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St.Paul's United Church Of Christ - Wausau, Wisconsin
Synopsis
The church was founded on the current site, January 4, 1863. Several buildings have been razed and erected over the life of the congregation with the most recent church being built in 1960. The church and its congregation have gone through many changes over the past 155 years. This includes a very heated meeting in November 1881 that resulted in a fight, followed by the then Reverend, taking with him a large number of the congregation to start a new church. Another disagreement (physical altercation) between the Reverend and a church school teacher occurred on February 22, 1907. The church has had 21 pastors during its tenure and also some unseen parishioners that have had some interaction with the living.
The current Reverend contacted us in October 2017 and invited us to investigate the church to try and capture any paranormal activity within. On November 1, 2017 investigators Blaschka and Sczygelski met with the Reverend, his wife and guest parishioner to discuss the activity that has occurred at the church over the years.
Paranormal Activity Reported
Activity occurring in the church:
· The spirit of a woman dusting in the Fireside Room has been seen by a parishioner. The female spirit is someone that was a member of the church from the past who is no longer living.
· A cold breeze and the feelings of a presence have been felt by the church secretary on the stairway near her office area.
· About 8 years ago the current pastor was transporting metal kitchen carts with food on them from the basement kitchen to the back parking lot via the elevator. The pastor took up two carts leaving the third downstairs. When he returned to get the third cart it was gone. He searched the building and found it on the second floor in the hallway near the elevator. No one else was believed to be in the building at the time.
· Feelings of someone watching you at times in areas of the church. Especially in the second floor school rooms.
· Some parishioners have heard what sounds like voices or conversation going on in the Sunday school rooms on the second floor.
Investigation
The WPRS investigated on Friday, January 26, 2018 from approximately 7:00pm to 2:30am. Investigators Beaudry, Blaschka, Duginski , Williams, von Gnechten and Sczygelski and special guest James D. were present. Equipment used during the investigation included a digital video recorder (DVR), four digital infrared cameras, Trifield EMF meter, numerous digital voice recorders, motion detectors, vibration detectors, infrared camera, full spectrum camera, K2 meter, REM Pods, SB-7 device and walkie talkies.
We started the evening by taking a small tour of the building lead by the church Reverend. The Reverend, his wife and the guest parishioner stayed at the location during the evening but in an area that was away from the areas we were to investigate. We set up our DVR system and placed cameras in four different locations. Camera #1 was placed in the main hallway of the building. Camera #2 was placed in the sanctuary and aimed down from the loft area; an IR light was used to illuminate the sanctuary. Camera #3 was placed on the second floor and aimed toward the elevator area. Camera #4 was placed in the dining room area aimed toward the kitchen and elevator. A metal rolling cart with kitchen pans was placed near the elevator as a trigger object, to replicate the conditions when activity occurred several years prior near that area.
In the basement of the building near the youth recreation room we experienced elevated readings on our EMF meter that would appear and then disappear without explanation. Due to this unusual anomaly it was decided that we would place a REM POD, EMF meter, and vibration detectors on the steps leading off of the hallway that lead up to the sanctuary. This area was monitored throughout the evening with numerous amounts of activity occurring during a roughly 45 minute time period. During this time the vibration detectors would alarm for no apparent reason. Several attempts were made to try and replicate the activity, but no reasonable explanation could be found. Several times investigators asked for whatever spirit was there to set the detectors off. On several occasions one or sometimes both instruments would alarm one after the other. After nearly an hour the activity abruptly stopped and did not reoccur for the balance of the evening.
Many Full Spectrum and Infrared photographs were taken throughout the building. They were later reviewed for any evidence of paranormal activity. Only one photo taken in the upstairs center school room shows what appears to be what looks like a face. Other photographs of the same area did not show the same anomaly and nothing in that area seemed to match the image captured.
