Three Michigan Haunts: Northern Spirits

N. Reiter, L.L. Schillig

02 September 2000

Background:

In the early summer of 2000, we were contacted by a long-time friend of LS, Mrs. Maggie Tatum. Maggie, a long time resident of LS' neighborhood had moved to the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan several years ago. She and LS had kept up an ongoing correspondence, and Maggie had been aware for some time now of our investigative efforts.

Maggie extended an invitation for LS and I to visit her at her home near Lewiston, and accompany her and a handful of other local folk to several notorious haunted locations in that area. We accepted, and made plans to visit on the weekend of August 19th, 2000.

In the weeks leading up to our visit, Maggie related to me some of the historical and phenomena background of our three "mini-cases".

1. An historical sportsman's hotel, now a bed and breakfast called Fuller's North Branch Outing Club. Specifics on this one ahead of time were somewhat sketchy. The business had been built and started in 1916 by a local entrepreneur by the last name of Douglas. A number of the rooms at the location had gained repute over the years as being home to ghosts, although the identities of these spirits were debated. Historical information may be found at www.fullersnboc.com
2. A late 19th century farmhouse acquired in the 1940's by the family who built the famous Garland Resort. The structure still remains in the family, and was recently renovated and leased as a beauty salon and masso-therapy center. Family members and business tenants have reported a wide variety of ghostly events at this house. The general feeling is that the ill feelings and odd events are a result of the early years of the house, when a local midwife who was the wife of the original owner may have "disposed" of certain infants on the grounds.
3. The Garland Resort - an elegant and enormous facility boasting 4 eighteen hole golf courses, opulent hotel accommodations, and formal dining. Built in 1983. The spirit said to haunt the Garland is that of the original owner and family patriarch, Herman Otto. Night shift personnel have seen the figure of the old man wandering here and there over the grounds.

Final arrangements were made during the week before our visit. Equipment selected for the expedition consisted mostly of hand held instrumentation, although we did also bring our "watchdog" IR motion sensor camera system.

The new addition to the research equipment line-up was a Sony Mavica FD-83 digital camera, recently provided as a gift/contribution by Bruce Reiter.

On a cool, clear morning, we thusly started northward. Our party consisted of LS, myself, and my youngest son Ian. (His first taste of ghost hunting!)

Our Investigation:

We arrived in Lewiston, Michigan by 3:00pm. We first proceeded to the motel that Ian and I would be sleeping at later to drop off our bags. Next, we followed directions down back roads into the piney fastness to Maggie's house.

The state of Michigan is truly a multiplicity of lands, each with a different feel. Southern and central Michigan carry the same aura as northern Ohio, and thus perhaps seem a bit bland to our senses. However, north of Flint, the changes to the landscape become noticeable. By the time one reaches Lewiston and Lovells, the power of the land has changed in form, and one enters the essence of the North. Perhaps not the far, pure north of bare Canadian Shield granite and sparse pine, but the hearty wooded north dear to the outdoorsmen, both amateur and full time. It is a man's land, and like the Prairie, seems to form a sort of love / loath grudging acceptance in the hearts of the women folk there.

We arrived at the Tatum residence, and found it to be an absolutely beautiful haven in the woods, fronting on a pristine lake.

Maggie and LS took some time for catching up, and we were also introduced to Maggie's husband Chris and two of their three sons. Chris, who is a geologist, shared a number of local tales and information about the land and wildlife.

For the first leg of our evening, we proceeded to the town of Lovells, to the North Branch Outing Club. There we were greeted by a group of the local ladies, all friends and associates of Maggie's. LS and I gave a short lecture on our ghost investigations to an appreciative audience.

This was followed by a delightful supper provided by the owner and manager of the Outing Club, Mrs. Judy Fuller. After supper, we organized a sort of "tour" or walk through of the building. LS and Maggie preceded the rest of the group, with LS acquiring her impressions and dowsing. Ian and I wandered the rooms of the building apart from the rest of the group, taking photos with both digital and standard cameras, as well as using several of the hand held instruments.

The North Branch Outing Club is a charming rustic structure, housing the B&B as well as a dining room, and several museum display areas. It blends into the essence of the area perfectly, looking as natural in the Michigan woods as it would in the Canadian Rockies. The building contained a variety of images captured intuitively by LS. These are covered in a later portion of this report.

From the NBOC, we followed two of the ladies who had attended our lecture, Ursula and Una, to our next stop, the old Garland Farmhouse. Accompanying us as well were Maggie and one other of the friends from the NBOC.

The Garland Farmhouse was, as LS and I later agreed, one of the psychically nastier places we had been in ages. Physically, by day, one might think little of it. A well kept large old farmhouse, now used as an elegant beauty salon and masso-therapy clinic. Clean, attractive, light. Both Una and Ursula, being cousins, spent much of their youth there; the farmhouse belonging to their family, the Ottos.

