Post by tt on Jul 30, 2005 19:25:55 GMT -5
In September of 2002, Meredith Putney, an anchor for KCAU TV an (ABC) affiliated TV Station, in Sioux City, Ia., contacted various Paranormal web sites in hopes of finding any Ghost Hunters in her area, that would be interested in going on a Ghost Hunt with her.
One such website was the Spiritkeep website located in Arizona. A website to which I was a member of their message board. Spiritkeep contacted me, and put me in touch with Meredith.
She explained to me that she wanted to conduct a Ghost Hunt in a location she had heard was haunted. For a news story that she was working on.
Here's my story:
I met with Meredith Putney, a 23 yr. old Anchor for KCAU TV an (ABC) affiliated TV Station, in Sioux City, Ia., in early October 2002.
Her coworkers were all gleaming with anticipation of the Ghostly Tales that she would have to tell upon her return from the Ghost Hunt I was conducting for her.
We drove together, in her Yukon to Homer, Neb., and then through the back country roads to Taylor Cemetery. Which sits on top of a bluff, over looking the fertile Missouri River which separates Iowa and Nebraska.
It was already dark by the time we arrived at approx. 9:15pm. We were in search of the grave of Lottie Edwards.
3 Urban Legends preside over her legacy to the Paranormal Realm. None of which are very clear in their details, which leads to the skepticism of any legitimacy for any of the accounts.
( One story involved an adulterous affair, with her killing the wife of the man she loved. The 2nd story says that she was a greedy person. So much that, when she was buried she had here Jewelery and money buried with her, convinced that she could, in fact take it with her.
At some later date her grave was disturbed by Grave Robbers who made off with her fortune. She has been restless ever since.
It is believed that the Grave Robbers fled across a nearby country bridge. However they crashed through the bridge's railing and died in the stream below. Urban legend has it, that if you travel across that bridge at night, and hear it make a "Creaking" noise 3 times, that you will die within a year.
The last tale has to do with Lottie being involved with a Coven of Witches, who took disfavor with her behavior. She reportedly was burned alive by the Witches, in Taylor Cemetery. If you are in the cemetery at the date and time she was burned alive, Urban Legend says you'll be able to see her burning corpse engulfed in flames in the center of the cemetery.)
Having parked the Yukon near the cemetery gate we noticed that the lone street light across the road was flickering and would turn off for several minutes at a time. Causing us to wonder if the paranormal activity was already occurring!
I had packed along my array of EMF Detectors, a Sony Night Shot Camcorder, and a 35 mm Advantix Camera. As well as a Flashlight, extra batteries, extra film, and 2 blankets. I was quite loaded down with equipment.
I actually had more equipment, but left it behind as it was a long walk up, and over the hill to Lottie's Grave. Besides the extra pieces of equipment were mainly for creature comforts for sitting in a freezing cold windswept cemetery all night.
Meredith came equally equipped with a video camera, a digital camera, a disposable camera, and a 35 mm camera with extra film, a flash light, with extra batteries, and a voice activated tape recorder.
We lugged all the equipment up to Lottie's grave, spread the blankets out and collapsed on the blankets exhausted from our trek.
I was already miffed by Lottie's need, to be buried so far away from the entrance. That I was in a less than enthusiastic mood. (We fat guys, are always looking at the big picture! I knew that everything that I hauled up there, was going to have to be hauled back down when it was all over. A thought that I hated to reflect on.)
Meredith seemed reasonably tense and fearful. Considering the time, location, and reason for being there. Not to mention being there with a guy who looks like a humongously overgrown Leprechaun. That alone would be enough to give you the willies!
She sat there occasionally waving her flashlight around with every little twig snap she heard in the surrounding woods. She expressed fear that some unknown human intruders would venture upon us, and we in turn would become the next Urban Legend to be associated with Taylor's Cemetery.
I encouraged Meredith to turn off her flashlight, to sit still, and allow her eyes to become accustomed to the ambient light in the cemetery. When she did I told her to look around herself, reassuring her that she could actually see quite well with out her flashlight.
I also told her that if we did have intruders they wouldn't know where we were, if they couldn't see our flashlights. She said, this did comfort her some. But she still remained apprehensive about having wild animals approach us.
