Morbid Real Estate: October Edition

129 Honey Pot Street

 

It's October and spookiness is in the air-- as well as in the real estate market! While there's no guarantee that any of the following properties are actually haunted, rest assured, they all come with a blood-curdling backstory.

129 Honey Pot Street, Nanticoke (Luzerne County). List price: $114,900

129 Honey Pot St.

There is enough history in the Honey Pot section of Nanticoke to fill a book, even though the origin of the name is unclear. According to one local legend, indigenous tribes collected honey from hives in the vicinity, while other accounts claim that early settlers, astonished to find the mountain swarming with bees, gave the location its name. Regardless of which version is correct, records show that the name has been in common use since the early 19th century; one sheriff's sale notice in the November 10, 1826, edition of the Wilkes-Barre Susquehanna Democrat mentions the "Honey Pot lot" as being adjacent to the lot owned by Christian Stout.

Honey Pot has been the scene of several tragedies over the years and has served as a setting for many a ghost story. In the winter of 1921, local papers reported on the regular appearance of a ghost girl who was seen to float through the air at a height of four to five feet in the vicinity of the No. 1 slope of the Susquehanna Colliery. Witnesses got close enough to touch her, but whenever they reached out, she vanished before their very eyes. 

This charming 1,685-square-foot, 4-bedroom house on Honey Pot Street was once the home of Stanley Vance, who was brutally murdered while attending a wedding party at Stearns Station on August 13, 1932. During the party, an argument broke out between 21-year-old Vance and a nineteen-year-old wedding guest from New York named Joseph Purka. In full view of the guests (as well as a nine-piece orchestra hired for the occasion), Purka stabbed Vance in the heart with a stiletto. Vance was rushed to the hospital, but died along the way. Purka was convicted of manslaughter, and given a sentence of 2-4 years in county jail. 

21 Loomis St.

21 Loomis Street, Nanticoke (Luzerne County). List price: $109,000

If you're looking for a bargain, consider the following property, which is a 4-bedroom, 3-bath home on Loomis Street, in the east end of Nanticoke. Conveniently located just a few short blocks away from the high school, this is an excellent choice for a homebuyer raising a growing family.

21 Loomis St.

 

Although the listing says this home was built in 1940, this seems to be in error, as its architectural style is highly representative of the early 1900s. Perhaps there's a good reason why the seller doesn't want to provide too much information about this house, however, as 21 Loomis Street was the scene of a ghastly tragedy in the summer of 1915. 

Paul Przelecki, who had gotten married just six weeks earlier, found married life to be less than magical; arguments were a regular occurrence, and Paul often complained to his friends about his tumultuous relationship. On the morning of August 2, Paul woke up early and went for a walk. He returned home, went to his bedrooms, and placed the muzzle of a 32-caliber revolver to his chest before pulling the trigger and falling dead across his bed-- thereby terminating his unhappy marriage without the unnecessary expense of a divorce attorney. 

Yep, that shower looks watertight to me.

 

So, is the house currently for sale the very same one in which the unhappy newlywed unalived himself? Who knows. Perhaps a curious home buyer can schedule a viewing and bring along a Ouija board to find out!

228 W. Oak St.

 

228 West Oak Street, Shenandoah (Schuylkill County). List price: $199,000

According to the listing, this next house is situated in the "thriving" town of Shenandoah. Trust me, I drive through Shenandoah every day on my way to work and I can assure you that no one has used "thriving" and "Shenandoah" in the same sentence since William Howard Taft occupied the White House. 

Nevertheless, this 6-bedroom, 2.5 bath home was built in 1890 and boasts 2,856-square feet of living space. History lovers will appreciate this home's stately facade, intricate woodwork and period-correct tile, while the backyard is ideal for hosting parties and friendly get-togethers. Upstairs, you will find a spacious master bedroom with its own bathroom entrance and three additional bedrooms, one of which opens into an enormous balcony providing a breathtaking view of the Mrs. T's pierogi factory (I'm guessing).

228 W. Oak St.

 

Unfortunately, this home is being offered in "as-is" condition, which means it needs a little bit of work, and perhaps even an exorcism. That's because this was once the home of Naysh Brennan, a prominent local dentist whose wife, Catherine, died a ghastly death in April of 1956 after her clothing caught on fire while she was seated in the living room. Her cries attracted her daughter, Marian, who summoned help, and Catherine was rushed by ambulance to the Locust Mountain Hospital, where she died from her injuries a few hours later.

124 N. Jardin St.

 

124 North Jardin Street, Shenandoah (Schuylkill County). List price: $159,000

Located just a few blocks away from the previous property stands this three-story row home, which features 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a generous 2,106 square feet of space. Built in 1880, this home features all of the historic charm you'd expect to find in a property built during the Victorian era-- from the chintzy 1970s wood paneling to kitchen cabinetry evocative of a 1985 Winnebago motor home.

124 N. Jardin St.

 

124 N. Jardin St.

Yet, while the listing mentions the beautiful wooden staircase, high ceilings and large windows, it fails to mention that hundreds of dead people have passed through its doors; during the 1920s through the 1960s, this Jardin Street property was the Anstock & Son Funeral Home.

 

2540 W. Seltzer St.

 

2540 West Seltzer Street, Philadelphia. List price: $83,900

Finally, we have this humble duplex in Northwest Philadelphia, which the seller touts as an "amazing investment opportunity". Though it's being sold in "as-is" condition, it shouldn't be too expensive to bring up to code, as it offers a measly 720 square feet of living space. But there are advantages of living in a tiny home, of course. For instance, you can stand in the shower and pee right into the toilet without having to dry yourself off. Think of the time you'll save! With all those extra minutes, you might even be able to catch a gang member in the act of stealing your car.

See? I told you.

 

But, for real, you have to ask yourself, "If this is such an amazing investment opportunity, why on earth is the seller selling it for such a low price?" Well, aside from the risk of having your Hyundai stolen in broad daylight or getting stabbed on the SEPTA, there's also the possibility of being tormented by the restless spirit of Mattie Schaffer. On September 22, 1921, eighty-year-old Mrs. Schaffer ended her life by inhaling toxic gas. She was discovered in her bathroom with one end of a gas hose clutched in her hand. The other end of the hose was attached to the gas jet.