Somewhere in Time Antique Mall
and
Secret Garden Tea Room
T.R.I.P.P.'s investigation of these two buildings, that
have been remodeled to
be all one building now, gave us a glimpse into it's
history, and it is the location
of one of Wichita Falls most notable shootings. On May 5, 1922, an
ex Texas
Ranger shot a well known rowdy Oklahoma lawman in the domino parlor which
once was a part of these buildings when they were known as hotels. This was
an investigation of two buildings that
hold a lot of secrets, where spirits roam,
and where at least two people are
known to have lost their lives.
Although it has a haunted past that still
remains today, the Somewhere in Time
Antique Mall and The Secret Garden Tea Room
offer up enjoyable delights of
both wonderful antiques and delicious meals.
You will feel welcomed and feel
like you have stepped back in time.
Read about the shooting between the ex Ranger and lawman Bud Ballew
"click here"
The Investigation of
615 Ohio Street, Wichita Falls, Texas
This was an interesting and anxiously awaited
investigation. Located in the Depot
Owners Diane Walser and Barbara Douglas agreed to allow
T.R.I.P.P. to investigate
There are 2 known deaths that have happened in these
buildings. One being in the domino
During the original investigation, May 4, 2007, and the follow-up on October 27, 2007,
Evps were picked up by the recording devices of the spirits roaming there, and pictures
The sensitives of the team picked up the energy of a woman wandering the upstairs
On the follow-up investigation, we did not get EVP, but we did get some pictures of
No evidence of any kind was obtained that had to do with the young man who died in
Square Historic District in downtown
Wichita Falls,Texas, and named in the National
Registry of Historic Places,
this was an intriguing chance to investigate a place that
was
originally built as hotels in 1888 and known as the Denver and Dempsey Hotels.
after T.R.I.P.P. had inquired about information
that they heard about in which some
of the employees had stated they had heard
or seen unusual things going on there.
Diane and Barbara also shared some of the
things that had been experienced, such as
pots and pans heard
rattling in kitchen area when no one was in the kitchen. Footsteps
heard
upstairs and in the building when there would be no one other than them around.
Displays would be moved or items would be knocked off
and feelings of being watched
Even breathing on the neck when there
was nothing to explain this. Pillows on a bench
would be moved from one bench
and would end up a few feet away on floor. This was a
reoccurring incident and
was frequently found in the mornings upon arrival and opening
up. Display of
lotions would be scattered about the floor sometimes when owner would
open
for business, yet nothing had set off sensing motion detectors throughout
the area.
parlor in 1922 when it was a hotel when an ex
Texas Ranger shot a rowdy Oklahoma law-
man, and one in what is now a service
garage and happened in the late 1980’s or the early
1990’s. In an attempted robbery break in, a man was caught in a
turban on the roof that
he had climbed into and got caught and could not get
out. He was found the next morning.
Apparently he got trapped in a position that caused
weight on his chest and which made it
hard for him to breathe, and the weight of
his body finally caused enough restriction that
he could not get enough air and
he died.
which included a KFDX Channel 3 cameraman and a reporter who were doing a story
about the paranormal and aired it on TV, we did find that there was definitely activity
going on at the mall and tearoom.
that show paranormal energy going on while investigators were requesting signs from the
spirits to let them know they are among those at the mall and tea room. The investigators
had numerous personal experiences that were not caught on audio or video. There is one
in particular that at the time was just an EVP that we had no information that connected the
spirit to this building. Spirits are not always connected to a place they haunt. Four months
later, the owners came across some information that we feel linked this spirit directly to the
buildings. When you listen to the EVP below called “Albert”, you can hear a woman calling
out to someone named Albert. The owners actually came across a name carved into some
of the mortar on the building and the name is Albert Johnson, and the two n’s in the Johnson
were backwards. Although not extraordinary, some people in the 1800’s and early 1900’s
did not know how to read or write and memorized the way to write their name when needed.
Being this name is carved into the mortar, we think it may actually be the name of one of the
men who helped build these buildings. We have also picked up the voice of a young child that
appears to be a young boy. There is an EVP where a woman is calling out a name (could not
make out the name) and it sounds like a child calling back out to her. Also, while doing some
experiments in the south garage, several of the investigators felt they were being followed by
a
small child. There is another EVP that sounds like a child saying something inside the lobby
of
the building. There was a voice of a woman picked up in the lobby area and in the tearoom
where the tables are sitting. There was EVP captured of whistling and something making
noise at front counter area.
area
and she was wearing a long red dress and hair pulled up like many women wore
their hair in the 1800’s. There was a male energy picked up in the garage area across
from the domino parlor where the shooting occurred. The description the sensitives
gave, we are led to believe that this may well be the spirit of the man that was shot in
the domino parlor in 1922. He matched a description of Bud Ballew, rowdy lawman
from Oklahoma who was shot by ex Texas Ranger J. W. McCormick, who was the
sheriff of Wichita at the time. There was also an EVP that is of a very very loud bang
that's unexplained. None of the team or owners heard it that night. Only the recorder
picked this up, and could this be the residual of a gunshot?
anomalies and also pictures taken during an experiment yielding some interesting info.
