Unearthing the Past: Paranormal Investigation at Wisconsin Apparel and Razor Sharp Screen Printing

On the evening of January 25, 2025, the Tru Spirit Paranormal Society set out to explore a location rich with both history and intrigue—the building at 227-229 E. Main St. in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, now known as Wisconsin Apparel and Razor Sharp Screen Printing. While the modern business on the property may appear to simply be a well-situated retail space, this historic building, originally known as the A. Johnson Double Block, carries with it a complex past. With roots in funeral services, furniture sales, and an entire family’s presence over the years, this site seemed an ideal place for a paranormal investigation. What the team uncovered over the course of the evening was a compelling glimpse into the spirits that might still roam the halls of this storied structure.

The Historic Foundations: A Building Steeped in History

Constructed in 1898, the A. Johnson Double Block was a building like no other in its time. Alfred Johnson, its original owner, ran an unusual combination of businesses—on the east side of the building, a funeral home, and on the west, a furniture store. This odd pairing of services was reflective of a time when death and commerce were more tightly linked. Upon Alfred’s passing in 1909, the building was rented to Edward P. Krebs, a trained embalmer who continued the funeral and furniture operations.

Edward P. Krebs, a graduate of the Truesdell College of Embalming in Milwaukee, would go on to run the business for many years, further solidifying the building’s role in the funeral industry. After Edward’s death in 1944, his son, Edward J. Krebs, took over the business, though unable to keep offering funeral services, he decided to dissolve the funeral home business, keeping only the furniture store. Edward J. had a personal passion for horses, and his extensive collection of horse paraphernalia was kept in the building’s basement and attic. Some of these relics, including an antique horse-drawn sleigh, remain in the building today.

Though the funeral business was long gone, the building retained its connection to the Krebs family, with Edward J.’s brother, Theodore, helping to run the business until their eventual retirement. The Krebs family maintained ownership of the building until the present day, still renting it out as retail space. This lineage of ownership and the building’s multifaceted history as both a site of mourning and everyday life were key factors in the investigation that would unfold that evening.

The Tru Spirit Paranormal Society, in preparation for the investigation, worked with the building’s tenants to dive deeper into the genealogical history of the Krebs family. A book full of records dating back to the early 1900s, including photos, news clippings, and vital records, was provided to the team. Additionally, a visit to the Sun Prairie Historical Library and Museum revealed funeral records that hinted at the presence of spirits tied to the site. Though no direct accounts of hauntings were found in the building’s historical records, the funeral-related documents certainly suggested the possibility of lingering entities connected to the building’s former life as a funeral home.

A Night of Paranormal Activity: Investigation Begins

At 5:00 p.m., the Tru Spirit Paranormal Society began their thorough investigation of the historic building. With an extensive array of equipment—including EMF meters, thermal imaging cameras, motion-activated cameras, and an Ovilus device—investigators explored three distinct areas of the building: the basement, the main floor, and the attic. Each area offered its own eerie experiences, with the team capturing strange sounds, visual anomalies, and unexplained sensations.

Basement: Echoes of the Past and Unseen Forces

The basement, once used to transport bodies into the funeral home, proved to be a hotbed for paranormal activity. The Ovilus device, which captures words based on environmental energy, recorded several significant phrases during the investigation. Words such as “soil,” “dust,” and “decompose” emerged as the team passed the doors historically used for bringing in deceased individuals. When Tim questioned the word “decompose,” the EMF meter suddenly spiked, a phenomenon that was also captured on the digital video recorder (DVR).

As the investigation continued, an unexpected sensory event occurred. While leaving the basement, several team members detected the distinct scent of sweet pipe tobacco. This unusual smell lingered only for a brief time and was not noticeable during other moments of the investigation. During this encounter, a prominent orb was captured on video, and a figure was seen on the Structured Light Sensor (SLS) camera, further supporting the theory of a lingering spiritual presence. It was as if the scent itself had attached to the spiritual energy within the building, manifesting in a brief yet powerful moment.

Other odd occurrences in the basement included an eerie motion-activated camera anomaly. One camera, which faced a sealed entry door, recorded footage showing the camera shifting slightly and the screen becoming filled with static interference. This occurred despite the fact that no one was present in the basement at the time. The footage, captured under the filename “C2304,” was a disturbing sign of unexplained activity.

