Showing posts with label independence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label independence. Show all posts

Monday, May 29, 2023

Evidence of a Haunting at Pitcher Cemetery

 

Pitcher Cemetery is located at 3306 Blue Ridge Blvd. North of Pitcher Road in Independence, Missouri


This family burial plot for the Thomas Pitcher family established in 1830, is also the final resting place for some who fought in the Revolutionary War.  Many Civil War soldiers who perished in battle nearby in 1864 are buried in a mass grave.  Another mass grave is in the cemetery, which contains pioneers who perished from the Cholera epidemic of 1849—1851.  Most of the grave markers are simple standing rocks without engraving.  It is estimated that over 200 people are buried here.

Visitors have reported noises in the trees, glowing balls of light, and a floating apparition.

A recent investigation would prove fruitful. I visited the site with fellow investigators Jean Walker and Devin Listrom so we could obtain evidence that spirits still roam the site. We were not disappointed. As we arrived there was a sense of multiple spirits in the area, and this was confirmed by Devin's dowsing rods. Next, I was pulled to a particular grave of a Revolutionary Soldier and placed a Rem Pod on top of the tombstone. I asked the question, "Is there a spirit here?" and the Rem Pod began to respond with multiple beeps. All the lights began to blink. With each question, there was the same response. Devin, who is also a medium, and I heard a man speaking and he told us that he had been murdered for a small bag of gold coins in his pocket. 

Oddly, the man has the same last name as Devin's mother's maiden name, and she is researching to see if there is a connection. 




Jean Walker walked further back into the cemetery and was drawn to a strange object placed between two tree limbs. I was also drawn to look at it from a distance, and we feel that there is a spirit residing there. 

There are no hours posted and no locked gate, so it appears that this cemetery is open at all hours. 
 
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Margie Kay is the director of Quest Paranormal Investigation Group and author of Haunted Independence and Gateway to the Dead: A Ghost Hunter's Field Guide. See more info at www.margiekay.com

Sunday, February 17, 2019

The Lady in Blue at the Cafe Verona


The CafĂ© Verona on the Independence square in Independence, Missouri is sometimes visited by a Lady in a blue dress who is often seen sitting at a table by the front window. Patrons often think that this is just a person sitting there-  until she turns transparent and disappears in front of their eyes.   Often money goes missing from this particular table, so make sure you hand money to your waitress if you sit at this spot!  The employees and chef say that in the kitchen doors often open and close on their own, and they hear unexplained noises in the restaurant late at night. One chef even quit because of the ghostly activity in the kitchen, which got out of hand one evening. Apparently, the resident ghost doesn't like strangers in her kitchen.
 
Many people have reported seeing an older lady in a long blue dress who purposely spills alcoholic beverages that are left behind on tables after patrons leave the cafe.  Perhaps this ghost is a relic of the Temperance Movement. 
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Excerpt from the book Haunted Independence Missouri by Margie Kay

Saturday, February 2, 2019

Haunted Independence Missouri book released today

Just published this second edition today with updates - woohoo got it done! Now off to the next project...

 http://www.lulu.com/…/haunt…/paperback/product-23970708.html 

Paranormal researcher and psychic medium Margie Kay presents many of the most haunted locations in the city of Independence, Missouri. She and the Quest Investigation Group team investigated these sites over a period of 20 years. In this second edition of Haunted Independence, Missouri Margie discusses cases involving businesses, parks, cemeteries, and houses that are haunted by loved ones, poltergeists, shadow people and even aliens. 

ead about a haunted museum where a famous actress was born, a park with a dark shadow entity and the wife of the infamous outlaw Frank James, the lady in blue who haunts a popular restaurant, the lady in grey, and much more in this book.  Also included are a list of haunted atrractions in the area and places to go during the month of October when several locations open for haunted tours.  

Be sure to visit Independence sometime - it is very haunted!


Thursday, September 6, 2018

Ghost Tours at the Haunted 1906 Bungalow House

Ghost Tours at the Very Haunted 1906 Bungalow House
Independence, MO 64050
$30 pp

Hosted by the Ginger House Museum and Quest Investigation Group. Join Margie Kay for an evening at the Ginger House - where there has been a lot of paranormal activity. Bring your camera and EMF meter if desired. Adults over 16 only. Limited to 12 persons per tour. Must register in advance. 


We have evidence of paranormal activity at this house. The home was recently renovated and turned into a museum. It was opened to the public in August of 2018. Ginger Rogers, best known for her dancing and movies with Fred Astaire, was born in this 1906 home on July 16, 1911, and she visited the home several times. 

While doing renovations, the contractor noticed strange noises and lights flickering, but when the wiring was upgraded the flickering did not stop. Paranormal teams have investigated the site, with lots of phenomena occurring and captured on film. 

