Historical Belvidere Mansion

Historical Belvidere Mansion

( A Past But Not Forgotten Investigation )

Date: October 18 & 31, 2002
Time: Approximately 12am-3am
Investigators Present: OPRA

Equipment used:

Sony Mavica FD-73 digital camera, Sony TRV-37CCD 8mm camcorder with Nightshot, Tri-Field Natural EM meter, GE portable cassette player, 35mm Kodak color throw away film/camera. 35mm throw away black & white camera. (Guests also had cameras/recorders)

We would like to give special thanks to the Roger's Historical Society for their gracious invite to have our team come in & investigate this beautiful historical home! We would also like to give thanks to D.C. and KTUL News Channel 8 in Tulsa for making this investigation most enjoyable!

History:

This Victorian mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built circa 1902, just before statehood, by John M. and Mary Melissa Bayless. Attracted by Claremore's two railroads, John M Bayless brought his wife and 7 children to Indian Territory from Cassville, Missouri in 1901. By 1902, Bayless began building his castle-like mansion. Mr. Bayless died in 1907, six months before the mansion was completed. Mary Bayless and her six living children finished the mansion after John's death and continued to reside there until 1919. All of the children lived their lives in Claremore.

The house is brick with tile roof and has four towers, one on each corner. A portico on the north side provided cover for the guest carriages. A large porch covers the front entrance with matching balcony directly above. Much of the trim and woodwork used in the mansion were brought from the 1904
World's Fair in St. Louis. A wide entry L-shaped hall meets the carriage entrance to form a gathering place. The floor is covered in tile laid by a man from Italy. The walls are wainscoted marble and pressed-tin. Sliding pocket doors and fireplaces accent several rooms. John Bayless also built a three-story Opera House, the Sequoyah Hotel, and an athletic building with an indoor swimming pool. Only the Belvidere
remains today.

In the 1930's, the mansion was purchased and made into apartments. It is presently owned and is being restored by the Rogers County Historical Society. This was the second OPRA event, organized by the Okcgc. KTUL in Tulsa covered a HUGE story on this investigation, and even broadcasted live from the site Halloween night. We gathered data on 10-18-02, and did a secondary investigation, as well as the live broadcasts with KTUL on 10-31-02. This was definitely an interesting building, as well as a beautiful building. The spirits of John Bayless and his family are rumored to haunt this building.

Date: 10-18-02
Temperature: 67 F Outside, 60 F Inside
Humidity: 84%
Solar X-Ray: Active
Geomagnetic Field: Quiet
Wind: S 7mph
Moon Phase: 96% Illumination, Waxing
Date: 10-31-02
Temperature: 38 F outside
Humidity: 86%
Solar X-Ray: M Class Flare
Geomagnetic Field: Unsettled
Wind: N 5mph
Moon Phase: 17% Illumination, Waning
Barometer: 29.96 and rising

Equipment Used:

CCD-TRV37 Sony 8mm nightshot camcorder
DCR-TRV520 digital Sony nightshot camcorder
Analog audio recorders
Hp318 Digital Still camera
Kodak DX3500 Digital Still camera
Olympus 410 Digital Still camera
Olympus 510 Digital Still camera
Sony Mavica Digital Still camera 200A EMF Meter
4 EMF array meters

Investigation consisted of 3 teams
Results of Team's Sweeps:
Team 1 Report
Belvidere Mansion
OPRA Investigation
October 18, 2002
Team Members Present: (P.I.T.T.)
Teri, Tina, Val, Darren, Craig

Psychic Investigator's Comments: By: Christy Selfridge

When I first entered this home, I was taken back by it's huge size & beauty! I really didn't get many psychic impressions on the first floor, but rather on the 2nd floor. Upon entrance to the children's bedroom I immediately saw 3 children playing on the floor with marbles in some sort of marble game. The children looked to be about 4, 5 & 6 years of age, 2 girls & 1 boy. The oldest girl looked up at me and with her thumb, tossed her marble toward the turret window and laughed.

Also on the 2nd floor I saw a young woman who was very distraught & depressed. She admitted to taking her own life by hanging and was upset over a relationship that had gone by. She now paces back in forth in front of the bedroom window looking for her love to come home to her.

Sweep 1 - Downstairs
Foyer/Common Area – No significant EMF readings other than natural causes. Temperature of area 74 degrees F
First (West) Room – No significant EMF readings and temperature at 74 degrees F
Hallway Area – No significant EMF readings. Temperature 74 degrees F
Stairwell area – No significant EMF readings, Temperature at 75 degrees F Note: Due to time restraints, kitchen, basement and gift shop areas not recorded.
2nd Floor
Room 8 – EMF reading .2 to .3. at entryway. EMF readings climbed due to natural causes. Upon entering room team members had heavy feeling on chest. Temperature readings were between 72-74 degrees F. No significant EMF readings obtained once inside the room.
Baby Room (across from Room 8). No significant EMF readings. Temperature at 78 degrees F.
Mason Hotel Room – No significant EMF readings Temperature readings at 72-73 degrees F.
Common area (hallway) 2nd floor – No significant EMF readings. Temperature readings at 72-73 degrees degrees.
West Room – (ladies room) – No significant immediate EMF readings. Temperature read began at 76 degrees F. Team experienced Temperature increase to 79 degrees F near windows where it should be cooler. Temperature increased to 81 degrees F over the bed area, which records a 5-degree temperature hike. Walking log has a lot of interference in the tape and team members’ report feeling ‘tingling’ sensation. EMF began to react in small spikes and reacted to questions asked. 12:46am Team experienced EMF
reactions out of the norm with the rest of the house and temperature increase again. EMF spikes were up to .4 and .5 in the spikes. Team members could not find a natural source of the cause of the EMF
manipulation or temperature increase. Many pictures taken provided no positive photographs.

