Haunted in San Antonio (Anthony: dorms, dangerous, suites)

[luckygreeniii]

Originally Posted by TX_AGGIE13

This may be a silly question considering the forum thread, but does anyone in here watch the TV shows Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures??? I record them on Wednesdays and Fridays every week. I love those shows!! I live on a bit of land, and am somewhat isolated when im out here at the ranch, and I just love turning off the lights out here in the woods and watching them. Call me weird, but the adrenaline rush is great! What I want to know is why hasn't either of these shows done any episodes in Texas? Im not saying Texas is the most haunted state in the US, but I'd argue with anyone who said it's not in the top 10 for sure. I know the guys fro TAPS are from Rhode Island, but I've seen them do shows in California, and Washington State several times. The guys on Ghost Adventures are only in episode 9 or 10 or so, but they have traveled to a few states already too. It would be very interesting to see them do something at one of our San Antonio locations, or one of the Galveston locations, there are just so many in Texas. I went on the Ghost Adventures website and there is a link where they ask the public where they should investigate, and I left a reply. Anyway....just something I was thinking about.

We love GH in our house! Was bummed that it wasn't on this week (well, just a rerun)
We have always wondered also if they are going to come to TX. Lots of cool places to investigate. Maybe you should drop them a line?

Come to think of it, I think they were in CC or Galveston for some special on the ss......... (cant remember the name of the ship, sorry) I don't remember seeing it televised but I remember people could purchase tickets to go see them. I will have to check on it and get back to you.

[TX_AGGIE13]

Originally Posted by luckygreeniii

We love GH in our house! Was bummed that it wasn't on this week (well, just a rerun)
We have always wondered also if they are going to come to TX. Lots of cool places to investigate. Maybe you should drop them a line?

Come to think of it, I think they were in CC or Galveston for some special on the ss......... (cant remember the name of the ship, sorry) I don't remember seeing it televised but I remember people could purchase tickets to go see them. I will have to check on it and get back to you.

Well, I was going to send a message, or post on their forum on the Ghost Hunters site, but have you seen that thing? About 300K posts on several threads, and no contact us options. Most of the threads are silly, just people talking, and nothing about ghosts anyway, or they are advertizements. I did post on the Ghost Adventures forum thread which was much smaller, and much more to the point. It actually asks you where you want the team to investigate next. I was not the only one who brought up San Antonio. I actually named a few places, and went into detail on the Texas prisons in Huntsville. I used to work for TDCJ, and have alot of connections there, so I stated that if they did an investigation into the old Walls Death Row wing, or the Ellis, or Old Eastham Units I could probably get them in. I think those places are the most haunted locations in Texas. I've actually had a few personal experiences in the outside pickett at Ellis 1, and in the old Death Row Wing, as well as the closed Eastham Unit.

[luckygreeniii]

Originally Posted by TX_AGGIE13

Well, I was going to send a message, or post on their forum on the Ghost Hunters site, but have you seen that thing? About 300K posts on several threads, and no contact us options. Most of the threads are silly, just people talking, and nothing about ghosts anyway, or they are advertizements. I did post on the Ghost Adventures forum thread which was much smaller, and much more to the point. It actually asks you where you want the team to investigate next. I was not the only one who brought up San Antonio. I actually named a few places, and went into detail on the Texas prisons in Huntsville. I used to work for TDCJ, and have alot of connections there, so I stated that if they did an investigation into the old Walls Death Row wing, or the Ellis, or Old Eastham Units I could probably get them in. I think those places are the most haunted locations in Texas. I've actually had a few personal experiences in the outside pickett at Ellis 1, and in the old Death Row Wing, as well as the closed Eastham Unit.

I have checked out the site but didn't spend much time lurking in the forums. I do think there is contact info that I saw somewhere. Again, I will check and get back to you.

[luckygreeniii]

Duh, thought about it after I hit post. Go to the Taps website, there is contact info there.

[TX_AGGIE13]

Originally Posted by luckygreeniii

Duh, thought about it after I hit post. Go to the Taps website, there is contact info there.

