides dress has been seen near the dressing room that is adjacent to the lobby area outside the ballroom. Some have also witnessed the apparition’s reflection in the mirror located in that room.

 

Investigation

The WPRS investigated the lodge on Monday August 5th, 2013 from approximately 8PM to 2AM.  Investigators Blaschka, Beaudry, Duginski, A. Blaschka, Spialek, Williams and Boller were present.

Basic equipment used during the investigation included traditional digital cameras, digital voice recorders, Tri Field Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) meters, a four channel DVR camera system, K-2 meter, Infrared and Full Spectrum cameras, laser grid, REM Pod, motion detectors, Ovilus, vibration sensors and infrared/ambient thermal probes. We placed our DVR cameras in the areas of the building that have reported the highest amount of activity.

Camera #1 was placed in the lower level bar area. We set up a table near the old poker room and placed various poker hands on the table. We also set a number wheel on that table and set the wheel to 7 in hopes that something may move it during the night. This camera was to monitor any changes in the placement of those cards or the wheel.

Camera #2 was placed in the third floor women’s bathroom changing area. We directed the view of the camera toward the sitting area off the ballroom.

Camera #3 was placed by the second floor lobby mirror. The camera was trained toward the guest lobby area so that we could monitor any changes or movement in this area.

Camera #4 was placed in the banquet area to monitor any changes in the environment.

We began by taking a tour of the building. Duginski sketched a map of the building layout for recording our measurements. EMF and temperature measurements were taken. Also many infrared and full spectrum photographs were taken in various areas inside the building. Several standard digital photographs were taken throughout as a comparison standard.  

The first floor had temperatures between 73 and 78 degrees, with EMF readings between 0.3 and 4.0 Milligauss.  The second floor had temperatures between 72 and 81 degrees, with EMF readings between 0.4 and 4.0 Milligauss.  The third floor temperatures were between 70 and 77 degrees with EMF readings between 0.0 and 1.0 Milligauss.  The fourth floor area commonly referred to as “Charlie’s Heaven” had temperature readings between 70 and 71 degrees with no measurable EMF readings. There were no Geiger readings measured during the evening.  During the collection of our base line readings we found no anomalous EMF or temperature variances that could be considered paranormal in nature.

After our base readings were collected we formed a group of investigators to perform EVP sessions in the lower bar, the third floor sitting area and in the upstairs storage area (Charlie’s Heaven). One investigator always stayed behind to monitor the DVR system for any activity as we had started recording footage prior to our EVP sessions. We switched out the camera monitoring person during each EVP session and only one session was conducted at a time to avoid the chance of noise contamination. Upon later review of our EVP evidence we found only one recording that may have produced evidence of paranormal activity. During our session conducted in the lower bar we captured an EVP twice stating what sounds like, “Randy” or “Randall”. This occurred around 1:05AM and was not heard by anyone during the recording session. It is interesting to note that we had just asked whatever may be present in the room to tell us its name. Approximately five seconds prior to us asking that question we received what appears to be an answer. Fifteen seconds later we captured the same name stated again but a bit louder this time.

We took several hundred photographs throughout the lodge and upon their review we found three questionable pictures. Two of them have an “orb” present and both were taken in the banquet area. The other photograph was captured facing the main lobby from the banquet area. In the far upper right side of the photograph a strange unexplained light can be seen.

 

 

ORB CAPTURED IN THE 2^ND FLOOR BANQUET AREA

 

 

ANOTHER ORB CAPTURED IN THE BANQUET AREA

 

 

UNEXPLAINED LIGHT IN THE LOBBY AREA

 

Upon review of our DVR footage we captured two pieces of footage on the third floor near the area at the top of the staircase. Two unexplainable bursts of light can be seen about one second apart from each other. This anomaly occurred around 12:30 AM. About one hour later again an orb that seems to cast its own light travels from the ballroom area across the lobby area and vanishes.

 

Conclusion and Recommendations

Upon review and consideration of all the evidence collected we are unable to confirm or deny that the Elk’s Lodge has been experiencing paranormal activity. Many credible members of the club have had personal experiences over the many decades that the club has been in existence. Some of these experiences can be explained through reasonable means but others have no explanation. The evidence we captured on August 5th seems to point at some possible paranormal activity. The EVP that was captured in the basement bar area we are unable to explain reasonably. The bursts of energy captured on our DVR camera system and the light moving from the ballroom to the lobby are unusual and I am not able to explain definitively what may have caused this. The photos that we took that captured orbs and a bright light may just simply be dust in the air and/or light refraction. For now the stories and personal accounts will remain a mystery. We thank the lodge for their trust in our group and hope to investigate the site again in the spring of 2014. 

 

MARCH 29, 2014 INVESTIGATION

 

We returned once again to the Elk’s Lodge #248 in Wausau, Wisconsin to conduct another evening investigation of the site. Present at this investigation was Blaschka, A. Blaschka, Williams, Spialek, Beaudry, Von Gnechten and Shaw. We began our investigation at 8:00PM. The building was not cleared of public until midnight so we concentrated our efforts in areas that were not occupied. The investigation ended at 3:00 AM.

 

Further Paranormal Activity Reported

New activity occurring in the lodge to date includes the following:

·     A longtime lodge employee shared her experience that had occurred about one year ago. While descending the Westside staircase that leads to the lower bar the employee stated that she came face to face with a man ascending the staircase as she rounded the corner of the stairs. She described this man as being about 6 foot tall and wearing a black suit. As fast as she had encountered the entity it had disappeared.

·     Several lodge members reported to us that a few weeks prior to our investigation they had been working near the ballroom area and had heard what sounded like the doors on either side of the stage had been slammed several times. Upon inspection of the area they found nothing out of place.

                                                                                       

Our Findings

Basic equipment used during the investigation included traditional digital cameras, digital voice recorders, Tri Field Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) meters, a four channel DVR camera system, Infrared and Full Spectrum cameras, laser grids, REM Pod, Ovilus, and infrared/ambient thermal probes. We placed our DVR cameras in the areas of the building that have reported the highest amount of activity.

Camera #1 was placed in the 2^nd floor hallway. We chose this location due to the activity we experienced in that area during our last investigation.

Camera #2 was placed in the downstairs bar.

Camera #3 was placed in the main lobby area facing toward the bathrooms.

Camera #4 was placed in the ballroom facing the stage area.

We conducted several EVP sessions. Two of them were conducted in the lower bar area and one other was conducted in the ballroom. During those sessions we captured some EVP’s and one disembodied voice. During our second session in the lower bar Blaschka and Von Gnechten heard what sounded like the phrase “wow”. Thinking that team member Spialek had said this they asked her what she meant by that and she replied that she never said anything. This word was heard by the investigators ears as well as captured on our voice recorders. Upon review it is unclear if the word that is heard was wow or now.

A second EVP was also captured in the lower bar. On that recording a whistle can be heard. Like the previous recording it was also heard with the naked ear.

A third EVP was captured in the ballroom. During the recording you can hear what sounds like a male sigh or moan. This was not physically heard by the researchers during the session.

We also captured an anomaly on our infrared DVR system in the ballroom. At 1:15AM

an orb shaped object is seen moving slowly from the stage area directly toward the camera, stopping momentarily and hovering toward the top left of the frame, them disappearing. It is unclear whether this event was paranormal or just simply dust. However dust usually does not behave in this manner.

In conclusion we again feel that the Elks Lodge has been subject of some minor intermittent paranormal activity. We hope to continue our research of this site with the permission of the Elk’s Lodge.

 

*Any use or reproduction of this documentation is prohibited without the sole permission of Shawn Blaschka or the WPRS.