>> THERE ARE STILL LESSONS TO BE
LEARNED IN THIS HISTORIC
ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE IN CALDWELL
COUNTY.
REGIONAL HISTORY AND FINE ARTS
ARE FEATURED AT THE HOPEWELL
MUSEUM.
IN BURNSIDE, A BED AND BREAKFAST
OFFERS AN EAGLE'S VIEW OF LAKE
CUMBERLAND.
THERE ARE EIGHT SIDES AND MANY
GHOST STORIES.
THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON
"KENTUCKY LIFE."
>> HI.
I'M DAVE SHUFET.
WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY LIFE."
WE'RE IN BOURBON COUNTY AT THE
HOPE WELL MUSEUM.
WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT'S ON DISPLAY
HERE.
THESE DAYS WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT
SPECIALTY AND MAGNET SCHOOLS,
BUT IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO WHEN
MANY KENTUCKIANS ATTENDED
ONE-ROOM SCHOOL HOUSES.
I DID, TOO, IN GRADE SCHOOL.
NO ONE REALLY KNOWS HOW MANY OF
THESE ONE-ROOM SCHOOL HOUSES
THERE WERE IN KENTUCKY OR HOW
MANY REMAIN STANDING.
IN CALDWELL COUNTY, PEOPLE CAME
TOGETHER TO PRESERVE THEIR OLD
WOODEN SCHOOLHOUSE, AND ALL IT
MEANT TO THE GENERATIONS OF
AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO ATTENDED
SCHOOL THERE IN FREE DON'TIA.
>> THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ONE-ROOM
SCHOOL IS A LIVING MUSEUM WHICH
ALLOWS CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO
SEE HOW LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN IF
YOU WOULD HAVE ATTENDED A
ONE-ROOM SCHOOL.
FIRST ATTENDED IN 1927, BY THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN OF THE
COMMUNITY.
IT CONTAINS ALL OF THE KINDS OF
THINGS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN
IN A TYPICAL ONE-ROOM SCHOOL
FROM THE EARLY 1900 RS.
>> A ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE HOUSED
ALL OF THE STUDENTS FROM GRADES
ONE THROUGH EIGHT, USUALLY, AND
THEY WOULD WORK IN GROUPS.
YOUNGER CHILDREN WOULD SIT CLOSE
TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM AND THE
OLDER ONES WOULD SIT TO THE
BACK.
THE TEACHER WOULD CALL THEM UP
IN GROUPS ACCORDING TO THEIR AGE
AND GO OVER THEIR DAILY LESSONS.
WHILE THAT GROUP WAS WORKING
WITH THE TEACHER, YOU SEE ALL OF
THE OTHERS GOT TO HEAR THAT.
>> WE WOULD WALK TO SCHOOL,
WHICH WE WOULD GET HERE ABOUT
7:30 OR QUARTER OF 8:00 AND
SCHOOL TAKING UP ABOUT 8:00, AND
THAT WOULD BE, OH, NOT TOO BAD.
I MEAN, WE HAD THREE RECESSES, I
THINK, AND WE HAD LUNCHTIME.
>> ANOTHER THING THAT WOULD
HAPPEN IS, IF IT WAS WINTERTIME,
THEY WOULD BRING IN THE WOOD OR
THE COAL.
THEY WOULD BRING IN THE WATER
FOR THE WATER BUCKET WHERE THEY
WOULD DRINK FROM, OR WATER FOR
WASHING HANDS.
THE BOYS WOULD SIT ON ONE SIDE
OF THE ROOM AND THE GIRLS SAT ON
ANOTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM.
AND THE TEACHER WOULD TEACH EACH
GRADE LEVEL, AND OLDER STUDENTS
WOULD HELP THE YOUNGER STUDENTS.
>> WELL, A TYPICAL TEACHER, THE
FIRST THING THEY WOULD DO IS SAY
A PRAYER AND SING, AND THEN THE
TEACHER WOULD GO UP -- WELL, UP
ON STAGE, WE CALLED IT, BECAUSE
IT WAS A LITTLE PLATFORM THERE.