Thanks guys, I'll have to go back I guess. I tried to create a login last night on their site, but it malfunctioned on me...blah! And I use an Apple!

[gy2020]

Here is the contact location for TAPS:The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS)

[majormadmax]

My wife may have watched it, but I would rather go hunt them myself than watch someone else do it on TV...

Cheers! M2

[TX_AGGIE13]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

My wife may have watched it, but I would rather go hunt them myself than watch someone else do it on TV...

Cheers! M2

I agree completely. I will say watching it though kinda makes you wanna go do it more! It's cool to see their tactics, and all the crazy equipment they use. I'd buy a thermal camera in a heartbeat if they didn't cost around 5k....lol. I did order a EVP recorder that holds up to 104hours for $50 on eBay though! I may be taking it a little to far...lol.

[wCat]

I've participated in a few local hunts some years back. Not sure the "paranormal" group really knew what they were doing, however! I was given a location to "research" and traced back owners and residents and possible events near or on the property while they did their "EMR" readings and recordings on the premises. It was sort of a blind study thing....I was not to know anything about their findings or stories about the locations and they were not to know anything about the information I found until after both ends were completed. It was very cool to get together and compare notes after both studies were complete. Nothing was ever proven, but there were at least facts to go with some of the "theories".

I think that part bothers me the most about some of these shows where everyone sort of leaves without answers. Like....why did I just watch that! I still do some research occasionally, but it's a very long and tedious process and the pay is generally ZERO! I don't do it just for fun anymore unless I have a personal interest in it......or if they group is really willing to fund my time. And that's almost NEVER! haha!

[Charles F.]

Originally Posted by wCat

Hello Charles. Can you explain more about "the reformatory"? It sounds like you are associating this building with the correctional facility nearby. It's possible that it was used for several things over the years. The last reference to the Southton TB Sanitorium I found was in 1963. Are you saying that it was taken over by the county prison system?

After further research I am now 100% positive that the place is the old Southton School For Boys. I stayed on the left side of the largest building in the photos. It was the non functioning recreation room.

The place was notorious for its ill treatment of its charges, and when the new facility was built in downtown S.A., Southton was shut down. Eventually a new facility was built next door to Southton, and the downtown facility was discontinued.

I called a friend who is now retired from the fire dept., and he told me that after Southton was closed it was used for a short time by the fire dept to store records. It was never used for training.
Because of its remote location they were unable to prevent break-ins, so they in turn abandoned it.

It was NEVER a TB hospital, an insane asylum or home for indigent elderly. There is a stone plague inbedded in the wall of the largest building, clearly stating that it was built in 1915 as a juvenile facility for boys.

A few days ago I was discussing the place at length - what it was like there, so I don't want to go into it all again. Suffice to say that it was a really terrible place, with all sorts of crimes being commited by the staff against their charges. Rapes and beatings were commonplace.

Southton was not a long term confinement facility when I was there. Boys stayed from a few days to several weeks, until their cases were adjudicated. Then, they were either released, or sent to Gatesville.
There were no educational facilities there that I know of. In fact, during my stay there I never even saw any reading material. The recreation room, where I stayed, had a non functioning television, but it didn't mater, as no one was allowed in there anyway. It was used only to house inmates during overcrowding.

When I arrived there they took my shoes, socks and belt (the outside of the building was overgrown with stickers, so taking your shoes and socks hindered escaping). They issued me a worn blanket and a thin mattress, then frog marched me to the rec room, where I remained until my release four days later.
Because my uncle was politically connected, I didn't suffer the abuse the other inmates did, but I observed it.
Other than feeding me, taking me to the toilet or showers, the staff had no contact with me. In fact, they didn't even speak to me.
The morning I was released, my uncle and a lawyer showed up, and their first act was to inspect me for bruises and to ask me if any staff members had mistreated me. The day shift staff stood silently as I replied.

I never returned to Southton.

I'm presently conducting a search to find others who were incarcerated there. I would like to find out what their experiences were. My preferential treatment there was not the norm, and I'll be forever grateful to my late uncle for reaching out and calling in markers.