ISIS Investigations

ISIS investigates Glen Sanders mansion

January 3, 2009 | Comment icon

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The Glen Sanders mansion is fixed in Scotia just a few minutes distance from the Proctors Theatre. The location of the mansion is on 1 Glen Avenue, in Scotia, consists of 22 rooms, however, our team only investigated the oldest part of the mansion as that is where the majority of activity has been reported.

(October 31, Scotia, New York) The Glen Sanders mansion is fixed in Scotia just a few minutes distance from the Proctors Theatre. The owners of the mansion assert that one of the most typical questions posed is “Who precisely is Glen Sanders?” The answer to the latter question is quite surprising to some who discover that Glen Sanders is not a single individual, but the name is the surname of two families, eventually joined by marriage. The Glen family and the Sanders family are a central part of the history of the Schenectady/Scotia region.

Just three years prior to the establishment of what is now known as Schenectady, in the year 1658, Alexander Lindsey Glen, also referred by Hollanders as Sanders Lindeerste, was a native a Scotland, along with his wife Catherine Dougan, settled on the Northern side of the Mohawk River. Alexander Lindsey Glen was originally born near Inverness, and after becoming a political refugee, he fled to Holland, later coming to North America. After establishing his home, he called the site Nova Scotia which literally means “New Scotland.” According to George S. Roberts in his book, Old Schenectady, Glen was one of the “First Fifteen Proprietors of Schenectady,” and the structure erected by Alexander Lindsey Glen was the first structure established along the water for the entire 135 mile length of the Mohawk River.

Glen’s home was made of stone and was established as a trading post, approximately 100 feet from the Mohawk River. Alexander Glen was a Dutch West India Company agent, and Mohawk Valley was traveled by northern trappers. The original structure was significantly damaged by the flooding of the Mohawk River and Glen salvaged the remains of the structure to build a new, single room structure. George S. Roberts asserts that nothing remains of the original structure at its original establishment as the land where the location was first erected was eroded away by the waters of the River. The single room structure constructed is now the current kitchen area of the Glen Sanders Mansion today. The structure was later added to, and three rooms and a hall were added on. The mansion as it exists today still maintains the Dutch gambrel roof from the original structure.

Alexander and Catherine had two children, Colonel Jacob Glen who was born in 1645 and died on October 2, 1685 and Major John Glen.

George S. Roberts explained in his book that this location was favored by Native Americans; he wrote:

“This particular was a favorite one with the Indians. On a knoll to the east of, and midway between the sites of the two houses, was the site of which they indulged in the gladsome pastime of burning their prisoners at the stake (158)”.

Alexander Lindsey Glen was well liked and respected by the Mohawks, and the family often remained protected when Native American raids took place upon the white settlers in the region (159). In History of the County of Schenectady, George Rodger’s Howell and John H. Munsell make a similar argument: “At the foot of a small hillock, a few yards east of the mansion, tradition points to the spot where the Mohawks occasionally made their sacrifices” (188).

In the year 1682 Glen invested money into and had built the first Dutch Reformed Church in the Schenectady area. Later, after his wife’s passing in 1684 and his own death in 1685, the couple was buried beneath the Church (160). The couple was later removed from that location and reinterred in the Sanders Family Cemetery in Scotia.

Glen’s son, Major John Alexander Glen, added onto the structure in 1713 and added the east wing to the home; the east wing currently houses the Maquas Lounge and Dining Room areas. The Glen Family entertained a number of historical figures at the location, including Louis Philippe of France who stayed at the home during his exile from France, as well as General George Washington.

At one point, the Native Americans had brought a Jesuit Priest to the home of John Alexander Glen so that the priest could be tortured and killed on the mound at the location; it was upon the request of Native Americans that the priest be locked in the cellar of the site until it was time to torture him (162). John Glen and his wife assisted the priest without offending the Indians by telling the Native Americans that the priest had magickal powers which would make it completely impossible to lock him up with any ordinary lock. John Glen advised the Native Americans that they could lock the priest in the cellar but that he wanted no part of the act because he feared the priest’s magickal abilities (162). Glen then gave the Indians a single key, and kept the secondary key a secret (162). The Indians, after locking the priest in the cellar, became significantly inebriated by drinking rum. John Glen then told the Indians that he was sending a wagon to Albany for salt, and he snuck the priest out to Albany without the Indians becoming suspicious (162). Once the Indians came upon the realization that the priest had gone missing, Major Glen, and his family reasserted the magickal abilities of the priest and convinced them that he escaped through the use of magick (162). Since Major Glen and his family helped saved the lives of those that might otherwise be tortured to death, the family was protected by French commanders as well as Native Americans during French and Indian raids (163).

