| La Casa De Estudillo (2-15-03) |
Case #: HI021503
Name of reporting investigator: Chad Patterson
Date: 02/15/2003
Name and location of site: La Casa De Estudillo
4002 Wallace Ave.
San Diego, CA 92110
Time Started: 12:00 PM
Time ended: 1:30 PM
Other CSGR investigators present: Tracy Austin, Dede Miller, Virgnia Marco, and Alma
Engelsman
Others present: Guests Jose Marco, George Austin
Weather Conditions:
Temperature: 62 degrees F Barometer Readings: N/A
Relative Humidity: unknown
High Temperature: 65 degrees F Low Temperature: 57 degrees F
Wind Speed: calm
Description of conditions: Partly cloudy with slight wind
Other Data:
Lunar Phase: Waxing Gibbous (full on 2/16/03)
Geomagnetic storm conditions: N/A
Equipment Used:
EMF Detectors: Field Tester 200A, and Trifield Natural EMF Detector
IR Thermometer
Sony Video Cameras w/ nightshot
Olympus Stylus Epic Zoom 80 QD 35MM
Instant Camera 35 MM
Sony Digital Camera
Type of film used:
Still photo: Kodak and Fuji Color 400 & 800 SP
Video: Sony 8 MM
Other types of investigative techniques applied:
A psychic evaluation by Virginia Marco
Description of Investigation:
CSGR went to San Diego for a day of investigation at three locations. Our first location was
one I had visited myself twice before. A location in Old Town called La Casa De Estudillo, which
simply means house of Estudillo. La Casa De Estudillo is located in historic Old Town San
Diego, and is one of he oldest structures in the park.
La Casa De Estudillo was built in 1827 by the political and socially prominent Estudillo family.
It was built by Jose Antonio Estudillo in honor of his wife Maria Victoria. For the first half
decade since it's construction, the house was the social center for Old Town San Diego. Even
during the Mexican War the house remained a neutral zone for woman and children. The
house began to deteriorate as power shifted from Old Town to New Town San Diego. By 1887
the last of the Estudillo family had moved out.
The home was actually saved when Helen Hunt Jackson was inspired to write the book
Ramona. Jackson was an Indian activist, and had come to San Diego in search of inspiration
for a historic novel. She found that inspiration in La Casa De Estudillo. She was also inspired
by a priest that lived at the house, who was also an Indian rights activist, named Father
Anthony Ulbach.
The home was later purchased and restored, due to the Ramona novel, by a man named John
Spreckels. Spreckels turned the home into a business of marriage. Many wanted to be
married in the home. This was all due to the marriage of Jackson's characters Ramona and
Alessandro. The two characters were married in Jackson's rendition of the home in her novel.
Soon, the home was a tourist attraction called Ramona's Marriage Place. From this point on
La Casa De Estudillo would continue to be a jewel of Old Town San Diego.
CSGR went to investigate the historical home on reports that it was haunted. I had heard
stories and reports that many of the employees had experienced cold spots and mysterious
red flashes in the master bedroom, which is in the original half of the structure. There were
even rumors that ghostly figures had been seen dancing within the structure.
When we arrived we immediately began our investigation of the house. Psychic Virginia
Marco noted a handful of spirits during her walk and evaluation of the home and property.
For information on these spirits see her report. I, myself, had visited the site twice before.
Each time I visited this site I have experienced something strange in the doorway of the
chapel to the master bedroom. In this doorway I have on two occasions experienced strange
EMF readings that I could not explain on the Trifield Natural EMF detector. On this visit,
member Dede Miller agreed that this area felt strange as though something was there.
Virginia Marco agreed that there was a tall man in this area, she thought may be a priest.
This was her first time at the house. When she told me this, I told her of my first strange
encounter at La Casa De Estudillo:
I first visited the house in July of 1999. I was new to Southern California, but well researched on
many of it's haunted locations. I remember starting my investigation on the outside of the
location and moving inward. When I walked in to the chapel room, the atmosphere did feel
thicker. Almost heavier then the rest of the location. I remember standing in that doorway,
taking notes, and facing the master bedroom. I was alone, or thought I was, at the time.
Seconds later, I thought I saw a shadow seem to emerge to my left side out of the corner of my
left eye. It rose quickly and seemed immediately taller then I was. At this moment I felt as
though someone was standing behind me. I turned expecting to see someone behind me from
the outside doorway, or at least someone or some thing's shadow protruding through the
outside doorway, but there was nothing. No one was there. No person or anything casting a
shadow. I looked outside and saw no one close by. About half a minute later, a couple of
tourists did come into the room through the entrance doorway. The experience itself had ended
as fast as it had began...
It would be an experience that would inspire my next two visits to La Casa De Estudillo.
During visits two and three (the third being this visit, and my first with CSGR) I would
experience strange EMF readings on my Trifield Natural EMF detector. On this visit, after
several minutes of checking for increases or decreases in any natural (DC) magnetic fields of
this room, I noticed the needle increase between 2 and 3 on my meter's magnetic scale, hold
it's position for several seconds, before stabilizing and returning to zero. There were no
movements, circulation of air, or other explainable DC causing sources. This leads me to
possibly suggest that this location, at times, does experience unexplainable or paranormal
activity.
Conclusion:
It is my conclusion at this time to suggest the original half of La Casa De Estudillo may be
haunted, or experiencing, at times, unexplainable phenomena. I think that yet another future
investigation of this structure is necessary to further monitor and conduct onsite research. I
feel the focal point of the activity may be the chapel room and master bedroom. I also feel the
rest of the house, including the court yard, should not be ignored for possible future activity.
In a location such as this, were there is much history, numerous people creating memorable
moments within the environment, and a place of significant beauty, it would be easy to
understand why possible entities, or residual energy might exist within the walls of this
historical structure.
