Poasttown Elementary School – Investigation

Poasttown Elementary

April 1, 2023

MIddletown, OH

 

Investigation

 

As if still in operation, this stupendous three story brick structure is situated in the small town of Middletown, Ohio hidden in plain sight amongst the woodlands and winding waterways of southwest Ohio. Even before the elementary school broke these grounds, a pair of train accidents haunted this area. Combine these horrible accidents with a tragic flood which stole six lives and left irreparable damage to the small town. This array of emotions tied to its past has long been rumored to come to a cyclone of energy encircling the now abandoned elementary school leaving an unnatural imprint to last an eternity. This could not be any truer than for the now owner, Darryl, who never believed in anything paranormal until he purchased and moved into the impressively large building.

 

The property itself includes a mile radius but inside that territory lies a darkness which has shrouded the area since the first horrific train accident occurred on the 4th of July of 1891. Following that terrible incident, which claimed the lives of four civilians, another train crash occurred in 1910. This transpired on another July date; this time July 10. There were 36 deaths as a freight train collided with a passenger train. There have been many causes to this accident from an engineer not paying attention to him even falling asleep to an attempted robbery gone horribly wrong. The truth may never be fully known but the one fact that remains is that the entire property acted as a temporary morgue for those mutilated bodies until the local authorities could move them to a more appropriate location. As the community began to recover another incident occurred only three years later in 1913, this time by more natural destruction of a humongous flood. Not only did this tragically take the lives of six townspeople but the flood destroyed homes and businesses, once more forcing Middletown into a recovery effort.

 

 

Prior to the emergence of the town and its growth, the property housed a baby farm. This unnamed business would either purchase for cheap or accept gifted babies from mothers who were ill, died in childbirth, or simply could not care for their child. These children would be raised on the property and their duties would include house work and farm hand physical labor. On occasion, these babies would not survive their first year and would be buried on the property in unmarked graves. Other fortunate babies were sold to the upper class for a profit and ultimately the baby would go on to live their own lives. Eventually, this seemingly unethical practice was shut down and forced out of town without much written history or documentation.

 

Along with the recovery of the small town, Middletown began to flourish and evolve. It grew so quickly that by 1937 the first large scale elementary school was opened replacing the single room schoolhouses scattered across the area. Poasttown Elementary School was a packed building and highly utilized building for a long period of time up until 2000. When the town finally realized the building’s utility had been passed based on growing issues of lack of technology combined with an ever decreasing township population the students were relocated and the structure itself was foreclosed. 

 

Daryl Whisman and his wife, Brenda, purchased the entire property in 2004 and moved in considering this a residence all the while making upgrades and renovations. Even though the couple attempted to give the building a second life as a school, the immense work and lack of long term funding prevented this. Instead, the pair gave the building a facelift and opened their doors not to students but rather a slew of local businesses. Some rooms acted simply as rental spaces but some rooms took on a life of their own with transitions into nail salons, gyms, massage therapies, and even local authorities for training scenarios. All during this second life, the community constructed a fallout shelter to be utilized during any future catastrophes.

 

The building did have a long and happy life but there were certainly more tragedies which had occurred during its tenure as an elementary school. In 1963 the school suffered a tragic accident of a young girl when she fell over a railing and suffered major injuries with horrific implications. The young girl, allegedly known as Sara, passed away in her home after suffering further setbacks. This shook the community once again, and yet again, these unfortunate events had many questions linked to it. One of the more predominant concerns is the question of how a young girl just accidentally falls over a waist high railing. Is there any grotesque possibility that she was pushed? Some residents believed this to be the case but no legal cases were ever made nor were any investigative measures taken and this was simply deemed an accident. Just as disgusting as this thought was that the basement, located underground hidden in shadows with no windows, has been rumored to be an area where power hungry teachers would force themselves on unfortunate students in this dry storage and goods area. This has never been documented and is simply accounted for as a frightening rumor.

 

 

Unfortunately, the building has since been abandoned by the businesses leaving Daryl with his residence here and a large, empty building. Well, perhaps not completely devoid of life. Before moving into the property, Daryl was a pure skeptic of anything paranormal or any type of afterlife. This ultimately ended with a quite literal ‘bang.’ One evening as Daryl was fast asleep in his sleeping quarters (what is now the break room) he was pulled abruptly and forcefully from his bed forcing him to awaken to a bruised and bloodied head. Happening simultaneously ,and captured on security footage, the door around the corner opened and slammed shut. Daryl has been a believer ever since, opening his doors to a new business venture: paranormal investigation, research, and phenomena.

 

Many who visit and spend time on the site, not just inside the building, have reported a relatively odd sensation of being watched from afar and the atmosphere almost suffocating as if making it hard to breath. What resembles a residual activity of students still playing and leaving their energy all throughout the building are echoes of whistling, giggling, and the pitter patter of footsteps. 

 

There has been a slew of intelligent activity coming through these investigators’ tools as well and capturing anything from names to conversations. These more specific points of interests seem to be broken out into certain areas of the building such as the Mean Teacher Room and Hallway (at the far side of the building), the entirety of the basement (which include the Janitor’s Room, Gymnasium, Dry Goods Room, and aptly named Sara’s Stairwell), and the Principal’s Room and Hallway (which also includes the Playroom and Kindergarten Classroom). Each of these areas seem to hold a different aura, resonating in some type of paranormal communication or reactions. With each area holding its own history, legend, and growing lore, we will spend more time breaking down each room or area separately in order to help tell each one’s all important story. However, what did seem to be an overarching sense was that of being followed and typically watched from afar. This was experienced from the get go all the way up until we began to pack up for the evening.