Sarah Wendell had married Jacob Glen, the eldest son of Alexander Glen and Catherine Dougan. They had a single child named Deborah, who was born on July 9, 1791, and who wed John Sanders. The home was later passed on to the eighth child of Major John Glen and his wife, Colonel Jacob Glen, where the site became the location where important Colonial documents and military documents were kept (163).

Twenty six years later in 1739, Debra Glen, the great granddaughter of Alexander Glen, wed John Sanders from the Albany area. After the passing of another twenty six years, the home became the sole property of John Sanders and his wife Debra (Glen) Sanders, hence the name Glen Sanders Mansion that the residents of the region have come to know today. John Sanders was born in Albany NY on July 12, 1714 and died at the age of 68 on September 13, 1782; He and Debora Glen, the only daughter of Colonel, Jacob Glen, wed on September 6, 1739. John Sanders was born on December 10, 1714, and died on September 13, 1782 at the age of 68. Deborah passed away on March 8th, 1786 at the age of 72. Deborah and John had a total of eleven children: Maria, Sarah, Barent, Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Barent, Efie, Jacob Glen, John, Barent, and Margaret.

The home remained within the Glen/Sanders family until 1961.

After Death

At one time, the Sanders family had their remains interred beneath the Dutch Church in the city of Albany. The remains were moved in 1805 and interred at the Sanders Family Cemetery in the year 1805 and in 1848. The Sanders family name was originally spelled Saunders, and a monument in the cemetery announces the removal and re-interrment of the Sander’s family members at the current location in Scotia, New York. The monument was erected by John Saunders in remembrance of his ancestors. Within the same cemetery facing east is a monument erected for Alexander Lindsey Glen and his wife Catherine Dougan.

Image of Folk Art Depicting Deborah Glen

The original portrait of Deborah Glen is housed at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum in Virginia; the image was painted in 1739 just before Deborah married Johannes (John) Sanders in 1739, and the elaborate dress symbolizes the family’s wealth, while the wreath she holds is said to suggest Deborah’s virtue. A replication of this image sits over the fireplace in the Deborah Glen room of the mansion.

Interview

Legends Surrounding the Mansion

According to one legend, there is a deep mark in the railing of one of the staircases at the location which was the result of two Oneida Native American warriors fighting. The story goes that one Oneida warrior chased the second warrior into the Glen/Sanders home; at that time, Deborah Sanders was standing on the staircase during the incident. Deborah, mistaken for the first Oneida warrior that entered the location, becomes the direct target of a hatchet which was thrown by the second Oneida warrior in pursuit of the first. Deborah was not hurt in the incident, but the hatchet left a gauge on the railing of the staircase which is still present to this day.

Sightings and Experiences

The Glen Sanders Mansion was previously visited by the ghostly author David J. Pitkin and Pitkin wrote about the site in his book, “New York State Ghosts, Volume Two.” When visiting the location of the site, Pitkin visited in November of 2007 and brought along an “intuitive,” who sensed activity at the location. Strong energies were sensed in the basement wine cellar of the location, and Pitkin asserts that the majority of the activity occurred in the oldest part of the Glen Sanders Mansion.

The intuitive that accompanied Pitkin at the location asserted that the presence of the spirit of a young, frightened boy was at the mansion, and she further asserted the presence of three African Americans on the stair case who were terrified of being discovered. Historical evidence indicates that the site did indeed have slave quarters from 1713 up until 1827 when slavery was abolished. A stone addition on the original structure has since been torn down which housed slaves until that date.

In an article that appeared in the Schenectady Daily Gazette, Author and ghost hunter Pitkin writes of a presence at Glen Sanders Mansion (October 28, 2008), Catherine Gatta, director of marketing and communications for Mazzone Management, the owners of the Glen Sanders Mansion, was interviewed about the mansion. Gatta recounted stories shared by employees about lights flickering on and off.

