Investigation Report for the Whaley House in San Diego, CA, 04-23-05

Time of Investigation:

Began at Midnight and ended at 1 a.m.

Solar Conditions:

Solar X-rays are Normal. Geomagnetic fields indicate Unsettled.

Moon Phase:

1 day prior to Full Moon

Weather Conditions:

Clear; temperature in the low-50s.

Description of Location:

The Whaley House is a two-story Greek Revival style brick residence in San Diego's Old Town, was designed by Thomas Whaley and completed in 1857. The home, acclaimed as the "finest new brick block in Southern California" by the San Diego Herald, contained mahogany and rosewood furniture, damask drapes, and Brussels carpets. Whaley established his general store in this residence, and solicited cash customers only. The Whaleys moved to San Francisco but returned to San Diego in 1868. Whaley family members would live in the house for nearly a century.

From October 1868 to January 1869, the Tanner Troupe Theatre operated out of the front upstairs bedroom. The San Diego County Courthouse utilized the former granary in August 1869 and rented three upstairs rooms for records storage. After the establishment of New Town San Diego by Alonzo Horton in 1868, the town focus changed to present day downtown San Diego. During a March 1871 raid, courthouse documents were removed from the Whaley House and taken to Horton’s Hall on 6th and F in San Diego. After the County’s exit, Whaley connected the former granary and courtroom to the residence, changed windows and doors, and altered the front portico.

On October 31, 1956, the County of San Diego purchased the historic Whaley House, and undertook a major renovation of the property, which is still evident today. In September of 2000 Save Our Heritage Organisation assumed the stewardship of the property for the County of San Diego and is in the progress of restoring the house to its original appearance.

Equipment readings:

Our dowsing rods indicated activity in the dining room, the court room and in the Tanner Theatre. Several orb and anomalous photos were captured while these readings were being indicated, as well as several EVP.

Investigators:

Starr Chaney, Gloria Young, Doreen Disparti, and participants of the Ghost Trackers 2005 conference

Spectators:

Participants of Ghost Trackers 2005 conference

Investigation Setup:

I brought my dowsing rods, my Canon A510 Digital 35mm camera, my Fuji 35mm camera, my standard cassette recorder with external omnidirectional microphone and digital recorder.

History of the Home/Area:

Whaley, the son of a New York merchant family that owned the land now known as Central Park, constructed his San Diego home in 1856, seven years after he sailed to California in search of gold.

Four years after finishing his house and knocking down the gallows that had been on the property, Whaley heard footsteps upstairs. He wrote in letters that they belonged to James "Yankee Jim" Robinson, who was hanged for trying to steal a schooner.

In addition to the Whaleys and Yankee Jim, some visitors have heard the sound of children crying where the Whaley's 17-month-old son died of scarlet fever and a neighbor's daughter was killed after slicing her neck on Anna Whaley's clothesline.

Thomas Whaley died in 1890, and his wife followed him in 1913.

The house itself is experiencing something of a second coming: After the last Whaley relative died in 1953, a new owner wanted to tear it down to make room for a warehouse.

The county and preservationists intervened, and it was opened as a museum in 1960. Now a state historical landmark, the house is packed with antiques, if not souls, from the 19th century.

For more information, visit the website.

Activity Witnessed:

We experienced several areas which had cold spots, particularly in the dining room. Doreen saw a figure of a woman standing with our docent in the courtroom, but her flash wasn't charged and by the time the photo was taken it had transformed into a very bright orb. We had activity in the Tanner Theatre as well, and I was able to capture an anomoly on both digital and standard 35mm cameras while snapping photos with both cameras at the same time. I experienced an instance of being touched in the Tanner Theatre, near the fireplace. This is also where I captured the anomaly with both cameras. Photos and EVP are posted on their respective evidence pages on this site.

Investigation Findings:

I am still reviewing all my tapes, but have already found several EVP. The atmosphere changes as you walk into the different rooms of the Whaley House, and you can clearly sense the presences there. In my opinion, the Whaley's apparently plan to stay for awhile.