Forgotten, but Not Gone

Everyone has heard the saying, "Gone but not forgotten". In doing my Paranormal research I have coined a new phrase... "Forgotten, but not gone". I say this in regard to a particular location that I have investigated four or five times. This location is an 1800's "County Home" and "Lunatic House". A "County Home" was basically a Poor House in the 1800's. Common feelings back then was that if you were poor, you were lazy. A Judge or your family could have you sent to a County Home. There was no Unemployment or Welfare nor any program that might help the Down and Out.

A "Lunatic House" was an area where they sent the Mentally Challenged folks of their day. In the 1800's, there were no Psychiatrists or helpful drugs that could be used to alleviate their condition. It was shameful in those days to have a Mentally Challenged person in the family so many of them were sent to these Lunatic Houses and forgotten. In this particular Lunatic Houses there used to be chains and shackles that would bind the more violent people.

It was a much undignified life. To top that off, these people who were poor or Mentally challenged, were undignified in death as well. There is a cemetery on the grounds where over 500 people were buried. These people were the local residence of the County Home and Lunatic house. Since all of them were Wards of the State, the only grave marker that they have is a numbered tombstone. The list of who was buried where has vanished in time. This is a sad way to end a sad life.

With the above said, the phrase "Forgotten, but not gone" comes in to play. I have on more that one occasion recorded a disembodied voice that states their name. Maybe they just want to be remembered...

On 10-17-2009 I investigated at this site at around 9:00 PM. I captured a lady telling me either her name, or part of her name...

"Obermeyer Winifred" http://tiny.cc/HCy3n

Here it is again, amped...

"Obermeyer Winifred" http://tiny.cc/f392N

I am not sure if this was supposed to me a hyphened last name Obermeyer-Winifred, or backwards like.. Winifred Obermeyer. One thing I do know is that the last name Obermeyer is very common in this are.