Case File 01 — October 13, 1910

NEW ASYLUM OPENS AMID QUIET UNEASE
Burbank Tales Times — October 13, 1910 

WHAT CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION

At first glance, this appears to be an ordinary account of the opening of a new institution near Burbank.

But several details may explain why this particular page was preserved.

The asylum opened on Friday, October 13, 1910. Dr. A. Jekyll reportedly chose the date deliberately, calling it “a day marked and embraced for years to come.”

The Jekyll name itself is difficult to overlook, although at this point we have no reason to know whether it is significant.

More curious is a comment attributed to a nearby farmer, who reportedly warned:

“Whatever they are conjuring, the land has never been quite right.”

That reference to the land will be worth remembering.

There is also the smaller story on the same page. Water at nearby Crystal Lake reportedly turned completely black, while residents claimed that some sort of creature had been seen there. Authorities dismissed the reports.

A new asylum.
A deliberately chosen Friday the 13th.
A warning about the land.
A lake suddenly turning black.

At this point, these may simply be coincidences.

But someone thought this particular newspaper was worth keeping. We don't yet know why.

FROM THE JOURNAL