Paranormal Burlington Historic Prison Museum in Mount Holly NJ ghost spirit haunted investigation by Long Island Paranormal Investigators - Ghost Haunted Demonic Investigation Ghost Hunter New York NY

Investigations by Long Island Paranormal Investigators:

Burlington Prison Museum
Mount Holly, NJ

Prolog: In May 2007 Long Island Paranormal Investigators performed our first investigation of this historic prison museum in Mount Holly, NJ. We performed a lights out investigation using digital video recorders, digital and analog audio recorders, IR and thermal thermometers, IR vision systems, EMF and other electronic sensors.

Equipment preparation for the investigation

Lead investigator Michael Cardinuto (standing) discusses equipment procedures
with tech crew specialist DiGangi at LIPI headquarters before the investigation.

Tech crew specialist Justin DiGangi carefully coils extension cords that will be needed
for the DVR cameras during the investigation.

Historical Background: Burlington prison was constructed in 1811 based on designs by Robert Mills, one of America's first native-born trained architects. The design of the prison was a model of innovative thinking in terms of interior planning, fire proofing, heat and ventilation systems. The prison's operation was also unique in that it represented the first prison to attempt reform of criminals as well as punishment. The prison remained in steady use through 1965. The building is 154 years old!

A re-construction of the type of gallows used for executions.
This gallows is constructed on the same spot in the prison yard where the original gallows stood
and where the prisoners were executed.

Also, prisoners executed else where in the area often spent their final days at Burlington Prison.

Additionally, during the over 150 year operation the prison also saw break outs, riots, and even murders occurred behind it's walls. Prison museum operators confirmed that at least one person is buried in the prison's court yard in an unmarked grave. There may be more persons buried there but records of such burials are lacking.

Location of unmarked gravesite in prison court yard.

A person is known have been buried by the tree (circled) in the prison yard.
Additional burials may also be present but records are poor.

The Investigation Team: Eight members of Long Island Paranormal Investigators took part in this investigation. This investigation was lead by LIPI lead investigator Michael Cardinuto. Additional team members were investigators Jaiem Fleischmann, Michael Bainbridge, Craig Sordyl, Justin DiGangi, Peter Ferraro, Cheryl Wittmann, and Thelma D'Amico.

The Equipment Setup: Long Island Paranormal Investigators prepared for a lights out investigation.

LIPI members discuss placement of equipment

Lead investigator Michael Cardinuto (left rear) discusses the placement
of the DVR cameras and other equipment with the LIPI Tech Crew during setup.

We set up two DVR IR cameras in the basement level, one pointing down the side hallway where it is said a prisoner killed a guard, and the other pointed down the main basement hallway. A third DVR camera and one of our digital thermometers was placed in the hallway of the woman's prisoner wing on the first (main) floor. A fourth DVR camera was placed looking down the second floor (top floor) side hall way along with our wireless motion sensor and digital thermometer. This hall way is said to be where the museum's light's motion sensors often activate without anyone being there.

Our Hi-8 video camera in the second floor Dungeon room.
Note the plaster figure of a prisoner as an example of how prisoners were held in this room.
Also note the prisoner graffiti on the back wall of the room.

Lead investigator Michael Cardinuto distributes equipment to LIPI investigators.

The Investigation: Long Island Paranormal Investigators performed a three and a half hour investigation of the prison. Our group was divided into three investigation teams and took turns investigating each of the three floors of the prison museum. Additionally, a LIPI investigator remained at the command center to monitor the DVR system. Teams would rotate assigned areas during the night to give everyone a chance to investigate each location. Teams remained in contact via Motorola-class walkie-talkie radios.

Investigators Craig Sordyl and Thelma D'Amico in the center junction of the basement hallway.

Basement prison yard door.

Basement backdoor to prison court yard.
Prisoners would go through this door for outdoor activities and be lead this way for executions.

Basement side hallway were guard was killed.

Basement side hallway were a guard was killed by a prisoner.
Museum works say they have seen a man standing in this hallway.

Hallway along womans area on first floor.

The hallway along the woman's section on the first floor.
Note the DVR camera on the right and the digital thermometer on the left wall.

Thelma D'Amico watches for paranormal activity in the woman's hallway area.
Note the orb in the middle is just dust.

Hallway outside the Warden's office on the first floor.
Very little activity has been reported in this room.

LIPI Investigator Thelma D'Amico checks Geiger counter readings in the dungeon room.

Side hallway on second floor where museum motion sensors often activate without anyone being there.

The walkway behind the second floor prison cells connecting the cells to the prisoner's bathroom.

Investigating the prison court yard: We had planned to go out to the court yard after dark for EVP and photography. Unfortunately, it began to rain heavily during our investigation and continued steadily so it was not possible to investigate the yard or gallows area after dark.

Findings: The investigations of this location have revealed the following evidence and experiences:

Personal Experiences on Site - May 2007

A number of orbs were collect on both digital and 35mm film. Most likely dust. None appeared to be paranormal.
EMF readings remained very low (under .5 on the digital EMF meter).
While temperature ranged widely throughout the prison no noticeable cold spots were detected. Temperature variations were probably due to the weather (it began to rain heavily during our investigation) as well as the construction of the building itself.
An unusual mist was seen on the DVR camera facing down the woman's prisoner hallway on the first floor. The mist formed and moved across the hallway near the ceiling and then disappeared. However, when reviewing the DVR recording the observed mist was not seen. It's believed the "mist" was actually a dust orb of unusual size and density that moved in such a way that it appeared to be misty rather than more solid as a typical dust orb would be.
The wireless motion sensor on the second floor did go off once during the investigation without anyone being in the hallway. No other evidence from that section was captured.
Digital audio recorded a number of loud "bangs" and other unusual noises that were not heard or noticed during the investigation.
Several members of the LIPI investigation team reported hearing unusual sounds in the basement level. Sounds of things moving. Although none of these sounds were recorded on audio.
Several LIPI investigators also reported strong feelings of dread and foreboding on the basement floor and the woman's prisoners hallway. Additionally, group sensitive Peter Ferraro reported strong feelings in both the woman's section and dungeon room.

EVPs Recorded at Site
(Note: May require headphones to properly hear and review)

EVP 1 (full recording - 534kb)
EVP 2 (enhanced EVP - 121kb)

Date: May 2007
Description: This is a Class B EVP recorded in the basement level by EVP Specialist Jaiem Fleischmann. It was recorded in the main hallway just outside the prisoner workshop. It has been confirmed not to be the voice of any of the female investigators present (only one female investigator was in the area at the time and she was halfway down the hallway away from this location). Opinion differs as to what is being said. Some think it is a female voice saying "Please help" while others think is a woman saying "So hungry". It is because of this uncertainty the EVP is classified as B.

Conclusion: At this time Long Island Paranormal Investigators is unable to confirm or debunk whether the prison is haunted. We do believe some kind of activity is present there. Another investigation will be planned for the near future. This page will be updated with the results.