This is by far, one of the most haunted sites I've ever investigated, and every time we've entered the house something strange happens. 
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Margie Kay is a paranormal investigator, medium and author. See more information at www.margiekay.com. 

Saturday, July 22, 2017

The Haunted Ginger Rogers House

The Haunted Ginger Rogers House
Independence, Missouri
By Margie Kay
Copyright 2017

In February of 2016, my real estate investment company was lucky to purchase the house where Ginger Rogers was born on July 16, 1911. It is a tiny 800 square-foot Craftsman Bungalow in Independence, Missouri, and our intention is to have it open to the public to enjoy since there are many Ginger Rogers fans. The house is located just a few blocks from the Truman Library and Museum and other tourist attractions. Tour buses often drive by the house and people stop to take pictures, so we know there is a public interest.  This was more important to us than just renting it out to someone or reselling it after it was renovated.

100 W Moore Street, Independence, MO
Birthplace of Ginger Rogers

Not long after the work to restore the house began, I was standing in the room where Ginger was born, and wondering what to do for the paint and décor. Suddenly, a foggy mist started to appear in front of the wall across from me and accumulate, finally in the shape of a woman in a long ball gown. I knew it was Ginger Rogers. I did not feel any fear, only amazement, as this is the last thing I was expecting.
Being a paranormal investigator, I knew that sometimes house renovations can stir up spirits, however, that was not on my mind at all.  I was concerned with doing the work to the house to make it structurally sound, ordering kitchen cabinets and appliances, and getting approval from the Heritage Commission to do work to the exterior. Since the house is an Historic Landmark Property, nothing can be changed on the exterior without approval from the commission first. The last thing on my mind was that the house might be haunted.

A couple of weeks later, I was meditating and decided to remote view the house. This is a process where I use my mind’s eye to travel to a location and look at it. It was late at night and very dark. I stood on the front lawn of the house looking at it when Ginger Rogers appeared again, standing next to the column to the left of the front steps to the porch. I took this as a sign that she approved of what we were doing.

Not long after that event, I received a call from Stephanie Turbeville with KC Paranormal. I had never met Stephanie before, but knew about her organization and she said she had read my books. Stephanie said she hoped I didn’t think she was crazy, but she was compelled to drive by the house the night before after completing an investigation elsewhere, and when she got out of the car she stood on the front lawn. Then the spirit of Ginger Rogers appeared standing next to the left column on the porch and smiled at her. It gave me chills, because that is exactly where Ginger appeared to me! At that point, I knew the Stephanie was the real thing, and that we should collaborate on investigating the house. I was so busy operating my several businesses that I turned most of the investigation over to KC Paranormal.

I invited the team to investigate the house on a Saturday night. We threw some chairs in the otherwise vacant house for everyone to sit on, and my brother and I joined Stephanie and her partner, Jan. We were in for much more than we expected. We all hoped to obtain evidence, but what occurred was nothing short of amazing.

During the 2 ½ hour investigation, we heard multiple voices come through the spirit box speaking in single words or at times phrases. One was definitely the voice of Ginger Rogers as we all recognized it. Another was an older woman, likely her mother Lela Rogers. Then we heard three different men speak as well, saying words like “basement” and “murder.”  The basement has a dirt floor and stone foundation walls. The thought that a murder may have occurred in the house sometime during its 105- year history, was unnerving. But Ginger seemed happy and thrilled we were there. She answered “Yes” when I asked if she wanted us to restore the house and open it to the public.
We heard a lot of noises coming from the basement and kitchen areas, saw multiple blue and white orbs moving about that were visible to the naked eye, and captured more orbs on film that were not visible. At one point, my brother, said “what the heck is that?” and pointed to a baseball-sized purple orb that came through the closed front door and moved to him. He held up one finger and the orb seemed to attach itself to his finger, remaining about 1” away. I then put my finger next to the orb and it followed my finger around for a minute, then took off and went back out the front door!  All four of us saw this occur and were all amazed. None of us had ever experienced anything like it.
At this point, Jan got out a digital flashlight which does not have a spring on it and can’t be tampered with. He set it on the floor and asked if Ginger Rogers was with us and if so, to turn on the light. The light turned on. Then he asked several questions, and to each one the flashlight turned on or off right on cue. None of us were near the flashlight, so no one could have tampered with it. This video is on the KC Paranormal You Tube channel.

Next, things got even weirder. I looked at the doorway to the second bedroom and saw a web-like bluish color structure forming, then faces appeared in this web. They were not human looking – but looked like aliens. I said nothing, hoping that someone else would see the same thing and would confirm what I was seeing. To my surprise, my brother, who rarely sees anything like this, said, “Guys, there are faces of aliens in that doorway.”  Stephanie and Jan moved to where they could see it, and they both saw the faces and web structure.

