Coming Home Magazine

House of the Seven Gables Salem, Massachusetts The city of Salem isn't just home to the infamous witch trials; it's also the birthplace of Nathanial Hawthorne, author of the classic novel, The House of the Seven Gables. In fact, it was this Gothic-style mansion that inspired the book. Built in 1668 by sea captain John Turner, the home's slate-black exterior and ornate architecture are as haunting as the apparitions staff claim to walk the halls. Many think the spirits of those accused in the Salem Witch Trials dwell in the house, and reports of unexplained footsteps on a secret staircase and a distinct smell of rosewater contribute to the site's chilling allure. Now a museum, you can sit for a spell and enjoy a brew, but watch out for toil and trouble. Croke-Patterson Mansion Denver, Colorado Legend has it that Thomas B. Croke, famed merchant and state senator, constructed his 12,500-square-foot home in 1892 but was too terrified to return after entering it once. Croke sold the estate to United States politician and newspaper tycoon Thomas Patterson two years later, although he never disclosed the reasons for his abrupt departure. The property housed businesses and apartments in the following years until it was converted to office space in the 1970s. Amid construction, workmen alleged that they left two Doberman Pinschers to guard the site, only to find them dead the next morning after they jumped—or were thrown—from a third-story window. Community members held a séance in the house to search for answers, revealing the story of a young girl entombed in the basement. Although excavators discovered a secret passage and a room filled with sand, a body was never recovered. Think you can solve the puzzle? Enter if you dare. Berkeley Castle Berkeley Springs, West Virginia Deep in the hills of Appalachia, you can find the castle Colonel Samuel Taylor Suit built for his sweetheart, Rosa Pelham, between 1885 and 1891. The home quickly became a social hub, where Rosa hosted lavish parties, spending her way through her husband's fortune after his mysterious death. However, Berkeley Castle is more than the locale for grand gatherings long-passed—it's a hotbed for paranormal activity. Many call the castle's second-floor drawing room its most haunted, with several witnesses claiming to see a quill pen twirl in the air. Others assert mysterious power failures frequently occur during wedding ceremonies. Is Colonel Suit trying to warn guests from beyond the grave? Brave West Virginia's mountain majesty and see for yourself. Hull House Chicago, Illinois The mansion that became the most influential settlement house in the country is also the source of a tale that feels ripped from the script of Rosemary's Baby. Hull House was built in 1856 for Chicago real estate mogul Charles J. Hull, who only lived there for four years before losing his wife and two sons. Not only is the late Mrs. Hull said to roam the house's empty rooms, but accounts of a deformed baby inexplicably appearing at the doorstep each night are also the subject of local lore. Some say the child, who was brought to the house for medical treatment in the early 1900s, was born with pointed ears, horns, scales, and a tail. The baby was reportedly locked in the attic after a baptism failed to cure it. It's thought to haunt the property to this day—so proceed with caution. St. Ann's Academy Victoria, BC, Canada One of Victoria's spookiest places, it's rumored that the architect for St. Ann's Academy, Thomas Hooper, was a serial killer. St. Ann's was a Catholic boarding and day school for young girls and boys that opened in 1871, and it's believed Hooper had his victims' remains poured into the foundations of his buildings to give them "soul." In 1911, a sundial was erected in honor of Marjorie Napier, a student who died of pneumonia. She's often seen near the sundial dressed in white, while the restless spirits of former nuns are regularly spotted on the grounds. A ghoulish school, the academy is a must-see for thrill seekers and ghost chasers alike. Isla de las Muñecas Xochimilco, Mexico Located south of Mexico City's center, the Island of Dead Dolls is notorious for its many decaying dolls. In the mid-1900s, former owner Don Julián Santana Barrera supposedly saw the body of a young girl floating in a canal. The next day, he found a doll drifting in the same area. Residents say Barrera then hung the figurine from a tree to ward off evil spirits. Some also speculate the young girl's spirit haunted the island, and Barrera traded vegetables from his garden in exchange for more dolls to appease her. Crybabies be warned: it's all fun and games until someone steps foot on this macabre island. COMING HOME MAGAZINE 23

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