RETURN TO TINKERS CREEK - 10/8/11
On October 8th, 2011 we achieved a long time goal of returning to Tinkers Creek Cemetery, a site in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park System that we had last visited over five years ago (see our writeup at our   Miscellaneous Investigations Pt. 1   page for a little background information and our the results we obtained on that visit). On this visit we were introducing a new piece of equipment we were curious to try, a set of dowsing rods, as another way of asking questions or trying to obtain results. A digital recorder was kept running the entire time for any audio results, as well as a K2 meter.

Tinker's Creek has always had a sense of mystery associated with it. Perhaps its the isolated, lonely location, or the fact that it has a reputation as a fairly active site. Other groups have captured numerous anomalies there, everything from glowing lights, energy, and all sorts of audio activity. While on this visit we captured nothing visual in any of our images at all, the site did not disappoint.

What was surprising was how quickly the dowsing rods started producing results. While the K2 meter registered barely a blip and nothing was caught on film, the dowsing rods gave consistent results for almost the entire time they were in use. This was backed up by numerous EVPS that were captured simultaneously with the use of the rods, which meant the two methods tended to support each other with the accuracy of the results. One surprising aspect was the force with with the rods moved. They did not move slowly or lightly as if helped by the wind (which was not present on that day) but with some force and speed; on more than one occasion they whipped around and hit my arm with a noticeable slap (which would have needed gale force winds to move at that rate and surely would have been noticeable).

Another surprise was that every results obtained with the rod (as well as each EVP obtained) was only in response to a direct question being asked. As a control measure to weed out "false positives" certain questions were asked repeatedly, in some case 4 or 5 times, with the results being the same each time. Also a number of control questions were asked where there was only one correct question and a large series of incorrect answers to choose from, and on no occasion was a false answer obtained, but responses were received only when the correct answer was offered as a choice. This all but eliminated random, chance replies and helped verify the accuracy of the results obtained. Great pains were taken to eliminate any false results almost to the point of overkill, and the results were judged to be a major success. A sampling of those results are presented below.

THE DOWSING RODS

The session using the rods lasted an hour and twenty minutes. The first part mostly consisted of test questions to assess the viability of using rods on investigations.

"Is there anyone here who would like to make their presence known? Can you please indicate your presence by crossing the rods?" This was repeated 5 times with positive results each time.

"Are you able to cross the rods on the count of three? I am going to ask you to respond only on the count of three. One. Two. Three." This was repeated three separate times. The rods crossed only after the word "three" was spoken each time.

I then strove to make the requests harder. "Can you cross the rods when I ask? Please cross them now." The rods crossed.

"Thank you. Can you uncross the rods? Please do so now." The rods uncrossed. "Can you move the rods so they are pointing in opposite directions? So they are opposite to one another? Do so now." Right after the request was made the rods swung apart with on pointing directly left, and the other directly right, 180 degrees apart from each other. I then asked a number of control questions, each getting harder than the last, with a view to testing specific information. Communicating with the rods is essentially like playing an elaborate game of "twenty questions" and requires a fair degree of patience on the part of all concerned.

"Can you see me now? Are you able to see me?" "Yes".

"Am I wearing long pants?" No movement.

"Am I wearing short pants?" I specifically tailored my language to suit someone from the 1800s who would know what "short pants" meant over the modern expression "shorts." The answer came back "yes" when short pants was mentioned. The next question would be the ultimate test.

"Can you tell me what color shirt I am wearing? I am going to say various colors. I want you to cross the rods when I say the correct color of the shirt I am wearing. Am I wearing a blue shirt?" No response.

"Am I wearing a red shirt?" No response.

"Am I wearing a black shirt?" No response.

"Am I wearing a white shirt?" No response.

"Am I wearing an orange shirt?" The rods crossed indicating a "yes". I was wearing a very distinctive orange-colored shirt at the time. Note that I listed 4 different false colors first, each with no response. Any response to any of those colors would have been false and would have discredited the answers I was getting, but a response was obtained only with the correct answer being given. These and similar other test questions were repeated a minimum of no less than three times each (and sometimes more) and results were obtained that were random in nature. I must say the spirits must have been extremely patient that night or were eager to make themselves heard.

Having satisfied myself as to the accuracy of the results, the second half of the session was devoted to trying to obtain specific information as to just who was present that night.

"Are you a man?" No answer.

"Are you a woman?" "Yes."

"Are you a child?" No answer.

"Are you an adult?" "Yes".

"Were you married?" "Yes".

"Did you have any children?" "No".

"Can you tell me how you died?  Did you die in an accident?" "No."

"Of old age?" "No."

"Of an illness or sickness?" "Yes."

"Did you die before your husband?" "No."

"After your husband?" "Yes."

