League of Paranormal Investigators.

The Wagner Homestead
LPI Florida - April 2008

The history of the Wagner Homestead started with William Wagner who was born on an immigrant ship on the Hudson River in New York. William’s parents were both German immigrants from Bern. Much of his early life is unknown other than the first records where William volunteered with the United States Army on May 18, 1846 in New York city at the outbreak of the Mexican War. During this war William got injured in the battle of Cerro Gordo which was not serious but was haunting him when he became older. During several war’s William enlisted as volunteer and the Second Seminole War brought him finally to Miami area, which was not named at that time. William Wagner arrived in Miami in 1855 as storekeeper for the Army in Fort Dallas. According Maude Wagner her grandfather was a baker when he worked at Fort Dallas suttle store. Two years later William Wagner built the Wagner Homestead and is now known as the oldest surviving house in Miami. The building was moved in 1978, to its current location in Lummus park, to make space for the Miami-Dade metro rail system. The Wagner Homestead house was original located what is now N.W. 11th street and 7th Avenue.

William also built a mill at the Wagner creek near his house. The mill was used to produce flour from the root of a Cycad plant root known by the locals as Coonti. Wagner also built the first Catholic church in this region. The Wagner Homestead was built within a two acres orange grove.

William Wagner dies in 1901 at the house he built and where he lived a big part of his live. William is buried at the Miami Cemetery where also the grave of Jullia D. Tuttle can be found.

The records showing that the house was occupied until at least 1948 when Benjamin Cassell left the house. Benjamin was born in 1917 in the Wagner Homestead house and his father died of a heart attack while preparing to go to church.

History of The Wagner Homestead

Being declared the oldest house in Miami-Dade there is not that much known about this location. The Wagner Homestead can be found in its current location in Lummus park in Down Town Miami near the Miami River.

Historical Timeline

May 18, 1846 - William Wagner

William volunteered with the United States Army on May 18, 1846 in New York city at the outbreak of the Mexican War.

January, 1849 - William Wagner married Eveline

William Wagner married Eveline Aimar.

1850 - The Wagner Family

William Wagner lives in Fort Moultrie. Eveline is listed as Eveline DuBau born in Moultrieville. The following children are also listed: Octavius Aimar (15), Achills Aimar (11), Lavra Aimar (10) and William Aimar (inf).

1852 - Rose Wagner

Elizabeth Wagner was born and later became known as Rose Wagner.

1855 - The first frontiers

William Wagner came to Miami as a soldier when his company was sent to Fort Dallas. William was stationed at Fort Dallas as an Army storekeeper during the Second Seminole War.

Captain Sinclair opened a sutler’s store for the soldiers in Fort Dallas which he ran together with William.

1857 - The Wagner Homestead

William Wagner built the Wagner Homestead.

1858 - The Wagner Family Complete

William Wagner (21) his wife Everline (38) and two children William Jr. and Rose moved finally to Miami. Some sources describing that some of the boys where already living with William Wagner.

February 14, 1861 - The Wagner Family Youngest Son got Killed

William Wagner 10 year old son got killed by George Marshall during a drunken spree. The boy was shot in front of George Lewis' store (on the South bank of the river just west of Twelfth Avenue)

July 21, 1869 - Octavius Aimar

First records of Octavius Aimar when he was appointed as chairman of the Board of Public Instruction or Dade-County.

November 28, 1870 - Jailtime for William Wagner Sr.

William Wagner got fined a fine of $150.00 and sent two months in Dade County jail for stealing lumber from a wreck. William regrets the period he spent in jail.

Summer of 1873 - Yellow Fever

William Wagner Jr. got struck by Yellow Fever and Dr. Harris gave up any possible treatment. A Native Indian prepared a medical tea from a plant called "Indian Root" (Asclepias curassavica) what saved his live.

September 1876 - Rosie Wagner

Rosie Wagner marries Adam Richards. The ceremony was held in the church built by her father. The ceremony was lead by Father Hugan.

March 15, 1882 - William Franklin Richards

Grandson William Franklin Richards was born in the Wagner Homestead.