Name of reporting investigator: Chad Patterson
Date: 02/15/2003
Name and location of site: La Casa De Estudillo
4002 Wallace Ave.
San Diego, CA 92110
Time Started: 12:00 PM
Time ended: 1:30 PM
Other CSGR investigators present: Tracy Austin, Dede Miller, Virgnia Marco, and Alma
Engelsman
Others present: Guests Jose Marco, George Austin
Weather Conditions:
Temperature: 62 degrees F Barometer Readings: N/A
Relative Humidity: unknown
High Temperature: 65 degrees F Low Temperature: 57 degrees F
Wind Speed: calm
Description of conditions: Partly cloudy with slight wind
Other Data:
Lunar Phase: Waxing Gibbous (full on 2/16/03)
Geomagnetic storm conditions: N/A
Equipment Used:
EMF Detectors: Field Tester 200A, and Trifield Natural EMF Detector
IR Thermometer
Sony Video Cameras w/ nightshot
Olympus Stylus Epic Zoom 80 QD 35MM
Instant Camera 35 MM
Sony Digital Camera
Type of film used:
Still photo: Kodak and Fuji Color 400 & 800 SP
Video: Sony 8 MM
Other types of investigative techniques applied:
A psychic evaluation by Virginia Marco
Description of Investigation:
CSGR went to San Diego for a day of investigation at three locations. Our first location was
one I had visited myself twice before. A location in Old Town called La Casa De Estudillo, which
simply means house of Estudillo. La Casa De Estudillo is located in historic Old Town San
Diego, and is one of he oldest structures in the park.
La Casa De Estudillo was built in 1827 by the political and socially prominent Estudillo family.
It was built by Jose Antonio Estudillo in honor of his wife Maria Victoria. For the first half
decade since it's construction, the house was the social center for Old Town San Diego. Even
during the Mexican War the house remained a neutral zone for woman and children. The
house began to deteriorate as power shifted from Old Town to New Town San Diego. By 1887
the last of the Estudillo family had moved out.
The home was actually saved when Helen Hunt Jackson was inspired to write the book
Ramona. Jackson was an Indian activist, and had come to San Diego in search of inspiration
for a historic novel. She found that inspiration in La Casa De Estudillo. She was also inspired
by a priest that lived at the house, who was also an Indian rights activist, named Father
Anthony Ulbach.
The home was later purchased and restored, due to the Ramona novel, by a man named John
Spreckels. Spreckels turned the home into a business of marriage. Many wanted to be
married in the home. This was all due to the marriage of Jackson's characters Ramona and
Alessandro. The two characters were married in Jackson's rendition of the home in her novel.
Soon, the home was a tourist attraction called Ramona's Marriage Place. From this point on
La Casa De Estudillo would continue to be a jewel of Old Town San Diego.
CSGR went to investigate the historical home on reports that it was haunted. I had heard
stories and reports that many of the employees had experienced cold spots and mysterious
red flashes in the master bedroom, which is in the original half of the structure. There were
even rumors that ghostly figures had been seen dancing within the structure.
When we arrived we immediately began our investigation of the house. Psychic Virginia
Marco noted a handful of spirits during her walk and evaluation of the home and property.
For information on these spirits see her report. I, myself, had visited the site twice before.
Each time I visited this site I have experienced something strange in the doorway of the
chapel to the master bedroom. In this doorway I have on two occasions experienced strange
EMF readings that I could not explain on the Trifield Natural EMF detector. On this visit,
member Dede Miller agreed that this area felt strange as though something was there.
Virginia Marco agreed that there was a tall man in this area, she thought may be a priest.
This was her first time at the house. When she told me this, I told her of my first strange
encounter at La Casa De Estudillo:
I first visited the house in July of 1999. I was new to Southern California, but well researched on
many of it's haunted locations. I remember starting my investigation on the outside of the
location and moving inward. When I walked in to the chapel room, the atmosphere did feel
thicker. Almost heavier then the rest of the location. I remember standing in that doorway,
taking notes, and facing the master bedroom. I was alone, or thought I was, at the time.
Seconds later, I thought I saw a shadow seem to emerge to my left side out of the corner of my
left eye. It rose quickly and seemed immediately taller then I was. At this moment I felt as
though someone was standing behind me. I turned expecting to see someone behind me from
the outside doorway, or at least someone or some thing's shadow protruding through the
outside doorway, but there was nothing. No one was there. No person or anything casting a
shadow. I looked outside and saw no one close by. About half a minute later, a couple of
tourists did come into the room through the entrance doorway. The experience itself had ended
as fast as it had began...
It would be an experience that would inspire my next two visits to La Casa De Estudillo.
During visits two and three (the third being this visit, and my first with CSGR) I would
experience strange EMF readings on my Trifield Natural EMF detector. On this visit, after
several minutes of checking for increases or decreases in any natural (DC) magnetic fields of
this room, I noticed the needle increase between 2 and 3 on my meter's magnetic scale, hold
it's position for several seconds, before stabilizing and returning to zero. There were no
movements, circulation of air, or other explainable DC causing sources. This leads me to
possibly suggest that this location, at times, does experience unexplainable or paranormal
activity.
Conclusion:
It is my conclusion at this time to suggest the original half of La Casa De Estudillo may be
haunted, or experiencing, at times, unexplainable phenomena. I think that yet another future
investigation of this structure is necessary to further monitor and conduct onsite research. I
feel the focal point of the activity may be the chapel room and master bedroom. I also feel the
rest of the house, including the court yard, should not be ignored for possible future activity.
In a location such as this, were there is much history, numerous people creating memorable
moments within the environment, and a place of significant beauty, it would be easy to
understand why possible entities, or residual energy might exist within the walls of this
historical structure.
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