Welcome to the Eastern
State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
A national historic landmark.
Click
Here to visit the web site of Eastern
State Penitentiary.
Opened in 1829 as part of a controversial
movement to change the behavior of inmates through "confinement
in solitude with labor," Eastern State Penitentiary
quickly became one of the most expensive and most
copied buildings in the young United States. It is
estimated that more than 300 prisons worldwide are
based on the Penitentiary's wagon-wheel, or "radial" floor
plan.Some of America's most notorious criminals were
held in the Penitentiary's vaulted, sky-lit cells,
including bank robber Willie Sutton and Al Capone.
After 142 years of consecutive use, Eastern State
Penitentiary was completely abandoned in 1971, and
now stands, a lost world of crumbling cellblocks
and empty guard towers.
It was here that the Garden State
Ghost Hunters fulfilled a dual role; we conducted
a paranormal investigation in this immense prison
and participated as the subject 'actors' for an upcoming
episode of 'Mysterious Journeys' to be aired nationally
on the Travel Channel in the fall of 2007. We quickly
took up residence for a hard day into night of anticipated
paranormal activity. Our group was small, 4 primary
team investigators and backup team members. The lead
investigators were Boni Bates, Robert Reid, Dave
Goldstein and Keri Bo Bates. Helping them with transportation
and setup were Whettam Bates & Tracey Thielman.
The day started with arrival at
4:00pm. The ESP staff opened the massive Iron Gate
so our caravan may enter the prison yard. It locked
solidly behind us. The hot June sun cooked every
rock in those dark and gothic walls. We explained
quite a bit on the TV show about how we investigate
and the equipment we use to determine the presence
or absence of the paranormal. There was plenty of
down time as the camera crews took various positions
as we explored this mecca of mayhem and sadness.
After a brief team meeting we got started. Into the
night we setup our cameras and recording equipment
hoping to make that singular discovery that provokes
and bewilders.
As if it had been written in Hollywood
the winds began to change late in the evening. With
our entourage nestled deep within the prison cell
blocks the weather shifted and we were entertained
by a violent thunder & lightning storm. Bolts
of light and crashes of thunder added a satisfying
soundtrack to our investigation.
Halfway into the night we paused
to review some of the evidence from the investigation & we
were able to have quite a lively discussion. More
evidence was gathered including some remarkable pictures
taken in the prison infirmary. Rob captured an interesting
photo taken in Cellblock #7 facing the ceiling. There
is some sort of energy ribbon in the lower left of
the frame. I assure you (author) I was standing next
to Rob and there was nothing visible there. We also
checked the camera lens and all other rational possibilities.
Interesting indeed! Some of the Orb activity from
Cell Block #7 was of particular interest. Our IR
cameras did their job and we recorded about 4 hours
on tape. We have compiled a short video for you here
on the site so please check it out. The night came
to an end around 2:30am as we wrapped up. The TV
crew recorded our final thoughts, we loaded up our
cars and trucks and we played our last 'get-out-of-jail-free'
card. The grim iron gates once again screeched open
and our team emerged from the Bastille and flooded
out into the dark quiet pre-dawn streets of Philadelphia.
Dave Goldstein
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