My new house, when completed, will be the handsomest, most comfortable and convenient place in town or within 150 miles of here.”
Thomas Whaley
Taking place in Old Town, San Diego, California, the most haunted house in the United States still resides. It was built and owned by Thomas Whaley. I recently got to visit and tour the house myself and here I will share some of my experiences with you all. Most of the pictures here I took myself.
Born on October 5, 1823, Thomas was an ambitious business tycoon from New York who found his way to Southern California around the mid 1850s. He made his way to Old Town, San Diego and found what was to him the perfect plot of land to build a house. Strangely enough, the plot of land served as execution grounds and a mass grave where criminals were hanged. Thomas found that appealing which could tell you a bit about the type of man he was.
Thomas built the house on the old cemetery in 1857 for around $10,000 and by 1858 he married his wife, Anna Whaley. The house consisted of the first courtroom of Old Town, which was also used as a ballroom, billiard room, and a Sunday school. Thomas used bricks from his personal brickyard in the construction of the house.
Thomas and Anna had three children: Francis Hilton, Thomas Jr., and Anna Amelia. Tragically, Thomas Jr. contracted scarlet fever and died at only 17 months old. People still say to this day that they can hear the faint laughter of a baby echo through the house. In that same year, Thomas’ general store that he ran from the house burned down due to arson. Shortly after that, he moved the family to San Francisco. There he and Anna had three more children: George Hays Ringgold, Violet Eloise, and Corinne Lillian. In 1868, San Francisco was hit by a violent earthquake and moved the family back to San Diego.
Pictured above of Thomas’ general store still on display-
Violet Whaley had an unfortunate end to her life, as well. After a traumatic divorce at a young age of 23, she fell into a deep depression and took a revolver and shot herself with a .32 caliber revolver in the chest. The divorce was considered scandalous by the citizens of Old Town. This took place on the property behind the house. Thomas heard the gunshot and ran outside and found his daughter covered in blood. He quickly grabbed her and dragged her into the parlor room in the back of the house. It was in that room where she bled out and died. It is still believed that her spirit haunts the property of the Whaley house.
One instance about 4 years ago, the local police were called reporting loud cries coming from the Whaley House. The officer, who chooses to remain anonymous, showed up to check on the house and saw what looked like a woman crouched down by the outhouse crying. Based on his report, he asked her if she was okay and she just looked up at him, smiled and then quickly vanished. The officer retired shortly after that night.
What is also unique about this house is it contains the first theatre room in Old Town. At that time, there was a traveling theatre act that was coming to town and was very exciting about performing for the people of Old Town. However, they did not have a venue that would hold their act. Mr. Whaley decided to help them construct a theatre in one of the upstairs rooms and showcase their act.
Many paranormal investigators have reported hearing vaudeville music coming from this very room.
With this house being considered the most haunted house in the U.S., it is no stranger to ghost hunters and tourists. I, myself, felt uneasy at a certain point when I ventured off by myself to get this shot of the dining room…
Here is where my camera started acting strangely. It kept freezing on me when I was taking pictures and I felt a cold spot in one of the corners of the room. No other room in the house did my camera act that way.
This is the parlor room where this archway marks where the gallows stood that were used in the hanging of the town’s criminals. Thomas Whaley was actually proud of this aspect of the property and made it a point to construct the archway in this spot. When he entertained guests, he loved to tell them about why he placed it there.
There have been countless reports of lights flickering and furniture moving on its own. Now declared an historic landmark, the Whaley House has gained international fame due to its dark history.
