A Strike-Out and a Home Run at Sasco
Actual paranormal investigation isn’t nearly as dramatic all the time as is often depicted on television and in other media. People doing this type of work for very long inevitably experience times in which they do not get a response from the other side. The reasons are varied.
Ghosts have schedules too. It’s likely that in some of our investigations we have shown up when there was nobody home. The energy on the other side wasn’t sufficient for a message to cross over to us. The spirits weren’t in a talkative mood. As Dwight has pointed out, personalities may not change just because someone has crossed over. A shy person on this side of the line may be just as shy on the other side.
The ruins of the Sasco Rockland Hotel.
More ruins of the Sasco Rockland Hotel.
He, she, or they just might not have anything to say.
The spirit might be a jerk.
The investigator came calling when no one was home.
Sasco, a milling community, is located between Phoenix and Tucson and was named for the Southern Arizona Smelter Company. Just after the turn of the twentieth century the town had a population of 600. The smelter, which processed ore (primarily copper) from the nearby Silverbell and a dozen or so other mines in the area, was active from 1907 until 1910, although the post office remained open until 1919. Today, the smelter site is substantial and consists of numerous buildings in surprisingly good condition for a ghost town/operation. Unfortunately, much of the site has been taken over and trashed by the paintball, spray paint, and party crowd.
Across the access road to the mill is the old town site. All that remains are the remnants of old walls, some concrete flooring here and there, large holes that were probably cellars, and piles of junk more than a century old. A substantial and well-built cellar or basement is located down from the town and we speculated that it was used to hold explosives. While walking through one of the numerous junk piles Rhonda found a perfectly preserved 1907 liberty head nickel. So, apparently there is still treasure to be found in old Sasco. Just east of the facility are the walls of the Rockland Hotel, built for overnight guests doing business at the mill.
One of the structures in the town site, just the foundation of walls and some flooring, was rather large for the community and contained a number of smaller rooms. Dwight guessed that the building had been a hospital or medical facility. The layout and some of the rusted artifacts scattered about supported the theory. We thought we’d see if we could capture any EVPs. Unfortunately, we just plain struck out. The session is included here just to provide insight into how paranormal investigations works—and sometimes didn’t work. The transcript indicates how often natural sounds interfere with an EVP recording. Wise investigators identify those sounds as they occur so that later they don’t mistake them for the real thing when reviewing the recordings.
The session following was much longer than the transcript indicates because we often paused for some time to allow spirits time to respond or to make their own comments. Sometimes we would even leave the recorders going for a few moments after ending a session just on the hope that we’ll get a “goodbye” or “come back and see us.”
D: Okay, EVP session two in Sasco. It is 10:01 a.m. August 1 (Rhonda in background w/water bottle.)
We are in a building of some sort. We do not know what it is, just yet.
DB: It is substantial.
D: It is big. We think it is either some kind of a store or maybe even some kind of a medical unit … hospital, that kind of thing.
Let me start off. Is there anybody with us right now who would like to speak to us?
If there are people here with us or a person with us, we do ask if you’d like to step up close to us and tell us your name very loudly so you can be heard.
R: Is there somebody here who was shot?
(Background breathing, probably DB who was holding recorder close because of the wind.)
D: We’re curious if this is a medical building. If not, can you tell us what this building was used for?
R: How old are you? Just for the record I’m picking up 45-ish.
D: This was an awfully big building. It looks like different rooms or sub-buildings on the outside. It had a concrete floor.
R: There are flies flying around, too.
DB: Airplane noise in the background.
Did anybody die in this building?
D: That was my stomach.
DB: Again we’d like to know what this structure was all about if you could tell us.
D: Well, that’s good enough for me. If anybody was going to talk they would have done it.
DB: Okay. Appreciate it.
D: End EVP session two.
All we got during that brief session was a hyperactive bee, a gurgling stomach, and heavy breathing from holding a recorder too close to the love handles. And that’s how it sometimes goes. The key for us is the realization that there are still spirits about and that a strike out at one site just means it’s time to move onto another.
A Change of Luck with the Flip of a Coin
We moved over to what we assumed was the hospital or clinic for the community. Here we encountered an enlightening spirit whose schedule permitted him time to interact with three paranormal investigators.
