The intelligent spirit or residual energy of one very busy woman has been experienced.

DESCRIPTION

The Churchman’s Business School building is a big, solidly built yellow brick building, 1/4 block long, and takes up roughly 9,000-square-feet. It was built like a tank to last the ages. It has been renovated, and has evolved into a Beauty College that opened on May 11th, 2011.

HISTORY

Its name, Churchman’s Business School, which is displayed on the building might lead one to believe it was started by either the First Presbyterian Church, or perhaps was a joint effort of all the churches in town. In fact, it was probably involved with the First Presbyterian Church which is located right next door, as it appears to have been built either on the same or the adjoining lot.

Many churches and religious organizations start schools to educate and elevate people of all ages into better economic futures, as well as be a blessing to their communities.

There must have been a need for higher vocational education for those students who didn’t have the money, the desire or the grades for an academic college, in an era when not many scholarships were awarded.

In 1912, it probably started out as a church sponsored/affiliated business school for young people, with the goal of training people in a business field, deemed to be stable, and a source of good income. As time passed, probably both men and women attended here, as more and more women joined the workforce, becoming secretaries and office personnel. As of 2002, near the end of the college’s existence, 70% of their students were women.

While it probably started out as a church property, eventually the Easton Area Board of Education bought the building and its property, and leased it to the private vocational college already established by the church, turning it into a secular school. Many colleges that were founded by churches have eventually become secular, private schools, such as USC in Los Angeles, CA.

By 2002, this private, for profit, small business school was a vocational/technical, two year school with 186 students, and seven professors. They offered associate degrees in Accounting and Related Services, Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, General Business Administration and Commerce, Management and Operations Support.

Unfortunately, the college closed its doors in 2004, due to declining enrollment, after 92 years. One article I read reported that the owners also got behind in their taxes. However, as it was built to last, others began to think of ways to revive it into a profitable business. It took seven years to find just the right use for this big yellow building.

First idea was to convert the building into apartments, but for some reason that plan didn’t fly far. The building had long been a school, and perhaps the owners of the property, the Easton Area Board of Education, wanted another type of educational program to open in the building.

In 2009, someone’s dream nearly reopened the building as another school. Close, but no cigar. The Lehigh Valley Live publication reported that there was a proposal by Donald Oh, of Toms River, N.J., to open Eastern Academy as a boarding school that would recruit 72 Korean students, ages 15 to 19, who wanted to learn English. An Easton Area School Board member, Pat Vulcano, who attended Churchman’s Business School, didn’t think the building would be big enough to give a quality education to such a number of students who needed to enroll, in order to make a profit.

In their March 19th, 2011 publication, the Lehigh Valley Live reported about the new purpose in store for this Churchman’s Business School building, and who won over the Easton Area School Board of Education with her proposal.

After investing $20,000 into renovation work, including roof repairs, fire alarm installations and updated ceilings and entrance ways, as well as passing all the requirements of the state, long time Easton Business owner Nicole Oshodi opened Trendz Beauty Academy: Cosmetology and Barbering School.

It is a vocational school for students wanting to learn the hair-cutting profession; “Cosmetology and Barbering.” This academy has brought in ten jobs, many students, and offers a vital service needed in any community! As a bonus, it also brings people into the downtown commercial business district, and helps local businesses in the city.

TRENDZ was started with the same passion that Churchman’s Business School was started so long ago, to help young people learn and become successful in an exciting, stable occupation! Nicole Oshod, an experienced hair salon owner and teacher, has a strong passion to help the young people in the community.

“TRENDZ is designed to provide students with the training and documentation needed to take and successfully pass the Pennsylvania State Boards exam and become a licensed professional. Beyond passing, it is the GOAL of TRENDZ to equip students with unmatchable skills for success!”

HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS

People who haven’t finished their long list of things to do when they pass away, sometimes stick around to try to finish what they wanted to accomplish.

Moravian College, PA (The spirit of a soldier, killed in war, is still determined to take the classes he needs to graduate).

Hunt-Phelan House, TN (A dedicated 19th Century servant is still trying to finish an assigned task after his premature demise).

Fort Ontario, NY (The spirits of soldiers still have a long list of things to do and don’t care if they are in spirit form).

Churchman’s Business School Building, PA (The spirit of a woman who hurries from the Churchman’s Business School Building to her office in the church parsonage may have had a huge list of things she still needed to achieve but died before she could do them).

People who were heavily involved in their life’s calling, and have put their all into their causes in this world, sometimes have to keep an eye on their labor of love, to see how things are faring, perhaps not quite ready to relinquish the reins to the next dedicated leader.

Speed Art Museum, KY (While alive, Mrs. JP Speed liked to supervise to ensure a perfect outcome, and her spirit still does here).

Kelton House Museum, OH (The spirit of Grace Bird Kelton sticks around as supervisor of the staff and protector of the docents, making sure that her beloved Victorian townhouse stays as a successful house museum).

The Eagle Hotel, PA (The spirit of owner Amos Judson feels safe to continue his life’s work. He strictly supervises the staff, and knows their names and job duties).

Churchman’s Business School, PA (The woman’s appearance as an apparition, hurrying along on an urgent mission, was most active in the 1940s-1950s, as many sightings were reported by the living during this time. Perhaps these years had an overflow of business students, and her spirit thought that the living person who had her position couldn’t handle it by herself).

MANIFESTATIONS

PARANORMAL FINDINGS

Not much has been recently experienced, though she is still seen on occasion, going about her business.

Nothing caught by paranormal investigators has been reported or published.

STILL HAUNTED?

Not certain. Not enough information is known, experienced or documented. This female entity could’ve been just residual energy, that had played out by 1960.

However, she is still seen on occasion by witnesses, which may mean she is an actual spirit. She simply may have decided to take a break, having finished helping for the time being.

It is possible that she will be activated by the environment once again, when the beauty school has a lot of students, and she thinks her help may be needed once more.

Time will tell if she is an intelligent spirit who had just gone dormant, or was just an energy imprint of one very busy woman.

LOCATION

355 Spring Garden Street
Easton, Pennsylvania 18042
(610) 258-5345

The Churchman’s Business School Building is near the Center Square in historic downtown Easton.

It is located right next to the First Presbyterian Church of Easton. Take the Lehigh Valley Thruway, and get off on the Spring Garden St. (611) exit. Go right, and travel on this one way street, going west. Churchman’s Business School building and the First Presbyterian Church are on Spring Garden St. between 3rd St., and N. 4th St.

SOURCES INCLUDE

• Haunted Places: The National Directory
  by Dennis William Hauck
  Penguin Books – 2002
• http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/today/index.ssf/2011/03/former_churchman_business_scho.html
• https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=&daddr=355+Spring+Garden+Street,+Easton,+Pennsylvania+18042
• http://www.collegeview.com/schools/churchman-business-school/
• http://www.trendzbeautyacademy.com

Our Haunted Paranormal Stories are Written by Julie Carr

Our Photos are copyrighted by Tom Carr

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