Date: Thursday, October 10, 2002.
Time: Arrived on location at 8:00 PM. Begin time was approximately 8:30 PM. The investigation concluded at approximately 11:30 PM.
Location: Eastern State Penitentiary, Phila., Pa.
Equipment: E.L.F. Zone Electromagnetic Field Detector, Raynger ST2 Infrared Non-contact Thermometer, Panasonic IC Digital Audio Recorder. NightOwl Cyclops Night Vision Monocular Scope.
Weather: Rain with temps in the mid 60's. The investigation was conducted indoors.
History: See previous reports or see the ESP website at http://www.easternstate.org/
Type Of Location: Old prison that first opened in 1829.
How Many Occupants: None.
Pets: None.
Those Present: Investigation team included Sharon & Lew G, Andy K., Tonya M., and Rachel G. Others that are not in our group but who were present: From Y100: Steve, Preston, Casey, Lauren as well as several Y100 listeners.
Report: This was not a typical PGHA investigation. However, we did go over the equipment and the rules for using the equipment (as well as any other important rules for conducting an investigation) with the Y100 listeners. And, each and every one of them followed the rules perfectly.
We investigated various areas of the prison as one group. EMF detectors and thermal scanners were user constantly. I do not believe we got any unusual readings with either. We also did some recordings in each area. And, a few of us may have potential EVPs. But, they still need to be put onto the comp and cleaned up before we can say for sure.
Not much happened this night except to two obvious events that I will explain now. The one thing happened while we were all in one of the cellblocks (I believe 14) taking some recordings. The cell block was three stories high and you could see from the first floor all the way to the third due to a manmade opening. Most people went up to the second floor while myself, Rachel, Andy, Tonya, and one of the guests, Bill stayed on the first floor. After we all split up like so, we decided to do some recordings. Susan asked the questions from above on the second floor. Me, Rachel and Bill stayed in one spot on the first floor and Andy and Tonya went down the other end of the hall on the first floor. While in the middle of recording myself, Rachel and Bill all heard from behind us and to our right, someone walking. We all turned and even asked each other if we heard that. We all did. But then we thought it had to be due to the rain. However, as soon as the recording session ended, so did the footsteps. But, we could still hear the rain. The footsteps sounded as though someone were walking back and forth. It was no one who was present because during recording we all stay put so that we don't ruin the recordings. Plus no one was missing anyone in their group.
A second thing that happened happened to Rachel and I after we had come back from using the bathroom. At that time all of the others had gone off to another area totally outside the building in the back of the prison. So, we decided to stay in the rotunda and wait. As we waited and talked until they returned I heard someone walk up behind me in cellblock 6 (my back was to it). When I turned around no one was there. So, I said to Rachel, "since we are waiting, let's do some recording". She agreed and we did so. We stood in the middle of the rotunda both looking down block 4 with night vision while we recorded. As we stood there asking questions we heard such a loud noise coming from block 3 that it actually made us jump. It was so unexpected. It gave us the impression that the door had been opened and had dragged against the floor. When we looked the door was indeed slightly open. But, we could not say for sure if that was the source of the sound or if the door was even closed all the way prior to this incident (I never really looked....but.....Rachel thought she was sure it was closed before). So, we stood there and kept asking questions and recording. Again, we heard something coming from that area. We could not be sure what it was and couldn't even see down the block with our night vision due to the glass in the door. Another 10 minutes or so went by without incident and shortly after that everyone returned.
They were the only two things that happened while I was present. I just thought I'd make note of it. Also, we were able to get on recording, the noise of what we thought was the door moving in the rotunda. I just need to get it onto the comp to clean it up.
Impression: I believe that a few people may be haunting the old prison. We have gotten good results every time we have been there.
Sharon G.
Vice-President
10/13/02