The Trip West

I live in Brooklyn, NY
– the Big Apple and have for nearly 25 years.
I need to move. It’s been a bad
year for me. Friends have died very
unexpectedly, I’ve had one life-threatening injury (hit and run), and a serious
accident where I could have lost some fingers, 9/11, my father’s death one
month later and now I’m unemployed. The
city isn’t exhilarating anymore. If
anything, it’s aggravating and annoying.
I have family who farm in the Midwest. I’m divorced and estranged from my son. Perhaps, I’m entering a new phase in my life
and it’s time to move west. My friend
Terry has offered to rent an extra room in her apartment to me. She lives in Rockford, Illinois. I give serious consideration to a move and
Terry’s offer. Within one week I’ve made
my decision. I’m moving to Rockford, Illinois. It’s a city of approximately 150,000 located
90 miles west of Chicago.

Rockford (the
beginning)

It’s early in October 2002
and I’ve arrived in Rockford. I’m settling-in and feel good about my decision. I’m making friends and besides the daily job
hunt, I’ve established a regular routine, including working-out at the gym, volunteering
and other activities to remain active.
But, there’s bad news. I find out
through a routine check-up that I have a serious health problem.

Rockford (the
conclusion)

I’ve landed a job with a
local company after nearly one year of unemployment. My health problem continues but is finally eradicated. The year-long treatment was brutal. I receive a “Friends” request on MySpace from
Susan and I approve it. Susan, who lives
in another state, and I begin corresponding and exchange phone numbers. She will soon become a very significant part
of my life in a most unusual way. A
former employer calls me and I’m re-hired.
Employment with them is considerably more beneficial than my current
employment. I’d like to fulfill my life
long dream of owning a farmette. I’m in
the perfect place to realize that dream.
Some of the best agricultural land in the world is just five minutes
outside of Rockford! I make some contacts with local realtors and
explain my financial situation and vision.
I’m assured that I can realize my dream over time. Only one realtor actively responds and she sends
me several listings. My friend Heidi and
I spend a Saturday afternoon visiting the potential properties that the realtor
has suggested. They’re close to my dream
but for one reason or another they’re not quite right. Little do I know that I will soon be leaving Rockford and will have
what are perhaps, some of the most incredible experiences in my life’s journey?

The Search

Eric’s parents know the Northwestern Illinois area well. I’m developing a good friendship with Eric,
his wife, their children and his parents because of a mutual interest. Eric’s parents farmed Dairy here for many
years. Shortly after my property visits
with Heidi, Eric’s parents offer to take me on a road trip so that I can become
more familiar with the region. It’s
Sunday in late September 2006 and we’re traveling back roads. The countryside is beautiful! I notice a number of properties with “For
Sale” signs that are listed by one particular agency. The agency has a website and I visit it that
same evening. Another possibility is to
buy some raw land to build a house and out buildings. There’s one listing that catches my eye. Monday morning and I’m at work. I call Katie, the listing agent of the
property, and explain my situation. She also
assures me that I can realize my dream.
Monday evening I return home from work and have an e-mail from her with
two listings attached. Heidi and I had
seen one of the listings but the other is new.
I will visit the new property on Saturday.

The Property

It’s a typical cold, damp
late Fall day in NW Illinois yet the nearly 60 mile drive from Rockford to
Cherry Grove Township is rather pleasant probably because I’m feeling
optimistic and enjoying the huge, wide-open, rolling farm country with fields
to the horizon. For once, Mapquest’s
directions were accurate. It was easy
enough to find the property. I enter the
drive and hesitate. There doesn’t appear
to be anyone home. Should I wander the
property by myself? Why not, there’s no
one here what harm would it be? For the
next 20-30 minutes I walk portions of the property. It’s nearly 28 acres with a wonderful old
farm house, barn, out buildings and structures, rolling pastures, creek and
large Willow
tree. Unfortunately, it’s all too
apparent that everything has been neglected for years. But dreams can be realized! By the time I leave I know that this is it –
I have to own this property!

