Investigation Report

Compiled Case Report

Phoenixville Chamber of Commerce Investigation, 7-14-06

Date of Investigation: 7-14-06.  Time: 5pm-9:30pm

Location: Chamber of Commerce, Phoenixville, PA.

Purpose of Investigation: To investigate the activity reported on the 2^nd floor and other areas of the building.

Weather Conditions:

Sunny

Temperature: 83°F.  Feels like: 86°F.  Chance of precipitation: 0%  Dew Point: 67°F Humidity: 56% Winds: From S 4 mph

Solar Activity: M class Flare

Geomagnetic Activity: Quiet

Moon Phase: Waning Gibbous, 83% of Full.

Investigators present: Michelle, Isaac, Carol, Kim, Kat, Dinah and Mark

Observers present: Ryan and Ron, film crew for documentary.

Equipment used:

There is a total of 17 hours of video made from various video cameras. The footage gathered from the DVR system revealed some “orb-like” activity at various points during the footage. It was most active during the vigil part of the investigation where most of the investigators were present in the conference room on the 2^nd floor at the front of the building.  There were several “Orb” photos captured with a digital camera as well. There is about 2 ½ hours of audio recording that was taken during our EVP sessions. We did not capture any EVP’s on those recordings.

Investigation Summary:

The team arrived and formally began the investigation at approximately 5:30pm.  Carol and Kim proceeded to begin mapping out the first floor and gather base readings with the thermometers and EMF meters. Dinah and Kat did the same on the 2^nd floor and Michelle and Isaac investigated the entire location while the others made their maps.  During this part of the investigation process is when we get a true sense of the environment and may come across any problems related with the building.

 A few things were revealed:

1. The basement has a high level of Mold and Mildew which caused several of our members to have an allergic reaction.  The dehumidifier in the basement was full and needed to be emptied. If possible, find a way to connect a hose to the unit directly and have it empty into a sump pump or directly to the outside. Due to the high level of moisture in the basement the dehumidifier needs to run constantly. I would recommend a mold test to see what the levels are and if the situation is one that requires immediate attention.

2. There were several building security issues related to the door on the 2^nd floor near the bathroom. It was not properly latched and could have been easily opened from the outside. (Michelle fixed it and was able to get the door to close properly.) There was also an issue with the gate outside on the fire escape. This was addressed the following morning of the investigation while Trish was present.

3. The water pipes on the 2^nd floor is causing the water to be rancid and produces an unpleasant smell throughout the building when used. (later we were made aware that you are already aware of this situation).

The team was grouped into pairs and took turns investigating the location once the preliminary investigation and base reading had been completed.  After each team was given a chance to investigate we gathered together on the 2^nd floor in the conference room to hold a vigil/EVP session. It was during this session that several members (including myself) had the physical sensation of being touched by something in the room.

A more detailed account is included below. The accounts are taken from the individual investigator reports directly.

Kim Observations

Carol and I began around 6pm to map out the downstairs. Front room, middle then

the back office, and bathroom. Base readings were then taken with the EMF meters.

We found consistently high readings at the inside entrance doorway. Ground Level

was fluctuating between 4 and 5, up to about 2 feet high. Subsequent investigation of the

cellar by Michelle and Isaac concluded the high readings at floor level were due to

electrical wiring in the basement. We also had a meter reading of 3.5 at the main

counter. Again, this may be contributed to the wiring in the cellar. We did not use the EVP

or pics for the entire downstairs. Front room was a constant temp of 85 degrees. Middle

and back office were cooler, due to the proximity of the air conditioners (wall mounted).

Temp in back room 82 degrees, middle section 84 degrees.

EMF readings were taken in the bathroom. The EMF Meter only pegged at the light switch,

other than that the meter stayed at zero. There was a flite of steps in the bathroom leading

upstairs, but it had been sealed at the upstairs level. EMF Meter stayed at zero on these

stairs. Middle section, back room, storage closet, bathroom all had zero meter readings.

Only at the electrical outlets did the EMF Meter spike.

Carol and I went upstairs to investigate. We checked the backroom, EMF meter readings

(zero) Pics taken with both our cameras.

Carol and I proceeded into the front room and began our infamous non recording EVPs.

