Mason House Inn – Investigation February 7th, 2009 – Bentonsport, IA
1/23
The moon was nearly full as the team prepared to start their investigation.
Have you ever visited a
“haunted” residence where its reputation preceded your visit? Such was the case
on February 7, 2009 for our overnight visit to the Mason House Inn at
Bentonsport, Iowa.
You can research its
history by accessing their website at
www.masonhouseinn.com. Built in 1846, almost on the banks of the Des Moines
River in southeastern Iowa, the Inn has a rich history. One of the most unusual
things about Mason House is the fact that each time the Inn was sold, all the
furniture went along with the sale. Five owners have shared 160 years; with the
first 100 years remaining in the Mason family.
When did the hauntings
begin and how many spirits are there? That’s a difficult question!! The
current owners, Joy and Chuck Hanson were originally told of one entity when
they purchased the house in 2004. However, they soon discovered there are many
and that number seems to increase as the years go by.
Nothing could have
prepared us for the astonishing evidence we would be presented throughout the
night. Our extremely talented Technical Director, Clair, built a Frank’s Box.
Every ghost hunter is aware of this piece of electronic equipment but none of us
were quite ready to have our questions answered by this box! Oh yes….it did
speak with intelligent responses; replying to our questions many times!
During the Civil War,
the Inn was used as a temporary holding area for wounded soldiers being taken to
Keokuk. Some were not lucky enough to survive the trip and died there in the
Inn. When we asked the Frank’s Box “Did you fight for the confederacy?” there
was silence and then the answer came “HAD TO”
(EVP by Kevin). Every jaw in the room
dropped. No on was expecting to actually hear from “the other side”!
Amanda is one of the
most talkative of the spirit children; the laughter of children can be heard
many times on the box. Dani (who stayed at the Inn previously) asked “Hi Amanda
do you remember me from last time I was here?” A child’s voice answers “I
remember”.
Dowsing
rods were brought out in an attempt to converse with the spirits. Two
researchers used the rods with positive results and passed them to Joy, the
homeowner. Joy was able to determine who was there and who was not.
Photographs captured by Vicki support the presence of “Curtis” who not only
acknowledged his presence through the rods, but appeared as a shadow in two
consecutive photographs.
Alone in Room 5, Kate
was sitting in a rocking chair, filming with her video camera, when she hears
the sound of crinkling (like cellophane) coming from the area of the window
behind her. She says “If there’s someone with me, could you please make that
noise again?”
The crinkling sound
happened again, only louder, longer and farther to her left!! Once Kate
realizes there is no plastic wrap on the windows AND she’s on the second floor,
she calls out to fellow researcher, Marcus. While reviewing the video evidence,
Kate discovers she has not only caught the crinkling noise, but also captured a
light anomaly on video. A small white ball of light streaks from behind her
right side and quickly across the room towards the door. Later, the homeowners
told us the children’s spirits communicate through the sound of rustling plastic
bags.
It was the first real test of the Frank’s Box
and the results did not disappoint! The spirits were friendly and eager to
speak to the living to let us know THEY ARE HERE!!
The owners of the historic Inn have said the spirits "come out and play" when
guests go to their bedrooms and turn out the lights... this is what happened to
me when I did just that!
After Marcus left and said "You're welcome", I heard a "click-click" sound from
right behind my head, like a ball-point pen clicking on and off. I turned to see
what it was, but knew I was alone in the room.
Then I asked, "Somebody else here with me?" and sat completely still. When I got
a reply of a crinkling cellophane sound in the upper corner of the room by the
ceiling, I knew something was up! I checked to see if there was plastic on the
windows... but there was nothing.
I got a little excited and called for the other investigator, which is when I
caught something strange on tape; A light anomaly zig-zagged out of the room at
high speed! My head was still turned, though, so I didn't see anything with my
eyes.
At first some members thought the light might be the beam from the other
investigator's flashlight (who is climbing the stairs), but upon further review,
there is furniture between the flashlight's "beam" and the zooming light, which
originates near the floor in front of me (behind the "YouTube" logo) and flies
out the door. It changes direction, also, which is especially notable.
Do the strange lights and sounds have some logical explanation? or are they part
of something more mysterious and playful? I'll let you be the judge.
They spoke, we listened and felt incredibly
fortunate to have stayed at Mason House Inn and we’re appreciative of the
interaction we had with the residence “spirits”. For a short period of time, we
connected to the past of Bentonsport and it’s a memory we’ll carry with us
forever.
The owners, Joy and Chuck Hanson, are
delightfully friendly and warm innkeepers who allowed us a view of the special
relationship they have with their other-worldly guests.
The Supernatural Research Society of Iowa has
determined that the
Mason Inn House is one of the few true
“haunted” places in Iowa and we were honored to be a part of its history.
Stories will be told in the years to come about how the living spoke with the
dead in Bentonsport!
A special thanks to Joy and
Chuck and THUMBS UP to our
Mason House research team: Becky, Clair,
Dani, Doug, John, Kate, Kevin, Marcus, Mercedes, Sean and Vicki