Again I encouraged her to use her senses, to listen to every noise in the cemetery. To listen to how dry the grass was rustling, as it swayed in the blowing wind. I reassured her again, that if anyone or anything approached us by foot we would hear it before it was aware of where we were. She again said she felt comfortable with this discovery as well.
We sat there, monitored Lottie's grave with the EMF Detectors but didn't detect and spikes in the EM field. We took a few pictures, or attempted to take a few pictures. Meredith was having trouble getting the digital camera to cooperate. Then she decided to snap off a few pictures with the 35 mm but eventually it malfunctioned as well. Eventually she picked up the video camera, but realized that she didn't know how to operate it. So she dug through the camera bag, for the instruction booklet. As she sat with the butt of her flashlight in her mouth, she used the flashlight to read the booklet, and fiddled with the camera's buttons, nobs, and whirly gigs trying to find out how to use it for night shots.
We waited for what seemed like an eternity, discussing a myriad of topics both Paranormal and not. When all of a sudden we heard a car drive up the road and stop near the distant gate. Hearing voices and car doors slamming, we became alarmed, that Meredith's fears were coming true! We had Intruders!
From the sound of the voices we quickly ascertained that it was 2 teenage boys and their dates. They had spotted our car, and knew we were there. They made it clear that they were trying to get our attention as they were creating quite a ruckus with talking loudly, and shouting out at us. Asking us to show ourselves. We snuck up the back side of the cemetery's hill where we had sat. Approaching the top we could tell that the intruders were determined to make our acquaintance as they were walking straight for us.
I stood up and shined my flashlight in their direction, blinding them with it's crisp beam of light. I shouted to them "What are you doing here!?"
They were evasive with their answers. pleading that I turn off my flashlight. I didn't cooperate, as I had no other tool to use for our defense. Again I asked what they were doing there? As we had permission to be there, and I knew they didn't.
Again they were evasive with there answers, claiming to be there to visit their Grand Mother's grave. They abruptly turned to the right, and trekked off into the night.
Meredith expressed apprehension with their presence here. I told her that if they were up to no good, that she should turn off her flashlight and run for her Yukon. That she should save herself and drive back to town for safety.
She said she wasn't going to leave me behind, in harm's way.
I told her she would be of no use to me, if it came down to protecting me, as she was a short and slender woman; evoking no form of physical threat to anyone.
I asked her to promise me that she would save herself, and let me fend for myself.
I told her she should drive back to Homer, Neb. and bring back the Sheriff. As the Sheriff was going to need her help to locate all my dismembered body parts, when they got back. If that's what our Teenage intruders had in mind! LOL!
We settled back down on our blankets, and listened. Soon they were approaching us again, asking where we were? I stood up, and approached them.
They were giggling with nervous laughter. I asked them if they were really here to check out the reports of the Urban Legend, concerning Lottie's Grave? Eventually they admitted they were.
When they saw all of our equipment they asked what we were doing? I was reluctant to say, but Meredith approached them and told them that we were conducting a Ghost Hunt for a news story that she was doing for Halloween. They were in awe! And began asking a multitude of questions.
Finally the TV Station's Camera-man arrived at the scene, having just come from shooting the sports report on a nearby Friday night football game, in Sioux City.
Turns out he was also Meredith's Boyfriend.
Meredith decided that it would be a good angle for her news story to interview the Teenagers, and to talk about their reasons for coming to Lottie's grave.
To which 2 of the teenagers agreed to be on camera for the interviews. Their reasons for being there are the usual, they are thrill seekers!
We gave it a hardy try, having stayed for 5 hrs. in the chilling winds, and surviving our human intruders. But nothing really paranormal occurred. Unless you count on the malfunctioning street light, and malfunctioning camera equipment. As well as some unusual condensation, on a couple of leather equipment bags.
Tired and weary, we packed up and headed back to our vehicle. Still no closer to solving the Urban Legend surrounding Lottie's grave.
It was a pretty uneventful evening, but I feel it was a good learning opportunity for Meredith. To learn what it is like to go on a Ghost Hunt, and how to overcome your natural insecurity and apprehensions of spending time in Cemeteries at night!
