the table and got no reaction.
Charlotte
John
Matt
Curtis
Staci
Amber
John
Matt
Curtis
Staci
Amber
| Chamber of Commerce |
The El Dorado Chamber of Commerce
building on Main Street in Placerville was
built on a site that once was used as a
hangman’s tree.
At one time a hotel had stood on the property
but for unknown reasons, closed up.
In 1923 the building was constructed and
served as the Veteran’s Administration and
American Legion. It also served as a
community center where meetings, plays and
dancing took place. Now of course, it houses
the Chamber of Commerce and Film
Commission.
Employees in the building have reported
pictures falling off walls, the toilet flushing
upstairs when no one is around, a feeling of
being watched when upstairs. They have also
reported hearing footsteps upstairs when no
one is upstairs as well as a door which opens
on its own accord. Passerby have seen the
specter of a bearded man with a top hat in
the second story mezzanine where the
hanging branch was reportedly located. A
woman’s voice has been heard emanating
from a balcony that was once a stage.
California Haunts with the Placerville
Mountain Democrat in tow got the chance to
look into the legends.
building on Main Street in Placerville was
built on a site that once was used as a
hangman’s tree.
At one time a hotel had stood on the property
but for unknown reasons, closed up.
In 1923 the building was constructed and
served as the Veteran’s Administration and
American Legion. It also served as a
community center where meetings, plays and
dancing took place. Now of course, it houses
the Chamber of Commerce and Film
Commission.
Employees in the building have reported
pictures falling off walls, the toilet flushing
upstairs when no one is around, a feeling of
being watched when upstairs. They have also
reported hearing footsteps upstairs when no
one is upstairs as well as a door which opens
on its own accord. Passerby have seen the
specter of a bearded man with a top hat in
the second story mezzanine where the
hanging branch was reportedly located. A
woman’s voice has been heard emanating
from a balcony that was once a stage.
California Haunts with the Placerville
Mountain Democrat in tow got the chance to
look into the legends.
| The Investigation |
| Investigators |
Equipment
DVD R
Trifield Meter
EMF Meter
Cell Sensor
Digital Recorders
Sony TRV740 Camcorder/Mic
Digital Camera
Dousing Rods
Digital Thermometer
Trifield Meter
EMF Meter
Cell Sensor
Digital Recorders
Sony TRV740 Camcorder/Mic
Digital Camera
Dousing Rods
Digital Thermometer
We began the investigation at 10 a.m. on a Saturday. After getting baseline meter and thermometer
readings, the team split into two groups. Because the majority of the activity occurs on the second
floor, we chose to investigate there.
Right away John began to get high readings on the
readings, the team split into two groups. Because the majority of the activity occurs on the second
floor, we chose to investigate there.
Right away John began to get high readings on the
Trifield meter which seemed to run the length of the floor.
After going downstairs, John determined that the high
readings were due to fluorescent lighting. At about the
same time, Charlotte , holding the cell sensor in the
conference room, noticed the meter registering high.
Suddenly it went back to zero.
Temperatures on the second floor held steady at 70
degrees and never varied throughout the four hour
investigation. Meter readings were stable with surges
near electrical wiring, fixtures and appliances.
During a break, Charlotte and John set the Trifield and
cell sensor on a table in the hallway which was against the
East wall. While everyone except Charlotte and democrat
photographer Pat were downstairs, the meters suddenly
began registering at a high rate. Upon inspection, they
suddenly stopped. Charlotte took the cell sensor and
began to scan the area above, behind and underneath
After going downstairs, John determined that the high
readings were due to fluorescent lighting. At about the
same time, Charlotte , holding the cell sensor in the
conference room, noticed the meter registering high.
Suddenly it went back to zero.
Temperatures on the second floor held steady at 70
degrees and never varied throughout the four hour
investigation. Meter readings were stable with surges
near electrical wiring, fixtures and appliances.
