Wilmington Area Historical Society Investigation

The Wilmington Area Historical Society (WAHS) is dedicated to the preservation of the history of Wilmington Illinois, and educating others on that history. It is open the first Saturday of the month from 12 pm to 3 pm.

It is currently located in a limestone building built in 1879 and which once housed the City Hall, Jail and Fire Station. In fact, the original jail cells have been preserved as part of the history of the building. It contains artifacts, pictures, historical documents and old memorabilia relevant to the town of Wilmington.

The founding of Wilmington was in 1834 when a gentleman, Thomas Cox, purchased 400 acres of land from the federal government and built several buildings including a sawmill, gristmill and a corn cracker and carding machine. In 1836, the town was officially laid out by Cox and called Winchester.

Some early surviving buildings include The Eagle Hotel. There was a stagecoach stop at the hotel and it was part of the Underground Railroad; a safe passage spot to assist freed and runaway slaves escape the horrors of Slavery around the time of the Civil War and earlier. Another early stone building was built in 1837 by Daniel McIntosh near Forked Creek, just south of Route 66 which still stands today.

The first fire department was a volunteer one established in 1868 as the Empire Hook Ladder and Bucket Company No. 1 on Water Street. The new Wilmington Fire Protection District at 501 N. Water Street is on the site of the original volunteer fire department.

The Historical Society is open to all. Please call in advance of a visit or reach out to the Wilmington Library at 815-476-2834 and they should be able to assist you.

Address: 114 N. Main St., Wilmington, Illinois 60481

Phone: 815-476-9311

Curator: William Weidling

Email: lynreese45@outlook.com

Hauntings: While there is nothing specific, rumors of paranormal activity have persisted through the years, in part, perhaps caused by the many artifacts or “trigger object” which often hold on to place memories. These place memories can many times be responsible for holding onto memories of great sentimental or historical value. When stored in historical societies, libraries or antique shops, these treasures can, in fact, let loose of psychic energies that then could perhaps lead to apparitions, movement of objects, cold spots, feelings of being touched and hearing strange sounds and noises when no one is currently inside of a building.

Some of this has been reported by current curators, patrons and visitors to this site in the past.

The Ghost Research Society investigated Wilmington Area Historical Society on April 29, 2026. Team members included: Paul Adams, Charles Williams, Diane Oksanen and Dale Kaczmarek.

Equipment setup: a 4K Sony Nightshot camera was placed facing into the furthest jail cell along with a REM Epod positioned on the bed; another REM Epod was placed on the first floor. A Tri-Field Natural EM Meter was used throughout the investigation to help confirm any anomalous electro-magnetic deviations encountered at sites within the building.

Experiments performed: Phasma Box and Ovilus V sessions were conducted near the Jail cell, first floor center and 2^nd floors. A ParaTek EVP session was also done on the Main Floor, All sessions were backed up by REM Epod’s and Tri-Field Natural EM Meters nearby. A live Facebook session was also shot inside the building on various floors.

Personal experiences:

Dale Kaczmarek: I felt a little creped out in the darkness near the Jail cell. We all heard a strange tapping sound coming from the vicinity of the Furnace Room - which could have been caused by the furnace itself. I’m not sure if the device was turned on to heat at the time.

Evidence collected:

First floor Wilmingtonhs.MP4 – while conducting a Phasma Box session on the 1^st Floor, a question was asked, “Where are you in the building?” The device responded with, “First floor.”

Nobody picked me up Wilmingtonhs.MP4 – while conducting a Phasma Box session on the Main Floor, a question was asked, “Why are you still here?” The device replied with, “?Nobody? picked me up.” (The “nobody” word is harder to make out then the rest of the EVP reply “picked me up.”

Robbery Wilmingtonhs.MP4 – while conducting a Phasma Box session near the Jail Cell, a question was asked, “What crime did you commit?” The device said, “Robbery.”