 

 

The majority of these aforementioned areas tended to be open to communication albeit quite the variety from physical touches to energy field disruptions, like Rempods and K2 meters, to intelligent responses and conversations, through the likes of the Phasma Box and Spirit Box, to appearing visually with our photographs, videos, and thermal images. This type of building is a perfect example of what we hope to accomplish from gathering what others have experienced here and adding to it with our own evidence and experiences. It also epitomizes what many of the historical buildings truly need; incoming funds for restoration and a truly caring owner. This building has been seeing a little bit of upkeep money which we are always happy to help contribute towards, but overall has a compassionate owner who seems to want to do whatever it takes to save this historical location.

 

After exploring our evening’s findings in the form of evidence, our personal experiences, and like-minded teams and visitors’ claims, please let us know your opinions regarding the entire investigation. You can either comment below or email us directly at ironcityparanormal@gmail.com.

 

As always, you have been warned, that some of this is not for the faint of heart and can be slightly explicit:

 

Pre Investigation / Walkthrough

 

The building’s location on the property gives you a sensation of order and a mind to stay in line. This may be something sparked from our own experiences with elementary schools designed similar to Poasttown Elementary School or perhaps these designs are simply created in such a way that there is the capability of watching guests and visitors (in its heyday, children) from a distance to ensure everyone keeps order.

 

As we arrived and began to haul in our equipment out from the frigid cold, we took in the entire building with deep awe-inspiring breath. After meeting the owner, Daryl, we began our tour of the building thanks to the volunteering local team of POV Paranormal. We were lucky enough to be able to hear not only the basic history tour but also be able to hear another team’s unbiased opinion and personal stories of their own. POV Paranormal were also nice enough to share their previously debunked locations and share some of their past tales with us in hopes of being able to build upon their evidence. During this walk through we recorded the entirety of the stories, facts, and legends of the building. Upon a review we did not capture anything out of the ordinary aside from what sounded like a puff of breath but it was nearly impossible to place any claim of paranormality due to the sheer amount of people gathered in the hallway at that time.

 

Photos:

 

• There was nothing odd pictured throughout this timeframe.

 

Recording 1:

 

 

• This entire tour was recorded, but not broken out as nothing seemed out of the ordinary aside from a moment that may have been a phantom breath at 26:04.

 

Breakroom

 

This open area situated right next to the owner’s residence is also home to the gift shop and is separated by a mere glass wall. Aside from their owner merchandise, the shop also sells a variety of useful items (some of which we actually purchased while on site) like crystals, pendulums, and sage. Before the area was opened up and surrounded by fold out tables it was once utilized as Daryl’s bedroom and living quarters. The one moment that truly made Daryl a believer occurred in this very room. This was the night that he was fast asleep in bed when he was suddenly yanked out of it and his head was brutally busted open in that fall. This was the last night he would sleep in this area; since that moment he decided to move his residence next door. In the time since that moment, shadows have been noticed moving amongst the glass walled shop and whispers have been said to encircle this area.

 

Even before we managed to set up and begin our investigation we had begun to receive some strange communication between pendulums and Walkie Talkies. Once we began recording and shooting some footage, this communication seemed to stop. After we settled and reset ourselves, we simply tried to make whoever seemed to be with us more comfortable and officially made our acquaintance. This did not lead to communication but it did provide us with a loud knocking noise coming from either the hallway or the wall behind us. We were unable to track this down nor were we able to debunk this.

 

Photos:

 

• There was nothing captured here providing any type of paranormal evidence or activity. 

 

 

Recording 1 – EVP:

 

 

• After we asked if they could give us a sign that there was someone with us, there was a single knock at :35.
• At :50 and :54, another pair could be heard after we asked if they could knock again.

 

Mean Teacher Room

 

At the opposite end of the building, at the far end of the second floor is a simple school room still filled with a large, oversized teacher’s desk and a full classroom amount of student desks. In the rear of the room, lockers cover the back wall making it easier for the students to have access back when the school was in operation. There are a few different tales linked to this room and area as a whole. Without a surprise, there are said to be multiple teachers tied specifically to this room as if they have returned from the ethereal to continue their teaching and, more importantly it seems, to continue their control and obedience over the children (in its current state, more like visitors). The main teacher has been identified as Ms. Johnson, and was in fact a former teacher here. It’s been said that she likes order. When things like the locker doors slam or the school desks are moved or reorganized she will make her displeasure known by her own knocking and slamming noises as well as setting off devices like Rempods and K2 meters. She has been said to be seen as a full body figure seen in SLS cameras. It’s unknown who is responsible for the speaker button clicking in and popping back out. This scenario seems to replay for multiple groups, including our guides of POV Paranormal, and does tend to startle those in attendance with these phantom clicks.

