Sam and Colby's Secret Adventures

The Phelps Mansion

The three-floor second empire-style home included a full kitchen and a cook's apartment in the cellar. The first floor had a variety of rooms for entertainment. There was also a kitchen, parlor, dining room, formal waiting area, and solarium. The second floor contained the family's five bedrooms, a sitting room, and two bathrooms. A third floor included a billiard room, servants' rooms, and storage. Colby, Sam, and Justin were driving towards the Phelps Mansion Museum they pulled into the driveway. They parked out and stood in front of the mansion. Justin got out of the camera and began filming them. He then gave the two a thumbs up. "Hey! What's up, guys? It's Sam and Colby. We are here with Justin Bishop. His social media accounts will be linked down in the description. We are standing in front of The Phelps Mansion Museum in Binghamton, New York. We will be doing an overnight in this building." Sam said as he looked behind them. "We will be getting into the history of this place pretty soon but first get that merch!" Colby said as he and Sam showed off their clothes. They walked through the gate and locked it behind them. They walked up the steps and into the huge castle. They walked around the lobby. "Wow, this is so beautiful," Sam said as he looked around the area, Justin panned the camera around the area before he finally stopped recording. They set up their tripod, sat down, hit record, and started their history segment of the video. "In 1868 and 1869, Sherman David Phelps, a banker, and businessman bought three adjoining properties along Court Street. The three existing houses were torn down so that construction could begin on a new home. The initial cost for the mansion was projected at $70,000. Local architect, Isaac Gale Perry, was hired to design the new home and an owner of a local brick manufacturing plant, John Stewart Wells, was hired as the primary contractor for the project. Wells' construction was completed in 1871 at an estimated cost of $119,000. When the Phelps Mansion was built, it was the last in a row of elegant homes on the east end of Court Street. In 1872, "Judge" Phelps moved into his new home. That same year he was elected mayor of the new town of Binghamton. At the time Judge Phelps moved into the mansion, the household included the widower, Judge Phelps, himself, two teen-aged sons from his second marriage, a widowed niece who acted as social hostess, two farm girls who served as maids, and freed slaves who served as carriage drivers and cooks." Sam explained the building's history as he looked at the camera.

