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The Haunting of McInteer Villa: Atchison’s Most Chilling Landmark

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Listing countless of spooky occurrences from those who have dared to visit the McInteer Villa in Kansas, the mansion is now the blueprint for a classic mansion. Who are the spirits behind the hauntings?

Tucked away in the historic town of Atchison, Kansas, the McInteer Villa stands as a breathtaking relic of Victorian architecture along the Missouri River. The most famous thing that ever came out of this place was the legendary Pilot, Amelia Earhart, but they are also something for the ones interested in the paranormal. 

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With a striking red brick facade and ornate turrets, the house looks like how haunted mansions are described in movies and books. Its history also harbors a darker reputation—one steeped in mystery, tragedy, and a host of restless spirits. 

Haunted Mansion: McInteer Villa, located at northwest corner of 13th and Kansas Streets in Atchison, Kansas; seen from the southeast.// Source: Wikimedia

A House with a History of Tragedy

McInteer Villa was built between 1889 and 1890 by John McInteer, an Irish immigrant who came to the states when he was young boy, all alone. Over the years he earned a fortune and became a wealthy harness maker. The McInteer Villa was originally a proud testament to his success after chasing the American dream alone as a boy. Now it’s more a reminder of the tragedies his family had to go through. 

His first wife, Alice Conley died from a long suffering illness and was the first to die in the house. Perhaps she was its first ghost too? They had met in Cincinnati, Ohio and married in 1861. She was also born in Ireland, and had come to seek a new life. Together they had no children but had both nieces and nephews living with them at times. After being ill for a year she died in December 1891 at 9 o’clock in the morning. 

As one of the confirmed deaths in the house, some visitors attribute some of the haunting to her. Could it be that people notice when the smell shifts? The air is often thick with the scent of a powdery perfume, as if a spectral woman still lingers in the hallways. 

He remarried to a woman called Anna Donovan with three kids from a previous marriage, Peter, Fred and Carles. After McInteer’s death in 1902, his second wife and her family took over the McInteer Villa and she lived there until her death in 1916. The McInteer Villa stayed in the family for years until 1925 and many believe that she and her children are some of the spirits lingering. Could it be her who is behind the cabinets opening by themselves as well as doors around the house as if she was still the lady of the house? Or perhaps it is she who is playing the piano on the ground floor when everyone else has gone to bed. 

Charles Donovan Pacing the Villa for Eternity

Most reported occurrences in the McInteer Villa are the disembodied voices coming from nowhere as you walk through the building. Those who step inside McInteer Villa describe an overwhelming sense of being watched, particularly on the second floor. From the hallway on this floor there are also said that heavy steps are heard, pacing back and forth. 

But who is the one walking through the house after dark, when no one is supposed to? Strange voices and rattling of doorknobs is said to be the ghost of Charles Donovan, who died on the second floor. 

Charles Donovan was the son of Anna Donovan. Like his mother, he also ended his life in the mansion. When he served during the first world war he contracted Influenza he didn’t really recover from and was sick a lot. He was 34 and a veteran, and probably had more than a lingering influenza from the war plaguing him. October 10th in 1922 he committed suicide by shooting himself with a 22 caliber in his bedroom upstairs. 

Boarding House and Strange Haunted Rumors Starts to Form

The last in the line of the family to live in the McInteer Villa was Anna’s brother Charles Conlon until he died in 1930.

Over the years, the villa transformed into a boarding house for the next 25 years. Many came and went over the years and perhaps one of the temporary tenants is still staying here? Perhaps this is where a faint hint of cigarette smoke that follows visitors comes from, despite no one in the house smoking. No one is still alive.

In recent years there have also started to spread wilder stories than rattling of doorknobs and vague heavy energy in the house. One story passed around is that one of the biggest rooms they believe that were used for funeral ceremonies for a time, were the bodies were laid out for viewing and this is why there is so much paranormal activity. Perhaps it was, perhaps it was only for the families staying there, it’s not much proof to go on here. It is however not the only legends that have been spread from this house. 

In the basement of McInteer Villa there are seven different brick-walled rooms that the mere sight would give goosebumps to those venturing down there. There are rumors of illegal abortions and even darker things happening. There is however no proof that this actually happened. According to the stories, the previous owners refused to go down there.  

It’s really not easy to prove what really happened during these years, but we do know of some of the people who stayed here that are said to still haunt it. 

In 1929 William T and Naomi Wood lived in the rooming house and had a daughter they named Romona Wood. She was only four years old before she died of unknown causes on September 20th that year. The Wood family moved away to Eugene Oregon, but many believe that the baby cries said to be heard in the house, belong to this little soul. 

Goldie in the Rocking Chair

Among the most infamous residents was Goldie, a woman who allegedly passed away in her rocking chair—an item that now moves on its own, as if she still lingers in the space she once called home. The chair is still in the house, with a Raggedy Ann doll sitting in it and a framed obituary of the woman who died at its side. 

Her name was actually Isobel Altus, a professional violinist who used to live here after she bought the house in 1952. Or was she actually a violinist? According to some sources she was actually a laundress and a stenographer. Although she did actually teach violin at the Colorado Women’s College for between 1922-1926. 

She was said to be quite eccentric according to her neighbors and wanted to restore the house but didn’t manage it because of the expenses. She was said to have worn only black and her neighbors called her a witch because of her eccentricity and house. She also never married and never had any children. She died in 1969 and most likely, some of the wildest haunted rumors of it being a haunted house comes from this period if we are to speculate. An unmarried woman living by herself, wearing all black in a mansion? Of course it must be haunted then! 

Photo from around 1974. //Source

Story has it that the rocking chair was where she took her life according to some sources. But is it true? She is also said to have died in her sleep in her chair by the fireplace of natural causes. Right before she did die, she sold the house to George Gerardy who actually did end up renovating it. He let her stay in the house until she died on December 21 (15). She was left for 24 hours before she was found by her neighbor Dorothy Bond.

According to those visiting the house, they have seen the rocking chair go back and forth without anyone touching it. She is also said to be the one appearing throughout the house wearing a long black dress. 

The Attic and the Shadows Lurking

Both George Gerardy and his wife Thelma Gerardy also died in their home from natural causes according to most sources, but strange tales started to be told about these two as well. It is said from the current owner of the house that Thelma did experience strange things in their home. It was most likely them who said they didn’t want to go down to the basement for example. How did they feel about the attic though?

The photo is from around 1973. //Source

The sound of footsteps over the floor with no one present is also said to happen in the attic as well. The very room feels heavy with all the spirits lingering there. The atmosphere has been described as uncomfortable, especially from women who report about being touched or even scratched by unseen hands. There is also a shadow figure said to have growled on occasion, and is perhaps connected to this alleged entity. 

Who this entity is supposed to be, is unknown, but a shadowy figure is said to be lurking in the shadows. Some are claiming that it is the ghost of George Gerardy, who is said to have hung himself in the attic in 2006. Seems rather unlikely though, as he was 86 years. 

