Haunted Locations

Powel House

The Powel House is a historic house museum located at 244 South 3rd Street, between Willings Alley and Spruce Street, in the Society Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Ghosts & Spirits

The apparition of Marquis de Lafayette and some ghostly Continental Army Officers have been seen entering the front door of the Powel House without having to open the door, as they simply walk right through it. The apparition of a young, beautiful woman dressed in a beige and lavender dress has made the second floor her home. She has been seen sitting in the withdrawing room (found just off the second floor ballroom), fanning herself. When spotted by the living, she smiles graciously before melting into the air. The entity of Benedict Arnold have been seen at the Powel House. Benedict Arnold may have a bone to pick with someone who lived here or perhaps has something to get off his chest. Marquis de Lafayette was buried in France, yet he visits the Powel home perhaps because he has found memories here. The unknown lady of the house still welcomes the living and the dead to her home and is a gracious hostess. Benedict Arnold may have a bone to pick with someone who lived here or perhaps has something to get off his chest.

History

The Powel House was built in 1765-1766 by a real estate owner, Charles Stedman, who wound up having to sell it to try to keep out of debtor's prison. Samuel Powel, who bought this glorious home from Stedman in 1769, has the distinction of being the last colonial mayor of Philadelphia before the Revolution, and the first mayor after the Revolution. Samuel Powel was personal friends with George Washington and many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, as well as the Marquis de Lafayette. He and his wife entertained them all in their home. Samuel Powel died from yellow fever in 1793.

During the early 1900s, the house was owned by Wolf Klebansky, who used it as a warehouse and office for his import/export business featuring Russian and Siberian horse hair and bristles. By 1917, Wolf Klebansky, the dolt, had sold much of the interior architectural detail, designed by Robert Smith to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Museum.

  In 1931, the Powel House was little more than a shell of its former self, and nearly torn down to make way for an open-air garage and car park. The Landmarks Society was founded by Frances Anne Wister in 1931 to specifically save the Powel House from the wrecking ball, by raising the money to buy the property. The Landmarks Society continued in its work of saving and then restoring, furnishing, and presenting to the public its distinguished house museums, holding events and renting out space in these homes to help with the expenses. Weddings, receptions, special events are held here, which would've made the Powels very happy as they loved to entertain.