 

As we truly began our investigation here, we seemed to gather a slew of activity which made it difficult to pinpoint just one or even two main sources. Our activity began with simple bangs and knocking noises which we originally chalked up to old building and mechanical noises but these did not match up with any of these known sounds. Following these moments early on we experienced Rempod activity as it was set up in the doorway. It appeared as though someone may have been peering in on us. This led to more shuffling sounds which ultimately charged, unseen, at Derrick. Fortunately, we snapped a few pictures as this occurred and we appeared to capture this phantom energy in our pictures. We determined that there was someone watching us from the hallway and either didn’t want us to move toward it down the hall or keep us in that room. Our next step was to attempt verbal communication, this occurred through a Phasma Box. This gave us an odd combination of intelligent and residual communication. We did seem to record some conversations almost between multiple unseen forces and even recorded a phantom train whistle. This culminated in some off putting phrases of “Wake up” and “First aid” more than likely being associated with some type of past energy left over from the train accidents. At the same time, all throughout our time here, our flashlights would turn on and off as if giving us intelligent responses to yes/no questions. Our verbal responses ultimately led us to believe that there was a young girl who was intrigued by the lights and just wanted to play. During this timeframe, footsteps and banging noises continued to echo from the outside hallway. More unknown entities seemed to step forward and even give names at this time. The names of ‘Drew’ (not ‘Andrew’ as we learned) and ‘Peter’ were both heard. Not much came of these nor do we know who of a ‘Drew’ associated with the building but the name ‘Peter’ did strike a cord. Peter Jennings was the name of one of the engineers who was injured during the incidents but more interestingly the engineer of Peter Slance was a conductor of the passenger train who was found guilty of gross negligence and even was once said to be part of an attempt to illegally stop the train for malicious reasons. This name was not indicated at any other time of the night nor was it indicated who this ‘Peter’ was in relation to the property. We also tied this together with words stated by the same voice of “Accountable,” “Brake lines,” and “Conductor” as if all of this pointed toward Peter either being with us or being blamed unjustly for the train accident.

 

Photos:

 

• There was a moment where Derrick was rushed out in the hallway all the while snapping pictures. The set of three pictures is below starting with a white mist far down the hall then a white mist much closer to the camera and finally nothing abnormal is seen in the third.

 

 

• As we sat amongst the desks and attempted to get a response from the mean teacher, or whoever was in the room with us, we captured a thermal image of what appeared to be someone sitting with us.

 

 

Recording 1 – EVP:

 

 

• Following us asking if they were with us to let us know if they were associated in some semblance with the train accidents. At :41 a banging noise was captured as if responding to our question.

 

Recording 2 – EVP:

 

 

• There was suddenly a slew of strange occurrences linked between the Rempod and the Walkie Talkie as if someone was entering the room setting off the Rempod within a close distance then this caused an interference with the Walkie Talkie. This happened numerous times but really with no intelligent responses or communication. This was heard at :03, :07, :10, and :14. 
• Following a very short pause, the Rempod and Walkie Talkie were alerted constantly for about 5 seconds from :18 to :23.
• One final individual oddity of this combination of devices occurred at :54.

 

Recording 3 – EVP:

 

 

• Footsteps could be heard shuffling about in the hallway at about :02 followed by Derrick being startled by someone rushing him seemingly related to these phantom footsteps.

 

Recording 4 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• After this incident out in the hallway, we decided to attempt some type of communication so we utilized our Phasma Box.
• We were immediately greeted with a greeting of “Good to meet you” at :18.
• At first we thought this may be intelligent as if they were introducing themselves to us but the next few phrases made us believe that we were more so gathering residual communication almost between energies. This began with an unprompted single word of “Incomplete” at :30 then a full sentence, well more like command, at :48 with “John, give that a try.”
• Another command, seemingly residual in nature, “Listen here” was heard at :54.
• Following these odd statements, a door was heard closing at :57 as if someone was again drawing our attention away from this room.

 

Recording 5 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• The group began to listen closely and heard footsteps from the hallway at :04.

 

Recording 6 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• During this period of time, the flashlights began flickering on and off. We had three of these set up sprawled across the front of the room. Beginning here at :06, the first light jumped on unprompted then back off.
• We attempted to recreate this but were unable to so we proceeded and asked them if they could turn it back on by moving close to the light and at :45 the light turned on.
• After we asked if they could turn it back off, at 1:17 it did in fact shut off.
• We began to reiterate the rules, ie turning the light on meant yes, and at 1:33 a completely different light turned on.

 

Recording 7 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• Even though we began this period by asking them to turn the still remaining light off and at :08 the third flashlight turned on accompanied by a clearly intelligent question of “Like this?” at the same time.
• A simple and subtle question of “Friends?” was heard at :23 as if asking if we were their friends.
• We were taken back by this and everyone seemed to light up at this question just as we heard another related word of “Friendly” at :27.
• After we clearly explained to them that we would all be their friend, at :34 we heard  an almost excited response of “Sounds fun.”

 

Recording 8 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• Finally, after a long period of time, the flashlight we had been trying to get to turn off did shut off at :01.
• We attempted to pick up the conversation again at this point and asked if they were associated with the school. At :19 the light turned back on as if a yes response.
• After asking, once more, if they could turn that light back off, the second light jumped to life at :36.

 

Recording 9 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• After hearing more footsteps in the hallway, we sat in silence until we captured the word “Sounds” at :01 as if referencing what we were hearing just outside the room.
• “Someone out there” was then recorded at :15 once again clearly referencing these phantom footsteps. We then heard “Someone else” at :19 after we began discussing this phrase.

 

Recording 10 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• With time lapsing with nothing else occurring, we seemingly ignored someone who we had been previously paying attention to and they let us know it with a simple phrase of “Back to me” at :11.
• Unprompted, two of the flashlights turned on at :32 as if reiterating this.
• An odd and confusing word of “Unusual” was recorded at :39 followed by a full sentence claiming that this confusion was “It was just Billy” at :44.