I took pictures with my FLIR camera and took a look at the photos the next day. In one picture, there is a blue web-like structure in the window in the kitchen, with a creepy looking alien type face in it. That was something none of us saw with the naked eye.

We are all very confused about the evidence obtained at the house. We get a very good vibe from Ginger and likely her mother, Lela. But these other entities are something else altogether, and the last thing any of us were expecting. I speculate that there may be some type of portal at that location and diverse types of entities are passing through. The area used to be Native American land, so perhaps that has something to do with it. The land wasn’t developed until the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The house was built sometime between 1909 and 1910, with the first renters in 1910, then Lela Rogers in 1911. After four years, Lela and Ginger moved out, and there have been many families who owned or rented the property since. One person contacted me who lived in the house for a year and he said nothing out of the ordinary occurred. Another person lived in the house for several years, and he said nothing happened that he knew about. Perhaps these entities were disturbed by the amount of work we did to repair the stone foundation walls, the floors, plumbing, electrical, doors and windows, and only came out during this process. Or perhaps they’ve been there all along, and the other people just were not aware of their presence.

KC Paranormal did a recent second investigation on their own and obtained yet more evidence of a haunting. I am eager to see what they captured on film and if any EVP’s were captured as well.
In all my over 1,100 investigations completed for others around the U.S., U.K. and South America in the past 40 years, I’ve never seen so much Paranormal evidence occur in such a brief period.  And of course, I own the house and must deal with it!
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www.kansascityparanormal.com 

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Haunted Investigation at the Ginger House Oct 31, 2016



Paranormal researcher and author Margie Kay with the Un-X Paranormal Investigation Group will conduct a paranormal investigation and class, then participants will investigate the very haunted Ginger House on Halloween night, October 31, 2016 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. This is the location where famed actress and dancer Ginger Rogers was born.

The house was built in 1906 by Oscar Mindrup. Mindrup owned three properties on the block and rented them out to working class families. The home is unusual in that it is a Craftsman Bungalow with unusual features such as the front columns and exterior and interior woodwork. Ginger was born in the house in 1911. Her mother, Lela, estranged from her husband, rented the house and worked nearby. The two lived in the home for about four years, but Ginger was always attached to the home and visited it on a number of occasions throughout her life. The last time she visited the house was in 1994 when the City of Independence hosted Ginger Rogers Day.

Photo from a 1942 LIFE Magazine article
During several investigations researchers have been able to obtain evidence of haunting of the home by several spirits. Margie Kay said that she has never seen so much evidence collected in a short period of time. It is possible that recent renovations to the home by the new owners have stirred up ghostly activity which includes disembodied voices, foggy apparitions, balls of light, and communication through a flashlight, radio, and electronic devices.

Attendees will learn the basics of ghost hunting including how to use various types of equipment such as EMF meters, spirit boxes, trigger objects, dowsing rods, and night vision cameras.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own cameras and equipment, and preferably a night vision camera if available to keep flashes at a minimum. The house is very small so a limited number of people will be allowed to participate. If too many people wish to attend we will conduct another tour on a different date.

Cost is $45 per person, or $70 per couple and includes one copy of Margie Kay's book Gateway to the Dead: A Ghost Hunter's Field Guide. The class will begin at 7 p.m. but participants may enter the house at 6:45 p.m. All proceeds go towards restoring the home.

Contact Margie Kay at 816-833-1602 or send an email to margiekay06@yahoo.com for more information. 

Friday, June 17, 2016

Ghosts Can Open and Close Doors

By Margie Kay
Director, QUEST Paranormal Investigation Group

June 17, 2016

When people think about ghosts, they usually picture a partial or full-body apparition appearing, then dissapearing. But people don't usually attribute movement of physical objects to spirits. 

In fact, it is possible for spirits to move objects such as pencils or tennis balls, or even affect electronics. One of their most common activities is opening and closing doors. This normally does not occur unless there is an apparent reason for doing so, usually in reaction to a living person's comment or location in a house. 

In some cases, ghosts will lock doors as was the case for Maria Christine last week.

Maria and her children were sitting outside on their patio at their home in Independence, Missouri when her husband walked through the door, carrying some meats for the barbecue. He closed the door behind him as usual, but realizing that he forgot something, he immediately turned around to go back into the house. The door was locked, not only the bottom handle lock, but also the dead bolt which can only be locked with a key. There was no one in the house at the time, so no one could have locked the door. Luckily, Maria had her keys with her and they were able to get back into the house. Their house is haunted, and the entire family has had interactions with ghosts at one time or another. Apparently, this time a ghost wanted to be alone in the house for a while!

In 2012 I was out of town on business and asked my daughter to water my plants and check on the house every few days. One day, she had her two teenage children with her and they asked about the pesky spirit in the house. They wanted to see some evidence. My daughter took the kids to the family room and pointed at the bathroom next to it, saying "This is where most of the activity was." At that instant, the second bathroom door on the opposite side slammed shut. The kids said that was enough evidence for them and they ran out of the house. 

