*NOTE*--Some of the information we have pertaining to this Investigation has been purposely left out, in respect of anonimity to persons still around this area and others.
(edit 3 Sept, 09)
Greg, Jody, Tennie recently did a walk through on the 1st of Sept. The site is almost completely overgrown with brush and there are signs of vandalism since our last visit. We are contacting the Historical Society in the area and the Sheriff's Dept. about our findings.
This is sad to see as our advise to them will be to shut down the site to public visitation. Vandalising sites such as these are not only against the law, disrespectful of the deceased and to current family members still in the area, and also it erases part of the local history, that makes it hard to trace the "real" background of the area.
The story: A witch named Mary Jane , was beheaded and buried here and if you jump over the grave you will die with in 24 hours. I've also seen stories about this, saying 1 to 5 witches were buried here (with the same curse)with variations of the witch story.
There was a Loon Lake Baptist Church associated with the cemetery, founded by Sylvanus Allen who acted as the preacher
(Update: 20 April 2009) The Bapist church was located at what is now a private residence.
(Our opinion is there is no witch buried here or curse that goes with it)
I'm from this area and have been there many times, so these are the facts as best I can describe them.
This is an old abandoned cemetery. Many of the headstones have been vandalized through out the years. There are between 15 and 20 headstones that still are recognizable, and others that aren't. The last burial it seems was in the latter portion of the 1920's(1929>?). The county has erected a memorial of all the persons buried there just after entering the gate. The cemetery has been plotted and on record.
"Part of the problem I think in doing any kind of paper search in this case is the last name spelling", The fathers headstone is spelled "TERWILIGAR", The memorial marker spells the last name "TWILIGER". Some of the Genaology records spell the last name "TERWILLEGAR".
A lot of the records pertaining to this are missing or conflicting. We will edit this as new records are found and can be confirmed,
(Update 20 April 2009) The last name on Marys headstone and the memorial are spelled wrong.
Contrary to what some websites say, this is a relatively easy place to get to, the entrance being part of a county park (which shuts their gates at 10:30 pm). The path from inside the park to actual cemetery proper is about 1/2 mile walk though prairie land. The path is mowed by the county up to the cemetery gate.
If doing an investigation there, I suggest camping in the park, so that you have access to it after hours. When the weather gets nice this park tends to get very busy with campers, especially on the weekends, which may contaminate any type of honest investigation you want to try.
picture 1 John Terwiligar(fathers) headstone / picture 2 Jody taking EVP's(N.E. corner of cemetary)
picture 3 Cemetery Memorial Marker / picture 4 one view of cemetery
Loon Lake Cemetery Mar 29
Greg-dowsing rods,hi-fi video, magnetic readings,digital stills
Jody-EVP Readings, digital stills
Investigation 7pm-10:30pm
Started investigation just before sundown. Went around perimeter of cemetery taking magnetic readings. Went in and set up HI-FI Video camera. Took digital still shots of area. Used Dowsing Rods. Took EVP recordings of area.
Analysis
Magnetic Reading--nothing unusual
Hi-Fi Recording--The Camera went "south" on us
when we reviewed investigation.
Digital Stills--We did pick up a couple questionable
pictures, but not good enough quality
to make a definite call on it.
Dowsing Rods--Had activity in one localized spot.(see picture 4>>the 2nd pine tree)
EVP Recording--Lost the recording in uploading to
computer.
Notes
Had tested all equipment about 2 hours prior to investigation and found all equipment in working order (Hi-Fi Camera still out of action). This was the 1st time I've ever tried dowsing rods. I was surprised at the activity I found in the 1 spot. Tested and retested the spot with the same results each time
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Preliminary Investigation 5pm-7pm April 10th &11th Greg-35 mm stills,EMF readings,
Jody-Digital stills,EVP readings
Did a walk through taking EMF readings, 35 mm still pictures and digital still pitures, and EVP recording
Analysis
No EMF readings were noticed, No digital stills anomolies to report. Caught 2 EVP we think. Still analysing the 35 mm still shots
Notes
Just before this EVP was recorded, investigator reported "the hair on the back of her neck" stood up,
(using WMP, listen for "hello" at 9 seconds in recording)
(using WMP-you hear first Jody say"we just noticed there are more..." then 11 seconds in, there is a voice and then you'll hear Jody finish what she was saying :there are more names on the back here".
Investigation 11pm--12:30pm
Greg-EVP reading, EMF Reading, thermal readings
Jody-Digital stills
temp. 40f, low humidity, clear skys, wind minimal if any
Walked through taking EMF and EVP readings and took random shots with digital camera
Analysis
no EMF readings detected, no digital stills anomolies reported. Possibly 1 EVP recorded. 1 thermal anomaly
(using WMP, listen at about 11 seconds into recording)
Notes
normal thermal readings taking at ground to about the 6 ft level (36deg f) 1 anomaly at about the 15 ft mark read -3 deg f (pointed at a tree trunk). Although nothing other than EVP were recorded, both investigators felt as if they had been watched the whole time while in cemetery.
I also carry a multimeter with us mostly to check voltage levels on our batteries before any investigation. Both of this days investigations we had what was minutes before "fully charged" batteries but once entering the cemetery we had to change batteries in our digital camera twice and voice recorder once.
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...If You'd Like Our Two Cents Worth...
(may edit this after further research)
Greg--"Through all our investigations there. I feel that there may be some type of activity here,( but not to the point of all the stories I've heard ---and by no means would I describe it as negative) . We had some anomalous data come through but no real decent pictures or videos. Had some EVP's and 1 thermal anomaly, batteries in our digital camera and digital voice recorder died very fast, and breakdown in equipment. As for personal experiences, was the feeling of being watched. And also with newly discovered documents I seem to have more questions now then I have answers. I think more research and investigations w/evidence need to be done before I'd call it haunted.
(edited April 20 ,2009)
We have aquired information from a very reliable source that Mary Jane was not beheaded, but rather died of what is thought as "Diptheria" in Iowa
Jody--I personally don't think that there is anything negative here. What I feel while up at Loon Lake Cemetery is more of sadness than of fear. I have had the hairs on my neck stand up, and the feeling of being watched, but have not felt anything ominous or "evil". Evp caught here tells us that they are willing to communicate, and I certainly plan on heading back for more, if possible. As far as "witches" are concerned....certainly NOT.
(EDITED: 3, Jan. 2010)
I have been contacted by a family member involving this story, And she has given me permission to post this on our site.
"Look for Mary Jane Terwillegar on findagrave.com in Loon Lake Cemetery, Jackson County, Minnesota and you will find my research proving Mary Jane's death. Mary Jane was not beheaded by the people of Petersburg. Her parents, John and Phoebe Terwillegar were living in Spirit Lake, Iowa near the border in 1880. Mary Jane had gone to Cherokee, Iowa where her older brother (my great-grandfather), Benjamin Terwillegar and family were living. Mary Jane and her parents had lived in Cherokee County before moving to Spitit Lake. Mary Jane had been back in Cherokee County a very short time when she died of diphtheria on March 5, 1880. John and Phoebe moved to Jackson County, Minnesota and lived near Loon Lake. They are both buried at Loon Lake Cemetery. The Terwillegar name is spelled many different ways. The original in New York is Terwilliger. I have also added John & Phoebe Terwillegar to findagrave.com with their obituaries and pictures. J.E.P. great-great-granddaughter of John and Phoebe Terwillegar. "
****(I would like to note that J.E.P. are the initials of the great-great-grandaughter. Even though she gave us permission I felt it would be better to use her initials instead of full name)
****I would also like to note also that she is the 2nd person who has told us this, which helps validate the truth to the real history