 

Recording 11 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• We then began to capture some attitude after the flashlights began to periodically flicker as if someone was confused, or more likely, just toying with us. After mentioning to the group that we probably have too many lights out and heard “No shit” at :06.
• After giving them a little more time before taking them away, the flashlight again shut off. We thanked them, knowing that it’s difficult to manipulate them. A response of “Of course” was then captured at :49.
• We re-approached the flashlights and asked if they could turn on a different flashlight and appropriately a different light did turn on at 1:30 followed by an almost warning of “They’re about to” at 1:49 in clear reference to those flashlights.

 

Recording 12 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• After pulling some of the flashlights and putting them away, we attempted to get back to verbal communication, beginning with determining if they were children to which we heard a very formal response of “No sir” at :10.
• At :21 a clear train whistle could be heard once again guiding us to more residual interactions.
• Taking this whistling as a sign we asked if they were associated with the train accidents to which the single flashlight turned on then quickly back off starting at :46.
• We proceeded down this train of thought and asked if they worked on the train to which we heard an uncertain response of “Well…” at 1:06.
• “Brake lines” was then captured at 1:13 but this was not heard at the time in person. 
• The name of “Peter” was then recorded at 1:25.
• This combination did help us believe that there was someone here, even if just minimally, who worked on the trains which were involved in the accident and perhaps has something to do with brake lines. Finally, with the name ‘Peter’ it’s possible that this was the engineer who was charged with gross negligence in the second train accident.

 

Recording 13 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• We then grew very confused with some odd and unprompted captures starting with “The dancing man” at :06 then “Great burn” at :58.
• Based on some prior flashlight activity we were then under the belief that they were a passenger on one of the trains and heard “Going for a ride” at 1:21 and “Train track” at 1:22 all tying back into the train scenario.
• We then asked if they died from the train accident and heard two responses to this of “Eventually” at 1:25 and “Yes” at 1:41 both answering the question and perhaps they did die but just not immediately.

 

Recording 14 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• An all too familiar noise as if shuffling footsteps from the hallway was heard here at :03.
• We discussed this noise and where it came from, leading us to believe it came from the hallway and heard “It was” at :11 as if confirming our query.
• After we asked if they knew who was in the hallway, the flashlight again turned on at :31 if giving us a yes answer.
• We then asked if they could tell us their name and heard “Conductor” at 1:11, once again relating to the aforementioned engineer of ‘Peter.’
• Continuing their thought, the word “Accountable” was recorded at 1:15 again confirming this prior claim.
• As we bluntly asked for their name, “Dave” was heard, stunningly, at 1:30.

 

Recording 15 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• The sound of an old time phone was initially heard here at :01 followed by a claim of “It’s late” at :06.

 

Recording 16 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• We attempted to ask for help determining the identification of who was in the hallway so we asked if they were friends with them. At :09 we captured an answer of “Not quite.”
• Once again bluntly, we asked if it was a person in the hallway to which we heard (thankfully) “It is” at :22.

 

Recording 17 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• Our residual recordings seemed to pick back up here with “I want” at :03 then a concerned and panicked voice saying “Wake up, wake up” at :07.
• A phrase of “First aid” was then captured at :19.

 

Recording 18 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• The name of “Drew” was first recorded here at :01.
• We followed this and asked if there is a Drew or Andrew here and heard “Just Drew” at :24 as if being very adamant that his name was simply ‘Drew.’
• After taking the final flashlight away, at 1:07 a disappointed voice cried out “Don’t.”

 

Recording 19 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• Unprompted once more, “With me” was heard at :01 then a question of “What are you saying?” at :05.

 

Recording 20 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• As we began to pack up once activity died down we thanked them for their time to which we heard a seemingly equally respectful voice say “Thank you” back to us at :05.
• The word “Door” was then heard at :26 as if guiding us toward our exit.

 

Recording 21 – Phasma Box:

 

 

• We left a static recorder (microphone) remaining as we moved on so we explained that they could talk into it and we could hear them later and recorded “Listening” at :15 as if they understood.
• A claim of “I’m miserable” was captured at :49 as we were about to leave them.
• After discussing that it felt like someone was in the hallway, a deep laugh could be heard at 1:02.

 

Video 1 – Handheld Camera:

 

• We asked if they were associated with the train accidents and at 10:56 a banging noise was heard as if in a response.
• There were some odd occurrences with the Rempod and the Walkie Talkie as if someone was entering the room setting off the Rempod then causing an interference with the Walkie Talkie. This occurred multiple times with seemingly no intelligent responses at 11:33, 11:40, and 11:44. 
• The Rempod and Walkie Talkie were on constantly from 11:48 through 11:53.
• One more combination of these two devices occurred at 12:24.
• The light turned on and a clicking noise was heard at 14:35 followed by footsteps shuffling out in the hallway at 15:42. This preceded a moment where Derrick was startled by someone rushing him as if in direct relationship to these footsteps.

