Tillie Pierce House
History:
The historic Civil war house, was once owned by local meat butcher James Pierce in the 1860’s. His daughter, Matilda Jane “Tillie” Pierce, was 15 at the time of the Civil War, and a witness to the start of what would be the three day battle of Gettysburg. The Pierce house became a temporary housing to assist the wounded until they could be taken to a proper medical post which Tillie Pierce assisted on returning to her home. The house was later bought and refurnished after being in a state of disrepair for many years, and turned into a haunted Bed and Breakfast.
Paranormal Activity:
People have reported hearing loud footsteps in the hallway, and the loud bangs of what is thought to be cannon fire. The attic is one of the rooms to have much activity where people do not feel conferrable and have seen shadow figures in the corners. Objects have been reported to move, along with light going on and off. The apparition of little girl in a white dressing gown, who is believe to be Tillie’s sister Maggie who died of Typhoid in the house has been spotted on the second floor walking around.
In the Paranormal State episode of “Ghosts of Gettysburg” the PRS team investigated the historic Tillie Pierce house that had been turned into a bed and breakfast in 2007. Along with doing a normal investigation, the team also incorporated the experiment of re-creating a scene from the civil war. The theory of this experiment was to build up the energy in the space to increase the possibility for something paranormal to happen aftewards. This was done with the investigators dressing in period civil war outfits while sounds of a loud cannon fire was played outside. Along with the re-enactment experiment, PRS also had various personal paranormal experiences of witnessing shadow people, loud bangs, and movement of objects
The Orphanage
History:
Established in 1866, the National Soldier’s Orphanage Homestead has an interesting origin. Legend goes that after the three day battle someone came across a dead soldier with no identifing markings, except for a photo clutched in his hand of his three children. The photo and attempt to identify who the soldier and children were, ran in the paper with the headline, “Who’s Father Is He?” The heart pulling story quickly began to spread to other papers, and funds for an orphanage started coming into Gettysburg. Phelinda Humiston, wife of the fallen soldier, came with her three children to run the orphanage. Mrs. Humiston cared for about 60 children in the orphanage and said to be a kind and caring woman to all of the them.
A turnover of the orphanage caretaker position, gave rise to Ms. Carmichael. She was described as a malicious woman who had the older boys beat the children with sticks (Stick Boys), children were chained to the wall in the basement and left to die, while others were put into barrels with water up their chest being left to die of exposure or drowning. She was convicted for the death of one child, but was merely fined $20 for it. One story goes that she was ran out of town by veterans and angry towns people soon after her release. The building was abandon till the 1950’s, when it later was used as a museum and held ghost tours.
Paranormal Activity:
The remnants of what held the children captive in the basement can still be seen, such as the chains in the walls. People report hearing the sound of children crying, and have felt invisible hands tug at there cloths. The basement area seems the most active with multiple people capturing EVPs.
The Hall of Presidents
History:
A museum dedicated to the Presidents of the United States of America and what they have done in the past to help this country grow. Each wax figure stands as an incredible replication of the president from their respective time period.
Paranormal Activity:
Reports of lights going off at the displays. It is rumored that a former janitor still walks around the museum making his presence known. Or who knows, perhaps the twilight zone will open up to greet you with some animated wax figures.
In the story of Pygmalion and Galatea, you had the artist, Pygmalion, create an ivory statue of a woman so beautiful that he literally falls in love with. He lavishes over Galatea, with gifts and poems, praying to Venus for help. Venus takes pity upon the artist and brings the statue to life.
Inanimate objects that look human both fascinate and at time intimidate us. We see something that we recognize as human looking, but does not move, breath, or eat. When we talk about haunted objects, the one thing that comes up the most are haunted dolls. People both have a fear for these human like forms, but also believe that it is easier for the energy of spirit to attach itself to something human like then something like a necklace or chair.
In many of the folklore and ghost stories surrounding statues and figures, they report these immovable beings coming to life at night….
When you investigate the Hall of Presidents, will you see one of these wax figures move, blink, or even speak?
Jennie Wade House
History:
The home is well known for being the location of the only citizen killed during the three day battle of Gettysburg. The house is kept in such mint condition, that the bullet hole can still be seen. Jennie Wade was visiting her sister’s house; while she was in the kitchen making bread, a bullet came through the kitchen door, striking Jennie and killing her within minutes. Her body was kept in the cellar until she was able to be buried after the battle. The house later became a museum and gift shop in the 1900’s and is still in operation. A statue of Jennie Wade stands outside the home as a memorial to the only citizen killed in those three days.
Paranormal Activity:
Investigators and guests have reported seeing the spirit of a woman, smelling the scent of roses and fresh bread, and the apparitions of children from the near by orphanage. Strange noises have also been reported in both the museum and the house.
