Gardner-Pingree House

Massachusetts · United States · Historic building

Captain Joseph White was murdered in his bed here in 1830 — and a pale face is still said to appear at a second-floor window of the empty house.

The red brick house on Essex Street was designed by Samuel McIntire and bought in 1814 by Joseph White, a wealthy retired sea captain. One night in 1830 he was clubbed to death in his bed — a murder that shook all of New England and gave both Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne material to work with. Legend says the captain never left. Visitors describe a pale face at a second-floor window when the house stands empty, heavy footsteps in the rooms above, and doors that swing shut on their own. The house is now part of the Peabody Essex Museum and opens for tours in season, and it is the upper floor that guides are asked about most.

FAQ

Where is Gardner-Pingree House located?

Gardner-Pingree House is in Massachusetts, United States.

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Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.