The Flickering Lights in the Tower

It is a strange design of the house, and one of the architectural features of the house is the tower. Here, also the people walking past the house from the outside are also said to experience the paranormal things happening from the villa. 

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The light is said to go on and off in a strange and flickering manner, perhaps not so strange if the wiring or light bulb is an old one. But the strange thing here is that the tower of the villa has no electricity whatsoever, so what is the light then?

Now, the thing about the light flickering is perhaps a bit outdated now, as there is in fact electricity there today on the third floor. But what happened before the lights got installed and how long it was however is unknown. 

A Paranormal Hotspot for the Brave

Unlike other historic haunted locations, McInteer Villa welcomes visitors looking to explore its ghostly corridors. Stephanie O’Reilly bought the mansion in 2018 and outfitted it to take visitors back in time. She bought it from the children of Charles Gerardy.

She started to fill her new home with old stuff, some of it said to be haunted by spirits brought inside from outside of the house. This is the story behind the creepy marionette doll who is said to be haunted. Certainly a haunted appearance, this marionette doll dates back to the 1800s, and has real human hair coming out from his head. 

The house regularly hosts public events, including overnight stays, guided ghost hunts, and themed holiday gatherings and throughout the year most weekends are fully booked up. O’Reilly invites paranormal researchers into her home to investigate, keeps the cameras running in some of the more active rooms as well as placing toys reacting to movements around the house to catch some ghosts. 

This is from where most of the rumors of the haunting comes from, and there are countless blogs and forum comments talking about their stay at the villa and how their investigation went. How the doors kept opening, strange things they captured in their photos, that time a speaker was allegedly thrown off the counter by a mysterious force as well as being able to move around boxes without anyone touching it. 

The most unnerving occurrences include dramatic temperature shifts. It is said that a news crew visited the mansion once, and the temperature shifted over 40 degrees without an explanation. Unexplained noises, and shadowy figures glimpsed in the villa’s windows are also seen, only to vanish upon closer inspection.

Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, the stories surrounding McInteer Villa are hard to ignore and the experience of staying at a haunted mansion hard to pass up for a lot of people. Is it the spirits of past residents refusing to leave? Or is the house itself a conduit for something far more mysterious? 

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References:

The 1889 McInteer Villa (@the1889mcinteervilla) • Instagram photos and videos 

You can stay at a haunted mansion in Atchison, Kansas — but the spirits might ghost you | KCUR 

The Haunted 1889 McInteer Villa – Atchison KS, 66002 

1889 McInteer Villa 

McInteer Villa Kansas Haunted Mansion Scares Investigators 

The Haunted 1889 McInteer Villa Ghost Hunt Sleepover, Atchison, KS

McInteer Villa – Clio

McInteer Villa – JUST SAY BOO 

Haunted Tales of the 1889 McInteer Villa, Kansas – Amy’s Crypt

The Haunted 1889 McInteer Villa – Atchison KS, 66002 

Alice Conley McInteer (1829-1891) – Find a Grave Memorial

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54225008/charles_donovan

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The Violent Ghost Inside of Sallie House in Kansas

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The infamous haunted Sallie House is said to be one of the more haunted places in Kansas. What happened inside the house where it is said that the life of a young girl ended after a botched operation. Is she really lingering and haunting the house to the point of hurting people? 

One fateful day, a terrified mother arrived with her six-year-old girl to the house of Dr. Finney in Atchison, Kansas. Sallie, as the little girl was named, was suffering from a severe case of appendicitis and had collapsed from the terrible pain. In a desperate bid to save her life, as the appendix would burst at any moment, Dr. Finney attempted emergency surgery. 

But the anesthesia failed, or perhaps he didn’t have time to wait until it took effect before cutting into her. As the scalpel sliced into her abdomen, she awoke to searing pain, her screams piercing the walls before she succumbed to shock and blood loss.

Her screams suddenly stopped as she died, her last memory being in excruciating pain and the image of a man cutting into and torturing her. 

Sallie House: Said to be haunted by a little girl who died on an operating table after an operation, the Sallie House is now a popular haunted house destination to stay and explore for a fee. What really happened that day, is it really Sallie haunting the place, or is it actually something more demonic s some people claim. // Source

The Haunted Town of Atchison

In the heart of Atchison, Kansas, 50 miles northwest from Kansas City along the Missouri River. It’s a town known for its famous female pilot, Amelia Earhart, it is also known for its ghostly lore. Some believe Sallies restless spirit remained behind, forever tethered to the place of her suffering. Left of her is only the infamous residence of where she died—the Sallie House on 508 N. Second Street, right up the street from Amelia Earhart’s birthplace. 

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A place where shadows move of their own accord, unseen hands scratch the skin, and the air hums with a presence both tragic and malevolent. Some say it is the most haunted place in Kansas, if not in the country! Many have dared to step inside, but few leave without an unsettling story to tell.

A House with a Dark Past

The Sallie House, built in the mid-1800s or perhaps at the turn of the century or perhaps somewhere in the middle like 1871, the sources vary by Michael Finney who had a son, Charles in 1865. 

Building a Haunted House: Michael Finney, the father of Dr. Finney, came from Ireland and married Kate Kathryns and moved to Atchison in 1856. Michael and Kate bought several properties on N 2nd Street and Sallie House is thought to have been built for Charles and his family. Some are saying that in addition to the little girl, Michael is also one of the ghosts haunting this place.

By 1903, Dr. Charles Finney and his family are listed as the city directory as residents. The Sallie House is a basic two-story home built in the mid-1800’s with a basement. The front served as office space and examination rooms, while the doctor and his family lived upstairs. In the early 1900s, operating from one’s private home was still common in the U.S. 

Some believe that the home doubled as his medical practice, where he examined and treated patients in the lower rooms while his family occupied the upstairs. 

Though architectural details have led some to question whether the house was ever used as a clinic, the legend persists, fueling the eerie reputation that shrouds the building. The operation of Sallie has never been confirmed but it is mostly stated to have happened around 1905 and according to stories, Charles moved out from the house in 1906 after the surgery. 

His family are said to have lived in the house until 1947 and more than one member of the family died in the house. Michael C. Finney in 1872, James Finney in 1900 and Kate Finney in 1918., all of natural causes though. 

So what happened to Charles though? He actually ended up as mayor for a while, although he had to step down after an alcohol scandal. When he was elected mayor in 1913, the Globe’s headline said that the mothers of Atchison had elected him, as he had officiated at so many births

The Haunting Begins to get Violent

Although the locals had already deemed the house haunted, it wasn’t until 1993 when the legend about it took full effect. When the tragedy of Sallie is said to have happened, the house had already passed through many hands. On 2nd Street in December of 1992, a young couple moved into it and they started to notice strange things happening after a month or so. 

