WILL COUNTY GHOST HUNTERS SOCIETY

A.C. Clement Home Paranormal Excursion January 23, 2010

     Want to be a part of a professional paranormal investigation? Join the Will County Ghost Hunters Society on Saturday January 23, 2010 from 10pm to 6am for an overnight experience at the A.C. Clement home located at 519 Campbell Street in Joliet.

     The home was built in 1902 by one of Joliet's most well renowned businessman of the time, A.C. Clement. A.C. purchased the land from his father, Charles Clement. His father moved from New Hampshire in 1834 and quickly became a prominent business man in the Joliet community. Charles built a Dry goods business and was the first treasurer for the town of Joliet. In 1844 he married Cordelia Wilcox. The couple had 2 children, Arthur Charles (A.C.) and Jill. Much like his father, A.C. became a renowned businessman. In 1897 he formed a business partnership with his brother-in-law Samuel D. Chaney. He constructed the business block at the corners of Jefferson Street and Ottawa Street. The business partnership dissolved in 1902 and A.C. went into business for himself. During the time of its construction, he served as the president of Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet. He later married Miss Georgia Smith in New York. They had two children Charles and Laura. The couple constructed a home on 519 Campbell Street, while living in their home at 300 South Eastern Avenue in Joliet. Georgia passed away in the home on December 27, 1918. A.C. daughter August Beltzner (Laura C.) and her husband moved into the home at 519 Campbell Street. On April 27, 1929 A.C. passed away at the residence. August had two children August C. and Viloa H. In 1937, Charles Clement (son of A.C.) committed suicide by hanging himself at his home located at 300 South Eastern Avenue. In 1950 the home was sold to Daniel N. and Mildred F. Ayola. In 1953 the home was converted into Ayola Rest Haven Home. The retirement home closed in the 1965. Shortly after the retirement home closed the Blackburn Funeral Home moved into the location. The funeral home operated at the location until 1989 when they moved to their current location at 1500 Black Road. The location was then converted back into a private residence in 1991. The current home owners purchased the property in 2000.

     Shortly after moving into the home, they began to remodel. It was at this time they began to notice unusual things happening. Over the course of the past eight years the residences and guests have seen the apparitions of a woman, which is sometimes accompanied by the smell of perfume or flowers. She has been seen on mainly in the parlor/ living room of the home. This is the area that was used to wake bodies when the location was used as a funeral home. The apparition of a tall, thin man has been seen in the rear of the home on the first and second floors. In a second floor guest bedroom the apparition of a small boy has been seen as well. There have been unexplained odors such as smoke, perfume, and the smell of urine on the third floor. On one occasion, while in the parlor room a cold breeze passed though the room that was accompanied by the smell of perfume. Unexplainable voices, knocking, footsteps have been heard throughout the home. The lights and TV have been turned on by themselves numerous times over the past several years. There has also been two separate occasions where items have been moved by themselves. The first is the appearances of two books that were not in the home, and the home owners are unaware of where they may have come from. The second is when several baby gates that are used to contain the dogs were completely moved to a different location. There is no possible way for the dogs to have moved them and all the residences deny having moved them. The dogs have acted strangely on several different occasions. They sometimes bark at nothing, and will not go into certain rooms of the home. There has also been a few occasions that guests have felt like someone was touching them or pushing them.

     The Will County Ghost Hunters Society has investigated the home on several different occasions. They were able to capture a solid apparition of a man on the second floor. To view the photo, please click HERE. The voices of men, women, and even children have been recorded at this home. To listen to the voices, please click HERE.

     The overnight ghost hunting excursion will be lead by Chicagoland's top paranormal investigators. Participants will be using state of the art ghost hunting equipment, while exploring this 25 room home. Some of the equipment that will be used is EMF detectors, Geiger counters, ion counters, noncontact infrared thermometers, 16 channel DVR system complete with IR cameras, a thermal imaging camera, and numerous other pieces of equipment. Will you been the next one to photograph the ghosts of this historic home?

     This is a private residence and is not open to the public. This is a rare opportunity, and maybe the last time this event is offered.

Tickets are $75.00 each and the tour is limited to 12 people!

***No refunds will be given for unused tickets, unless the event has been cancelled, or the time and/or date has been changed.***

$75.00 only