While in the south garage area, several of the team members were feeling there was a
presence with them and one even felt her hair being pulled. So the team members told
them it was ok for the spirits to come closer and gave permission to the spirits to touch
them. Looking at the pictures in the photo section, you'll see T.R.I.P.P team members
volunteering to hold their hands out asking to make contact with them. Also, in the
furniture gallery of the mall,
several of the team had names of previous owners and
occupants who once lived in the
buildings and they were calling out names of these
people and asking for signs that they
were there with us. There was a streak coming from
the ceiling
in the furniture room that was captured by the camera as one of the investigators
(Clint)
was calling the names of known previous occupants of the building to see if there
may be
any replies. Traci, another investigator, felt a hand touch her back when Clint was
calling
out to Mrs. Ballew. She also felt like someone was touching her hair. Several
personal
experiences also came at the time when Mr. Morse, Mr. Elliot, and Mrs.
Ballew's
names were called out. Edward Morse had the Wichita Falls Laundry Company
in the
building in 1911. Frank Elliot had an auto and Carriage painting business in the
building
in 1912. and Mary Ballew had a business called Oriental Rooms there in 1918.
the building after he became stuck while trying to shimmy down a turban during a break
in attempt. Spirits do not appear on cue for the most part, and another investigation in
the future may reveal more answers as to whom and maybe even why these spirits are
choosing to stay at the mall and tearoom.
The spirits roam calling out to one another and watch over the place and create mischief
from time to time for the owners. They do like to take some of the items in the mall and
move them or play with them or just toss them about. A few of the team members have
shared in experiences that made the hair raise on their arms and gave them ghostbumps,
but nothing has happened to make any of us feel that there are any negative spirits in the
buildings. These spirits seem to be resident spirits and make their presence known and
enjoy the attention. At a recent lunch time visit to the tea room which was not a part of
the official investigation, the spirits even came out when the place was busy with people
wandering about and it was during the day. If you happen to visit this place and you are
wandering about and you feel you are being watched or something suddenly grasps your
hair or you feel a change in temperature, don't be surprised. The unseen is just as present
there as everything you can see. Ask for a sign, and you may just get one.
~ Overview list of things that took place during investigations ~
Rocking chair
was rocking and no one was in it or near it.
Next day owner experienced same phenomena.
Another investigator sat in same rocking chair later and felt someone rubbing
and lightly patting their head.
A team member caught a glimpse of a shadow person in the hallway right outside
the kitchen area and it moved quickly into the tearoom seating area.
In service garage, investigator saw a shadow move quickly across and go behind a truck.
Female voice heard by two investigators at glass counter in front area of store.
EVP captured of whistling
and something making noise at front counter area.
EVP captured of a woman
calling out to Albert.
EVP captured of woman
calling out and a child answering back.
In domino parlor room, one investigator picked up an intense perfume smell resembling
rose and lavender fragrance, and later caught the same smell walking through the break
room going to garage.
Sensitive picked up gentleman in hallway at domino parlor wearing a blue shirt; big hat,
wide belt, boots and he had red hair and blue eyes. It is believed that this may be Bud
Ballew who was shot and killed in the domino parlor in 1922. The team was not able
to make voice contact with Bud Ballew as they had hoped.
One member said that in the tea room hallway she sensed a tall man was behind her
trying to hurry her up to get out of there and felt someone breathing heavy
on her neck.
Two investigators heard water dripping where no water is present.
There were pictures taken upstairs above the tearoom. As several investigators were
going in and out one of the rooms upstairs, they noticed upon exit of one of the rooms
they had been in several times, that a dead pigeon had been placed right in the walkway
of the door, meaning it would have to be moved or stepped over in order to leave the room.
This pigeon had not been there two previous times they had been in that room that evening.
Several of the pictures show distinct orbs and one picture showed that one of the orbs had
moved from the ceiling area and towards the floor. The investigators felt a strong presence
in the area and investigators temporarily had a sense of confusion while upstairs as though
something was deliberately trying to make them feel strange so they might leave the area.
Another member said it was not a scary feeling they got from the building; it just felt like
lost souls that had nowhere else to go.
The team had more than their share of personal experiences and reporter was witness to one.
KFDX placed a 4-minute segment of the investigation on their nightly news on November1, 2007.
A special thank
you goes out to our team member Clint Lee for all the information he was able to
get
while doing research on this investigation, as well for the information
Diane and Barbara gave us.
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PHOTOS |
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EVPS |
Ahhh Duncan Unsure Name
Albert Whistle Mimicking
Calling out Can't you do it Loud bang
Ahhh.. You hear a man saying this and then what sounds like a man
shuffling footsteps or one team
Duncan... Sounds like a small child asking "Is Duncan over here". This is very brief.
Unsure name... An investigator was checking a recorder to turn it on and you hear her say "It's already
Albert... You hear a woman faintly calling out the name "Albert", and then you hear the energy grow
Whistle... You hear some sort of beeping noise. It has been speculated that it could be energy, cell
Mimicking.. This one is a little different. If you listen very carefully right at the beginning, you will
Calling out... Sounds like
a woman calling out and a child answering back.
Whisper in back ground
that asks "Can't you do it" and something else.
This was a loud bang
picked up on the recorder in the front lobby area. This registered
high on the meter, yet no one in the place heard this when it happened.
