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Photo taken inside the chapel - the chapel is constructed of native stone that was quarried locally. |
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Business Case # 17 |
| Includes 11 photos |
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Date: February 3, 2006 Time: 8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
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Location:
Historic
Elmwood Cemetery Armour Chapel 4900 Truman Road Kansas City, MO 64127 |
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Photo taken inside the chapel - the chapel is constructed of native stone that was quarried locally. |
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Investigators on Scene: Brenda, Dee Ann, Jerry, Misty, Joyce, John, Mark M, Joe & Stacy |
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Attendees on Scene: Laura, Kevin, Richard (Cemetery Volunteers), Dale Castle & His wife |
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Conditions: Fair/Clear Temp: 40 degrees – 26 degrees Barometer: 29.97 – 30.09 Humidity: 49% - 57% Lunar Phase: Waxing Crescent Solar X-Rays: Normal Geomagnetic: Quiet Wind: NNW 13 mph – NNW 11 mph |
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Evidence Collected :Digital Photos Taken: 277 Positive Digital Photos: 84 35 mm Photos Taken: 72 35 mm Photos Positive: 0 Video: Numerous orbs EVPs: 8 (See Reported Findings and Experiences) |
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Brief Property Description & History The Elmwood Cemetery was established in 1872. In 1901, Kirkland Brooks Armour and his wife, Annie Paynter Hearne Armour, thought about building a chapel at Elmwood Cemetery creating a place of peace for families and friends who visited their loved ones and to make funerals and their services more convenient. The chapel would be built for the comfort, care and spiritual nature most conducive to the closure of having lost a loved one. The services would be held in the chapel and then, depending upon the weather, folks could go to the gravesite, and then go home. Both Kirk and Annie were very committed to the idea. Unfortunately, tragedy would strike them both. |
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In 1901, Kirk became ill with pneumonia. On September 27, 1901, Kirk lost his battle with pneumonia and, to Annie's great grief, died. Kirk and Annie's life together was the stuff of fairytales. Friends called the two, "Romeo and Juliet." Kirk enjoyed Annie's confidence and often turned to her for her opinions and thoughts. They were involved together in business and civic matters. Community was important to them both. Annie and Kirk were strong together and devoted to each other. Annie's grief was profound. It is from her love for this man that the Kirkland Brooks Armour Memorial Chapel was born. |
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One of the four life-sized angels carved from a single piece of wood. |
| The Chapel is built of native stone which was quarried locally. The woodwork is "black oak" and hand-carved. It is said that the work was done in England and brought back here to be installed in the Chapel. The four life-sized angels are each carved from a single piece of wood. While the other furnishings in the Chapel are made up of many different, intricately carved pieces, the angels are one. The detail is amazing and, it is said, that if you stand directly in front of them and look into their eyes, they will smile at you. The large window in the back of the Chapel is not original to the Chapel. The original window was replaced in 1922, by Charles Webster Littlefield, Annie's second husband, and her brother-in-law, Charles Armour, in tribute to Annie. Underneath the window, carved in stone, is the inscription, "To the memory of Kirkland Brooks Armour, Born April 10, 1854, Died September 27, 1901, Erected by his loving wife, November 27th, 1902." The individual pieces of glass are all hand-painted and then "baked" to harden and preserve the color, which is just as brilliant today as when it was installed. Underneath the feet of the image of Christ, is the inscription, "In Loving Memory of Annie Hearne Littlefield." Outside the door, as one looks up to the tower, there are four gargoyles which serve as lookouts against evil. They also serve as downspouts when it rains! |
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Photo of the window installed in tribute to Annie - the individual pieces of glass are all hand-painted and then "baked" to harden and preserve the color, which is just as brilliant today as when it was originally installed. (The background on this page is a portion of this stained glass window.) |
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The Armour Chapel seats approximately 100 people and the pews are quite comfortable. The acoustics in the Chapel are excellent and allow for all people to hear a speaker without much straining! There is a trapdoor on the Chancel area upon which the bier used to sit. This trapdoor once had a hydraulic lift underneath it, which allowed for the up and down movement of the bier. The bier held the casket and, when lowered, would go to the lower level where the crematorium worked. If a person was being cremated, the casket would go from the bier to the crematory. Afterwards, the family would inter the urn in either the Chapel Columbarium, or in the family plot, which was most often, on the grounds of Elmwood Cemetery. The Chapel originally was built with 18 holding vaults next to the hydraulic lift downstairs, where people were sometimes held when the weather was too cold to dig into the ground for burial, or until such time as when the family was ready. The hydraulic lift and the holding vaults are now gone. |