A few other questions were asked trying to obtain further specific information that might be checked later. One aspect of Tinker's Creek is that the few stones remaining represent only a small portion of the burials at that site; some sources say as many as three quarters of the graves there have no marker. Many were removed over the years, lost or reused for their stone, damaged by vandals, or simply destroyed by the passage of time. So many graves there are simply unmarked and no one has an accurate counting of how many burials there may have been. I tried to see if I could tie the responses I was getting to a specific gravesite.

I asked the spirit if she could make the rods point in the direction where she was buried. Almost immediately both rods pointed towards the left. As I walked across the area the rods would gently adjust their direction depending on whether I was getting closer or farther away; it was similar to using a compass to find a location. When I stopped over an open area where there were no stones both rods began moving in wide circles swinging completely around. I can only assume I was over the unmarked grave at that point. The exact location has been noted for future research.

I tried to use this new information in further questions. "Are you at peace or rest where you are?" "No."

"Is it because your grave is unmarked and no one knows it is here?" "No".

"Is it because of something left undone or that you were unable to finish when you were alive?" "Yes." Further attempts to narrow down what that might be were inconclusive. I can only guess that I was not asking the correct questions.

A number of other questions were also asked, of which the above is a sampling. Near the end of the session I asked if the spirit preferred this method of communication over the K2 meter or speaking into the recorder, and the response was "Yes."

"Is it because this is easier for you?" "Yes."

"Does it take less energy to communicate this way?" "Yes."

"Would you be willing to communicate using the rods again if I return at some future time?" "Yes."

THE EVPS

Near the beginning of the session I am inviting any spirits presents to communicate either by talking or using the K2 meter. Right after I invite them to talk (at the 12 second mark) you hear a female voice respond. Here is CLIP 1. The voice is isolated from the rest of the clip here in CLIP 1A and if you loop it the voice sounds like it is saying "hello" with a bit of a slight accent at the beginning. You can hear it much better when it is slightly slowed down here CLIP 1A.

The next clip actually coincides with a response I got with the dowsing rods. Here is a clip of the first of three tests asking which color shirt I was wearing. Notice I ask slowly and allow plenty of time between answers. I get a whispered response after I say "orange shirt" here on CLIP 2. It sounds like two words starting with "orange" which is more clearly heard on CLIP 2a and isolated here in CLIP 2b. Unfortunately the second word after "orange" is very faint and partially drowned out by a bird's cry, but when taken in context with the line of questioning "shirt" would be a logical choice. This would an audio confirmation of a dowsing rod response to a specific question.

In the next clip I am asking if there is a message for anyone in CLIP 3. There is a whispered response right after. When isolated and slightly slowed down here in CLIP 3a is is clearly heard "ask them now" (referring to questions? messages?) or "ask him now". When looped the response is very clear and audible.

Here is a sequence where I am trying to obtain information on why the spirit (or spirits) have not yet crossed over. At the 25 second mark in CLIP 4 another whispered response is heard. The isolated response is presented here in CLIP 4a and then slightly slowed down in CLIP 4b. A response of "I don't know" is heard. This is clearly a man's voice and different from the woman's spirit discussed above; he is obviously confused or unsure as to why he has not yet crossed over to the other side.

In the next clip I am asking if the spirits would prefer to communicate by using the rods if I came back again on some future day, as heard in CLIP 5. The answer is not too clear at first, but when heard isolated from the background noise in CLIP 5a and then slowed down by 25% in CLIP 5b a breathy, drawn-out "yesss" is audible.

In the next clip I am preparing to leave and begin by respectfully saying goodbye to whatever spirits were present during that visit, and I would go on to thank them for their participation. Here is a partial statement in CLIP 6. Right at the end of the clip another whispered response is caught, at about the 8-second mark. When heard here in CLIP 6a and looped a very clear "goodbye" is audible, as if acknowledging my statement.

Here is an unknown comment from the other side. The night of our visit to Tinker's Creek was swarming with mosquitoes and sometimes interfered with our investigation; you would constantly have to stop and brush them away while you were attempting to do something else. Without really asking a question I just make an offhand statement apologizing for losing my train of thought on what I was asking at the moment because of the mosquitoes and unknowingly almost talk over a comment being made in the background here in CLIP 7. Here is the same comment isolated from the rest in CLIP 7a. All that is certain is that the last word is "dead" or "the dead". I would welcome suggestions on what you think it is saying, beyond "something....the dead."

Tinker's Creek is slated to be the site of future investigations, to build on what was started here. Perhaps contact might be made with other spirits. We will also try and establish through thi now-opened means of communication specific information such as name, age, place of birth or death, church membership, anything that can be verified and confirmed in written or historical records so we can identify just who were were speaking to. More details will be posted as they become available, so check back often!