The 1st EMF reading occurred at the first chair by the doorway, at floor level. Constant

temp reading in the room of 83 degrees. EMF meter stayed between 4.5 and 5.

This reading lasted about 2 feet upwards, then stopped. No Meter reading on the chair

itself. Carol and I began to ask questions. Can you give us a sign of your presence,

Is there anyone here who would like to make contact with us? Can you tell us your

name? Can you make a noise, tap on the table or touch one of us? Do you want us

to leave? If you want us to leave you have to give us a sign. Nothing happened.

We spent about 1 hr upstairs, then Kat and Dinah came up and we left for the blob

fest theatre.  Carol and I sat over by the windows and Carol took pics, while we were asking

questions. Then Carol switched and went and sat in the second chair by the doorway.

I stayed seated over by the windows. Eventually the ground level meter reading stopped,

then it started over top the table, moving left to right from the table about 1 foot upwards.

Meter reading was 3 to 3 1/2. Moving from the left of the table to the middle to the right

end of the table, seeming to float. Carol and myself took digital pics, upon review I picked

up a few pics with orbs and I believe Carol did as well. Kat and Dinah eventually came

upstairs and Carol and myself left for the blob fest at the theatre.

Carol and I met Mark, Michelle and Isaac outside of the theatre, and we helped to hand

out the papers about looking for ghost stories.

Carol and I stayed and Mark, Michelle and Isaac went back to the COC.

After a while, Carol and I started return to the COC, and we heard Mark say he was

seeing all kinds of orbs on the monitor from the upstairs camera he had installed earlier.

We rushed back to see what was going on. When we arrived Ryan, who is doing the

documentary and his dad where there. We watched the camera for

a while, then Mark wanted everyone to go upstairs for a vigil. We all did, but Ryans dad

stayed downstairs to watch the TV.

We all sat down in the room, and Mark began to do EVP questions.

I sat to the left of Kat, and during the vigil my right arm and side of body felt heavy. Kat

had the same sensation, on her left side. During the vigil, I first felt something poke my

right arm where my tattoo is. Then a bit later, something touched my tattoo again, only it

wasn’t a poke, something  touched my tattoo. I did not feel any cool spots, the room

was rather hot with all of us in there.

Dinah Observations

Arrived at the Phoenixville Area Chamber of Commerce at approximately 5 pm on July 14, 2006.  As research equipment was being set up (cameras, video recorders, etc.), I was assigned to the upstairs graphing team.  It was our job to map out the Chamber in a floor plan that would display all electrical items—light switches, power plates, lights, appliances (i.e. air conditioners), or any other thing that might affect an investigation.

 Once the graph was finished, we set about with EMF meters to take base readings.  The readings ranged from 2-5 with the highest consistency of readings in the back room (facing the street).

It was also our job, as well, to debunk as we went along, so readings that showed high numbers around any area where electrical current was present for the right reasons (i.e. outlets, etc.) were closely monitored whenever our meters began to beep.  The interesting part, to me, was how the energy seemed to follow us through the process.  So many areas where there was no rational/scientific cause for electrical current to be, showed energy readings.  It was as though whatever was there from the other world was very curious about what we were doing.  At one time, the meter would be flashing an indication of energy presence, and in the very next minute, at the same place and under the same conditions, there was nothing showing.

Special note:  I did feel a strong sense of déjà vu at the top of the stairwell during the preliminary stage of collecting data.

Once the preliminaries of the investigation were completed, the actual investigation began.  We now had initial readings to compare activity going forward.  I found that the EMF readings became very high but moved frequently from place to place—again as though leading or following us.  This was particular the case when Kat was in the room.  The activity was always greater around her.  There were spikes of 7 at these times.  There was particular high activity on the far side of the room (by the windows and in the top corner). 

One of the research phases is called (four our group) the vigil.  Sitting in the midst of the camera equipment, moving around with the EMF meters to take readings, and noting changes are all quiet, time-consuming tasks. 

At one point, however, another investigator came up the stairs to tell us that the orb activity was quite elaborate—displayed on the downstairs monitor from the upstairs cameras.  I went downstairs to view the activity.  The television monitor, which was wired to the camera equipment on the second level of the Chamber, was alive with orb activity.  All sizes were whooshing through the room—some twinkling like starlight, some bright, some soft in glow.  All were traveling so that a tail of energy spun out behind them as they disappeared from the camera’s lens to parts unknown.  It looked like a major traffic hub of paranormal activity. 

