Ghostly faces peaking through windows. A chill in the air even when the fire is at full force. Feeling as though someone is watching you but you are alone. Do you believe in ghosts? If you're interested in ghosts and the paranormal, you're in luck. Many sites – cemeteries, buildings, and roads – in the Pittsburgh area are haunted by spirits, so goes local lure. One of those sites is the Larimer Mansion.
Only 20 miles from Pittsburgh, in Irwin, sits the Larimer Mansion Bed & Breakfast, said to be one of the most haunted places in all of Western Pennsylvania. Here's more about the most haunted hotel in Pittsburgh or at least a reasonable distance from it:
The History of Larimer Mansion
Larimer Mansion sits atop what once was Three Springs Camp, which housed George Washington during the French and Indian War. William Larimer built his mansion in 1790 then sold it to his daughter, Jennie's, husband. Jennie would later die while giving birth. The mansion would switch ownership over the years, at one point becoming a brothel and playing roles in the Whiskey Rebellion and the Underground Railroad. Its current owners, Lynne and Larry Moisey, bought the property in the mid-1980s.
The Ghost of Maggie
Visitors to Larimer Mansion tell tales of seeing an empty rocking chair rocking gently back and forth, moved by a spirit from long ago. The Moiseys named the spirit Maggie. Maggie, they believe, is the spirit of Margaret Larimer who, in the 1880s, died while giving birth. Mrs. Moisey credits Maggie with saving her and her husband's lives, with Maggie warning her of an impending fire by appearing in her dreams and pointing to the fuse box, Mrs. Moisey told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2015.
Spirits Abound
Stories from the Moiseys themselves and visitors tell of encounters with countless spirits. Some have heard the voice of a Native American man repeating, "Me no die," as his spirit is unable to comprehend that his body has, in fact, died. Others claim to have seen an old woman peering out of one of the guest bedroom windows while early guests talk of seeing a young woman in colonial-era attire in the mansion's shop.
Warning: Keep Out
No one goes in the attic or in the basement of Larimer Mansion. Both are off-limits. Children's spirits are said to lurk in the attic while the angry spirits reside in the basement. Moisey admitted to the Post-Gazette that the one time she and several guests did go into the basement, in honor of the mansion's 225th anniversary, the women on the tour talked of having their hair touched by the spirits.
A Local Phenomenon
Larimer Mansion's strange tales lured paranormal investigators and a film crew to Irwin. The result was the documentary, "The Haunting of Larimer Mansion." The local media also took notice with newspapers and television crews heading to the haunted bed and breakfast.
WTAE aired a featured story on Larimer Mansion three years ago, interviewing Mrs. Moisey and venturing into the normally off-limits basement. Click below to view:
Do you believe in ghosts? Do you think Larimer Mansion is the most haunted hotel in Pittsburgh? Share your thoughts!
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