Knox Mansion
The Knox Mansion is a historical mansion in the city of Johnstown, Fulton County, New York. The house was built in 1889 by the gelatine magnate and businessman Charles Knox, who owned Knox Gelatine and the Knox Gelatine Factory in Johnstown. It has 42 rooms, an elevator, a grand staircase, and a solid lava ash fireplace which was imported from a castle in Italy. It is reported that Rose Knox paid $200,000 to have it shipped brick by brick. The house cost $1.2 million dollars to build in 1889. When Rose Knox died in 1950, the house was sold to her doctor, Dr. Larrabee. It was later sold to antique dealers. The house was sold to Marty Quinn, and it was operated as a museum/bed and breakfast/limousine agency/private residence. It has several secret compartments such as a windowless room just off the attic and a hidden panel behind a built-in shelf in the billiard room.[2]
Knox Mansion | |
Location | 104 W. 2nd Ave., Johnstown, New York |
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Coordinates | 43°0′2″N 74°22′28″W |
Built | 1889 |
Architect | Peabody & Beauley; Linn Kinne |
Architectural style | Classical Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 08000101[1] |
Added to NRHP | February 28, 2008 |
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.[1]
Reputation as haunted
The mansion is reputed to be haunted.[3] Guests have reported flickering light, dropped lamps, the sounds of footsteps and voices, ghosts, sensations of cold, sheets torn off beds, unexplained piano playing (even though there is a player piano also in the billiard room), and other phenomena. Children have reportedly seen the deceased gardener who apparently loved the company of children.
References
- "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- "Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS)". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2016-03-01. Note: This includes Raymond W. Smith (December 2007). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Knox Mansion" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-03-01. and Accompanying photographs
- De La Rocha, Kelly (October 26, 2008). "Olde Knox Mansion in Johnstown reputed to be home to ghosts". The Daily Gazzette. Retrieved March 4, 2020.