Haldeman Mansion, Bainbridge
The Haldeman Mansion in Bainbridge, Pennsylvania, is widely considered one of the most haunted locations in Lancaster County, attracting paranormal investigators and visitors interested in its eerie reputation. Local legends suggest a high level of paranormal activity within the 13 rooms of the historic mansion, which dates back to the 1740s. This is often attributed to the many deaths that occurred there, including as many as 10 children, as well as the discovery of 92 unmarked graves found on the property. An individual recounted seeing a woman dressed in 19th-century clothing peering out of a window in the 1980s before she vanished. A paranormal director reported seeing the white silhouette of a man fully manifest before her in the summer kitchen. The experience was so startling that she ran out of the room. Paranormal investigators have described seeing a "white shadow" followed by a 7-foot-tall black figure that peeks around corners. Another report describes hearing a door slam upstairs, then seeing someone cross the stairwell just before a door shut again. A visitor conducting a paranormal investigation distinctly heard the sound of children laughing while inside the mansion. Later, the investigation's guide confessed to also hearing children's voices earlier in the evening but had not said anything to avoid influencing the group's experience. One of the mansion's "gentleman ghosts" is said to follow people around and sigh into their ears, as if expressing annoyance. A jovial female servant is said to linger in the summer kitchen, where her ghostly singing and humming can sometimes be heard. A male spirit is known for being temperamental and is often heard huffing and puffing, though he is not considered to be dangerous. This spirit is described as sometimes moody but mostly friendly. She is associated with the smell of rosewater perfume. The spirits of children, including a young boy and girl, along with other servants, have also been reported to make their presence known.