If you live in the New Albany area, then you undoubtedly know of the Culbertson Mansion. Maybe you even drive by it without even noticing the grand old home.
But do you know the legends behind the house? Built in 1867 by the richest man in town, William Culbertson. Designed by the local architect, James T. Banes, it contains marble fireplaces, hand painted ceilings and a tin roof imported from Scotland. |
The railroad ran behind the home and a street car ran from it to downtown New Albany.
Behind the Mansion sits the two level carriage house. The lower level was for storage of the horse and buggy. the upper for the servants. And this is where the legends of the hauntings begin.
In 1888 lightening struck the carriage House. The fire Killed all living within it's walls. From that date on no servant would live in the carriage house. Claiming the house was haunted by those that died there. It stood empty until the 1930's When it was turned into a rental property by the McDonalds.
Dr. Harold Webb, a doctor and dentist with a well established reputation, looking to settle down in a small town rented the carriage house for his family and practice. Both his family and his practice was thriving when the children started to relate tails of a dark figure that would come into their rooms at night through the walls. Dr. Webb and his wife dismissed the children's claims but they could not ignore the sound of clanging chains, horrible smells and the terrifying screams that would come from beneath the floors. After a while the strange events took a toll on the good Doctor. His practice also began to suffer; especially after several of his patients disappeared. The police began an investigation of the office.
On September 29, 1934 one of Doctor Webbs remaining patients arrived for her appointment only to find the doors locked. When no activity was observed around the house for several days the police obtained a warrant and entered the home.
What they found inside shocked and horrified even seasoned officers. The entire Webb family had been murdered.
In every room of the home they found a member of the family. All of them killed in a distinctly grisly fashion. The family had suffered indescribable horrors.
The daughter had been stabbed again and again. Numerous wounds littered her small body. The son had been skinned. We can only hope that it had been done after his death. And their mother, Doctor Webb;s wife had been beaten to death. But what was found under the living quarters was perhaps the most shocking of all.
When searched the basement of the home revealed secret rooms and passages. The bones and remains of Doctor Webb's missing patients were littered every where. The good doctor had been using them for his own deviously twisted experiment. For what purpose no one knows. Some remains were so mutilated that it was questioned as to whether or not they were even human. After the investigation the house was boarded up and remained vacant for nearly 30 years.
From 1946 to 1964 the American legion bought the home and used the Carriage house for parties and special events. However this didn't last long. Staff and guest all reported missing items. strange sound and mysterious figures passing through the rooms. In 1987 the friends of the Culbertson Mansion started using the house as a haunted attraction with all the proceeds going toward the renovation of the grand old home.
So do you dare enter? Check them out on Facebook...
www.facebook.com/HauntedCulbertson/
Or check out the haunted theme for 2017. Find the time and dates for the haunted tours here.
www.hauntedculbertson.org/
You can even volunteer to become part of the experience.
They are open every Friday and Saturday night in October, starting at 7pm.
Admission is $14 (no refunds).
2017 Dates:
Sept 29th & 30th, Oct 6th & 7th, 13th & 14th, 20th & 21st, 27th & 28th.
Behind the Mansion sits the two level carriage house. The lower level was for storage of the horse and buggy. the upper for the servants. And this is where the legends of the hauntings begin.
In 1888 lightening struck the carriage House. The fire Killed all living within it's walls. From that date on no servant would live in the carriage house. Claiming the house was haunted by those that died there. It stood empty until the 1930's When it was turned into a rental property by the McDonalds.
Dr. Harold Webb, a doctor and dentist with a well established reputation, looking to settle down in a small town rented the carriage house for his family and practice. Both his family and his practice was thriving when the children started to relate tails of a dark figure that would come into their rooms at night through the walls. Dr. Webb and his wife dismissed the children's claims but they could not ignore the sound of clanging chains, horrible smells and the terrifying screams that would come from beneath the floors. After a while the strange events took a toll on the good Doctor. His practice also began to suffer; especially after several of his patients disappeared. The police began an investigation of the office.
On September 29, 1934 one of Doctor Webbs remaining patients arrived for her appointment only to find the doors locked. When no activity was observed around the house for several days the police obtained a warrant and entered the home.
What they found inside shocked and horrified even seasoned officers. The entire Webb family had been murdered.
In every room of the home they found a member of the family. All of them killed in a distinctly grisly fashion. The family had suffered indescribable horrors.
The daughter had been stabbed again and again. Numerous wounds littered her small body. The son had been skinned. We can only hope that it had been done after his death. And their mother, Doctor Webb;s wife had been beaten to death. But what was found under the living quarters was perhaps the most shocking of all.
When searched the basement of the home revealed secret rooms and passages. The bones and remains of Doctor Webb's missing patients were littered every where. The good doctor had been using them for his own deviously twisted experiment. For what purpose no one knows. Some remains were so mutilated that it was questioned as to whether or not they were even human. After the investigation the house was boarded up and remained vacant for nearly 30 years.
From 1946 to 1964 the American legion bought the home and used the Carriage house for parties and special events. However this didn't last long. Staff and guest all reported missing items. strange sound and mysterious figures passing through the rooms. In 1987 the friends of the Culbertson Mansion started using the house as a haunted attraction with all the proceeds going toward the renovation of the grand old home.
So do you dare enter? Check them out on Facebook...
www.facebook.com/HauntedCulbertson/
Or check out the haunted theme for 2017. Find the time and dates for the haunted tours here.
www.hauntedculbertson.org/
You can even volunteer to become part of the experience.
They are open every Friday and Saturday night in October, starting at 7pm.
Admission is $14 (no refunds).
2017 Dates:
Sept 29th & 30th, Oct 6th & 7th, 13th & 14th, 20th & 21st, 27th & 28th.