Whaley House

2476 San Diego Avenue
San Diego, California
United States
(619) 297-7511

Haunted Location

History

The Whaley House located in Old Town, San Diego California is reputedly known as one of America’s most Haunted Houses.

Built at a cost of over $10,000 dollars by Thomas Whaley in 1857, the home was known to be the first 2-storey brick house in all of San Diego with all the bricks being supplied from Mr. Whaley’s very own brickyard. Besides being the Whaley family home, it was also San Diego’s first commercial theater, the county courthouse, and a general store.

Thomas Whaley was born in New York City on October 5^th 1823 and was the 7^th child of a family of 10. Becoming in charge of his father’s very wealthy business, Thomas moved from New York to San Francisco in 1849, and then moved to San Diego in September of 1851. Moving back to New York, Thomas fell in love with Anna Eloise Delaunay who he soon married on August 14, 1853. Moving back to San Diego, the Whaley’s finally moved into their newly built home on August 22nd, 1857.

Thomas and Anna had a total of 6 children, Francis Hitton, Thomas Jr., Anna Amelia, Violet Eloise and Corinne Lillian. Suffering from Scarlet Fever, Thomas Jr. died at the age of 18 months on January 29, 1858. After the divorce to her husband, Violet suffered immense depression which led to her suicide within the home on August 19, 1885. She had shot herself in the heart using her father’s very own 32-caliber gun. After this event, the family moved into a 1-storey home at 933 State Street in downtown San Diego where Thomas fell ill and died on December 14, 1890. The Whaley House remained vacant until late 1909 when Francis undertook restoration and turned the home into a tourist attraction. The remaining Whaley family moved back into the home in 1912, when Thomas’s widow, Anna, died at 80 years of age on February 24, 1913. The house remained under family ownership to Corinne Whaley until her death in 1953. Thomas Jr., Violet, Anna Eloise, Francis, George (Violet’s divorced husband) and Corrine were all family deaths that occurred within the Whaley House.

On May 25, 1960 the house was dedicated as a historical museum owned by the County of San Diego and has been open to the public ever since. Over 100,000 people visit the Whaley House annually which as of September 2000 was purchased by the Save Our Heritage Organization.

Ghost Legends

The ghost of James “Yankee Jim” Robinson was the first to be reported within the Whaley House. “Yankee Jim” was hanged on the back of a wagon in 1852 when the property was used as a gallows. The local newspaper reported that James kept his feet in the wagon as long as possible but was finally pulled off, his body swung back and forth like a pendulum until he strangled to death. Thomas Whaley was reported as being a spectator at the hanging but purchased the property regardless. Soon after the home was built the Whaley’s heard the sound of heavy footsteps around the house and concluded the noise to be that of “Yankee Jim”.

A former curator of the house mentioned that a little girl waved to a man who was standing in the parlor, but no one else saw the man. Other visitors are said to have seen the apparition of Thomas Whaley himself wearing a frock coat and pantaloons on the upper landing.

Anna Whaley is also said to be seen in the downstairs or in the garden. Regis Philbin in 1964 was said to see a floating, drifting spirit on the wall and as he turned on the flashlight all that was there was the portrait of Anna Whaley staring back at him.

A mysterious apparition of a small figured woman is said to be seen within the courtroom. This woman who does not fit a Whaley family description is said to have a swarthy complexion and wears a long full calico or gingham skirt reaching the floor. She has dark eyes and hair with gold hoop earrings and a cap upon her head.

Some legends have been known to be started by former Whaley House employees to add popularity to the home. The story of a young girl by the name of Annabel or Carrie Washburn is said to be seen in the dining room. She is said to be a playmate of the Whaley children, this young girl apparently accidentally broke her neck on a clothesline in the backyard but there are no historic records of such a child dying in this manner at the home.

The Whaley’s are said to have owned a terrier dog by the name of Dolly Varden. A Parapsychologist is said to have spotted the apparition of a fox terrier dog run down the hall and into the dining room with his ears flapping. The terrier died of natural causes and is said to lick the bare legs of women and is seen by children.