There wasn’t much at the location except the remnants of four walls—and that 1907 liberty head nickel Rhonda had discovered. We decided to hold a full session. Finding that coin seemed to be more than just a coincidence, at least that’s the way we felt about it. It is certainly possible that the coin was put in place by the action of a spirit wanting to communicate. It’s equally possible that it showed up as a result of wind and rain and good luck. Either way, we took the find as a good omen and we decided to proceed immediately. That site and the spirit there produced one of the most interesting sessions recorded for this book.
One of the most fascinating areas we’ve investigated is the nature of the other side. What is it like over there? Who’s there? What happens when you cross over? Are matters set in stone or does the individual spirit have choices? What is the nature of “haunting”?
That list of 501 questions grows in length at virtually every investigation. The spirit encountered in Sasco provided some fascinating insights into this complex subject.
D: EVP session one at Sasco town site. We’re at a building, rubble of a building. It is August 1 at 9:23 in the morning and we just found a coin at this site, so we’re going to stop and do a quick EVP session. I’m setting the recorder down and [am now] hands free. So, is there anybody with us today who wants to talk to us? I mean you can talk to us. We’ve got these little things we’re talking into and we can record your voice, and we’ll be able to hear it later.
We appreciate you allowing us to be out here today.
R: How many people are here today with us?
DB: I’m getting more than one.
R: Are there two people here?
DB: Yes.
R: Are there more than two people here?
DB: No.
R: Okay, thank you. Is there a female here, a woman?
DB: That’s a good yes.
R: And are you with a male?
DB: Strong yes.
R: Thank you.
D: I’m speaking to the male, did you work at the mills here in Sasco?
DB: Yes.
D: To the woman who is here, if you can tell us your name that would be great for recording purposes. For the woman here, did you like it in this area?
DB: Yes.
(To Rhonda) Are you getting the same feeling?
R: Yes. I’m getting the same feeling.
D: Yeah, if they’re still here I’d have to say they liked it here.
R: Did you like Arizona, this territory?
DB: Big strong yes.
R: Are you from the East Coast?
DB: Yes.
R: That’s what I was feeling … better weather out here, maybe.
DB: Yes.
R: That’s how I feel too.
D: This place where we’re at right now, this patch of ground, was this your house?
DB: Powerful yes.
D: Okay.
R: To you, in your dimension, does your house look like it did when you were living in this dimension?
DB: I was swinging yes halfway through your question.
R: Okay. Thank you. I wondered about that and I thought that was correct even though in this realm the house doesn’t exist anymore.
Is it nice over there where you are?
DB: That’s the biggest yes so far.
R: Is it beautiful over there? Is it what you expected?
DB: No.
R: So, it isn’t what you expected?
DB: Ask that in another way.
R: Is the afterlife or heaven what you expected?
DB: Again, no.
R: Is it beautiful over there?
DB: Yes.
R: Again, thank you for your confirmation. That’s everything that I’ve been told and what I felt, but it’s nice to have validation, so I appreciate that.
DB: Let me ask a question. Did you choose to live in that dimension in this time in this place as it appears in your dimension?
That’s a yes.
So, this is a choice?
Yes again.
R: So from what I understand, when you cross over to the afterlife it’s a choice in what you do?
DB: Immediate yes.
R: Okay. We always have a choice even after we leave our physical body. Is that correct?
R: Thank you.
DB (simultaneously): Yes.
D: You said it wasn’t what you expected. Is it better on the other side where you’re at than what you expected?
DB: That’s a yes.
D: Well, that’s good to know. I’m happy for you, it’s good to know that it’s better than you expected.
R: Was life hard for you when you were here and living?
DB: Yes.
R: Well, we found some of your money and we’re going to treasure it and save it for you … to preserve it.
DB: Is there something you’d like to say to us other than just answering yes or no questions? Go ahead and say so.
I’d like to give them an opportunity to say something.
D: Absolutely. As I said, we do have these little boxes here that’ll record your voice if you talk really loud and clear.
R: Did they have any recording device back in the early 1900s?
D: The only thing they had back then was the old turn/crank record players and those … only if you were extremely wealthy, but it’s the same idea.
R: Yeah.
DB: Speaking to the male, were you a manager of some type at the mill?
I got a yes.
R: It’s really beautiful out here. Did you guys have a problem with Indians at all when you were out here?
DB: No.
R: Did you have a problem with bad characters when you were out here?
DB: That’s a yes.
R: There’s always going to be those kinds of people.
DB: The two of you are happy here, yes or no?
I get a moderate yes.
D: Well, I’m glad for you. I’m happy that you guys are happy here. Definitely could be worse places to be.