AND THEN HE WOULD CALL OR SHE,
EACH ONE OF THE CLASSES FIRST,
SECOND, AND YOU KNOW, THIRD.
MOST TIME, THEY STARTED WITH
EIGHTH GRADE, THOUGH.
AND WOULD GO ON DOWN LIKE THAT.
>> IT WAS A REVIEW FOR THE OLDER
ONES, AND THE YOUNGER ONES WERE
CHALLENGED BY WHAT THE OLDER
STUDENTS WERE WORKING ON, AND
WHAT THEY WERE LEARNING.
>> AND THEY TAUGHT YOU JUST
ABOUT -- JUST ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE
TEACHING NOW, BECAUSE THEY WOULD
-- TEACHERS HAD TO TELL US ABOUT
THE FARMS AND DIFFERENT THINGS,
AND ASK IF WE KNEW THIS PERSON
AND THAT PERSON.
IT WAS JUST A LITTLE GROUP LIKE
FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD, YOU
KNOW.
ON UP TO THE EIGHTH GRADE.
AND YOU GRADUATED AT -- YOU
KNOW, EIGHTH GRADE.
>> I THINK IT'S INTERESTING HOW
THEY LEARNED FROM EACH OTHER,
EVEN THE LITTLE FIRST GRAUDERS
AND EIGHTH GRADERS WOULD WORK
TOGETHER ON THEIR STUDIES.
AND I THINK THAT WE MISS THAT
TODAY, THE INTERACTION BETWEEN
THE YOUNG AND THE OLD.
>> WELL, IT'S JUST LIKE A BIG
FAMILY.
ATTENDING THE SCHOOL WAS A
PLEASURE.
>> IN 2005, WE BEGAN BE DID-THE
CITY APPOINTED A COMMITTEE
CALLED THE FREDONIA HERITAGE
COMMITTEE THAT BEGAN LOOKING
INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF
RESTORATION AND RENOVATION.
THERE WERE GRANTS RECEIVED IN
2006.
THE HISTORY CHANNEL, SAVE OUR
HISTORY GRANT, WAS OBTAINED BY
THE COAL COUNTY HISTORICAL
SOCIETY, WITH CONJUNCTION WITH
THE FREDONIA HERITAGE COMMITTEE
AND THE GRANT COMMITTEE DID MUCH
WORK TO RESTORE THE BUILDING AT
THAT TIME.
>> IT JUST KIND OF KNOWBALLED
AFTER THAT, AND WE COULDN'T
REALLY BELIEVE THE RESPONSE WE
GOT FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND EVEN
FROM THE STATE.
WE HAD PEOPLE THAT WORKED HARD
ON THIS BUILDING, RESTORING IT.
WE HAD OF COURSE, THE FLOORS HAD
TO BE REDONE, THE WALLS, THE
CEILINGS.
THE WIRING.
JUST REALLY EVERY PART OF THE
BUILDING WAS RESTORED.
WE HAD PEOPLE THAT WOULD ASK
WHAT THEY COULD DO TO HELP.
UNTIL YOU SHOW THAT THERE IS A
NEED, YOU DON'T REALIZE THERE
ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO
HELP.
>> THE MEMORABILIA LOCATED IN
OUR ONE-ROOM SCHOOL INCLUDES
DESKS THAT PEOPLE HAVE DONATED
TO OUR SCHOOL.
>> WE HAVE MADE LITTLE PLAQUES
TO PUT ON THE DESKS GIVING THE
NAME OF THE DONOR.
WE HAVE BENCHES AND PICTURES,
THE POT BELLIED STOVE IS THE
ORIGINAL STOVE THAT WAS HERE.
YOU SEE A WASH BASIN, JUST THIS
LITTLE CUPS.
YOU KNOW, THEY DRANK OUT OF A
PAIL OF WATER.
ALL OF THE CHILDREN DRANK OUT OF
SAME PAIL YOU KNOW, WITH JUST
ONE CUP.
>> THERE ARE SCHOOL BELLS, LUNCH
PAILS.
