Eddy House / Wilson Castle – Haunted Castle in Proctor, Vermont

Nestled in the rolling hills of Proctor, Vermont, Wilson Castle stands as a magnificent Victorian mansion. This sprawling estate has captured the imagination of paranormal enthusiasts for decades with its persistent ghostly tales.

Built in the late 1800s, this castle-like structure contains 32 rooms spread across 115,000 square feet. The mansion features 84 stained glass windows and 13 fireplaces that create an otherworldly atmosphere even in daylight.

Visitors and staff have reported unexplained phenomena throughout the castle’s long history. The building’s original name was Eddy House before being rechristened Wilson Castle by later owners.

Strange occurrences within these walls have made the location a must-visit for ghost hunters. The castle’s reputation for paranormal activity continues to grow with each passing year.

Historical Background

Construction on Wilson Castle began in 1867 under the direction of John Johnson. The British doctor spared no expense in creating his dream home in the Vermont countryside.

Johnson imported materials from around the world to construct this architectural masterpiece. European craftsmen worked alongside local builders to complete the ambitious project by 1875.

The castle’s original design included elaborate parquet floors and ornate crown molding throughout. Johnson filled the rooms with priceless antiques and artwork collected during his extensive travels abroad.

The property changed hands several times before Herbert Lee Wilson purchased it in 1939. Wilson and his wife Sarah made extensive renovations while preserving the castle’s Victorian charm.

Tragedy struck the Wilson family during their residence at the estate. Sarah Wilson died unexpectedly in one of the upstairs bedrooms under mysterious circumstances in 1952.

Herbert Wilson lived alone in the castle until his death in 1981. The grief-stricken widower rarely left the property during his final years of life.

Several subsequent owners have reported difficulty maintaining the property due to unexplained disturbances. The castle has remained in the Johnson-Wilson family through various descendants since the 1980s.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Cold spots appear throughout Wilson Castle without any logical explanation for temperature drops. Visitors frequently report sudden chills in the main hallway and master bedroom areas.

Disembodied footsteps echo through empty corridors at all hours of the day. The sound of heavy boots climbing the grand staircase is heard even when no one is present.

Objects move on their own accord in multiple rooms throughout the castle. Staff members have witnessed chairs sliding across floors and doors opening without human intervention.

Shadow figures dart across doorways and appear in mirrors when no one is there. These dark shapes are most commonly seen in the library and dining room areas.

Mysterious knocking sounds emanate from within the walls of several bedrooms. The knocking often occurs in sets of three and has no identifiable source.

Electronic devices malfunction regularly inside the castle without explanation. Cameras, phones, and recording equipment often fail in specific locations throughout the building.

The scent of Victorian-era perfume wafts through rooms where no such fragrances are kept. This phantom smell is particularly strong in Sarah Wilson’s former bedroom on the second floor.

Ghost Stories & Reports

Sarah Wilson is believed to be the primary spirit haunting the castle she loved. Visitors report seeing a woman in Victorian dress standing near windows overlooking the gardens.

The apparition appears most frequently in the master bedroom where Sarah died. She has been described as wearing a dark green gown with her hair styled in a period-appropriate updo.

Witnesses claim Sarah’s ghost seems unaware of the living people around her. She gazes out windows or walks through rooms as if going about her daily routines from life.

Herbert Wilson’s spirit has been encountered in the library where he spent countless hours. The ghost of an elderly gentleman sits in a leather chair reading by the fireplace.

This apparition vanishes when directly approached or spoken to by witnesses. Several tour guides have reported this same figure appearing in the exact same chair multiple times.

A young servant girl’s ghost haunts the castle’s kitchen and servant quarters. She appears to be approximately twelve years old and wears a simple gray dress with an apron.

This child spirit seems playful rather than menacing according to most accounts. She has been known to hide small objects and move kitchen utensils around when no one is watching.

Historical records indicate a servant girl named Emma died at the castle in 1889. She succumbed to pneumonia during a harsh winter while the Johnson family was abroad.

An unidentified male presence makes itself known in the castle’s tower room. This entity has a more aggressive energy than the other spirits residing in the building.

People entering the tower room report feelings of being watched and unwelcome. Some visitors have been touched or pushed by an unseen force in this area.

No historical records identify who this angry spirit might have been in life. Paranormal investigators theorize this could be a construction worker who died during the building phase.

The ghost of a large black dog roams the castle grounds at night. This spectral hound was reportedly Herbert Wilson’s beloved pet who died shortly before his own passing.

Visitors walking the property after dark have reported seeing glowing eyes and hearing growling. The phantom dog seems to patrol the perimeter as if still guarding the estate.

Most Haunted Spot

The master bedroom on the second floor experiences the most intense paranormal activity. This room is where Sarah Wilson took her last breath in 1952 under unexplained circumstances.