 

 

Video 2 – Handheld Camera:

 

• We decided to attempt some type of communication so we utilized our Phasma Box and were greeted with a “Good to meet you” at 1:15.
• We heard an unprompted word of “Incomplete” at 1:27 then a full sentence at 1:45 with “John, give that a try.”
• “Listen here” was heard at 1:51.
• A door was heard closing at 1:54 as if being drawn away from this room.
• The group began to hear footsteps from the hallway at 2:46.
• During this, the three flashlights began flickering on and off, all were spread across the room. At 3:43, the first light jumped on then back off.
• We were unable to recreate this so we proceeded and asked them if they could turn it back on by moving close to the light and at 4:22 the light turned on.
• Then we asked if they could turn it off and at 4:54 it shut off.
• We repeated the rules and at 5:10 a completely different light turned on.
• After we asked them to turn the light off, at 5:30 the third flashlight turned on with an intelligent question of “Like this?” simultaneously.
• A question of “Friends?” was heard at 5:45 as if asking if we were their friends.
• The group lit up at this and heard another word of “Friendly” at 5:49.
• After we explained to them that we would all be their friend, at 5:56 we heard an excited response of “Sounds fun.”
• Finally the flashlight we had been trying to get them to turn off did shut off at 6:02.
• We asked if they were associated with the school and at 6:20 the light turned back on.
• After asking if they could turn that light off, the second light jumped on at 6:37.
• We heard more footsteps in the hallway so we decided to sit in silence until we captured the word “Sounds” at 7:07 as if referencing what we were hearing just outside the room.
• “Someone out there” was recorded at 7:22 clearly referencing these phantom footsteps.
• The K2 meter, situated on the ledge behind us, turned on at 7:37 as we could be heard reacting to this.
• We asked if they could turn the light off and at 7:48 it shut out.
• In the middle of a comment, the flashlight turned on at 7:53.
• Following this, we showed some frustration and asked them to shut it back off. At 7:58 the light did turn back off.
• The light then flickered on and back off here, unprompted, at 8:03.
• We apparently ignored someone who we had been paying attention to and they gave us a phrase of “Back to me” at 8:38.
• Two flashlights turned on at 8:59 as if repeating this ignorance.
• An odd word “Unusual” was heard at 9:06 then a full sentence claiming that “It was just Billy” at 9:11.
• Flashlights began to periodically flicker as if someone was confused or just toying with us. We mentioned to the group that we had too many lights and heard “No shit” at 9:58.
• The flashlight again shut off so we thanked them, knowing that it’s difficult to manipulate them. A response of “Of course” was then captured at 10:41.
• We asked if they could turn on a different flashlight and a different light did turn on at 10:22 followed by a warning of “They’re about to” at 11:22 in reference to the flashlights.
• We attempted more verbal communication, trying to determine if they were children and we heard a formal response of “No sir” at 11:55.
• At 12:06 a train whistle was heard once again guiding us to more residual interactions.
• We asked if they were associated with the train accidents and a flashlight turned on then back off at 12:31.
• Then we asked if they worked on the train and heard a response of “Well…” at 12:51.
• “Brake lines” was captured at 12:58 but this was not heard in person. 
• The name of “Peter” was then recorded at 13:10.
• We asked if they were a train passenger and the light turned on at 13:36.
• We then gathered some odd recordings with “The dancing man” at 13:53 then “Great burn” at 14:45.
• After that we heard “Going for a ride” at 15:08 and “Train track” at 15:09.
• We asked if they died from the train accident and heard two responses of “Eventually” at 15:12 and “Yes” at 15:28.
• Shuffling footsteps from the hallway was heard at 15:50.
• We discussed this noise and where it came from and heard “It was” at 15:58 as if confirming it came from the hall.
• After we asked if they knew who was in the hallway, the flashlight turned on at 16:18.
• We asked if they could tell us their name and heard “Conductor” at 16:58.
• The word “Accountable” was recorded at 17:02.
• As we asked for their name, “Dave” was heard at 17:17.
• The sound of an old phone was heard here at 17:32 followed by “It’s late” at 17:38.
• We asked if they were friends with whoever was in the hallway and the light flashed on and off at 17:49 just as we heard “Not quite” at 18:31.
• At that we asked if it was a person in the hallway to which we heard “It is” at 18:44.
• Residual recordings continued with “I want” at 19:30 then a voice saying “Wake up, wake up” at 19:34.
• A phrase of “First aid” was then captured at 19:46.
• The name “Drew” was then recorded here at 20:13.
• We asked if there is a Drew or Andrew here and heard “Just Drew” at 20:36.
• We took the flashlight away, at 21:19 a voice said “Don’t.”
• Unprompted, “With me” was heard at 22:28 followed by a question of “What are you saying?” at 22:31.
• We began to pack up and thanked them for their time to which we heard a voice say “Thank you” back to us at 24:12.
• The word “Door” was heard at 24:33 guiding us toward our exit.
• We left a recorder run as we moved on and explained that they could talk into it and we could hear them later and recorded “Listening” at 26:47 as if they understood.
• “I’m miserable” was captured at 27:21 as we were about to leave them.
• We discussed it felt like someone was in the hallway, a laugh could be heard at 27:34.

 

 

 

Video 3 – Cell:

 

• We mainly began this video to capture some of the flashlight activity and luckily enough we were able to see the flashlight turn on at :08.
• This continued as the light turned off at :31 after we asked them if they could use their energy to turn it off.

 

 

Dry Storage Area

 

In the stereotypical dark, hidden corner of the basement a masonry block room is said to be the former location of dried goods when the school was in operation. With one small entry in and the same out, it’s easy to feel cornered and easily controlled here. Even though the more likely story is that this was simply used as its namesake and nothing more, there have been rumors and legends that tell of teachers taking advantage of their young, innocent students and molesting them in this enclosed, dreary location. Keep in mind, nothing has ever been recorded or documented stating this case. There has not been much documented here aside from feelings of anxiety and dread. There have, in fact, been a few recent experiences where guests are told to leave quite abruptly and rudely even.