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Photo looking up at the bier from the lower level which held the casket and, when lowered, would go to the lower level where the crematorium worked. If a person was being cremated, the casket would go from the bier to the crematory. The chapel floor lies on the upper side of this bier. |
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The first crematorium ever built and used in Kansas City. |
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Elmwood Cemetery is working toward restoring and repairing the Chapel. For more information, please call the office, toll free, at 877-231-0373 or email them at Elmwood@crn.org. You can also visit their website at http://www.historickcelmwood.org |
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Current Reportings: + While working in the crematorium, one of the caretakers suddenly saw a blue ball of light rush past him. + Caretakers have seen apparitions and moving shadows in the cemetery. + The sounds of footsteps have been heard walking through the chapel on several occasions. At one time the caretaker felt that on one of these occasions, the footsteps led her to a leak in the ceiling. |
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Reported Findings and Experiences: + When Misty was doing her reading in the crematory, she felt as if some of the spirits were angry about something that was missing from down there. An EVP was captured at this time of a very high pitched female voice who sounds as if she says, "Thrown Away". It was learned that in the exact spot that Misty was standing, there once existed some vaults. Bodies were stored there due to lack of full payment for their plots. In the 1960's, it was decided that these bodies needed to be properly cared for so they were cremated and the ashes were spread throughout the cemetery. Perhaps the woman who spoke was trying to tell Misty that she felt as if her body had just been thrown away since it did not receive the kind of burial that she had expected. In addition to this EVP, 2 others were also recorded at this time: One said, "Hello" and the other said what sounds like "Who Me" + While Joyce is giving her reading in the Chapel Columbarium of the crematory, a male voice is recorded on tape giving his name as "Doctor Green". Joyce responds by asking, "Doctor who?" During this same reading, while searching for the name of the doctor, Joyce read aloud the names of two women: Mary & Rose C___. An EVP of a female voice was recorded just afterwards saying what sounds like the name "Jeroosh". Located on the wall next to the C___ women was a plague with a woman's name who's first initial was the letter J. After finding this EVP, we asked the cemetery to check their records to see if they could find what name the J. stood for. They replied back that the woman's name was Jerusha. As Joyce continued her reading, she said, "They're just all a talking." This was followed by an EVP of a female voice saying, "Just Talkin'." + As Misty, Dee Ann and Stacy were walking through the cemetery they saw several shadows and heard footsteps that seemed to be walking with them. + While Jerry and Joe were in the chapel an EVP was recorded of a male voice saying, "Stay in Here". + Another EVP was recorded in the chapel as Brenda and the caretaker were discussing the conditions of the cemetery and chapel. Brenda stated, "They like you," which was followed by a male voice saying, "Very Much". + Brenda reported smelling a foul odor in the chapel on two separate occasions. + Video included some very bright and large orb footages in both the chapel and crematorium. |
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Photo taken of one of the areas where Misty, Dee Ann and Stacy were walking through the cemetery and saw several shadows and heard footsteps that seemed to be walking with them. |
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Psychic Readings: *Note: The readings in the Chapel Columbarium were conducted in the dark. Our psychics did not have the opportunity to view any names prior to or during their readings. |
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JOYCE |
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Chapel + There is a woman here named Sarah. + I'm seeing things having to do with the chapel, but the spirits of those that I'm seeing are not left here. There is just a residual of the past. I just saw the funeral of a child, a dark eyed, blue eyed boy about 9 or 10 yrs old. It isn't still here, but there is something of him that is still here. I'm not sure what it is. He plays through here sometimes. He's buried here in the cemetery. + I'm seeing images of many people being in and out of here. I have to get passed them before I can see the ones that are earthbound. A man just laughed and said there were many, many of them. + Was there a fire here? Were there some records burned? A man walked in and he had an arm load of blue and brown manila envelopes and white papers. He shows me a man who had thin long brown hair, partially balding that he didn't keep neat. He