Later in the evening, a vigil of the upstairs haunted room continued.  Our group, made up of varied individuals who have varied sensitivities to the paranormal, were situated around a large table in the middle of the room.  The camera was running.  An EMF meter sat on the table, turned on and flashing red to indicate a constant high range of energy in the room with us.  We remained quiet and in waiting mode. 

It wasn’t long before two members of the group felt feather-light touches on their arms that felt like a small breeze that would ruffle the hairs on the forearm.  There was no moving air source in the room—and the temperature (taken continually by a thermometer on the table) was approximately eighty-two degrees.  (A window air conditioner in the adjoining room was the method of cooling for the upstairs and was not at high level.)

Another member felt someone touch the cross tattoo on her arm, as if investigating it.

It appeared that all the physical activity was taking place on one side of the room.  At an appropriate interval, the group sitting on the active side of the room switched places with those on the inactive side of the room. 

I was now in the middle of the active area.  Wearing open-toed sandals, jeans, and a t-shirt, the only skin exposed to the air were my toes and my forearms.  I could feel  a movement of air across my arms as they rested on the chair arms.  Looking around, I tried to note whether anyone was moving.  I looked through the doorway out into the adjoining room and thought about the air conditioner out there. I wasn’t sure if there was air movement or not, but it felt like there was indeed a coolness to the air around my right arm—not a dramatic cool, just a bit cooler than the warm air in the room.  I pulled my attention from the air and tried to relax.

It was then, that I felt the cool air at my feet, on my bare toes.  I was sure of the air this time.  And then, as though a piece of human hair was being dragged across my skin, I felt a tickling sensation across my toes.  I looked down but nothing was there. Yet I knew that I’d felt something. 

Kat Observations

I was Sweeping upstairs with the Gaussmaster with Dinah who was using her EMF  meter, Using digital recorder conducted evp evidence. Questions asked: Give us a sign of your presence, knock on the table, make the piece of plastic fall of the table, roll the pencil-none of which happened. Other questions included what is your name,and why are you here. 

Using the Gaussmaster there were dramatic spikes up to 5 in the closet to the side of the front room. There were no spikes in the tiny wall closet.  The upstairs front room seemed to remain at a steady 1 reading with peaks up to 4 in the middle of the room. On the right hand side of the room above and below the ledge the gauss spiked up to a 4 and 5. The temperatire in the room seemed to stay relatively stable with a drop in one degree from 82 to 81.While downstairs I noticed a rancid smell like rotten eggs and learned that the water was run upstairs and was the cause of the smell.

Later in the evening as we all sat in the upstairs main office I felt as if there was an electrical charge holding down my arm.  Kim, who was to my left, said that she felt someone touch her arm on her cross tattoo.

While watching the monitor I saw some light anomalies and orbs

Spikes to 5 in upstairs closet.  Steady reading of 1 with spikes to 4 in the middle of the room. Spikes to 5 right side above and under ledge.  Spikes up to 4 and 5 placed on chair next to me.

Isaac/Michelle Observations 

Observations/Personal Experience

When we arrived, Kat and Dinah were mapping 2^nd floor, Carol and Kim were mapping 1^st floor and Mark was working with the equipment.  We went to check out the basement.  There was a musty odor as the basement door was opened.  Stairs leading downstairs are old and creaking.  Lighting is poor, one dim bulb from ceiling at bottom of stairs.  Basement is unfinished with a dirt floor.  There were electrical boxes at bottom of stairs and on opposite corner of far wall and an oil tank located in other corner of far wall.  There was a door to exit outside.  Some furniture/unused equipment are stored downstairs.  A dehumidifier was plugged into an extension cord and was on.  A strong smell of must/mold was overwhelming.  Michelle took two pictures and needed to leave because of eye, sinus and throat irritation from mold.  Isaac remained downstairs and took numerous photos.

