Business Case #4 (archived)

 

The Old Commercial Hotel

Business Case #4 - Includes 7 photos

Pre-Investigation

Date:  Oct. 20, 2001

Time: 5:00pm-6:30pm

Location: St Clair County, MO


Investigators on Scene:

Brenda, Jerry and guest investigator Bonnie


Attendees on Scene:

Hotel owners


Conditions:

Temp:  61 F

Barometer:  29.93 in

Humidity:  87%

Weather:  Fair

Lunar Phase:  Waxing Crescent

Geomagnetic:  Unsettled

Solar X-Rays:  Active


Evidence Collected

Digital Photos:  174

Positive Digital Photos: 94


Brief Property Description:

2-story hotel re-built in 1867 with approximately 30 rooms and partial basement.  See property description listed under Full Investigation for more details.



History:

In 1837, there were about 60 people living in Osceola on the banks of the Osage River.  That year the first hotel in the area opened its doors to provide accommodations to the travelers.  It was a double log cabin structure with a passageway between the cabins.  The grounds on which the present Commercial Hotel is located was platted in June of 1850.  A frame building was constructed on the property and it bore the titles "Pollard House" and "Union Inn".


In 1861, the hotel was destroyed by fire in the ferocious raid on the town by Jim Lane during the Civil War.  Missouri was a split-state during the Civil War and much of the Confederate supplies and money were held in Osceola.  When Jim Lane launched his raid, he hoped to capture these supplies and the Confederate money.  Osceola was forewarned of Jim Lane's plans and upon his arrival, the supplies and money he so desperately sought, were gone.  He was so enraged that he set the town on fire.  Osceola was thoroughly devastated.


In retaliation for Jim Lane's raid, Quantrill and his Raiders set our for Lawrence, Kansas, gathering guerillas and angry Missourians along the way to assist them in their revenge.  The burning of Lawrence, Kansas is well known.  As Quantrill and his men rode through Lawrence, Kansas, they were heard yelling "Remember Osceola". 


The present Commercial Hotel building was rebuilt and erected in 1867.  "A pleasant gathering place through the span of well over a century, The Old Commercial Hotel still bears the original banister where guests hands were placed so long ago."  (See additional history information in the Full Investigation report.)



Current Owner Reportings:

*See reportings in the Full Investigation report


Reported Findings & Experiences:

Team member, Brenda, felt a very strong presence in the kitchen area of the restaurant.  This presence was also felt strongly by the female owner and guest investigator Bonnie.  Team member Jerry took photos during this time and captured two photographs showing red spirit energy.  This presence followed them back upstairs walking between Brenda and the female hotel owner.  Brenda could feel a coldness on her back while the female hotel owner felt the coldness in front of her.  The presence remained with them until Brenda acknowledged it, asking it to return to the downstairs.

 

Full Investigation

Date:  Nov. 3, 2001 - Nov. 4, 2001

Time:  5:00pm (Nov. 3) - 7:30am (Nov. 4)

Location:  St. Clair County, MO



Investigators on Scene:

Brenda, Dee Ann, Mark, Jerry, Joyce, Shayla, Clint



Guest Investigators:

Steve, Mark, Misty (psychic)



Attendees on Scene:

Hotel owners, their son and daughter-in-law, owner's brother and sister-in-law and a friend of the family



Conditions:

Temp:  57 F to 55 F

Barometer:  30.37 in and rising

Humidity:  82%

Weather:  Partly Cloudy

Lunar Phase:  Full Moon

Geomagnetic:  Quiet

Solar X-Rays:  Active

Dew Point:  52 F

Visibility: Unlimited

Wind:  SW 5mph to Variable at 1mph

UV index:  0 minimal



Evidence Collected:

Digital Photos:  533 

Positive Digital Photos:  367 

35mm Photos:  Unknown

Positive 35mm Photos:  Development Pending

EVPs:  11 (see reported findings for details)

Video:  Numerous Clips (see reported findings for details)



Brief Hotel and Property Description:

(See description summary under Pre-Investigation)


Front of Hotel faces the courthouse and square; Hotel sets on SW corner of square; Hardwood floors

First Floor: - Main entrance; 12 rooms on floor arranged in horseshoe shape

Second Floor: - There are 18 rooms on the second floor

Basement: - Consists of mainly 2 large rooms and a small room in the rear; also 1/2 bath and a stairway; an outside entry apartment, separated from other basement areas, includes crawl spaces



History:

(See Basic History under Pre-Investigation)



Current Owner Reportings: