Whaley House

[asmith]

Our very own, nationally recognized, haunted location in sunny San Diego...

The WHALEY HOUSE

http://whaleyhouse.org/haunted.htm

[PPI Glenn]

Lost souls??!! Ha! So I wonder what happened to the few 'lost souls' that I've dispatched?

[Hyper]

What kind of Dispatcher are you gpitcher? I Disp at a plumbing Co. Plus i am an office manager and I am A/R person and I even clean the toilets sometimes lol!! Small company tooo amny hats to wear!!!  Sorry to bug you!!!

[PPI Glenn]

What kind of Dispatcher are you gpitcher? I Disp at a plumbing Co. Plus i am an office manager and I am A/R person and I even clean the toilets sometimes lol!! Small company tooo amny hats to wear!!!  Sorry to bug you!!!

Mmmmm, well, how can I word it (geez, where's Karl when you need him!!)  Let's just say that when I used to live in Temecula, we had a lot of rabbits in the neighborhood - and I do mean a *lot*.  And, well, these rabbits like to dine on vegitation?  Well, I had just spent several thousand dollars having my back yard planted and wasn't too happy that it I had just paid for a bunny buffet.  So since nothing else was working, I determined that the only thing that would work was to reduce the local bunny population.

Need I say more??  :

[dwalters]

so you passed out bunny probolactics?

[Hyper]

HAHA!!!!!, Man Did I ever go into left field or What??!?! I thought you were a dispatcher!! I feel like a DoRk!!!!

[PPI Glenn]

HAHA!!!!!, Man Did I ever go into left field or What??!?! I thought you were a dispatcher!! I feel like a DoRk!!!!

LMAO!!

[PPI Brian]

Has PPI done any research at the Whaley House? I first became interested in the paranormal because of the activity at that house. I spent many moons there, starting back in 1980, interviewing the original curator of the museum, talking to the guides, taking time exposures w/ 35mm film, etc. Had some very interesting experiences there.

[dwalters]

Has PPI done any research at the Whaley House? I first became interested in the paranormal because of the activity at that house. I spent many moons there, starting back in 1980, interviewing the original curator of the museum, talking to the guides, taking time exposures w/ 35mm film, etc. Had some very interesting experiences there.

PPI has not done any research with the Whaley House, and for good reason. SOHO is a company that is very hard to work with, and they stand for everything that PPI is against. PPI does not believe in Turf Wars, and Territories, however SOHO has put a gridlock on anything "Old Town" and we are very much against that.

Now, PPI out of the way...I, David Walters,....I do not believe the Whaley House to be haunted at all! I really believe it's all hype and a lot of it is the power of suggestion. There is no evidence that leaves me to believe the Whaley House has any spirit activity at all. Pictures of orbs do not prove a haunting...all it proves is that there is dust flying around the house. SOHO will not allow us or ANY qaulified team for that matter into the house for an 8 hour investigation without charging $75 for the first hour and $50 for each additional hour, and will not allow the use of DVR systems...what are they afraid of? They already claim "There are no spirits here", and yet that's thier biggest selling point is that it is the most haunted building in the united states. POPPYCOCK!!! It is not haunted, they don't want anyone that would disprove the haunt to be going in there and doing just that....they are making way too much money on people paying for the after hours tours. I feel horrible when I learn about people like SOHO....it's so unfortunate.

David Walters

[PPI Brian]

Thanks for the quick response, David. I was just curious.

It's unfortunate SOHO is so controlling and money oriented. The former curator, June Reading, and her organization, the Historical Shrine Foundation, was not into the "Haunted House" hype. She believed the place was haunted based solely on personal experiences, but she was open minded to the so-called "investigators" of her time. Hans Holzer and Regis Philbin both spent the night in the house, but the "evidence" from their "investigations" was sensationalized and not at all credible. As are most of the accounts of activity in the house I have read in various books about hauntings over the years.

