DON’T TOUCH THE TRAINS, Something Heard – Evidence from 5 January is further below
From the Insight Studios of The Three Fifty-seven, this feature is about unexplained paranormal claims and reports in the 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 5 January
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: 5 January at 10:25P Case contact: VF Wilkinson Status of case: Accepted
Recap: On 30 December, began investigating the referenced location. Case contact, VF Wilkinson, advised the property had a history of voices and footsteps. Recording and monitoring equipment were set up around the property.
See report dated 30 December for full details.
10:25P – Onsite at Maddison House
For a house with 60 years of paranormal sounds, this place is quieter than most churches and graveyards.
With handheld audio recorder and surveillance camera, I walked through every room on the first floor calling out to spirit visitors.
<<more to come>>
11:01P – Upstairs
Nothing downstairs; went upstairs looking for signs of life or otherwise.
<<more to come>>
11:22P – First floor control center in library
The place is dead. Checking the gear then calling it a night.
<<more to come>>
11:29P – Odd sound. Reviewing.
<<more to come>>
11:46P – Gear checked and audio reviewed. No obvious malfunctions.
DON’T TOUCH THE TRAINS, Heard Something – “Between the two and three seconds mark, something other than static is heard.” – JK Steffens, investigator
Using above file, something other than static is heard between the two and three seconds mark.
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.
A regular accounting of The Three Fifty-seven published on the first Monday of each month.
The Month Ahead – Monday 1 January 2024
Hello, All,
Welcome to The Month Ahead for January 2024. It is my hope the upcoming year exceeds your expectations.
This issue is also a moment to look back on 2023 and publicly savor a few accomplishments.
Challenge Met
At the most elemental, The Three Fifty-seven challenged itself to blog, podcast, or both at least once a week for the year and that was accomplished. For further context, please note this production is a single narrator, fiction production. Refill my coffee cup for a toast!
As a byproduct, I am a better writer, narrator, and audio producer on 1 January 2024 than on 1 January 2023. Practice and repetition have value.
Select Highlights
Programming highlights included the following: 1) 22 episodes of IT SUITS HER; 2) Five episodes about poetry – yes, poetry – from the last 300 years; and 3) THE TABLE, an homage in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
The result is a year of work I’ll proudly claim.
But there were completely unexpected delights: a cross-promotion with the Madison On the Air podcast was ridiculous fun. And the inclusion of my narration of John Donne’s THE APPARITION (1633) in Micro podcast’s Late Great: Halloween Edition was a thrill.
Experiments
2024 is committed to a scheduled slate of programming plus experimenting with shows that organically combine social media and audio to develop characters and tell their stories. These shows, DON’T TOUCH THE TRAINS and SPIRITED, premiered in December and will progress for different lengths of time and at different paces.
Consider supporting The Three Fifty-seven’s operational expenses
Financial Support
The program is also taking steps toward seeking funding for its operational expenses such as its domain name and web presence.
Coffee – preferably black – is a constant companion. With that stated, a coffee cup seemed the best first symbol to request support.
The cup serves as a link to the home page of our Buy Me A Coffee campaign. Cheers and thanks for your consideration.
2024 Is Here
However, all of these begin with a season break in January. Nothing is scheduled but there are posts and episodes, including DON’T TOUCH THE TRAINS and SPIRITED, that will be released.
Enjoy the coming year and please know The Three Fifty-seven remains committed to its core belief that “Stories are Everywhere”.
In DON’T TOUCH THE TRAINS, Investigator JK Steffens has been contacted to research claims of paranormal activity at Maddison House. Steffens declines the case until . . .
From the Insight Studios of The Three Fifty-seven, this is a new feature about unexplained paranormal claims and reports here in Hunterdon County.
The first report is an investigation into a residential property in the central part of the county.
Initial details are below:
Start of report for 29 December
Investigating agency: not applicable Lead Investigator: JK Steffens Location: Maddison House at 1156 Hawke Town Road in Shadesburg, New Jersey Initial contact: 29 December at 4:17A Status of case: not applicable
Entry by Steffens: 29 December; 6:40A – Three voicemails received since 4:17A to investigate paranormal claims at a nearby residential property.
