(800)295-3441 Buckeye State Paranormal & Haunting Investigators (800)295-3441
General Investigation Information
Investigation Number
and Location:
#041809
Hardin County Historical Museum
223 North Main Street
Kenton, Ohio 43326
Phone: (419)673-7147 E-mail The Museum is open Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., or by appointment
Quote to reflect upon: "Most convicted felons are just people who were not taken to museums or Broadway musicals as children." -- Libby Gelman-Waxner
The Sullivan-Johnson House is one of two properties included in the Hardin County Historical Museums. Featured at the Museum are the world famous Kenton Toys. The toys date to the late 1800's and are much sought after by collectors. Also at the Museum is the Civil War room containing medals belonging to Jacob Parrott, the first person to be awarded the Medal of Honor and the medals of Delano Morey, another Kenton, Ohio native.
Also at the Museum is a relic room, a re-created 1890's parlor, a Native American room, and a military display. The Sullivan Johnson house has been called "Castle Kenton" and was the first house in Kenton to be electrified.
The second property of the Hardin County Historical Museums is the Hardin Historic Village and Farm, located east of the Hardin County Fairgrounds. There you will find a one room school house, log house, general store, and train depot, and historic barn. The Farm is open by appointment only.
Simon Kenton was born April 3, 1755 in Fauquier County, Virginia. Simon married Martha Dowden in 1787 and they produced four children. Martha died in 1796 in a fire. In March 1798, Simon married Elizabeth Jarbo. Simon moved to Urbana, Ohio in 1810. Simon was 81 years old at the time of his death, April 29, 1836. His home at that time was in New Jerusalem, 5 miles north of Zanesfield, Ohio. A memorial was erected in Oak Dale Cemetery, Urbana, Ohio in memory of Simon Kenton
Jacob Parrott was born July 17, 1843 in Fairfield County, not far from Lancaster, Ohio. In 1866, he married Sarah Lawrence. Jacob was the first American soldier to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for valor and bravery beyond the call of duty on March 25, 1863. Jacob died on December 12, 1908 and was laid to rest in Grove Cemetery in Kenton, Ohio, Cemetery Road was renamed in honor of Jacob; it is now known as Jacob Parrott Boulevard.
Fred Machetanz was born in Kenton, Ohio in 1908. Educated to be an artist, he received his B.A. and M.A. from Ohio State University, and studied art at the American Academy of Art in Chicago during the early years of the depression. After completing his formal education, Machetanz received an invitation from his uncle, Charles Traegar, a trader in the Eskimo village of Unalakleet, to visit Alaska. His visit proved so interesting that the intended six weeks visit stretched into two years.
He only visited Kenton once in his life, in 1938. Yet, since the mid-30s, the folks in this small town have always felt like they've known the man personally. The Kenton Hardware Company, which employed half the town at that time, was quickly moving toward bankruptcy. But they hung on, cutting jobs, until 1936, when they received a contract to produce toy cap guns to be sold as Gene Autry collectibles. That toy soon became the hottest selling toy in America (records show that over 6 million were manufactured), which not only saved the company, but the town in general.
Historical Time Line:
Location's Historical Time Line:
1832: Rev. Thomas Thompson came to the site of Kenton and organized a class at the cabin of George H. Houser
06/09/1847:Daniel Sullivan (to be Louella'a husband) was born in New York City
1851: The brick Church situated on the current site of the Daniel Sullivan residence was constructed
03/1852: The new church building was dedicated by Rev. Samuel Lynch. The entire cost of the building was $10,000.00 ($378,535 in 2009 dollars)
04/13/1857: Louella Mohr Sullivan (to be Daniel Sullivan wife) was born in Bellefontaine
05/02/1864:Daniel Sullivan entered the Civil War as a private
03/1866: Repairs were necessary to be made on the church edifice. The bad construction of the cupola, blinds being badly out of order, and decaying of the basement floor were reasons listed for the concerns
03/03/1874: Burke L. Johnson (to be Edna's husband) was born
11/1879:Louella Mohr married Daniel Sullivan (to be Edna Sullivan Johnson parents)
09/07/1880: Edna Sullivan Johnson was born in Bellefontaine Ohio (Daniel and Louella Sullivan's daughter)
1880, fall: Daniel and Louella Sullivan came to Kenton
1882: A pipe organ was installed in the church
08/13/1886: Daughters of the Republic sign relics over to Sullivan Johnson
01/19/1890: Fire destroyed the church and members decided not to rebuild on the site. The local newspaper on that date carried the following announcement:
"Fire in the M.E. Church" About five o'clock this Sunday morning the usual quietude that pervades our city was disturbed by the ringing of the fire bell. The fire was found to be in the M.E. Church, and was discovered by Chas. Linke, whose residence adjoins the church. The department was soon at the scene, and very quickly had the flames subdued. The fire caught from the heating apparatus and burned a hole in the floor about ten feet square. The fine pipe organ is badly damaged by the heat and smoke, but-to what extent is not yet known. The instrument cannot be played. The walls and ceiling are so blackened and scorched that they will have to be repainted and frescoed and new seats will have to be put in. The damage will probably reach $1200 ($35,973 in 2009 dollars), which is fully covered by insurance. The Sunday services were held in the Presbyterian Church last Sunday, both morning and evening."