AND MANY OTHER PIECES OF MEMBER
BALIA THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
PRESENT IN A ONE ROOM SCHOOL.
ANOTHER PIECE OF MEMORABILIA IS
A FLAG WHICH WE RECEIVED AT THE
REQUEST OF SENATOR JIM BUNTING.
IT HAD FLOWN OVER THE CAPITAL IN
WASHINGTON, D.C.
SO, WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE THAT.
ONE OF THE PROJECTS WE DO HERE
AT THE WILSON BLAIR ONE ROOM
SCHOOL IS TO EDUCATE CHILDREN ON
WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO ATTEND A ONE
ROOM SCHOOL.
SOME OF THE PROJECTS WE DO,
INCLUDE EACH OCTOBER, THE
STUDENTS FROM THE THIRD GRADE OF
THE CALDWELL COUNTY ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL COME TO OUR SCHOOL FOR AN
ENTIRE DAY, FIELD DAY PROGRAM.
THEY GO THROUGH ALL OF THE
ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD HAVE
HAPPENED IN A ONE ROOM SCHOOL.
THEY HAVE A CLASSROOM.
THEY HEAR STORIES OF AN
INDIVIDUAL WHO ATTENDED A ONE
ROOM SCHOOL.
WE DO TAKE THEM ON A HAYRIDE
THROUGH THE TOWN.
THEY DO DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT
WOULD MAYBE BE CRAFTS DURING
THAT TIME PERIOD.
WE WANT THE WILSON BLAIR ONE
ROOM SCHOOL TO BE A SIGHT IN
FREDONIA THAT CAN BE SEEN AS A
PLACE WHERE WE ARE STRIVING TO
PRESERVE HISTORY FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
WE NEED TO BE FOREVER REMINDED
OF THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR
HISTORY, AND WHY WE ARE COMING
TO THE POINT WE ARE TODAY.
WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF WHAT
HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO
PRESERVE THE WILSON BLAIR
AFRICAN-AMERICAN ONE ROOM SCHOOL
HOUSE, VISIT OUR WEBSITE, AT
KET.ORG/KENTUCKYLIFE.
IF YOU ATTENDED A ONE ROOM
SCHOOLHOUSE OR KNOW ABOUT THE
HISTORY OF ONE IN YOUR TOWN OR
COUNTY, JOIN OUR "KENTUCKY LIFE"
FACEBOOK PAGE TO SHARE YOUR
STORIES.
WELL, TELLING THE STORY OF
BOURBON COUNTY IS ONE OF THE
MISSIONS OF THE HOPEWELL MUSEUM.
LOCATE ON PLEASANT STREET IN
DOWNTOWN PARIS, THIS ELEGANT
BOSE ART STYLE BUILDING DATES
FROM 190LE.
IT WAS USED AS A POST OFFICE AND
PUBLIC BUILDING BEFORE FINDING
NEW LIFE IN 1994 AS AN ART AND
HISTORY MUSEUM.
THROUGH ITS PARTNERSHIPS WITH
SEVERAL OTHER MUSEUMS ACROSS THE
STATE, HOPEWELL'S EXHIBITS
CHANGE FREQUENTLY.
THE COLLECTIONS HERE INCLUDE
REGIONAL HISTORIC ARTIFACTS AS
WELL AS EXAMPLES OF DECORATIVE
AND FINE ART FROM YESTERDAY AND
TODAY.
YOU CAN STROLL DOWN THE MAIN
STREET OF PARIS, AS IT WAS 100
YEARS AGO, COURTESY OF THE
INTERACTIVE LEARNING CENTER, AND
GET A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT THE
REGION'S HISTORY BEGINNING WITH
THIS GEOLOGY THROUGH THE EARLY
20TH CENTURY HERE IN THE HISTORY
HALL.
>> THIS TEXTILE KPUBT IS CALLED
"THE FABRIC OF LIFE."
CLOTHE, BEDDING, TABLE LINENS
AND SOME DECORATIVE ITEMS SHOW
THE UTILITARIAN AND THE
LUXURIOUS SIDES OF THE TEXTILE
INDUSTRY.
