THE HIDDEN HOUSE
(NEW INFO ADDED 04-28-2013)
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The Riddle House |
Many of you have heard of the Riddle House located in
the Yesteryear Village in West Palm Beach, Florida. Also known as The
Painted Lady. The Riddle House was featured in an episode of the first
season of Ghost Adventures. But few know of the second haunted location
in the Village known as the Civil War Captains House. The Captains House
was mentioned very briefly in the same episode of Ghost Adventures.
It
was said that the two houses seemed to feed off of each other and that
activity escalated when the Riddle House was moved to the Village.
Workers would unlock the buildings in the morning and items in both
houses would be moved or broken and tossed around the rooms. Here are
two pictures of the Captains House as presented in the Ghost Adventures
episode.
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Captains House as seen on Ghost Adventures | |
Originally The Captains House was set up as a Civil
War Confederate Captains House. It featured Civil War items and had a
large Confederate flag on the back wall. This type of house is one big
room with a front door and a back door. When it was featured on Ghost
Adventures it was set up as a Veterans House showcasing World War I and
II items.
So why the change? The Civil War House was
run by an elderly man named Rose. He would tell people that would listen
that the house was haunted. I have talked to someone that worked at
another house that knew Rose well and they told me of an experience that
they had one night in the house in the company of Rose.
|
Captains House as seen on Ghost Adventures |
It seems that Rose kept a bottle of whiskey hidden in
the house and each night toasted the brave soldiers of the Confederacy
before locking up for the night. Rose poured two shots of whiskey handed
one to the guest and said, "Watch This". He toasted the soldiers and
pointed to the flag on the wall. The flag began to ripple as if being
blown in the wind, But all the windows and both doors were closed.
O.K.,
So what happened to the original Captains House? Rose was not seeing
eye to eye with the management in the Village and one day could not take
it anymore. After an argument he walked out of the Village for good and
his last words were, "When I die I am going to haunt this place!".
Unfortunately for Rose that would be less then thirty days after he
walked out.
The house was soon set up as it was shown
on the Ghost Adventures episode. It was now the Veterans House. It
didn't take long for the problems to begin and this is what was referred
to on the Riddle House episode. When the house was unlocked in the
morning the American Flag would be knocked down or turned over. Items
would be broken and guns would be taking down and lined up on the floor.
Eventually no one wanted to deal with it and the house was shut down.
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The Captains House as it appears today |
Why is it called the Hidden House? The house has been
moved to the other side of the property in a location that is out of
the flow of guest and as far away as possible from the Riddle House. The
house has had all signs and posters removed and has been repainted. The
identifying plate that named the house and gave basic information has
been removed. And last the house is locked and not open to the public.
Was
the house abandoned and locked due to a haunting? Is it the same haunt
that Rose mentioned? Or has Rose returned to make good on his threat?
|
The Captains House as it appears today |
If you visit the Yesteryear Village to see
the Riddle House don't forget to check out the Captains House. The
house is located just East of the main Village entrance. You will have
to walk around other buildings to reach it.
Be sure to say Hi to Rose and if so inclined salute the brave soldiers of the Civil War.
****NEW INFORMATION 04-28-2013****
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Inside The Captains House. The Pineapple Museum |
The
Captains House has now been reopened as a museum to the once thriving
Pineapple Industry in Florida. And strange things have already
happened.
A young man came in and started talking to
the guy in the chair at the back of the room, Except the chair was
empty. Also a man has been seen walking inside the building after it has
been locked up. Could this be the previous caretaker Rose? Or is it one
of the Confederate Soldiers shot and killed while hiding in this
building?
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Blood stains from Civil War Soldiers? |
There
are several spots along the floor at the back of the room. It is
claimed that these are blood stains from the Confederate Soldiers that
were killed in this building? Are they really blood stains?
This
building was used as workers quarters when it was originally built.
Supposedly the younger children of the workers would be locked in this
building during the day. There were several deaths of children but the
causes are unknown.
The volunteers who run the
Pineapple Museum are more then happy to discuss the haunting going on in
the Captains House (Unlike the neighboring Riddle House), And like me
you will also get to learn about a Florida Industry that I never knew
existed. Commercial growing of Pineapples. Be sure to visit the Captains
House when you go to Yesteryear Village. It is still tucked away in the
corner. Take a chance and sit in the chair and see if anything
happens.