Ghosts can be helpful at times as well. A couple of years ago I accidentally locked myself out of the house and left the keys inside. I had my brother with me, and he tried to get the door open, so we know it was closed and locked. Not looking forward to either of us having to climb a ladder to a second-story window, I simply asked if someone could please unlock the door for me. They did. The door unlocked and opened without me touching it. I'm not sure if it was the pesky male spirit who lives in our house and sometimes plays pranks, or if it was one of my relatives who crossed over, At any rate, I said "Thank You" to the spirit, while my brother looked on in amazement. 

So the next time you get locked out or forget your keys, ask any spirits around for their assistance and you might get it. Conversely, if a spirit does not like you for some reason you may want to keep your keys handy at all times just in case. 

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Margie Kay is the director and lead investigator for QUEST Paranormal Investigation Group, publisher of Un-X News website and host of Un-X News Radio on www.kgraradio.com. See more at www.margiekay.com  



Monday, April 18, 2016

Ghost of Ginger Rogers Communicates with Paranormal Team

I was privileged to participate in a paranormal investigation at the birthplace of Ginger Rogers in Independence, Missouri. I asked Stephanie Turbeville and her team from KC Paranormal to investigate this site as an independent party since I recently purchased the house.

We have been having strange things happen there so I thought it would be a good idea to investigate. So many things happened that night I can't believe it. We heard Ginger's voice, and others through the spirit box, she communicated via turning a flashlight off and on as directed, we heard unexplained noises, footsteps, whispering, and saw faces and orbs. This is definitively one of the most haunted places I've experienced yet and it was very unexpected. When we bought the house it being haunted was the least of my expectations.

Here is part of the story on the KC Paranormal Facebook page. Watch for more info coming soon.

A full investigation will be completed soon.

https://www.facebook.com/kansascityparanormal/

Friday, January 10, 2014

Update on the Lady in Gray in Independence

I received an e-mail recently from a man living in Independence, Missouri who told me that he has seen the Noland Road Lady in Gray several times in the 1990's.  He said that he saw her as a full body apparition wearing old, torn clothing, a scarf, and long skirt.  Once it was only a partial apparition.  All of the sightings were on Noland Road in front of the Woodlawn cemetery at dusk, which is where he lived at the time.  The woman would be visible for a few minutes, then just disappear from view with no explanation.


See my earlier post on the Lady in Gray for more information. 

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Margie Kay is the director of Quest Paranormal Investigation Group and author of Haunted Independence and Gateway to the Dead: A Ghost Hunter's Field Guide. See more info at www.margiekay.com.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Free Lecture - Haunted Independence - with Margie Kay Oct 28

Haunted Independence



Margie Kay will present Haunted Independence, at this free lecture on Monday, October 28, 2013 at the Trails West Public Library,

Find out about all of the very haunted locations in and near Independence, Missouri that were investigated by Margie Kay and the Quest Investigation Group. The list of haunted sites may surprise you.  We'll concentrate on sites that are open to the public so you can plan your own personal visit.  Get ready to be scared just before Halloween!  Weather permitting we will visit a haunted park after the lecture so bring your camera and EMF meter!  Margie Kay is the director of Quest Investigation Group publisher of Un-X News Magazine, and author of Gateway to the Dead: a Ghost Hunter's Field Guide, and Haunted Independence.  

Book signing after the lecture. Free admission.  No one under age 16 allowed.

Cider and cookies will be served.

Donations accepted for Quest Investigation Group for equipment needed for paranormal and UFO investigations.

 Trails West Public Library
 Meeting room
 6:00 - 7:30 PM
 11401 E 23rd St.
 Independence, MO 64052

Note: Margie is available to speak to groups about paranormal and UFO investigations. Contact her assistant, Tamie Dorsch at tamie_dorsch@yahoo.com for more information or call 816-833-1602.

www.margiekay.com

www.unxnews.com 

Monday, August 19, 2013

The Noland Road Lady in Gray


The Noland Road Lady in Gray
By Margie Kay

Location where she has been seen: N. Noland Road to S. Noland Rd and near the 23rd Street intersection in Independence, Missouri

I’d heard the stories for years—how the ghost of a woman walking on and near Noland Road had appeared and disappeared before many people’s eyes.  And how this lady with short gray hair frequented the area around the large Woodlawn Cemetery, and how she usually appeared after dark.  Some witnesses told me that she has a very white face and large eyes. 

I thought this was just an urban legend until I saw the Noland Road Lady in Gray myself.  There she was, walking on 23rd Street headed East, just a few blocks from Noland Road on the South side of the street.  Dressed in a long grey skirt and blouse in tatters, the pale-faced woman was looking around as if searching for something.  I thought “that must be the Noland Road Grey Lady,” when suddenly, as I drove by right next to her
she disappeared into thin air.  My suspicion was confirmed.

