OTHERPLANE

Old Kansas .... New Mystery

by

T.C. Strand

Kansas. A job related transfer brought me back here late in 1997. This state can be both bleak and beautiful. The people are the same as when I left the first time, somewhat introverted and withdrawn. Any change is slow in coming and they seem to prefer it that way. Progress is something that can only occur if any issue has been committeed to death for a number of years. The biggest export is wheat and college grads. The sharp ones who venture over the state line, rarely come back. History came to a stand still here when the old west and frontier died. Even their biggest claim to fame is the sixty year old, Oz movie that tells us of leaving Kansas and going to a magical place far from here. Just when I thought I had this place all figured our....I find out I was dead wrong.

I currently reside in a small community just outside of Topeka. It is a real slice of Americana, quaint and quiet. Here I met some new neighbors who enlightened me to well kept secret that located very close to us. We had been discussing some of the towns history and highlights, both published and not. Most of the praire around our area had been more violent than any modern New York City street. Unfortunately, the good did die young and the Indians were nothing more than target practice. The conversation led to the old story of Stull Cemetery near Lawrence. It is here that evil supposedly materializes twice a year and host to the seven steps to hell. The place has already been well written about and was amusing at best. It was getting late that night and I was about to leave when they reluctantly brought up a story that I might be interested in. It seemed only a handful knew of a old, stone, abandoned farm house that was only several miles away. Since I was always looking for a new angle, I asked them to continue.

I was amazed by the bizarre incidents they proceeded to tell me about the old place. Some of the tales were a little sketchy, but one really stood out in particular. Years ago, a few local kids decided to break in the boarded up old house and dabble in the occult. A distant neighbor had alerted the sheriffs office to come out to investigate. By the time the sheriffs deputy arrived, the kids were long gone. He had entered the house and found a pentagram on the second floor but nothing else. He then entered the basement. That's when things apparently got interesting. At some point, nails flew across an empty room and imbedded in his arm. The investigation was over. He has refused to go back. This was made public by the deputy as reported by the Topeka Capital Journal in the mid 1980's. This got my attention. With a deputy going public like that, there had to be more to this. I inquired further and kept my neighbors busy with questions for another hour. I really needed to see the haunted place for myself. After much urging, they decided to drive me out there for a quick look. Armed with one flashlight between us, we climbed in their minivan and headed out.

It was very late now and a completely moonless night. There was no traffic as we pulled off the county road in front of the old stone house. Yes, it looked very ominous. There was a couple of "no trespassing" signs posted. Graffitti was spray painted on some of the stones on the ground level that made up the structures wall. What little of the yard I could see in the headlights was not too overgrown. The place was at least one hundred and fifty years old. The doors and most of the windows were still boarded up. The young wife of my neighbor suddenly announced that it was, "Time to go! Now!" I calmly protested. I wanted to take a look around the property since we were there. I no sooner flicked on the flashlight and opened my door when three large, livid, black dogs bounded around a nearby bush and charged toward us. I slammed the door shut in time to be driven back in my seat as my neighbor, the driver, punched the accelerator to the floor. Now, I did not know a minivan could do a donut in the gravel. However, I did notice that it was perfectly executed. My neighbors were visibly shaken as we sped back home in silence. I tried to make light of the situation and joked that those were just the hounds of hell doing their job. They did not even crack a smile.

There was a lot more to this place and I had to find out more. The next day I was all over it. County records, library, historical society and distant neighbors out there. I ran mostly into brick walls. Nothing specific on that house, just an overview of that area. Nothing that would help me. I also searched all the publications concerning the paranormal for Kansas without any success. I did a couple of phone numbers of two prominent people who knew about its history. The first was a local freelance writer who told me he had been in there as a teenager. He never made it to the second floor. When I said I had hopes in remodeling the old place, he laughed and said to bring a priest with me. Ok, now I had somewhat of a verification. The next contact is a state government offical. I also told her of my plans to buy a real handyman special to fix up. She immediately said that she would not tell me any stories about the house and reiterated the no trespassing. She also mentioned she lived near there and reminded me that other neighbors there keep a vigilant watchout for the place. It was at this point that I submitted the information I had to Otherplane (http//www.Otherplane.com) for verification. I was surprised that I received an answer the very next day. It was HOT. I mean loaded with entities and to proceed with caution. I now had to take photographs of the place and get them scanned by members of Otherplane. Did we really have something or not?