Some employees believe in the activity that is occurring and some remain skeptical. One believer can be identified in Maria Dimartino who is the wedding planner employed at the Glen Sanders Mansion. Dimartino has been working for the Glen Sanders Mansion for more than twenty years and believes that she had an encounter with the Ghost of Deborah Glen one evening on the staircase in the mansion. Dimartino had been working late one evening and was heading to her upstairs office, accidentally stumbled up the stairs, and when she looked up she saw a woman standing in front of her. The woman that Dimartino encountered had dark brown eyes, was wearing a red, tight fitting, corset styled dress, and she wore her hair slicked back. The woman looked at her for a few moments, smiled, did not speak, turned around and disappeared into the wall. After describing the mysterious event to others, Dimartino actually ended up describing Deborah Glen in great detail without ever having set eyes on an image of Deborah beforehand. Dimartino was able to describe how the ghostly manifestation was dressed, her complete appearance, her hairstyle and the description was a precise match to the folk art painting of Deborah Glen which now hangs in the Deborah Glen Room.

The employees that believe in the spirit activity do not believe that the spirits at the Glen Sanders mansion are negative or malicious in any way. Deborah Glen is viewed as a matriarch spirit who roams the mansion and oversees all the events.

Case Stats

Solar X Rays: Normal

Geomagnetic Field: Quiet

Moon Phase: Waning, 13 Percent Illumination

Photographic Evidence

No photographic evidence was captured. While there are images with many orb captures in the mansion, these orbs have to be discounted due to the carpeting throughout the area investigated. Many people were moving through the rooms and it is impossible to say whether these orbs are paranormal in origin or mundane. Sketches produced by our team sketch artist are available in our photo archive for review.

EMF Readings

Audible EMF readings were detected by the bar in the lower level of the mansion.

Transient Audible EMF reading detected in the dining room of the location, particularly near the first booth by the dining room entrance, and near the second table near the dining room main entrance.

6:36 am: Audible EMF reading detected in upstairs of the location.

Pendulum Readings

At 6:17 am a pendulum reading detecting an electromagnetic disturbance was obtained near the wine cellar doors in the lower level of the mansion.

6:36 am, a pendulum reading detecting an electromagnetic disturbance was obtained in the Stockade Room nearby the mirror as well as in between the two doors in the room.

EVP Captures

Several EVPs were captured at the location. In the Stockade Room an evp of a male voice is captured saying, “I’ve got the wagon.” We also got a bizarre evp which is that of a woman laughing and a child’s voice in the background. It sounds as if the child is saying, “Life’s cheery after,” but we cannot say this with one hundred percent certainty. We can say that there were no children at the location at the time the investigation was conducted. There was also no one laughing at the time this evp sample was collected. Several other evp captures are recorded and are available in our evp gallery for review.

Video Captures

No video evidence was captured during this investigation.

Temperature

At 6:05 am, a temperature fluctuation of 75 degrees Fahrenheit to 84 degrees Fahrenheit was detected by the bar in the lower level of the mansion. This is the same location where Justyn also detected a disturbance in the electromagnetic field with dowsing rods. Audible EMF sounds were detected in this location as well.

Psychic Impressions

Note: None of our investigators are allowed to know the history of the location before visiting it. The only people that know anything about the site are the site owners and Dayna and Patricia as they do the initial walk through with the clients. Our investigators do not interact with each other about the case until the entire investigation is completed. This helps in preventing the development of preconceived notions or findings tainted by other investigator’s perceptions.

Tracey Leach: Team Empath

At 6:01 am Tracey reports having a heavy feeling while near the wine cellar door. Her notes read: “Keep feeling a “peeking” sensation like a presence hiding, but I did not sense fear. The feeling was more “playful,” than anything else. Tracey also reports sensing the presence of a middle aged male spirit in the same vicinity.

Upon entering the Stockade Room, Tracey noted a shift in energies. Tracey reported experiencing vertigo and a strange, heavy sensation.

While in the Alexander Glen room Tracey noted an unexplained shadow that passed under the lighting in the room and directly over the table. The source of the shadow remains unidentified.

Justyn Staley – Team Clairsentient

At 5:56 am Justyn picked up on an energy disturbance in the basement with his dowsing rods. This disturbance occurred again at the furthest end of the bar in the lower level of the mansion.

