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File No: 09-10-021
Candle Shoppe of the Poconos
Location: The Candle Shoppe of the Poconos, Swiftwater, PA - Monroe County






Investigation Date and Duration:
May 30th, 2009     Arrive 7:30pm / Depart  2:45am

Location Status:
This is a three story commercial property with a full basement built in the 1800’s and currently occupied by the Candle Shoppe of the Poconos for retail. Although the location has had connections to several historical events, the most significant may be for its use as a biological research laboratory from 1901 to 1908 where medical studies were performed on monkeys in search for curers to certain disease. The monkeys were infected with disease and later decapitated so brain and spinal cord analysis could be done. The monkeys were then buried on the property. The building was later sold and operated as an antiques store for many years and finally as the Candle Shoppe.


Reported Activity:
Since moving into the building a few years ago, the clients and their employees have reported hearing what sounds like monkey chatter and other strange noises in the basement and first floors. They have also heard what sounded like several monkeys running through the first floor. The sound of a ball being bounced has been heard on the first floor coming from above on the second floor. A growling animal sound has been heard on the second floor near a closet that contains part of the building’s chimney. A sense of uneasiness is felt in the basement, parts of the first and second floors and witnesses have described it as a feeling that they were not alone. Two psychics that visited the store advised the owner not to open the third floor for retail. The third floor is currently closed up and the owners are hesitant to go there. The clients strongly feel that there is still some type of animal presence at this location, notably monkeys and even the prior owners of the building did not want to dismantle the original monkey cages that are in the basement to this day in fear that it would upset the monkeys.




Equipment:
DVR System with four IR cameras
IR Boosters (4)
Digital Cameras (4)
Digital Voice Recorders (6)
External Microphones (2)
EMF gauge (4)
Camcorders w/night shot (3)
Flashlights
Motion Sensor (2)
Thermometer (1)

Investigators Present:
Mark            Lauren
Chris            Tim
Bob              Hawk


Location Weather:
Clear - Daytime Temp: Low 70’s
Geomagnetic Field: Quiet
Solar X-Rays: Normal
PWO: High
Technical Notes:
- Nearby vehicle traffic has been taken into
  consideration during the review.

- High voltage power lines running near the front
  of the building along street.

- RF interference on walkie-talkies inside the
  building.


AUDIO and EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon):

VR1 - Digital Voice Recorder: (Stationary in 1st floor rear room) No physical evidence captured on this device at the time of the investigation.

VR2 - Digital Voice Recorder: (Mobile with investigators) No physical evidence captured on this device at the time of the investigation.

VR3 - Digital Voice Recorder: (Stationary in 2nd floor “Halloween Room”) No physical evidence captured on this device at the time of the investigation.

VR4 - Digital Voice Recorder: (Stationary on 3rd floor main room) This device captured what sounds like an animal scurrying across the floor at 9:48 PM. The DVR camera viewing this area did not show any movement in the room at this time. No signs of a large rodent or bird presence was found. The sound begins 3 seconds into the clip.


VR5 - Digital Voice Recorder: (Stationary in 1st floor checkout counter area) No physical evidence captured on this device at the time of the investigation.

VR6 - Digital Voice Recorder: (Stationary in basement - monkey cage room) No physical evidence captured on this device at the time of the investigation.





VIDEO:

DVR Cam1 - (Viewing 1st floor entire back room) No physical evidence captured on this device at the time of the investigation.
DVR Cam2 - (Viewing 1st floor front two rooms and stairs) No physical evidence captured on this device at the time of the investigation.
DVR Cam3 - (Viewing 3rd floor main room) No physical evidence captured on this device at the time of the investigation.

DVR Cam4 - (Viewing basement - monkey cages) No physical evidence captured on this device at the time of the investigation.

Camcorder #1 – (Mobile with investigators) No physical evidence captured on this device at the time of the investigation.

Camcorder #2 – (Mobile with investigators) No physical evidence captured on this device at the time of the investigation.

Camcorder #3 – (Mobile with investigators) No physical evidence captured on this device at the time of the investigation.




Photographs:

No photos of evidential value were discovered.

EMF (Electro Magnetic Field):

Standard baseline readings were taken throughout the building with expected spikes near electrical appliances. A large amount of elevated EMF’S were measured in various areas throughout the building on every floor. The high amount of active electrical devices in the building, old wiring and high voltage power lines near the front of the building are believed to be the cause of the EMF readings.

No EMF spikes that would indicate the presence of paranormal activity were detected during the time spent in the building. The elevated fields that were discovered may certainly cause the sensation that a person was not alone or being watched. High fields present at a location can also cause a general feeling of uneasiness to those people who are sensitive to these fields.


Investigator Feelings / Experiences:
Lauren - Nothing to report

Mark - Nothing to report

Chris - Nothing to report

Tim - When Tim entered the main room of the 3rd floor, he saw what appeared to be a small shadow near the rear side of the building move across the room very quickly. The cause of the shadow could not be established.

Tim and Hawk
- Later in the basement room (12:20AM) where the monkeys were physically examined, Tim and Hawk witnessed a window begin to vigorously shake. It lasted for several seconds then stopped. Natural causes, such as heavy traffic or furnace startup were ruled out. The vibrating lasted far longer than it took traffic to pass this location. The cause is still undetermined at this time. A short time after, Hawk began to get a cold sensation on his left arm that moved up to his shoulder. Tim verified the temperature differential. The cold spot lasted a few minutes and quickly dissipated.

Bob - While Bob and Lauren were in the “Halloween Room” on the 2nd floor, Bob felt something vibrating on his right hip as if his cell phone was going off. When he reached for the cell phone, he realized it was not on him at the time. No explanation for the vibrating sensation could be found. Later, on the first floor near the check out counter, Bob felt as if someone stepped on his foot. Upon checking with Tim who was standing close to Bob, Tim stated he did not step on Bob’s foot and again, no cause could be identified for the sensation.






Here is what Tim had to say about his personal experience.







Here is what Hawk had to say about his personal experience.


Conclusion:

During the several hours spent at the Candle Shoppe of the Poconos, investigators had a few unexplainable personal experiences that occurred. The feeling of being touched, cold spots, a moving shadow and a window shaking included a few of the experiences. Investigators were able to measure constant high EMF’S in many areas of the building on each floor which could be a contributing factor to the uneasy feelings some people are having along with the feeling that they are not alone. No logical explanations could be found for the noises that the clients have reported such as monkey chatter or several monkeys running across the floor but an unknown sound, much like an animal scurrying across the floor, was captured on the 3rd floor.

Although a few strange occurrences did occur, no documented proof of a haunting or spirit activity was obtained on this particular investigation but enough personal experiences coupled with constant high EMF’S throughout the building (thought to act as “fuel” for paranormal activity) gives sufficient cause to conduct a follow up investigation at a future date.


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