I am allowed to sleep.
Status update: Will contact during the day.
11:30A – At my office, received four more voicemails. Called after the last but no one answered.
11:35A – Tried again from the office but no answer. Why?
3:51P – At my office, received hourly voicemails since morning calls but no answers when I call back. Probably a prank.
Another call came in late in the afternoon and I answered it. Stupid move by me.
Caller asked me to investigate claims of paranormal activity at a modern residential property in Shalesburg.
Status update: Declined citing the lateness of the day, not having my full complement of gear, and a pending winter storm.
However, and due to the caller’s persistence and desperation, I agreed to meet at a nearby coffee shop.
I wrapped up my day job with a local insurance broker and drove through the first flurries to the meeting.
7:35P – At the coffee shop meeting with VF Wilkinson.
Wilkinson shared 60 years of voices and footsteps in and around the residence. Over a cup of coffee, Wilkinson described the voices as lively and energetic of all ages and conveying emotions from joy to sorrow.
The location and its voices still did not have anything to interest me on a cold and snowy Friday night.
Status update: Case declined
Wilkinson was disappointed but thanked me for my time.
As I was leaving, the property owner told me AB Dantley, another investigator, had been hospitalized earlier in the day and was in a coma. Further, a burnt baseball cap had been found on the property.
I know Dantley by reputation which is high. No one better.
The police had investigated but found nothing. If I was interested, a tour of the property could be arranged. I grudgingly accepted if for no other reason than to help Dantley.
Status update: Tour of location
8:55P – The owner walked me around the front and back yards of the property. The snow had stopped but is still four inches deep and made the tour slippery. Twice I fell and gouged the snow all the way to the grass. Another time I landed on my back and left an angel imprint trying to get up.
We went into the house and the property owner pointed out where the experiences occurred and where the burnt baseball cap was found. I still did not want the case and refused to explore further. The time is 10:27P.
Status update: Second decline
10:30P – Wilkinson asked to show me one more thing. We went outside and looked at the yard. I didn’t believe what I saw.
The four inches of snow that I had slipped on and left huge gashes was now free of any marks. No signs of where I tripped or left my angel. It was like I had not walked on the yard. Like I hadn’t even been there.
A child’s voice ran by me but didn’t leave any footprints.
Status update: Accepted the case and advised Wilkinson further actions were forthcoming. Left for home.
11:00P – I returned home and fell asleep.
11:43P – Woke to the sound of a child’s voice and footsteps running. I was the only one in the house.
There was also the faint sound of a freight train. Probably sounds out of the area carrying a longer than normal distance in the cold and snowy weather. Made a point to check in the morning.
11:56P – Final report for 29 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.
(Theme for the ANNUAL HOLIDAY READINGS comes up and goes under)
Hello and welcome back to the Agricultural and Literary Institute of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The home for this year’s holiday readings.
And a reminder that THE LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE by Lucy Wheelock is coming up next.
Now the conclusion of . . . A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
(Theme for the ANNUAL HOLIDAY READINGS comes up and goes under)
“Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration . . .”
(Theme for BREAKING NEWS comes up and goes under)
Hello. This is William Spear of The Three Fifty-seven news desk and we interrupt our regular programming for this special bulletin.
Unconfirmed reports indicate protesters are planning to disrupt the annual reading of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Neither the number of protesters, nor their motives, have been determined.
Charles Dickens created the cast of iconic characters in 1843. Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig, Tiny Tim and others are as vibrant and alive today as when the story was published.
We now return you to A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
(Narrator fades up)
And forever after, it was always said of Scrooge, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!
The End.
(Theme for the ANNUAL HOLIDAY READINGS comes up but is interrupted)
“Hey, the show’s not over yet, Tim! I’ve got something to say!” It was the Ghost of Christmas Present. Loud and bold and clad in green like a giant Peter Pan, Present was a force.
It filled the room with energy and electricity. The lights flickered as if they were about to explode from too much power.
Bob Cratchit rolled his eyes and mumbled: “Here we go again.”
Mrs. Fezziwig leaned over and whispered to Mr. Fezziwig: “Every year it’s the same thing.”