R: Absolutely.
DB: It’s gorgeous.
D: It’s beautiful scenery. It’s a gorgeous spot. Nice and quiet.
DB: Is it quiet in your dimension?
No.
D: Do you still see the town, the whole town, as it was when you were alive here?
DB: Yes.
D: Ah, yes.
DB: The mill’s running. It would be loud.
D: Almost … not so much a dimensional thing as you know a time warp thing. So, just so I’m clear, everything around you is the same way it was when you were alive?
DB: Yes.
D: That’s interesting.
R: Is it that way everywhere in your dimension,.. that everything exists as it did when you were living … ? No.
DB: Big no.
R: Okay.
DB: Let me ask a simple question. Did you ever live in the dimension where we are living now?
Yes. So, they’re a crossover.
R: Is it a choice to go places that were exactly as you left them in this world.
DB: Yes.
R: It’s kinda’ like a Star Trek episode where you go into … what’s the alternate reality … where they … never mind … I know what I’m thinking; I just can’t get it out.
DB: Well, it’s clear they have choices.
D: Let me ask to the woman, and I really do thank you for talking with us so much this morning. We’re talking about your reality and ours here now. Did you have a choice as to what time period you could go to?
DB: I get a yes.
D: Interesting. So, it’s almost like time traveling. Could you have gone back in time farther if you wanted to?
DB: That’s a yes.
D: Interesting.
R: Can you go forward in time?
DB: No.
D: That’s even more interesting.
DB: I have a question. In your choices, were they limited to life experiences that you have had—maybe I’m talking reincarnation, perhaps—were your choices always limited to your experiences, your personal experiences?
I get a yes.
D: So long as we’re on that subject, do you … okay, let me think how to word this. I don’t want to get too complicated.
DB: Quantum mechanics here.
D: Yeah. Now that you’re in the other dimension and you chose to be where you’re at now are you aware that you lived in other times?
DB: Yes.
R: So is your reincarnated past … are you told about your past in different lives?
DB: Yes. Yes.
R: Wow! That adds a new spin.
D: That adds a whole new spin. Just so I’m clear, you had a choice to go back to that time period that you are in right now.
DB: Yes.
D: Very interesting. Thank you so much for … I mean that’s …
R: That’s a whole world of information.
D: I don’t know if you’re breaking any rules over there for telling us this, but we sure appreciate it.
R: While we’re on that subject, is there any type of manual you get when you cross over? Or rules?
DB: No.
You’re watching too many movies.
(Laughter)
R: Well, it’s interesting because people ask this question. Paranormal investigators have been asking and you don’t get many answers. The spirits are tight-lipped or maybe it’s just the spirits you run into who are tight-lipped. It’s almost like Quantum Leap or whatever that show was.
DB: Maybe they think we’re not ready to handle that information. I mean a lot of people can’t.
R: That’s true.
DB: Let me get this straight. You could have chosen any time period in which you have lived before. Is that correct?
I get a yes.
R: Wow.
D: That is interesting. Thank you so much.
R: That is so … this is all going in a book, so we appreciate you talking to us.
DB: That’s why we’d love to hear your name.
R: We’re here to learn, but we’re also here to enlighten others on what we learn. We just put that information out there and people can do what they want.
D: Ma’am, I’m speaking to the female here, because you’ve given us so much great information, can you please … if you can step up to me and just very loudly and clearly if you can just tell me your name, your first name … because we’d really love to have your name in our book.
R: You’ve been just a world of help.
D: Sir, if you’re still with us, if you could tell us your name as well, that would be fantastic.
Okay, I have no more questions. That’s pretty much …
R: That’s pretty mind blowing. That’s a lot to absorb.
D: That’s given me a whole lot of thinking there.
R: No wonder people don’t do a lot of … ‘cause that’s …
DB: Again, is there anything you’d like to say because we’d love to hear it.
R: We do and we can certainly come back out and talk to you. We don’t live very far away, any of us.
D: Well, again, thank you.
DB: Thank you.
R: Yeah, thank you so much.
D: We’ll stop bothering you for now. We’re going to be out there for a while. If you can or if you would like to you’re more than welcome to come along.
R: Point out something. Get our attention.
D: Once again, we thank you for allowing us to be in your home, in your space. Thank you again for talking to us and giving us such incredible information.
R: And helping us find something that belonged to you.
DB: Nice touch.
D: Okay picking up recorder. Ending EVP session one.