The Offer and Acceptance

I visit my mortgage banker
on Monday, October 30 and receive pre-approval.
This is too easy. I call Katie
and she makes an offer through the seller’s agent on my behalf. It’s Tuesday, October 31, 2006 - Halloween! I accept the seller’s counter offer on
Thursday. This is really happening. I’m going to realize my nearly lifelong dream
of owning a farmette.

The Closing

It’s 11:00AM, Wednesday,
December 20, 2006. I meet my realtor Katie
at the house. The Seller is doing some
last minute packing. We exchange brief
greetings as they’re leaving and we enter the house. I’ve never been in the house. Isn’t that odd? I make the biggest financial investment in my
life yet I never entered the house until the day of closing yet. I was obsessed with making the purchase – I
had to own this property! We enter the
kitchen through the attached garage at the rear of the house. It’s dark and the air is heavy. We begin our exploration of the fist
floor. I don’t like the Parlor off the
Living room. The hair on my neck
stands-up when I enter that room. My
immediate feeling and thought is that the room is evil. How odd that I should have this thought. I think it’s because of the color, a hideous
bright blue with overspray on the windows.
I’m in a mild state of shock because as we continue our exploration, it
becomes all too apparent that the house is more of a “fixer-upper” than I had anticipated. But it will soon be mine! I’m filled with a combination of anxiety,
excitement and elation!

The closing consists mainly
of me signing lots of documents for over an hour. I try to make light of the situation because
this should be an happy time. It’s
nearly Christmas, my dream is being realized and I assume that the Sellers are
making money – some extra cash for those holiday gifts. But it isn’t happy for the Sellers. They’re weekenders from the Chicago suburbs. They’re selling because the husband has
serious health problems. This is
significant to the story as it unfolds.
The husband isn’t at the closing.
Only his wife, daughter and their son-in-law attend. At one point, I ask in a light-hearted manner
if the house is haunted. Donna (the
wife) looks up and says, “It’s interesting that you should ask because we were
just talking about that this weekend. In
fact, it is”. I ask her to describe
events. She tells about Kitchen cabinet
doors and the microwave door opening by themselves. The CD player turns-on by itself when she
lays down to rest in the Family room and it always skips disks going to her
favorite CD. I think this is exciting
and in an update e-mail to family and friends after the closing paragraph I type,
“It’s haunted. Woohoo”! Little do I know that what I think is cute
will become my worst nightmare and turn my life upside down within the next
three short days. We’re done with the
closing. The property is now mine!

The Move – December 23, 2006

I asked one friend to help
me move and others called to help.
Eventually twelve helped including their children helped with the move. I’m fortunate to have such good friends. It’s a typical late December day in Illinois; cold and sunny with clouds. The sun is setting as we arrive at the
property – my dream come true. I still
marvel at the beauty of the area and what a beautiful sunset.

I back the U-Haul up to the
attached garage. I open the garage door
and we enter the house into the kitchen.
In hindsight, I chuckle because we didn’t “enter” we “barged” into the
house like an army on a mission.
Everyone walks through all the levels and rooms of the house before we
begin to unload. Naturally, they want to
explore Al’s new house. The house is
dark, dank, the air is thick. It gives
the house a heavy, uneasy feeling. The
house has a very serious “creep” factor to it.
I attribute this to a combination of things: the sun has nearly set, the house hasn’t been
aired, it’s old, it’s drafty and it’s in a state of disrepair. Also, the former
owners had cats that they left here all week without attendance and there’s the
smell of cat urine. As I walk through
the different levels I’m uneasy. I’m
upstairs investigating. The air is
especially heavy here. It’s almost hard
to breath in the front bedrooms. I’m a
little angry. “How can people neglect such
a wonderful place”? I ask Amanda, if she
feels anything? Amanda is Mike and
Shell’s 14 year old daughter. She is
able to feel and see things. She tells
me that the house is definitely haunted.
She is with her boyfriend Brandon.
He feels “odd” too. They point to
a cold spot between the Nursery and Master bedroom. I investigate and respond, “Of course it’s
cold Amanda. There is gap in the wood
plank flooring”. Later, Shell tells me
that she feels very uneasy in the house.
Shell is sensitive, but not fully aware nor has she pursued her
abilities. Elizabeth comes upstairs and explores. I ask her about the house and she tells me
that it definitely has intense energy. Elizabeth has the gift
but her husband Shay is a skeptic. Elizabeth is
wide-eyed. She tells me that when she
entered the house through the kitchen she went to the Living room and
immediately felt intense energy in that room and the adjoining Parlor. She’s not comfortable with either of the
smaller bedrooms upstairs at the front of the house. She’s particularly concerned about the NE
(green) bedroom. The nursery and master
bedroom are comfortable and inviting. We
all head downstairs and the offloading begins.