May 2, 1883 - Lara Louise Richards

Granddaughter Lara Louise Richards was born in the Wagner Homestead.

1884 - Jean Chevelier

Jean Chevelier lived with the Wagner family for some time. Jean felt from the stairway with a loaded gun and shot off a part of his hand. He was transferred to the nearest hospital in Key West.

April 29, 1885 - Cora Amelia Richards

Granddaughter Cora Amelia Richards was born in the Wagner Homestead.

July 25, 1887 - Charles Richards

Grandson Charles Richards was born in the Wagner Homestead.

1888 - Eveline Dies

Eveline died and was buried on the Wagner property close to the church.

May 15, 1893 - Wagner Homestead sold to Julia Tuttle

Due his declining health William sold the Wagner Homestead to Julia D. Tuttle for $15,000. William got paid in settlements.

1898 - Julia D. Tuttle dies

Julia D. Tuttle dies and got buried at the Miami Cemetery.

Jullia’s grave is in the middle of the Miami Cemetery burried besides some family members.

March 29, 1899 - Wagner Homestead back to William

E. L. White commissioner for the estate of Julia D. Tuttle deeded the property back to William Wagner because of the outstanding debt.

November 26, 1901 - Wlliam Wagner dies

William Wagner dies at age 76 on his homestead and got buried at the Miami Cemetery. William is buried at the same cemetery where Julia D. Tuttle is buried.

Wagner’s grave is close by the entrance on the right site. The marker states the family names Wagner and Richards.

1917 - Benjamin Cassell born

Benjamin Cassell is born in the “The Wagner Homestead”.

1948 - Benjamin Cassell

Benjamin Cassell moved out the “The Wagner Homestead”.

1970's - First Known Died

Benjamin Cassell father died of a heart attack while getting dressed for church.

1979 - Lummus Park

The Wagner House is moved to its current location in Lummus Park.

October 28, 1982 - Charles Richard Dies

Charles Richards died at age 95.

The Wagner Homestead

During this investigation we collected psychic impressions and scientific based evidence. Our findings are mainly based on the scientific evidence and we did not find enough evidence to declare the property haunted.

Psychic Impressions: LPI uses psychics to help understand the scientific evidence and better focus our efforts. This data is not added to the evidence unless supported by verifiable evidence or facts. On occasion very specific messages and information is delivered by the psychic. The sensitivity of this information and respect to the client’s own personal beliefs prevents us from including a detailed account of psychic work conducted during the investigation.
Psychic reported feeling uncomfortable and unwanted upstairs.
Contact was made with one or more entities.
A brief psychic attack was experienced by one investigator.
A dark but harmless energy was sensed.

Personal Experiences:
Small knocking noise was heard in the small room upstairs.
While Ashley was using the pendulum Robert felt a cold spot on his right arm. He asked if whatever was in the room could do it again, at which point it did..
Several battery drains were reported early in the investigation. Later battery drain was accompanied by equipment acting in unusual ways that was not explained nor reproduced.
Psychic attack experienced by Ashley and witnessed by Robert.
A partial apparition was witnessed two times in the upstairs back room.

Based on our evidence we were able to determine a significant amount of paranormal activity at this location; however, we did not collect enough tangible evidence to support the claim of the location being haunted. Even though we collected a lot of positive evidence we lacked the visual proof required to declare a haunting.

Evidence - The Wagner Homestead
Select the evidence type you want to see, or hear, from the following list:

Class C EVP/Sound - Use your headphones.

Faint knocking several times to the question 'Do you like us here' with instructions to knock ones for yes, twice for no. First floor.

Scraping sound heard and reported by investigator, faint on recording. First floor.

Sound of something sliding across the floor when asked to show itself in the camera and say hi. First floor.

Fast tapping in response to noise request – Second floor.

Comments for The Wagner Homestead
	Name:	Ana
	From:	Miami, FL
		I just visited the house this past Friday, on the 21st. Didn't feel, hear, nor see anything paranormal...
		8/24/2008 5:15:58 PM