Summer’s gone Wilmingtonhs.MP4 – while conducting a Phasma Box session on the Main Floor, the device said very clearly the phrase, “Summer’s gone.” (If this was a spirit making that statement, it then probably refers to after summer had concluded. It was April when we investigated here.)

Thank you Agnes Wilmingtonhs.MP4 – while conducting a Phasma Box session on the Main Floor, the device blurted out, “Thank you Agnes.” (This could be referring to a Miss Agnes Rose Kangley whose picture still hangs on the wall of the Main Floor.)

They’re dead right now Wilmingtonhs.MP4 – while conducting a Phasma Box session on the Main Floor, a question was asked by Paul Adams, “Do you have any relatives in Britain?” The device responded with, “They’re dead right now.”

Up yours Diablo Wilmingtonhs.MP4 – while conducting a Phasma Box session on the Main Floor, a question was asked, “Can you say hello?” The device replied with, “Up yours” and followed that up with the name, “Diablo.”

Words spoken by the Phasma Box: Jail Cell – I see you, collection, robbery, lose control, camera; Main Floor – one dollar, bad member, up yours, Diablo, they’re dead right now, nobody picked me up, thank you Agnes, digital, lots of them, summer’s gone, it stinks here and First Floor.

Words spoken by the Ovilus V in dictionary mode: Jail Cell - Tim, lead, congruism (Congruism is a 16^th and 17^th century Jesuit theological theory stating that divine grace becomes effective because God gives it in circumstances that match a person’s interior state and external conditions), sift, you, history, stay, above, remember, noun, for me, little, scruple, ledge, present, (tapping sound heard from furnace area.), pray, period, guy, screw, up, L, rate, well, day, glass, slain, contrition, puddle, hold, fire, happy, diction, linger, slower, most, interrupt, walk, roadway, Akasha (This is a Sanskrit word that means aether, space of sky in traditional Hindu cosmology. The term has also been adopted in Western occultism and spiritualism in the late 19^th century), area, calm, products, jade, and, unholy, Walter arrived, finished and it’s none; 2^nd Floor – in, wire, release, real, news, rate, mad, gasp, purified, healer, has, list, plate, drop, Akasha, calm, linger, known, aim, weeps, maybe, sacrifice, Ida, thought, wow and drop. Phonetic Mode – are, need air, here and I or hi.

Words spoken by the ParaTek: Main Floor – nosy, mix, consider, fool, guarded, practical, party, support, debonair, magenta, float, incite, humor and estimate.

Conclusions: A most interesting investigation inside a building with so many old artifacts from days gone by that there almost had to be some phenomena going on in the past, right up to the present.

I was amaze by so many intelligent responses to exact questions asked especially with the Phasma Box device and, at many times, in full sentences. Particularly the responses; up yours, nobody picked me up, First Floor, they’re dead right now and robbery. These responses were direct and quick answers to the questions posed.

The summer’s gone was an interesting and clear non-interrogatory reply that had to be added to the evidence list because this could probably relate directly to the time of year that entity spoke of.

Thank you Agnes was amazing due to all the possible names that could have come through the device. Considering a large portrait of Miss Agnes Rose Kangley named for a sharp bend in the road just north of Wilmington where Illinois Route 53 intersects with 216^th Street. “Kangley’s Curve because of its sudden alignment change, has historically been a site of serious vehicle accidents.

One such accident occurred in March of 2018, a 23-year-old just before 7pm was a victim of a rollover accident in which the young man was ejected from his vehicle. He was airlifted to Presence St. Joseph Hospital in Joliet, Illinois where he was pronounced dead. Some believe that due to other accidents and fatalities that Kangley’s Curve is haunted. It was amazing to get the name Agnes come through while conducting an investigation not very far from this dangerous curve.

I would like to conduct another investigation here after dark so as to utilize more of our nighttime investigative machinery. The people in this town are absolutely friendly and very willing to allow other reputable groups access to the properties of Wilmington, Illinois.