AND HERE'S AN EXHIBIT THAT FITS
RIGHT IN WITH OUR STORY ABOUT
THE FREDONIA SCHOOLHOUSE.
THESE ARE PHOTOGRAPHS AND
MEMORABILIA FROM
AFRICAN-AMERICAN SCHOOLS IN
BOURBON COUNTY.
DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, STUDENTS
CAN CREATE THEIR OWN WORKS OF
ART HERE AT HOPEWELL IN
WORKSHOPS ESPECIALLY TAILORED TO
EACH GRADE LEVEL.
AND IN THE FALL, THE MUSEUM'S
WALLS SHOWCASE THE POPULAR
EXHIBIT, CREATIVE HARVEST,
FEATURING WORKS BY REGIONAL
ARTISTS.
KEEPING BOURBON COUNTY'S ARTS
AND CULTURAL HERITAGE ALIVE FOR
RESIDENTS AND VISITORS FROM
AROUND THE WORLD MAKES HOPEWELL
MUSEUM A VITAL PART OF TODAY'S
BOURBON COUNTY COMMUNITY.
IN PULASKI COUNTY, THE SMALL
TOWN OF BURNSIDE SITS ALONG THE
SHORES OF PICTURESQUE LAKE
CUMBERLAND.
ON THE CLIFFS ABOVE THE LAKE,
THERE IS A BED AND BREAKFAST
THAT LOOKS LIKE A HUNTING LODGE
FROM THE AMERICAN WEST BUT WITH
A COMFORTABLE STYLE THAT'S PURE
KENTUCKY.
SURROUNDED BY WOODS AND WATER,
THE EAGLE'S VIEW BED AND
BREAKFAST OFFERS GUESTS THE
PERFECT SETTING TO ENJOY THE
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF NATURE.
>> HERE AT EAGLE'S VIEW BED AND
BREAKFAST OUR GOAL WAS TO CREATE
A PLACE THAT FITS WITH ITS
ELEMENT, THE NATURE AND
BEAUTIFUL VIEWS HERE IN THE
WOODS, AND WE WANTED TO CREATE A
PLACE FOR GUESTS TO BE ABLE TO
COME AND HAVE AN EXPERIENCE, NOT
JUST A NIGHT'S STAY.
WE ARE IN BURNSIDE, KENTUCKY,
SEVEN MINUTES OUTSIDE OF
SOMERSET AND DANIEL BOONE
NATIONAL FOREST.
WE ARE SITUATED RIGHT ON THE
CLIFFS WITH A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF
LAKE CUMBERLAND.
ONE OF THE POINTS OF DECORATING
THE B & B WAS TO BRING THE
BEAUTY OF THE OUTDOORS IN.
WE HAVE A LARGE COMMON AREA THAT
OUR GUESTS ARE ABLE TO ENJOY AT
ANY TIME THAT THEY CHOOSE TO.
GUESTS WILL GATHER IN THE COMMON
AREA IN THE EVENING, AND HAVE A
GLASS OF WINE TOGETHER.
THEY HAVE THE BIG WINDOWS,
OBVIOUSLY, TO BE ABLE TO OUT
WITH THE BEAUTIFUL VIEWS.
A LOT GUESTS BOUGHT THE BALD
EAGLES FLYING BY THE WINDOWS.
ALL OF THE ROOMS THAT WE HAVE
HERE AT EAGLES' VIEW B & B HAVE
SLIDING GLASS DOORS AND VIEWS OF
THE OUTDOORS.
THE MAJESTIC RETREAT SUITE IS
SITUATED AT THE VERY TOP OF THE
BED AND BREAKFAST.
IT HAS TWO SPECIAL VIEWS.
IT HAS THE BALCONY AREA THAT HAS
A PUB TABLE FOR THEM TO DINE IN
THE EVENING, OR TO HAVE
BREAKFAST IN THE MORNING,
PRIVATELY.
AND IT LOOKS OUT THE 35-FOOT
WINDOWS.
