A captivating case in outstate Minnesota

The beautiful and ancient Oak tree

Every once in a while we have a case that is truly captivating and exciting; this was one of those.  We were called out to a rural farm property in western Minnesota by the property owner.   She mentioned there had been paranormal activity on the farm since her family moved to the farmstead  in the early 1970s.  During the past year this activity had climbed to an all-time high.  Our client frightened; her adult children and their children were also, and would no longer come to visit.

Our client told us stories of ghost children on the side of her home where there were many massive trees.  She told us about a menacing presence in the house as well as one of the barns on the property.  Ghosts in the home that would pull sheets off beds and otherworldly voices that could be heard and tapping at the windows.  Grandchildren who would tell of ghost children in the yard who played with them, and that scary figure in the barn keeping everyone away from the area.

Four members of the SIM Crew investigated the property in March.  What we found?  Was nothing short of amazing.  The activity began shortly after the investigation commenced.  Just outside the back door, we heard phantom knocking on the wooden stairs leading to the upstairs deck.   There was no explanation; all of our investigators and the property owner were accounted for. 

Moving on, we witnessed a large dark mass in an enormous oak tree;  we felt that we were being watched by this dark mass, we believe it was a dark supernatural presence.   This tree is amazing; ancient and wise it has been held hostage by this dark presence, and it was not at ease.  How do I know?  As a intuitive sensitive and empathic, I could feel the tree spirit's unease; so too did Jerry and Will, as we all share these same abilities.

We observed figures dashing across the property, and those ghost children?  Were in attendance.  Will and I heard child like giggling in the trees, and I and played hide and seek with these ghost children, ducking behind trees we could hear them whispering and laughing.  This was an amazing experience, playing with ghosts.
 
The house, built in the late 1800’s, was complete with a stone foundation and featured capped wells in the basement; home repairs created a breach in the original foundation, and we feel is like a beacon, or a flag if you will for paranormal activity.  I witnessed a dark shadow moving down the staircase as I sat alone in upstairs hallway.   Interestingly, the four of us experienced much activity while there, yet we captured little evidence.   

In April we returned to this paranormaly active place to cleanse/clear/bless this property with the hope of removing the unwanted spirits and hopefully keeping the ghost children at bay to bring peace to our client.

We took a three pronged approach; two methods of clearing/cleansing and two methods of after care.  Jerry, alone, cleansed and cleared the property using the ancient and Native American method of smudging; Will and I cleared/cleansed and blessed the home as well as the farmstead in the Christian way, using prayer, burying reliquaries, and laying a salt line around the property.  Jerry, Will and I also performed healing to that wonderful ancient oak and another oak nearby; we prayed for her while touching her, and sprinkled healing herbs on her roots and trunk.

Mae and George instructed our client on how to take back her home and keep it clean using prayer as one part of the after care;  Jerry advised our client to offer a spirit plate daily made up of a little food from dinner each day. 

There will always be spirits in this location; lots of Native American energy here along with other energies.  We believe the menacing spirit is gone; we also know that the ghost children and other spirits will always be a part of this place, but in our cleansing/blessings, we beseeched them to stay outside the salt line and to be respectful of the living. 

Our client has contacted us multiple times, with the happy news that all is well; her children and grandchildren are now coming back to visit. and the tapping on the windows, feelings of unease, and fear are gone.   They have invited us to come back at any time, and honestly?   I can't wait to touch those magnificent Oak trees again, to determine if all is well.

 

A healing place in the woods....

This past Saturday we visited Nopeming Sanatorium, a place I have wanted to visit, explore, and investigate for years.  Now I am sure you are saying, in January?  In Duluth?  Yep, and it was cold.  Very.   By the time we left I could no longer feel my toes, and this was in new SOREL boots.  I thought they were the best?  Guess not, at least not any more.

I have been intrigued by this old tuberculosis hospital for a long time, and I intend to poke around in the historical records and research the property thoroughly; and most importantly?  I want to talk to people who worked and visited there.  Over the years I have had people tell me about their experiences there when it was functioning as a nursing home; their stories are amazing to say the least.  Along the way, I will be writing additional blog posts, as I discover what it is about Nopeming that has gotten under my skin.

Nopeming is situated in a beautiful spot on a hill, back in the woods.  Nopeming is the Ojibwa word, loosely meaning a place in the woods which is just what it is.  Honestly?  If I was to be admitted to a hospital due to a contagious incurable disease, this would be the place I would want to be.  Serene, peaceful, beautiful.  Some people who came here were lucky enough to leave; but many more suffered terribly from this debilitating and painful long disease before their death.

Our foray into Nopeming began late Saturday morning and continued until late afternoon.  This property is enormous, and it seemed that every time we opened a door another hallway appeared.  It was easy to lose your way in this rambling old hospital; I can only imagine what it was like filled to the brim with sick and dying patients.

There is lots of space, lots of rooms, and the grim feeling of death.  It remains there, trapped within the decaying walls of this stately and proud old hospital, but so too is the feeling of life.  After the cure for tuberculosis was found, Nopeming was converted into a nursing home.  Walking throughout the complex I could feel the elderly in the common areas, and one can almost hear their chatter and laughter, gathered together.  I think they probably had a good life there, on the hill.

Winter has not been good to Nopeming.  Ice covers many floors in several areas of the massive building; the roof leaks badly and many of the stairwells were slick with ice, making for a treacherous journey up and down between the floors.

I sensed spirits throughout the property; but there were several spots where there seemed to be more.  There were some areas where my heart felt like it would beat out of my chest it was beating so hard and so fast; in others, the sense of dread was almost touchable.  There is a lot of energy in this place, the spirits who are at home here are either trapped or want to remain in this peaceful place.

We had a phenomenal day of exploring.  We investigated a little, but in all honesty it turned into a preliminary investigation for a big overnight investigation that will happen in a few months, when the temperatures are just a little warmer than a balmy 25 degrees.

We are beginning to go through our video footage from the afternoon, and of course any evidence we may have captured will be shared here in my blog.  But for now?  Enjoy the photos, they tell quite a tale.  When we return to Nopeming in the coming months, I will once again ask the question:  "Why do you stay here where you suffered so much?" Maybe this time, in this place, I will get an answer.

SJA

 

 

 

 

#nopeming #supernatural #paranormal #ghosts