wore like an old faded out blue shirt that had been hand sewn and this man burnt records. He's very concerned about the records being burned. He shows me 1933 and 1944. He said also that this man had taken some of the records home with him and destroyed them there. They were kept for a long time in the attic, like in a small trunk of chest. It's like brown heavy cardboard that had a strap around it. He is telling me that he's very concerned that there was some man that had to do with the mafia in Kansas City. That they brought this man here and shoved him right into the crematorium. They never did find that man but he's concerned about it. This was around the 1920's or 1930's. This man just keeps talking and talking. The cemetery caretaker indicated that she thought she knew who was talking to Joyce. Is it Donald? Don? The caretaker said "yes." He wrote his name and underlined it so I get that right. One of the things that he didn't like to do was clean up after everybody and he didn't like the crematorium clean-up. He's quite the gentleman. He's offering me a tour. + I see a woman who is about 5'4 or 5'5. She is round, big bosom; it is in the 1920's or 1930's, the dress is long so it's earlier than that. Oh, the woman was here when this place was first built. She was one of the ones involved in organizing and getting the chapel built. She was a wealthy Kansas City family. She has dark hair and pulls it back, poufs it and puts it in a bun. She's a very, very elegant looking lady. She's in an evening gown. Caretaker indicated that she knew who Joyce was talking about. The description given by Joyce bears a high resemblance to Annie Armour. Her name is Alice. She is here every now and then but I can assure you that she doesn't stay here. She wore Jasmine perfume. Her husband was cremated here. Kirkland Armour was not cremated so it's possible that Joyce was speaking to another woman. In examining the names on the plagues in the Columbarium, a woman named Alice was cremated in 1918 however she would have been a young child in 1902 when the chapel was built. + The man that the mafia brought here….they weren't nice to him that night. They brought another man who was in dark, dirty britches, sloppy looking brown shoes an old jacket and an old hat. He was poor. He was holding his right side and he has been shot. He gives his name as Delbert and his last name has a P in it. He didn't like what they did to him. + There is military here. Lots of Civil War. The Elmwood Cemetery contains the most Civil War burials in Kansas City. Some of them were killed in the Kansas City area and from the Westport battle. |
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Photo of an orb captured next to Joyce as she was conducting her reading of the chapel area. |
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Crematorium + There were some brought here who were not properly cremated like they were suppose to be. Sometimes the ovens did not work properly. There were other ashes mixed in. A man doesn't want me to tell you that. + There is an old man with red bushy hair that used to work here. He gives me his name as Jesse but he doesn't give me his last name. He may have said Jesse Freeman or Foreman. No, he's says Freeman and that he was one of the victims here. He said you'll find him on the list. + There was also big round 50 gallon barrels brought in here that were rolled in and the parts that disintegrate the way they were suppose to, were thrown into these barrels. Then they were taken out and dumped. + There were many who are standing here saying they want justice done but it's been too long ago, we can't do anything about that now. They are dressed in everything from the 1800's clear up until now. + Do you know where the grave of the Chinese man is? Some gentleman just walked up to me and he talked in the Chinese brogue and gave me his name. I can't say it. He says "Don't forget that I'm buried here also." The caretaker confirmed that Elmwood Cemetery contained some Chinese burials, along with many other ethnical backgrounds. + They want to make sure that you finish the book you're working on. They said to get every name and every cemetery lot and get them together. + There's a tiny little gray haired woman that had warts on her face and that insists that she wants something done about what happened down here. She says she will do everything within her power to bring this about. The caretaker indicated that she knew who this woman was. I think she was an English teacher because she's very proper. She says her name is Beth and she died Nov 4, 1922. Her last name was Kinsman or Kingsman. |
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Chapel Columbarium + You cannot talk all at once. They are saying that they want to be moved. They are afraid they are going to be left. + Doctor Who? Somebody said come here, "I'm the doctor." There were two plagues in the columbarium that indicated they were doctors. Where's the doctor? He said, "I'm here." I'm wondering if they forgot to put his title on his plague. They are just all talking. Several EVPs were recorded during Joyce's reading in the Columbarium. See Reported Findings and Experiences for details. + No one is here who is telling me that they have any problems with being here. There are some of them that are suppose to be here that are not here. |
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MISTY *Note: Some of Misty's readings during the investigation were lost due to an equipment malfunction. |
