Land Acknowledgement: “I would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present and honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.” - Duwamish Tribe
With the weather cooperating and the veil being allegedly thinner than usual, I’ve been ramping up my ghost hunting game considerably. Things are a bit up in the air right now job-wise, so I’m saving some money and trying to visit local, less expensive haunts. I am very grateful to have experienced Martha Washington Park, infamous as it is.
As per usual, I pre-game with a bit of online research and cartomancy. I got a lot of my initial information from Ghosts of the Martha Washington School for Girls | Haunted Seattle. I am even more intrigued by the history of this location after exploring it in person, so this is definitely just the beginning of my research. I’m open to suggestions.
The park has a layered and sinister past, dating back to an old Duwamish burial ground and recreation area. The graves were eventually disturbed during the building of the Martha Washington School for Girls. Perhaps it was the disruption of sacred ground which contributed to the atrocities at the “school,” but there are several rumors and stories of abuse, rape, murder, suicide. Very few teachers or support for the children that resided there.
The name of the institution changes occasionally, but the function remains the same. I read a lot of varying monikers for the resident girls of the school / asylum - “wayward,” “troubled,” “delinquent,” “bad…” and later “insane” and “wards of the state.” There seem to be few remaining records from the school, yet no reason to believe it was anything more than a prison and likely far worse.
We are still uncovering horror stories today of young girls and children stuck in similar schools and abusive situations all across the US, happening even now, when we should have more protective laws and resources in place. There is no reason to believe it wouldn’t be far worse at the time the school operated, between early 1900’s through the 70’s.
I pull three tarot cards asking what to keep in mind during this investigation, using a spread for Situation, Action, Outcome. I get the Chariot, Reverse Page of Swords, and Reverse Sun.
I take this to mean I may have to take the reins, keep all parties engaged, go with the flow and not overthink it. Be present and pay attention to all the interesting or meaningful pieces of the investigation. Like finding gratitude in beautiful scenery or exploring a curious location after dark. Don’t block yourself from experiencing joy if you can, even in the midst of a heavy situation.
I also pull a couple oracle cards. One from the Supra deck by uusi and another from the Memento Mori deck from Black and the Moon.
I’m fortunate to have an investigative partner on this outing. He’s humoring me in exchange for an adventure, even though the trains are down for weekend construction, and our commute involves a 1.5 hour trolley, bus transfer, and a mile walk. Uphill.
I tune in on the long bus-ride to see if I can get any initial channeled downloads. I’ve done a small amount of research at this point, so it’s definitely possible I was influenced a bit.
Initial downloads:
- Someone climbing a tree, hanging from a branch by their hands.
- Visitors, red balloon popping, disappointment.
- Calm waves lapping on the shore, the peaceful atmosphere contradicted by a nearby scream, assault.
- Two friends in uniforms walking arm in arm - it’s why they got sent there. Then one of them running away through the woods.
- Singing hymns
- Skipping. Chalk outlines - hopscotch.
- Man and woman arguing in a hallway near the kitchen.
- I’m seeing woods/greenery but also an open field.
- Sound of hammering wood. Sound of a lawnmower. Manual labor and intense exercise as punishment.
- Lots of running - some feels like being chased some feels like P.E. Girls being forced to jump up high.
- Kicking trash can bins around
- Women braiding hair
- Beautiful nature juxtaposed with dull drabness. Not too far from town. I’m sure they thought about running away but it may have been too far back then. Or no way of escaping / surviving.
*Note that some of the above was confirmed later by further research here, as well as an account by a group of local Mediums: Martha Washington School for Insane Girls – Seattle Part 1. *Trigger warning that the latter is very difficult to read.
We reach the turn-off at the top of a steep embankment dipping into the park entrance and leading to other neighborhood streets. Natural beauty and ominous lore mere feet from basketball hoops and tricycles, flower beds, lawn decor, signs of everyday suburbia.
I pause to preview the park from the top of the hill and can’t help but marvel at the view of Lake Washington and a golden sunset reflecting off the trees along the opposite shore. The sense of wonder is short-lived, considering the distance across the water, the dense, elevated forest on the other side, the steep incline all around the property. I sense a feeling of entrapment at the bottom of a basin, the scenery simultaneously reassuring and mocking.
The beauty of this park is quickly overshadowed by its chronicles. We are greeted by a circular driveway, one of the only remaining structures left from the original school. The building was torn down long ago in the early 1980’s. The property allegedly spans 10 acres, but it feels much smaller, the entrance overshadowed by a giant tree with draping branches.
With sunset fast approaching, we begin our baseline sweep of the park.
To be continued…