Debra and Tony Pickman moved into the place with their little baby and dog, thinking to live a peaceful life, but the house had other plans. 

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Their dog started to growl at nothing, especially in the upstairs rooms they used as a nursery. Around the place where the operating table had been, it started to grow cold and objects would move. Mold started to grow out of nowhere after their son was born and the activity increased. Voices started to seep from the walls without a source. This was said to only happen to the man in the house, never his wife or his baby. 

One day however, they returned home and entered the nursery room. There, they found all of their son’s stuffed animals in a circle on the floor. 

Drawing of Sallie: Although Debra Pickams has gone out and said that the ghost of Sallie was actually a demon possessing her to gain her trust, apparitions of a little girl is said to have happened still. This is a sketch that Tony Pickham drew of what he saw. Source

The strange things escalated until it turned violent after that day, leaving scratches on his chest and across his abdomen. Even fires were said to break out when candles lit themselves. During the birthday party of their child, a doll was said to have caught fire for no reason as well. 

Scratches left on Tony Pickham

When they reached out to Past owners Kelly Elias and Les Smith said that they also had some experiences while they lived in the house. Two years in, the Pickams moved out.  

A Haunting Unlike Any Other

The echoes of Sallie’s agony are said to reverberate through the house to this day. Male visitors have reported the most violent encounters—deep scratches appearing out of nowhere, burning sensations crawling across their backs, and unseen forces pushing them. This has led to the chilling moniker “The Man-Hating Ghost.” Some theorize that, in her final moments, the young girl associated all men with pain, her spirit now lashing out at any male presence in the house. People have stated that they have seen the apparition of a young girl as well.

Electric equipment stops working, battery drains are only some of the things that paranormal investigators claim to experience. But is Sallie the only ghost haunting the place? According to some, the house seems to be a magnet for supernatural activity, drawing in forces that may be far more sinister than a child’s lingering spirit.

Some simply don’t believe that young Sallie would be behind the violent attacks and there are reports of a middle-aged woman who is said to be behind the frightening attacks. She is said to have been seen standing in the windows when people are passing by. 

The Haunted House Next Door

In addition to Sallie, the story gets intermingled with the tragic story of Frank Jr. He was a child who died in Kansas City a year after Sallie died when his mom botched a suicide attempt that killed him but that she survived.

James Finney, the older brother of Charles built a house next door in 1889 and deeded it to the child’s mother. Joanna Barnes who was his mother was divorced, had three previous children and had also been sent to an asylum for being violently insane. She gave birth to Frank Jr at the institution.

She was then discharged, believed to be cured of her affliction. On September 24 in 1906, she turned the gas stove on and laid down with her five year old who died of the fumes. She survived, but is still haunting the place according the stories.

Johanna is also said to haunt the place, appearing as a “dominant female” who lived next door to Sallie House until 1906 and whose ghostly voice was allegedly captured on audio.

source

A Manufactured Myth or a Real Nightmare?

Despite the compelling stories, no historical record confirms the existence of a young girl named Sallie who died in the house. There are many theories and versions of the legend now. Was Sallie the result of an affair with Dr. Finney and her mother were black maids and because of this, they couldn’t go to the hospital. 

Some skeptics argue that the legend was concocted as a tourism stunt to put Atchison on the map as one of America’s most haunted towns.

Ethel Anderson owned and lived in this home from 1958 to 1990. Until her death in 2000, she insisted that the home was not haunted. Debra Pickam published a book about their experiences, so they certainly had monetary motives for fabricating a story like this. 

After the Pickman’s moved out Gloria Fish and her family moved in. They claimed nothing paranormal occurred when they lived there.Paranormal investigators said that the ghost must have moved on or followed the Pickman’s as they had experienced scratches after moving into their new home. 

A Destination for the Brave

Today, the Sallie House stands as both a curiosity and a challenge to the boldest of ghost hunters. Public tours, overnight investigations, and eerie personal accounts continue to cement its reputation as one of the most haunted locations in the United States. They keep finding strange things about this house. 

In the early 2000s it was said that a pentagram was drawn on the basement floor of the home and that satanic things for a ritual have been found. When doing a luminol test, blood splatter was discovered in the closet of the master bedroom and a bloody sweater was said to be found in the attic. 

Some believe that both the mother and Sallie is not found, because they are still on the property after the doctor buried them there, or perhaps even in the basement.

Whether the haunting is the tortured soul of a little girl or something far more malevolent, one thing is certain—the Sallie House does not rest. And although you must sign a waiver before entering, there hasn’t been a reported incident since the last tenants left in 1993. 

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References:

Sallie House – Visit Atchison 

Beat the Winter Blues by Exploring Rural Kansas, the Perfect Snowy Escape 

Sallie House: The History of This Atchison Kansas Haunted House

Sallie House Investigation 

Sallie House – Wikipedia 

The Sallie House – The Most Haunted House in Kansas? 

The Sallie House – Clio 

Dr Charles C Finney (1865-1947) – Find a Grave Memorial 

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The Haunting of The Mark Twain House: The Gothic Mansion on the Hill

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Mark Twain House in Connecticut is said to be haunted by the whole Clemens family. A place of great literary importance it remains as the family home with a deep sorrow as tragedy seemed to follow the Clemens children. 

Mark Twain House is a beautiful Gothic mansion in Hartford, Connecticut mansion, where he resided from 1874 to 1891, is celebrated as much for its architectural charm in the Hartford neighborhood as its eerie legends. 

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The house belonged to the Clemens family, and Samuel Clemens, which was Mark Twain’s real name. This grand 25 room Victorian Gothic home was where Twain penned iconic novels such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, making it a literary sanctuary. 

He built the home to his family himself and Twain wrote: “To us, our house…had a heart, and a soul, and eyes to see us with; and approvals and solicitudes and deep sympathies; it was of us, and we were of its confidence and lived in its grace and in the peace of its benediction,” 

Mark Twain House: The authors house in Hartford, Connecticut is believed to be haunted by the Clemens family.

They didn’t live in it too long though and had to move to Europe in 1891 because of financial troubles. By 1903 they could have lived in it again, but sold it because it brought up too many memories of their daughter Suzy who died in the house when they were in Europe. Twain never returned to it.

The Mark Twain House went through a familiar process of falling into disrepair after it was sold out of the family and was restored in the 1960s before being converted into a museum. 

Mark Twain and the Supernatural

However, Twain’s beloved mansion, which now serves as a museum, is rumored to harbor restless spirits, leading to its reputation as one of Connecticut’s most haunted locations. It is not so far fetched as Twain himself and his family was quite involved with the spiritualist movement in the late 1800s and early 1900s of seances and mediums which were all the rage. Something the ghost tours the museum offers focus on.

Mark Twain: The writer was interested in science as well as spiritualism. Here in Nikola Tesla’s lab; 1894.

