Investigators Present:

• Matthew Vickers
• Ariana Vickers
• Mark Ferrero
• Patrick Couch

 Preliminary Investigation: Matt and Ariana did a walkthrough and tour conducted by the caretakers of the property.  There were questions of the death of one of the Foote’s daughters.  SPI retrieved a certified copy of the death record of Agnes Foote, who died of appendicitis in 1904 (at 18 years old) during the construction of the house.  According to the death certificate, Agnes is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Grass Valley, CA.  Thus far, our investigators have been unable to locate her grave site.

 Summary: 

The logline to this investigation should have been, “working with all odds against us.”  Were we not skeptics, we would have thought that there were paranormal forces trying to keep us away from this investigation.  But, being reasonable investigators, we understand that the circumstances were a matter of bad luck and wild coincidence. 

 The original plan for the investigation was a golden opportunity—the chance to fully investigate the Foote Family home designed by noted architect Julia Morgan.  Built in 1905, this house represented (at the time) the finest of grandeur of size and beauty in its construction.  Matt and Ariana had the great pleasure of touring this 16,000 square foot monster 1 week prior to the scheduled investigation.

 Having long lost the luster of its early years, one feels a simultaneous mix of awe and revulsion when walking the now-empty halls of the home once used to entertain wealthy east coast investors—awe at the marvelous mine-waste-rock used in the construction, at the now-unavailable knotless redwood, or simply at the fact that the home is still standing; revulsion at the broken fireplaces, smashed walls, shattered windows, and general vandalism that has so dilapidated the home over the decades.  That this magnificent piece of history was allowed to be so denigrated is truly a shame. 

 Unfortunately, or investigation of the Foote Home would not come to pass.  Sometime between our preliminary walk-through and the investigation date, the Land Trust Board of Directors had a motion sensor alarm system installed in the home, and failed to provide the caretakers with the code.  We hope to have an opportunity in the future to explore this magnificent property and give it the time that it deserves.

As luck would have it, our original investigation team was to consist of six members, but two could not arrive.  The smaller team would be more than adequate to investigate the Hague House, built in the early 1900’s for the North Star Mine owner’s son.  According to the caretakers, the Hague House is considerably more “creepy” than the Foote home.

 SPI arrived at the property at approximately 6:45PM and followed Rob King to the Hague House, where Mr. King shared some of the location’s history with Mark and Patrick, who had not been present during the preliminary tour.  At approximately 7:45PM, the team had completed setting up equipment.  A standing night shot camera was placed on a tri-pod in the north-west second story bedroom (where the “creepiest” feelings had occurred). 

Breaking into two teams of two, Mark and Matt began taking baseline temperature readings on the second floor, while Ariana and Patrick took baseline EMF readings from the first floor.  About ten minutes into baseline readings, Mark received an emergency call from his wife, stating that she had struck a bear with her vehicle, and needed him to leave the investigation immediately.  With full support from the other team members, Mark left the investigation. 

Now comprised of a single team, Matt, Ariana, and Patrick continued to take baseline readings for approximately 10 minutes before Rob King arrived to inform us that the Sheriff’s Department was responding to an alarm at the Foote Home.  They would likely be at the Hague House in moments.  The remaining team members discussed the situation with Mr. King, and decided that it would be best, despite every right to be there, to not explain why multiple adults with flashlights and sinister-looking equipment were wandering around an abandoned house at night.

 By about 8:45PM, SPI packed up its gear, and considered the investigation a wash.  Matt, Ariana, and Patrick were cordially invited into the caretakers’ home, and enjoyed a visit with them until about 9:30PM, when Mark returned from the “bear” incident.  There was some discussion about whether or not to resume the investigation for fear that the Foote Home alarms would be tripped again (as they were likely tripped by an animal before).  It should be stated that it was Mark’s resolve that led to the continuation of the investigation, for which the rest of SPI is thankful. 

We decided to resume the investigation as one team of four investigators.  Mark took video, Ariana took audio, Patrick monitored EMF.  SPI systematically visited each room in turn, conducting EVP questioning.  In the first floor, north-west bedroom, Ariana was the first to note a detectible “perfume” fragrance.  Mark and Matt noticed it, though slightly weaker.  Patrick did not notice it at all.

 There were no bad feelings reported by the team during the investigation.  At approximately 10:30PM, SPI concluded the investigation.

 Evidence Review: 

Video:

Video was completely negative despite a bat that swooped by the camera several times during the camera’s stationary period during the first portion of the investigation.

 Audio:

Review of the audio yielded 5 small clips, none of which convince the investigators of paranormal activity.  There was a very interesting audio disturbance that occurred precisely at the time that Ariana detected the perfume smell.  We are looking into the cause of this disturbance.

 EMF:

            No significant EMF fluctuations were recorded.

 Still Images:

No paranormal evidence was detected on the still photography.  There were a number of “orbs” which are clearly dust.

 Temperature:

            No thermal anomalies were recorded.

 Verdict:

At this time, there is not sufficient evidence to suggest that the Hague House is haunted.  However, SPI acknowledges that they were only there for about two hours, which is an insufficient time to make a solid determination of paranormal activity.