We then checked 1^st floor, nothing unusual noted.  When checking out the 2^nd floor, Michelle climbed into the closet that led to the attic.  There was an area that daylight could be seen, thus explaining the water stains on the ceiling in the front room.  There was nothing stored in the attic.  All that could be seen was a thin layer of older insulation with a normal dirt film.  Michelle went to 2^nd floor bathroom to wash hands and noticed that door leading to outside fire escape was ajar and would not latch.  When washing hands, a foul odor like rotten eggs from the water was noticed.  This smell later traveled down to 1^st floor and did not leave for several hours.  Numerous pictures were taken of 1^st and 2^nd floors.

We then went to hand out flyers with Mark in front of theater.  When we returned to the COC, we participated in vigil while in the front room of 2^nd floor.  Ryan and his father had arrived for this part of the investigation.  While sitting in chair against window wall, Michelle felt a sensation of air puffs and static on right arm that was resting on chair arm.  The air puffs felt like it was caused by exhaling or movement, Isaac seemed to be sitting still and was looking the other direction.    Feelings continued while sitting in that seat until switching seats with Isaac.  The static felt like the charge of energy collected by rubbing your feet on carpet, but without the shock, and hairs on arm were standing up.  Michelle also noticed a tingling feeling on right foot and leg only while in that chair.  Isaac did not feel anything unusual while in that chair.  Other members along this same way were reporting feeling similar experiences.  Michelle continued to feel the static, without shock, throughout the night at home.  Most members had some type of sinus pressure and headache well into the next day.