The Ovilus continued to provide responses, including a chilling “run” when Becca asked, “Do you want us to leave?” Further photographic evidence supported the presence of paranormal forces. One image revealed an orange-colored haze in the shape of a naked torso, potentially an apparition. Another photograph captured a woman’s transparent face behind Becca, with her features visible but blurry, while Becca herself was unclear and in motion.

Main Floor: A Flicker of Light and Apparitions

The main floor of the building, now serving as a retail space, also harbored strange occurrences. A stationary video camera positioned near a fax machine and printer captured an unexplained flicker of light, as if something passed in front of the machine. On one particular occasion, a full figure appeared in front of the machine. When the moment was frozen in time, the figure appeared surrounded by a smoke-like haze, which was later enhanced by the SLS camera, outlining the figure as a stick figure. This unusual image raised questions about the identity of the entity and its connection to the building’s past.

The orbs, which had first appeared in the basement, continued to manifest on the main floor as well. The cameras, which were set up on both the east and west sides of the building, recorded multiple orb sightings. The appearance of orbs is often associated with spiritual or energetic entities, making these recordings a critical part of the investigation.

The most significant sighting on the main floor was the appearance of a full-body apparition near the office area of the former parlor. Captured in a photograph, the apparition appeared to be wearing a light blue choir robe or band uniform, with a distinct cross-like symbol on the sleeve. Its facial features were clear, though the figure seemed to vanish upon being observed against the window. This suggests that the entity may have been more transparent than corporeal, further pointing to its ghostly nature.

Additionally, Amy observed a woman standing by the window near the attic stairs. As it was approached, the figure turned, ascended a few steps, and walked through a mirror on the wall. The phenomenon was captured on thermal imaging, which showed footprint signatures on the floor where the figure had stood. Tim also heard footsteps coming from the vicinity of the stairs, adding to the mysterious atmosphere of the event.

Attic: The Spirit World’s Residual Energy

The attic, often a focal point for paranormal activity, didn’t disappoint. Tim experienced frequent encounters with erratic orbs, which seemed to dart across the space, sometimes traveling between the building and its adjacent structures. These orbs appeared to be residual energy, rather than intelligent entities, moving erratically without any apparent purpose. During one of these encounters, Tim reported a sudden coldness that was so intense it forced him to retreat to the stairs to warm up.

The attic’s rocking chair became the site of an unsettling interaction. Amy noticed an energy near the chair that seemed to reach out toward Mel. As Mel sat in the chair, she didn’t physically feel anything, but she did notice a slight heaviness in her lap. Footage captured what appeared to be an orb above Mel’s head at the same time. The team speculates that the energy belonged to a child spirit.

The Ovilus device was once again put to use, and it recorded words that painted a haunting picture: “fire,” “chills,” “bomb,” “police,” “burning,” and “apocalypse.” These words seemed to suggest a traumatic event or tragedy connected to the building, perhaps even hinting at a deeper, darker history that had yet to be uncovered. In the southeast corner of the attic, where caskets were once stored, the word “casket” emerged from the Ovilus, providing further proof of the building’s former role as a funeral parlor.

One of the most chilling moments in the attic occurred when a shadow anomaly was captured in a still image while Tim was seated on the floor. A shadow appeared next to him but did not appear in subsequent photos, suggesting that the entity was transient in nature. Additionally, a series of photographs taken near the attic stairs revealed a shadowy figure, which disappeared moments later, suggesting that a spirit may have been traversing the stairs.

 Conclusion: The Spirits of Wisconsin Apparel and Razor Sharp Screen Printing

The investigation into Wisconsin Apparel and Razor Sharp Screen Printing confirmed what many have suspected—there are spirits tied to this building, and their presence is unmistakable. The combination of visual anomalies, electronic disturbances, and sensory experiences points to the idea that the building’s history as both a funeral parlor and furniture store has left a spiritual mark on the structure. The presence of orbs, apparitions, and responses from devices like the Ovilus and EMF meters suggest that these entities are very much alive in the energy that remains in the building.

From the basement’s haunting smells and figures to the apparitions and strange phenomena witnessed on the main floor and attic, the investigation has raised more questions about the building’s past and the spirits that continue to linger. Further exploration is certainly warranted as the Tru Spirit Paranormal Society prepares to uncover more about these restless spirits and the untold history of Wisconsin Apparel and Razor Sharp Screen Printing. The past is not so easily forgotten—and in this case, it seems that the spirits who once walked the halls of the A. Johnson Double Block are still here, watching, waiting, and making their presence known.