 

With all of the electrical interference in this room, as it appeared to be a utility hub for at least a portion of the building, we could not utilize many of our tools as the EMF would be too sporadic and interfered with in most cases. At the very beginning of our time here, a loud banging noise was heard. The three of us present all heard it and we even radioed up to the group on the top floor to check and see if they had moved something but they were not to blame but strangely they didn’t even hear this sound. Even stranger, neither our recordings nor our videos captured this very loud bang. Aside from this occurrence, our communication and evidence was minimal if not non-existent. What we did record and experience were phantom footsteps out in the hallway as if someone was pacing back and forth with us inside that room as if nervous. It’s also possible that this was a distraction technique and this did in fact work at one point as we did try to follow this sound but to no avail.

 

Photos:

 

• We did not see anything out of the ordinary in our pictures but we did capture a screen shot of a moment where a light anomaly moved slowly and abnormally across the screen.

 

 

Recording 1 – EVP:

 

 

• Footfalls were heard echoing out in the hallway just beyond the room’s threshold at :07, :26, :43, :50, 1:13, and finally at 1:23. We did follow this but led to nothing out of place and no one else around but the sensation that someone was still watching us was still predominant here.

 

Recording 2 – EVP:

 

 

• Another footstep was recorded at :01 and an unknown sound (we were unable to trace it in its entirety) was heard at :37.

 

Video 1 – Handheld:

 

• Footsteps could be heard in the hallway at:
  • 3:01, 3:20, 3:37, 3:44, 4:07, and 4:17. 
• Another footstep was recorded at 7:10 and an unknown sound was heard at 7:46.

 

 

Video 2 – Cell:

 

• This clip simply showed us attempting to track down a loud banging noise we heard previously but with no luck.

 

 

Mechanical Room aka Janitor’s Room 

 

This room filled end to end with piping and electrical panels has a small nook situated with a pair of chairs complete with old beer bottles hidden behind them. This came from a place of respect as the former janitor to this school, Amos, would sit down here to (ironically) avoid children on a daily basis. He was said to truly make this place home though as he spent ample time here even when the school was not in session. Amos has been said to return to this area and still not like the extra company, especially when it comes to children and women. Communication is said to occur here by POV Paranormal mainly with Spirit Boxes and utilizing the ESTES method. Some shadows have been seen here as if Amos, or someone, is watching from afar and simply wants their space to themselves.

 

Early on, even before we managed to run our camera and recorders, our Paralight began to be alerted. Even though this area is difficult to get readings being so close to an electrical panel, our Paralight was able to be calibrated to the energy field and pulled away from the area in question. This seemed to be in reaction to simple yes or no questions asking if someone was with us and if their name was Amos, as if confirming his presence. During this time, we trained our laser grid paired up with a stationary camera in the opposite direction we were giving our attention. This did help confirm some of the shuffling noises and footsteps we heard in person. After we were convinced that there was someone with us, we opted to rely on our Spirit Box for further communication, which it did provide. We do believe that we made contact with Amos who initially told us his name but seemed to grow annoyed and frustrated with our endless stream of questions. At first we were given answers to questions like his favorite beer (Miller Lite) and if this used to be his chair (it was according to his answers). Ultimately we heard some words like ‘Go’ and ‘Bye’ which slightly pushed us out the door onto our next location.

 

Photos:

 

• We attached a screen capture of an odd blacked out shadow in the laser grid as seen in the video.

 

 

Recording 1 – EVP:

 

 

• Much like the footsteps outside the Dry Storage Room, we heard shuffling footsteps echoing from across this area at :06.

 

Recording 2 – Spirit Box:

 

 

• At first we were seemingly greeted but almost as a curiosity with “Hey” at :16 then “Hi” at :27.

 

Recording 3 – Spirit Box:

 

 

• After we asked if this energy could respond and tell us their name we heard “No” at :14.
• We repeated this question and this time received what sounded like “Amos” at :32.
• Following this, as if answering our question then being done with our persistence, we captured “Go” at 1:15 and “Go away” at 1:33 after we asked if this was Amos.

 

Recording 4 – Spirit Box:

 

 

• As we sat in some silence, contemplating whether we should proceed to move on, a single word of “Interesting” was heard at :04 after the Paralight turned on which sat on top of the chair.
• With that, we asked whose chair this was and heard “Mine” at :15 then another gruff “Go away” at :34.

 

Recording 5 – Spirit Box:

 

 

• We made one last attempt to gather a name and identity of this energy and asked bluntly if this is Amos that we’re speaking with and we received an answer of “It is” at :07.
• The Paralight spiked after we asked if they appreciated the Miller Lite bottle at :52 as if in a yes response.
• We followed that moment with another question about the Miller Lite and if this was his favorite beer to which we heard another appropriate response of “It is” at 1:08.

 

Recording 6 – Spirit Box:

 

 

• We pursued these answers and attempted further communication but were left in silence. We asked if they still wanted to speak with us and, at :08, we heard “Bye.”

 

Recording 7 – Spirit Box:

 

 

• After pushing further for another response from Amos, we asked if he spent any time in Sara’s Stairwell. At about :07 an almost questioning response of “I do?” was recorded.
• We pursued this minor lead and asked him why he went over there when others were trying to communicate and heard a confused response of “I don’t” at :27.
• With a lack of straight answers or any more communication here we explained that we were going to move on if they did not want to speak with us like they previously stated. At 1:28 we heard a response of “Fine.”

