Most Haunted Houses in America: The Kelton House
Built in 1852 this Old Greek Revival House was not only the family home of the Kelton’s but also a stop on the Underground Railroad. In front of the home, there is a historical landmark in front of the home which states that:
“When Fernando Cortez and Sophia Stone Kelton built this house in 1852, it was the last residence on East Town Street and was surrounded by pastureland. Ardent abolitionists, the Kelton’s were members of the local antislavery society. Family tradition states that runaways were hidden in the barn at the back of the house, in the 300-barrel cistern just east of the house, or sometimes in the servants’ quarters. No one knows for certain how many fugitive slaves passed through this house on his or her way to freedom. One documented story is that of a 10-year-old runaway named Martha Hartway.
Born a slave in September 1854 on a plantation near Richmond in Powhattan County, Virginia, Martha, along with her sister Pearl, fled the plantation. They left at their mother’s urging when she was told the girls would be sent to work at the Big House. Kelton family tradition states that Sophia found the girls under a shrub next to the house.
Too ill to move, Martha was taken in by the Kelton’s and remained for ten years. Pearl continued north to Wisconsin because she felt Ohio wasn’t safe. In 1874, Martha married Thomas Lawrence in the front parlor of this house. The son of free-black parents, Thomas was employed by the Kelton’s as a cabinet-maker. The Lawrence family named their children after Martha Kelton’s family playmates. The Kelton House was restored and is maintained by the Junior League of Columbus, Inc.”
Although this prominent home is now the headquarters for the Junior League of Columbus after being in the Kelton family for over 120 years it still has some of the Kelton’s lurking about.
The tales that have been told about the odd things that have been experienced by those who have been in the house during certain occasions are not the scary ghost stories that you are forever hearing about but more of a family keeping their ancestral home in their best interest even from the after life.
Oscar Kelton was killed in the Civil War and his body was brought back for burial, his ghost has been seen within the house as well as out on the grounds wearing his Union uniform from the war. There have been several instances that guests that have toured the house have mistaken the ghost of Oscar Kelton as an actor in very impressing costume.
Sophia Stone Kelton apparition has been seen in a room named “Sophia’s Room” looking out onto the grounds or wandering through the home or around the grounds. It has been noted that she is seen wearing all blue and wearing a veil.
Fernando Kelton who is Oscar’s father has been seen wearing a flannel shirt. Once in a while he will bump into an employee or guest in a hallway and then disappear before their very eyes.
The last living member of the Kelton family died in 1975, Grace Kelton is a known interior decorator and was very adamant about keeping the house in as original décor as possible. She has been known to move furniture around putting them back to their original places, and leaving cleaning supplies out.
The house is not only the headquarters of the Junior League of Columbus but can be rented out for weddings or parties if desired. There are also tour groups that are led through to see if they can see one of the Kelton family members or any other paranormal activity in one of the most haunted places in America.
Related posts:
