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Pacific R ailroad train depot building built in 1910 and a part of the historic Pacific R ailroad train depot building built in 1910 and a part of the historic Pacific R ailroad train depot building built in 1910 and a part of the historic Pacific R ailroad train depot building built in 1910 and a part of the historic

district of Y akim a W ashington. The train depot has a rich history in the tow n district of Y akim a W ashington. The train depot has a rich history in the tow n district of Y akim a W ashington. The train depot has a rich history in the tow n district of Y akim a W ashington. The train depot has a rich history in the tow n

of Y akim a of Y akim a of Y akim a of Y akim a and som e beand som e beand som e beand som e believe that a few of the passengers still w alk the halls lieve that a few of the passengers still w alk the halls lieve that a few of the passengers still w alk the halls lieve that a few of the passengers still w alk the halls

w aiting for their train that never seem s to arrive. w aiting for their train that never seem s to arrive. w aiting for their train that never seem s to arrive. w aiting for their train that never seem s to arrive.

2

W elcom e to PIH A ’s H istoric H aunting of W ashington State M agazineW elcom e to PIH A ’s H istoric H aunting of W ashington State M agazineW elcom e to PIH A ’s H istoric H aunting of W ashington State M agazineW elcom e to PIH A ’s H istoric H aunting of W ashington State M agazine

On behalf of the volunteer paranormal investigators of PIHA, I invite you to experience

Washington State’s amazing historical sites and museums like never before. PIHA has created a

program unlike any other in Washington State. Through our process of networking with local

historical societies, museums and registered historical sites, PIHA hopes to help educate the public

of our state’s exciting history and the process and technology utilized in today’s paranormal

investigations.

PIHA was created with two goals in mind:

1. PIHA hopes to bring our history to life by attempting to obtain significant evidence of

these strange occurrences. Utilizing the latest in today’s electronic technology and

dedicated paranormal investigators, we are accomplishing this objective.

2. PIHA wants to stimulate additional interest in our residents and visitors to Washington

State’s fascinating history. We want to encourage individuals, families, schools and

community organizations to visit these (and other) historical locations for a better

understanding of our state’s history and the people who made it.

PIHA is not out to prove or disprove the existence of possible paranormal activity, but to publish

any significant evidence collected at an investigation and let each individual decided for himself

what to believe or not to believe.

Wherever your travels in Washington take you, best wishes for a “Trip to the Extraordinary”.

For additional information about PIHA, visit our website at www.pihausa.com

.

3

In th is Issue:In th is Issue:In th is Issue:In th is Issue:

Welcome to PIHA’s Historic Haunting of Washington State Magazine…..2

Washington State History………….……………..……..…….5

The History of Eastern Washington………………...………..7

The History of Yakima.…….………………………..…..…….9

The Historic Yakima Depot Restaurant & Lounge……11

Paranormal Investigation Report………………………..…...13

Paranormal History Report…………………………….....…..15

Contact PIH A :Contact PIH A :Contact PIH A :Contact PIH A :

PIHA (Paranormal Investigations of Historic

America)

Vaughn Hubbard: Case Manager/Historian

Phone: 360.799.4138

Email: Info@pihausa.com

Website: WWW.PIHAUSA.COM

Debbie Knapp: Lead Investigator/Historian

Kathy Gavin: Lead Investigator

Dave: EVP Specialist

Christian Wells: Investigator

PIH A M agazine Publisher:PIH A M agazine Publisher:PIH A M agazine Publisher:PIH A M agazine Publisher:

Publisher………………...…..….Historic Haunting

Chief Publisher…………..……..Vaughn Hubbard

Program Manager:………….…..Debbie Knapp

Marketing Manager:………….....Kathy Gavin

Graphic Designer:…………...…..Christian Wells

A cknow ledgem ents:A cknow ledgem ents:A cknow ledgem ents:A cknow ledgem ents:

We wish to acknowledge the HistoryLink for allowing PIHA to use their published historical

research information as reference material. To read about the history of Washington State visit the

HistoryLink website at: www.HistoryLink.org

4

5

Washington State History

The State of Washington occupies the far northwest corner of the contiguous 48 United States. It occupies 66,582

square miles (176,600 square kilometers) between the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Idaho border at 117

degrees longitude. Washington borders Canada on the north along the 49th parallel and

Oregon on the south along the Columbia River and 46th parallel. Great Britain and the

United States jointly occupied the region between 1818 and 1846, when Britain ceded the

Pacific Northwest below the 49th parallel to the U.S. In 1848 the U.S. created Oregon

Territory, including the future states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho and a portion of

Montana. Washington Territory (including Idaho and western Montana until 1863) was

separated from Oregon on March 2, 1853, and gained statehood on November 11, 1889.

The federal government created Oregon Territory on August 14, 1848. The area of the new jurisdiction included

the present-day states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and western Montana. The discovery of gold in California in

1848 triggered a large westward migration, and settlement of Oregon Territory was promoted by passage of the

Donation Land Claims Act of 1850, which granted 160 acres to any U.S. citizen who agreed to occupy his or her

land for five years.

On August 29, 1851, 27 male settlers met at Cowlitz Landing (south of present-day Olympia) to petition Congress

for a separate “Columbia Territory” covering the area between the Columbia River and 49th parallel. The petition

was reaffirmed by 44 delegates who met in Monticello on November 25, 1852. Congress approved the new

territory on February 10, 1853, but changed its name to “Washington.”

President Millard Fillmore signed the bill on March 2, 1853, and Olympia was named the Territorial Capital and

has remained the capital of both Washington Territory and State since 1853. President Franklyn Pierce named

Isaac I. Stevens as the first governor of an area that included northern Idaho and western Montana until President

Abraham Lincoln established Idaho Territory on March 4, 1863.

Washington’s non-Indian population grew steadily to more than 300,000 over the following

decades. Its residents began petitioning for statehood in 1881, and Washington was admitted to the

Union on November 11, 1889, with the signature of President Benjamin Harrison.

Thirty federally recognized sovereign Indian tribes and reservations occupy substantial areas in

Washington, and there are an additional seven unrecognized but culturally distinct tribes. Native

American Indian tribes have occupied this area; now know as Washington State for over 10,000

years and have a rich history in culture and survival. By the 1850s, when the first Euro American settlers arrived

at Alki Point and along the Duwamish River, diseases had already

taken a devastating toll on native peoples and their cultures. During the

80 year period from the 1770s to 1850, smallpox, measles, influenza,

and other diseases had killed an estimated 28,000 Native Americans in Western

Washington, leaving about 9,000 survivors. Historian Robert Boyd conducted

extensive research on the effect of European diseases on Northwest coast Indians.

In his book, The Coming of the Spirit of Pestilence, he states that the 1775 Spanish

expedition led by Bruno Hezeta, commander of the Santiago and Juan Fracisco de

la Bodega & Quadra, commander of the Sonora was the most likely carrier.

6

7

The History Eastern Washington

In the spring of 1853, Congress authorized a US Army expedition made up of engineers and explorers and led by

Isaac Ingalls Stevens, to survey a route from the Missouri River to the Columbia River suitable for building a

railroad. Stevens assumed the task, but also kept in mind that the route should be suitable for a wagon road

A small, dark-haired young man, Lieutenant John Mullan just out of West Point, was

placed in charge of surveying, and later improving, a wagon route (now commonly

called the Mullan Road) between Fort Benton (Montana) and Fort Walla Walla

(Washington). Lieutenant Mullan commanded a workforce of more than 200, including

civilian workers, soldiers, engineers, and surveyors who carved a 25-foot wide road

across the region.

Although the road was never heavily used by the military, it was an important conduit

for civilian passage, which hastened settling of the northwestern United States. In the

first year after completion, it was used by an estimated 20,000 people, 6,000 horses and

mules, 5,000 cattle and 83 wagons. The Mullan Road helped Walla Walla become the

largest town in Washington Territory by 1870, with a population of 1,394. The road

continued to serve as an important route until the completion of the Northern Pacific

Railroad in 1883 provided faster and more convenient access to the region.

In 1836 Marcus Whitman a physician and missionary in the Oregon

Country, along with his wife Narcissa started a mission Waiilatpu (Why-ee-

lat-poo, the 't' is half silent), which means "place of the rye grass" in the

Cayuse language also known as the Whitman Mission. The mission was

located 6 miles from current day Walla Walla Washington, just west of the

northern end of the Blue Mountains. Whitman would later lead the first

large party of wagon trains along the Oregon Trail, establishing it as a

viable route for the thousands of emigrants who used the trail in the

following

The settlement was in the territory of both the Cayuse and the Nez Percé tribes of Native Americans. Marcus

farmed and provided medical care, while Narcissa set up a school for the Native American children.

