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Hunting For Hunted Houses

HUNTING FOR HAUNTED HOUSES

Halloween is quickly approaching and, as we all know, it’s not just candy and cute costumes. The holiday is predicated on its scarier side–ghosts, ghouls, the inexplicable, and the supernatural. Massachusetts is the perfect state in which to find yourself for spine-chilling ghost stories and haunted houses, especially when you consider how rich the history is here. Houses from the first settlers built as long ago as the 1600s still exist today; they may very well have residents from beyond who are ever present but don’t help out with the mortgage! Here are the three most famous and notably haunted houses in Massachusetts no more than an hour from Boston.

Lizzie Borden House

Located in Fall River, about an hour drive from Wellesley, the Lizzie Borden House tops lists of haunted houses in Massachusetts and possibly the country, as it has been featured on Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures and is a hot spot for ghost sightings and strange activity. Lizzie Borden famously murdered her mother and father by hatchet in 1892 and one of the most frequent sightings is a headless ghost wandering the halls. This might be due to the fact that Andrew Borden, Lizzie’s father, was buried without his skull. Creepy! The site is now a museum, hosting daily tours, as well as a bed and breakfast. Stay there… if you dare!

Joshua Ward House

During Halloween, Salem, Massachusetts is like Mardi Gras–everyone flocks there to be immersed in the natural spookiness that its history and involvement with the famous witch trials lends to the town. The Joshua Ward House, built (?) in Salem in 1784, has a past that imbues the house with the paranormal. The house was built over the remains of what used to be Sheriff George Corwin’s home. Corwin was famous for the torture and killing of many who were accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. When Corwin died, he was so widely unpopular, his family buried him in the cellar to keep the corpse safe from vandalism or desecration. The house obviously has bad mojo with a history like that, but apparition sightings are frequently reported, and not just of George Corwin! Dark haired feminine figures, presumably women who were wrongly executed, are also described as having a presence on site.

House of Seven Gables

Another Salem location, the House of Seven Gables, is widely recognized in the Gothic novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne of the same name. Hawthorne’s cousin, Susanna Ingersoll, owned the house and lived there for 72 years after her family took it over from the Turner family, which is why it sometimes goes by the moniker Turner House or Turner-Ingersoll Mansion. Many eerie occurrences have been reported on site. Most notably, visitors believe they see the ghost of Susanna Ingersoll in the windows and halls. The House of Seven Gables is open for guided tours and is considered a National Historic Landmark, as it is the oldest surviving mansion in the country.

If you are a real estate thrill seeker be sure to visit these houses. Although no locations in Wellesley made the list, it doesn’t mean there aren’t spooky places right around the corner…And even if you’re just looking for the perfect house to call home, sometimes a little adventure in what NOT to buy puts it all in perspective! Happy Halloween…

If you are interested in buying or selling a home in the Wellesley area, contact me, Jill Boudreau, at 617.460.3787 or email me here, and allow me to leverage my extensive experience as the go-to expert in Wellesley real estate to assist you in meeting any and all of your upcoming real estate needs. I look forward to speaking with you!

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