In the previous investigation our focus had been this original adobe and addition. Primarily the Music Room. This time we would do a focused EVP and ITC session in the church known as the Saint Rose of Lima.
From Simi History.com
In 1902 on a lot donated by Thomas Bard the Presbyterians were able to build their own church.
Sharing the community with these Presbyterians were people of the Protestant faith. Before this church was built, the congregations would meet in a colony house. According to Simi History.com, neither congregation could afford a full time minister and most people would attend which ever service had a minister that Sunday. Eventually the little church became home to a Catholic congregation.
Also according to Simi History.com the diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles purchased the church. The website is not clear in their description as to who named it the Saint Rose of Lima.
http://www.simihistory.com/#!church/c1t31
According to the history given on http://www.marypages.com/RoseofLima.htm
Isabel Flores de Oliva was given the nickname Rose by her mother when one day as she was a baby in the cradle it was witnessed by her mother and several other women in attendance, a beautiful rose suddenly appeared in the air and touched the face of Isabel and then vanished. Isabel adopted the name Rose at her confirmation. By the young age of 20 she was conferred the third order of the habit of Saint Dominic in the year 1606.
Rose cared for the sick and the hungry in her community and would bring them to her home to care for them. She was also dedicated to helping the Incas. During her last few years of life she set up a room in her house for homeless children. According to this site, Rose took her inspiration by the example of Saint Catherine of Siena, who had as special calling to help the Indians and evangelize them.
Rose passed away at the young age of 31.
The story of Saint Rose of Lima has little or nothing to do with the church located at Strathearn Historical park other than the Catholic congregation named the Church after her. I just thought you might like an understanding of who she was.
During our investigation of the church, divining rods were utilized to possibly establish some contact with spirits who were present. Prior to the divining rods being utilized the session was a very basic EVP session.
Author and long time paranormal investigator Rob Wlodarski asked if there was a priest present in the church. Immediately after Rob's question there was an audible squeak or squeal from the back of the congregation room which several of us heard. From my review of my audio at this point that a small, feint voice was heard to say "Hello" at the time of this squeak or squeal. The EVP itself is not considered "Class A" and hard to hear so I will not post it here for your listening.
After each of us were questioned as to whether or not someone within the group had made that sound I asked "so nobody made that sound?" and then there is an EVP that says "Hello, it was me". Again not a "Class A" EVP and hard to hear so I will not post it here.
Rob and I were utilizing divining rods for a Question and Answer session with what is perhaps the spirit of a deceased priest. Clare is talking to the priest in Spanish and he is answering via the divining rods. There is an unknown voice after Clare asks a question that says "Nobody can" followed by a female voice that asks "What's the matter with you"
As the bell rang, then one of our investigators verbally acted to call in the congregation into the church for services to begin, there is a very clear, deep male voice which says "You must leave".
Robert Jr was a talented musician from what I am told. During this session I mistakenly referred to him as John. For that I apologize Robert.
Strong female presence here as you will hear in the captured audio. Its either one of the daughters or the mother Mary.
More personal subjects were addressed at this point in regards to the spirits who were present. Asking for confirmation from Robert Strathearn Senior, the patriarch of the Strathearn family. Questions about his job, age, and why they choose to remain in the house.
When I attempted to directly contact the father, Robert Strathearn Sr., there was a female voice responding on the spirit box who I assume may have been his wife Mary. The response was "I wish you would leave". According to fellow investigator Rob Wlodarski, Mary has always been known to be very friendly.
I asked Robert Sr. about the type of work he did, "What was your job?" the response I received was a very funny and humorous "What job?!"
I attempted to talk to Robert Sr. again and there is male response that says "I'm dead". Followed by another voice that says "ghost".
The ranch was once the location of a Chumash Indian villiage and then in 1842 the 92,000 acre ranch was acquired by Don Jose De La Guerra y Noriega. During the 1880s the ranch was owned by a family of French Basque sheep herders named Jauregues. This information is courtesy of www.nps.gov/nr/travel/ca/ca16.htm.
We look forward to coming back and investigating further. In hope of making contact with those who lived here in the past.