The Woodland Opera House not only house today’s actors and actresses but yesterday’s as well,
witness reports say.
Built in 1885, the Opera House was home to many performers before a fire destroyed it along with
many Main Street buildings. The fire also took the life of Woodland Volunteer Firefighter W.M. Porter.
The Opera house was soon rebuilt on the same site utilizing foundations and bricks from the original
building.
It was reopened in 1896 and until 1913, it played host to performers such as the John Philip Souza
Band, Polish Actress Madam Helen Modjeska, and the George M. Cohen group.
In 1913, the building was boarded up due to a lawsuit and partially because of the advent of movies.
In 1971, the Yolo County Historical Society purchased the building and in 1976, it was designated a
California State Historical Park. The Yolo County Historical Museum then gave the property to the
state in 1980. In 1981 restoration began and in January, 1989, it was reopened following a $2 million
restoration.
Since it re-opening, employees, personnel and patrons alike have reported strange activity such as
a piano moving from one side of the stage to another, thread from costumes found un threaded after
seamstresses returned from lunch. There have also been reports of the smell of cigar smoke on the
balcony and feeling of a presence on the second-story foyer and backstage.
witness reports say.
Built in 1885, the Opera House was home to many performers before a fire destroyed it along with
many Main Street buildings. The fire also took the life of Woodland Volunteer Firefighter W.M. Porter.
The Opera house was soon rebuilt on the same site utilizing foundations and bricks from the original
building.
It was reopened in 1896 and until 1913, it played host to performers such as the John Philip Souza
Band, Polish Actress Madam Helen Modjeska, and the George M. Cohen group.
In 1913, the building was boarded up due to a lawsuit and partially because of the advent of movies.
In 1971, the Yolo County Historical Society purchased the building and in 1976, it was designated a
California State Historical Park. The Yolo County Historical Museum then gave the property to the
state in 1980. In 1981 restoration began and in January, 1989, it was reopened following a $2 million
restoration.
Since it re-opening, employees, personnel and patrons alike have reported strange activity such as
a piano moving from one side of the stage to another, thread from costumes found un threaded after
seamstresses returned from lunch. There have also been reports of the smell of cigar smoke on the
balcony and feeling of a presence on the second-story foyer and backstage.
| The Woodland Opera House |
| Investigators: Charlotte, Ruth, Henry, John, Allen, Matt, Staci, Cheryl, Dominick and Sabrina. Equipment used: Two Sony Trv 740 video cameras, EMF Meter, Broadband Trifield Meter, Motion Detector, Digital Recorders, Dousing Rods, Digital Cameras, Digital Thermometer, and Walkie Talkies. |
| The Investigation |
We began the investigation at about 3 p.m. on
April 14, 2007. For some of us this had not been
our first visit to the location. Charlotte and Sabrina
had previously investigated the location and
Charlotte had actually spent the night there with
another paranormal group.
Since there were 10 investigators present, most of
whom were in training, Charlotte decided to break
into three groups so the trainees could work with
an experienced investigator.
We had about 3.5 hours and we took advantage of
that time. The groups were spread 30 minutes
apart and sent to separate locations within the
building. Each group had a photographer, a digital
recorder, a video camera (when possible) and
either a temperature meter or EMF/Trifield meter.
They also carried layouts of all the rooms so they
could note the location of any anomalies or
explanations for high meter readings.
April 14, 2007. For some of us this had not been
our first visit to the location. Charlotte and Sabrina
had previously investigated the location and
Charlotte had actually spent the night there with
another paranormal group.
Since there were 10 investigators present, most of
whom were in training, Charlotte decided to break
into three groups so the trainees could work with
an experienced investigator.
We had about 3.5 hours and we took advantage of
that time. The groups were spread 30 minutes
apart and sent to separate locations within the
building. Each group had a photographer, a digital
recorder, a video camera (when possible) and
either a temperature meter or EMF/Trifield meter.
They also carried layouts of all the rooms so they
could note the location of any anomalies or
explanations for high meter readings.
Sabrina and Henry take temperature readings in the
second floor foyer of the Opera House.
second floor foyer of the Opera House.
Down in the basement/dressing room area, Matt and Staci began to get high readings on the Trifield Meter and
began to move furniture and a carpet around in an effort to find their source. All they were met with was a
cement floor but it must be remembered that, according to a concrete contractor, sometimes wiring is run under
cement.