But did he really believe in ghosts? In his supernatural short story, A Ghost Story, he seemingly mocks the idea and gives off the impression that Mark Twain himself did not believe in ghosts. But his life was certainly intertwined with it though. When he was a child it was a woman who claimed to have healing powers and could cure toothache with the touch. When he met his wife, Olivia Langdon, she was partially paralyzed after falling on ice at sixteen. She was unable to leave her bed for two years. She went to a healer called Dr. Newton who prayed for her and made her better, although not fully recovered by her touch. 

Mark Twain would also have what the believed was prophetic dreams about his brother’s death, and was intrigued by “thought transference” where he believed to speak out loud what his wife was thinking. 

Even the birth of Mark Twain the family looked at through spiritual lenses. When he was born in 1835, the Haley’s Comet shot across the night sky. This made his mother believe he was destined for greater things. When he died on April 21 in 1910, you could also see Haley’s comet in the sky just as it was when he was born. As he himself said to his friend, Albert Bigelow Paine: “I came in with Halley’s Comet in 1835. It will be coming again next year and I expect to go out with it.”

The Haunting of the Mark Twain House

Several paranormal investigations have reported elevated activity in the home and now the house museum even offers their own ghost tours. Even famed paranormal researcher, Lorraine Warren has visited the Mark Twain House. The house has also been on numerous ghost hunting TV-shows, but what exactly are the rumors about it?

Visitors to the museum who venture too close to Twain’s desk have often described feelings of discomfort or sudden chills. Paranormal researchers report EMF (electromagnetic field) spikes near the author’s personal belongings, adding further intrigue to the notion that Twain—or perhaps one of his loved ones—has not yet left the premises.

The Woman in White

Olivia Susan Clemens: (March 19, 1872 – August 18, 1896). She is believed to be the woman in white haunting the Mark Twain House.

The “woman in white,” a figure as classic in ghost lore as it is mysterious, is one of the most frequently reported apparitions here. The apparition is said to wear Victorian clothing and hairstyle, seemingly transparent and walking through the house before vanishing into thin air. 

This spectral figure, often spotted on the stairs or in the corridors, is sometimes thought to be Twain’s daughter Susy, who tragically passed away in the Mark Twain House when she was 24 years old of spinal meningitis. Most of the Clemens children never grew up. Out of four, their son Samuel died when he was two of diphtheria before they moved into the house, and his father blamed himself for not dressing the boy warm enough. Jean was epileptic and died of a seizure in the bath and drowned. Only their middle daughter, Clara grew up and got married. 

The death of Suzy however seemed to have been what broke them, as she was her favorite daughter. She was a gifted writer and her father saw her as a prodigy. According to the guides taken them on the ghost tour of the house, people sometimes claim to feel a terrible neck pain and headache when entering into the room she passed away. 

The Woman in Black

Witnesses describe an unsettling feeling of being watched in rooms filled with Victorian decor that, despite its warmth, carries a lingering chill. Some also talk about seeing the “Woman in Black”. The same apparition or something else? There are also those who claim that Livy Clemens, her mother who spent her life decorating the house to be haunting it as well. 

After their children’s death, both her and her husband withdrew from society and each other, getting much involved with spiritism and trying to communicate with the dead. Those claiming to see her often see her in a black dress and black bonnett. 

The Woman in Black: Olivia Langdon Clemens with her daughters, Susy, Clara and Jean in 1884. Many claims that she is the woman in black ghost people claim is haunting the Mark Twain House together with the rest of the family.

Some also claim to hear the sound of children and some say they have felt the touch of small hands, making people believe that Suzy is not the only Clemens haunting the Mark Twain House. Echoes of footsteps, faint whispers, and even the melancholic notes of an old piano are occasionally heard by visitors, adding a haunting layer to Twain’s otherwise cozy haven.

Is Mark Twain Haunting the House?

Twain’s beloved billiard room on the third floor holds a particularly eerie reputation. This was where Twain would unwind, smoke cigars, and reflect on his writings. He was a heavy smoker, up to 40 cigars a day. 

Today, some visitors report smelling cigar smoke in the room, even though smoking has been prohibited in the house for years. Those attuned to the supernatural sense that Twain’s spirit may still be lingering here, contemplating his works, or simply enjoying a quiet smoke. Some have even claimed to hear the soft clinking of billiard balls as though Twain is still there, absorbed in a game.

Billiards Room: One of the alleged haunted rooms at the Mark Twain House. // Source: John Hoey/ Wikimedia

Mark Twain is actually rumored to be haunting quite a few places, like the house he lived in on 14 West 10th Street between fifth and sixth avenues for a year or so. This house is widely believed to be a very haunted house for a long time, even before he moved in. Although he was a bit of a ghost skeptic, he had some strange experiences while living there, and rumors are that he is haunting it now. 

The Haunted Mark Twain House

Is that all of the ghosts? Could the whole Clemens be lingering in the home they loved so much? Some even say that a maid manifesting as an older woman is haunting the house as well, frozen in time of the Twain era. 

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Twain once said, “To us, our house was not unsentient matter—it had a heart, and a soul, and eyes to see us with.” It’s as if the house itself has absorbed the emotional and creative energy of Twain’s family, rendering it a haunted artifact, not just a building.

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Why TV’s ‘Ghost Hunters’ series has made multiple visits to CT’s Mark Twain House 

New York Ghosts: Mark Twain 

Hartford Twain House

Inside Mark Twain’s haunted Connecticut mansion

The Mark Twain House Ghost Tour :: General Discussion

MARK TWAIN AND THE SUPERNATURAL — American Hauntings

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History and Haunting of Oregon’s Pittock Mansion

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The smell of roses and shadows in the corners makes people believe that the Pittock Mansion in Oregon, USA is haunted by the couple who built it. Now a museum, the ghosts are also said to welcome its visitors to their forever home. 

Deep in the heart of Portland, Oregon lies a majestic mansion that has captured the imaginations of locals and tourists alike overlooking Mount Hood and the Cascade Mountain Range. The Pittock Mansion in Oregon’s West Hills neighborhood, built in 1914, is a stunning example of French Renaissance architecture, and it is surrounded by breathtaking gardens and panoramic views of the city below. The inside of it is designed with oak-paneled cabinets and marble floors with a huge staircase worthy of the finest castles. But there’s more to this mansion than meets the eye. 

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For decades, rumors have circulated about strange happenings and ghostly sightings within its walls. Many believe that the spirits of former occupants still linger, and that the mansion is haunted by their restless souls. 

The History of Pittock Mansion

Before we dive into the ghost stories surrounding Pittock Mansion, let’s take a look at its history. The mansion was built for Henry Pittock, the owner and publisher of The Oregonian newspaper, and his wife Georgiana. Henry Pittock was originally from England, then Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and had a start in his father’s printing business. After traveling west on the Oregon Trail when he was 19 for adventure and fortune, Henry transformed it into a successful daily newspaper and riches followed.