However perhaps because of the still northern night and the darkness of the surrounding woods, the house exuded an eerie feeling and unpleasant sense of fear. As we wandered through the different rooms on all three levels of the place, the hasty turning on of lights seemed our only defense. I myself, at one point, found the basement to be unbearable, and could not muster the courage to venture into it alone.

As noted in the next sections, there were a great number of anomalies caught on both film and disc by our cameras at this location. LS also recorded a number of very specific impressions of a negative sort.

With a sense of some relief, we left the farmhouse and ended the night up with a hasty tour through the Hotel at the Garland Resort. For as quick a visit as it was, several interesting photos were taken there, as well as a possible encounter with an anomalous smell.

LS and Maggie were taken back to Maggie's house by Ursula and Una, while Ian and I headed back into Lewiston to our room.

Early the next morning, Ian and I went back to Maggie's house, and joined LS and the Tatums there for coffee and breakfast.

Before we left, LS and I met with and interviewed a friend of Maggie's who had been having some on-going psychic and ghostly experiences. While LS retains the notes for this interview, nothing further will be mentioned here to respect the privacy of the party involved.

Finally, hugs and good-byes sent us on our long drive south, out of the realm of lakes, pines, and elk.

Physical and Photographic Results:

The North Branch Outing Club:

Nothing substantial detected in the way of either magnetic, electrostatic, or ultrasonic anomalies on the ground floor.

On the second floor, there was a slight magnetic deviation noted just outside the door of one of the guestrooms. (Room 12) This seemed to relate to a spot where LS had a dowsing reaction.

The digital camera was used extensively throughout the building, however, the only anomalies found were orbs seen in two photos taken of the far end of a screened in 2nd floor porch.

Oddly enough, this same location proved to be the only place where orb images were seen in the 35 mm film photos taken with our little point and shoot camera. (Fuji 400 speed film)

(click pic to enlarge)

The Garland Farmhouse:

The bulk of evidence here was photographic. Additionally, LS's extensive dowsing and intuitive results compliment the unusual photographic images very well.

Nearly 20 digital photos were taken with the Mavica that contain orbs, ranging from the very faint to the startlingly clear. Several of these are attached to this report. If we consider the areas of the house producing the greatest amount of "orb activity", we find:

• The back yard and deck areas.
• The main beauty salon.
• The far back room of the basement, and entrance to this room.
• One particular room on the second floor; with a chair and large potted plant.

Several orbs were also recorded with our 35mm point and shoot, although these are fairly faint. The most spectacular of these is seen in the back basement room, where the digital camera had captured several vivid orbs as well.

A curious phenomenon was found with the Mavica, one that may have important implications. Several of the orbs caught on disc are not round, but appear to be faceted diamond shaped structures. We ponder why some of the orbs are round and others are diamond. What does the diamond shape signify? Spirits or entities of a different sort?

An EVP recording made in one of the upstairs rooms, where LS had particularly strong impressions, turned out to have nothing of interest on it. There likewise seemed to be little in the way of magnetic or electrostatic activity.

The Garland Resort:

Una and Ursula took us on a fairly swift tour through the hotel of the resort. Nevertheless, one of the most striking and dramatic orb photos we have in our possession was taken here with the Mavica. The shot was taken shortly after our arrival, from a balcony overlooking one of the hotel lobbies. (click pic to enlarge)

Orbs were seen as well in several other shots.

For it's brevity, the Garland tour gave us a unique experience, sort of a mini- "first"! Near one of the stair landings on the first floor of the hotel, everyone in our party suddenly smelled a distinct aroma of pipe or aromatic cigar smoke. When the others were past, I turned and took a photo of the spot with the Mavica. What should we see, but a very distinct small orb floating about 2 feet off of the floor, dead centered (no pun intended) in the hallway.

No other instruments were used in the Garland.

LS Notes and Impressions:

B & B (The North Branch Outing Club)

In the sitting room off the kitchen, a pacing male essence was present.

In the kitchen, I got my first taste of what I consider to be the major presence in this establishment. A middle-aged woman whom I believe to either be an owner or long-time caretaker of the establishment is extremely anxious. Never before have I empathetically felt such strong, physical sensations; my heart was racing, as if I were having an anxiety attack. I believe that I was experiencing sensations once felt by her. She was looking out the windows in anticipation of a messenger. I believe that she was aware of some type of tragedy that had taken place, but was awaiting a more detailed account of individuals who were victims.

Ascending the stairs near the kitchen, I came to a landing where again I felt this woman's presence. At the top of the stairs and to the right, we entered bedroom #1. This room contained the presence of a deceitful man. He was not a pleasant person to be around in his time. I believe that I was not sensing a conscious entity, but rather a personality pattern imprinted in the time/space of this room.

Across the hall was another bedroom that again held the presence of the same woman that was initially experienced in the kitchen.

