Belvoir Winery - Visit 2
Location Information
Date: 11 June 2021 Type: Commercial
Location Title: Former Odd Fellows Home
City/State: Liberty, MO
Investigation Times: 8:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Status: Analysis
Weather Information
Sunrise: 05:53 AM Sunset: 08:46 PM
High Temperature: 92°F Low Temperature: 70°F
Sky Condition: Cloudy Wind: WNW at 7 mph
Humidity: 87% Precipitation: 100%
Lunar Phase: Waxing Crescent % disk visible: 2%
Pressure: 28.77 mmHg
Investigators Present
Julie Klos Burch
Jennifer Sprague
Tania Rounds
Neshela Duke
Lindsey Kadri
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Investigators Notes
Julie Klos Burch, Lead Investigator: We explored 5 locations on this investigation of Odd Fellows/Belvoir Winery: Morgue, Old Folks Home, Hospital, Bunker, Cemetery
Several investigators saw Shadow figures down the corridor of the Old Folks Home. Some also reported being touched. Two reported a random cold blast of air from behind them in the Bunker, where there were also many spikes on several K2 meters, clear to red. Other lighted paranormal investigation devices also went off there, where a Shadow Man and children are reported to reside. One EVP has been discovered so far, other audio is still being reviewed. A series of photos were also taken with unexplained aspects to them.
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Location History
The oddly named Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) was formed in the United States in 1819 and grew from the original order that came up in England in the 18th century. It aimed to provide shelter and care to those in need, such as the elderly, widows, and orphans.
The fraternal order came first came to Missouri in 1835, and by the end of the century, they built the Odd Fellows Home, a 240-acre complex. It was a form of health and life insurance, and as long as members had a good record, they could depend on the Odd Fellows for help. The complex had its own farm and expected those who could work. It also had its own hospital, an orphanage, a school, a nursing home, and a cemetery.
The society, like other fraternal organizations, conducted secret rituals, and one of the most important ones was the initiation. A key symbol in this ceremony was a skeleton, which served as a reminder of mortality. Today, a small room in the complex houses some interesting artifacts that the IOOF left behind, including “George”, the skeleton of an Odd Fellows member who died in the 1880s and donated his body to science. When the body was no longer needed for teaching, the bleached and articulated bones were returned to the IOOF, as per his agreement, for use in their initiation rituals. (All of the skeletons used by various IOOF halls are named George, so that is not the original member’s name.) The display also includes other curious objects left behind such as masks, books, and swords.
Now consisting of four buildings and a few small outbuildings, the Odd Fellows Home sits on 36 remaining acres and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1986. Three of the red-brick buildings exhibit the Jacobean-Revival style and well-known architect, William Ittner, who designed one of these structures, the Administration Building. The buildings are in a state of deterioration, with broken windows, doors, and damaged roofs. However one of the most impressive buildings, the Belvoir Winery and Inn, has renovated the first floor, and it is now a tasting room and event space for the winery.
From Atlas Obscura.
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Previous Investigations at this Location
Investigation 177: Belvoir Winery and Inn, Room 9 - Liberty, Missouri - 4 Jan 2020