I don’t know what I was
thinking;  me and one other person to
move my belongings?  I didn’t have much in
the way of possessions because I’d either sold or given away most when I left New York.  I’m blessed with good friends and they came
to the rescue without my asking.  In all
there were six adults not including me, four teenagers and two children.  The march of helpers began - bringing boxes,
furniture and other items into the house through the garage while I tried to
keep up with their rapid progress and provide directions, “that goes in the
Living room, please take those upstairs to the front bedroom.”  A neighbor and his wife arrived shortly after
the offloading began.  I spent time
visiting with them and when they left nearly everything had been offloaded and
placed.  I felt guilty because I did very
little to help but nobody seemed to mind. 
Afterwards, my friends found a place to rest or continued their
investigation of the house.  Eric, Lisa
and they’re two children were the first to leave.  There were moments to talk with my friends
who remained and the reports came in rapid succession.  Some of the teens felt really cold spots
especially upstairs.  “Of course they did;
 the house is very old and drafty.”  They also felt like they were being
watched.  Teens can have vivid imaginations.  Besides, I told everyone that the house was
supposed to be haunted.  Three adults,
Eric, Lisa and Shell’s husband Mike didn’t sense or voluntarily report anything
other than the obvious, a cold, run-down, drafty old farmhouse.  On the other hand, Elizabeth’s husband Shay thought that he saw
a small boy crouching in the corner of the NW bedroom at the second floor.  He also saw an African American male peering
from the basement stairs (under the Family room) of the 1976 addition and throughout
the house he felt as though he were being watched and never alone.  He heard noises from the barn when he took a
smoke break and stood outside.  I’m not
surprised, there’s a mild wind blowing and the barn is pretty run-down with
doors half on their hinges.  I have to
admit that Shay’s comments un-nerved me because he’s a skeptic.  Shell felt cold spots and felt as though she was
constantly being watched.  She told me
that I needed to talk with Elizabeth.  “Elizabeth
is really upset”.  I finally cornered Elizabeth in the Living
room and kept pressing her.  “What are
you sensing Elizabeth?”  After much protest she finally responded, “This
room feels very safe and warm but the rest of the house is not good.  I’ve never been in a place with so much
energy and it’s mostly very negative. 
When I went into the basement under the Family room I saw a black,
shapeless figure in the corner that hissed at me.  Amanda and her sisters were behind me.  I turned and shoved them up the stairs.  There is the presence of a huge mountain man
in the kitchen and he’s been in the parlor also.  He’s curious but friendly, dressed in
overalls.  I also felt multiple threatening
presences upstairs.”  It was then that Elizabeth became very
emotional.  “You must come back to Rockford and stay with us
tonight.  I don’t want you staying
here.  It’s not safe for you.”  I responded that although I believed what she
told me I hadn’t felt anything other than the major creep factor the house
possessed and that having this farmette was my lifelong dream.  It was mine and I needed to be here to
live-out whatever may happen.  We went
into the Family room where everyone remaining had congregated.  Mike scoffed while Shell and her daughters
repeated what they’d felt.  It was time
for them to leave so we walked outside and wished them “good night” as they got
in their car.  Shay and Elizabeth stayed behind;  they were concerned for me and didn’t want me
to be alone.  As we entered the house through
the garage I asked Elizabeth
if the big Mountain man farmer was in the kitchen.  She said that he’d gone outside because of
all the commotion and told me to invite him into the house.  “He already likes you.”  “OK”, I thought.  “I’ll play along.”  So, I stood at kitchen door peering into the