This was where he met his wife, Georgiana and they married in 1860. Together they built the house they wanted to retire in. It was originally intended as a summer home, but the couple moved into the mansion in 1914, and it quickly became a hub for Portland’s elite social scene. It was also known for its lush gardens as Georgina was loved gardening, even founding the Portland Rose Society and Rose Festival.

The Pittocks lived in the mansion until their deaths. Georgiana died at 72 in 1918 and Henry at 84 in 1919. The mansion changed hands several times within the Pittocks family. The last family members living there was their grandson Peter Gantenbein and his father, Edward who moved out in 1958 and sold it to the City of Portland in the 1950s.

In the 1960s, the mansion fell into disrepair and was almost demolished, especially after the devastating Columbus Day storm in 1962. However, a group of concerned citizens rallied to save the historic landmark, and it was eventually restored to its former glory. Today, Pittock Mansion is open to the public as a museum, showcasing the history and culture of Portland.

The Haunting of Pittock Mansion

Despite its grandeur and beauty, Pittock Mansion has a dark side. Dating back to the 1960s, visitors and staff members have reported strange happenings and unexplained phenomena within its walls, especially in the upper rooms. Some believe that the spirits of Henry and Georgiana Pittock still linger.

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One of the most commonly reported occurrences is the sensation of being watched or followed. Visitors have reported feeling a cold breeze or even a hand on their shoulder, despite there being no one else around. Others have reported seeing shadowy figures moving through the halls, or hearing the sound of footsteps when no one is there. One night an employee closed the museum for the night and turned back when they walked off. Every single light in the mansion turned on, although there was no one there. Or was it?

The Pittocks: Henry and Georgiana Pittock (center), wedding day, 1860. Georgiana also had an adventurous life, and when she was nine, she was captured by Sioux natives when she was riding her pony because she was a great rider. She was returned unharmed. She met Henry as she drove her horse and buggy past the Oregonian building. They had nine children. People believe that the couple is now haunting the mansion they built.

Georgiana Pittock and the Smell of Roses

Some have even claimed to have seen the figure of a woman in the window as the staff enters in the morning, looking back at them through the mirrors and welcomes them in the basement. 

There is also the scent of roses that lingers as they enter the upper rooms, making people think that it must be Georgiana who lingers in the mansion as she was very fond of them. There have also been seen an apparition of a woman wearing a long gown by the staff. One such story tells about one visitor who heard something fall to the floor and went to see. She saw a woman in the gown pick up the picture that had fallen off. A staff member came to see, and the visitor looked away for a second. But when she looked back, there was no one there anymore.

The Pittock Family: The family lived in the mansion for decades. The rumors about it being haunted started in the 1960s when it was sold to the city of Portland.

The Haunting of Henry Pittock’s Portrait

Another popular ghost story involves the portrait of Henry Pittock that hangs in the mansion’s library. According to legend, the eyes of the portrait follow visitors around the room, and some have even reported feeling as though they were being judged by the stern-looking figure.

Perhaps the creepiest legends claim that the painting is moving around on the wall by itself. This is also said about much of the furniture in the house, as it rearranges by itself when no one is watching. 

Ghost of the Groundkeeper in the Garden

Outside it is said that the sound of shovels digging in the ground can be heard, as if someone is working away there. This is said to occur on the northernmost side of the mansion in particular. After, the sound of heavy footsteps can be heard as if someone is coming towards the mansion. 

But there is not, and people think it is the ghost of one of the live-in groundskeeper who died at the estate on Gate Lodge south of the mansion. Although a strange experience, it is said that those working and visiting the mansion experience it as a kind spirit with no ill will. The ghost is simply lingering to take care of Georgina’s garden that she loved so much. 

The Welcoming Haunting of Pittock Mansion

The Pittock Mansion keeps inviting guests to enjoy the wonderful architecture and lush gardens, almost like it was when first built. Today it operates as a museum open every day and gets more than 80 000 visitors per year. And if we are to believe the rumors, the ghosts of Henry and Georgiana Pittock will be ready to welcome you into their dream home they at least got to enjoy in their afterlife. 

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References:

Pittock Mansion: America’s Happiest Haunted House? | Thought Catalog 

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/experiences/oregon/pittock-mansion-haunted-orhttps://www.onlyinyourstate.com/experiences/oregon/pittock-mansion-haunted-or 

Pittock Mansion Haunted By Ghosts Of Original Owners – HUS 

Inside Pittock Mansion, The Legendary Haunted Estate Of Portland 

History – Pittock Mansion 

Paranormal PNW: Pittock Mansion’s haunted history – The Mossy Log 

Pittock Mansion Museum – Haunted Houses 

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The Ghost Returning to Castle Ellen House Again and Again for Eternity

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Once the master of the house was seen returning to Castle Ellen House in Galway by his servants. Thing was, he had already died several hours and miles away. Since then his ghost has often been seen wandering around the estate. 

In the enchanting yet eerie landscape of Galway, Ireland, where ancient stone walls whisper tales of the past and shadows dance under the pale moonlight, stands Castle Ellen House. This magnificent manor, steeped in history and draped in legends, is said to be one of the many haunted sites that dot the Irish countryside. As twilight descends and a chill fills the air, locals recount spine-tingling stories of ghostly apparitions and mysterious happenings that have plagued this historic residence for centuries.

Beneath its stunning facade lies a darker narrative—one filled with sorrowful spirits and restless souls. Visitors often speak of strange noises echoing through its grand halls at night: footsteps when no one is around, soft whispers carried by the wind, and even glimpses of spectral figures roaming its grounds.

Castle Ellen House The House is thought to be haunted by one of the owners who keeps reappearing coming back to his home after he died far from it. //Source

Dating back to 1810, Castle Ellen House was the ambitious creation of the Lambert family and was their family home for generations. The need for more space to accommodate their growing family led them to construct this grand edifice, with remnants of their former castle still nestled within the sprawling 33-acre estate.

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland

One of the most intriguing connections to Castle Ellen House is the marriage of Isabella Lambert to Edward Carson. Edward Carson, a prominent lawyer, rose to fame as the legal representative of the Marquis of Queensberry in a notorious libel case against the renowned playwright, Oscar Wilde. He was also heavily involved in the Jack the Ripper case as well as an advocate for British rule in Northern Ireland. 

It is also remembered for the strange haunting of the member of the Lambert family and his ghostly return to Castle Ellen House. 

A Ghostly Encounter at Castle Ellen House

It all started way back in 1892 when the owner of the house, Walter Peter Lambert and a member of the Lambert family, was enjoying breakfast at the Imperial Hotel in Tuam. Far from home, Walter began to choke during his meal and died at the age of 76. 

Back at Castle Ellen House, the maids were unknowingly preparing his room for his return. One of them looked out the window and said to another that the master had returned when she saw him walking towards the house on foot. Little did they realize, Walter had already passed away at the hotel for a couple of hours already. 