There are a lot of people who post pictures on the web of "orbs" and "mists" from the Whaley House that are obviously dust, cigarette smoke, camera straps, index fingers in front of the lens, etc . A lot of the photos I've seen, both film and digital, can be easily debunked, and to be completely honest, most of the rolls of film I shot (wasted) at the site over the years show nothing paranormal. But I have had a few personal experiences there, and I am a very skeptical person by nature. I managed to capture some anomolies on 35mm film over the years, and after throwing out borderline stuff that can be attributed to "matrixing" or apophenia, I am still left with a few images that I can not reasonably explain. My documentation at the time left much to be desired, so it pretty much renders the photos useless as credible evidence. Live and learn...

The activity in that house is not consistent, but seems to cycle with the seasons, which is what prompted me to pose the question. It would be a simple matter for SOHO to install IR cameras, DVR units, IR Thermometers, digital audio recorders, motion detectors, humidity and barometric pressure detectors, etc. in the house and monitor it 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

But if SOHO is going to block serious investigators from studying the house, I guess that will never happen.

Best wishes,

Brian Miller

[PPI Karl]

"There are two ways to be fooled:  one is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true."--S?ren Kierkegaard

And then there are those who conspire to keep themselves--and others- from the truth.  Unforuntately, if SOHO has been offered these many opportunities to debunk or confirm claims about the Whaley House, but still prefers to encourage the thrill of the place over the science of its paranormal activity, then by definition they've turned Whaley House into an amusement park attraction.  That really saddens me.

Thanks for your candid view of things, Brian.

[pearsosl]

When you go into the Whaley house and talk to the docents that work there, almost none of them have ever had an experience of their own.  Oh sure they all point fingers at Regis and how he ran out of the house in the middle of the night.  I was very disappointed when we went there this past Fall.  I didn't feel like the place had any energy in it at all.  This could be because my friend was walking behind our camera the whole time saying stupid things.
Historically speaking it is a neat house, especially with the theater upstairs with the sloped stage (very old-fashioned feature)

[lkasak]

SOHO has nothing to gain and everything to loose by letting scientific paranormal research take place at the Whaley House. They only way for them to make money for their organization is to promote the "Haunted House" aspect of this historical structure. It truely makes me sick that a preservation group would choose to profit off of this amusement park atmosphere instead of promoting the building as the significant structure that it is. Additionally, their conservation effort on the house suck and they seem to have little regard for it as anything more than a haunted house.

[Gladiator7621]

Not to be a thorn in anyone's side, but I can honestly say that when I brought in my video/photo camera one night last year to the house I was sad to say I caught nothing on either, until I took them home and listened to the audio.  I was able to pull at least seven no kidding sounds of a male and female voice whispering next to my camera.  I could not explain this, and I have never captured anything like it before in my life either.  I plan to go back in a few weeks around 9:30pm, right before it closes as that is when I got the most activity.  Nothing touched me, I heard nothing around me that would resemble what I picked up, nor did I feel spooked.  I have never seen a ghost in my life but have been around places where ghostly activity allegedly exists.  Through all that I have said I can honestly say that I cannot debunk what I captured at the house.  I would be more than willing to send them to anyone who asks.  I sent them to the San Diego Paranormal Society but heard nothing from them since I sent them so I have no idea what they thought of it.  Lastly, I am a criminal investigator and have been for a few years now, so I hope that lends some credibility to what I just stated.

[pearsosl]

That's awesome!  I am glad you caught something on your camera.  That makes me want to try again.  They charge so much though to go in each time though.  Let me know what happens with "Take Two" ok?

[Gladiator7621]

I will keep you informed through this site. Also, last time I was there one of the workers at the house told me all of the experiences she has had since working there.  Whether or not I believe her is one thing as anyone is prone to stories, especially if it involves drawing more business. I can ask her about the same stuff and see if it is consistent.  This time though, I want to go with less people. The less people the better, even though the voices can still be heard clear as day.  I look forward to going back.