darkness of the night through the garage and feeling very foolish said, “It’s
OK Ralph.  You’re welcome here.  Come on back in and visit with us”.   At
some point during the course of the evening we’d given the farmer ghost the name
of “Ralph”.  I don’t know why, it just seemed
appropriate in the moment.  We returned
to the Family room and sat down where we talked about the evening.  Both recounted their experiences.  I have to admit that I was becoming more and
more unglued.  The final straw was when Elizabeth went into the
Kitchen and exclaimed, “Oh my God, come here quickly.  There’s a really cold spot right here and it’s
Ralph.”  I jumped up and went to where Elizabeth was
standing.  Sure enough as I extended my
right arm I felt a spot with definable boundaries that was much colder than the
surrounding area.  But then it dissipated.  I said, “It’s gone.” Elizabeth responded, “Of course it is, he’s
moved.”  She directed me to the area
where she saw Ralph and I’d move with arm extended to that area.  I’ll be damned if I didn’t feel the cold spot
again.  This happened three times as I
followed Ralph around the Kitchen.  “OK
this is pretty bizarre” I thought.  “If I
didn’t know better I’d say this is proof that I have a ghost in my house.”  I was both excited and unnerved.  Shay felt it too.  We returned to the Family room and sat back
down to continue our discussion of the evening’s events.  Shay thought that the spirits would become
quieter the longer I lived here and as I completed renovation work.  His belief proves to be prophetic.  But I had to admit that I was becoming very
uncomfortable as both Shay and Elizabeth
discussed their experiences from earlier in the evening.  In fact, I was becoming frightened.  Oh yes, the little bumps and noises we heard
as we talked, they had to be the wind, plumbing or a branch scraping against a
window didn’t they?  The final straw was
an unexplainable, rapid temperature drop of 15-20 degrees throughout the entire
first floor of the house (I didn’t bother to check the second floor).  Rapid drop translates to less than five minutes.  How do I know estimate that it was 15-20
degrees?  Because we were all grabbing
for our coats and then the temperature began to rise rapidly – within several
minutes or less to its normal (65 degree) temperature.  Besides the unmistakable physical sensations,
I was even more alarmed when I checked the thermostat and thermometer three
times.  The thermostat was set at 65
degrees and the thermostat read 65 degrees! 
What is going on here?  How do you
explain that event?  It was now
approximately 10:30PM.  We were tired and
hungry so I suggested a burger the Yellow Creek Inn.  We drove eight miles to town and enjoyed a
warm meal.  I thanked Shay and Elizabeth for all their
help while reassuring them that I’d be fine this evening staying at my dream
farmette.  But, as they got into their
car and drove off I wasn’t sure that I would be fine.  In fact, as I drove to my new home I began to
wonder if I’d made a mistake and should have taken them up on their offer to
stay in Rockford.  It’s too late now.  I entered the dark drive and parked my car in
the garage.  I’ll never forget the
feeling that I had as I turned the handle on the back door.  It was terror!  And, that feeling continued for months.  Entering this dark, foreboding house through
the garage, turning the handle on the back door as I frantically fumbled for
the light switch represented an unknown and inconceivable danger to me.  I guess that I’ve watched too many Hollywood ghost movies. 
From December 2006 until May 2007 I slept on my box spring and mattress
in the Dining room (which is located between the Kitchen and Family
rooms).  It wasn’t until late February
2006 that I stopped blocking the door to the upstairs and would finally sleep
without lights and music playing throughout the night into the morning.  In hindsight, I laugh at my feeble attempts
to create levels of safety.  But I can
still feel the sheer terror that I experienced at Willow Creek Farm for the
first 4 plus months of my residency.

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