Ballroom – No significant EMF readings. Temperature readings at 81 degrees F.
When the team was leaving the building, as we approached the 2nd floor at the
bottom of the stairs, the EMF spiked to a minimum of .4 or .5 reading. Gauss
Master was not depressed at the time and reacted solely on it’s own. Picture
taken at this time produced an anomaly and walking log produced a possible
EVP. Temperature was recorded at 79 degrees F at this time. Team members
reported chills and tingly sensations. EMF did not react or produce any
readings thereafter.
-TEAM 1 – END OF SWEEP-

Psychic Investigator's Comments:
The Belvedere Mansion, Claremore, Oklahoma
Investigation date: October 31, 2002
Psychic/Medium: Vicky Glidewell
I would first like to say it was pure joy to attend this particular investigation held by OPRA. This mansion is an excellent example of the rich history of Oklahoma. Thanks to OPRA for the invitation, it was a real treat! First Impressions: Upon entering the Belvedere Mansion, I was first taken by the enormity and beauty of the building. After getting used to the atmosphere, I had noticed a lack of energy on the first floor. This may have been due to the first floor being used as the main staging area for all of the investigation groups, and news media attending that night.

It was on the second floor where I received the majority of the psychic impressions and messages. In the bedroom on the right side of the stair way I had received images of very sick people being nursed back to health. I was my impression that this room was used as not only a "sick room", but also as a nursery. I also saw a few children running through and playing by the windows. In the bedroom at the rear of the building, I experienced a message from spirit, a woman. She indicated that she had lived in the house from about 1943 to 45. She was extremely depressed and had shown how she died. Suicide by hanging. She told me that she was boarding in this house and that she was terrified of leaving. She was all alone in the world. Very sad spirit, indeed! Her energy could be felt the moment I walked into the room. In my opinion, she is the strongest of spirits in the Belvedere.

The third floor, or the ballroom, held some rather interesting impressions. I did not receive as many messages as on the second floor, however. There were some "scattered" impressions, but no connections. It was as thought the spirits were "popping" in and out, just curious to see what we were doing. I did not connect directly on the third floor.

Team 2
Team Leader: Becky
Team Members: Ron, Erik, Laura and Mary
1:15 AM
Rm 1: Main Area Base: 0 Comments: Air Pressure Dense, F/P Reading on TV
Rm 2: Display Area Base: 0 Comments: Laura Camera Not Working
Rm 3: Main Entry Foyer Base: 0 Comments: Knock from Rm 2, Near Dress Mary Feels Heavy Presence; Unhappy Female
Rm 4: Kitchen Area Base: 0 Comments: None
Rm 5: Basement Base: 0 Comments: Basement Has Unhappy Feeling
Rm 6: Dining Area Base: 0 Comments: Strong Unpleasant Smell
Rm 7: Main Parlor Base: 0 Comments: Sound of Running Feet Heard Audible by All, Electrical Charge felt by team members in corner near table.

Psychic Investigator's Comments: By Mary Franklin

Impression: Man named John – Daughter died could not save her – 1st Child
died at birth could not save her– could not get a doctor. Wife went insane
– he had to leave – John died – chest hurts – John still there did not live
in home – John looking for his wife – music box w/painting, small figurine
“Meet Me in St. Louis” heard – John taught school. Female white dress, small
waist – child in dining room comes into Main Parlor – 8 – 12 yrs old –
Missing son – son disappeared.

2nd Level
Rm Mason Bedroom Base: 0 Comments: None
Rm Master Bedroom Base: 0 Comments: Team member felt someone touch them Impression: She doesn’t like the bed – not her bed – wants her bed back
Rm 7. Children Bedroom Base: 0 Comments: None
Rm 8. Guest Bedroom w/Bath Base: 0 Comments: Meter Spiked Quick, Member hear sound “like marble rolling on floor”.
3rd Level (Ballroom) Base: 0 Comments: Meter ticking on / off in SE Turret Impression: Women in white dress, floor length, thin waist, white satin, bustle, rustle of petticoats, hair in a bun, wisps of hair hanging down, lace hanky.
TEAM-2-END-OF-SWEEP

Team 3 Report

Team Members Present:
Trey (Okcgc-Prg)
Marti (Okcgc-Prg)
Christy (Pico)
Justin (Sprg)

Start Time: 2:26
Sweep 1 - Downstairs
Foyer/Common Area – 74 degrees, no emf
First (West) Room – 74 degrees, no emf other than natural causes
Hallway Area – 74 degrees, no emf
Stairwell area – 74 degrees, emf of 1.5-2 possible evp by Justin
Kitchen- 74 degrees, no emf other than natural causes
Basement-67 degrees, emf around hot water tank of 2.5 probably hot water tank. Marti saw flash of white light by tank with possible anomaly picture taken afterward showing up by her leg.
Gift Shop- 74 degrees, no emf
2nd Floor
Room 8 – 74 degrees, no emf other than natural causes
Baby Room (across from Room 8). -74 degrees, no emf
Mason Hotel Room – 74 degrees, no emf
Common area (hallway) 2nd floor – 74 degrees, no emf other than natural causes
West Room – (ladies room) –73 degrees, no emf
3rd Floor
Ballroom – 71 degrees, no emf

-TEAM 3 – END OF SWEEP-