i am invisible

UPDATED 10/22/2004

Minor update, really. I was cleaning out the memory card on my camera and that I had forgotten to upload one of the pictures I took at the hospital. I remember this one - it was in much smaller pieces than the rest and every piece had been turned carefully upside-down and stacked in a very small pile. I added it to the photos page.

UPDATED 10/13/2004

Back, but not for long.

I just got home this morning. It's a long 13 hour trip from Cambridge and I'm in desperate need of a good night's sleep.

I met Charles Harris, an ex-caretaker it seems, on Saturday morning to begin the tour of the Cambridge Mental Hospital grounds. I must say the gentleman was (or at least looks) a lot older than I thought he would, haggard almost. He also seemed a bit scattered and most preoccupied, but I suppose we all get there eventually.

We arranged to meet at a little diner and drove down to the hospital together in my car, I'm not sure I would have been completely comfortable with him at the wheel, given his seemingly nervous disposition. I told him nothing of the suspicions I had concerning the most recent note, I saw no need to tell him more than I already had, and he asked no questions.

I on the other hand, asked plenty. Unfortunately Charles has had his mind in the past for so long that he isn't all that conversant in regards to any of Cambridge's unsolved crimes. I asked him about the grave marker and its translation, but he didn't offer anything new in the way of information. He did, however, give me a photocopy of the rubbing.

Once at the hospital his apprehension seemed to increase tenfold. I'm unsure what he was so nervous about, but there was something definitely odd in the man's demeanor, especially for someone supposedly so familiar with the property.

We began by looking at some of the above ground structures, none of which held much interest for me as there wasn't much remaining that hadn't been relegated to more modern purposes. I had seen the map on Charles' site, and knew that there existed a vast tunnel system beneath the hospital. And so, after some gentle encouragement, Charles led me to an opening that was small and gated, for which he conveniently produced a key. Odd, I thought, that after all these years he would still retain access. Don't they change locks anymore?

I started into the opening, expecting to be on my own, but Charles followed. He said he had his own reasons for searching below, and I didn't press him.

I must say, "vast" doesn't even begin to describe the system beneath Cambridge, it was a veritable labyrinth. On a number of occasions, when I thought we had reached a dead end, the seemingly well-acquainted Charles generated, as if by magic, a perfectly plausible way around. I wouldn't have found it on my own, that I do know. Many times Charles stopped, as if listening for something, I never heard a thing other than the occasional sound of distantly dripping water.

Although we came upon much debris scattered throughout the system, I didn't see anything of great consequence. We did eventually come upon what looked to be an alcove or chamber of sorts, that gave me cause to pause. It looked to be inhabited, there was a pile of rags formed into a nest-like bed and even some candles. Most intriguing however were the torn photographs and papers, each found in a separate pile on the floor. At this point Charles seemed extremely agitated and stated that it was probably the hiding place of a hermit who lives on the Cambridge campus. He seemed in a great hurry and would not let me take anything. I was able to quickly take some photographs, but wasn't able to analyze the content or possible purpose - if any. Had I done so, I may not have left the room at Charles' behest so readily.

It seemed the farther into the system we went, the more disturbed and agitated Charles became, until at last he said we had to leave. He offered no explanation, but we had done some extensive leg work and I was ready to pull out anyway.

I don't think Charles will be able to aid me as much as I hoped he might, which is probably less risky for him anyway.

I spent the better part of yesterday with local law enforcement, but didn't get anywhere too terribly important. I may revisit at a later date, but for now my focus lies elsewhere.

The photos I took within the chamber beneath the hospital have been attached to the site. The last two, in particular, have strengthened my resolve to return.

I'm packing for Minnesota.

I've heard back from one gentleman who seems to know the Cambridge, MN area and its asylum pretty well and is willing to talk and show me around the place. Although he's not aware of any unsolved murders in the area, with a little luck and a lot of digging I will find what I'm looking for.

I hope to visit any official unsolved case files while I'm there, as well as talk to some of the older locals. 1839 is a long time ago, but as I've learned many times over during this investigation, the memory of the community is long and deep.

He's resurfaced.

the seat of insanity
1839 cambridge

Sent to my old office, no return address, postmarked St. Paul, MN.

I know some people believe I'm crazy for thinking one person could be responsible for the crimes committed on all of these dates. You'll just have to trust me, there are more things in this life that we do not understand than we do. And there is more to this murderer than meets the eye.

I wasn't sure what line to take with this. There are at least six or seven "Cambridges" in the US, that I knew of. However, I did locate a "Cambridge" in Minnesota that has/had an on site asylum, and it's this in his "seat of insanity" remark, that I think he may be referring to.

It's a start.

I have found scant internet presence or contact information, but for the two or three I did find, I have submitted requests for dialogue.