Timed with Halloween, a group of thrill-seekers gathered at Oak Park’s historic Pleasant Home on Friday to learn more about the 19th century mansion’s alleged supernatural occurrences from experts.
Participants explored the historic Pleasant Home alongside a team of paranormal investigators from The Other Side Investigations, roaming the eerie rooms and corridors of Pleasant Home using ghost-hunting equipment to uncover the mysteries behind its storied past and reported supernatural phenomena.
In small groups, attendees explored different areas of the house. Equipped with devices provided by The Other Side Investigations team, they searched for signs of paranormal activity. The Other Side Investigations team guided them through the experience explaining the equipment used to detect paranormal activity, such as the REM Pod, ghost box, and K2 meters. They also shared personal stories and insights from their own ghost hunting experiences.
And indeed, after the event, some claimed to have experienced some paranormal activity.
Oak Park resident Elli Wade, visiting Pleasant Home for the first time, said the group encountered some paranormal activity in the billiard room. Wade was holding the K2 Meter while in a circle with other attendees sitting down and the reading of the K2 meter went from a 0.1 to a 0.4 reading. The Other Side Investigations told the room that because of the change of that meter, there was paranormal activity going on.
“It was very cool to actually see it happen in front of my eyes,” Wade said. “This is such a beautiful house and it’s fun to do something like this. I’ve never done anything like this before. I love Halloween. We joke that Halloween is my Super Bowl.”
“This was a little sample bite and appetizer of ghost hunting. We love to help people. Sometimes the unknown is very scary for some people,” said Lesley Tuton, an investigation coordinator from the team.
The Other Side Investigations acquisitioner David Amesquita shared his hopes for the event, saying he wanted attendees to experience the beauty of Pleasant Home firsthand. For those who hadn’t visited before, he felt it was a perfect opportunity to appreciate the mansion’s charm up close.
“I go out and try to find different locations for us to visit, whether it’s through various park districts or libraries. I try to get our name out there and secure more places to explore. I also look for different haunted houses and people often reach out to me so we can set something up,” Amesquita said.
Noelle Combs, historic properties and special events coordinator for the Park District of Oak Park, started her work with the park district in March and has had her fair share of eerie experiences at Pleasant Home.
Combs told the group that she recently saw a figure in a top hat walk by in the mirror that can be seen when heading up to the second floor and when she looked up, there was nothing.
Combs said she has seen unexplained door slammings and that Susan Crane, the historic properties and special events manager, smelled tobacco when nobody would be smoking.
“I never feel scared in this house. I didn’t want to tell anyone about those things. You guys are experts, but like you said, you only get to come at night. I’m here sometimes from nine in the morning until eleven at night and things do happen,” Combs said.
Event attendees also heard about the rich history of Pleasant Home from Paula Fenza, a docent for the mansion for more than nine years. Fenza said that Pleasant Home was built in 1897 by architect George Washington Maher for John Farson, his wife, Mamie, and their two sons, John Jr. and William. The family moved into the house in 1899.
“John and Mamie had wonderful, lavish parties. They would be so happy to see all of you here, because this is what they loved to do, welcome people into their home,” Fenza said.
After John Farson died in 1910, Mamie sold Pleasant Home, along with its custom furnishings, to inventor Herbert Mills, known for creating the slot machine and the railroad crossing gate. Mills lived in the house with his wife Leonie and their eight children until his death in 1929, followed by Leonie’s passing in 1930.
In 1939, the children sold the house and its four-acre estate to the Park District, stipulating two conditions: the grounds were to be opened as a public park named Mills Park in honor of their father; and the home was to be preserved and used as a gathering space for the community. Today, Pleasant Home serves as a historic landmark and venue for guided tours and local events.
The Other Side Investigations team is expected to return to Oak Park this spring for another public investigation, this time at the historic Cheney Mansion.