Is that the "Crying Lady Ghost" or the sound of old pipes? Now you can see for yourself. Some of America's oldest and most haunted homes are on the market.
Take a stroll down eerie lane, but know this: You're on your own from here. There's no telling what's lurking behind these doors.
In 1889, George Starrett built this Queen Anne-style mansion for his queen, Ann. In recent years, the house — with an eight-sided dome tower, solar calendar and other opulent details — has served as a boutique bed-and-breakfast. But a female manifestation with red hair and a male spirit — believed to be Ann and George — have been spotted on the premises.
When Jim Williams, a local restoration expert, transplanted this home to its current location on St. Julian Street, workers reported odd noises and a tall man dressed in black glaring through a bedroom window. Since, stories of ghostly visions and more have surrounded the late 18th-century house. Some even claim it’s Savannah’s most haunted home.
In 1885, this restored mansion was built for the Allyns, a wealthy farming family. Then on a cold February day in 1913, Mr. Allyn died while reading his afternoon mail in the parlor. Following his death, the property changed hands a few times before becoming a nursing home, furniture store and most recently a bed-and-breakfast. But in 2007, the B&B closed its doors, and the home has been on and off the market since. Some claim it is haunted.
Called “the time capsule of the South,” this Civil War-era home is considered the most haunted in Mississippi. At least five inhabitants died in or near the home, according to mcraventourhome.com. John H. Bobb, who is credited with building the last section of the house, is said to have died violently at the hands of Federal soldiers outside McRaven. One of the former owners, who died during childbirth in 1836, is also believed to grace the home with her spirit.
In 1980, all eyes were on the Dakota, the Manhattan co-op where John Lennon was murdered. But some say this historic building has had a long history of paranormal activity, and that Lennon himself witnessed the Crying Lady Ghost walking through the halls. Since the music legend’s death, others have reported seeing the ghosts of children wearing turn-of-the-century garb.
The Perkins House was built by the leader of the Virginia militia that helped capture abolitionist John Brown leading up to the Civil War. In 1859, Brown was convicted at a local courthouse and executed by hanging, despite fierce objections. The home was constructed on the execution site in 1891, with a “John Brown Scaffold” sign serving as a reminder of the property’s gruesome history.
Ghost hunters may want to add this house their list of potentially haunted homes. The listing description hints at the possibility of the 1870 Victorian being haunted, but it might also just be old. The real estate agent invites you to “come see for yourself.”