Discover Victorian Serial Killer Terror at Wisconsin’s Most Historic Home
Hearthstone Historic House Museum in Appleton, Wisconsin holds a significant place in world history, and some people say it is significantly haunted as well.
The World's First Electrified Home
I was today years old when I learned that the first private home in the world to be electrified by Edison light fixtures AND the last one of this age to still be standing is in Appleton, Wisconsin. (Did you know this?!?)
After 142 years since it was first powered by electricity, Hearthstone Mansion not only still stands, but it has been meticulously preserved, including still having the original Edison lights and switches.
Hearthstone Historic House Museum's website says;
Hearthstone is on the National Register of Historic Places for its technological, historic, architectural, and artistic significance.
its story is the story of the history of Wisconsin, of the founding of the paper industry, of the Gilded Age, of the men - and importantly - women who founded modern America, and of fortunes won and lost.
Sounds like a pretty fascinating place to visit, right? Wait, there's more!
Haunted Hearthstone
As any old residence should, Hearthstone has its own share of legends attached to it, including stories about one of the home's previous owners, A.W. Priest, still haunting its halls. While Hearthstone doesn't typically host paranormal experience tours, they do have events that highlight the dark side of the Victorian age:
- Haunted Hearthstone: Sequential Killers of the Victorian Age - If you're a true-crime lover, this theatrical performance will put you "face-to-face with Victorian serial killers."
According to the event page;
Every room is dressed for Victorian mourning as guests are greeted with live organ music and displays of items Victorians created to help them mourn...
Vignettes in each room bring serial killers to life as they share their nefarious deeds. Based on actual newspaper accounts of the day, the scenes tell about the villains, the victims, and the beginnings of our fascination with true crime.
These shows run every Friday and Saturday night during October, including special performances on Halloween night.
- Horrors of the Household - This event takes you on a 90 minute tour of the Hearthstone highlighting all the aspects of a Victorian home that were dangerous for the people living there. The tour is described as "alternatingly horrifying and hilarious as guests wonder aloud, “What were they thinking!?”
These tours happen every Friday and Saturday morning/ afternoon in October.
For more information about the Hearthstone Historic House Museum and to purchase event tickets, visit hearthstonemuseum.org.
Here are some more spooky and historic places to check out the next time you're in Wisconsin...