Did you know America’s most haunted house in located right here in Philadelphia? Baleroy Mansion, located in Chestnut Hill, has earned a chilling reputation that is downright spine-tingling. Built in 1911, this century-old mansion is known for its lavish architecture and rich history. It is also known for its eerie tales that have intrigued paranormal enthusiasts for decades.
Baleroy Mansion: The nation’s most haunted house
Originally owned by George Meade Easby, a descendant of Civil War hero General George Meade, the mansion is reputedly haunted by numerous restless spirits, earning it the nickname “The Most Haunted House in America.”
“It’s a real adventure living in this house,” Easby told Inquirer Magazine in July 9, 1989 interview.
Specifically, the mansion’s infamous “Blue Room” is the epicenter of its paranormal activity. This room allegedly houses a cursed chair. It is believed to bring death to anyone who dares to sit in it. In fact, Meade himself claimed that several friends and family members met untimely deaths after encountering this chair. This only added to the mansion’s terrifying allure.
Moreover, sightings of apparitions are common causing it to be featured in “Haunted Houses, U.S.A”, a book by Dolores Riccio and Joan Bingham, published in 1989
“The electrical fields in the house attract lightning, and the electricity goes off for no apparent reason. It appears the ghosts of Baleroy enjoy playing with the electricity, just as some children like to play with matches,” the book reads.
“They play with the alarm systems, which have been inexplicably triggered so often the police now list the reason for these happenings on their reports, ‘cause of problem, ghosts.’”
Easby also claims to have encountered a malevolent spirit name “Amelia,” who, according to him, brought dark energy into mansion.
Is it still haunted today?
Today, Baleroy Mansion remains a focal point for ghost hunters and curious tourists drawn by tales of its haunted history. Whether or not the paranormal stories are true, they are interesting. Undeniably, the mansion’s history and spine-tingling lore have secured its place as a prominent landmark in American ghost lore.
George Gordon Meade Easby lived in the mansion up until his death in 2005.
Indeed, he believed the mansion was haunted.
In an Oct. 25, 1984 article in The Chestnut Hill Local, Easby vowed, “When I leave here, I’m coming back to haunt them—if they don’t take good care of this place I’m going to be right back there after them.”
So, is Baleroy Mansion still haunted today? Maybe.