OF THE VIEWS OF THE CLIFFS AND
THE LAKE.
IT HAS ITS OWN PRIVATE FRONT
STACK THAT OVERLOOKS THE BEAR
WATERFALL AND THE HEART SHAPED
GARDEN POND.
♪♪
>> WE ALSO HAVE THE MOUNTAINTOP
ANGEL ROOM, AND THERE'S A GRAND
BED THERE FOUR-POSTER, CANOPY
BED THAT'S FROM THE 1930s.
THEY HAVE THEIR LITTLE SITUATED
PRIVATE DECK RIGHT OUTSIDE THE
ROOM WITH VIEWS OF THE LAKE AND
THE CLIFFS, WITH A TABLE AND TWO
CHAIRS FOR THEM TO ENJOY.
WE ALSO HAVE THE EAGLES' VIEW
ROOM, AND THAT'S THE SIGNATURE
ROOM WITH THE NAME OF THE BED
AND BREAKFAST.
SO, WE HAVE SOME DIFFERENT TYPES
OF STATUES OF EAGLES.
WE HAVE A SEPARATION SCREEN THAT
OUR GUESTS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE
IN THE MORNING, AND ON THAT
DIVIDER SCREEN IS PICTURES OF
ALL OF THE PAST GUESTS THAT HAVE
STAYED HERE AT EAGLES' VIEW BED
& BREAKFAST AND ALL OF OUR
PRESENT AND CURRENT GUESTS HAVE
THE OPTION TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
THEIR PICTURE TAKEN BEFORE THEY
LEAVE AND PLACED ON THE SCREEN.
THE LEFT SIDE SCREEN IS PICTURES
OF GUESTS WHO HAVE STAYED HERE
AND HAVE FISHED.
AND IT'S PICTURES OF THE FISH
THAT THEY HAVE CAUGHT.
THE STRIPERS THAT THEY HAVE
CAUGHT.
GUESTS CAN ALSO ENJOY A FISH
BEING TRIP, AND ACTUALLY BE ABLE
TO GO OUT ON LAKE CUMBERLAND AND
CATCH A STRIPER.
THIS IS ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS
THAT WE FEEL WE OFFER AT EAGLES
VIEW BED AND BREAKFAST.
GARY HAS BAIT AND HOOK GUIDE
SERVICE.
HE PROVIDES THE POLE, THE BAIT,
THE TACKLE, EVERYTHING THAT THEY
NEED TO BE ABLE TO CATCH A FISH.
>> BEAUTIFUL JOB.
>> THEY WOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO
TAKE THEIR FISH HOME, WHICH GARY
BAGS RIGHT THERE AT THE MARINA,
OR TO HAVE A FISH FRY AND ENJOY
OUT HERE ON THE BIG DECK.
THE GUESTS WHO HAVE ENJOYED THE
FISHING TRIPS AND GETTING TO
EXPERIENCE LAKE CUMBERLAND, THEY
TALK A LOT ABOUT THE BEAUTY AND
THE THINGS THAT THEY SEE WHEN
THEY'RE OUT ON THE LAKE.
IT IS GORGEOUS.
>> WE PROVIDE A GOURMET
BREAKFAST, A SIT-DOWN
CANDLELIGHT GOURMET BREAKFAST.
I DO A TABLE SET-UP PRESENTATION
THAT IS IN MEMORY OF MY
GRANDMOTHER AND HOW SHE TAUGHT
ME TO PRESENT A TABLE.
WE USE FINE LINENS AND CHINA,
AND CRYSTAL.
I DO A FRUIT BANANA SPLIT AND
IT'S WITH YOGURT AND
BLACKBERRIES AND RASPBERRIES AND
BLUEBERRIES.
I DO A SCRAMBLED EGG CASSEROLE.
I DO BLUEBERRY WAFFLE, I DO
CHOCOLATE CHIP WAFFLES.
I DO WAFFLES WITH POWDERED SUGAR
AND BLUEBERRIES ON TOP.
