Most Haunted Places in America: Hannah House
The Hannah House is filled with rich history from the time of slavery and the underground railroad. Built in 1858 by Alexander Moore Hannah, a wealthy figure in Indianapolis to house himself and his servants. However, Alexander Hannah at 51 years of age married Elizabeth Jackson, at which time another wing was added to house their servants. These rooms included a summer kitchen, smoke house, milk house, and a servant’s quarter all as a gift to his new bride. However, in April 1895, Hannah passed away and the magnificent home was sold to German immigrant Roman Oehler in 1899 in which his descendants still own the house today.
For years, strange events have occurred inside the Hannah House without any tragedies, which would lead directly to the so called haunting’s. People would find the smell of gangrene and death, have heard sounds of moaning and crying, the sound of footsteps throughout the home, and many other occurrences. What the later generations of Oehler’s descents did not know is that the Hannah House kept a deep dark secret.
During the Civil War, Alexander Hannah used his house as a stop in the Underground Railroad. While helping a group of slaves to freedom, one of them had accidentally knocked over an oil lamp. The entire cellar caught fire, and everyone had died from smoke inhalation, by burning to death, or a combination of both. Not only did this fire destroy the cellar, but it also destroyed much of the lower floor of the historical mansion.
Alexander Hannah could not let the tragedy be known, so he buried the slaves, he was desperately trying to help in the very basement that they perished in. There have been no records of the incident due to the secretiveness of the Underground Railroads history, just tales that have been told throughout the years by several residents of the Indianapolis area.
Investigators who have came to the Hannah house, have confirmed the smell of death and decay from where the slaves had died. Though in current days, the owners have claimed that the stench is no longer there. However, there is not a doubt that the mansion is haunted by something or someone. Patrons and owners alike still come across the strange phenomenon that occurs like cold spots, sounds of moaning and whining, and watching the doors open and shut by themselves without anyone there to do so.
Hannah House was declared a Historical Landmark by the Department of Interior in 1978. The current ancestors of Roman Oehler have opened a Bed and Breakfast, and event hall. Patrons can set an appointment up for several events including weddings, class reunions, parties, and much more. In the evenings, customers can come to stay at the Hannah Mansion to view the ghostly residents who decided to stay behind.
There are several dark secrets that remain to be uncovered, that will plague the mansion for days to come. Stop by the Hannah House while you are in Indianapolis, and pay a visit to a gorgeous home that is rich with the history of one of Indiana’s most prominent individuals. Absorb the majestic beauty of the century old home and maybe more from one of the most haunted places in America.
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i have honestly been to this house and it is truely haunted…..i also have been throught SEVERAL paranormal states or episodes in my life. going through these is not neccessary a bad thing at all but it could be dangerous. but i love hearing and getting proof of hauntings and ghost of places and people.
I had always been interested in Hannah House & wanted to go on tour. One afternoon about 4:30pm I drove past and happedned to glance over. On the outside of the house near a small shelter I saw a group of ghosts, both adults and children. It was more of an outline and they wanted me to come to the house. They seemed to be really happy and looked as if they were waiting to be taken to safety. Maybe there is a photograph of what I saw…….