I'm sorry it was not a more productive, and exciting hunt! But it was still an adventure that neither of us will soon forget!
One such website was the Spiritkeep website located in Arizona. A website to which I was a member of their message board. Spiritkeep contacted me, and put me in touch with Meredith.
She explained to me that she wanted to conduct a Ghost Hunt in a location she had heard was haunted. For a news story that she was working on.
Here's my story:
I met with Meredith Putney, a 23 yr. old Anchor for KCAU TV an (ABC) affiliated TV Station, in Sioux City, Ia., in early October 2002.
Her coworkers were all gleaming with anticipation of the Ghostly Tales that she would have to tell upon her return from the Ghost Hunt I was conducting for her.
We drove together, in her Yukon to Homer, Neb., and then through the back country roads to Taylor Cemetery. Which sits on top of a bluff, over looking the fertile Missouri River which separates Iowa and Nebraska.
It was already dark by the time we arrived at approx. 9:15pm. We were in search of the grave of Lottie Edwards.
3 Urban Legends preside over her legacy to the Paranormal Realm. None of which are very clear in their details, which leads to the skepticism of any legitimacy for any of the accounts.
( One story involved an adulterous affair, with her killing the wife of the man she loved. The 2nd story says that she was a greedy person. So much that, when she was buried she had here Jewelery and money buried with her, convinced that she could, in fact take it with her.
At some later date her grave was disturbed by Grave Robbers who made off with her fortune. She has been restless ever since.
It is believed that the Grave Robbers fled across a nearby country bridge. However they crashed through the bridge's railing and died in the stream below. Urban legend has it, that if you travel across that bridge at night, and hear it make a "Creaking" noise 3 times, that you will die within a year.
The last tale has to do with Lottie being involved with a Coven of Witches, who took disfavor with her behavior. She reportedly was burned alive by the Witches, in Taylor Cemetery. If you are in the cemetery at the date and time she was burned alive, Urban Legend says you'll be able to see her burning corpse engulfed in flames in the center of the cemetery.)
Having parked the Yukon near the cemetery gate we noticed that the lone street light across the road was flickering and would turn off for several minutes at a time. Causing us to wonder if the paranormal activity was already occurring!
I had packed along my array of EMF Detectors, a Sony Night Shot Camcorder, and a 35 mm Advantix Camera. As well as a Flashlight, extra batteries, extra film, and 2 blankets. I was quite loaded down with equipment.
I actually had more equipment, but left it behind as it was a long walk up, and over the hill to Lottie's Grave. Besides the extra pieces of equipment were mainly for creature comforts for sitting in a freezing cold windswept cemetery all night.
Meredith came equally equipped with a video camera, a digital camera, a disposable camera, and a 35 mm camera with extra film, a flash light, with extra batteries, and a voice activated tape recorder.
We lugged all the equipment up to Lottie's grave, spread the blankets out and collapsed on the blankets exhausted from our trek.
I was already miffed by Lottie's need, to be buried so far away from the entrance. That I was in a less than enthusiastic mood. (We fat guys, are always looking at the big picture! I knew that everything that I hauled up there, was going to have to be hauled back down when it was all over. A thought that I hated to reflect on.)
Meredith seemed reasonably tense and fearful. Considering the time, location, and reason for being there. Not to mention being there with a guy who looks like a humongously overgrown Leprechaun. That alone would be enough to give you the willies!
She sat there occasionally waving her flashlight around with every little twig snap she heard in the surrounding woods. She expressed fear that some unknown human intruders would venture upon us, and we in turn would become the next Urban Legend to be associated with Taylor's Cemetery.
I encouraged Meredith to turn off her flashlight, to sit still, and allow her eyes to become accustomed to the ambient light in the cemetery. When she did I told her to look around herself, reassuring her that she could actually see quite well with out her flashlight.
I also told her that if we did have intruders they wouldn't know where we were, if they couldn't see our flashlights. She said, this did comfort her some. But she still remained apprehensive about having wild animals approach us.
