|
WAGIS and Our affiliate team CWPR from Edgar were allowed to investigate the Fillmor (the old Rogers Theater in Wausau) in the early part of May 2009. We captured many EVP’s (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) and some pictures with possible orbs in them. We also had a neat encounter a couple of times during the night with one of CWPR’s audible EMF (Electromagnetic Field) detector. It was placed on a table with a video camera focused on it the entire night. At least two times the EMF detector went wild for periods lasting as long as 10-15 minutes and then it would go silent again. There was no cause for this as far as any mechanical electrical machinery running to make this happen.
There is a long history behind the Fillmor. It was originally built and used as a tire shop on the main level called Ammenthorp Tire Shop with apartments in the upstairs section. It is unknown what year the building was built. For some reason they haven’t kept good records of most of the erection dates of many of the buildings in the close proximity of the Fillmor. Were the city leaders trying to hide certain facts regarding the tunnels and bomb shelters back in that era?
Supposedly a woman was murdered in one of the apartments in the 1920’s but cannot be verified.
In about 1926 Helke Furniture shop which was located across the street decided to open a funeral home in the building. They operated as Helke Funeral Home at this site until 1939.
We were told that this building along with all of the other surrounding buildings all connected with underground tunnels back in the day. All of the tunnels have since been sealed off. This building even had a bomb shelter from what we were told.
We were told that starting in 1940 the building was used for “ladies of the evening” or “house of ill repute” for the next 5 years. This is when we think it was more likely that a lady was murdered if any murder took place at all but we don’t know. We also were introduced to a kitchen knife that was found in a cardboard box in the top floor projection room which was bricked off prior to the pre-construction for the Fillmor. Only a forensic lab would be able to verify if the knife had any traces of human blood on it.
In 1945 it was converted into a theater named The Hollywood Theater. The process was very interesting. The main concrete floor was chiseled away at the edges of the walls to release the floor from the sides of the building. They then apparently brought in heavy hydraulic jacks and lowered the back portion of the floor to create the sloped floors to make the theater floor slope downwards. It ran as the Hollywood until 1960 when the name changed to the Wausau Theater. One of the old theater chairs still in the building have a fancy “W” on the sides of the chair to give credence to the fact that is was called the Wausau Theater. Finally in 1979 the name was changed to the Rogers Theater. It sat empty for a while until Dan Miller bought it and remodeled it to turn it into a Performing Night Club. Unfortunately the lack of loyal patrons in the area force the Fillmor to close its’ doors for good until the next person comes along to reopen it as whatever they see fit.
From what we can gather, there are three spirits that are in this place. Bob, the prankster, Dorothy the lady murdered and a third unknown.
We were told by one of the demolition guys that he was using a shovel one day in the basement under the stage and he went to take a break and set the shovel down only to come back later and find it in the hallway. No one else was in the building at the time. We think it was Bob the prankster.
|
