McInteer Villa - Visit 2
Location Information
Date: 17 September 2022 Type: Residential Museum
Location Title: McInteer Villa
City/State: Atchison, Kansas
Investigation Times: 7:00 PM - 10:00 AM
Status: Analysis
Weather Information
Sunrise: 7:03 AM Sunset: 7:26 PM
High Temperature: 91 °F Low Temperature: 70 °F
Sky Condition: Mostly Cloudy Wind: South at 15 mph
Humidity: 53% Precipitation: 0.0 in
Lunar Phase: Waning Crescent % disk visible: 49%
Solar X-Rays: Normal Geomagnetic Field: Quiet
Pressure: 28.94 mmHg
Investigators Present
Jennifer Sprague
Sarah Crowe
Lindsey Kadri
Neshela Duke
Greg Payne
Tania Rounds
PHOTOS
photo by Jennifer
photo by Jennifer
photo by Jennifer
photo by Jennifer
VIDEOS
LOCATION HISTORY
John McInteer was born in Ireland in 1827 and came to the United States alone as a boy. He settled first in Philadelphia and later in Indiana, where he learned the trade of harness-making. Hearing of the opportunities in the West, he moved to Kansas in the early 1860s. First setting up home in Doniphan County, John McInteer started a small shop in Atchison where he manufactured harnesses and saddles. His products became known for their artistry, and he did a great amount of business with wagon trains plying the overland trails. His company was so successful that he had to enlarge his facilities and manufacture his products on a large scale. His company's wealth was invested in real estate in Atchison and nearby St. Joseph, MO. He also erected several business blocks in Atchison.
The McInteer Villa is one of Atchison's most unique residences. They were built in 1889-1890 for John McInteer, a pioneer businessman of Atchison, KS. The large, impressive brick residence was constructed at an estimated cost of $14,000. The architect was not identified, but the builder was Owen E. Seip, a long-time Atchison contractor.
John McInteer's first wife, Alice, died in 1892. He married his second wife, Anna Conlon, a widow with three sons, in 1895. After McInteer died in 1902, Anna continued living in the home until she died in 1916. The house was home to many Conlon relatives, including many children during her ownership. From 1916 until about 1925, her brother, Judge Charles J. Conlon, a prominent Atchison lawyer, and his family made it their home.
For the next 25 years, it was a rooming house. In 1952 the McInteer Villa was purchased by Ms. Isobel Altus, a retired professional violinist and an eccentric, according to her Atchison neighbors. She lacked the financial resources to follow through on her desire to restore the house, and in 1969, shortly before her death, she sold it to George Gerardy, who had started to rehabilitate it. The McInteer Villa is still one of the most unusual and picturesque houses built in Atchison.
From https://www.1889mcinteervilla.com/
Investigators Notes
Jennifer, Lead Investigator:
We started with a quick tour with the owner, Stephanie, who is always great! We set up four DVR cameras for this investigation. They were placed in the basement, second-floor hallway, and library room. We also set one up on the main floor where some weighted balloon objects were reported to move. Other equipment used on this investigation included handheld cameras, audio records, and motion-activated objects, and we attempted an automatic writing experiment.
All investigators reported hearing movement and noises which sounded like someone walking around in various places. The second floor and basement seemed to be the most active spots. No EVPs were recorded; however, Neshela and Sarah captured the movement they heard in the library.
One investigator reported feeling something on her arm in the basement. At the same time, another person felt uncomfortable. Multiple noises were heard in the basement by more than one investigator, including what sounded like a male whisper, but nothing was captured on audio. A perimeter check was done to ensure the sounds were not coming from outside, and found nothing.
We recorded footage on the DVR cam that was set up in the library. In this room, motion-activated objects would be activated multiple times while nobody was in the room.
Many thanks to Stephanie for allowing us to come out!
Previous Investigations at this Location:
McInteer Villa - Atchison, KS