     I’d heard the stories for years—how the ghost of a woman walking on and near Noland Road had appeared and disappeared before many people’s eyes.  And how this lady with short gray hair frequented the area around the large Woodlawn Cemetery, and how she usually appeared after dark.  Some witnesses told me that she has a very white face and large eyes. 

     Rachel Timmons saw the lady one day as she drove South on Noland road past Woodlawn cemetery, then saw her again two miles further south.  Rachel was driving her car and the woman was on foot.  “There is no way that a person could outrun a car,” said Rachel. “I think this was definitely the famous Lady in Gray.” 

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Margie Kay is the director of Quest Paranormal Investigation Group and author of Haunted Independence and Gateway to the Dead: A Ghost Hunter's Field Guide. See more info at www.margiekay.com.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Old site of the Swope Mansion

Site of the old Swope Mansion today
The old Swope Mansion used to be located at 308 N Pleasant Street, Independence, Missouri, but was razed by the RLDS Church after they purchased the property in the 1960's.  One can speculate why this beautiful red brick mansion was taken down, but it may be due to the fact that it was very haunted, and in fact, the location still may be haunted.  Col. Thomas Swope was murdered in the home by poisoning, and later 10 or 11 family members mysteriously died with the cause being reported as Typhoid from a contaminated cistern on the property.  See the book Deaths on Pleasant Street: The Ghastly Enigma of Colonel Swope and Doctor Hyde by Giles Fowler for more details. 

Here is the book description from Barnes and Noble:  "The 1909 murder case surrounding the wealthy Swope family of Independence, Missouri, gripped newspaper readers throughout the nation. This book gathers the facts behind the suspicious fates of three Swope family members: the eccentric Colonel, millionaire donor of Kansas City, Missouri’s Swope Park, his affable cousin, and a young nephew and heir. The mystery pits the Swope matriarch against her disfavored son-in-law, Dr. Bennett Clark Hyde. Charged with poisoning the Colonel and suspected of multiple other attempted murders, Dr. Hyde endures national media attention for this crime of the century. The series of trials and appeals that followed explores the question: Was he a diabolical villain bent on inheriting Swope’s millions or the unfortunate victim of a family grudge? This account of gothic-era America follows streetcar tracks from the courtrooms of Kansas City to the typhoid-plagued Swope mansion in nearby Independence. The author delivers an engaging and accurate retelling of these 100-year-old events in the literary journalism tradition by analyzing court transcripts, newspaper coverage, and personal memoirs. Readers also get a new scenario based on modern science for what may have happened in the dark hallways of the mansion on Pleasant Street. "
Link to book

However, the tale may not be so clear as the book purports.  According to my father, my great-great grandmother, Nellie Collins Swope, was a very sinister woman.  The entire family believed that she killed all three of her husbands for their money, as well as 11 family members (who were they?).  She was so feared and hated for her cruel treatment by the family that my father's father, Boyd Kithcart, talked his brother (who had a brain injury from WWI) into killing his grandmother with an ax in order to protect the rest of the family from her.  They all lived in a large stone house on Charlotte street in Kansas City, MO.  He attempted to do so but failed, and was taken away to the St. Joseph Sanitarium where he spent the rest of his life until he died in 1968.  Boyd died in 1956.  

It was known among the family members that Nellie was the 19-year old mistress of Mr. Henry Swope, and had her daughter, Minnie, out of wedlock.  After Mr. Swope's first wife died (how, I don't know) he married Nellie and then legally adopted his own daughter, Minnie.  They later had a son, George.  After Mr. Swope's death, Nellie married a man named Stephen March.  I don't know who the third husband may have been or if indeed there was one.

There are many gaps here, including the fact that I cannot find much information on Henry Swope, even after extensive research on Ancestry.com and other sites. Clearly, someone is hiding something.  I would like to get this cleared up if at all possible, and if you know something about the family I'd appreciate communicating with you.  I was able to purchase a photo of the mansion but the license will not allow me to use it in print or in a blog.   If you have a picture of it I'd appreciate getting a copy!

I was contacted by a former docent who worked in the Swope Mansion when they let people take tours after it was abandoned. Apparently, after the deaths the home was abandoned by the family and the City of Independence took possession of it.  The docent said that it was known among the staff that the house was very haunted, and that the workers often heard footsteps, doors opening and closing, doors locking of their own accord, and rustling of papers.  Col. Swope's office seemed to be the most active area and they would often find books on the floor of the office when no one had been in it.  Some workers even saw full body apparitions walking the halls.  No wonder, with 12 untimely deaths on the site. 

