The Old Quaker Lane School House
Annapolis, Illinois
Written by: Todd M. Bates
Annapolis, Illinois
Written by: Todd M. Bates
The school was in full operation until the year 1944 when it sold to a local landowner who permanently closed it. The school had instructed children from grades 1-8 and operated by only one teacher. There was no electricity or heat (other than an old wood stove) until the early 1940s. The building is very small and now used as a storage area for the landowner. The building was set up like many other schools of this time, with its large woodshed, well pump, boys and girls’ outhouses, and a large playing area.
Since our first investigation
of the school in the late spring/ early summer of 2002, we have compiled many
true stories and different forms of evidence of the
paranormal. Below are just a few of our encounters from this area, and there will be more to come in future issues. In 2002, we instantly fell in love with this little school, and we visited it at least four times a week in the late evening hours. On our first few visits, we only stayed on the outside of the school to let the spirits in the area become familiar with us. We set up the video camera in the west window that focused on the center of the school as well as the teacher’s podium. At first, we did not speak to the spirits in order to let them “feel us out” and sense that we were not there to harm them. We also took some photos for our records and found them to be quite interesting. After a little wait, we began to speak with them and told them our intentions. For example, we asked if they would mind communicating with us as well as let us photograph them. We stayed on this first investigation about four hours and then left so we could analyze the evidence that we had gathered. Upon viewing the video tape later on, we heard very clear moans that appeared to be coming from a small female child--and then the moans turned into words saying, “Mom.” The child spoke as if she had lost her mother and didn’t know whom to turn to. We also captured the sounds of children singing, “Joy to the World”.
paranormal. Below are just a few of our encounters from this area, and there will be more to come in future issues. In 2002, we instantly fell in love with this little school, and we visited it at least four times a week in the late evening hours. On our first few visits, we only stayed on the outside of the school to let the spirits in the area become familiar with us. We set up the video camera in the west window that focused on the center of the school as well as the teacher’s podium. At first, we did not speak to the spirits in order to let them “feel us out” and sense that we were not there to harm them. We also took some photos for our records and found them to be quite interesting. After a little wait, we began to speak with them and told them our intentions. For example, we asked if they would mind communicating with us as well as let us photograph them. We stayed on this first investigation about four hours and then left so we could analyze the evidence that we had gathered. Upon viewing the video tape later on, we heard very clear moans that appeared to be coming from a small female child--and then the moans turned into words saying, “Mom.” The child spoke as if she had lost her mother and didn’t know whom to turn to. We also captured the sounds of children singing, “Joy to the World”.
Now we knew that there was
activity, and we just had to go back for more.
We returned to the school two nights later, bringing our recording
equipment with us. We set up the camera
once again in the west window to record while we went to the other side of the
school to try to capture EVP. We arrived
at the old well pump used as gravity fed well, and set up our equipment. We explained to the spirits once again why
were at this location and what we intended to accomplish by communicating with
them.
We set up the recorder by the
old well and just let it record while we went to the other side of the building. We later learned that a man and small child drowned
in this well a very long time ago. The
voice we captured from this area was a very clear, “Help”. I know the word “Help” when it comes to
paranormal activity, is all too common, but this ghostly voice sounded as if it
came from inside the well. This really
enhanced our interest of this location, and we began to find more history and
background of the area. Our second major
investigation was lot more personal and really got our attention. We still had
not gone inside of the area yet because we were waiting for the land owner to
clean a few things out of there, so we continued to film at the west side
window. While filming the inside of the building, this very bright and
perfectly round orb came out from behind some stacked wood. I immediately focused on this ball of light
as it slowly traveled right in front of the camcorder. This recorded in complete darkness, using
night vision, and this ball of light was captured for over four minutes. I attempted to communicate with the anomaly,
but no response given and the object disappeared into the ceiling after a few
minutes. This was a great breakthrough
for us because now we had something trying to contact us.
Upon our next visit, we were
amazed with the evidence that we captured.
This school was a very happy place for many children, and they seem to come
back and forth to this area. We have
captured EVP of children singing, talking, and playing. My wife Kris were videotaping
one night at our usual location, when all of a sudden she saw two small
anomalies inside the building. She
assured them that we were not there to and she tried to communicate with them. Soon after, we saw the two anomalies fly out
of the window right next to her. Then
you hear a small child say, “Hey”. A
second later another small child says, “Hey, Daddy”. These anomalies and EVP were both captured on
video. Kris could not hear these voices at the time, but she did hear a
commotion in the woods next to her. When
she looked over there, she saw a little girl running into the woods. We were amazed
with the evidence that were captured that night and had to try to figure out
just what was going on.
We began investigating the
inside on our next hunt. The owner finally cleared it out a bit, and we cleared
some more out. The inside was very old
and showed its age. The smell of mildew was very heavy, and the ceiling was
falling down in certain areas. We covered some of the holes in the floor that
were created by age and weather. Most of
the windows were broken, but you could still see where the curtains used to
hang. The teacher’s platform was still in pretty good shape in its position
ahead of the classroom, the chalkboard outline still visible on the wall. There
was an old coal/wood stove that was used for heat and it was in good shape as
well.
We returned later that
evening for our first internal investigation of the little schoolhouse. We
entered the darkness of the school, and it peaceful. We stood inside for a few minutes and let the
spirits get use to us. Our hair stood on
end; we knew we were not alone. We began
with the photo session and captured some great photographs with shots of orbs,
strange lights, and portals. We then
moved on with the recording session, and commented aloud, “If anyone would like
their picture taken, please stand next to Todd.” We later heard the response
from a small child, “Picture me.” We
left the recorder running and went outside to get some fresh air. Later, when the evidence was analyzed, we
heard another small child say as we left, “They’re gone.” It was great to see that spirits were
beginning to interact with us. There
were many more and stories and updates will be published about this unknown
little Quaker School soon. Conclusion,
this location turned out to be very active indeed and will only get better with
time. The owner of the school, Mr. Scott
Holmes, passed away recently, and I would like to dedicate this story to him
and his personal school, which he attended as a child. May he rest in peace.
In Loving Memory of
Scott Oakley Holmes
Scott Oakley Holmes
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