The Beattie Mansion

Many call it the house on the hill, but the Beattie Mansion is also known as one of the most haunted places in the city — or perhaps anywhere.
Siting solemnly atop a hill and surrounded by a huge stone wall that wraps around the block. at 1120 Main St., the structure has served many functions through the years. It has been a refuge for the city’s homeless, its aged and its orphaned.
Local psychic Mary Ann Podrasky believes with the mansion’s history of housing distressed souls, some of the spirit and misery of those displaced and unwanted people is left inside the structure today, manifesting in strange occurrences. 
“It’s known to be very haunted — voices, strange photographs, odd lights, a lot of sounds. I myself have heard a lady humming,” Podrasky said.
When the Beattie Mansion was built in 1854, as the home for Armstrong and Eliza Beattie.
Armstrong was the city’s first banker and became mayor in 1857. His popularity led him to be re-elected 4 more times.
Armstrong died in 1878 after a sudden bout of cholera. Eliza died two years later.  In 1872 the Ladies Union Benevolent Association (LUBA) acquired it and called it; "Home for the Friendless.” It provided a shelter for the area’s homeless and distressed population and the areas first orphanage. In the 1st month 18 people moved in. Several were mothers with children as there were rumored to be 80 brothels in town. These ladies would sometimes get pregnant, and would end up out on the street with a newborn and no place to go. A Home for the Friendless was a welcome refuge. In 1892 the newspaper reported the death of 4 year old Mabel Iden at the Home for the Friendless surrounded by her playmates.
In 1895, the house was converted into the Memorial Home for the Aged. During the next 100 years, there were 100's of residents who made it their final earthly home. Why some of the residents' spirits remain, we can only wonder, as we continue to investigate. In 1995, LUBA needed more modern facilities for its residents and moved the aged home to another location. After that, the building was temporarily used as a group home for the mentally ill and substance abuse addicts.
In 2004 the mansion was sold to its cureent owner, with plans to turn it into bed and breakfast.
During renovation attempts, numerous workmen experienced paranormal activity and refused to return. They reported hearing disembodied voices and seeing shadow figures and full-body apparitions.
A paranormal team was brought in and found that Eliza seemed to be the most prominent spirit and roamed the second floor of the mansion, like she was the house matron who owned and watched over it. Also on the second floor is a bedroom that houses at least one child spirit; believed to be Mabel Iden, who has been heard whispering and laughing.  The sprit of Armstrong Beattie himself occasionally makes his presence know.
The first floor kitchen also is a ghost hot spot with various child and adult apparitions waking through the kitchen.
The basement is reportedly the most haunted place in the building. It’s said to house a male entity who has been seen walking the hallways and laughing. That spirit reportedly likes to taunt visitors as well.
Podrasky said that people shouldn’t be concerned about evil spirits when delving onto the paranormal. The Beattie Mansion may be haunted but that doesn’t mean its evil, she said.
“This is not a place where evil is contained, it’s not a place you should fear you should have an open mind towards the history and facts and see for yourself,” Podrasky said.
Several ghost-hunting teams and TV shows have featured the Beattie Mansion. It is available for tours and visits to the public.
To schedule a visit to the Beattie Mansion visit our bookings page or for general questions and help, e-mail thebeattiemansion@gmail.com.
“If you take in the history and take in the current, I think you’ll see that the worlds do overlap,” she said.
Alonzo Weston News-Press Now