The influx of white settlers in the territory brought new diseases to the Indian tribes, including a severe epidemic

of measles in 1847. In what became known as the Whitman Massacre, Cayuse tribal members murdered the

Whitman’s in their home on November 29, 1847. Most of the buildings at Waiilatpu were destroyed. Twelve other

white settlers in the community were also killed. For one month 53 women and children were held captive before

negotiations led to them being released. In 1850, the tribe handed over five members to be tried for the murder of

the Whitman’s. All five Cayuse were convicted by a military commission and hanged on 3 June 1850. The hanging

was conducted by U.S. Marshal Joseph L. Meek. This event triggered an ongoing conflict between white settlers

and local tribes, known as the Cayuse War an armed conflict that lasted from 1848 to 1855. This was the first of

several wars between the original inhabitants and Euro-American settlers in that region that would lead to the

placement of many of the Native Americans onto Indian reservations.

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9

The History of Yakima Washington

The Yakama people were the first known inhabitants of the Yakima Valley. The area tribes used this area, on the

banks of the Yakima River, as their wintering spot for generations. This was the traditional hunting and gathering

grounds of the region's tribes, known collectively as the Peoples of the Plateau. They fished the abundant salmon

and steelhead. They gathered roots and berries on the nearby mountain slopes. The fertile grasslands attracted

game and waterfowl.

In 1805 the Lewis and Clark Expedition came to the area and discovered abundant wildlife and rich soil,

prompting the settlement of homesteaders.

The arrival of settlers and their conflicts with the natives resulted in the Yakama Indian War of 1855. The U.S.

Army established Fort Simcoe in 1856 near present-day Toppenish as a response to the uprising. The Yakamas

were defeated and relocated to the Yakama Indian Reservation. A small village near Ahtanum Creek, which came

to be known as Yakima City, emerged in the 1860s, serving the valley's scattered ranchers. The pioneering F.

Mortimer Thorp (1822-1894) family arrived in the Moxee Valley, just outside the present-day city, in 1861.

His son, Leonard Thorp, later described what they found:

"At that time, the bottom lands were covered with a dense growth of rye grass twelve feet high in many places,

while a luxuriant carpet of nutritious bunch grass made the sage brush hills a veritable paradise to cattle and

horses. Within five minutes after turning loose the animals, they would be completely lost sight of in the tall grass

and could be found only by trailing. Fortunately, the Indians were disposed to be friendly and except for the

occasional theft of an animal, never seriously troubled the early settlers. Indeed, they rendered us valuable service

during the late fall of 1861, by bringing great quantities of salmon, which could be procured from them at trifling

cost. A string of beads, costing ten cents, would purchase a thirty-pound fish."

When Yakima City was bypassed by the Northern Pacific Railroad in December 1884, over 100 buildings were

moved with rollers and horse teams to the nearby site of the depot to North Yakima. The move itself, in which

entire buildings were hauled four miles by teams of mules or horses, was a loud, dusty and colorful affair. The new

city was dubbed North Yakima and was officially incorporated and named the county seat on January 27, 1886.

The name was changed to Yakima in 1918. Union Gap was the new name given to the original site of Yakima.

The Yakima Herald printed its first edition in 1889, printing 5,000 copies of their newspaper. The editor of the

Herald stated in 1889 that the excellent agricultural climate and soil, fine fruit orchard lands, superior conditions

for the growing of hops, abundant stock-grazing areas, abundant water power and the transcontinental rail line to

Puget Sound passing through Yakima are all key elements to it’s success and growth.

The Portland Oregonian reported in 1889 that Yakima was shipping hundreds of carloads of hops, cattle, produce

and fruit to the coast, and that "there is not a pauper in the county". The article also stated that there was reason to

believe the town could balloon to 15,000 to 25,000 people some day.

Yakima was well on the way to becoming the center of a famous agricultural region, known for apples, sugar

beets, hops, potatoes, and produce and world famous wineries. Large-scale irrigation projects first developed by

private irrigation companies and later by the federal government were the reason for this success. As of 2009, the

city's population was estimated at 84,850. Many of Yakima's major employers are fruit-packers, beef processors,

and canneries.

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11

The Historic Yakima Depot Restaurant & Lounge

When Northern Pacific Railroad decided to create depot here in 1884, Yakima City (now Union

Gap) used teams of horses to slowly pull and roll the entire town to this location. Many of the

commercial enterprises stayed open for business during the slow move to what is now called

Yakima. In 1910 the current Yakima Depot was completed in order to accommodate the valley's

business growth.