"One of the highlights of the Binghamton social season was the New Year's Day celebrations at the mansion; especially the one held in 1876 as part of the American Centennial. While the other mansions along Court Street were open to the public, it was the Phelps Mansion that was singled out for its beauty. Judge Phelps died on November 13, 1878, of Fells Disease. Following his death, Judge Phelps' sons, Robert Sherman and Arthur David lived in the house for a time. Arthur died on October 30, 1880, and Robert died on December 14, 1881. Robert's widow, Harriett "Hattie" Storey Taylor Phelps, had lifetime use of the estate and lived in the mansion until her death in 1882. The estate was then passed on to Judge Phelps' nieces and nephews, none of whom wanted to live in the house." Colby explained to the camera both of them taking turns telling the history of this place. "The mansion sat empty for several years and was maintained by Andrew Jackson, a freed slave who had served the family as a carriage driver for many years. In 1889, the mansion was sold to George Harry Lester, a local shoe manufacturer. Mr. Lester was in the process of purchasing land near Binghamton to develop Lestershire which is now known as Johnson City for the purpose of enlarging his factory. Due to financial difficulties, the mansion was sold at an auction. John Stewart Wells, the original contractor, purchased the mansion and rented it to the James Christopher Truman family. They lived in the home until about 1905 when Mr. Truman retired as the postmaster. In 1905, the home was again sold, and this time it was purchased as the new home for the Monday Afternoon Club. The club owned the property until it was transferred to the Phelps Mansion Museum to be operated as a historic house museum." Colby continued as he looked over at Sam when they heard a large thud come from upstairs. The duo just looked at each other. "People report seeing apparitions of spirits in the victorian era clothing like Hattie's just watching the tour groups from a distance. There also have been several reports about a clock that is never wound but will chime at random times of the day. The mansion has experienced items being moved, doors closing and opening on their own, and even sounds of footsteps when no one is around. The caretaker and the tour guides have seen some strange things going on in the mansion. There are strange fleeting shadows, sometimes more than one at a time. Then there is the modern elevator, which starts up on its own and travels between floors even though there are certain safety features in place so that it would have to be engaged before it can even operate. Then a piece of a grate from the downstairs fireplace has been repeatedly seen rolling across the floor, even though it is always firmly attached. There are reports of strange disembodied voices when the mansion is supposed to be empty." Sam said as he looked at them. He grabbed the camera and saved the clip. He then looked over at Colby. "Did you hear that thud a second ago?" Sam asked his best friend. "Yeah." Colby replied, both of them knowing that there was no one else there. They walked into the parlor and started a fire in the fireplace. "So Me and Colby are going to be sleeping in the parlor since it has a fireplace." Sam said as he panned the camera slowly around the room. The walls were lined with bookshelf with glass windows and had a fireplace in the middle of the room. "We have seven cameras set up around the building we will have our night vision camera with us in the parlor, one in the Harriett Phelps' bedroom, one in the solarium, one in the billiard room, one in the hallway, ballroom, and one in Andrew Jackson's bedroom." Sam explained to the camera as they walked upstairs. The two of them set up their equipment around the room to start their official investigation beginning in Harriett Phelps' bedroom. Sam had an EMF reader, and the camera whereas Colby had the Spirit Box, and the thermal gun. They set up the REM pod at the foot of the stairs and the music box in front of the room. Sam and Colby sat down on the bed. "We would like to make contact with spirits here." Colby announced as he panned the camera around the room. The music box outside of the room started to go off. "That hasn't turned on since we got here!" Sam exclaimed as they stared at one another. "Andrew, if you are here could step away from the music box?" Colby asked as they watched it but the music box continued. "Harriett Phelps, if that's you beside the music box could you step away?" Sam asked when the music box stopped. "Could you turn on the flashlight so I know it's you?" Colby asked as the flashlight turned on. The camera filmed them as it progressed. The flashlight turned back off. "You can use the blue flashlight for yes and the red flashlight for no." Sam said softly. "Man...Driver...Nice..." The ovilus said. "Man? Driver?" Sam questioned. "What about Andrew Jackson, he was the freed slave who had already served the family as a carriage driver and took care of the place after they died." Colby said as he looked over at Sam. "Yeah. Was Andrew nice to you, Ms. Phelps?" Sam asked as the blue flashlight turned on. It then turned off as if waiting for the next question. "Are you the woman that people have seen walking around?" Colby asked her while looking around the room. The blue flashlight turned on once more before turning it back off. "Are you alone here?" Sam asked her. The red flashlight turned on. "No, she isn't alone. Maybe there are other spirits here." Colby said as the blue flashlight turned on as the red one turned off. Outside of the room, there was a loud thud like something dropped. Sam grabbed the camera as the pair looked at one another. They walked over and opened the door, filming that there was nobody in the hallway.

The two of them went downstairs to the parlor and began setting things up for the Estes Method. Sam sat down in a chair besides the bookshelves but in front of fireplace. Colby then blindfolded Sam for the Estes method before placing the noise-canceling headphones onto him which were connected to the Spirit Box. Sam was going to be translating, while listening to the words that come through the headphones, and speaking them out loud. "What's your name?" Colby asked the spirit. "You know." Sam translated. "We know? What did you do here?" Colby asked as there was a loud thud coming from upstairs. The REM Pod started going off. "Andrew Jackson, if you are here could step away from the REM Pod?" Colby asked as he walked over and the REM Pod stopped. "Driver." Sam said. 'Andrew Jackson was the Phelps' carriage driver.' Sam thought to himself as he translated. "I lived here... Died here." Sam translated through all of the static. "Andrew?" Colby asked. "Yes." Sam said immediately. "You were a slave, if I remember correctly? Do you miss your family?" Colby asked them. "Sometimes." Sam translated softly. "Is there a heaven?" Colby asked smirking at the camera. "Yes." Sam replied immediately. "Have you seen heaven?" Colby asked and Sam nodded in response. "Thank you for talking with us tonight. Me and Sam will be exploring the rest of museum." Colby said before he gently tapped Sam on the shoulder. Sam took off the headphones and looked up at Colby. "So what did you get anything?" He asked. "Andrew, talked to me." He said as he looked at him. The two of them filmed themselves as they explored the rest of the place. They managed to capture a few items moving on their own when no one was around and thuds coming from the third floor. They walked into the parlor and made up their sleeping arrangements by the fireplace too interesting happening so they decided to head to bed. Sam and Colby were both sleeping in the parlor with their night vision camera on watching the room.