Investigation #06OPN70212
The Ohio Exploration Society conducted this investigation at the Greater Columbus Antique Mall in Columbus, Ohio, on November 3, 2006. The start time was 8:00 PM and the investigation ended at 11:30 PM.
General Information
The building now used by the Greater Columbus Antique Mall has not always been a place to pick up a relic from days gone by. Built in the late 1800s as a private residence, the building has housed two funeral homes, a restaurant that occupied space at the rear of the building, and Columbus Elks Lodge #37 over the years. With the building’s varied history coupled with its current use as an antique retailer, it was almost guaranteed that some former occupants have never left. There have been reports of a tall man wearing an older-styled gray suit walking around, uneasy feelings, sounds of children playing on the second floor, and an orb of light that floats past a stairway. A woman wearing a yellow dress has also been seen pacing back and forth, crying. A psychic once told the antique mall’s owners that an apparition could be seen every Thursday around 9:00 PM, but no one had ever stayed in the building late enough to look for the spirit. Alarm sensors are often tripped for no apparent reason. If it is true that spirits can attach themselves to objects, the building has a constant flow of ghostly traffic with the antiques for sale there now.
Investigators Attending
- Jason Robinson – Ohio Exploration Society Founder
- Jason Colwell – Director of Paranormal Investigations
- Philip Niklas – Coordinator
- Larry Copeland – Intuitive Medium
Equipment Used
- 1 Sony MiniDV Camcorder
- 2 Sony Hi8mm Camcorders
- 1 Sony NightVision Extender
- 3 Digital Cameras
- 4 Digital Audio Recorders
- 1 Analog Audio Recorder
- 5 External Microphones
- 2 Headphones
- 1 TriField Natural EM Meter
Paranormal / Unusual Activity
Shorty after our arrival, Copeland, Colwell and Niklas heard what sounded like heavy footsteps in the hallway area just outside the music room. All three heard the footsteps but no one could pinpoint the location. Fortunately an audio recorder was turned on and captured the sound of the footsteps. Just after this event, Copeland witnessed a small gray cat with stripes turn around a corner and disappear.
As Robinson and Niklas investigated the main auditorium, they heard footsteps on the stage area, but they were alone in the room. There were odd noises coming from various areas around the room, most often sounding like footsteps or tapping. Whenever Robinson and Niklas went to the area where the noise seemed to be coming from, the noise would move to a different area. The southeastern corner of the room seemed to be the most active with knocking and banging sounds. At one point, Robinson witnessed a shadowy figure dart behind some objects in a booth along the north wall. Near the end of Niklas and Robinson’s time in the main auditorium, it was noticed that the NightVision extender had been turned off, but no conclusive evidence could be found on the video.
Later when Colwell and Copeland investigated the main auditorium, they experienced the scent of chewing tobacco and referred to the smell several times as being of an old man. Colwell and Copeland also witnessed some dinner plates on a shelf near the southwestern corner of the room shake as if there was a tremor. The plates abruptly stopped vibrating shortly after their arrival to witness the movement. Copeland picked up on the name “Henry” as a possible name of the entity in the room. However, the actual name may have been “Harry” due to electronic voice phenomenon (EVP) recorded in the room.
As Robinson and Niklas were investigating the attic, Niklas witnessed a shadowy figure walking down the main aisle toward Robinson and himself. Shortly after Niklas saw this figure, he felt something touch him slightly. While investigating in the basement area, Copeland had an impression that a male may have mistakenly been burned alive in the crematory when the location was occupied by a funeral home. Copeland stated that the person was in a trance-like state that resembled death, but in actuality, he was still alive with very minimal vital signs too faint to be monitored.
Evidence – EVP Recordings
| Hello: This voice that sounds like a small child or girl saying, “Hello,” was recorded in the attic. | |
| Get Out: This hard to hear, whispery voice says, “Get out,” as we walked near the restrooms. | |
| How Do I Fix It?: Recorded in the basement area now used for storage, this faint voice asks, “How do I fix it?” | |
| I’m Cool/Cruel: This voice whispers either, “I’m cool,” or “I’m cruel,” over our conversation. | |
| This Is Harry/Creepy: A voice saying either, “This is Harry,” or, “This is creepy,” at the beginning of the recording. The voice is hard to hear. | |
| Breath: Just after being asked to make a sound, this breath was heard with the naked ear, but it is difficult to hear in the recording. | |
| Footsteps: This recording picked up the sound of footsteps that were heard in the main hallway shortly after our arrival. | |
| Knocking: This knocking sound was heard in the southeast corner of the main auditorium, perhaps on a bench. | |
| Unidentified Noise: This odd sound was heard in the main auditorium. No one was moving at the time the sound occurred. | |
| Chimes: These chimes responded to a request made by an investigator in the main auditorium at the end of the investigation. |
Evidence – Video
Site Information
Greater Columbus Antique Mall
1045 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43206
(614) 443-7858