Over the years, The Yakima Depot served as the valley's hub for passenger and freight service

under the ownership of various railroads. Passenger service ceased in 1971 and the Depot went

through periods of decay and renovation and is now owned by Burlington Northern Sante Fe

Railroad. In 2002, Karl and Kristie Pasten decided to develop a railroad themed restaurant in the

Yakima Depot and leased the South end of the Deport from BNSF. After four months, with the

help of friends, they developed the original domed passenger waiting lounge and baggage

handling areas into one of the most unique restaurants in the Northwest.

In the Cobblestone Room you will see a 1916 Nickelodeon which plays piano, mandolin and

xylophone music from original paper rolls. This early American automated three piece band was

offered by Karl's Lithuanian emigrant father as the only source of entertainment in the pre-

prohibition coal miner's tavern, located in Scranton, PA. This rare piece of musical memorabilia

now plays for The Depot's customers, on request.

12

13

The PIHA Grey Team’s Paranormal Investigation

On July 31st 2010 the PIHA Grey Team accomplished paranormal investigation of the Historic

Yakima Depot Restaurant & Lounge in the historic town of Yakima Washington. These are the

results of the PIHA Grey Teams investigation of that historic building.

The PIHA Grey Team began their investigation at 1:00 AM with PIHA Lead Investigator, Debbie

Knapp. The Grey Team was also joined by Heather Caro, Yakima Magazine Writer/Coordinator

who is publishing an article featuring PIHA and this investigation in their September/October

monthly magazine issue.

As is the usual practice, the team first completes a scan of the area to be investigated. They use

their EMF (Electromagnetic Field) detectors to locate any abnormal electronic energy that may

exist.

Next, the Grey Team sets up their camcorders to video tape any shadows or strange movement

that may take place during their EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) session.

Finally they position the parabolic dish that they use to record any noises or voices that may or

may not be heard by ear. The parabolic dish also has a headset attached allowing an investigator to

hear any voices or noises that cannot be heard naturally by the other investigators during the EVP

session. This has proven to be a valuable tool to validate anything recorded during the EVP

session that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Vaughn has concluded that if ghost actually exist, they can be seen, heard and felt anytime, day or

night with the lights on or off. The main

reason that most paranormal organizations

investigate late at night is that there are

fewer people in and around the area or

building being investigated and the same is

true for vehicle traffic. All of these factors

can contaminate the electronic recordings

being made during the actual investigation.

Basically, the quieter it is the better chance

of recording possible evidence of

paranormal activity. But, if someone just

wants to have a paranormal experience or

possibly see a ghost, they’re chances are

probably better during the day than at night.

There are many more encounters told by ordinary people of seeing or experiencing a ghost during

the day and fewer at night. You could have something standing right next to you in the dark and

you would never see it, but during the day you will.

14

Results of the PIHA Paranormal Investigation

Main dining room floor area early Sunday morning on July 31, 2010:

1:00 am – There was no significant paranormal evidence captured in the dining room area of the

restaurant so the Grey Team moved to the hallway next to the staircase going upstairs.

2:45 am – Debbie Knapp, PIHA Lead Investigator positioned herself on the landing halfway up

the staircase and began her EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) session. The team had their digital

recorders going along with the parabolic dish which was being monitored by Terry Knapp. Chris

Wells was filming the EVP session with the Infrared camcorder. Vaughn Hubbard was in the

PIHA “Command Central Van” monitoring the investigation and communicating with the Grey

Team. Vaughn also maintained the “Live Feed” while answering questions from the people in the

PIHA video/text chat room who were watching the investigation from home.

As Debbie began, the Grey Team heard numerous knocking and clicking noises that they were

unable to account for. It was almost like something was trying to get their attention making these

noises. Footsteps were also heard with most of the unexplained noises coming from the upstairs

area.

Later during Debbie’s EVP session, Debbie’s K-II meter starting lighting up indicating an

unknown energy source was being registered. Soon Debbie starting using the K-II meter to

indicate “YES/NO” answers after asking questions. An example would be “If you are a woman

make the light blink”. A blinking light would indicate a “YES” answer while no blinking lights on

the K-II meter would indicate a “NO” answer. The Grey Team has used this method as an

effective way to establish a dialogue between the investigator asking the questions and the entity

responding with blinking lights.

During this EVP session utilizing the K-II meter, the Grey Team was able to determine that there

are 15 ghosts present in that part of the building and they are mostly children. A woman who is 25

years old and wears a white dress watches over the children. The year is 1937 and she was born in

1912. She also has brown eyes and blond hair. Out of respect no questions were asked about her

cause of death or the death of the children.