 

Video 1 – Handheld:

 

• At first we were greeted with “Hey” at :48 then “Hi” at 1:06.
• After we asked if they could tell us their name we heard “No” at 1:10.
• We repeated this and received what sounded like “Amos” at 1:18.
• Following this, as if answering our question then being done with our persistence, we captured “Go” at 1:49 and “Go away” at 2:08 after we asked if this was Amos.
• As we sat in silence, “Interesting” was heard at 2:38 after the Paralight turned on.
• We asked whose chair this was and heard “Mine” at 2:49 then “Go away” at 3:08.
• We asked if this is Amos we’re speaking with and received “It is” at 4:21.
• The Paralight spiked after we asked if they appreciated the Miller Lite bottle at 4:40.
• We followed that asking if Miller Lite was his favorite beer to which we heard a response of “It is” at 5:22.
• We asked if they wanted to speak with us and, at 7:32, we heard “Bye.”
• After we asked if he spent any time in Sara’s Stairwell, at 14:16 “I do?” was recorded.
• We pursued this and asked why he went over there when others were trying to communicate and heard a response of “I don’t” at 14:36.
• We explained that we were going to move on if they did not want to speak with us and at 15:37 we heard a response of “Fine.”

 

 

Principal’s Room (and Hallway)

 

Spread out on the first floor and through the maze of hallways is a short hallway off on its own  that includes an old Principal’s Office, a Kindergarten Room, and a Playroom. The Principal’s Office is exactly as you would think; a large metal desk with some visitors chairs. Off of this room is another, much smaller and enclosed room. Stories tell of energies which do not like men and often tell them to leave. There have been shadows seen here and a tall figure has been spotted in multiple SLS cameras. Above all, even during simple walkthroughs, there is an odd sensation of being watched closely no matter what you do or who you are. The neighboring and open space of the Kindergarten Room is very simple yet gives the impression that the area did in fact once hold class for young children. It’s said that this area has a much lighter and welcoming overall feel to it and laughter has been reported echoing from this room. Furthest away from the Principal’s Office is the Playroom which holds a large play area which has since been converted into storage, an oversized couch, a large open area all allowing visitors to imagine it once filled with the laughter of many kids. Similar to the Kindergarten Room, this Playroom is said to hold laughter, knocking and banging sounds, and the pitter patter of small, child footsteps. 

 

This area first called our attention to the Principal’s Office and its associated back room. We’re unsure why but there just seemed to be a strange draw to it. During our time here we did feel that familiar sensation of anxiety and the reported feeling of being watched from a distance. Aside from those feelings we did not incur much evidence or experiences here but rather were distracted and pulled out of the room, toward the hallway. This first began with a lighting up of the flashlight which was placed just outside the Kindergarten Room prior to our interactions. From here, our group split. Half of our group headed down the hallway where footsteps were being heard, the second half went into the Kindergarten Room where some flashlight communication was experienced. The most activity we received ultimately came from the end of the hallway as shadows were being spotted moving but more predominant, and captured as evidence, were the shuffling of footsteps and odd knocking noises. One of these noises seemed to come from nowhere right next to us as we were sitting in the middle of the hallway. This again led us to believe that we were being followed and watched from a safe distance.

 

Photos:

 

• There was nothing to note from our photographs here. There are screen captures of moments where the flashlights turned on then back off in the hallway outside this room.

 

 

Recording 1 – EVP:

 

 

• After we were drawn out of the room by the flashlight (placed in front of the neighboring door of the Kindergarten) turning on and off we heard shuffling footsteps which could be heard on recording at :02 and :06.

 

Recording 2 – EVP:

 

 

• We did in fact pursue these distractions and moved out into the hallway where we began to capture many more odd noises and sensations beginning with a thud sound at :06.

 

Recording 3 – EVP:

 

 

• More footsteps and shuffling at the end of the hallway were heard at :11.

 

Recording 4 – EVP:

 

 

• These footsteps continued here at :05 and :52.
• This was followed by another off-putting banging sound at 1:10.

 

Recording 5 – EVP:

 

 

• The banging sound was echoed in the hallway here at :05 followed by numerous shuffling footsteps at :09, :15, :25, and finally at :29.

 

Video 1 – Handheld:

 

• Even though the majority of this 44 minute long video was recorded inside the neighboring Kindergarten Room, most of this activity is either linked to the hallway or someone playing with our tools rather than anything intelligent inside the Kindergarten Room itself.
• Prior to the video, we noticed the flashlight on in the hallway and as we approached, we asked if they could turn the flashlight off, situated in the doorway of the Kindergarten Room, and at 4:26 it shut off.
• At 4:49 the flashlight turned back on unprompted.
• After we attempted to ask some questions with no response we explained that they don’t have to answer any questions if they don’t want to. At 6:12 as if responding to this understanding the flashlight shut off as we previously asked.
• Following this moment we moved the flashlight into the Kindergarten Room itself. Early on here, we asked if they were willing to answer questions and if so to turn on the flashlight which it did at 9:18.
• We then tried to get a baseline reading and asked if they could turn it back off. At 9:46 it turned off.
• Unprompted, at 10:05, the flashlight turned on then back off at 10:32 after we asked them to do so.
• After we asked if they were a student, as we attempted to gather their identity, the flashlight turned on as if it were a yes answer at 11:00.
• We wanted to confirm if they liked speaking with us and if they did to shut off the light. At 11:45 it turned off.
• Following this minimal amount of time, our host(s?) seemed to either mess with us or someone else stepped in their way as if shutting them up. Either way, from this point on there were sporadic and unpredictable flashlights turning on and off until the end of the clip.