At 6:06 am, Justyn noted an unexplained drain of the digital thermometer’s battery. At 6:09 am a similar drain occurred with one of the digital cameras.

At 6:25 am Justyn Staley entered the Deborah Glen Room. The first impression he notes from this room is “the feeling that someone went to prison.” This sensation is congruent with the story of the Jesuit Priest being imprisoned in the cellar of the location. It is also congruent with one of our EVP captures where a voice is heard stating, “I’ve got the wagon.”

Angela Kaufman – Team Psychic Sketch Artist

At 5:46 am Angela reports feeling a strange energy near the bar in the lower level of the mansion. Angela sketched an image of a Native American female. This image is congruent with the historical facts associated with the site.

At 5:56 am, Angela reported seeing a physical dark streak that seemingly went down the wall in the lower level of the mansion. This is congruent with reports noted from other investigators.

At 5:59 am, near the bar, Angela sensed the spirit of a young child. Her notes reveal the picture of a younger female child with white light hair.

At 6:02 am, Angela sensed the presence of an older woman, elderly with white hair.

At 6:12 am, Angela sensed the presence of a spirit wearing a powdered wig and cutaway tail coat.

At 6:15 am, while in the restaurant area of the location, Angela sketched an image of a woman wearing a long dress, with semi short sleeves. The woman’s hair was partially set back, a bit curly, and she has dark colored hair and eyes. This sketch is congruent to descriptions of Deborah Glen. This image is also drawn before Angela encountered the image of the wall in the Deborah Glen room.

At 6:28 am, Angela sketched an image of an African American woman wearing a very plain style dress.

At 6:36 am, Angela reports the onset of vertigo near the stairway at the location. Shortly thereafter, Angela sketched an image of several women in a procession, all of which were wearing white/neutral color dresses, carrying candles, and perhaps carrying out some sort of religious rite or practice.

At 6:40 am, Angela commences to making another sketch of a man (soldier) carrying a musket and wearing a grey uniform.

Other Reports

Patricia reports the onset of nausea while investigating the Stockade Room. She also sensed activity in the region of the wine cellar and was overwhelmed by the spiritual energies in the bar/basement of the location.

Dayna reports a heavy feeling in the Stockade room and the sudden sensation that the room was getting hotter. No physical temperature fluctuations were noted.

At 6:53 while in the Alexander Glen Room, Dayna noted that she felt a power surge in the camera as if it was turning on, but the camera was off and remained off at the time.

At 6:45 am, Mark reports seeing an unexplained shadow across the hall while he was standing in the Stockade room.

Conclusions: Residual/Interactive Haunting

It is possible that some of the activity at the location is the product of a time recording or residual haunting. The EVP capture of “I’ve got the wagon,” suggests that there are events that are merely replaying themselves periodically at the site. The appearance of Deborah Glen on the stairs as reported by Maria Dimartino may also be a residual haunting as Deborah Glen never interacted with Maria or spoke to her directly during the event. These two incidents coincide with highly emotional events which have been documented in history. The story of the Jesuit Priest and John Glen’s assistance by sneaking the priest to Albany with a wagon under the guise of going to Albany for salt would have been a highly emotional event; had the Native American’s discovered John Glen’s deception, he and his family would have been placed in immediate danger. In addition, if there is indeed truth to the story of Deborah Glen and the incident where she was nearly hit by a hatchet on the staircase, this might explain the reappearance of Deborah’s energies in that location.

Other activity however, suggests that there are potentially some spirits that are interactive at the location. Reports of lights flickering, and, positive EMF readings, unexplained temperature fluctuations, psychic impressions, and several EVPs are suggestive of the presence of interactive spirits at the mansion as well. These spirits have not been deemed malicious, and the mansion owners feel that there is no need to take further remedies in an effort to eliminate the spirit activity.

Special Notes: The ISIS Paranormal Investigations team would like to thank the management at the Glen Sanders Mansion and Fly 92.3 for allowing us to investigate the site and giving us this wonderful opportunity to examine a site of historical significance.

Note: This case file has been updated and edited on December 30, 2008 after necessary edits were identified caused by web page template/coding carry over. The file has been fully repaired. We thank you for your patience.

Additional Evidence:

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