During this EVP session, there were no voices recorded with the digital recorders or video

showing any shadows or aberrations filmed.

15

The History of Paranormal Activity

There have been many reports by patrons and employees alike, seeing and hearing things in the

restaurant. A lot of the time things happen at night after the bar and dining room close. The

restaurant manager Dave has a young daughter named Evelyn who has claimed to see the “lady in

the white dress” as she describes her. Evelyn also claims to know about the children in the historic

train depot as well. It appears that the PIHA “Grey Team” has validated the many claims made by

numerous people and even Evelyn over the years of possible paranormal activity existing there.

Over 40,000 years ago early man started leaving cave drawings depicting what appear to be

representations of paranormal activity. This also occurred around the same time early man started

burying their dead. The first Shaman appeared acting as a medium between the visible and spirit

worlds by experiencing paranormal activity and asking the age old question “What happens to us

after we die”. Today, we still have our religious leaders and are still searching for the answer to

that age old question. Hopefully, with today’s electronic technology, the scientific community will

begin to study that question and eventually give us some answers. Many people who think that

something paranormal exist, physics and logic can debunk. That said, occasionally PIHA obtains

evidence that neither physics nor logic applies. When this occurs, we classify it as paranormal

evidence and let each individual decide for himself what to believe or not believe. PIHA has no

answers to what it is we are documenting with our electronic equipment, only questions for the

scientific community. Any conclusions determined are based solely on speculation and conjecture

with no scientific basis to support their theory.

Ghost, Demons, Spirits and Energy

People have always believed that the night is full of ghosts, but the thought of a ghost sound is still

disturbing. It is unsettling to listen to the sound of death as if they were occurring in the present

and not a lifetime earlier. I suspect the world is far more mysterious than we’ve ever imagined.

In subtle and unexpected ways science and religion are approaching common if uncertain ground.

At some point as the scientific focus becomes more and more specific, as the particles examined

by quantum physicists become more and more elusive, the paranormal escapes its cage of

scientific incredulity.

And there lies the mystery of the paranormal. They are messages, so dense that they require

unraveling before they’re understood. It’s a little scary, acknowledging that something paranormal

can exist, but also an affirmation that what lies beyond consciousness has tremendous power and

potential.

16

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program unlike any other in W ashington State. Through our prprogram unlike any other in W ashington State. Through our prprogram unlike any other in W ashington State. Through our prprogram unlike any other in W ashington State. Through our procesocesocesocess of netw orking w ith local s of netw orking w ith local s of netw orking w ith local s of netw orking w ith local

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state’s exciting h istory and the prostate’s exciting h istory and the prostate’s exciting h istory and the prostate’s exciting h istory and the process and technology utilized in paranorm al researchcess and technology utilized in paranorm al researchcess and technology utilized in paranorm al researchcess and technology utilized in paranorm al research ....

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paranorm al investigating are prim arily based on paranorm al investigating are prim arily based on paranorm al investigating are prim arily based on paranorm al investigating are prim arily based on research research research research and logic in obtaining ev idence of and logic in obtaining ev idence of and logic in obtaining ev idence of and logic in obtaining ev idence of

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P IH A P IH A P IH A P IH A never use m edium s, psychics or O uija B oards in our investigations. M any people w ho th ink never use m edium s, psychics or O uija B oards in our investigations. M any people w ho th ink never use m edium s, psychics or O uija B oards in our investigations. M any people w ho th ink never use m edium s, psychics or O uija B oards in our investigations. M any people w ho th ink

that som ething paranorm al exist, physics and logic can debunk. That said , occasionally P IH A that som ething paranorm al exist, physics and logic can debunk. That said , occasionally P IH A that som ething paranorm al exist, physics and logic can debunk. That said , occasionally P IH A that som ething paranorm al exist, physics and logic can debunk. That said , occasionally P IH A

obtains ev idencobtains ev idencobtains ev idencobtains ev idence that neither physics nor logic applies. W hen this occurs, w e classify it as e that neither physics nor logic applies. W hen this occurs, w e classify it as e that neither physics nor logic applies. W hen this occurs, w e classify it as e that neither physics nor logic applies. W hen this occurs, w e classify it as

paranorm al ev idence and let each indiv idual decide for h im self w hat to believe or not believe.paranorm al ev idence and let each indiv idual decide for h im self w hat to believe or not believe.paranorm al ev idence and let each indiv idual decide for h im self w hat to believe or not believe.paranorm al ev idence and let each indiv idual decide for h im self w hat to believe or not believe.