Investigation #2- Bachelor's Grove Cemetery- Midlothian, IL
2-1
Date: 11/19/2010
Time frame: Noon-Dusk
Weather: Cool, sunny, very clear, slight occasional breeze
Equipment: Digital Camera, Camcorder, Digital Voice Recorder
Team members: Matthew Barrett, Joe Sturm
Reports:
Introduction:
The plot of Bachelor's Grove Cemetery was chosen to be an official burial ground in 1844. However, a few of the headstones show that some graves date back to even before that date. The Grove is alleged to be one of the most haunted cemeteries in the United States. As you see in the picture to the upper-left, it appears that it is not very well taken care of. However, it is abandoned, and for being an abandoned cemetery, it is in pretty good shape thanks to some local volunteers to also respectful visitors. Many of the headstones are knocked over, grown over, and very visibly disrespected. Also, it is noticeable that Satanic rituals have been performed here. Regardless, this is still a beautiful location. It is in the middle of nice, calm forest preserve, right off of the side of a small, peaceful pond. This location may have somewhat of a famous history to it though, as it is rumored that Al Capone used the pond as a dumping ground for people that his gang murdered. It is said that a farmer also drowned in the very same pond while operating a horse-driven plow. Also, it is a fact that several homes use to be in the area of what is now the forest preserve and that the foundations of some of those homes are still present.
Summary:
We started off the investigation taking some photographs with our digital camera. Not much was personally experienced throughout the investigation. But this is common in paranormal investigations. Investigators just have to continue on, and hope the equipment caught something that their ears or eyes couldn't. We shot only about an hour's worth of video with our camcorder, as we then found out that's the maximum memory life for our memory card, and we were also able to take some pictures with the camcorder as well; one which, in our opinion, is very interesting. Nothing abnormal was caught with our voice recorder, even though we had it rolling throughout the entire investigation.
Basically, we took it in as an investigation which we gained some valuable experience with actually working as a team on an investigation for the first time. But upon review of the evidence, we feel that we just might have caught something paranormal. So there just may be a little bit of reward for the hours we put in for this investigation.
Conclusion:
2 pieces of possible evidence found, 0 alternative theories developed... Is the location haunted? We didn't gather enough evidence to determine this. But because of many reports, evidence produced by other investigators, and one picture of our own, we are very interested in returning to this location again in the future.
Evidence:
You will find both pieces of possible evidence we found during this investigation in picture 7. If you look in between the split of the front tree, you will see what appears to be an almost demonic looking ghostly apparition (note, TORCH is not implying this is a demon. We are only describing the looks of the apparition). It is near the bottom of the split, to the left. You can see a face, the apparition's shoulders and also part of its chest. If you wish to see it closer up, click on the "evidence link" above.
Our other piece of possible evidence is also in this picture and is backed up by what other people may be reporting. If you look closely, behind the fence in the background is the pond. And this pond has a couple legends surrounding it. We already discussed the first legend that Al Capone may have used the pond as a dumping ground. But the other legend is what makes this picture so interesting. It is reported that a farmer was driving his horse-operated plow, the horse went crazy for some unknown reason and ran into the pond, drowning. The farmer also drowned as well. And now, a residual haunting of the farmer has been reported by several people... If you look just to the right of the front tree with the split and behind the fence, you will a dark shadow figure. This figure appears to be transparent and it also appears that it just might be driving something along the lines of a horse-operated plow. You cannot see a horse. However, by the figures hunched over posture and the positioning of its arms, the TORCH team determined that this shadow figure is operating something in front of it. If you zoom in close and focus on the figure's head, you can also notice that it is wearing what appears to be a hat that you expect a farmer to wear. Again, a close up image of this possible evidence can be viewed under the "evidence" link. Feel welcome to take a look at all of our pictures and please let us know if you find something that we skipped over. We are working on posting our video.
Date: 11/19/2010
Time frame: Noon-Dusk
Weather: Cool, sunny, very clear, slight occasional breeze
Equipment: Digital Camera, Camcorder, Digital Voice Recorder
Team members: Matthew Barrett, Joe Sturm
Reports:
Introduction:
The plot of Bachelor's Grove Cemetery was chosen to be an official burial ground in 1844. However, a few of the headstones show that some graves date back to even before that date. The Grove is alleged to be one of the most haunted cemeteries in the United States. As you see in the picture to the upper-left, it appears that it is not very well taken care of. However, it is abandoned, and for being an abandoned cemetery, it is in pretty good shape thanks to some local volunteers to also respectful visitors. Many of the headstones are knocked over, grown over, and very visibly disrespected. Also, it is noticeable that Satanic rituals have been performed here. Regardless, this is still a beautiful location. It is in the middle of nice, calm forest preserve, right off of the side of a small, peaceful pond. This location may have somewhat of a famous history to it though, as it is rumored that Al Capone used the pond as a dumping ground for people that his gang murdered. It is said that a farmer also drowned in the very same pond while operating a horse-driven plow. Also, it is a fact that several homes use to be in the area of what is now the forest preserve and that the foundations of some of those homes are still present.
Summary:
We started off the investigation taking some photographs with our digital camera. Not much was personally experienced throughout the investigation. But this is common in paranormal investigations. Investigators just have to continue on, and hope the equipment caught something that their ears or eyes couldn't. We shot only about an hour's worth of video with our camcorder, as we then found out that's the maximum memory life for our memory card, and we were also able to take some pictures with the camcorder as well; one which, in our opinion, is very interesting. Nothing abnormal was caught with our voice recorder, even though we had it rolling throughout the entire investigation.
Basically, we took it in as an investigation which we gained some valuable experience with actually working as a team on an investigation for the first time. But upon review of the evidence, we feel that we just might have caught something paranormal. So there just may be a little bit of reward for the hours we put in for this investigation.
Conclusion:
2 pieces of possible evidence found, 0 alternative theories developed... Is the location haunted? We didn't gather enough evidence to determine this. But because of many reports, evidence produced by other investigators, and one picture of our own, we are very interested in returning to this location again in the future.
Evidence:
You will find both pieces of possible evidence we found during this investigation in picture 7. If you look in between the split of the front tree, you will see what appears to be an almost demonic looking ghostly apparition (note, TORCH is not implying this is a demon. We are only describing the looks of the apparition). It is near the bottom of the split, to the left. You can see a face, the apparition's shoulders and also part of its chest. If you wish to see it closer up, click on the "evidence link" above.
Our other piece of possible evidence is also in this picture and is backed up by what other people may be reporting. If you look closely, behind the fence in the background is the pond. And this pond has a couple legends surrounding it. We already discussed the first legend that Al Capone may have used the pond as a dumping ground. But the other legend is what makes this picture so interesting. It is reported that a farmer was driving his horse-operated plow, the horse went crazy for some unknown reason and ran into the pond, drowning. The farmer also drowned as well. And now, a residual haunting of the farmer has been reported by several people... If you look just to the right of the front tree with the split and behind the fence, you will a dark shadow figure. This figure appears to be transparent and it also appears that it just might be driving something along the lines of a horse-operated plow. You cannot see a horse. However, by the figures hunched over posture and the positioning of its arms, the TORCH team determined that this shadow figure is operating something in front of it. If you zoom in close and focus on the figure's head, you can also notice that it is wearing what appears to be a hat that you expect a farmer to wear. Again, a close up image of this possible evidence can be viewed under the "evidence" link. Feel welcome to take a look at all of our pictures and please let us know if you find something that we skipped over. We are working on posting our video.