[bellalaghoste]

I remember when dead famous did a show on Jim Morrison.  Shows on AE I think. Chris fielding and some girl with blonde hair.
The investigation was good they thought they caught a full bodie aperation on film but later findings found it was just the guide in the shot.  Confirmed by an article by Chris.   Never the less we all should have the right to investigate any place we want to.  You guys are doing it for science. 

[PPI Brian]

For those who are curious what the house looks like, here are some video clips of the place from YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo-FqzNIZGg&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooXWNuHUNbU&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf3lyLyoOgg&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzQQwezwNIg&mode=related&search=

These clips are rather crude but entertaining....

[dwalters]

Crude is right...but that second one down is pretty entertaining. I especially like that small 5 second clip of the Proctor Valley Road. LOL....I grew up RIGHT THERE!

[PPI Brian]

Crude is right...but that second one down is pretty entertaining. I especially like that small 5 second clip of the Proctor Valley Road. LOL....I grew up RIGHT THERE!

I liked that little clip too! I spent many nights searching for the Proctor Valley Monster. Remind me to tell you about some of our investigations!

[PPI Brian]

Found this link to early accounts of paranormal activity at the Whaley House by June Reading and thought I would share it with our forum members.

Click this link to read the article.

Thoughts anyone?

[PPI Brian]

Talk about a "Blast from the Past" -- this thread was created in 2006! OMG!

In spite of the advanced age of this particular thread, I felt compelled to resurrect it from the dark corners of PPI's basement. Sorry, I'm just partial to the subject matter.

I have been sifting through my old audio tapes (yes, they were actually recorded on cassette tapes) and doing research for the second installment of the "Whaley House Interviews" podcast. The Whaley House is unique because it was built on the site of three public executions -- the hangings of Juan Verdugo and William Marshall in December of 1851 for their role in the infamous "Indian Uprising", and Yankee Jim Robinson on September 18, 1852 for attempting to steal a ship in San Diego bay. Thomas Whaley witnessed all three hangings, and he even served as a member of the firing squad that executed the leader of the indian uprising, Antonia Garra, in El Campo Santo.

The Uprising was deadly serious. There were bloody battles that nobody living in San Diego today knows about -- for example, the battle of San Pasqual and the Pauma Massacre. it was a scary time to live in San Diego. Thomas Whaley wrote about the events in a letter to his mother and sister, dated December 2, 1851, Thomas Whaley wrote:

". . . The tocsin of war Sounds. We momentarily expect to be attacked by the Indians who under their great chief Antonio Garra are swarming by thousands into the South. The town of San Diego is proclaimed under martial law. Every man is enrolled a Soldier. We are but a handful of men numbering not quite a hundred. Already several parties have gone out to fight and this morning thir?teen more leave all of whom will be under the command of Maj. Fitzgerald U.S.A. The party is supplied with ammunitions and rations for thirty days. They are to act only on the defensive till reinforcements arrive from the north. There are only thirty five of us left to protect the town . . . my turn to Stand guard comes rather frequently . . . I have contributed fifty dollars in cash and Some few things towards getting up the expedition."

". . . The first attack the Indians made was upon the rancho of J. J. Warner, member of our State Legislature, burning his house, Stealing everything belonging to him and murdering a man in his employ. Four men have been murdered upon the Gila and four more Americans from this place at the Springs of the Agua Caliente who had gone there for their health . . . the rancheros are sending their families to town for better protection . . . I am well armed with a brace of Six Shooters and have a horse ready to Saddle at any moment."

Here is a link about William Marshall -- "The Wickedest Man in California". Research conducted by the San Diego History Center implies that Marshall was a man caught between two cultures. Since his death, historians consistently have pictured him as a great villain and instigator of the revolt. His villainy is viewed as beyond doubt, his implication complete. However, thorough study of contemporary documents offers another picture of Marshall.

Here's a link about this fascinating character who's life came to an end at the site where the Whaley House now stands:
http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/76winter/marshall.htm

Here's a link to an article about the Garra Uprising:
http://www.sandiegohistory.org/books/pourade/silver/silverchapter10.htm

On my audio tapes, June Reading speaks extensively about the executions, and the events that led to their arrest, conviction and execution. Although there's nothing paranormal about this conversation, does anyone think this would make good material for a podcast?

