By LeAnn R. Ralph
ELK MOUND — Is Mound Hill Park haunted?
Howard Hazen, a paranormal investigator, would like to find out.
Hazen spoke to the Elk Mound Village Board at the August 7 meeting about conducting a paranormal investigation at Mound Hill Park.
Two other investigations have been done previously, and one concluded “yes,” there was paranormal activity, and the other concluded “no,” there was no paranormal activity, Hazen said.
For either of those investigations, Hazen said he did not know if the researchers had gotten permission from the village board.
Steven Abraham, village president, asked if Hazen planned to be at Mound Hill Park during nighttime hours.
“At dusk,” Hazen said.
A high school student asked about Mound Hill Park a year or two ago, Abraham said.
The high school student wanted to shoot a movie, said Mark Levra, director of public works.
There were other requests several years ago, noted Terry Stamm, village trustee.
One request was close to Halloween, so it was an “easy no,” said Montana Grotthus, village trustee.
Is this an issue that should be put on a village board agenda? Stamm asked.
Will the investigation take place when the park is open? Levra asked.
The investigation will be within the hours when the park is open, Hazen said.
“It’s a public park,” Levra said.
And if the paranormal investigation is conducted during the hours the park is open, “it’s not a problem,” Abraham said.
Mound Hill Park is open until 10 p.m.
Several village board members expressed concern about people using the park at the time Hazen wanted to conduct his paranormal investigation.
Hazen said he would make sure there would be “no problem” with anyone who might be at the park.
Mound Hill Park is famous for the “castle” at the top of the hill.
According to the Village of Elk Mound’s website, the castle “offers a panoramic view of the village and surrounding areas. The castle was originally constructed in 1937 to be used as an observation tower, picnic pavilion and later also [was dedicated] as a memorial to Dunn County postal employees [rural mail carriers].
“The castle stones came from the Downsville quarry, and material also came from a dismantled livery stable in the village. A historian of the Dunn County Park System said that Indian legend reveals elk once roamed the area, and hunters used the mound to locate herds of elk and buffalo.”
Mound Hill Park, N435 Holly Avenue, is open May 1 until October 31 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