When an attempt was made to transport his lifeless body home, two sets of horses inexplicably refused to cross the estate’s boundary. The staff had to carry Walter’s body by hand up the driveway. More than two centuries later, Walter’s ghost is said to revisit his former home, an eternal resident in the house he loved.

Read More: Check out all of the Haunted Castles from around the world

The sightings of the ghostly Walter Lambert is said to be pretty frequent, especially in the later years. In 2020, a paranormal investigation group claimed to have gotten a picture of the ghost. The same claim was made in 2022. 

Preservation and Exploration

In 1974, the current owner took on the monumental task of acquiring Castle Ellen House, slowly but surely restoring the estate to its former grandeur. During the summer months, the property opens its doors to the public for limited hours, with proceeds contributing to ongoing restoration efforts. 

Adventurous souls seeking a truly authentic castle experience can even spend a night in the Walter Lambert room, as it is listed on Airbnb. It is here that guests may have the extraordinary opportunity to cross paths with the spectral figure of Walter Lambert himself.

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References:

History – Castle Ellen House 

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/ghost-hunters-find-proof-19th-22230016

Castle Ellen House | Haunted Galway, Ireland | Spirited Isle 

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The Ghost Faces in Bélmez de la Moraleda

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A house in Bélmez de la Moraleda quickly became known as Spain’s most famous haunted house when there suddenly started to appear faces inside of it. It is still a mystery exactly what the faces come from, but many believe that it is the ghosts from the burial ground under the house. 

Welcome to the mysterious and eerie world of Bélmez de la Moraleda, Spain’s infamous haunted house. Nestled in the province of Jaén, this unassuming village hides a chilling secret that has intrigued paranormal enthusiasts for decades. 

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The story begins in 1971 when a peculiar stain appeared on the kitchen floor of the Pereira family. Little did they know that this seemingly innocuous stain would turn their lives upside down and attract visitors from all corners of the globe. Or did they? Over the years, faces of different individuals, both living and deceased, have materialized on the floor, leaving experts baffled and skeptics questioning. 

The Haunted House of Bélmez de la Moraleda

This mysterious dwelling is said to be haunted by the ghosts of the past. The locals have reported strange noises coming from the house, and some even claim to have seen apparitions walking around inside. The haunted house in Spain has become a popular tourist destination for those looking for an eerie experience. People come from all over to get a glimpse of this mysterious place and its supernatural inhabitants. Are you brave enough to take a tour of the haunted house and find out what secrets it holds?

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Houses from around the world.

In a house on Calle Real number 5 in the village Bélmez de la Moraleda, in the far corners of Andalusia, a peculiar haunting has been reported. The small and sleepy town wasn’t really that known until strange things started happening inside of this whitewashed house. The faces on the floors and walls have been a subject of fascination for paranormal enthusiasts and skeptics alike. On the floors and walls of the building, there have been reports about seeing stains that look like faces that come and go since 1971.

Faces in the House: Suddenly it appeared what looked like faces in the walls and floors of the house. The owner of the house claim it wasn’t them. // Source: Cesar Tort/Wikimedia

At first, it appeared on the kitchen floor, and they scraped it off and covered it up. But then, the face started reappearing, not only in the kitchen where it was first seen but all over the house. They did several tests and multiple theories tried to explain exactly what happened in the house, but the exact cause has yet to be confirmed. The mystery continues to baffle experts, leaving the haunted house of Bélmez de la Moraleda shrouded in enigma.

Scientific Investigations and Theories: Unraveling the Unexplained

The strange phenomena witnessed in the haunted house of Bélmez de la Moraleda have attracted the attention of scientists and researchers from around the world. Various investigations and theories have been put forth in an attempt to understand and explain the inexplicable.

One theory put forward by the newspaper El Ideal published some tests that claimed the faces were painted on with silver nitrate and chloride. This painting method was actually a fairly common method in the forties by anti-Franco activists. 

Scientific investigations have involved extensive analysis of the stains, including chemical testing and microscopic examination. Yet, these investigations have not yielded a definitive explanation for the phenomenon. The haunted house of Bélmez de la Moraleda remains an unsolved mystery, leaving room for speculation and wonder.

Built on Top of a Burial Ground

Whose faces are they, and from what reason do they appear? If science can’t give a definitive answer, can perhaps the paranormal world do?

Bélmez de la Moraleda: The town seen from above where the house with the faces is. What really happened and happens in the house will we perhaps never know. //Source: Veinticuatro de Jahén/Wikimedia

It is said that the house is built on top of an ancient cemetery and some believe that it is the ghosts of those buried underneath that are manifesting themselves as faces throughout the house. 

The cemetery from the 13th century was found in the basement under the kitchen, and they could verify the remains of human bones. 

A Haunting Experience: Visiting the House of Faces

Today, the haunted house of Bélmez de la Moraleda stands as a testament to the enduring mystery that surrounds it. The house has been opened to the public, allowing curious individuals to explore the eerie corridors and witness the faces that continue to appear.Scholars have looked at it as a fraud though from the owners, and it is reported that since the death of María Gómez Cámara in 2004, the owner of the house, the faces have been blurring, some of them not even looking like humans.

In the realm of the supernatural, Bélmez de la Moraleda has carved its place as one of Spain’s most haunted locations. Its ghostly secrets and unexplained phenomena serve as a reminder that there is still much we don’t understand about the world around us. As the years go by, the haunted house of Bélmez de la Moraleda will continue to lure in those seeking a glimpse into the unknown, forever shrouded in mystery and ghostly allure.

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Caras de Bélmez – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre
Ten paranormal places that you can actually visit in Spain
The 10 most famous haunted houses in Spain — idealista

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Unveiling the Mystery of the Haunted House of Mirrors

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After the horrible death of the daughter in the House of Mirror in the Spanish city, Cadiz, it is said that she is haunting the mirrors, still after she exposed the murderer.

This mysterious and eerie place has been the topic of many ghost stories and legends for decades. The locals believe that the spirits of the former owners still reside within the walls of this abandoned house, and anyone who dares to enter will be cursed forever. But what is the truth behind the haunted house of mirrors? Is it just a myth or a real-life haunting? 

Legend about “La Casa de los Espejos” or “The House of Mirrors”

Among the many legends that surround Cadiz, one particular tale stands out – the legend of “La Casa de los Espejos” or “The House of Mirrors” located in the old town in Cadiz right in front of the monument of Marques de comilla. According to locals, the haunted house of mirrors was once the residence of a high-ranking admiral in the navy, who lived there with his wife and beloved daughter.

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The alleged haunted house is a three storey house with huge windows in the heart of Alameda Apodaca part of town. The part of town is known for its stately houses from the 15th and 17th century. Today, they have been converted to luxury apartments with a dark legend hanging over them. 

