Past Cases

APC2009.13- Burrville Cider Mill, Burrville, NY (permission to post has been granted)

       On November 6, 2009, T.N.P.S. had the opportunity to investigate the historic Burrville Cider Mill.  The building was constructed in 1801 and was originally used as a saw mill.  Over the years it has also functioned as a grist mill, a card mill and a cider mill, its current use.  Paranormal activity has been reported at the site for many years but the current owners are the first to allow a paranormal investigation of the mill.  Six members of T.N.P.S. investigated the mill and we are pleased to report that audio as well as video evidence was captured.  Several investigators also had very interesting personal experiences during the investigation.

     It didn't take long for activity to begin.  T.N.P.S. worked in teams of two to investigate three separate areas and during the first shift two teams witnessed events.  While in the apple sorting/storage area, one investigator saw a shadowy figure enter through an overhead door, cross the open area and disappear into a wall.  This team also heard footsteps in the press room during the first shift.  The team that was in the attic at this time asked for a sign of a presence and received two distinct 'pops' that came from the plastic jugs stored in this area.  And before anyone says "Well, that could have been anything that caused the noise" what are the odds that in all the time T.N.P.S. was in the mill the jugs only popped those two times?  During the second shift, when teams switched areas, the experienced continued.  One of the investigators in the attic at this time experiences severe disorientation/dizziness as well as sharp pains in his head while both team members in the store experienced the very strong scent of licorice.  The owner of the mill assured T.N.P.S. that no items of this scent were in the store and a thorough search of the inventory proved that.  The third team heard odd wooden knocks coming from the press while in the press room and one investigator detected a dank, musty smell in the back part of the press room.  The smell was so strong to her that she had to leave the immediate area for fear of being sick.  The other investigator with her didn't smell this even though he was right there and no other teams reported this scent during the investigation.  The third shift had its share of events too.  The team in the attic heard bangs on a metal storage tank even though no one was touching it and one of the investigators experienced extreme dizziness/disorientation on this shift too.  The team in the store reported hearing footsteps in the kitchen area while no one was physically in the kitchen.  This team also reported detecting the licorice scent near the front of the store as well as a strong cigar scent in the back of the store.  The team in the press room had the distinct impression that they were not alone and one investigator reported the sensation of someone standing directly behind her even though her partner was on the other side of the room.

     T.N.P.S. obtained some interesting visual evidence.  While investigators were on the back decks that over look the falls, photos containing free formed/floating mist were taken.  T.N.P.S. strongly feels that these are not photos caused by breath or water vapor because the mist appears in the center of the photo and isn't "connected" to any edges.  It has been T.N.P.S.' experience, through photo recreation, that mist caused by breath or spray has a point of origination that connects it to an edge of the photo.  The team has been unable to come to a logical/physical explanation for these photos.  In the past, the team has been reluctant to admit orb photos as evidence.  It has been T.N.P.S.' firm belief that orbs that appear in photos are caused by environmental factors (dust, pollen, water vapor, or bugs).  This investigation has been part of a gradual reevaluation of our position on orb photos.  While T.N.P.S. still believes that most orb photos are caused by environmental factors, some photos obtained at the cider mill did not fall into this category.  If you look closely, you can see that the orbs in these photos seem to be made up of a solid mass like material and seem to be generating their own internal light.  None of these orbs were visible to the naked eye.  T.N.P.S. feels that these particular orb photos represent something that we cannot currently explain. They are very different in appearance from typical water droplet orbs. The team also obtained EVPs (electronic voice phenomenon) during the investigation.  Due to the extremely high level of background noise in some areas, some possible EVPs had to be discarded.  The remaining EVPs vary from class A to class C (as defined by the American Association of Electronic Voice Phenomenon).  T.N.P.S. was also able to capture a K-II spike on video that seems to respond to an investigators request for proof of a presence.  And interestingly enough, a small light was also recorded in the store in the exact area, and at the same time, where the licorice scent was detected.  The final piece of video evidence that T.N.P.S. presented to the owners was a piece of DVR recording.  It was taken in the attic and shows a solid light moving very quickly and in a straight, non-wavering line from a point of origin by the metal storage tank to a point off camera.  The light simply appears in space; it does not enter the camera frame.  Because of its solid appearance, speed of movement and direct path, T.N.P.S. does not feel that it was caused by environmental factors.  The team has been unable to offer another explanation for its presence.

                                   This picture has a free floating mist that doesn't touch any photo edges. 

                      This picture has really caused a lot of debate within the group as to how we define an orb.

     The investigation was a success and the owners were pleased with the outcome.  T.N.P.S. wants to express their appreciation at being allowed to investigate such an interesting and historical location, and their gratefulness at being allowed to share the results with the public.

APC2009.14- Lowville, NY (private residential case-permission to post has been granted, check back for updates )