FACE IN CHURCH SCHOOL ROOM
Investigators completed several EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) sessions in different areas of the building. One session was conducted in the youth room in the lower level of the building. This is also near the area that had activity that set off many of our devices. Another session was conducted in the main hallway area near the sanctuary. A third session was conducted in the sanctuary nearer the front of the room or pulpit. A fourth session was conducted in the central school room on the second floor. A fifth session was conducted in the hallway near the stairwell ascending to the sanctuary and a sixth session adjacent to the school room in a nearby hallway. During these audio recording session’s digital audio devices as well as a device called an SB-7 was utilized. The SB-7 uses radio frequency sweeps to generate white noise which theories suggest give some entities the energy they need to be heard. When this occurs you will sometimes hear voices or sounds coming through the static in an attempt to communicate. Understand, this is not an exact science but rather an experimental piece of equipment that we feel in theory helps us to communicate with the dead. During our sessions we received some direct answers to some of our questions. The areas that seemed to have the highest results were the central school room, adjacent hallway area on the second floor and the sanctuary. While in the school room we believed that we may have been talking to a child spirit named Bobby. This is the name that we received over the SB-7 device. Given the commonality of the name and the long history of the site it is nearly impossible to know who exactly Bobby may have been. Both in the hallway and school room we captured audio on our digital recorders that is most definitely recognized as speech but we were unable to make out what exactly is being said. On one occasion we actually heard a sigh as well as captured it on our audio recorders. The source of that sound is unknown and we could not explain it.
We also captured some SB-7 results in the sanctuary. We spoke out loud regarding the church disagreement that had occurred back in 1881 as well as used some specific names of some of those that had been involved. We did get some responses but it was unclear whether it pertains directly to the subject we were speaking of.
EVP/SB-7 QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES
Sanctuary
Q – Did your congregation not totally agree on something?
R – What do you think…
Q – Is there anybody here from the original church?
R – We’re here…
Q – Hey, are you the one’s setting the alarms off downstairs?
R – We didn’t…
Q – Bye
R – Bye, goodbye…
Middle Classroom/Hallway
Q – Is there a spirit of a child in this room?
R – Maybe…then a hum or sigh…
Q – How old are you?
R – (Not sure of response, possibly Jim Leimering)
Q – What is your name?
R – Bobby…
Conclusion
During the balance of the evening the cart near the kitchen elevator area remained unchanged and did not move from its location. Review of our DVR footage showed nothing paranormal in nature. Upon reviewing the EVP evidence, the SB-7 device results, the unexplainable activity in the hallway near the youth room and taking into consideration the reports, it seems likely that the church has paranormal activity present. None of the paranormal activity reported or captured seems malicious in nature. More investigating would be needed at the site to come to a more definitive conclusion.
2ND Investigation – August 11, 2018
The WPRS once again obtained permission to investigate the church and did so on Saturday, August 11, 2018 from approximately 6:00pm to 3:00am. Investigators Beaudry, Blaschka, Duginski , Williams, Abrams, Coscio, Spialek, Sczygelski and special guest James D. were present. Equipment used during the investigation included our new digital HD video recorder (DVR) with six digital cameras, Trifield EMF meter, numerous digital voice recorders, motion detectors, vibration detectors, infrared camera, full spectrum camera, K2 meter, and REM Pods.
We started the evening by taking a small tour of the building while doors were unlocked by our contact Gerald Brummond. On this night no one from the church was present. Once the walk through was finished, Mr. Brummond left and we set up our HDVR system and placed cameras in six different locations. Camera #1 was placed at the top of the stairs leading to the choir room. Camera #2 was placed in the sanctuary and aimed down the aisle toward the front of the sanctuary. Camera #3 was placed in the parlor. Camera #4 was placed in the main hallway on the 2nd floor. Camera #5 was placed in the hallway at the bottom of the staircase near the choir room. Camera #6 was placed in the parlor area opposite of camera #3.
We conducted several EVP sessions throughout the evening with some minimal success. Sessions were conducted in the Sanctuary, the school rooms, Choir Room and adjacent hallway.