The Admiral Family That Used to Live there

The admiral, known for his bravery and success on the seas, was often away on long voyages to far off lands. During each of his returns, he would bring his daughter a new mirror as a present, as she had developed a fascination with them. The daughter’s room soon became adorned with mirrors of all shapes and sizes that she hung around the house. The daughter’s collection grew with each passing year, and the mirrors became an integral part of her daily life. Soon the whole house was filled with different mirrors in all shapes and sizes. 

Her mother hated them though and she was growing more and more jealous of her daughter and the affection her husband showed her. Over the years the daughter became a great beauty her father loved to show off, and the mother felt old and cast aside as he only showed affection to her daughter. She started to fear that her husband loved her more than her and the resentment towards her daughter grew. 

The Jealous Mother and her Evil Plan

In the mothers eyes, it was the daughter that was in the way between her and the admiral. They started to argue more and more and their relationship was unsalvageable. She hacked out a horrible plan to get rid of her daughter so she would have her husband to herself once again. 

When the admiral was away at sea, the mother poisoned her daughter. At dinner she served her daughter a portion of poison fish, and they both went to bed. That night the daughter became violently ill, and after the poison took hold of her, she collapsed on the floor alone and died of the poison. 

Little did she know, her actions would have dire consequences. The daughter, in her untimely death, became a restless spirit, forever trapped within the mirrors of the house.

The Daughter Haunting the Mirrors

The admiral, upon his return came in with more mirrors to give to his daughter. His wife told him that his daughter had died of a sickness, and he didn’t suspect her at all. He was devastated to learn of his daughter’s tragic demise. 

One day, he heard the voice of his daughter and he was awoken by it. When he passed by one of the mirrors on the walls, he froze. He saw his daughter, and she showed him in the mirror exactly what happened. 

He went to his wife and demanded the truth from her, still having a sliver of hope that she hadn’t done it. But his worst nightmare was confirmed when she confessed to it all. Overwhelmed with grief and a desire for justice, he turned the mother into the authorities, who were able to uncover the truth behind the daughter’s murder. The mother was convicted and sentenced for her heinous crime and had to spend the rest of her days rotting away in prison. But the haunting of the house of mirrors was far from over.

The admiral was unable to stay in the house where everything had gone down and left the place and was never seen in Cadiz ever again. 

The Hauntings in the House of Mirrors

The house was abandoned and visitors would see ghosts and hear strange things. Inside, you could see the girl still haunting the mirrors. 

Before the house was being renovated recently it was for a long time just empty, and people that were interested in the supernatural came looking for it. They claimed they could hear the laments of the girl, crying over her faith and strange shadows hiding behind the curtains. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Houses from around the world.

With the admiral’s daughter unable to find peace in the afterlife, the house of mirrors became a hotspot for paranormal activity. Visitors to the house would report seeing apparitions, hearing strange whispers, and experiencing an overwhelming sense of unease. Those brave enough to venture inside would catch glimpses of the daughter’s ghostly figure, forever trapped within the mirrors that she once cherished.

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https://www.lavozdigital.es/provincia/misterios-cadiz-conoce-historia-interior-casa-espejos-20230512112300-ntv.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lavozdigital.es%2Fprovincia%2Fmisterios-cadiz-conoce-historia-interior-casa-espejos-20230512112300-ntv.html
La leyenda de «La Casa de los Espejos» – LA AZOTEA DE CÁDIZ

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Casa Varela – The Haunted Terror House in Borraxeiros

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For years the Varala family was haunted by mystic forces in their house in Borraxeiros. This poltergeist-like activity was thought to have been brought from South America on one of his travels and was slowly making them go mad in the Casa Varela. 

Are you ready to hear a creepy tale that will send shivers down your spine? There is a haunted house located in Spain that has terrified those who live there. The house is known to be haunted by the lingering ghost of a former inhabitant. 

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The ghosts inside of Casa Varela has been described as being particularly malevolent and has been seen lurking in the shadows, making eerie noises, and even moving objects.

The Haunting Begins in Casa Varela

Borraxeiros in Pontevedra is one of those places that have historically been known as Deep Galicia. It is in the deepest of the forests where the population is sparse and myths and legends lurk in the shadows between the thick forest. 

Casa Varela: For 5 years the Varela family was terrorized by what they believed was a paranormal phenomenon that haunted them. // Source: Blogspot

This story lasted for 5 years filled with terror for the family that lived in this horror house called Casa Varela. It was owned by D. Manuel Varela who was a simple farmer living with his family, just trying to make ends meet on the farm. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Houses from around the world.

It all began one afternoon in 1916. It was May, and summer and lighter times were all ahead. But not for the Varela family whose house started to have strange things happening. Rain of stones started to drizzle and devastate the house.

Manuel Varela went to the Civil Guard to ask for their help, but they were unable to find the cause of this strange event of Casa Varela. Soon, even more strange things started to haunt the family. 

Objects in the house moved, even the furniture rose through the air and violently crashed the walls. The whole family suffered long sleepless nights and paranoia. What was going on? The spirits tugged at their clothes in the night and slapped and beat them whenever they tried to sleep.

Other harrowing experiences like the bedding being pulled off them, being chased out from the house and flour being thrown in their face, they slowly started to lose their mind, but had nowhere to go. 

In 1921 the events inside of Casa Varela stopped without an explanation and without them really having done anything. It never started again, but for the family, the things that had happened, had forever marked them. 

After 5 years of this nightmare, it was too much for Mr. Varela who ended up crazy and he started talking to himself and visiting the cemetery. The neighbors said he went there to pray because the voices in his head told him to.

Why did this happen to the family? One of the theories was that M. Varela had been living in Cuba for many years before returning to Spain. Some claim that he brought something with him home, some sort of black magic or voodoo from the island far away. 

The Haunted Terror House of Casa Varela Today

Today, there are reports of people seeing lights in the ruins of the Casa Varela as well as moving shadows and what looks like red eyes in the dark. It is said that even cows are scared to get close to the house. The Haunted Terror House of Casa Varela stands as a chilling reminder of the horrors that once plagued the Varela family, and it continues to draw the attention of thrill-seekers and paranormal enthusiasts from all over.

For those who dare to venture inside, they are met with an overwhelming sense of unease as they step through the decaying remnants of the entrance. Many who have entered the Haunted Terror House report strange occurrences and unexplained phenomena. Whispers echo through the halls, and cold drafts send shivers down your spine. Shadows dance in the corners of your vision, disappearing as soon as you turn to look. It’s as if the spirits that once tormented the Varela family still linger within these walls, eager to make their presence known.

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aopedofarelo

4 sitios de España en los que pasar una noche de miedo | Placeres

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The Demon House on Carrer dels Mirallers in Barcelona

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One of the houses on Carrer dels Mirallers in Barcelona city is often called the Demon house because of the rumors about what went on inside the house. According to the legends, it was a place where some stray priests dabbled in the occult, exorcism and possible demonic arts. 