Visitors to this bedroom report overwhelming feelings of sadness and loss upon entering. Many people have fled the room unable to tolerate the heavy emotional atmosphere.

The antique mirror in Sarah’s bedroom has been the site of numerous supernatural encounters. People see Sarah’s reflection standing behind them when they look into the glass.

Equipment failures occur most frequently in this specific bedroom compared to other locations. Cameras and audio recorders consistently malfunction when brought into this space.

The tower room runs a close second as the castle’s most actively haunted area. The aggressive male entity residing there creates an atmosphere of palpable tension and fear.

Can You Visit?

Wilson Castle is open to the public for tours during specified seasonal hours. The castle operates as a museum and special events venue welcoming visitors year-round.

Standard admission fees are $12.50 for adults and $5.00 for children under twelve. Senior citizens receive a discounted rate of $10.00 for general admission tours.

Guided tours run daily from late May through late October between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Special paranormal investigation tours are available by advance reservation during the Halloween season.

Photography is permitted throughout the castle during regular daytime tours. Flash photography is discouraged to protect the delicate antique furnishings and artwork.

The castle hosts private paranormal investigation events throughout the year for serious ghost hunters. These overnight investigations must be booked months in advance due to high demand.

Winter hours are limited with tours available only on weekends by appointment. The castle closes completely during January and February for annual maintenance work.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity at Wilson Castle increases significantly during the autumn months of October and November. The anniversary of Sarah Wilson’s death in late October correlates with heightened supernatural phenomena.

Late evening hours between 9:00 PM and 2:00 AM produce the most dramatic ghostly encounters. The spirits seem most active when the castle is quiet and fewer people are present.

Full moon nights generate particularly intense paranormal activity according to long-time staff members. The spectral dog on the grounds is most frequently spotted during full moon periods.

Rainy days and stormy weather appear to amplify the supernatural energy within the castle. Visitors report more frequent apparition sightings when the weather outside is gloomy and overcast.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Tour guide Rebecca Martinez documented seeing Sarah Wilson’s ghost in 2018. She was locking up the master bedroom when she saw a woman in Victorian dress standing by the window.

The apparition turned to look directly at Rebecca before fading away into nothing. Rebecca quit her position at the castle shortly after this terrifying encounter.

Visitor James Thompson captured an unexplained image in the library during a 2019 tour. His photograph clearly shows a translucent figure sitting in the leather chair by the fireplace.

The image has been analyzed by multiple paranormal experts who cannot explain the anomaly. Thompson’s photo has been featured in several paranormal investigation publications and websites.

Local historian Margaret Pemberton spent a night in the castle researching its history in 2015. She reported hearing footsteps and voices throughout the night despite being completely alone.

Pemberton recorded over forty minutes of unexplained audio phenomena during her overnight stay. Her recordings include what sounds like a woman crying and a man’s voice calling someone’s name.

Maintenance worker David Chen experienced physical contact from an unseen entity in 2020. He was working in the tower room when something pushed him forcefully toward the stairs.

Chen sustained minor injuries from the incident and refuses to enter that room alone. He filed an official report with management documenting the aggressive paranormal encounter.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Atlantic Paranormal Society conducted a formal investigation at Wilson Castle in 2016. Their team documented multiple instances of electronic voice phenomena and unexplained temperature fluctuations.

TAPS investigators captured thermal imaging of a human-shaped figure in Sarah’s bedroom. The thermal anomaly moved across the room before disappearing through a solid wall.

Vermont Ghost Hunters spent three consecutive nights investigating the castle in October 2017. They recorded over sixty separate paranormal events during their comprehensive investigation.

Their evidence included objects moving on camera and doors closing without physical contact. The team’s findings were featured in their documentary series on New England hauntings.

Psychic medium Elena Rodriguez conducted a séance in the master bedroom in 2019. She claimed to make contact with Sarah Wilson’s spirit during the session.

Rodriguez reported that Sarah is searching for her husband Herbert throughout the castle. The medium stated Sarah doesn’t realize she has died and continues her eternal vigil.

Multiple paranormal investigation teams have detected unusual electromagnetic field readings throughout the building. These EMF spikes occur most frequently in the bedroom, library, and tower room areas.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Wilson Castle is privately owned property and trespassing outside tour hours is strictly prohibited. Local law enforcement actively patrols the area and prosecutes unauthorized visitors.

The castle’s tower stairs are steep and potentially dangerous in low light conditions. Visitors should exercise extreme caution when ascending or descending these historic staircases.

Some antique furnishings contain lead paint and should not be touched unnecessarily. The castle management requests all visitors respect the historical artifacts on display.

The grounds surrounding the castle include uneven terrain and hidden hazards after dark. Nighttime visitors should carry flashlights and watch their footing at all times.

Visitors with heart conditions or anxiety disorders should consider avoiding the paranormal investigation tours. The intense supernatural activity can be overwhelming for sensitive individuals.

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