|
 |
|
QUAD CAMERA SYSTEM
This was the first investigation where Stew brought along his quad system, consisting of a DVR, a quad monitor,
and three IR cameras. For details on the exact brands and models of these items, see the Equipment section of this
investigation report. While we only had three IR cameras this time around, Stew has already purchased a fourth
camera for our next investigation. You can see the "no signal" area of this screen shot from the monitor...next
time around that will be a fourth camera view! |
Having three additional "eyes" along on the investigation was extremely
valuable. Especially when you keep in mind these "eyes" can see in complete darkness. Tracking the movement
of investigators through the location, along with a time-stamp, came in very handy. Below you'll find a description
of the three areas we chose to record with the stationary cameras and finally a movie featuring some amazing "orbs."
Keep reading....
CAMERA VIEW #1 - IN CELL #1
| It is reported by many sources that the feelings of oppression and nausea that occur
when a visitor enters Cell #1, make it possible for almost anyone touring the jail to identify it as the "haunted
cell." Two weeks before our investigation, Lindsey Gaston and the members of Miller's Paranormal saw a tall
shadowy figure exit Cell #1 and cross over into Cell #4. We conducted several hour-long vigils in this cell, all
with the iron doors closed and the lights off. It is in this cell that many of our investigators felt physical
phenomenon (i.e., their necks squeezed, difficulty breathing, ear flicking, etc.) |
|
 |
| Read more about Cell #1 in the Background, History, Possible EVP's, Contact in Cell
#1, and other sections of this investigation report. Putting a stationary camera in this location was an easy
and obvious choice. Any follow-up investigations we perform at the 1859 Jail will focus here again. |
CAMERA VIEW #2 - IN THE JAIL HALLWAY
| The Jail Hallway on the 1st floor was the site of six documented hangings during
the history of the Jail, and very likely additional hangings that remain undocumented. Maurice Schwalm's Occult
Studies Group encountered a "hooded cadaverous form" in this area in 1982...and Miller's Paranormal encountered
a tall shadowy shape here just two weeks before our investigation. Visitors to the museum have encountered a wide
variety of paranormal activity in the Jail Hallway. Read more about this area in the Background, History, 1982
Investigation, and Strange Events sections of this investigation report. |
|
 |
| Based on the paranormal history of the Jail Hallway, this was also a natural choice
for one of our stationary cameras. We pointed the IR camera at the exact location where the tall shadowy figure
was seen two weeks earlier. |
CAMERA VIEW #3 - IN THE MASTER BEDROOM
| In one of the more intriguing modern stories about the Marshall's House and 1859
Jail, the former director of the museum encountered something in the Master Bedroom that caused him to never come
alone to this area of the house ever again. Making the story even more mysterious, the museum director refused
to tell anyone what had happened. In 1866 Henry Bugler was shot to death here in the Master Bedroom, and visitors
to the museum report "not feeling alone" when they enter this room. Read more about this room in the
Background, History, and Strange Events section of this investigation report. We conducted multiple vigils in
the Master Bedroom. |
|
 |
| The death of Henry Bugler and the mysterious experience of the former museum director
in this room led us to place a stationary camera in this room. We also came to the conclusion that putting a stationary
camera in a location where we were doing vigils would help us confirm anything that might happen during those vigils.
|
ORBS, ORBS, ORBS...NEVER HAS DUST LOOKED SO COOL!
What do you get when you combine a dusty old environment and IR cameras operating in complete or near darkness?
Big bright comet orbs. Twinkly sparkly orbs. Slow floating orbs. And in honor of these exciting little dust
orbs...we produced the following video (in two convenient download sizes) for your viewing enjoyment.
Orbs defy gravity because they are floating on air currents and drafts. Orbs
go in all different directions because air currents and drafts swirl and spin in all different directions. Orbs
appear to come straight out of walls or to go through walls because of the illusion of foreshortening. The piece
of illuminated dust that causes the orb is usually fairly close to the camera, despite appearances. What appears
to be an orb emerging from the far wall 20 feet away, is simply coming into the range of illumination within a
few feet of the camera lens. The moment it appears to come out of nowhere is actually the moment it first gets
illuminated by the IR beam from the stationary camera.
While I believe their are paranormal energy orbs that occur and are caught on
film, 99.9% of the orbs you see in photos and on websites are simply dust, light refractions, or digital camera
errors in low light conditions. Someday we hope to capture a photograph of a true paranormal orb...but we're not
there yet.
NEED FOR ANOTHER QUAD?
We are grateful to Stew for building this quad system and using it on our investigations. It has increased the
effectiveness of our group...and gives us a whole new avenue for observing and recording the environment we are
investigating. It was amazing how easily Stew set the whole system up at the beginning and put everything up at
the end. I figured out it is because Stew spent a lot of time prior to the investigation familiarizing himself
with the equipment.
Just the other day, Mike and I were already talking about how useful it would
be on a big investigation (i.e., an abandoned hospital, a huge mansion, an old prison, etc.) to have a second
quad system. Eight remote "eyes" rather than four. Do you see how gadget-greedy you can get when you
become involved in this field?
-Mark Stinson
|