During a break, Charlotte and John set the Trifield and
cell sensor on a table in the hallway which was against the
East wall. While everyone except Charlotte and democrat
photographer Pat were downstairs, the meters suddenly
began registering at a high rate. Upon inspection, they
suddenly stopped. Charlotte took the cell sensor and
began to scan the area above, behind and underneath
| Photo by Curtis |
Charlotte notices the cell sensor flashing in response
to a high reading which dissappeared.
to a high reading which dissappeared.
When everyone returned, the group held an EVP
session in the balcony area and then decided to
hold another session in the mezzanine area. It was
during this session that Charlotte noticed the
battery in the camcorder draining and gaining
power. No light was used on the camcorder.
Within about four hours, the team decided to
conclude the investigation but decided o do an
additional EVP session near the bathroom where
the toilet reportedly flushes on its own. It is near
the doorway of the bathroom that some
investigators felt dizzy. As the EVP session
commenced, the meters on the table once again
reacted strongly. This time, Curtis went to see
what could be causing it. Again the source could
not be determined.
Evidence: Nothing of note was caught on
photographs or EVP. We did however get footage
session in the balcony area and then decided to
hold another session in the mezzanine area. It was
during this session that Charlotte noticed the
battery in the camcorder draining and gaining
power. No light was used on the camcorder.
Within about four hours, the team decided to
conclude the investigation but decided o do an
additional EVP session near the bathroom where
the toilet reportedly flushes on its own. It is near
the doorway of the bathroom that some
investigators felt dizzy. As the EVP session
commenced, the meters on the table once again
reacted strongly. This time, Curtis went to see
what could be causing it. Again the source could
not be determined.
Evidence: Nothing of note was caught on
photographs or EVP. We did however get footage
| Photo by Curtis |
Staci, using dousing rods and Amber, using the digital
thermometer, perform and EVP session in the storage/balcony
area.
thermometer, perform and EVP session in the storage/balcony
area.
of the meters as they reacted to an unknown surge.
Conclusion: Charlotte returned to the building to
inquire about the possibility of a furnace turning
on that might make the meters react and was told
there had been none. She also inquired about
wall wiring and checked the area below the table.
Nothing was found that would cause that type of
surge. John saw high readings on the Trifield but
determined they were from the fluorescent
lighting. High EMF can cause a feeling of
uneasiness. During the mezzanine EVP session
Charlotte did note battery changes to the
camcorder battery. It is our opinion that the
investigation was inconclusive however, perhaps
we had a day where the alleged spirits which
inhabit the building did not wish to cooperate. In
any case the legends in the Chamber of
Commerce building live on.
inquire about the possibility of a furnace turning
on that might make the meters react and was told
there had been none. She also inquired about
wall wiring and checked the area below the table.
Nothing was found that would cause that type of
surge. John saw high readings on the Trifield but
determined they were from the fluorescent
lighting. High EMF can cause a feeling of
uneasiness. During the mezzanine EVP session
Charlotte did note battery changes to the
camcorder battery. It is our opinion that the
investigation was inconclusive however, perhaps
we had a day where the alleged spirits which
inhabit the building did not wish to cooperate. In
any case the legends in the Chamber of
Commerce building live on.
| Photo by Curtis |
Amber takes the temperature during an EVP session near the
mezzanine as John, Staci look on and Matt uses the Trifield.
mezzanine as John, Staci look on and Matt uses the Trifield.
| Photo by Curtis |
The mezzanine area where witnesses have seen the
bearded man.
bearded man.
This is the video footage of the cell sensor suddenly
triggering for an unknown reason during the bathroom
EVP session. Curtis moves it around in an attempt to
trace the surge's origin.
triggering for an unknown reason during the bathroom
EVP session. Curtis moves it around in an attempt to
trace the surge's origin.
This is the meter that Curtis is seen taking a picture
of in the video. Notice the high reading.
of in the video. Notice the high reading.
| Photo by Curtis |
| Photo by Charlotte |
The two meters after the first high reading
incident. Notice they are both at zero.
incident. Notice they are both at zero.