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| The Arizona Paranormal Research Society |
| Name: The Jerome Grand Hotel Location: 200 Hill Street, P.O. Box 757, Jerome, AZ 86331 Manager: Withheld Case #: B-203 Date: August 11th, 2007 Time of arrival: 8:00pm Investigators: Frank Madrid, Lori Marshall, Gino Madrid, Jim Koch, Casey Hall, Bill Allen, Cindy Lee, Randy Arbogast, Ian Stewart, Lori Kissich, Erina Koch, Annie Preston. Guest Investigator: Jamie Chesterson, Founder of The Texas Paranormal Society (TPS) Reason for investigation: Preliminary Investigation in preparation for shooting Channel 3 Halloween Special. Weather conditions: Clear and calm. Outside Temperature: 69 degrees f. Humidity: 30% Wind: 0-4 mph Geomagnetic storm activity: Quiet Moon: waning crescent Average EMF baseline readings: 1.6 EMF Spikes: to 4.0 |
| The "New" Jerome Grand Hotel in all of it's majestic glory |
| General Impressions: The long winding road leading you through Jerome will take you right to the front entrance of the majestic Jerome Grand Hotel. The hotel itself has been beautifully restored and is a sight to behold. Upon entering the lobby, I was taken by the nostalgia that was offered to me. From the front desk to the old Otis elevator, every floor has a piece of old time history to behold. The long hallways on every floor are decorated in a fashion that reminded me of old time pictures of the 1920's era. The building is immense in size and has a somewhat eerie bold presence among any other building around it. Such a cool place to be in. The view from the fourth floor balcony is a spectacular one. I was very impressed with the architecture, landscaping and overall location of this fine hotel. |
| HISTORY OF THE JEROME GRAND HOTEL: Perched above downtown Jerome high upon Cleopatra Hill is another haunted hotel – the Jerome Grand Hotel. Originally, this building served as the United Verde Hospital, opened in 1927. Constructed by the United Verde Copper Company for its many employees and their families, the hospital was a much needed facility in a town that had grown to a population of some 15,000 people. A show-place building, it was the highest structure in the Verde Valley and was the last major building constructed in Jerome. Built to last, the structure was of a fire- proof design and could withstand the many nearby mining blasts of up to 260,000 pounds. While other area buildings crumbled or slid down steep slopes caused by the mine blasting that sometimes could be felt as far away as Camp Verde, the 30,000 square foot hospital wasn’t fazed. The building was an engineering marvel, even by today’s standards, as it was constructed on a 50 degree slope. By 1930, the five-story Spanish Mission style building and its facilities were written up as one of the most modern and well equipped hospitals in Arizona. But, like the Copper Company itself, the hospital couldn’t survive once the copper deposits played out. The town’s people moved on to other opportunities and the hospital closed in 1950. For the next 44 years it stood abandoned; however, until 1971, it continued to be maintained, just in case it was needed in an emergency situation. Then, for the next two decades, it sat silent and neglected. But, in 1994, the building was purchased by the Altherr family from the Phelps Dodge Mining Corporation and the restoration to its current glory as the Jerome Grand Hotel began. All effort was given to maintaining the interior and exterior integrity of the historic building and in 1996 it reopened as the Jerome Grand Hotel. |
| HAUNTED HISTORY: Almost from the beginning, the building has had a history of hauntings. Perhaps because of the many people who died there, or the emotional trauma suffered by the many who were housed in its asylum. It is said to be one of the most haunted buildings in the state of Arizona, with a number of strange phenomena occurring over the decades. Shortly after the hospital opened, both patents and staff began to tell stories of hearing people talking, coughing, moaning, and cries of distress coming from empty rooms. Some believed they may have possibly have been coming from some of the many lingering spirits who had died in the deathly flu epidemic in 1917. Though the hospital wasn't even built at that time, perhaps these lost souls found the building, wishing that it had been there. One of the first reports of a spectral soul was that of a woman dressed in white that began to be seen on a hospital balcony shortly after its opening. Thought to have been a nurse, the phantom lingered for years, but apparently has moved on as she has not been seen since the building became a hotel. One spirit that is has lurked in the building for many years is that of an old bearded miner. His “appearance” was first reported by a hospital patient who reported having seen the bearded man gliding down the hall, turning on all the lights on his way. Another nurse during the building’s hospital reign reported having seen a bearded man standing at the very end of a hallway. However, when she approached, him, the man mysteriously vanished. Today, guests of the hotel continue to report spying the ghostly vision of a bearded man, especially on the second and third floors. Another spirit, just that of a small boy, described to be about six years old has also been spied on the third floor. The phenomena described in the historic