Location and
History -
Galena, SD.
The residence was built by the current owners
approx in 2005.
This residence is on property that was not previously occupied. There are no
records of a previous dwelling on the property. There are extensive abandoned
mining shafts scattered throughout the area as it was a gold/silver mining town
in the late 1800s. Also the residence is approx 1.5 miles from the main street
of downtown Galena. It is unknown how many homes/businesses/mines were in the
area at the height of the town’s activity in the 1870s.
Reported Activity - Voices, occupants having their names called, footsteps, shadow figures, feelings of being watched, closet door in downstairs bedroom opening. The most activity seems to be located in the basement. The names and voices in the upstairs kitchen area.
Investigation Feb 6th/7th - An
initial EMF sweep was conducted for baseline readings. A few high areas were
noted (2.0 -5.0) and it was discovered that the cause was from interior wiring
in the walls. EMF readings were all benign (0.2 to 1.0) aside from the spikes
that were accounted for due to electrical wiring. During setup, a KII
meter was placed on the coffee table in the upstairs living room. Immediately
there was a spike that lasted for a moment and then disappeared. We could not
replicate the event nor could we locate the cause for this spike. A subsequent
EMF sweep of the area was conducted with negligible results.
IR cameras were set up in the basement where the majority of activity is claimed
to be occurring. One was placed in kitchen area in the basement and the other
was placed in the hallway and this camera covered the stairs coming into the
basement and also the bedroom where activity was reported. Motion
detectors were also set up in the basement. Detectors were placed in the bedroom
where the closet door is claimed to open and the other in the kitchen area where
footsteps are heard going down the stairs and into the kitchen.
Within 45 minutes of the start of the investigation and while an EVP session was being conducted at the base of the stairs both motion detectors activated simultaneously. Only two investigators were downstairs and definitely no one was in the bedroom or kitchen. The two investigators were in an area not covered by sensors for the motion detectors.
After the initial incident with the motion detectors, two others conducted a KII and EVP session in the basement bedroom. Within a few moments they got a significant hit on the KII. Investigators asked whatever was present to light up the KII again. The KII spiked fully. A question was asked if the presence was male, no response. A question was then asked if the presence was a girl, the KII spiked. Question was asked if the presence was a young girl, another spike. After that event there were no more spikes. EMF sweeps were conducted after this event with nothing of significance being recorded. Unfortunately, by the time we brought our hand held camera downstairs all KII activity had stopped.
Two investigators went back into the bedroom and shut themselves in the room. One asked for whatever was there to give them a sign if they wanted them out of the room. The motion sensor in the kitchen went off. Was this the answer? Leading them out of the bedroom? They investigated the area and found nothing and once again no explanation could be found as to why the motion sensors were triggered. Through out the investigation the motion sensors were triggered without reason. Several times they sounded when no one was downstairs and simultaneously. We could understand having one defective sensor but, two! And, then to be triggered simultaneously or when asked to give a sign!
During an EVP session in the basement kitchen one investigator experienced a charged feeling and cold spot envelop him. About that time the other investigator witnessed a possible shadow at the entrance to the kitchen. Several times a faint flash of light was seen coming from the kitchen. The home is in an isolated, wooded area with the closets home over 300 feet away.
Evidence review - The home is very well built. Very quiet, no drafts. We were unable to debunk claims of the basement bedroom closet door opening. It opened and closed with ease. No sticking and latches very easily. No significant video was captured. We still can not explain the motion sensors or KII hits, especially the one in the bedroom. Several significant EVPs were captured, though.
On this first EVP you hear a very faint wail. You then hear the investigators downstairs react to it and then those upstairs.
This next EVP an investigator felt something on his leg. He then is talking about 'dropping his drawers' to look at his leg. He gets an affirmative response.
This next EVP one investigator
asks the other to grab the motion sensor fobs from the stairs. You hear
what sounds like an older
male voice at the end.
Conclusion - It is the belief of Black Hills Paranormal Investigations that this residence does have some measure of paranormal activity as evidenced by the EVPs, triggered motion sensors, and K2 hits that appear to be responses to questions asked. However, we do not feel that this residence has enough activity at this time to be considered haunted beyond a reasonable doubt. BHPI feels that this residence does warrant a subsequent investigation.
Equipment Used - Two K-II meters and digital EMF meter, DVR with two static IR cameras, Olympus and RCA digital audio recorders, two IR motion detectors, Sony NightShot camcorder.
Weather - Partly Cloudy, light snow flurries, temps in the mid to low 20's. Moon in the last quarter.