Mark Observations

We arrived at the Chamber of Commerce shortly after 5pm. Dinah had already arrived ahead of us. Carol, Kim, Kat and myself arrived together, Isaac and Michelle arrived about 20 minutes later, near 5:30pm.  Originally it was set the the investigation would last until about 8:30 or so, because of the time restrictions due to one of the women who worked there not wanting to be there late into the evening. Those plans changed and the building was left into the hands of Dinah and that once we left the door would lock behind us and that would be the end of the investigation.  We loaded in the equipment and I began to look for a place to set up the DVR system for the camera that would remain overnight. Carol and Kim immediately began to map out the 1^st floor and Dinah and Kat would map out the 2^nd floor and take the base readings. I began to inventory the equipment and decide on what pieces of gear we would use during the equipment. I had intended on using the Gamera (35mm camera housed with an IR sensor) as part of the overnight observation, but it was malfunctioning and still needs to be addressed. I encountered some problems with the DVR system, but soon fixed it and had the camera set in place on a tripod in the doorway of the conference room on the 2^nd floor.  I then loaded the Sony camcorder and set it up on the 2^nd floor in the doorway straight across from the stairs, it was pointed into the middle room that was connected to the front room (conference room). This camera would be set to record overnight at 30 second intervals for 2 seconds each time.  Isaac and Michelle began to investigate other areas of the building while Carol, Kim, Kat and Dinah were completing their floor maps. Isaac and Michelle investigated the basement to see the condition and place where the circuit boxes and other electrical boxes were in the basement.  Carol and Kim notated a high consistent reading on the first floor with the EMF meter, more particularly the doorway area at the front of the building near the main entrance, which corresponds with a circuit box below the floor in the basement.  Michelle and Isaac also noted that the basement had high levels of mildew and mold and was in poor shape. Michelle and Isaac went to investigate the 2^nd floor and while doing so Michelle came across the door that goes out to the fire escape was not latched and closed properly and that it was a security issue relating to the building.  Michelle also investigated the crawl space and other areas of the 2^nd floor. After investigating the crawl space she felt the need to wash her hands and did so using the sink in the bathroom of the 2^nd floor. The water quality was so poor that it created and odor that penetrated the 2^nd and 1^st floor of the building, so much so that she had to wash her hands again using the sink in the bathroom on the first floor, because the water from the 2^nd floor had made her hands smell of the odor. (rotten eggs). This is due to the plumbing on the 2^nd floor and that it used very little, the water sits in the pipes and becomes rancid due to the contamination from the pipes themselves.  The floor maps were completed and Carol and Kim went to the 2^nd floor to begin conducting their vigil and EVP experiments. Dinah and Kat were on the first floor with myself and the others, here Dinah began to have a severe allergy attack. The attack was a result of Michelle and Isaac’s exploration of the basement. Dinah has an allergy to mold and it is believed that the mold was “kicked up” while the others had been in the basement.  She took some allergy medication and the attack soon began to pass.  Michelle, Isaac and I decided to leave the location and proceed down to the Colonial Theatre to hand out flyers for out table that would be there during the next days events. I took a 2-way radio with us so that we could monitor the situation at the Chamber. Carol and Kim completed their vigil and joined us down at the theatre, Kat and Dinah remained behind and began their own vigil on the 2^nd floor in the conference room. At this time a received a cell phone call from Ryan (student filmmaker) and that he was in front of the chamber and ready to participate in the investigation. I let the others know that we would be having a group vigil on the 2^nd floor that would then conclude the investigation for the night.  Upon arriving back at the chamber I met up with Ryan and his father and we went into the chamber. Michelle, Isaac, Kim and Carol were a few minutes behind me and would arrive soon after. During this time the DVR had been recording the events that were taking place on the 2^nd floor in the conference room.  The sun was beginning to set and the night vision mode of the camera turned itself on.  We started noticing “orb like” activity on the monitor of the DVR camera.  Ryan had joined Kat and Dinah upstairs to participate in their vigil, the rest of us remained on the 1^st floor and watched from the monitor.  The “orb” activity was significant, all sizes and trajectories, moving to and away from the camera, left to right, up and down. The base reading in the conference room was high on the street side of the room, near 3-3.5 miligauss at all times.  I had relayed to them via the 2 way radio the kinds of activity that we were witnessing. They wanted to see it for themselves and came downstairs to join us.  I decided to go upstairs with the Gauss Master EMF meter and investigate the room further myself.  Soon thereafter the other joined me and took a seat in various places around the room.  Kim was seated in the corner on the wall near the window on the street side of the building, Kat next to her, then Isaac, then Michelle. Ryan sat opposite of Kim, with Carol next then Dinah. I remained standing and would wander about the room with the EMF meter taking readings. Ryan’s father remained downstairs and observed via the monitor and 2 way radio.  Michelle begain to report a sensation of being touched on her one arm, the hairs standing on end, similar to a static charge.  Kim and Kat also reported being touched and it seemed to be isolated to that side of the room. Isaac got up and left the room to join Ryan’s father downstairs. I took his seat next to Michelle and waited to see if I would experience the same thing.  I began to have the same sensation of something rubbing or touching my arm, I then had a cough attack with started in my chest and lasted for several minutes, it passed just as quickly as it came.  I asked for everyone to switch sides of the room to see if the others would have the same experience. Once we switched, it didn’t seem to happen for the others. The Ghost meter continued to have high readings continually around 3.5 gauss. The gauss master was doing the same, but then would have random spikes going up to 7.  The meter seemed to be acting unusual so I decided to change the battery to rule out the possibility of a faulty or dying battery.   I changed the battery, but the meter continued to have high readings and spikes.  We took a five minute break before conducting our final EVP session.  Isaac was now downstairs with Ryan’s father and the rest of us were upstairs in the conference room. I led us into the EVP session and began asking some questions.   The session only lasted for about 15-20 minutes. The investigation was ending and I had to change out the tapes in the cameras for the overnight surveillance.  We left the chamber at about 9:20pm and retrieved the equipment from the overnight the following morning at around 11am.

Investigation Conclusion

There was very little physical evidence collected that would support the claims of the activity that was being reported. Although, “Orb” phenomena is believed to be a sign of a spirit or ghostly presence it is not enough to stake such a claim based solely on that evidence.  Orb video and photography by its very nature is flawed and can not be the only physical evidence used in presenting the proof of paranormal activity. Orb activity does not necessarily mean that there is in fact a haunting at the location. One of our working theories on the nature of Orbs are that they are a raw anomalous energy. In some cases they may be the sign that other paranormal activity may be present, with Orb phenomena we generally believe that the strong possibility of other paranormal activity does exist.

None of the investigators present experienced any of the kinds of activity that had been previously reported. Although, several of the members did have personal subjective experiences during the EVP/Vigil near the conclusion of the investigation it is still the lack of physical evidence that keeps us from making a final conclusion at this time.

Further investigating would be required before making any final case as to whether or not there is paranormal activity present in the Chamber of Commerce.  We did have some interesting experiences and would welcome an opportunity to investigate further and research the nature of the activity that has been reported.  Is there something present in the Chamber? There very may well be, but more investigating is needed.