THE FEEDBACK THAT I GET FROM MY
GUESTS WITH THE BREAKFAST IS HOW
MUCH THEY ENJOY HAVING A
CANDLELIGHT BREAKFAST.
AND THAT THEY NEVER HAVE TO EAT
LUNCH.
>> THE GUESTS WILL COME OUT HERE
ON THE DECK AND ENJOY THE VIEWS,
CONVERSATION, AND RELAX, LOOKING
AT THE WATER.
WHAT'S ALSO NICE ABOUT BED AND
BREAKFAST, THEY HAVE THE OPTION
TO MEET THE OTHER GUESTS, AND
GET TO KNOW THEM AND HAVE
CONVERSATION OR THEY HAVE THE
OPTION TO BE ABLE TO BE ALONE.
SPEND SOME TIME WITH THEIR
SIGNIFICANT OTHER THAT THEY HAVE
COME TO THE B & B WITH, AND
ENJOY THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT
TO DO TOGETHER.
WE HAVE HAD GUESTS COME BACK AS
MUCH AS SIX TIMES, AND WE ENJOY
THAT, BECAUSE WE DO ESTABLISH
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR GUESTS.
GARY AND I'S MOTTO THAT WE SAY
TO EACH OTHER AND SMILE IS THAT
THEY COME AS STRANGERS, THEY
LEAVE AS FRIENDS, AND THEY COME
BACK AS FAMILY.
IT'S AN HONOR FOR GARY AND I
BOTH TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF
THAT.
AND TO SHARE OUR DREAM HERE WITH
OTHERS.
>> GARY AND DEBBIE ARE
ENTHUSIASTIC AMBASSADORS FOR
SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY MAKING
SURE THEIR GUESTS KNOW ALL THERE
IS TO SEE AND DO IN THE SOMERSET
ERA.
DURING THE CIVIL WAR MANY OF
KENTUCKY'S MANSIONS AND
PLANTATION HOMES WERE TAKEN OVER
BY THE TROOPS.
IN SIMPSON COUNTY, I VISITED
OCTAGON HALL WITH ITS OWN CIVIL
WAR STORY, AND I SOON DISCOVERED
THAT SOME OF THE HOME'S PAST
RESIDENTS MAY WANT TO ACTUALLY
HELP ME TELL THOSE STORIES.
>> FINISHED JUST BEFORE THE
OUTBREAK OF THE CIVIL WAR, THIS
EIGHT-SIDED HOUSE, APTLY NAMED
OCTAGON HALL WOULD WRITE ITS OWN
PAGE IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND
LORE.
BUT IT IS A DARK HISTORY.
THE HOUSE WAS COMPLETED IN 1859.
ITS OWNER, ANDREW JACKSON
CALDWELL, WAS A CONFEDERATE
SYMPATHIZER, AS THE SOUTHERN
FORCES RETREATED FROM BOWLING
GREEN, CALDWELL GAVE THEM
SHELTER HERE.
IN FACT, THOUSANDS OF REBEL
SOLDIERS CAMPED ON THE GROUNDS
AT OCTAGONAL.
AT LEAST TWO SOLDIERS DIED HERE,
ONE FROM BATTLE WOUNDS, AND THE
OTHER WAS FOUND DEAD ON THE
FRONT STEPS OF THE HOME.
HIS DEATH REMAINS A MYSTERY.
>> BOTH OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE
BURIED OUT BESIDE THE SLAVE
CEMETERY.
>> BILLY BYRD IS MANAGER OF WHAT
IS NOW OCTAGON HALL CIVIL WAR
MUSEUM.
THE ROOMS IN THIS HOUSE ARE
FILLED WITH CIVIL WAR RELICS AND
OTHER ARTIFACTS.
>> THE OCTAGON HALL IS ON THE
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC
PLACES.
IT IS A MUSEUM.
WE WERE OPEN WEDNESDAY THROUGH
SATURDAY.
>> BUT SOMETHING ELSE IS GOING
ON HERE AS WELL, THAT HAS
CAPTURED THE ATTENTION OF THE
NATIONAL MEDIA.