hotel includes all manner of strange occurrences including the sounds of phantom footsteps going up and down the stairs and hallways, doors that open and close of their own accord, objects that inexplicably move of their own will, and electrical appliances that turn on and off by themselves. Many of these bizarre happenings occur before the housekeeping staff, who have seemingly become favorite targets, sometimes hearing their names being called out by phantom voices. However, they say that the ghosts are accommodating enough, as when they ask them to stop, it does, at least for a few days. The hotel lobby is an active place for many of the spirits. Here, the lobby doors have often been seen opening and closing by themselves, like someone is arriving or leaving. Chairs have been rearranged while desk clerks turn their backs and items have flown off the shelves in the gift shop as well as from the walls in the lobby. The lobby desk has also received a number of phone calls from empty rooms. It comes as no surprise when the line is picked up that no one is on the other end. Near the old 1926 Otis elevator that is still operational, a finely dressed elderly woman in white has often been spied standing. But, the most famous ghost of the hotel is that of a man named Claude Harvey, who was a hospital maintenance man in 1935. Harvey, who was well-known in Jerome, was more familiarly called “Scotty” by townsfolk who were shocked to hear about his death at the hospital. When Harvey’s body was found pinned under the elevator in the basement, his death was ruled an accident. Strangely, though, the inquest into his death determined that the elevator did not kill him. Some said perhaps he jumped to his death but the vast majority suspected, instead, that the man was murdered and his body dumped at the bottom of the elevator shaft. The elevator was found to have been in perfect working order and Harvey was an experienced maintenance man. What's strange is that he was found beneath the elevator with his neck broken and the only other mark on his body was a small scrape behind the ear. Rumors abounded with a number of theories and potential suspects, but the cause of death remained officially "an accident.” Almost immediately after his death, strange occurrences began in the building especially in and around the elevator. Lights in the elevator shaft have been seen and the sound of the creaking elevator has long been heard, even when the building was vacant, no power was one, and even yet today, when it is unused. Other have claimed to see the figure of a shadowy man in the basement, on the stairs and near the elevator. The spectral man has been described as appearing furious. Others have simply “felt” an angry presence. Many speculate that Harvey has unfinished business here on earth, not resting until his murderer has been implicated. Though his spirit is said to make those whom he encounters uncomfortable, Harvey has never hurt anyone. Other spirits are also said to roam throughout the hotel attributed to a number of tragic events in the building, including a man in a wheelchair who committed suicide from a balcony, a shooting and a caretaker who hanged himself. A woman in white is sometimes been seen roaming the hallways and a small child has been seen running through the bar area. Guests and staff continue reporting being pushed in the hallways, doors that slam shut by themselves, the sounds of ghostly cries and taking photographs that persistently develop with ghostly hazes and numerous orbs. Today, the beautiful Jerome Grand Hotel currently provides 23 fully restored, modern rooms, with more rooms available in the future as the hotel continues to renovate. It is Jerome's only full service hotel with its own bar, restaurant, gift shop and 24-hour front desk. |
| Guest Investigator Jamie Chesterson Founder: Texas Paranormal Society |
| Jamie Chesterson with a few of the T.Az.PR.S. crew outside the Jerome Grand Hotel |
| The T.Az.P.R.S. team arrived approximately at 8:00pm from different locations of Arizona and conducted a meeting prior to setting up monitor base camps. At 9:00pm Jim set up base camp in the boiler room while Jamie, Founder of Texas Paranormal Society, set up base camp in the old operating room suite on the third floor. There were many floors and rooms to cover and plenty of investigators to cover them all. The camera crew from Black Knight Productions were there to acquire footage for an upcoming television Halloween special as well as a documentary depicting haunted locations in Arizona. After all of the monitor base camp equipment was set up and sub teams were divided into small groups, EMF and temperature base line readings were taken in the areas of interest. