The Farnsworth House Inn

The Farnsworth House Inn is a bed and breakfast and tourist attraction located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The building is purported to be haunted, which the business uses in its promotional literature.[1][2] Apart from being an inn, the building has also served as a tourist home and shop.[3]

The Farnsworth House Inn
Signage for The Farnsworth House Inn
Former namesSleepy Hollow Inn
General information
StatusStill standing
TypeInn
LocationPennsylvania
Address401 Baltimore Street
Town or cityGettysburg
LandlordLoring and Jean Shultz
Website
www.farnsworthhouseinn.com

History

Ownership
Another view of the inn

The land the inn was built on was previously owned by Reverend Alexander Dobbins, who subdivided a larger estate for the purpose of selling it. John F. McFarlane purchased the land and is stated to be the first recorded owner of the home. Portions of the house are said to be dated to the early 1800s and is claimed to have been built in 1810,[4] but the exact date is unclear. McFarlane owned the home until his death in 1851, at which point it became the property of the Bank of Gettysburg. The house passed through the hands of several owners and one of the owners, the Black family, called it the "Sleepy Hollow Inn" with the hook that there were "135" bullet holes in the side of the home.[5] The house was purchased by Loring and Jean Shultz in 1972 and after claiming to have experienced paranormal activity, the family utilized this in the promotion for the inn and conducts tours of the premise.[6]

Historical aspects

The Farnsworth House Inn was also one of the stops of the Gettysburg Address campaign and was, during the Battle of Gettysburg, utilized as a makeshift hospital and resting place for some members of the Confederate army.[3][7][8]

Paranormal
A stone describing tour options at the inn

The Shultz family claims that the inn has been haunted by as many as 16 spirits at one point in time and that each spirit has its own distinct personality and name.[9] The identity of the ghosts range from an 8 year old boy named Jeremy to a former mid-wife nurse and several soldiers.[10] Paranormal elements that have been reported are things such as the sound of heavy breathing, the smell of cheroot, and the sensation of the mid-wife "tucking" people into bed.[10] The inn has several rooms that are supposed to be "hot spots" for specific spiritual activity for particular ghosts such as the "Sara Black Room", which is supposed to be one of the most active rooms and will have spirits that can be photographed from the street.[11]

References
  1. Plum Auvil, Jennifer. "Haunted Bed and Breakfasts: Slumber With Ghosts at a Spirited Inn". The Travel Channel Romance and Honeymoons. The Travel Channel. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  2. Mckay, Gretchen (April 27, 2008). "Historic haunt". Post-Tribune (subscription required). Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  3. Fine, John Christopher. "Ed Tobin, Cooking at the Historic Farnsworth House". The Epoch Times. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  4. GORLEWSKI, SARA (October 26, 1999). "A VISIT WITH GHOSTS OF GETTYSBURG". The Buffalo News (subscription required). Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  5. Smith, Timothy (2008). In the Eye of The Storm. USA: Farnsworth Military Impression. ISBN 9781577471356.
  6. DiPrimio, Pete. "Real men don't fear ghosts - do they?". News Sentinel. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  7. Gardner, Karen. "The Farnsworth House Inn". The Frederick News Post. Frederick News Post. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  8. ""In the Eye of the Storm": The Farnsworth House and the Battle of Gettysburg (review)". Civil War News. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  9. Loeffel-Atkins, Bernadette (2008). Gettysburg's Haunted Address. USA: Farnsworth Military Impressions. ISBN 9781577471400.
  10. "Great Ghosts of Gettysburg". Weird US. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  11. McKay, Gretchen. "Gettysburg's haunted address". Post Gazette. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
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