Most Haunted Paces in America: The Tillie Pierce House
The Tillie Pierce House Bed & Breakfast was built-in the 1820s in Gettysburg, PA. It received its current name some years later after the Battle of Gettysburg. Fifteen year old Matilda “Tillie” Pierce lived in the home during the Battle, and provided food and water to the troops. She even assisted the surgeon and helped care for the wounded. Today it is claimed that some have never left the haunted Tillie Pierce House.
During the Battle of Gettysburg, the Bed & Breakfast was occupied by both armies. Miss Pierce hid at a nearby farmhouse during the worst parts of the battle. When she returned to the Inn on July 7, 1863, she claimed that the landscape was unrecognizable. More than two decades later, she wrote a book about her experience.
The guest rooms at the Tillie Pierce House Bed & Breakfast are named in honor of female civilians during the Civil War, including Sadie Bushman, Anna Garlach, and fellow residents of the area in the 1860s. Today, the B&B conveys the same casual elegance that it did 150 years ago. In the late 19th century, James Pierce passed away and left the deed to Tillie and her husband.
Today, the house is still used as a bed and breakfast. It’s location in downtown Gettysburg makes it an ideal place to stay during a visit to the area. It’s also located along the trolley line. The house is a perfect blend of history and modern conveniences. Tillie’s account of the battle is still in publication today, and available for purchase at the house. Five large bedrooms are available for lodging. Guests can also spend time in the Victorian garden. The parlor and upstairs study are virtually unchanged. The rooms are all filled with antiques.
Gettysburg is known to be one of the most haunted locations in North America, and the haunted Tillie Pierce House is at the center of it all. Over the decades, there have been reports of strange noises, flickering lights, and mysterious footsteps. According to ghost hunters, the spirits seem to be most active whenever guests at the Tillie Pierce Inn are dressed in period clothing. Most of the reported activity over the years took place in the Anna Garlach and the Salome Myers-Stewart rooms. Paranormal investigators are allowed to bring along their equipment and cameras when staying at the Tillie Pierce House Bed & Breakfast.