SUPPOSEDLY, THIS IS ONE OF THE
MOST HAUNTED PLACES IN AMERICA.
>> WE ACTUALLY STARTED HAVING
PARANORMAL EXPERIENCES FROM THE
FIRST DAY WE WALKED IN TO THE
BUILDING.
WE CAME IN, AND JUST STARTED
TAKING BEFORE AND AFTER SHOTS TO
PREPARE FOR THE RESTORATION, AND
WE STARTED GETTING SOME STRANGE
ANOMALIES ON THE PHOTOGRAPHS.
WE WERE ACTUALLY HEARING VOICES,
AND YOU KNOW -- I ACTUALLY --
ACTUALLY, I'M A BIG SKEPTIC, I
TRULY AM, AND WE FINALLY
DECIDED, WELL, WE'RE JUST
HEARING NOISES.
WE WERE HEARING VOICES.
WE WERE HEARING FOOTSTEPS, THAT
KIND OF THING, THROUGH THE
HOUSE.
ONE OF THE GREAT TRAGEDIES OF
THE HOUSE TO THE FAMILY WAS THE
LITTLE GIRL, MARY ELIZABETH.
SHE WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD.
SHE WAS PLAYING IN THE WINTER
KITCHEN DOWNSTAIRS, WHERE THEY
WOULD COOK THROUGHOUT THE
WINTERTIME, TO HELP HEAT THE
HOUSE AND ALL OF THAT, AND
STARTED PLAYING IN THE FIRE.
PROBABLIES WITH A POKER.
SHE -- BUT THE PROBLEM WAS SHE
GOT TOO CLOSE, AND EITHER AN
EMBER POPPED OUT ON HER DRESS OR
HER DRESS SWUNG INTO THE FLAME,
AND IT IGNITED, AND S IT WITH A
-- IT WAS DEVASTATING.
SEE RECEIVED TERRIBLE BURNS,
ENOUGH THAT IT WAS FATAL TO HER.
I HAVE SEEN THE APPARITION OF A
LITTLE GIRL TWICE.
>> PARANORMAL TEAMS AND GHOST
HUNTING TV SHOWS HAVE COME FROM
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
INVESTIGATORS SAY OCTAGON HALL
IS EXTREMELY ACTIVE.
>> I DO WORK WITH A TEAM CALLED
WOLFPACK PARANORMAL BASED OUT OF
MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE.
WE HAVE INVESTIGATED OCTAGON
HALL SEVERAL TIMES.
THIS PLACE HAS A SPECIAL LOVE
FOR PEA.
I LOVE IT TO DEATH.
IT'S GOT GREAT HISTORY.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND IT'S
ALWAYS ACTIVE WE HAVE CAPTURED
SEVERAL ELECTRONIC VOICE
PHENOMENON, EVPs.
WE HAVE CAUGHT FULL SPIRIT
APPARITIONS.
WE BELIEVE WE HAVE A PICTURE OF
THE CIVIL WAR SOLDIER GOING INTO
THE KITCHEN.
IT'S A PARANORMAL DREAM.
WE CALL IT OLD FAITHFUL.
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S BECAUSE A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE DIED
HERE.
I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF THE
SOULS THAT STILL WALK THESE
HALLS ARE MORE ACTIVE THAN OTHER
PLACES.
>> STILL CAMERA SHOTS FROM
INVESTIGATORS AND TOURISTS HAVE
SUPPOSEDLY CAPTURED APPARITIONS.
ON FUME RUSS OCCASIONS AS
PARANORMAL TEAMS TALKED AMONG
THEMSELVES SOMETHING ELSE WAS
PICKED UP ON THEIR DIGITAL SOUND
RECORDERS, ALWAYS THE SAME
LITTLE GIRL'S VOICE.
[ LITTLE GIRL SPEAKING ]
>> THAT HAS CONVINCED ME MORE
THAN ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE I'M
WITH THE TEAMS.
I KNOW WE HAVE NO SMALL CHILDREN
IN THE HOUSE, AND YET WE'LL PICK
UP A SMALL CHILD SAYING --
MOMMY, OR -- WILL YOU PLAY WITH
ME?
