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THE AMERICAN TOBACCO CAMPUS
Welcome to the American Tobacco Campus. A sprawling complex of industrial structures from a bygone era, built in the heart — and as the heart — of downtown Durham, N.C.
This site served for over a century as the lifeblood of the entire tobacco industry and was an important place for many people, including the thousands of men, women and even children who spent long days here as workers.
Some people believe that the spirits of those who pass on can cling to, or leave impressions on, the places that mean the most to them.
Perhaps, while this campus finds new life as a center of modern creativity and commerce, its new residents cross paths with those of its past from time to time.
CLICK THE HOT SPOTS BELOW TO EXPLORE THE EVIDENCE.
INTERVIEW
SUBJECTS: Wade Lewis & Suzanne Moore
DATE OF OCCURRENCE: 2004
NOTES: While working in the building around 2:30 a.m., Wade Lewis, the studio art manager at McKinney, watched someone or something enter an unopened elevator. With Suzanne Moore, senior producer, he began to search for answers.
INTERVIEW
SUBJECT: Ben Eckerson
DATE OF OCCURRENCE: December 11, 2007
NOTES: For the holiday season, Ben Eckerson planned on setting a Guiness Record for most days spent in an inflatable snow globe, here in the McKinney offices. The nights spent alone here were decidedly less cheerful.
INTERVIEW
SUBJECT: Beth McKnight & Megan Wade
DATE OF OCCURRENCE: July 2010
NOTES: Digital team manager Beth McKnight and interactive producer Megan Wade spent a Saturday in the building and were disturbed by the smell of someone smoking inside. They finally confronted the culprit.
EVIDENCE
GATHERED BY: WHM Team
DATE OF OCCURRENCE: September 26, 2013
NOTES: "Shave and Haircut…" test. KII EMF meters measure electromagnetic frequency. Listen closely and watch for the hits when Jordan asks if anybody wants to play along.
EVIDENCE
GATHERED BY: WHM Team
DATE OF OCCURRENCE: September 26, 2013
NOTES: Joe conducts an EVP session in presentation theater. Of the four people present in the building at the time, no one heard any sound other than Joe’s voice in the room.
EVIDENCE
GATHERED BY: WHM Team
DATE OF OCCURRENCE: September 26, 2013
NOTES: An EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) session upstairs by Studio elicits an audible response.
EVIDENCE
GATHERED BY: WHM Team
DATE OF OCCURRENCE: September 26, 2013
NOTES: "Shave and Haircut..." test 2. An attempt to contact specific entities, “Charles Nye” and “Walter Quick,” produces substantial audio and KII activity.
EVIDENCE
GATHERED BY: WHM Team
DATE OF OCCURRENCE: September 26, 2013
NOTES: Joe is conducting an EMF sweep with the KII when he picks up something interesting on audio.
EVIDENCE
GATHERED BY: WHM Team
DATE OF OCCURRENCE: October 4, 2013
NOTES: During a remote recording session, an audible crash is heard in the cafe in downstairs Reed building. This was at approximately 1AM. No one was in the building at the time.
EVIDENCE
GATHERED BY: WHM Team
DATE OF OCCURRENCE: October 24, 2013
NOTES: Scott and Michelle whistle nursery rhymes and roll a ball, inviting spirits to come and play. The KII EMF meter jumps consistently throughout, and footsteps and bangs are heard by the back door.
HISTORY
SUBJECT: American Tobacco History
DATES: 1847 - present
NOTES: A monument to industry, and a temple to Durham’s tobacco past, the American Tobacco Campus has a storied history spanning over 100 years, boom and bust, disrepair and rejuvenation. Find out how the once great factory complex rose to prominence, only to fall and be reborn as a place to live, work and be entertained.
HISTORY
SUBJECT: Reed History
DATES: 1902
NOTES: Reed constitutes the oldest part of McKinney’s offices, and it is no surprise that the majority of reports of paranormal activity have come in this former warehouse. Find out more about this century old building and the varied roles it has played, from a tobacco warehouse to a hub of creativity.
HISTORY
SUBJECT: Strickland History
DATES: 1947
NOTES: One of the later additions to the complex, the Strickland Redrying Plant was built in the heyday of production at American Tobacco. Discover the history of this building at the heart of the campus.
HISTORY
SUBJECT: Sanborn Maps
DATES: 1902 - 1950
NOTES: Sanborn Maps were first published by the Sanborn Company to estimate fire insurance liabilities. Today they not only provide historical reference, but also are frequently used in preservation or restoration efforts. See how American Tobacco grew from 1902-1950 with this series of Sanborn Maps.
HISTORY
SUBJECT: National Historic Register Nomination
DATES: 2000
NOTES: American Tobacco first received National Historical Register status in 1985 from the National Park Service. Prior to renovations, the historical status was updated and more of the newer buildings were added to the register. This document is the historical information included in the preservation application, as prepared by Longleaf Historical Resources.
HISTORY
SUBJECT: Scenes From The Past
DATES: 1954
NOTES: Two scenes of daily operations at an American Tobacco Factory in the mid-50s. (Source: "Sold American!" – The First Fifty Years. The American Tobacco Company, 1954.)
HISTORY
SUBJECT: Scenes From The Past
DATES: 1938
NOTES: Two scenes from the factory floor in the mid-30s. (Source: Flannagan, Roy C. The Story Of Lucky Strike. New York World's Fair Edition. Richmond: 1938.)
HISTORY
SUBJECT: Scenes From The Past
DATES: 1953
NOTES: A mid-century cigarette machine. (Source: Flannagan, Roy C., and Pat Flannagan Hooker. The Story Of Lucky Strike. American Tobacco Company, 1953.)
HISTORY
SUBJECT: American Tobacco Company Annual Report
DATES: 1946
NOTES: Selections of this document, which were distributed to investors in American Tobacco, include a list of officers at the time and a memorial observance of company president George Washington Hill who pioneered the Lucky Strike brand and its advertisements. (Source: American Tobacco Company, Inc. Annual. New York, NY: American Tobacco Company, 1946.)
EVIDENCE
GATHERED BY: McKinney Employees
DATES: 10/06/11
NOTES: Ouija Session 1. Prompted by hearing Wade and Suzanne's experience, some McKinney employees use Ouija board to make contact with a spirit calling himself Charles Nye, who has a story to tell about himself and another man named Walter Quick.
*See PDF attachment for further comments.
EVIDENCE
GATHERED BY: McKinney Employees
DATES: 10/06/11
NOTES: Ouija Session 2. A second session makes contact with the spirit of a young girl whose story may be related to Charles and Walter's.
*See PDF attachment for further comments.
EVIDENCE
GATHERED BY: McKinney Employees
DATES: 10/06/11
NOTES: Ouija Session 4. During the final session of the night, some disconcerting contact may have been made with the entity that calls itself "LALAMOA."
*See PDF attachment for further comments.
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We would like to give credit and thanks to the following sources for reference material, historic maps, photos and information: Open Durham / Robby Delius / EDR / The Herald-Sun / NASA
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