1890: Daniel (D.W.) Sullivan had established himself as a well known dealer in harness, horse furnishing goods, trunks and valises (suit cases)
05/09/1895: Newspaper The Democrat announced that Daniel (D.W.) Sullivan will be building a new home on the old location the the old Methodist Church
1896-1897: Construction period of the house
1898-1901: Burke L. Johnson was a commissioned surgeon of the United States Medical Corps in the Phillipines Campaign
01/28/1903: Edna Sullivan Johnson (Daniel and Louella's daughter) was married to Dr. Burke L. Johnson in the house (Daniel Sullivan Johnson and Mary Lou Johnson parents)
06/21/1906: Daniel Sullivan Johnson (Daniel and Louella's son) was born
05/10/1906:Daniel Sullivan (Louella's husband) died, the funeral was held in the house
1907: Dr. Burke L. Johnson was elected as director of the Kenton National Bank
01/22/1909: Mary Lou Johnson (Burke L. Johnson and Edna Sullivan Johnson daughter)was born. She was named after her two grand mothers Mary and "Lou"ella
02/08/1915: Resolution, commissures gave custody of relic room to the Daughters of the Republic
1918: Burke L. Johnson in listed in the army
04/02/1920: Dr. Burke L. Johnson served for 30 years as Kenton National Bank's president
1926: Mary Lou Johnson graduated from Kenton High School
08/06/1947:Louella Mohr Sullivan (Daniel Sullivan's wife) died
1950:Dr. Burke L. Johnson stepped down as the president of the Kenton National Bank
03/24/1951: Dr. Burke L. Johnson (Daniel and Louella's son) died (Grove Cemetery)
12/30/1960: Edna Sullivan Johnson (Daniel and Louella's daughter) died (Grove Cemetery)
04/04/1967: Hardin County Historical Society was incorporated
1973:Daniel Sullivan Johnson helped to officiate the match at which Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in three straight sets after he challenged her to a match where he boasted of his superior male attributes. The match is referred to as the "Battle of the Sexes".
1970's: Daniel Sullivan Johnson (Daniel and Louella's son) died
04/12/1977: Mary Lou Johnson (Burke L. Johnson and Edna Sullivan Johnson daughter) died
02/06/1978: Commissioners lease three acres on the west side of the fairgrounds to the Hardin County Historical Society
09/12/1978: Katterjohn Greehouse property given to the Hardin County Historical Society
11/29/1982: Hardin Memorial Hospital grants Hardin County use of Sullivan Johnson House, must insure for $75,000. ($266,415 in 2009 dollars)
05/24/1983: Commissioners approve Sullivan Johnson Museum by laws
07/03/1984: Sullivan Johnson Museum Incorporated
08/31/1984: Yost property purchased by Hardin County
09/18/1984: Commissioners sublease Sullivan Johnson House to Sullivan Johnson Museum
05/25/1985: Commissioners lease Farm Museum and three acres to Hardin County Historical Society
06/25/1986: Lease indenture agreement on farm house to Hardin County Historical Society and Tim & Lisa Striker
07/11/1986: Commissioners sign over relics to Sullivan Johnson
08/12/1986: Hardin County Historical Society sign relics over to Sullivan Johnson
04/22/1991: Agreement of merger and incorporation papers of Sullivan Johnson
05/25/1995: New Farm Museum lease on 17.702 acres
06/11/2001: Hardin County Historical Museums incorporated, final merger
08/08/2002: Terry Hord letter, no levy by museum, Commissioners can give $33,000 to Museum
10/14/2005: Museum letter to Comissioners, honor lease
Alfred Nobel, Swedish Nobel Prize ceremony on this date, 63 years old
Historical events for the year 1896 (year the house was built)
Wilhelm Röntgen announces his discovery of x-rays
Following Mormon abandonment of polygamy, Utah admitted as 45th state
Emile Grubbe is 1st dr to use radiation treatment for breast cancer
Western Conference forms of Midwestern U, later renamed Big 10 Conf
Cave of Winds at Niagara Falls goes almost dry for 1st time in 50 yrs
Tootsie Roll introduced by Leo Hirshfield
1st auto in Detroit, Charles B King rides his "Horseless Carriage"
1st car accident occurs, Henry Wells hit a bicyclist (NYC)
1st car is stolen
Volunteers of America forms (NYC)
Marines land in Nicaragua to protect US citizens
Announcement of Gold in Yukon
1st modern Olympic Games officially opens in Athens
Vitascope system of movie projection 1st demonstrated (NYC)
US Supreme court affirms race separation (Plessy v Ferguson)
1st movie theater in US opens, charging 10 cents for admission
Chop suey invented in NYC by chef of visiting Chinese Ambassador
Dow Jones starts reporting an average of selected industrial stocks
Power plant at Niagara Falls begins operation
William McKinley (R) defeats William Jennings Bryan (D) for president
"Stars & Stripes Forever" written by John Philip Sousa
Activity Reported:
From Haunted Ohio V
by Chris Woodyard
ISBN: 0-9628472-8-3
Published 2003
Page #197
"At the Sullivan Johnson Museum in Kenton, anomalous footsteps have been heard. A docent also said that a tour of children walked into the sitting room and found a woman who matched the description of Mrs. Sullivan, the artist for whom the house was built. The woman disappeared."
