Odd Fellows Cemetery, Granite City IL - 6/15/2008

Location: The Odd Fellows Cemetery in Granite City, Illinois. This cemetery is also known as the Spanish Graveyard or even Lucinda's Graveyard after Lucinda Irish who is one of the people buried in the cemetery. Legend associated with the cemetery states that after its completion, a road was run across the cemetery disturbing some of the "residents" of the graveyard. One of the stories associated with the area has to do with the spirit of Lucinda Irish, whose tombstone rests no more than a foot from the edge of the road. When travelers come down the road, it is said to disturb her spirit and people have claimed to see her wandering the road and the fields surrounding the cemetery late at night.

Conditions: This investigation was conducted between 8:30 PM and 11:00 PM. The outside temperature was recorded at the start of the investigation at 77 degrees dropping to 72 degrees closer to the end. The relative humidity level was approximately 49 percent. The moon was in a waxing gibbous phase 92 percent of full. Solar x-ray levels were normal and the geomagnetic field was quiet. Barometric pressure was recorded at 29.50.

Equipment Used: Canon 10D DSLR with a 380EX Flash, Sony V1 with a Sony HVL-IRM Infrared Extender, Extech 480823 EMF Detector, Cellsensor EMF Detector, Olympus VN-4100PC digital audio recorder, Olympus DS-30 digital audio recorder, Radio Shack Thermometer/Hygrometer, Brunton ADC Ridge Barometer, Radio Shack Motion Detector, Extech EX410 Digital Multimeter, Mastercool 52224 IR Thermometer, Sony DCR-SR82 Camcorder.

The Set-Up: We positioned ourselves in various places around the perimeter of the cemetery where we would have a good view of anything that would happen in both the graveyard or the surrounding fields. We spent equal amounts of time stationed at both the eastern and western sides of the area. At times, we had teams on both sides simultaneously. Visual and infrared photographs were taken throughout the course of the investigation. We engaged in both active and passive EVP sessions, sometimes even using two recorders simultaneously. Audio was recorded constantly during the investigation. Since we had limited power for our camcorder, we had to use it sparingly. If something happened to grab our attention, we would film that particular area for a while. EMF fields and temperatures were monitored constantly. Additionally, we set a motion sensor in the middle of the cemetery in hopes that something would trip it.

Personal Experiences: We had a couple of interesting experiences. In an early inspection, two investigators reported an eerie feeling near the field that bordered the eastern side of the cemetery. Later, all five investigators present heard a very human-like scream that emanated somewhere from that field. The simplest explanation is that it is from an animal, but everyone remarked on the sound's uncanny resemblance to a person. Additionally, three investigators who were sitting at the western edge of the cemetery heard a sound that sounded like a metallic "tink" repeatedly for about 10 seconds. No cause to this could be found and the sound was never heard again. Also, sounds resembling footsteps in the brush were heard, but again, it is impossible to rule out animal noises as a cause.

Meter Readings: EMF readings were minimal for the whole investigation. Initial base reading measured between 0.0 mG to 0.1 mG with no significant fluctuations. On a couple of occasions, investigators felt an unusual temporary coldness descend over the area. During one of these periods, our probe thermometer dipped as low as 68 degrees before a minute later returning to 73 degrees - a fluctuation of 5 degrees. During another one of these periods, the temperature was observed to drop only 2 degrees.

Results and Analysis: Analysis of the infrared photography images revealed one anomaly. Analysis of one of the audio recorder's contents have been analyzed and one notable clip was extracted. Visual spectrum photography did not reveal anything unusual. Audio from the second recorder is has been completed and a very interesting EVP was captured. Video has yet to be reviewed.

Photo Anomaly:

The first image shot at 10:29:50 PM	The second image taken at 10:31:57 PM

This pair of images shows an unusual misty shape that appeared in a photograph where nothing was seen just a couple of minutes prior. The intense brightness in the center of the image has to do with the infrared extender mounted on the camera. In the second image, you can make out what looks like a misty shape (circled in blue) that does not appear to have been in the previous photo. It is more evident when you look at the tree line area in the background. The tombstone is shown more white in the second photo because it is more directly in the beam of the infrared extender. These two images are two from a series of shots taken in the direction of the field shortly after we heard the "scream" come from this general direction.

Initial reactions indicate that this could be some sort of a reflection off of the tombstone, but time and weather have worn any finish off of the stone that would seem to be reflective. We took a number of other photos of much more highly reflective stones, with no similar effects in the photos.

Audio Anomaly One:

This clip was recorded during an active EVP session where three investigators were present asking questions. This voice is picked up after an investigator says, "We'd appreciate it if you'd communicate with us." To us, it sounds as if the voice is saying "The chair is [hot]." It is very difficult to discern what the last word is.

Audio Anomaly Two:

This clip is pretty remarkable because it was recorded in the complete absence of any nearby people in the middle of a field. For this clip, the audio recorder was placed on top of a tombstone near the edge of the eastern field where most of the observed activity was. The two investigators with the recorder set it down and walked away to join the rest of the group. The sounds of them leaving and then the group later returning are very clear and nothing other than this is picked up during that duration.

This clip starts with a voice saying either two quick words or one two-syllable word followed by ten seconds of silence and then a burst of laughter. What makes this even more noteworthy is that the voice appears to be female, and there were no female investigators present. The initial word is impossible to make out, but the laughter is unmistakable.

Other observations of the range of this particular audio recorder show that a voice of this level would have to have its source within approximately 50 feet of the recorder. The presence of all investigators can be accounted for at the moment in question, and are all at least 350 feet away from the place where the recorder was.