Further down the hall, we came to a sort of sitting room. I sensed a young female energy pattern there. I would say that she was either a newly wed or engaged, for a young man seems to be deeply on her mind. At this point, I again begin picking up images regarding the alleged tragedy. I questioned those present during the investigation if they were aware of any industries in the area that may have experienced a disaster, or if a train went nearby that could have been involved in an accident.

Moving along the east/west corridor, a devilishly ornery male was sensed in room #15. All along the hallway, the woman was still experienced as she anxiously paced. Entering bedroom #14, we were aware of a coldness factor along with anxious sensations.

The front enclosed balcony was also had strong impressions of the spectral woman, still pacing, as if she is not watching the road for the messenger to arrive.

The bedroom at the far east side of this hallway had intense energy. I immediately felt intense nausea, a headache, and sadness. My first impression is this is the place where our disturbed woman finally received the news that she had been dreading. After sensing the emotions a little longer, I began to wonder if our woman was also very ill and may have expired in this room. I may be sensing two distinctly different things that happened involving the same woman in this particular space.

Now moving south, towards the back of the B & B, I came to a room off to my left that had the presence of a small child (aged 8-10). I could not determine the gender of this child. There seemed to be a lot of sadness here.

One of the women, who had previously owned the property, felt that the woman I described was the original owner. She had a son who lived in Bedroom #1 - and he had a reputation for being a rather unsavory character. She also had a daughter that never married. To determine if any of her presence may be still detected, I would like to find out if she had ever been engaged and possibly had this betrothal called off - this may explain feelings in the upstairs sitting room, for I did not feel that this presence was a transient visitor to the hotel.

In regards to the alleged tragedy, two possibilities arose. The area had a large logging industry. An accident at a logging site may be suspect here. The area had also possibly been victim to forest fire, and this possibility will be looked into. One area that I hope our guests will be able to come up with some hard evidence involves a train that ended up in the bottom of the next town's lake.

Hair Shop At Garland

Our next visit was to a hair salon used by customers of the Garland hotel. This converted house was filled with a great deal of uncomfortable, confusing energy. I am not sure if I was just tired from our previous stop, or there were just too many images to decipher any clearly.

The large salon room at the back of the house on the first floor contained two areas of intense energy. One was almost in the center of the room; there I felt the sensation of trouble or bad news. The other area was the left-hand corner of the room. I continually got an image of a cistern, however no cistern seemed nearby to anyone's knowledge. I wondered if I was reading the image wrong and it was simply trying to draw my attention to water. I then began to get similar feelings reminiscent of an image of a cistern on a case in Ohio; there I sensed babies that had been thrown in the well.

Upstairs, upon entering a room to your immediate left, I was hit with very upsetting emotions. I sensed a woman curled into a fetal position near a closet. She was wailing. The bathroom off this room gave me images of blood.

Of the three other rooms upstairs, the one room was particularly interesting. In it, I sensed a male presence attempting to communicate. I kept sensing that he wanted me, or someone, to "listen". I felt that he was trying to say that the blame for something was being unfairly placed.

In the basement, I felt a presence near the doorway to a large basement room. Upon sensing it, I asked Nick to take a photo. An orb appeared at this spot! (click pic to enlarge)

Outside, the area on the other side of the wall where I had the cistern images was highly dowsable, yet no distinct intuitive impressions came to me.

Our hosts filled us in on some of the mystery. A midwife originally owned the home. Rumor had it that dead babies were buried in the back yard area where we had a dowsable area.

A later tenant of the house also relayed how her brother and cousin had been fishing across the street. He had returned with fish for supper, but his grandmother informed him that more were needed. During his trip to return with more fish, he was killed by an automobile while crossing the road. Is it possible that the grandmother or cousin felt guilt that the deceased child no longer wants them to bear? Members of the family had been standing at about the midpoint of the salon area when they received the news of his death.

Possibly the cistern image in the reading was a combined message left to decipher. The image of dead babies and the involvement with water on the part of the young fisherman. Psychic images, like dream images, are often not straightforward and must be analyzed at deeper levels.

Conclusions:

We sadly confess that the whirlwind pace (by necessity) of our tours precluded a more intensive sort of investigation. All three locations would have been perfectly intriguing places to set up long term equipment and historical delving! The peceptions of both LS and myself would suggest that the Outing Club may be home to one or more sentient ghosts, but appeared to be more saturated with energetic impressions and patterns. The Garland Farmhouse was eerie, and uncanny, though the overall flavor there was of extreme emotional energy saturating the premises, and less of an active conscious earthbound ghost.

But then the Garland itself...well...

LS was unable to retrieve any firm impressions at the Garland. I myself might suggest that the cigar smoke / orb incident may have been something a bit more free willed than a residual energy impression. Was it Una and Ursula's grandfather? Who can say.

In closing, we would like to thank all of our hosts and new friends in Michigan. Thanks to the ladies at the Outing Club, to Una and Ursula, and especially to Maggie Tatum. Dearer friends than Maggie can seldom be found. We wish them all well, as they go about their lives in the magical North, amidst the pines and spirits.

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