Hamilton Primary School, Otterville, Illinois October 2024
Investigators: Jody, Jim and Vicki
Weather: Very Mild
Time: 6-11pm
Dave had talked about investigating the immensely historic Hamilton Primary school, but unfortunately never got the chance. However, after both Jody and I received some very strong signs this summer, all roads pointed to us needing to follow up on his plan.
The original building was completed in 1836 with money donated by Dr. Silas Hamilton following his death. In his will, he left a significant amount of money for the community to build this two-story school, to ensure the education of a former slave, a young boy named George Washington. When it opened, it had the distinction of being the very first free and integrated public school in the United States
In 1872, the building was demolished and rebuilt to be even larger using the original stone at the base. The upper story was utilized as a church while the main floor was a "Two-room” school. Over the years, attendance grew to a point where the upstairs was needed as classroom space, till it was eventually closed in 1971 after more than 100 years of continuous operation.
Jim and I met up with Jody at the school around 6pm. We were greeted there by a wonderful woman named Jean who graciously told us the story behind the school and amazing effort made by so many individuals to preserve this magnificent piece of history. She then left us with a batch of delicious cookies and a heartfelt salutation, (she truly was a class act).
Jim wasted no time setting up video cameras as Jody and I explored the building. It didn’t take long before we noticed a beautiful floral fragrance wafting through the air briefly on the second floor, then vanished. It was something that happened several times throughout the night in that area.
Jim swept the entire building with the K2 meter, and the area where he repeatedly picked up some strong brief hits was in the 1st floor hallway by the entrance to the basement. The most interesting time, I decided to ask questions while I was holding the Ovilus. I asked if they were a child…no response, when asked if they were a man, the K2 lit up immediately followed by the Ovilus saying “Walter”. That gave us some very big chills!
The Ovilus also said the words “church” and “prayer” while we were sitting in the upstairs pew room, that at one time was utilized as the church. The names Ronda and Derick randomly popped up as well.
Jody and I heard something sort of high pitched from the back of the room while we were sitting in the front pew. As I was analyzing the recordings, I found the source was a child’s voice. There were a couple of times we heard the distinct sound of a door closing and someone walking downstairs. When we had gone for a look, we didn’t find anything out of place. I guess “Walter” missed our company and was trying to draw us back to the Main level, (or scare us out the door)
We wrapped things up around 11:30 pm. It was such an amazing feeling to have been allowed to investigate such a profoundly historic school, detention was never so delightful! I wish Dave could have been with us, being a retired teacher, he would have loved it! Then again, I’m convinced, it was him that led us down this road ….
Photos
Main Floor Hallway, door leading to the basement.
The stairs leading up to the second floor
A side view of the building, includes the monument commissioned by George in honor of Dr. Hamilton.
EVPs
While in 1st floor hallway, the Ovilus responds to our question and K2 lights up.
In the 1st floor classroom, at about 6.5 seconds, there is a noise that sounds like "Ugh".
Same as above on Vicki recorder, that same "Ugh" can be heard at about 6 seconds. Seemed a little louder on this one.
Jim's recorder, walking in the 1st floor hallway, sort of a sing-song voice, may be saying, "Can you see us?" starting at about 2 seconds.
From Vicki's recorder, in the 1st floor classroom, at about 5 seconds, a whispery voice ,"Somewhere", but then a deeper voice at about 7 seconds, seems to say, "Vicki".
On the second floor, at about 7 seconds, "Who is it"?
While Jim was in the 1st floor hallways by the basement stairs, the K2 meter went to red several times. A faint voice is heard at about 4 seconds, and another gasp heard at about 11 seconds.
Again in the 1st floor classroom, at about 4 seconds, "Yeah".
Same time as the above on Vicki's recorder, but the "Yeah" isn't till about 7 seconds, a different "Yeah"?
From Vicki's recorder on the 1st floor, at about 2 seconds, "Help".
On the second floor, at about 7 seconds, "Thank you my friend".
From the video camera on the second floor, a child's voice at about 3 seconds, sounds more like "It's me".