While the team was in the basement, the video camera batteries experienced some drain and the battery on the
alarm for the building drained as well. Charlotte also felt several cold spots in the area.
On the way back up, Matt said he wanted to check out the catwalk located above the stage and after doing so
said he had gotten some high Trifield readings in areas away from the catwalk (over the rails). He then went up
with a digital camera and snapped an odd picture.
began to move furniture and a carpet around in an effort to find their source. All they were met with was a
cement floor but it must be remembered that, according to a concrete contractor, sometimes wiring is run under
cement.
While the team was in the basement, the video camera batteries experienced some drain and the battery on the
alarm for the building drained as well. Charlotte also felt several cold spots in the area.
On the way back up, Matt said he wanted to check out the catwalk located above the stage and after doing so
said he had gotten some high Trifield readings in areas away from the catwalk (over the rails). He then went up
with a digital camera and snapped an odd picture.
Meanwhile the other teams were busily making
their way through the building meticulously taking
notes as they went. On one occasion, they
checked out a stairway leading to the second
floor and although the investigators did not feel
any cold spots or experience any meter spikes, a
photo taken of the stairway shows something
interesting. In it, an orb appears to be moving just
above the investigators’ head.
Sabrina, the team sensitive, reported sensing a
male presence in the basement as well as the
presence of a girl of around the age of 8 in the
main stage area. She also sensed other spirits in
the building as well.
On the stairway leading up to the second floor
foyer, Charlotte experienced dizziness and found
it hard to breathe at times, almost like a
suffocating sensation. Another member of the
team had difficulty staying in the men's restroom.
Sabrina verified a presence in there as well.
During the investigation it was reported by an
opera house employee that a door to an elevator
which she had personally shut and locked, was
found unlocked when she returned from lunch. It
must be noted that no investigators were in the
their way through the building meticulously taking
notes as they went. On one occasion, they
checked out a stairway leading to the second
floor and although the investigators did not feel
any cold spots or experience any meter spikes, a
photo taken of the stairway shows something
interesting. In it, an orb appears to be moving just
above the investigators’ head.
Sabrina, the team sensitive, reported sensing a
male presence in the basement as well as the
presence of a girl of around the age of 8 in the
main stage area. She also sensed other spirits in
the building as well.
On the stairway leading up to the second floor
foyer, Charlotte experienced dizziness and found
it hard to breathe at times, almost like a
suffocating sensation. Another member of the
team had difficulty staying in the men's restroom.
Sabrina verified a presence in there as well.
During the investigation it was reported by an
opera house employee that a door to an elevator
which she had personally shut and locked, was
found unlocked when she returned from lunch. It
must be noted that no investigators were in the
This is the result of the picture Matt snapped on the
catwalk at the Woodland Opera House.
catwalk at the Woodland Opera House.
area while she was at lunch. The same employee reported that on occasion, the elevator rises to the second
floor and opens as if someone is in on it or someone has called it.
Sabrina, Matt, Dominic and Staci went to the north balcony to conduct some EVP sessions. During these
sessions, the flickering of the building's lights increased. Sabrina reported hearing footsteps in the foyer area
when no one was there. It must be noted that Charlotte and the rest of the team members were either in the
basement or backstage at this time.
floor and opens as if someone is in on it or someone has called it.
Sabrina, Matt, Dominic and Staci went to the north balcony to conduct some EVP sessions. During these
sessions, the flickering of the building's lights increased. Sabrina reported hearing footsteps in the foyer area
when no one was there. It must be noted that Charlotte and the rest of the team members were either in the
basement or backstage at this time.
An orb in motion moves above an investigators' head on the main stairway at the
Woodland Opera House.
Woodland Opera House.
On a previous
trip to the
opera house,
Charlotte was
in the foyer
walking east
when she
heard what
appeared to be
a bead drop to
the floor, After
making a
careful
inspection, no
bead was ever
found.
While the evp
session was
taking place on
the balcony,
two
investigators
reported
feeling as if
their arms were
burning.
trip to the
opera house,
Charlotte was
in the foyer
walking east
when she
heard what
appeared to be
a bead drop to
the floor, After
making a
careful
inspection, no
bead was ever
found.
While the evp
session was
taking place on
the balcony,
two
investigators
reported
feeling as if
their arms were
burning.