I found the current owner and gave him a call. I explained the same request to him. He instantly denied my request, warned me not to trespass, and hung up. I now had a true mystery. I then came up with a plan that was still legal. County records showed that the turnout we had previously parked on, not fifty feet in front of the old house, was on county property. The majority of property with the house ran directly behind it, away from the county road. It was time to jump into action.

The following day was typical of summertime Kansas. Hot and humid. My Minolta was loaded and I was pumped. My new neighbor had had enough adventure for the year and declined to join me. So, I took off on a solo photo mission hoping to capture what I had suspected existed there. It was early evening and still hot. I pulled into the turnout and studied the house well. It looked just as dismal in the daylight. I waited for the dogs to show. Nothing. It was a classic rural setting. I spotted only one other house a few hundred yards away. Keeping the militant neighborhood watch group in mind, I hopped out of my car with the camera. I took another good look around and thought maybe I should be bobbing and weaving to avoid the crosshairs of some Joe Bob type in the treeline. Feeling confident, I began snapping away. Staying off the actual property, I moved around the front for about ten minutes taking pictures. I did feel something though. It was just a heavy silence, nothing too weird. What I did notice was the absence of any wildlife. There are always plenty of birds and bugs in this area, but not at that old place. I finished the roll of film, took another look around, and left. The pictures were developed and sent to Otherplane later that evening.

A member of Otherplane contacted me when he reviewed the photos. I had captured a golobule. Multiple entities. He said the place had several residents and to try to take some more photos. This time, ask permission when you get there. Great, I thought. My immediate future consisted of more wall damage to repair and ceiling tile under my finger nails. Maybe the "friends" would put in a good word for me. Then again, if I had been stuck in that old dilapidated house for a century, I would be a bit pissed off also. Undaunted for a second round, the mighty Minolta led the way back down that lonely road.

It was late afternoon again. Nothing unusual to report. Still hot. Still humid. I jumped out of my car and cleared my throat. Now, I at this point, I had to laugh. I had never spoke to a house before. I just had to imagine some poor ass old cowboy who could not find his way out of the Topeka area. I sympathized. If he found one, I hoped he would tell me the way. At any rate, I began to speak loudly, "Hello. I wanted your permission to take a few photographs for our research. I hope this is alright. I promise not to trespass. I just want to take some now and in the morning. If you have a problem with that....I guess...rattle the front door or something???" I stayed motionless and waited. It was very quiet and I was very focused on the property. Believe me, I did not want to miss the "signal" while screwing around with my camera. Just that heavy silence that permeated the whole place. I waited a couple of more minutes. Nothing. With permission now granted, I dismissed the idea of capping off a few rounds into the place as payback for the other night. I know sending bullets into another dimension would have been ridiculous and futile but it sure as hell would have felt good. I finished another roll, thanked the powers to be, and left. The next day I repeated the process successfully.

The new batch of pics was scanned by Otherplane again. Again we found entities in several frames. It has been almost a month now since I have been out to the old stone house. Strange things still have occurred at my house that have never happened before. Occasionally, the phone will flip out. One light has come on in another bedroom that I do not use. Nothing too drastic. All manageable at this point. My neighbor has secretly admitted to similar incidents occurring at his house. I told him, "they" must be bored and are keeping an eye on us. I also joked with him that I had told "them" that it was he who brought me out there in the first place and to talk over with him if they have a problem. Again, my new neighbor was not impressed with my attempts at humor.

So, the next time you are stopping for gas on your way to Colorado, you need to actually get out of the car this time and take a look around for yourself. There will be a lot of nothing at first glance in Kansas. Don't worry. This is normal. Please take some photos and hopefully you can help us solve this mystery.

Pictures of the house

Birdseye view of the house below amongst the trees. Note the funnel-like image in the top of the picture.
	The front of the house.
		Note the orange colored globule in the tree.
		More of the front of the house taken at a later date.

Fri, 05 Feb 99, Update by Author:

The last family who lived there did have a little girl who drowned in the pond out back at least 30 years ago.

Thu, 24 Apr 2003, Reader writes:

South of Topeka... sometimes known to as the 'House on 93rd Street'. After reading this article, we ventured out to the country, south of Topeka, into a town called Pauline. We went to the location of the house and it was gone. A woman nearby informed us that "awhile back", the house was torn down and a new house has been built in its place.