Haunted Hannah House

Hannah House was built in the suburbs of Indianapolis, Indiana in 1858 by a prestigious gold prospector named Alexander Hannah. Having been raised nearby, he wanted to construct a lavish mansion to live in after returning from California in search for riches. His home was designed as a 24-room brick structure just outside the downtown area of the city. Alexander ended up living there for the rest of his life, until he passed away in 1895. During his life, he was both a Quaker and an abolitionist. According to local lore, the house may have been connected to the famous Underground Railroad, but no substantial evidence has ever been found to confirm as much. It’s believed that the building was used to hide runaway slaves during the Civil War era. When Alexander’s time ran short, German immigrant Roman Oehler purchased the home just 4 years later for his own family, who stayed there for several decades. As with most locations associated with less-than-savory activities, Hannah House is reportedly haunted. Based on ancient urban legend, an oil lamp accidentally started a blaze in the basement, killing a number of slaves kept there. Its namesake owner was thought to have buried the corpses beneath the dirt floor out of sympathy. His ghost and even his wife’s ghost are frequently seen and heard inside the mansion, as well as sounds attributed to a crying baby. Objects are said to move of their own volition and strong aromas of burning and death seem to permeate around. Since being declared a National Historic Place in 1978, the home has been open to tours and creepy attractions for Halloween. Locals are very familiar with the location, which still remains open on a part-time basis.