Even Fan, Scrooge’s sister, usually brimming with glee and possessing cheerful words for every circumstance, growled: “Give it a break.”
Christmas Present roared at the detractors: “Look upon me! You have never seen the likes of me before!”
The others mumbled wearily. One called out: “We see the likes of you every Christmas.” A few laughed. Another chimed in: “And, candidly, we’d like to see a little less.” More laughed.
Light flashed and there appeared next to Present the Ghost of Christmas Past.
It was a child in size but an old person in appearance. Its hair hung about its neck and down its back and was white from age.
“Anyone who speaks against the Present,” it said. “Also speaks against me.”
Tiny Tim, sweet and angelic Tiny Tim, sneered: “Hey, who invited the pint-sized Gandalf?”
Christmas Past chaneled its inner Tolkien: “I do not travel through Time and History to Bandy Words with a Witless Child.”
Tim wisely returned to the crowd.
The Spirits had a longstanding frustration with Dickens that began when he started public readings of the story in the Eightteen Fifties.
Past and Present had lobbied Dickens to write the real “Ghost Story of Christmas.” To use his Ghostly little book to tell their stories and bring humor to the readers rather than dismiss them as props for Scrooge.
Christmas Future, a tall, solemn Phantom and absent of words, floated nearby like a mist in a horror film.
“Bah, humbug,” said Scrooge. “Who wants to hear about you three?”
But Dickens died and their story was never written. Efforts to tell their perspectives were blocked with claims of copyright infringement from the Dickens’ estate.
“We have no available means to tell all the details,” said Christmas Present.
Christmas Past added,”The world only knows a fraction of our stories.”
The Future nodded its head.
“Leave,” came a response. “Yes,” said another. Quickly, the room began chanting, “Go. Go! GO!”
The Spirits looked at each other, and, seeing no support for presenting their stories, disappeared in a flash of light from Christmas Past.
(Theme for the ANNUAL HOLIDAY READINGS comes up and crossfades to theme for BREAKING NEWS which comes up and goes under)
This Special News report is called SPIRITED and has aired over The Three Fifty-seven network. We will continue to bring updates on the Three Spirits in the coming weeks and months.
Theme music is by Julius H. and Music Unlimited.
We now take you to THE LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE by Lucy Wheelock. It takes place on a frosty winter’s night when two children share their fireplace with a child who has no shoes and is dressed in thin, ragged garments. The story is already in progress.
(Narrator fades up)
His soft voice said: “I was cold and you took Me in. I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was tired, and you gave Me your bed. I am the Christ Child, wandering through the world to bring peace and happiness to all good children. As you have given to Me, so may this tree every year give rich fruit to you.”
So saying, He broke a branch from the fir tree that grew near the door, and He planted it in the ground and disappeared. But the branch grew into a great tree, and every year it bore wonderful golden fruit for the kind children.
The End.
(Theme for the ANNUAL HOLIDAY READINGS comes up and goes under)
DON’T TOUCH THE TRAINS combines journal entries and field recordings made by JK Steffens to investigate changes in the voices at Maddison House
Insight Studios and The Three Fifty-seven present DON’T TOUCH THE TRAINS.
For more than half a century, there have been claims of ghosts at the Maddison House in Shadesburg, New Jersey. Lively and energetic voices of all ages and conveying life’s emotions from joy to sorrow have been reported.
Recently, the voices changed. Investigator AB Dantley was called in to research the experiences.
Soon afterwards, JK Steffens, another investigator, was contacted, too. Why? And, what happened to the first?
The case is presented as a series of journal entries and field recordings from JK Steffens intended to explain what’s happening inside the Maddison House.
The first entries are scheduled for Friday 29 December; subsequent entries and recordings are based upon the findings of Steffens’ research.
Hello. My name is William Spear and I am the host of The 3:57. You are listening to the current series titled IT SUITS HER.
Maxie and Agnes are stumbling through an awkward and unplanned reunion after ten years of a mutually absent marriage. For differing reasons, neither had done much to look for, or reconcile with, the other.
