Horatio Street, Tampa
June 4, 2002
Paranormal investigation can be a tricky thing. Results often vary from the positive signs of manifestation to the flat line readings of a "null" hunt. However, not all investigations are quite so cut and dry. Several fall into a middle category, showing signs of unusual energies but none of the other hallmarks of ghostly intrusion.
Late in 2000, one of the first SPIRITS investigations brought the team to the home of two sisters residing on the edge of downtown St. Petersburg. They lived in an apartment constructed out of a renovated old house, an eclectic mix of old style masonry merged with modern construction. Walking to their area, the small team noticed the cherubim statuary around the house had been decapitated; it was truly an eerie sight.
Inside the apartment, the sisters proved to be good hostesses. However, there was a tangible shift in the atmosphere, immediately sensed by all three investigators. The place seemed heavy and dark, despite the presence of a big bounding blonde dog and colorful Christmas lights hung on the door.
EMF was recorded, but could easily be explained as a large circuitry box was stationed outside. Temperature fluctuations were at a minimal. Photographs showed only trace amounts of haunting activity, mostly auras and possible odd shadows. EVP attempts caught the ticking of the clock, and no other sounds.
Yet, during the interview, the women described symptoms classically associated with ghosts: a shadowy presence, abnormal and antisocial behavior by the otherwise friendly dog, and strange noises that couldn't be explained. During the interview, one teammate even sensed the presence of energy in an area where, revealed later that night, the ladies explained they captured odd images in photographs.
For the SPIRITS, nothing manifested on the first or second visit, but the sensations associated with the place were too hard to dismiss. Several believed it was the tension felt by the sisters, both young, as they struggled day to day with jobs, school, and relationships. It fell into the "maybe" category. Before any further research was done, the sisters moved their separate ways out of the apartment.
In the spring of 2002, a larger SPIRITS team set in for a new investigation. Three apartments in a single building on Horatio Street reported strange happenings. The first attempt was scrapped as one distraught SPIRITS member's car alternator died on the way to Tampa. The individuals who did arrive that night decided to reschedule the investigation for later. Nothing was discussed of the potential activities, though a couple of people correctly sensed areas of reported haunting activities.
The return visit allowed everyone access to all three apartments. One hosted the spirit of the woman's deceased grandmother, who had formerly acted as the building manager. At night, she would wake to the sounds of shuffling feet or the grandmother's call for help when, in life, she fell in the kitchen, breaking a hip. Another had utensils disappear and reappear, cold breezes, and smelled perfume. From time to time an abnormally dark area manifested late at night. The third had the simple sensation of a presence sitting down on her bed as she rested.
The building, itself, consisted of tenants who had lived there for a number of years, but this record mingled with a high number of tenant deaths. A couple died in traffic fatalities, one died from choking. Those who remained knew each other well; few moved out, and those who did eventually returned.
Again, unusual amounts of EMF were picked up through the building, but EVP sessions were negative. Temperatures did not fluctuate, and only one orb image appeared. Some who considered themselves normally sensitive felt very little during the investigation, other than an occasional sense of an entity that quickly faded again. One orb image appeared in a single photograph taken in an area of activity. What could be said for the investigation and what about the sensations from the first visit? Until the SPIRITS do a secondary visit, this falls into an intermediate category.
It is always interesting to investigate beings that fall "somewhere in the middle" of life and death. Yet, inquiries become more complicated when entities act in ways that elude understanding. However, this does pique curiosity and keeps paranormal explorers intrigued. It also allows for continued definition of the afterlife, the possibility of its existence, and brings life to the age-old question "What really happens to us when we die?" One day, it's an answer we'll all come to know. (734)
Paranormal Investigation at Horatio St, Tampa, FL. June 2, 2002
Written by David R. Modica the following morning.
This being my second official ghost hunt, I quickly learned that not every paranormal investigation will be full of tingling sensations, mysterious senses, or interactive spirits. Some may have all that and more, but some may be no different than taking a walk through a friend's house.
When I arrived at the apartment on Horatio St, I didn't know what we were looking for or what to expect. That's the idea behind a cold reading. It minimizes the chance of my subconscious mind "helping" me sense things I'm not really sensing. However, last night, I didn't sense anything at all.
There were three apartments in this one building to investigate. We were a small team, only four of us with myself included, but the members present were among the best and most experienced on the SPIRITS team. They didn't pick up much, either. There were a couple spots that one person thought he felt something, briefly. I had some very faint and unreliable scanner readings myself. I can't speak for the others, but anything I felt of a spiritual nature was very weak and unclear.
We moved on to the second apartment room. Again, we didn't sense much of anything. Throughout the entire building, our EMF meters picked up high levels of electromagnetic fields. We quickly discovered several power lines running outside and under the building. Aside from the high EMF, no one reported sensing any spirits or abnormal activity. We attempt an EVP, using the spirit dousing rods to see if any present spirit wished to communicate. All attempts were null and unresponsive.