Now, as for the property, we are setting up a ghost hunt there this summer and I'll let you know how that goes on a future post. 
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Margie Kay is the director of Quest Paranormal Investigation Group and author of Haunted Independence and Gateway to the Dead: A Ghost Hunter's Field Guide. See more info at www.margiekay.com

Saturday, October 1, 2011

The Truman Home


The Truman Home

 

223 N Main Street
Independence, Missouri
816-254-9929
Open to the Public


This 14-room Victorian home was built in 1886 by Bess Wallace Truman’s maternal grandfather, George Porterfield.  Called “The Summer White House,” this is where President Harry Truman lived after his marriage to Bess in 1919 until his death in 1972.  Truman’s Aunt and Uncle lived across the street at 216 North Delaware, and Harry was a frequent visitor.   The interior of the Truman home is exactly as it was in 1972.  After Bess died in 1982, the home was obtained by the National Park Service and is now open to the public for guided tours.

Watch out for Harry Truman’s apparition to appear, sometimes sitting in his favorite chair in the
living room or walking outside the home.  The smell of his favorite brandy has been noted by guests on occasion. His ghost has been reported around nearby old downtown Independence, where he took daily walks during the last 15 years of his life after his final term as president ended in 1957.  Harry Truman had his first job at Clinton’s Soda Fountain on the Independence Square near this home, and worked as an attorney nearby.  It is no wonder that he is spotted hanging out at his old favorite places.
The home is now a museum run by the National Parks Service and is open for public tours daily.  No tours on Mondays between Labor Day and Memorial Day. Tickets can be purchased at the Truman Visitor Center at 223 North Main Street. Hours 9:300a.m—5:00 p.m. daily except for holidays.


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Margie Kay is the Director of Quest Paranormal Investigation Group and author of Haunted Independence and Gateway to the Dead.  She is the publisher of Un-X News Magazine.  Visit www.margiekay.com or www.unxnews.com for more information. 

The 40 Highway Ghost


The 40 Highway Ghost

40 Highway Between I-70 and Manchester

In late December, 2002, Jamyi M. took some presents to a friend. She was driving in her car alone. Jamyi drove East on 40 Highway from I-70 and when she arrived at 40 Hwy and Manchester, she saw a two-car wreck with police and ambulance at the location.  The traffic was slow and down to one lane.  As Jamyi passed the accident, she noticed that a covered body was being taken out on a stretcher to the ambulance. 

She glanced in the rear-view mirror and saw the image of a woman’s ghost sitting in the back seat.  The apparition had dark brown hair and glazed-over brown eyes.  Jamyi was frightened at first, and knew immediately that it was the spirit of the woman from the accident.  She decided to ask the woman if she could help her.  The woman nodded “yes” stiffly, and when she did so Jamyi noticed that her neck was severely injured. 

The woman then spoke out loud and said that she needed to get to her husband to tell him what happened and that “no one knows what happened.”  She said “Just drive straight ahead.” 

Note: It is very unusual for a ghost to interact with someone in this manner.  I find it very interesting that she could be heard clearly while speaking.
 
Jamyi, although still nervous, continued driving straight East on 40.  When she got to a trailer park past Sutherland Lumber she saw the woman just step out of the car while the vehicle was moving, apparently headed for the trailer park.   A few days later, Jamyi and a friend looked in the obituaries in the newspaper and saw a photo of the same woman who died on the date of the accident.  During subsequent visits to the area she has not re-appeared, but if you drive on 40-Highway don’t be surprised if a ghostly passenger suddenly appears in your back seat.  

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Margie Kay is the director of Quest Paranormal Investigation Group and author of Haunted Independence and Gateway to the Dead: A Ghost Hunter's Field Guide. See more info at www.margiekay.com.



Pitcher Cemetery

Pitcher Cemetery
Located at Blue Ridge Blvd. North of Pitcher Road

This family burial plot for the Thomas Pitcher family established in 1830, is also the final resting place for some who fought in the Revolutionary war.  Many Civil War soldiers who perished in battle nearby in 1864 are buried in a mass grave.  Another mass grave is in the cemetery, which contains pioneers who perished from the Cholera epidemic of 1849—1851.  Most of the grave markers are simple standing rocks without engraving.  It is estimated that over 200 people are buried here.

Visitors have reported noises in the trees, glowing balls of light, and a floating apparition.




I visited the site, which is right next to a small park with tables and a walking path, one evening at dusk.  As I approached the entrance, I felt a heavy presence of many souls who have not moved on.  I went into a light trance and walked through the graveyard, camera in hand, taking photos while communicating with the dead. There are many who do not know they have died, or who are confused about where they are.  We were able to get several pictures with orbs, apparitions, and fog.

There are no hours posted and no locked gate so it appears to be open at all hours. 
 
