Patchett House, Montgomery, New York.
IndyPara – Independent Paranormal (my group) investigated the Patchett House in Montgomery, New York the evening of July 9th. Built in the early 1800s, this house served as a tavern along the Newburgh-Cochecton Turnpike. In the 1890s Mill owner Arthur Patchett lived there. His family continued to occupy the home until the 1970s when the last relative, Emma Patchett passed away in 1976 at the age of 97. Later it served as a funeral parlor and morgue. The embalming sinks are still in the basement. In 1977, the funeral director mysteriously disappeared. The place was vacant for 20 years until restoration began in 2005. It now houses the Walkill River School for art.
This was an odd night. We never did meet the director Shawn Dell Joyce. She left the basement door open for us. So we were treated to a trip past the morgue sinks into a dark, musty basement as we attempted to find our way to the old wooden stairs. We realized turning on a light was a good idea… Funny how ghost hunters don’t think of that right away. Everything about this investigation was odd. First our date was usurped by another paranormal event. Then two of our main teammates were not able to make it. We added Dani, a psychic to the mix. Then Kelly called out sick. So then there were three… a significant number. It was also the 9th, another significant number.
IndyPara investigator Dani checks out the Patchett House morgue sinks.
This evening was meant to be about the senses. Our main technical and debunking personalities were not with us. Donna, Dani and I concentrated on what we were feeling. Interestingly, we were able to compare notes and confirm similar experiences in the same locations and times. I did not volunteer my own deliberately to test my teammates. I was amazed we would all describe the same impressions. I don’t claim to be psychic. I am sensitive to some degree, but do not sport and specific abilities I consider worthy of noting.
It was a bad night for batteries. A few of us experienced battery drain with the digital voice recorders. Donna lost two at once. Mine went dead gradually and I used most of a second set of batteries. At Smalley’s we spent twice as much time and I used half the battery power. My camera was also quite funky. It was sluggish, yet still held a full charge. This is not the first time this happened on investigation… This never happens when I’m happily shooting for pleasure, only on ghost hunts. Even my phone apps were acting weird. I did try more of my stash of iPhone ghost hunting tools with interesting results. I’ll relay more later. There were a myriad of odd odors everywhere we went. The basement smelled a little like the garden section of Agway mixed with photo chemicals. The main floor smelled of some burned herb, almost an incense, sort of like sage. The upper floor has a room which smells like children (it is set up for kids). The attic contained a metal box the size of a trunk. Of course I opened it… It just had a box from construction materials from the renovations and a couple tools, BUT THE STENCH WAS AWFUL! It smelled like a vinegary chemical smell. It took me a long time to get that out of my nasal cavity. We suspected it was chemical storage for the funeral morgue… Yikes!
I’m still going through evidence. I already have some weird photos that I thought were the camera strap, but it doesn’t appear to be so. I actually forced the strap in front for a few frames as a test. Right now it’s inconclusive. I need the team to check it out before I post it.
Patchett House in the moonlight. (5/8ths Moon.)
All in all, it was a unique night at a beautiful location. We will return to this one for further evidence.
Eat Cookies! Hunt Ghosts!
