DON’T TOUCH THE TRAINS, Wired for Sound

30 December 2023

From the Insight Studios of The Three Fifty-seven, this feature is about unexplained paranormal claims and reports here in Hunterdon County.

The report is an investigation by JK Steffens into residential property in the central part of the county.

Steffens’ follow-up details are below:

Start of report for 30 December

Investigating agency: not applicable
Lead Investigator: JK Steffens
Location: Maddison House at 1156 Hawke Town Road in Shadesburg, New Jersey
Initial contact date: 29 December at 4:17A
This report date: 30 December at 9:15A
Case contact: VF Wilkinson
Status of case: Accepted

Recap: On 29 December, VF Wilkinson left a dozen voicemails inquirying about inestigating the referenced Location but did not respond when called back. Ultimately, a meeting and walkthrough were arranged and case was accepted. See report dated 29 December for full details.

30 December

9:15A – Contacted local railroad company about trains scheduled from 11:45P 29 December through 12:30A 30 December that might explain sounds heard while at the Maddison House.

Per the company’s representative, no rail service was scheduled on those dates at those times.

However, the representative noted the preceeding day’s weather slowed many trains. Quoting the representative, “Trains scheduled earlier in the day may have been heard at the requested dates and times due to snow delay.” Outcome: Inconclusive.

Contacted Wilkinson to set up gear for first session.

10:30A – Arrived at Maddison House; Wilkinson already present.

Wilkinson received a briefing on the monitoring strategy and equipment, turned over keys, and left.

Set up in the library off the main hall a control center for onsite and remote monitoring. From there, audio recorders, surveillance cameras, thermal image sensors, and electronic and magnetic field monitors were deployed. First floor and upstairs.

As I walked around the house, I realized it was empty of human evidences. True, it was an attractive house and no more than 60 to 70 years old. And there was a magnificent table on the first floor. Much older than the house and with a sense of craft beyond anything else.

And the place was quiet. Almost as if sealed off from the rest of the world.

The gear was doublechecked and when connected to the control center, the quiet got louder. Almost intrusively.

I broke for lunch and errands.

2:00P – Stopped by the hospital.

AB Dantley, the investigator on Maddison House before me, had been found lying on the first floor table in a coma with a burnt baseball cap nearby. I wanted to check Dantley’s condition and see if there was any information that might help me.

Still in a coma; asked the family at any time of day or night if there was a change in condition or if they needed anything then left.

3:00P – Arrived at home.

Slept for a four hours and had dinner.

8:15P – Arrived for onsite session.

With handheld recording devices, I walked through every room on the first floor calling out to spirit visitors. No contact.

10:30P – Went upstairs.

Repeated the same procedures. Called out to make contact but it was only me, myself, and my gear.

1:00A – No contacts but an awareness.

There were no sounds an dnothing to see. But there was an odd taste in my mouth. Imagine licking an ashtray but the residue wasn’t from a cigarette.

I went downstairs. Still calling out. Still hearing nothing. But on the table was a smoldering pile. Thin wisps of smoke drifting upward. The taste in my mouth got sharper and I smelled it more distinctly.

On the table was a burnt object. About the weight of an ashtray but oblong rather round. I carried it to the command center for further review.

1:30A – Dead end.

Between watching monitors and puzzling over the deep-fried object from the table, the lateness of the hour was tiring me. There hadn’t been any voices or sound to investigate.

2:15A – Arrived at home.

Confirmed remote monitoring of Maddison was still work. Flipped the burnt object around in my hands one more time and did not gain a single atom of insight.

2:43A – Final report for 30 December.

JKSteffens
Lead Investigator

The Insight Studios of The Three Fifty-seven will provide updates on the Maddison House investigation as received from JK Steffens.

Should anyone have any experiences with the Maddison House at 1156 Hawke Town Road in Shadesburg, New Jersey please reach out to Insight Studios.

Thank you for your attention.

WESJr

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Author: William Spear

William E. Spear has written for audio since 1994. His book, "Lit Between the Ears, Volume One: Chekhov, O. Henry, Spear and Tarkington On the Air," was released on July 31, 2006. He founded Two Plus Plus Productions LLC in 2006 and is President. He founded Hunterdon Radio Theatre in 1999 and has written over 15 plays since. Spear's work has been broadcast in New York and New Jersey and his plays have been published on web sites across the country.

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