 

 

Sara’s Stairwell

 

This seemingly mundane stairwell extends from the basement all the way up to the top floor. One peculiarity is that of a tall wooden structure off the side of the stairwell. Wrapping around the remainder of the stairs is a metal railing about the waist height of an adult which has been in place since the school’s inception. It’s in this area where a young girl, Sara, was located at the top of the staircase at the railing and fell all the way to the basement. She did survive the fall after being transported to a hospital then back to her home. Sara did pass away in her home after complications during her recovery. Stories have circulated since that fateful day that Sara may not have just fallen over the railing accidentally while she was playing but instead that she was pushed or forced over by some unknown assailant. There is nothing to substantiate this claim other than word of mouth and the fact that the railing would have been quite tall for a young child to simply fall over. Either way, it is said that Sara has returned to this location of great tragedy and a life altering (and ending) action which may have left a large portion of Sara’s energy and pulled her back to this location. Her short shadow has been spotted here darting all around the building but up and down this stairwell on most occasions. Sara has been said to play with devices and most notable K2 meters as if she simply likes playing with them and making them light up. One of the more gut wrenching tales is that when Sara attempts to communicate on the lowest level of the stairwell she is chased away by a gruff voice supposedly linked to the janitor, Amos.

 

We made multiple attempts to communicate with (hopefully) Sara in this area. Unfortunately we did not have any success in communication with her but we did get a very sad emotional connection as if we could pick up this negativity which occurred here so long ago. To our surprise, when we left a recorder just rolling statically we did manage to pick up some odd noises which we could best make out as breathing and a similar but definitely separate sound of shuffling feet. To note in this timeframe, there were only three of us remaining on site and we were all together in the Breakroom.

 

Photos:

 

• There was nothing to note from our photographs here.

 

 

Recording 1 – Static:

 

 

• After we left a recorder run as we walked away we began to hear some anomalies that could not be explained during our playbacks. This started here with some odd breathing noises, similar to what we recorded during our walkthrough. These deep breaths we captured at :03, :06, :09, and :17.

 

Recording 2 – Static:

 

 

• The breathing noises were also captured later on in three moments at :05, :38, and :43 followed by a shuffling of feet at :52.

 

Recording 3 – Static:

 

 

• These odd footsteps were heard again at :03.

 

Recording 4 – Static:

 

 

• Once more, and in this final moment, the footsteps were again heard at :06.

 

As we complete our review and breakdown of everything we captured from the night of April 1, 2023 spent at the Poasttown Elementary School in Middletown, Ohio we have not only personal experiences to consider but also recordings, videos, and photographs. This combination has helped lead us to our conclusion that the Poasttown Elementary School is host to a few different energies throughout the entire building, including a few specific locations inside it each featuring a different characteristic. Many of the tales and myths surrounding the building appear to be just that, stories. What we did find out, though, is that there seem to be a few that hold true and that our evidence can back up the paranormal activity inside this former school. 

 

Included in this conclusion are our personal experiences which helped guide us into creating this opinion. The most predominant and shared experience is the sensation of being followed and watched no matter where we turned or spent time. This paired up with our recorded evidence as well as some of the paranormal tales. This mainly occurred in the hallways, every one we ventured down no matter in a group or individual. Another action was a moment when one of us was rushed in the hallway just outside the Mean Teacher Room. This occurred just as we heard footsteps in that area. This experience could not be thoroughly documented although there were a few images that we associated with it. We were also able to detect a changing of atmospheres mainly different in the basement and Sara’s Stairwell.

 

On a different note, the captured evidence backed up these physical experiences and feelings as well as helped confirm some of the stories shared with us from POV Paranormal. Our evidence provided a few different telling features of these energies. The first helped back up the claims of someone watching from a distance. The sounds of footsteps and shuffling of feet plus the visual photographs as if we were rushed from the Principal’s Room Hallway helped add to this theory. The basement seemed to hold a heavy atmosphere much different than the rest of the building but as we attempted to pursue communication in this area we did feel as though we made contact with the spirit of Amos, the former janitor. He did not seem to want company of any sort as we were ultimately instructed to leave by a seemingly irritable voice. The Mean Teacher Room appeared to hold a slew of different energies and paranormal activity. We do believe that we communicated with a child, unknown name, but who only wanted to play with the tools and not necessarily answer questions. There is a high possibility that we also captured some type of residual activity here as we recorded some actions which would have occurred during the train accidents as well as names associated with both of those accidents. 

 

 

We can positively conclude that there is a high level of energy left inside the Poasttown Elementary and more than likely all across the property. The collective of evidence gathered and physical interactions which the group and individuals experienced have helped us corroborate stories of the old school that have been compiled over time and even add to some of these paranormal phenomena. Through these instances we have been able to confirm the energies who are said to remain here in the afterlife and even verify some of the overarching sensations of being watched and followed all throughout the building. With only one night of research, gathering evidence, and debunking false readings we feel as though there is plenty more ground to cover and even more truths to unlock. Our intention is to help add to and grow the documented paranormal experiences which occur at the Poasttown Elementary School. The hope would be for other like-minded groups (much like the POV Paranormal group) to pick up where we left off and build off of our documented phenomenon. The long term goal would be to  be able to paint a more clear picture of who’s energy is left here and continue to document the combination of residual and intelligent communication and hauntings with a mind to find the truth buried inside the halls of historic elementary school in Middletown, Ohio.