Again I encouraged her to use her senses, to listen to every noise in the cemetery. To listen to how dry the grass was rustling, as it swayed in the blowing wind. I reassured her again, that if anyone or anything approached us by foot we would hear it before it was aware of where we were. She again said she felt comfortable with this discovery as well.
We sat there, monitored Lottie's grave with the EMF Detectors but didn't detect and spikes in the EM field. We took a few pictures, or attempted to take a few pictures. Meredith was having trouble getting the digital camera to cooperate. Then she decided to snap off a few pictures with the 35 mm but eventually it malfunctioned as well. Eventually she picked up the video camera, but realized that she didn't know how to operate it. So she dug through the camera bag, for the instruction booklet. As she sat with the butt of her flashlight in her mouth, she used the flashlight to read the booklet, and fiddled with the camera's buttons, nobs, and whirly gigs trying to find out how to use it for night shots.
We waited for what seemed like an eternity, discussing a myriad of topics both Paranormal and not. When all of a sudden we heard a car drive up the road and stop near the distant gate. Hearing voices and car doors slamming, we became alarmed, that Meredith's fears were coming true! We had Intruders!
From the sound of the voices we quickly ascertained that it was 2 teenage boys and their dates. They had spotted our car, and knew we were there. They made it clear that they were trying to get our attention as they were creating quite a ruckus with talking loudly, and shouting out at us. Asking us to show ourselves. We snuck up the back side of the cemetery's hill where we had sat. Approaching the top we could tell that the intruders were determined to make our acquaintance as they were walking straight for us.
I stood up and shined my flashlight in their direction, blinding them with it's crisp beam of light. I shouted to them "What are you doing here!?"
They were evasive with their answers. pleading that I turn off my flashlight. I didn't cooperate, as I had no other tool to use for our defense. Again I asked what they were doing there? As we had permission to be there, and I knew they didn't.
Again they were evasive with there answers, claiming to be there to visit their Grand Mother's grave. They abruptly turned to the right, and trekked off into the night.
Meredith expressed apprehension with their presence here. I told her that if they were up to no good, that she should turn off her flashlight and run for her Yukon. That she should save herself and drive back to town for safety.
She said she wasn't going to leave me behind, in harm's way.
I told her she would be of no use to me, if it came down to protecting me, as she was a short and slender woman; evoking no form of physical threat to anyone.
I asked her to promise me that she would save herself, and let me fend for myself.
I told her she should drive back to Homer, Neb. and bring back the Sheriff. As the Sheriff was going to need her help to locate all my dismembered body parts, when they got back. If that's what our Teenage intruders had in mind! LOL!
We settled back down on our blankets, and listened. Soon they were approaching us again, asking where we were? I stood up, and approached them.
They were giggling with nervous laughter. I asked them if they were really here to check out the reports of the Urban Legend, concerning Lottie's Grave? Eventually they admitted they were.
When they saw all of our equipment they asked what we were doing? I was reluctant to say, but Meredith approached them and told them that we were conducting a Ghost Hunt for a news story that she was doing for Halloween. They were in awe! And began asking a multitude of questions.
Finally the TV Station's Camera-man arrived at the scene, having just come from shooting the sports report on a nearby Friday night football game, in Sioux City.
Turns out he was also Meredith's Boyfriend.
Meredith decided that it would be a good angle for her news story to interview the Teenagers, and to talk about their reasons for coming to Lottie's grave.
To which 2 of the teenagers agreed to be on camera for the interviews. Their reasons for being there are the usual, they are thrill seekers!
We gave it a hardy try, having stayed for 5 hrs. in the chilling winds, and surviving our human intruders. But nothing really paranormal occurred. Unless you count on the malfunctioning street light, and malfunctioning camera equipment. As well as some unusual condensation, on a couple of leather equipment bags.
Tired and weary, we packed up and headed back to our vehicle. Still no closer to solving the Urban Legend surrounding Lottie's grave.
It was a pretty uneventful evening, but I feel it was a good learning opportunity for Meredith. To learn what it is like to go on a Ghost Hunt, and how to overcome your natural insecurity and apprehensions of spending time in Cemeteries at night!
I'm sorry it was not a more productive, and exciting hunt! But it was still an adventure that neither of us will soon forget!
"TT"