This viedo is a collection of our past investigations at the museum. Please subscribe to our You Tube channel. By subscribing, you will be among the first to know when we post a new video.
Personal Experiences:
It was noted by the people in the house that starting around April 2nd the activity in the house had escalated. After some historical research by BSPHI it was discovered that Louella Sullivan (one of the suspected spirits of the house) was born on April 3, 1857. Paranormal activity is thought to increase around significance dates. This would lend more credit to the theory that Louella is still present in the house.
This event took place on April 13th around 9:30pm. This is a first hand account by the eye witness.
"I saw what appeared to be a man's brow with a little of the right side hair line. I only saw the top of the brow and a little of the hair line in a paste white for a split second. The image appeared at 6 feet above the floor in the pantry door."
Equipment readings:
See top hat with EMF meter picture below
False Positives
Video:
none
Photographic:
This first 'false positive' image has two possible explanation. The first is that it is a reflection off from the cabinets in the back ground and the second, the more plausible one, is that this is merry a reflection from the blue LED flash light being held by the investigator in the photo.
Also, by view the EXIF information contained in the photograph it was discovered that the camera was set in 'Night Scene' mode. The Night Scene mode uses a longer exposure time than the camera normally does when there is plenty of available light. This will result in a properly exposed scene such as a skyline at night. The flash will properly expose your foreground subject, while the slow shutter speed will provide the longer exposure necessary for the dark background.
This once again shows the power of being able to view the EXIF information contained in digital images, something film cameras can not do.
The second 'false positive' image took a little longer to explaine. However, after review the image several times and adjusting the color and brightness curve it was discovered that this image was the IR array of the DVR camera that was sitting in the hallway. This image was also taken with the camera set in the 'Night Scene' mode.
This third picture is actually still a mystery- but thanks to our new DSP-523 EMF detector made by Magnii Technologies we are several steps closer to solving the mystery. During our second investigation at the museum it was discovered that there is one particular top hat that gives off an EM field. At that time, we were limited to the standard AC meter and the DC Natural Tri-Field meter. The AC meter displayed a filed but the natural DC did not- so we know this hat is holding an AC field. Now with the new Magnii meter were are able to account for this filed to be a total manmade 60Hz field. Here is the response from the Justin, the maker of the meter (just try to get a response from another EMF detector manufacture):
"It should haven't any charge, especially at power line frequencies. II it had ferrous metal deposits it might get a DC charge, but definitely not AC. The readings shown in the pictures are from powerlines. The RMS reading is the regular, unfiltered reading, and the -PWR reading is with power line frequencies filtered out. If the -PWR reading is very low compared to the RMS reading, you know that the fields are from power line frequencies. If a field was due to non-power line frequencies, it would show up in the -PWR reading."
Audio:
none
Conclusions
Investigation Summery:
Once agin this is one of the few places where we always leave with some great evidence. The people at the museum are some of the best people you will ever meet- both the living and the dead people.
In our opinion, based solely on the evidence collected at the time of this investigation we believe this location to be:
_
No paranormal activity
_
Paranormal activity, but not enough to consider it a haunting
_
Residual Haunting
X
Intelligent Haunting
_
Benevolent Spirit
_
Malevolent Spirit
_
Benign Spirit
_
Inconclusive
Case Status
X
Follow-up recommended
_
Case Closed
Additional Notes
General Photographs:
See the 'You Tube' video in EVP section
Related Web Sites:
Other groups that have investigated this location
If your group has or are planning to do an investigation at the museum, please email me so I can add you to this page.
There seems to be a few groups out there that seem to be more interested in accumalating a trophy case full of different investigations. I think there is more to be learned in repeat visits to the same location.
