TAPS had their hands full, it seemed, with the Clovis Sanitarium, a place where many people had had the unfortunate fate of losing their battle with Tuberculosis–meaning that a lot of deaths had occurred on the property. In a way it’s easy enough to compare (history to history) what happened here to what happened at the Waverly Sanitarium back east–remember that place? Yeah, I do. Though, that place was much larger, still, the Clovis had numerous rooms, and activity all over the place, so we we’re told. And, I’ll admit, I got just a wee bit excited when the guys mentioned 911 calls being dialed from the premises when there were no working phones at all in the building, and the lines had all been cut. I immediately set my mind to working on that one.
But, as we learned, the 911 calls were kind of easy to debunk. Unfortunately, for this ghostly tale, it was found out that the lines going to each room, indeed, might’ve been cut, but not the main line coming into the Clovis, which was hooked up to an old phone system–which, in turn, was programmed to dial 911 automatically in the case of, say, a fire. Of course, we’re left wondering what was causing it to malfunction in the first place. Obviously, there was no sign of any fire damage anywhere to the building. I’m of the mind that there’s simply some faulty circuitry in the box. I seriously doubt spirits are trying to communicate with us by manipulating it, calling 911. I just don’t buy it.
However, it did seem from the start of the investigation, that the ghosties DID want to come out and play for TAPS. First up, the ladies (Kris Williams and Amy Bruni) had the experience of hearing something thrown, which was, indeed, faintly picked up by the soundman’s microphone. As we saw, it ended up being a piece of concrete. Now, the thing was they had found “the rock” at the top of the stairs. And, as it was pointed out, the rock (concrete or whatever you want to call it) wasn’t there when they were setting up. Of course, I take issue with this. How do we know a crew member (or a TAPS’ member) didn’t throw it? Or, for that matter, somebody else entirely? I mean, it’s impossible to say for sure whether this particular event was paranormal or not (as it wasn’t caught on camera), but I’m leaning toward more earthly explanations. Then, there was Steve and Tango’s contribution. Falling papers.
OK. Even Steve said it: The way those papers were stacked, probably the vibrations of them walking could have caused them to fall. Even though they tried to recreate the circumstances and were unsuccessful, I still think the papers simply fell from vibrations going through the floorboards. Though, coincidentally, the papers did fall when Steve asked if anybody was there. Ohhhh, that gave me shivers…Not really. In the end Steve and Tango debunked most of the possibilities of paranormal happenings in the attic. The lights from passing traffic really did cast odd shadows. I think if one wasn’t looking for them, or ready for them, they would seem sort of spooky–like you’d just seen something from the corner of your eye, something, well, ghostly. The Human mind can manufacture all sorts of sensations and illusions, as we know.
Up next were Jay and Grant in the basement and their disembodied voice experience. Here, I’ve got to be extremely honest, I feel what was caught on Grant’s digital recorder was…Well, not really caught. I feel that, with the tonal strength and clearity of the voice (not to mention it’s utter ridiculousness, “I like the one in the hat”), it had to be doctored up for our benefit. I hate to say that, but it didn’t really seem genuine to me. And that’s starting to become a theme, it seems, with some of these more high-powered EVPs of late. Because, for one thing, most EVPs caught in the past have never sounded quite this strong. Though, remembering back, there have been a few other instances on the show, and I’m not saying it’s NOT possible to have such a strong EVP or disembodied voice. Because, we’re already talking about the impossible–the what-should-not-be. OK. I’m glad I got that out. But, I just don’t feel this particular instance was the real deal. Perhaps, it’s just me. I don’t know. But, “I like the one in the hat” sounded too good to be true, and too, well, corny to be real. However, to TAPS’ defense, Jay and Grant did look for speakers in the Clovis’ basement, which should tell us it DID truly surprise them, too. Yet, could that not be an attempt at misdirection?
The Clovis Sanitarium yielded very little evidence if you really think about it. In fact, none of it was all that compelling. Again, high EMFs were detected, which the guys spun their usual spiel on. And, who’s to say, maybe the place really is more active than what we saw–or, maybe the high EMFs really are playing with people’s minds. Yet, in the end, Jay and Grant decided there was sufficient evidence enough to the contrary–that the Clovis really is haunted. And, not only that, but they actually deemed it an intelligent haunt. What did they base this on? Basically, from what I gathered, they based their conclusion on two points: The faulty phone system making 911 calls and the disembodied voice they both heard and picked up on their recorder. I remember them in the past being far less eager to simply stamp a place as haunted, let alone saying it was an intelligent haunting. Hmm…Are the producers behind this? Mike Rowe? OK. Joking. But, Pilgrims Films could be asking for more–how shall I put it?–action? More paranormal than can be authentically delivered? Well…
If so, you’d expect about the same at the next investigation, the Windward Grill, right? Wrong. Things at the Windward Grill went without anything–at all–odd happening really. Nothing. Except for an EVP, which I think was much more substantial than the one caught at Clovis Sanitarium. It had, to me, the right feel for an EVP. In fact, there was a lot more debunking done here than at the Clovis. The air vents: What Jay and Grant came up with, I think, is extremely plausible with them expanding and contracting and causing noises from the attic. However, I’ve got to say, the magnetized silverware was a strange deal, or was it? Who knows what was causing the pieces to become magnetized, but, I have a sneaky feeling, that silverware was more stainless-steel-ware. That would explain why the forks, spoons and knives COULD become magnetized. As to them shifting on their own due to polarity…The jury’s still out on that one for me.
Anyway, though the house housing the Windward Grill was built in the 1680s, I didn’t get the “haunted” vibe from it. Though, Jay and Grant weren’t too sure of it either, they did proclaim it possibly to be haunted, and residually at that, which I suppose does fit the criteria. Still. Recycled Souls failed to yield anything remotely impressive. TAPS tried, but, in the end, just didn’t deliver.
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