I was on my way to Oakwood Cemetery in Spartanburg, SC. The place has gained a reputation over the years with a paranormal investigation team to get answers. SCPRAI, or the South Carolina Paranormal Research and Investigations, had invited The Lantern to join them. I have driven through Highway 29 many times, considering it had been my one way of avoiding I-85 southbound like the plague. A pediatric dentist’s office sat on my left as I took a right onto Oakwood Avenue.
An enormous cemetery gate greeted me as I pulled in. The entranceway is like something out of a horror movie. There would be no turning back now. I was facing the gates of Hell.
Oakwood Cemetery was founded in the late 1800s and has quite a history. It was once a pauper’s field where the poor and social outcasts were buried. In 1914, over a hundred graves were relocated here from another cemetery, disturbing all of the souls whose remains were moved. I was hoping that the SCPRAI team and I could get some answers as to why this cemetery remains a paranormal hotspot that leaves people terror-stricken.
Investigator Darlene Timmerman leads this team, which has been going on for seventeen years. After an introduction, we were split into three groups of five. Each group was given a walkie-talkie and sent on their way. Although I had investigated the paranormal many times, I had the opportunity to sit back and observe as a professional paranormal reporter this time.
My group had a member who was sensitive to the environment around her, and I had her in the corner of my eye in case any sign of activity picked up. We were using an SBox, a device that uses radio frequencies and white noise to give anyone from beyond the grave to speak. Our SBox was set to AM and programmed to cycle backward rapidly. This method eliminates as much bias as possible.
As my group made our way to the children’s graves, our photographer struggled to get her camera to focus when taking photos in a specific spot.
Camera blurs are a sign that a spirit is in the picture. Spirits and technology do not mix. Then our batteries began dying, another sign you are in a paranormal hotspot. At probably the worst possible moment, the light on my camera rig died, leaving me in complete darkness before the group reached for flashlights. I stood there unnerved and waiting for an apparition to manifest.
People who visit this area leave toys at the gravestones. This practice goes back centuries. An example of this today is Dia de Muertos – Mexico’s Day of the Dead.
When we got back to our cars, we talked about our findings. A separate group had confronted Jack, a man who had been dead for quite some time. His responses were short, and he demanded the group leave him alone after being asked about his allegiance to the Knights Templar.
His grave displayed a Freemason symbol, piquing my interest, especially when the word unholy was said. Was Jack speaking from beyond the grave and calling the group unholy for attempting to contact him?
I thanked Darlene and the TAPS family of investigators for having The Lantern join them. We are looking forward to our next outing. Being on location allows us to bring our readers live action.
Disclaimer: The Lantern does not profit from tourism or any businesses mentioned in our articles.
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Written By: Izzy
Photos By: Izzy
Sources: http://oakwoodcemeteryofspartanburg.org/about
https://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/the-knights-templar