OR I SEE YOU.
THIS KIND OF THING.
>> KEITH FOURNIER OF THE
NIGHTSTALKER'S PARANORMAL TEAM
IS PREPARING HIS EQUIPMENT FOR A
GHOST HUNT IN OCTAGON HALL.
HIS KIT CONTAINS ALL SORTS OF
SENSITIVE RECORDERS, METER, AND
OTHER DEVICES.
>> THE ELECTRICAL CHARGE PLACED
HERE SO YOU CAN PUT IT IN A
HALLWAY.
IT WILL GLOW A CERTAIN COLOR IF
SOMETHING WALKED BY IT, IT WILL
TURN A DIFFERENT COLOR.
>> OUR TEAM WOULD JOIN HIM FOR A
LATE NIGHT SEARCH OF THE HOME.
BEHIND ME IS VIDEOGRAPHER AND
PRODUCER, FRANK SIMCONIS AND
PHOTOGRAPHER, STEVE SCHAFER IS
RUNNING THE NIGHT VISION CAMERA.
AS WE BEGAN, I REMAINED VERY
SKEPTICAL ANY SORT OF PARANORMAL
ACTIVITY.
THEN KEITH SET UP SEVERAL
FLASHLIGHTS THAT HE SAYS THE
SPIRITS USED TO COMMUNICATE
THROUGH.
THEY WENT ON AND OFF IN RESPONSE
TO HIS QUESTIONS.
OUR WHOLE CREW WAS THERE.
>> MARY ELIZABETH, IF YOU ARE UP
HERE WITH US, SWEETIE, REMEMBER
WHEN WE PLAYED HIDE AND GO SEEK
ONE NIGHT?
IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN --
OH, THERE WE GO!
TURN THAT ONE BACK ON, IF YOU
WOULD LIKE.
THANK YOU.
>> WE SAW IT WITH OUR OWN EYES.
>> I GOT IT.
>> THEN AS I WALKED FROM ROOM TO
ROOM, I BECAME MORE ENGAGED, BUT
HOW COULD THIS BE HAPPENING?
ARE THERE REALLY GHOSTS?
AGE-OLD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
AFTER-LIFE RACED THROUGH MY
HEAD.
AND WHY WOULD AN INNOCENT LITTLE
GIRL REMAIN HERE, FOREVER IN THE
ROOMS OF THIS HOUSE?
[ DRAMATIC MUSIC ]
>> AS THE EVENING PROGRESSED
INTO THE WEE HOURS, WE SAW
SOMETHING THAT NONE OF US WILL
EVER FORGET.
AS WE ENTERED THE ROOM WHERE
MARY ELIZABETH PLAYED BY THE
FIREPRAISE, A HEAVY CAST IRON
SPOON WAS MOVING, BY ITSELF.
>> ABSOLUTELY THAT'S SHAKING.
>> MARY ELIZABETH, IF IT'S YOU,
YOU WILL TOUCH THE LIGHT?
THANK YOU.
>> IN THE DARKNESS BY THE
FIREPLACE, I FELT A SENSATION
THAT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE, AND THE
METER I WAS HOLDING BEGAN TO
REGISTER.
>> LOOK AT THIS THING.
>> I LEFT OCTAGON HALL WITH NEW
QUESTIONS.
QUESTIONS THAT HAVE KEPT ME
AWAKE AT NIGHT, IN THE DAYS AND
WEEKS SINCE I PRODUCED THIS
STORY, AND I WONDER, WHEN I WILL
SLEEP AGAIN.
>> FROM THE ELABORATE BOSE ART
STYLE OF THE HOPEWELL MUSEUM TO
THE SIMPLE ONE ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE
IN FREDONIA TO THE EIGHT SIDES
OF OCTAGON HALL AND THE WESTERN
LODGE LOOK OF EAGLES' VIEW B &
B, WE HAVE REALLY SEEN A VARIETY
OF ASHGT TECH TOUR BOTH PAST AND
PRESENT IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.