PRIVATE HOME - HOUGHTON LAKE, MI May 7, 2007
Homeowner has owned the home since 1979 but now uses the property as a rental and the new renters
were expected to move in the day after the investigation. This did limit us as far as time was concerned,
we only had a few hours and the investigation had to be done during the day. Homeowner very
knowledgeable about the property's past and had already done much of the research herself, which was
very helpful. Please note: because this was our first investigation, we were missing several pieces of
equipment that we had yet to buy; the homeowner was aware of this but was very appreciative that we
could come out and see the home before it was rented.
BRIEF HISTORY:
The home was built by Mr. Barkman in approximately 1929, who committed suicide (by jumping out of an
airplane) because of severe losses in the stock market. Apparently Mr. Barkman liked his cigars. When
he owned the home, there were maid/servant quarters behind the house in separate buildings which have
long since been torn down. There was also a carriage house on the far side of the house, off the back
room, but was torn down long ago. Much remodeling was done after the current homeowner bought the
home in 1979.
PHENOMENA REPORTED:
*All the window blinds in bedroom #2 (there are 2 windows, on separate walls and facing in different
directions) violently rolled up by themselves at the exact same time, scaring her children, who were
playing in the room at the time. The windows were shut at the time and the children were very scared.
*Frequently smelled cigar smoke throughout the house.
*A small radio began to play when it was unplugged and, when checked, had no batteries.
*Bedroom #2 door would slam shut inexplicably when no windows were open to create a cross breeze and
no one was near the door.
*There was often a lilac smell in the winter.
*Frequent electrical disturbances.
*Recent cigar smell noted by three witnesses in the garage area which is separate from the house.
Note: Interestingly, the homeowner had a dream that she bought and was moving into the house 3-4
months before she actually was shown the house to buy. At the time of the dream, she didn't even live
near the same area where the house was, nor had she ever seen the house physically or in pictures
before the dream.
EQUIPMENT USED:
Digital camera; Sony camcorder with night vision; blacklight light bulbs; room type thermometer with
external sensor; analog tape recorder.
METER READINGS:
We did not own an EMF meter at the time, so we had no EMF readings. The temperature stayed pretty
much at 68-70, the baseline for all rooms.
VIDEO:
Video was used throughout the home as well as in the basement and looking out the back porch into the
back yard, but since there were no experiences in the yard or outside the house/garage, we restricted
video of these areas. Nothing abnormal was found in the basement or any other area of the house. A
blacklight light bulb was used in conjunction with night vision while filming in the basement.
AUDIO:
Absolutely no voices or extra sounds found on audio.
PICTURES :
The only abnormality was a blue mist-like area near the floor in the hallway leading to bedroom #3. This
could very possibly be light reflecting through a side window, although the house was empty and there
was nothing blue to reflect off of. It was written off as a light reflection.
SUMMARY:
Overall, the home was very nice, very comfortable. No real abnormalities were found on our investigation,
however the history of the house was very interesting as were the homeowner's descriptions of past
paranormal experiences. We have been invited back at any time to re-investigate, now that we have all of
our equipment, as soon as the renters move out.
Homeowner has owned the home since 1979 but now uses the property as a rental and the new renters
were expected to move in the day after the investigation. This did limit us as far as time was concerned,
we only had a few hours and the investigation had to be done during the day. Homeowner very
knowledgeable about the property's past and had already done much of the research herself, which was
very helpful. Please note: because this was our first investigation, we were missing several pieces of
equipment that we had yet to buy; the homeowner was aware of this but was very appreciative that we
could come out and see the home before it was rented.
BRIEF HISTORY:
The home was built by Mr. Barkman in approximately 1929, who committed suicide (by jumping out of an
airplane) because of severe losses in the stock market. Apparently Mr. Barkman liked his cigars. When
he owned the home, there were maid/servant quarters behind the house in separate buildings which have
long since been torn down. There was also a carriage house on the far side of the house, off the back
room, but was torn down long ago. Much remodeling was done after the current homeowner bought the
home in 1979.
PHENOMENA REPORTED:
*All the window blinds in bedroom #2 (there are 2 windows, on separate walls and facing in different
directions) violently rolled up by themselves at the exact same time, scaring her children, who were
playing in the room at the time. The windows were shut at the time and the children were very scared.
*Frequently smelled cigar smoke throughout the house.
*A small radio began to play when it was unplugged and, when checked, had no batteries.
*Bedroom #2 door would slam shut inexplicably when no windows were open to create a cross breeze and
no one was near the door.
*There was often a lilac smell in the winter.
*Frequent electrical disturbances.
*Recent cigar smell noted by three witnesses in the garage area which is separate from the house.
Note: Interestingly, the homeowner had a dream that she bought and was moving into the house 3-4
months before she actually was shown the house to buy. At the time of the dream, she didn't even live
near the same area where the house was, nor had she ever seen the house physically or in pictures
before the dream.
EQUIPMENT USED:
Digital camera; Sony camcorder with night vision; blacklight light bulbs; room type thermometer with
external sensor; analog tape recorder.
METER READINGS:
We did not own an EMF meter at the time, so we had no EMF readings. The temperature stayed pretty
much at 68-70, the baseline for all rooms.
VIDEO:
Video was used throughout the home as well as in the basement and looking out the back porch into the
back yard, but since there were no experiences in the yard or outside the house/garage, we restricted
video of these areas. Nothing abnormal was found in the basement or any other area of the house. A
blacklight light bulb was used in conjunction with night vision while filming in the basement.
AUDIO:
Absolutely no voices or extra sounds found on audio.
PICTURES :
The only abnormality was a blue mist-like area near the floor in the hallway leading to bedroom #3. This
could very possibly be light reflecting through a side window, although the house was empty and there
was nothing blue to reflect off of. It was written off as a light reflection.
SUMMARY:
Overall, the home was very nice, very comfortable. No real abnormalities were found on our investigation,
however the history of the house was very interesting as were the homeowner's descriptions of past
paranormal experiences. We have been invited back at any time to re-investigate, now that we have all of
our equipment, as soon as the renters move out.
CASE FILE #: 2007-1
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