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Margie Kay is the director of Quest Paranormal Investigation Group and author of Haunted Independence and Gateway to the Dead: A Ghost Hunter's Field Guide. See more info at www.margiekay.com

Hill Park Cemetery


Hill Park Cemetery
10499 E 20th Street, Independence, MO


Frank James (d 1915) is buried here with his wife, Ann Ralston James (d 1944) (Ralston street is nearby) two confederate soldiers, along with Adam Hill and his immediate and extended family members.  The cemetery was once a part of land owned by the Hills before becoming a public park. 

The small cemetery is surrounded by a stone wall and has an iron gate.  It appears to never be closed.  This is at the top of Hill Park off of 23rd Street in Independence. The best way to get to it is to go North to 20th Street and park in the small parking area next to the cemetery. 

A misty figure of a person with a white glow walks over the hill nightly.  Neighbors say they’ve seen the lighted apparition often. Civil War soldiers have been spotted marching in the park, which used to be an area heavily traveled during the Battle of Westport. 

Note: see my article on Rotary Park right across the street from this location (down the hill across 23rd street) and where the ghost of Anne Ralston has been seen many times by me and my team. 

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Margie Kay is the director of Quest Paranormal Investigation Group and author of Haunted Independence and Gateway to the Dead: A Ghost Hunter's Field Guide. See more info at www.margiekay.com

Mound Grove Cemetery

Mound Grove Cemetery
1818 N River Blvd. Independence, MO 64050

Some people would say we are nuts for visiting graveyards on Halloween night and they may be right, but what better time to see ghosts that might be lingering? The reason we investigated this location was because of an incident that R.T. had several years earlier. She was 16 years old and had just had a fight with her boyfriend. R.T. decided to drive to the Mill Creek Cemetery to be alone and think. So for whatever reason, R.T. got out of her car and walked through the cemetery at—yes– midnight on Halloween.

R.T. found a nice spot next to a tree and sat down. She was approximately 200 yards from the
front gate. No one else was around (who would be?) and it was a very quiet, moonlit night. R. closed her eyes and meditated for a few minutes. The thought occurred to her that up to this point she had never actually seen a ghost, although people around her could and she felt somewhat jealous of them. She thought “What better time and place to see a ghost?” and said out loud “If there is such thing as ghosts, show yourself to me right now!” 


Right on cue, a white apparition appeared over the hill. R. couldn’t believe it, but she stood up and stared at it to be sure. It moved towards her. Now she could see that this was the apparition of a woman wearing a long white nightgown. She had no feet and glided through the air. Panicked, R. started walking toward the car. The ghost followed. R. then started running, and glancing back she saw that the spirit moved faster towards her. Finally reaching the car, R. looked back and the ghost slowly faded away at the gate of the cemetery. It seems she could not go past the gate.
Our investigation: Our team of five including me, Rachel, Mia, Jamyi, and Donna decided to see if we could get the lady ghost to appear again so we could get her on film. We arrived at the cemetery at 11 p.m., once again on Halloween night, and walked in through the front gate. We agreed to stay together at all times for safety. I started by the entrance and filmed graves in the immediate area with my infra-red camera. Mia took the digital camera and took several shots because sometimes we are able to get imaged of orbs or spirits on film that are not visible to the naked eye. This evening we saw a fog and blue lights appear over some of the graves, but the fog and lights are not visible on the film. No apparitions made their appearance at that time.
We moved further into the park, and as we did so it got darker since we no longer had the streetlights illuminating the area. The moon was out so that helped a bit. As our eyes became accustomed to the dark we could see better. After a while, Donna and I decided to stay behind while Mia, Rachel, and Jamyi walked further on. For some reason, we forgot all about our agreement to stay together. Big mistake.
I looked around at some of the local gravestones and took notes. Donna and I felt the presence of a couple of spirits but nothing materialized. I did some filming, and after what seemed like 45 minutes, I called out for our missing team members. They did not answer. I walked a little way down the road where it was very dark and called again. I heard Mia’s voice answer me and saw what I thought was her dark, shadowy figure walking towards me on the small paved road.
After a minute, the three women appeared at the top of the hill. I then realized that the black shadow walking towards me and the person who answered me was NOT Mia.
I walked backwards away from the entity, and told the three women to look at the bottom of the hill where they all saw the dark apparition of a man moving towards me. They all saw the dark figure and froze where they stood. I moved quickly back up the other side of the hill from where I came, and when I looked back the figure was gone. The five of us decided we’d had enough and exited the cemetery very quickly.
We have since noted that this cemetery is locked after dusk and have not gone back after dark.
Note: the cemetery now has gates and is locked at night, so I wouldn’t suggest an after-dusk visit.

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Margie Kay is the Director of Quest Paranormal Investigation Group and author of Haunted Independence and Gateway to the Dead.  Visit www.margiekay.com for more information.  

Friday, September 30, 2011

List of Haunted Sites in the K.C. Area

This is a list of public sites. Warning: not all sites are accessible at all times.  Be sure to get permission before going to cemeteries.