Finally we went to the third room, again, experiencing the same thing. High EMF, but not much of anything else. So we moved onto the interviews with the different tenants.
What we learned in the interviews was very interesting. Apparently there was a considerable amount of paranormal activity going on, varying from room to room. In the first room we investigated, there were reports of everything from unexplained noises to objects falling on their own. The current tenant had lived in this room for seven years, and her grandmother had lived here before that. Unfortunately, she and her grandmother weren't exactly on the best of terms. The tenant's friends and neighbors were present, and everyone shared the fact that the grandmother was very kind and generous to everyone but her granddaughter. As a result, the granddaughter-the current tenant-feels the grandmother's spirit is still present, creating problems for her. The tenant reported that the highest paranormal activity occurs after she tries to move furniture around. Much of the furniture originally belonged to her grandmother, as well.
In the second room, which was occupied by two gentlemen, had its own series of paranormal experiences. They reported having kitchen tools and other small metal objects mysteriously disappear, only to be found later in the strangest of places. They also felt unexplained breezes in the room, even with all the windows closed and the air conditioner off. Sometimes they smelled a woman's perfume in the air. Occasionally they'd feel a cold spot on the floor. And the tenants stated that paranormal activity seemed at its highest during the summertime.
One tenant had his own personal "spiritual encounters" that have followed him since before this apartment. One such description was of a seven-foot-tall shadow figure with no feet. When I asked him if he felt afraid or uncomfortable around the "shadow man," he said that he wouldn't necessarily describe it as scary, but more "ominous." He had also seen other figures in his peripheral vision, but this shadow figure he had seen directly on.
This tenant had also participated in a séance when he was a young adult, where he became the medium and saw vivid pictures relating to two girls who were present at the time. He told their life story, as well as gave a detailed description of where they lived. He did not know any of that information prior to the séance. When asked if that shadow figure had appeared after participating in the séance, he said that he had started seeing it about two years beforehand. The team and I felt that the séance may have put him in unnecessary risk or danger, and we discourage others from participating in such a activity.
The other tenant had some of his own personal experiences, as well. In addition to sometimes seeing very vivid figures in his peripheral vision, he has woken up in the middle of the night on multiple occasions, having felt like he was being sucked down into his bed. The other roommate mentioned having this experience, too. One time this tenant felt like he was getting pulled deep into his bed, and he woke up, finding himself in a pitch black room. (His room is surrounded by outside lights; it is impossible for it to become totally dark.) However, he realized he was still dreaming, and woke up for real. When he did, he still felt sunken into his bed, but then he felt the sensation of being lifted back up, "like on an elevator" he described.
Finally we interviewed the third and final tenant in her own room. She described frequent experiences of feeling someone sitting at the edge of her bed. Electronic devices, like her TV and lamp, would turn off and on inexplicably. And she believed that she noticed more paranormal activity in her room around the holidays, from August to December. The first tenant was with us as we interviewed this person, and she had mentioned how her computer and lights and smoke detector would go off and on inexplicably as well.
The TV set was about 10 years old, so it's possible there was something flaky inside the electronics that made it naturally turn off and then back on. The lamps were nice but cheap lamps bought from Wal-Mart. I have a similar one myself. Although I haven't experienced any problems with the light flickering, a dying bulb could explain the abnormal behavior. And as for the first tenant's computer, I've dealt with PC's long enough to know that sometimes they do quirky things, like mysteriously rebooting themselves. It may be more of an issue of bad software engineering rather than supernatural annoyances. Or, I might not be surprised if we discovered the high amount of EMF throughout the building would cause the electronics to malfunction like they do. However, it's still entirely possible that all the unusual behavior is caused by spiritual entities. Certainly other events, like the misplaced silverware, can't be explained so easily. Obviously something is going on therebut I'm not sure exactly what.
Afterwards the team grabbed something to eat at a nearby restaurant. We shared our thoughts and experiences, and came to a couple interesting ideas. We all found it odd that none of us sensed anything, especially with all of the described paranormal activity witnessed by the tenants. We wondered if maybe we were somehow "blocked" from sensing anything. I think it's entirely possible. And if not "blocked," then perhaps, "protected" may be a better word.
The other idea we found interesting was the unusual history of the building itself. The tenants had lived there for several years. Well beyond what I'd expect most people to stay satisfied in such small living spaces. Granted, the rent was extremely low, which may be the only reason they continue living here indefinitely. Yet, there seems to be something more to it. The building has a history of long-term tenants. The building also has a history of several of its tenants dying. Two died in separate car collision incidents, one choked to death on a toothpick, the grandmother died in the hospital but wanted to return home, and research implies many other deaths connected to the building. In all fairness, however, it was built in 1971, so it's had over 30 years to build that kind of history.
What do I conclude from all this? Honestly, I don't know what to make of it.
© 2002 David R. Modica
Potential Orb, Green Room, Apt. 1
David, Odd Camera Glitch?
Rainbowing effect, in area where teammate sensed being watched. Only two images, thus far, have any rainbowing in them.