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Chapel Columbarium + I'm picking up the name Ella, Eleanor. I can see her. She says her husband is not here. Maybe her name is Alma…Alma Jean. The name of Ella was found in the Columbarium. There was room on the plaque for another name but it was blank. There were no other plaques with the same surname. + There is a Dorothy. She is looking for her husband. She hasn't gone into the light because he's not buried where he's suppose to be. A plaque with the name of Dorothy was found in the Columbarium. There was room on the plaque for another name but it was blank. There were no other plaques with the same surname. |
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Old Vault Room/Crematorium + Something doesn't feel right in here. There is something missing. There are spirits here. They're not happy. Dorothy is one of them. She's looking for her husband. He's not beside her and he is supposed to be. It was revealed at this time that Misty was standing in the area where the old vaults used to be. Bodies had been stored in the vaults due to lack of payment for their burial plots. In the 1960's, it was decided that these abandoned bodies needed to be properly cared for and the only option they had was to respectfully cremate them and spread their ashes throughout the cemetery. In doing so, they kept careful records of where each person's ashes were spread and did so ceremoniously. This was a tough decision for the cemetery but many of these bodies had been abandoned for many, many years and they had little choice. That's why the spirits are upset. They didn't believe in cremation. They weren't put where they were supposed to be. An EVP was recorded during this reading of a woman saying what sounds like, "Thrown Away." |
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Photo of the area where the old vaults used to be. Bodies had been stored in the vaults due to lack of payment for their burial plots. |
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Chapel + There is a male energy here. He was once a caretaker at the cemetery in the 1920's and 1930's. He would come in the chapel to cool off when it was real hot outside. His name was David??? Jackson??? + What was here that's not here now? Misty was standing on the rug that covers where the hydraulic lift would raise the bier. The rug was pulled back to show her where it had once been. One of Jackson's jobs was to run the lift. |
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Cemetery + Earlier I talked to a man named Ralph Brown. He was really cool. + I need to find Elizabeth. She says that a stone has fallen over her family plots and she's upset about it. She's going to lead me there. A family monument was found with the surname L____. There were individual markers for this family and one of those markers contained the name of Elizabeth. A large stone was found fallen and lying across on of the individual family stones. + There is a man named Johnson who runs around here who is also upset because his ashes were scattered. He was one of those that were supposed to have been buried. + A woman named Sandra is here. She wants us to follow her and help her find her husband. She floats through here. She said her ashes are scattered by a tombstone that has a man standing on a statue. Misty became adamant about finding this stone and spent much of her time walking through the cemetery until she found it. When she did find it, she took a picture and a large orb was in front of it. |
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Large orb in front of the "man standing on a statue" in which Misty was led by a woman named Sandra. |
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MPR SUMMARY MPR does feel that the Chapel, Columbarium and Crematorium are haunted. A male energy presence is very strong in the Chapel while in the Crematorium there seemed to be several presences that were very upset about being cremated instead of buried. Unfortunately, neither the ghost weather nor the moon phase was in our favor on the night of the investigation, otherwise we feel we would have been able to capture more photographic evidence. We hope to return in the near future for a follow up investigation which hopefully will provide additional evidence. |
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The crematorium at Elmwood was the first crematorium ever built and used in Kansas City. It is in desperate need of restoration. We feel it would be a shame for Kansas City to lose this historical significance due to lack of funds. It was not only a very interesting place to visit but very educational as well. If you would like to help preserve this landmark and/or help with the general upkeep of the grounds, then please send a donation to: Elmwood Cemetery 4900 Truman Road Kansas City, MO 64127 |
| Photos |
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Orb captured in the front area of one of the many mausoleums erected in the cemetery. |
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Orb captured in front of a mausoleum in which Misty was communicating with Ralph Brown whom is buried here. |
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Very bright orb in motion captured behind another mausoleum. |
| Angel graphics courtesy of: Sevenoaksart.co.uk |
| Cherub graphic courtesy of: uselessgraphics.com |