[PPI Tracy]

I think it would be very interesting, actually.  I think a lot of people are curious about it, whether they "believe" or don't.  

I know both Cary and I had an interesting experience the first time we went there.  We didn't talk about it or even realize we had the same thing happen until we talked to one of the docents there about it and were told it happens frequently to others.  There was no power of suggestion because I didn't know anything about the Whaley House before going in and my experience, as Cary's, was not long after entering the building.  It was on the stairs.  We both were walking up the stairs and when we got to the fifth step, I believe, we both felt a tightening around our necks.  It was almost hard to breathe but I remember a distinct pressure on my throat.  We didn't say anything to each other until the end of our visit to the venue.  Apparently, the place where we both experienced this "throat pressure and tightening" was just about even with the spot where the gallows were.  In fact, it was just to the side of it.  I didn't even know that it was where people were put to death.  Co-inky-dink?  Maybe, but then again.......

[PPI Tim]

I still think we need to do a roadtrip to old town.

[PPI Tracy]

yeppers

[PPI Debra]

The Uprising was deadly serious. There were bloody battles that nobody living in San Diego today knows about -- for example, the battle of San Pasqual and the Pauma Massacre. it was a scary time to live in San Diego. Thomas Whaley wrote about the events in a letter to his mother and sister, dated December 2, 1851, Thomas Whaley wrote:

". . . The tocsin of war Sounds. We momentarily expect to be attacked by the Indians who under their great chief Antonio Garra are swarming by thousands into the South. The town of San Diego is proclaimed under martial law. Every man is enrolled a Soldier. We are but a handful of men numbering not quite a hundred. Already several parties have gone out to fight and this morning thir?teen more leave all of whom will be under the command of Maj. Fitzgerald U.S.A. The party is supplied with ammunitions and rations for thirty days. They are to act only on the defensive till reinforcements arrive from the north. There are only thirty five of us left to protect the town . . . my turn to Stand guard comes rather frequently . . . I have contributed fifty dollars in cash and Some few things towards getting up the expedition."

". . . The first attack the Indians made was upon the rancho of J. J. Warner, member of our State Legislature, burning his house, Stealing everything belonging to him and murdering a man in his employ. Four men have been murdered upon the Gila and four more Americans from this place at the Springs of the Agua Caliente who had gone there for their health . . . the rancheros are sending their families to town for better protection . . . I am well armed with a brace of Six Shooters and have a horse ready to Saddle at any moment."

Here is a link about William Marshall -- "The Wickedest Man in California". Research conducted by the San Diego History Center implies that Marshall was a man caught between two cultures. Since his death, historians consistently have pictured him as a great villain and instigator of the revolt. His villainy is viewed as beyond doubt, his implication complete. However, thorough study of contemporary documents offers another picture of Marshall.

Here's a link about this fascinating character who's life came to an end at the site where the Whaley House now stands:
http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/76winter/marshall.htm

Here's a link to an article about the Garra Uprising:
http://www.sandiegohistory.org/books/pourade/silver/silverchapter10.htm

On my audio tapes, June Reading speaks extensively about the executions, and the events that led to their arrest, conviction and execution. Although there's nothing paranormal about this conversation, does anyone think this would make good material for a podcast?

I also think it would be very interesting.
I love a little history with my paranormal.

[Shellshock]

Hey , maybe ill run into you guys one day. I like visiting Old Town on Sundays Let ya guys know next time im headed down..maybe we can meet for lunch and a day of Old Town fun?

[PPI Debra]

Hey , maybe ill run into you guys one day. I like visiting Old Town on Sundays Let ya guys know next time im headed down..maybe we can meet for lunch and a day of Old Town fun?

That sounds like fun!

[PPI Brian]

That would be great. I love Old Town and haven't been to the Whaley House in a while. Perhaps we can have lunch at the Creole Cafe on the property?

[Shellshock]

Mmmmm , I like their French Onion Soup.