In the shadows of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter you’ll stumble upon a street that harbors a chilling secret. Carrer dels Mirallers, a seemingly unassuming thoroughfare, hides a dark history that has fascinated locals and paranormal enthusiasts for centuries. Known as the Demon House, this enigmatic residence has long been shrouded in mystery, with tales of supernatural phenomena and eerie occurrences circulating among those brave enough to venture near. 

The Legend and History Behind the Demon House

Carrer dels Mirallers, or Mirror Makers Street, is located in Barcelona’s historic Gothic Quarter, a neighborhood steeped in history and folklore. While the street where they used to make mirrors itself may not appear out of the ordinary, it is the stories associated with one particular house that have given it its ominous reputation. The Demon House on No. 7, as it is commonly known, stands as a testament to the dark and mysterious past of the area.

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One of the buildings on Carrer dels Mirallers is adorned by the head of a woman, signaling that the house at number seven used to be a brothel back in its day. This connection to the world of vice and sin adds an eerie undertone to the already haunting atmosphere surrounding the Demon House. The building’s history as a den of debauchery only scratches the surface of the mysteries that lie within its walls.

The Home of Jacint Verdaguer

Another notable figure associated with the Demon House is Jacint Verdaguer, a famous and renowned Catalan poet living on the 4th floor. Verdaguer lived in the house for a period of time, and his presence has left an indelible mark on the building’s history. While Verdaguer was known for his literary contributions, he also had a penchant for dabbling in the supernatural.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Houses from around the world.

In 1870 he decided on another path and became a priest. He was not a priest of the strictest sense of priests however and according to legends, he started to perform exorcisms on people and places.

The Exorcist Priest: Portrait of Jacint Verdaguer by Ramon Casas.

Jacint Verdaguer became acquainted with Father Joaquim Pinyol after a pilgrimage to the holy land that changed him completely. Father Pinyol was obsessed with demons he saw in the city. He founded the Oracion in the street and it became the center for exorcisms and the fight against the devil. And soon Verdaguer joined in. 

Verdaguer was not a priest in the strictest sense, but according to legends, he started to perform exorcisms on people and places. The walls of the Demon House are said to have witnessed Verdaguer’s attempts to banish demonic forces from within. Whether these exorcisms were successful or not remains a mystery, but the stories surrounding Verdaguer’s involvement in the occult only serve to heighten the enigma surrounding the Demon House.

The Exorcisms on Carrer dels Mirallers

The exorcisms that have happened inside of the house, turned out to be quite brutal. They brought the sick into a room decorated like an oratory. They ran riot and the sick ended up eating morsels of glass and needles as they shouted about heaven and hell and everything that was there. 

There were prayers and the next day the priests would mark their lips with a large medal and the people would take out the needles and everything else they had swallowed the day before. 

The Haunted House on No. 7

Of all the houses on Carrer dels Mirallers, the number seven house holds a particularly sinister reputation. It is believed to be haunted by demonic spirits, and those who have ventured inside have reported chilling encounters and unexplained phenomena. The air inside the house is said to be heavy with an otherworldly presence, and visitors often feel an overwhelming sense of unease.

It is said that Verdaguer got too into the dark arts and managed to invoke a demon inside of the house in one of his scenes. It is said that it is still trapped in the house today. 

The Enduring Allure of the Carrer dels Mirallers Demon House

The Carrer dels Mirallers Demon House continues to captivate the imaginations of locals and visitors alike. Its rich history, intertwined with tales of the supernatural, has earned it a place in Barcelona’s folklore. Whether you believe in ghosts and demons or not, there is no denying the eerie allure of the Demon House.

As you wander through the Gothic Quarter, take a moment to pause outside the Demon House. Listen closely, and you may catch a whisper carried on the wind or glimpse a fleeting shadow out of the corner of your eye. The mysteries of the Carrer dels Mirallers Demon House may never be fully unraveled, but that only adds to its enduring fascination.

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una casa per fer exorcismes

Barcelona’s most haunted places – Coffee and Caminos

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The Ghosts of Dukhani House in Shimla Hills

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The House of Dukhani is a beautiful house once used for gatherings and parties for the British. The Dukhani House is also thought to be haunted by the ghost of an old man wearing a gown that is said to have shot himself in the house. 

Shimla, with its enchanting cold airs and mystical ambiance, has always been a magnet for ghostly tales from the mountains and forests and otherworldly phenomena in the old colonial haunted houses and ghosts of dead British settlers and locals alike. 

Read more: Check out all of the ghost stories from India

Amidst these hills lie the echoes of the British colonial era, where grand mansions and bungalows once hosted British officers that used this area as their vacation spot. However, some of these elegant houses continue to house more than just memories, as they are believed to be inhabited by the spirits of their former occupants. 

Dukhani House, an old and sprawling house in the beautiful Shimla hills, is one such place where the spirits of the past persist.

A Haunted Night in Dukhani House

This bungalow was once the property of an elderly British gentleman known as Buck or Bucky, who primarily resided in Delhi, but came to Shimla in the summer times with the rest of the British to escape the worst heat further down the mountain. His home, Dukhani served as the venue for his occasional weekend gatherings. Among the regular attendees of these gatherings was an English officer named Sir John Smith, a close friend of Buck’s.

One night, Sir John and his wife found themselves staying at Dukhani House overnight. Sir John was given Buck’s room together with the host, nestled in one of the oldest sections of the house.

British Houses and Architecture in Shimla: Still to this day, there are many houses left from the colonial times like the Dukhani House.

Despite being tired after the late night, Sir John found it challenging to fall asleep due to Bucky’s snores. As the night wore on inside of the Dukhani House, he was awakened by the curtains billowing in the breeze, allowing moonlight into the room. He contemplated whether to get up and close the window but decided to return to sleep. Just then, he spotted an elderly man with silver hair, clad in a dressing gown. Assuming this figure to be Bucky, Sir John asked him to secure the window. However, to his shock, he heard another thunderous snore coming from a different corner of the room, where Bucky was sound asleep.

Panicking, Sir John tried to approach the elderly man, who seemed to retreat outside the window, vanishing into the garden. When he ventured outside to investigate, the specter had vanished, leaving only the memory of the old man’s forlorn expression etched in his mind. Sir John’s nights were haunted by this eerie encounter.

Further inquiries into the incident led Sir John to a startling revelation. He learned that an elderly man, wearing a dressing gown, had tragically taken his own life in the very same room where he had seen the apparition by shooting himself. It was apparent that he had encountered the ghost of this desolate soul that had died around 40 years before that night.

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References:

If you do not believe in Ghosts, then Visit these places in Shimla, Opinion will Definitely Change 

10 Best haunted places to visit in Himachal Pradesh 

The Ghosts of Dukhani- A Lovely House in Shimla Hills – Mysterious Himachal