Haunted sites in Independence, Missouri:
1859 Jail
Rotary Park
Old Independence Library building at 230 W Maple
40 Highway and Crysler
The Vaile Mansion
Game Cafe
The Courthouse Exchange restaurant on the Square
Corporate Copy Print on the Square
Cafe' Verona on the Square
Old buildings on the Square that don't want visitors

The Truman Home and neighborhood
Ricky Road

The Music Arts Institute
Noland Road and 23rd Street
Mound Grove Cemetery
Franklin Cemetery
Hill Park Cemetery
Pitcher Cemetery
The Sermon Center
The Truman Depot
The National Frontier Trails Museum


Haunted sites in Kansas City, Missouri:
Union Hill Cemetery
Hotel Savoy
Hyatt Regency
The Music Hall
The Folly Theatre
John Wornall House
Alexander Majors Home
Union Station



Haunted sites in the suburbs of Kansas City:
Fort Osage
Longview Farm and Mansion

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If you have an active haunted site that you would like to have investigated by our professional reserch team please contact the QUEST Investigation Group at 816-833-1602.  We do not charge for investigations, but do as permission to use the information we obtain in books or other media.

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Margie Kay is the Director of Quest Paranormal Investigation Group and author of Haunted Independence and Gateway to the Dead.  She is the publisher of Un-X News Magazine.  Visit www.margiekay.com or www.unxnews.com for more information. 

The Vaile Mansion

The Vaile Mansion is on the front cover of Margie Kay's book Haunted Independence


The Vaile Mansion
1500 N Liberty, Independence, Missouri
816-325-7430
www.vailemansion.org
Open to the public daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.


This incredible Second Empire Victorian style Vaile Mansion in Independence, Missouri was built in 1881 by Colonel Harvey Vaile, who ran the Star Route mail delivery company via overland stage and railroad to Santa Fe, New Mexico from Independence.

Vaile was a successful abolitionist lawyer, cattle rancher, investor, and landowner. The mansion has 31 rooms, 9 Italian marble fireplaces, running water, and beautiful painted ceilings, and has been fully restored to its original splendor. 

The ghost stories about the Vaile evolved around different time periods and events. The first event was when Mr. Vaile was accused of mail fraud and sent to Washington for a trial. Even though he was acquitted, Mrs. Sophia Vaile, despondent over the accusations, took an overdose of morphine and died in the home in 1883. Others believe that she may have died from stomach cancer, but that was a taboo subject at the time and may have been the reason for the suicide tale.

Reportedly (but not confirmed) Mr. Vaile could not part with his dead wife so he had her buried in the front yard with a glass cover over the coffin so he could visit her. Protests from neighbors later resulted in the removal of the coffin to another location nearby.

Colonel Vaile died five years later. He never remarried. Sophia Vaile has been spotted looking out of the upper floor windows by passersby and inside the house throughout.

 The mansion was turned into an Inn after Mr. Vaile’s death in 1883. The Vaile Pure Water Co. was operated from the site until just after the turn of the century. Later, the home was used as an asylum and sanitarium for approximately 10 years during the early 1900s, and as reported by an ex-worker, the heavy metal cages where people were kept are still in the basement, however, another worker told me this is not the case and no cages exist.  The home was used as a nursing home for a half century or longer, and according to one staff worker hundreds of people died there. The staff does not like to visit the basement because strange noises and an ominous feeling occur there. The Vaile Mansion also served as a rest home, so one could assume that other people died here.

The mansion was purchased by Roger and Mary DeWitt in the 1960’s, and after the death of Mrs. DeWitt in 1983 it was donated to the citizens of Independence.

Spirits and ghostly activity have occurred over the years in several rooms in the house, on the grounds, and in the neighborhood. Some passersby walk on the opposite side of the street in order to avoid an encounter with a ghost. Neighbors report seeing a ghostly specter walking on the sidewalk and in the front yard of the property.

The third floor is now off limits to the public (perhaps due to pesky spirits) but during my visit on this floor some years ago with my husband, I sensed the presence of at least two spirits. One, a male spirit, was sitting by the back window, but as I stepped into the room, he slowly faded away. A second dark outline of a person stood in a corner for several minutes, seeming to watch our movements. This entity did not move or fade out, and remained as we left the room.  The reason the third floor is not a part of the tour is due to fire codes. The city was informed that they would have to install a fire escape if tours were to include the top level.
The staff also reports seeing imprints of someone sitting on the freshly made beds in one second floor bedroom when no one has been in the room.

So whether you are seeking spirits or not, it is worth taking a tour of the mansion.

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Margie Kay is the Director of The OZ Inter-dimensional Communication Institute and Quest Paranormal Investigation Group. She is the author of Haunted Independence and Gateway to the Dead and other books.  Visit www.margiekay.com or www.oz-ufo.com.com for more information.