Compounding the emotional desert, there are lingering traces of hostility. Truth be told, it was closer to a tsunami of sarcasm. Hers was aimed at him. His was aimed at himself.
Despite his personal journey with alcoholism, losing his career, and losing his family, Maxie still has an unwavering belief in his relationship with Agnes.
How will she react to that? Find out in Episode Twenty-two, the final episode, of . . . IT SUITS HER.
(Theme for Nick’s Italian Bistro fades up and under)
Maxie stared at the bottom of his empty glass and went for broke: “Look, I, uh, I was wondering . . .”
He wasn’t at his most verbally graceful and Agnes didn’t help: “Well?”
Maxie went on: “I’m not really good with words.”
Agnes warned him: “Don’t tell Tony or he might change his mind about casting you.”
“What I mean,” said Maxie. “I’m not good with words unless they’re in a script. But I was thinking about . . . well . . . maybe sometime soon, not tomorrow or Christmas, but in the next week, might I . . . might I stop by to say hello to the kids.”
This time Agnes stumbled with the English language: “They’d, uh . . . well, at least I think, um . . . Yes, I’m sure they would – maybe? of course they would – I guess, well . . . yeah, they’d like to see you.”
Maxie’s nervousness made him speak over her: “I won’t stay long and I’ll call before coming over. It won’t be a major disruption.”
Agnes regained her verbal footing and said that suited her.
Maxie still wasn’t listening: “After school but before dinner so I don’t interrupt their homework.”
Agnes spoke a few decibels louder: “O-kay!”
People at the surrounding tables turned to look.
Maxie, oblivious to her approval or the staring diners, shrugged and gave up: “Well, it was just an idea. If it doesn’t make any sense, we can drop the whole thing and . . .”
-Agnes raised her voice louder: “Max. I said yes.”
The waiters stopped taking orders and the restaurant conversations stopped conversing.
Nick rushed over to ask if there was anything he could do. Agnes shrugged and said: “Oh, his medicine must’ve worn off” and Maxie shot right back: “She gets this way sometimes.”
“Now it is both of you making me to laugh”, smiled Nick. “And, such a Merry gift of Christmas seeing you two together, too.” He bowed and stepped away.
Maxie and Agnes laughed. The patrons resumed their meals and the waiters went back to waitering. Agnes continued with “Stop by after you’ve had a few rehearsals. The kids’ll want to hear all about it.”
Maxie promised he wouldn’t let them down.
“By the way,” asked Agnes. “What’s the name of the play?”
This started a round of verbal ping-pong.
“You’ve never heard of it.”
“Tell me.”
“It’s nothing, really.”
“I want to know!”
Agnes won the point and Maxie gave in: “Okay, okay. It’s called SECOND CHANCES.”
She said it must’ve been written for him. First, he drank himself out of a brilliant film career and loving family.
Maxie winced and said, “Ouch.”
Agnes continued: “Five years after your last drink you’re cast in a major play and reunite a young woman with her parents.”
Maxie tried his hand at spinning the narrative: “Agreed. And in the same evening I repair a ten-year-long breakup with my wife.”
Agnes was relentless: “Don’t get ahead of the story.”
Maxie winced again.
Finally she softened: “Hey, Max.”
“Yes.”
“It’s good to see you.”
Maxie smiled like he hadn’t smiled in a long time and said: “And you, too. I’ll call you in a few days. Merry Christmas, Agnes.”
(Theme for Nick’s Italian Bistro fades up and under)
You’ve listened to Episode Twenty-two – the final episode – of IT SUITS HER.
Series theme is through the courtesy of Michael Kobrin. Theme for Nick’s Bistro is by AudioCoffee. Both are at PixaBay.
The Three Fifty-seven is written and produced by William Spear.
To everyone who listened to the reunions of Maxie and Agnes, and Celia with her parents, who celebrated Nick for having the best tonic and limes in the county, and for the tremendous friends and colleagues at Scherzer’s at the traffic circle in Flemington, New Jersey, the closing theme by Alex Make Music is for all of you.
Thank you for listening. And Merry Christmas.
(Theme for Scherzer’s after Dark fades up and out)
Clay Track Press 