Ghost Hunters Will Investigate Johnson County Poor Farm / Asylum

Members of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors said that although the request is “bizarre,” they would allow a paranormal team to come investigate the county’s poor farm and asylum. Brandon Cochran, museum operations assistant for the Johnson County Historical Society, presented the idea to the board to bring in the Carroll Area Paranormal Team for one night to do a scientific study of the area to determine if there is paranormal activity on the land. The hope is not that there will be, Cochran, but rather to get away from the stigma. With the scientific methods and reports done by the paranormal team, the historical society can steer focus back to the county history and heritage at the Johnson County Poor Farm and asylum on Melrose Avenue. “To me, it’s rather bizarre,” Supervisor Pat Harney said, questioning if bringing the team would add to the issue rather than debunk rumors. “They’re not going to do it Halloween night, are they?” Cochran said that is not the plan, and like Harney has never heard anyone talk of the land being haunted. “It’s kind of taking the preemptive approach,” Cochran said. “We’re using it to make sure the site is the site and nothing else.”Cochran said this idea started more than a year and a half ago after Cornell College students did an online exhibit about the poor farm for a class. The Carroll Area Paranormal Team contacted the Cornell professor about the project, and then the team and the historical society got in contact. The plan is for the Carroll Area Paranormal Team to be at the poor farm and asylum for one night to do their investigations. The four-person team works at night, using tools such as thermal imaging cameras and voice recording systems, he said. Cochran said Johnson County Historical Society staff would be there to monitor what happens and Johnson County Facilities Director Dave Kempf said he would also volunteer to tell the team where they can set up and be on the land. Kempf said he checked with Chatham Oaks officials, who said they didn’t see any problems with the paranormal team coming as long as it didn’t disturb the building’s residents. The County Poor Farm became the county home and now is the location of Chatham Oaks. Cochran will work with the Johnson County Attorney’s office to come up with some form of written agreement that likely will include a liability release before the supervisors formally vote on allowing the team to come. “In the name of science,” Supervisor Terrence Neuzil said.