Famous Haunted Houses

what happens after death? Some believe in the soul and that it separates from the body. In some instances, the soul remains in the physical realm. These disembodied beings are what we call ghosts. No one can be certain precisely where and when a ghost can be spotted, but there are some locations notorious for paranormal activity. Below is a list of some famous haunted houses in North America.Enjoy..

The Sorrel-Weed House

Located in Savannah, Georgia, the Sorrel-Weed House is the former home of G. Moxley Sorrel, a brigadier general from the Confederate army during the American Civil War. When Sorrel left for Virginia, the house was purchased by Henry D. Weed, thus justifying the residence’s name today. The Sorrel-Weed House is thought to be haunted. In addition to a general feeling of uneasiness, a resident has reported the sound of a large party or gathering that disappears when he investigates it. There have also been reports of war-like noises that replay residually, always the same way. 

The Moore House

Villisca, Iowa, a quaint and close-knit neighborhood was shaken in 1912 when eight people were brutally murdered, each with an axe strike to the head. Bloody cadavers of Josiah B. Moore, his wife Sara, their children Herman, Katherine, Boyd and Paul, as well as two young friends of the family were found. Since then, there have been several reports of paranormal activity occurring in the facility. The sound of children’s voices and objects moving with no stimulation are not uncommon. The sound of passing trains has been known to trigger residual paranormal events. It is widely believed that at the time of the murder, the killer used the sound of the train to drown out the sound of his killing and moving from room to room. It is still unknown who the killer was.

The Landon House

Constructed in Urbana, Maryland in 1754, the Landon House has a rich history. It was originally an academy for girls, but was transformed into a military academy after a short time. It also served as a military hospital during the Civil War. Since then, there have been many reports of paranormal activity from heavy feelings to apparitions of soldiers dressed in Civil War-era military attire. Investigators believe the hauntings are residual and non-threatening. 

The McRaven Home

This Vicksburg, Mississippi home was built by Andrew Glass in 1797. Stephen Howard assumed ownership in 1836 and he made many renovations and additions. In 1849 it was yet again sold, this time to John H. Bobb who allowed it to be used as a Civil War hospital during the Siege of Vicksburg. The house was heavily damaged by gun and cannon fire. Bobb was angry and attacked a sergeant with a brick. The soldiers then took Bobb to the rear of the home and shot him multiple times. His wife sold the house. Since this time, there have been reports of hauntings. The ghost of Stephen Howard’s wife Mary Elizabeth is seen most often. She has tried to interact with guests, so her haunting is believed to be intelligent. Fallen soldiers, as well as John H. Bobb are also sometimes spotted.   

The Amityville Horror Home

The suburban home at 112 Ocean Ave in Amityville, New York is one of the most famous haunted houses of all time. In 1974, Ronald DeFeo murdered his father, mother and four siblings. The home was abandoned for a year until the Lutz family moved in. They left less than a month later out of fear. According to the Lutzes, windows and doors opened and closed, even when they were locked. Mrs. Lutz had nearly floated from her bed through an open window. Flies appeared out of nowhere during a winter month. Toilet bowls had turned black. Mr. Lutz discovered a solid red room in the basement that was not part of the blueprints. In the room he had a frightening vision of Ronald DeFeo. Telephone calls were interrupted with loud noises. A pig with glowing red eyes had been spotted numerous times and cloven footprints were discovered. Slime oozed from the ceiling. A figure of a white-hooded person with half its face missing was burned into the fireplace wall. Since then, there have been no reports of hauntings. The house is even currently occupied by a very happy family.   

 

The Riddle House

Beautiful West Palm Beach, Florida is probably not the first place people would think to look for a haunted house. Originally a “gatekeeper’s cottage,” built for cemetery workers to keep an eye out for grave-robbers in the middle of the night, the Riddle House quickly became a center for paranormal activity. After a cemetery employee committed suicide in the attic of the house, apparitions and unexplained noises scared resident Karl Riddle out of the facility. The hauntings still persist today.

The Hannah House

Built in 1858, this Indianapolis, Indiana mansion was nothing out of the ordinary. In 1967, however, the second-floor adopted the scent of death and rotted flesh. A female ghost has been spotted on the same floor while ghosts of slaves who died in a fire have been seen in the basement. 

 

The Ashmore Estates

Ashmore Estates in Illinois are unlike the other buildings mentioned so far in that they are not open to the general public. Formerly an insane asylum, Ashmore is now a ghost haven. The ghost of a doctor who had jumped out of a window to his death roams the halls. Tony Risley shares a couple of personal experiences on ghostsandstories.com. There is a link provided at the end of this article.

The Mordecai House

Built in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1785, the Mordecai House is named after Moses Mordecai who successively married both of the original owner’s daughters. A descendent named Mary Willis Mordecai Turk is said to still live in the home. Her ghost was first spotted in 1967 by a housekeeper. She wears a black skirt, white blouse and a black tie. Since then, the same attire has been described by witnesses thus giving evidence against Mary’s presence being a figment of imagination.

Rose Hall

A Montego Bay, Jamaica mansion once owned by Annie Palmer, an English woman that is said to have had magical powers. She was married three times and each of her husbands died violently. She was cruel to her slaves and had no problem whipping them for the slightest, most nonsensical reason. She even eloped with slaves and then executed them. Her notoriety gained her the nickname “White Witch.” She was found dead in her bedroom in 1831, seemingly as the result of a slave revolt. Some have claimed to see the ghost of the White Witch wandering the grounds, though stories have decreased significantly since the house’s restoration in 1980.