Henderson Castle
Revisit
Kalamazoo, MI
February 9, 2009
Investigators Present: Dan Holroyd, Tina Truax, Wendy Allen, Denise Gowen-Krueger, Deb Sacchetti, Shawn Stafford, Kevin Hanna, Deb Bresnahan, Adrian Johnson, Dyana Howard, Eve Holroyd, Andru Hunter
This was our second investigation of the castle. This investigation was done at night with lights out. Our client and hosts, Laura and Peter McNelis, were gracious and kind enough to allow us in for this ground-breaking investigation. We optimize our potential on this case as we were now set up with IR cameras and a DVR system. Plus, the size of our team is twice what it was when we first investigated the castle in 2008. There were twelve tem members present.
The base EMF readings were in the normal range – nothing out of the ordinary as far as electrical wiring or power supplies. The group was divided into four teams of three people; the command center was set up on the second floor foyer area. We had camera #1 in the ballroom on the third floor. Camera #2 was set up in the uncommon room which is also on the third floor. Camera #3 was stationed on the first floor looking up the main stairway facing the stained glass window. Camera #4 was stationed in the left-hand corner of the Victorian Room. This room was Mary Henderson’s changing room in 1895.
The teams began working the assigned floors with a 15 minute time table for each area and then they would trade up areas when completed. This allowed complete coverage and yet kept the contamination of noise and movement down to a very low minimum. The energy and feeling in the castle this night were very high and perceptive to our presence. There were several experiences reported by team members of whispering and one of touching their hair and hand.
Two investigators were with me and experienced hearing a woman’s voice answer one of my EVP questions out loud and audible to us all while we were in Mary Henderson’s changing room (now known as the Victorian Room). I had asked if Mary Henderson was with us and the answer we heard was “I’m here” that seemed to come from the left corner of the room where the camera was placed. This was a fantastic moment for me and the two investigators with me as this was their first investigation! I was excited that I audibly got a response!
We have also captured some interesting photographic anomalies that are very hard to reproduce. The Tibetan Room has shown two very strange items in the photos. Also, in several areas of the house, one investigator has captured very strange light refractions and possibly two pictures with faces in them. These are by no means fact but unexplainable and interesting nonetheless.
Overall, the investigation was very productive and full of great evidence lending to the belief that others and myself have that the castle is still full of life and positive energy. We will endeavor to continue through the permission and understanding of Laura and Pet McNelis our friendship and efforts to educate the community through the paranormal channels. We believe that Frank and Mary Henderson, along with others who may have lived or stayed there, are certainly still around watching over her and loving the place to the extent that crosses the boundaries of the flesh.
-Dan Holroyd
Founder/Lead Investigator
I love it when we can combine history and paranormal investigation -
two of my passions!!!!
At the Henderson Castle Investigation we had the opportunity to achieve one of the goals of our group. We strive to combine history with our investigations and to benefit the community, and we did just that.
In our evidence photos from the Henderson Castle 2008, there are photos of "the mysterious Clare" written on a picture. We have been on a search for Clare since then. Dan was lead to the grave of Clare Burleigh, at Mt. Home Cemetery, directly across from the castle and when Dan asked during an EVP session at the cemetery if this was "the Clare" he was told yes. His grave site can be viewed from the room that the writing was found.
I have been intrigued by this story since Dan first told me about it so before going back to Henderson Castle for our 2nd investigation, Dan and I went back to Mt. Home Cemetery so I could get pictures and more info on Clare and follow up with some research on him. This information was so we could use it back at Henderson to try to contact him......it ended up leading me elsewhere.
Clare was a Corp. in the 35th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, G Company, during the Spanish-American War. While researching this time in his life I came across a website that listed all veterans of the S-A War and their gravesites, Clare's name was not listed. There was an email address and a request for any additional information or missing names to be emailed so it/they could be added. Because of the investigation, the writing in the dust, and the follow up research, I was able to add Clare to the list of veterans and to make sure that he was remembered for his service to his country. His life will forever be remembered now and I am honored that I was able to do this for him. I am still searching records to see if he has any relatives that should have this information, but until then or if he doesn't, he will forever remain a member of my family and in my heart.
Was this what he wanted when he contacted Dan??? We may never know, but I am ecstatic that I was able to do this for him. There are no coincidences and everything happens for a reason. So, next time you hear the bumps in the night....let us know, you never know what we might find, what we/you may be able to do for someone else, or even, what part you might play in history.
-Denise Gowen-Krueger
Research Manager