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as far as base lines were concerned. Video cameras were set up in the boiler room, elevator shaft, maintenance room, storage room, operating room hallway, operating room, and in a large suite under renovation over the Asylum Room which we will call the "Burn" room because of the smoke aroma that was there. This is the room where a woman in white has been reportedly seen looking out of the balcony windows. Each T.Az.P.R.S. member carried their personal equipment which consisted of video cameras, digital still cameras, digital and analog recorders, EMF meters and Infrared thermometers. EVP sessions were conducted in all areas of interest and the base camp was monitored at all times. There was approximately 70 hours of video and audio and approximately 540 still pictures taken. EVP sessions were conducted by T.Az.P.R.S. team members in all areas of predetermination throughout the Grand Hotel. This pre-investigation allows us knowledge of the hotel's layout and gives us the information to concentrate on the areas of activity for placement of equipment for the actual investigation. Personal Experiences: Lead investigator Gino and Randy, both from the Phoenix team, paired up and went to investigate the Burn room, which is currently under renovation. As Randy followed Gino around a corner, Gino saw someone standing by the window at the end of the hall and raised his camera to take a picture and the person vanished. Upon analyzing the picture, adjusting contrast and brightness, this is what he captured................... |
| the investigation: |
| The floating woman down the hallway |
| Mouse over picture to see outline of The woman down the hallway |
| After examination of this picture, Gino states "That's exactly what I saw!". It almost looks as if she is wearing a straight jacket. Annie and Erina were in one of the bed rooms in the old operating room suite and at one point, Annie felt something cold brush past her hand. Erina took two pictures of Annie's hand and caught a shadow anomaly very close by. Just as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared as you see in the second picture..... |
| Shadow anomaly at the top of the pillow |
| Shadow anomaly gone. |
| A dark anomaly shows up in the elevator shaft Photo by Bill Allen |
| Electronic Voice Phenomenon: Yes, there were many EVP recorded on this pre-investigation. Some are responses to questions asked, some are just voiced opinions. |
| Investigator asks "Who are you?" Answer....."Marsha" |
| Investigator asks "How long have you been here?" Answer........"I don't know" |
| Investigator asks "Is that you?" Quick answer......."Yes" Investigator asks "Can you come back?" Answer......"I don't care guys" |
| These are possible baby or child noises |
| This is a nice exhale of some sort |
| You'll hear some whispers then the name "Jesus Christ" then more whispers |
| This one is strange...It sounds like whispers and then some kind of forced sound....... Maybe one of the phantom coughs |
| Investigator asks "Are you waiting for somebody to come back, or are you watching sombody leave?" Answer......"I'm, dead" |
| Clean version of "I'm dead" answer |
| strange lyrics |
| possible baby sounds |
| All and all, for the pre-investigation, the small amount of paranormal evidence obtained was impressive. Gino's capture as well as all EVPs are a great addition to our website and all T.Az.P.S. team members look forward to the actual investigation which will be scheduled very soon. I want to thank all of T.Az.P.R.S. team members for the fantastic work they did. T.Az.P.R.S. is proud of its members and what they personally contribute in all investigations throughout Arizona. The reputation they have built for themselves is a fine, professional one that deems recognition in the field of paranormal investigating. I thank each and every one of them for their dedication, professionalism and time. I would also like to take this opportunity to personally thank Jamie Chesterson, Founder of the Texas Paranormal Society, for bringing his skills, experience, knowledge, sense of humor, friendship and his technical equipment on this investigation. It was a pleasure to get to know him and work with him. His vast experience and methods are something all paranormal investigators can learn from and I appreciate his being there.... Texas Paranormal Society rocks!!! Thanks Jamie. We would like to extend a warm farewell to T.Az.P.R.S. investigator Bill Allen. He has relocated to Wyoming and he won't be forgotten. Bill was one of the first investigators we acquired in the beginning of TAzPS and has proven his expertise in the paranormal investigation field. Bill has taken many interesting pictures and has recorded many EVPs and they are posted throughout our website. We are proud to have such a fine investigator and friend among us. We are looking forward to Bill leading a Wyoming chapter of T.Az.P.R.S. in the near future so yes... he will remain on the T.Az.P.R.S. team. We wish our friend and colleague the best of luck and will be seeing him in the very near future. Thanks Bill. Please check back with us for the actual investigation page as we are anticipating a great evening of paranormal activity and you will be there with us in spirit... |
| CONCLUSION: |
| T.Az.P.R.S. would like to give a special thank you to the owners and staff of The Jerome Grand Hotel for their kindness and generosity. They have given us the rare opportunity to investigate one of Arizona's most historical and beautiful landmarks. Thank you all so very much. |
| "The Arizona Paranormal Society" (T.Az.P.S.) and/or "The Arizona Paranormal Research Society" (T.Az.P.R.S.) name and all things contained within this site are the property of "The Arizona Paranormal Society". Reproduction or unauthorized use of any material without expressed written consent is a violation of the copyright laws and is strictly prohibited. © 2006-2010 "The Arizona Paranormal Society" |
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