During one of our sessions in the Choir Room we asked if whatever was present had a message for the current pastor and we got a male response of, “yes” as well as a female speaking but the words were unintelligible. We followed up by asking if he could tell us what that message would be, but received no response. The group also asked if it stays here all the time or does it come and go? Shortly after that we received what sounded like a knock on one of the desks.
A follow up session was conducted by another group of investigators in the same room. One of the same questions was asked again; do you have a message for the current pastor? The reply was a different male voice and it stated, “It wasn’t me”.
Another session near the motion detectors picked up a breathy sound shortly after the detectors were triggered. Another time during the evening the motion detectors and vibration detectors alarmed and while investigator Beaudry was attempting to investigate what set them off, he captured a response on his digital recorder. A male voice states, “I have the toy”. We think it was referring to the motion detectors.
Another session picked up an unexplainable knock noise.
During the evening the cameras were always being observed by an investigator. Nothing paranormal was noted during the entire time.
Several photos were taken in all areas of the building. Standard digital, infrared and Full Spectrum equipment was utilized. Only one possible paranormal photo was captured with a standard digital camera of a bright orb in the choir room.
In conclusion, we did capture what we believe to be paranormal evidence during this investigation. Given the age of the site and the number of souls that have worked, lived and died during the buildings history, it is likely that some energy or spirits have decided to stay behind. Further investigation of the site may again occur in the future.
3RD Investigation – March 22, 2019
Once again I approached the Pastor to see if we could spend another evening in the church to continue our investigating and research there. The Pastor again graciously allowed us access. We arrived at the location on Friday March 22, 2019 at 7PM. Investigators Blaschka, Abrams, Reynolds, Beaudry, Coscio and Special Guests Spencer and Kate were in attendance.
On our previous investigations we seemed to have more activity in the basement area directly below the church chancel. Therefore, on this investigation we decided to concentrate most of our efforts below the chancel, in the music room and in the hallway staircase leading to the chancel. We also had captured EVP’s previously that seem to pose questions to the current Pastor. So, I asked if the Pastor would join us on our investigation so that he could be involved with some of the EVP sessions. The thought being, that the Pastor may be more approachable with whatever resides within the church than it would be with our investigators.
Upon arrival we set up our DVR camera system in the basement kitchen area. This area became our command central for the evening and an investigator would be present to monitor the cameras throughout the night. We placed seven cameras throughout the chancel exit staircase, the basement hallway leading to the staircase and in the music room. The music room cameras were placed in such a way so as to allow almost 100% coverage of the room. We also deployed our vibration detectors on the staircase and hallway leading to the staircase. We placed a Rem Pod in the staircase area and a laser grid was put in place in the music room area as well. The staircase was also covered by motion detectors.
Once set up was complete we conducted a series of EVP sessions during the evening. Three of the sessions the Pastor was included into so that he could ask questions with hopes of a response. During the evening we did capture several EVP’s. Unfortunately, on this visit all of the sounds captured were very faint and mostly unintelligible. The Pastor's questions yielded no responses. A few sessions were conducted in the third floor Sunday school rooms. No responses were heard in that area.
Upon review of our DVR footage we did capture an unusual descending orb on the staircase below the chancel. Seconds after Investigator Beaudry stands up from the top of the staircase area a very bright orb can be seen spiral down the staircase and veer around the corner out of frame. Several things can cause an orb effect but this particular capture was unusual. It clearly was not an insect and definitely not dust. The orb seemed to have intelligent deliberate movement.
Our guest investigators also spent some time walking throughout the building with our Ovilus device. Some of the words that came across the Ovilus were interesting but not conclusive.
Two personal experiences occurred during the evening. Once while Investigator Blaschka was adjusting cameras on the staircase he heard what sounded like an exhale. Investigator Reynolds also felt a very strong oppressive feeling while in the classroom that affected her physically. It should be noted that personal experiences, while significant, are not scientific proof of paranormal activity.
In conclusion, the activity on this investigation was interesting but not as active as other times. We hope that we may be able to investigate the church further in the future.
*Any use or reproduction of this
documentation is prohibited without the sole
permission of Shawn Blaschka and the WPRS.