Morbid Real Estate: January Edition

423 Green St., Lancaster

 

January is the time many of us set goals for ourselves. While some may resolve to lose five pounds or to be a nicer person, others have goals that are a bit more ambitious, such as getting married or buying a home. If finding that perfect home is on your 2025 to-do list, may I suggest considering a quaint and charming house of death? 

That's right-- all the properties featured below come with a dark history. Think of the memories you'll create with your family investigating the source of those strange bumps in the night! Or trying to figure out why that mysterious stain always seems to reappear after you clean it! And what better way to keep your little ones in line than by warning them that, if they don't behave, they'll invoke the wrath of the ghost living in the attic? Trust me, it works every time (at least until Child Protective Services steps in). Of course, there is no guarantee that any of these homes are haunted, but they are all guaranteed to be spooky.

423 Green St., Lancaster

 

423 Green Street, Lancaster (Lancaster County). Price: $149,900

First off, we have a 4 bedroom, 1 bath townhouse on Green Street, conveniently located just a few blocks from the downtown Historic District. This property features hardwood floors, walls that haven't been repainted since the invasion of Normandy, and a rickety front porch perfect for entertaining guests and contracting tetanus from an exposed century-old nail.

 

The bathroom where Lewis Dickinson died.

 

The listing on Zillow states this home is being sold in as-is condition, which means that absolutely zero effort has been put into its maintenance. In other words, it's a fantastic opportunity for slumlords (oops, I mean "investors") to purchase a cheap home and immediately rent it out for $3,500 a month to a hard-working family already struggling to make ends meet. Lead in the paint and termites in the woodwork? Let your new tenants deal with it!

 

Now, I know what you're thinking. What a depressing home! Well, don't worry, you won't be the first person to feel that way about this house. Just ask Lewis Dickinson. Oh wait, you can't, because he locked himself in the bathroom on March 4, 1929, and took his life by turning on a gas jet.

 

214 N. Jordan St., Allentown

 

214 North Jordan Street, Allentown (Lehigh County). Price: $299,900

Next, we have another property being sold as an investment opportunity. Built in 1890, this 2556-square-foot home on a corner lot is currently divided into two rental units, though the seller insists that the unfinished cement-block garage can be converted into a third unit if desired. So, if you've ever dreamed of living in a garage, this property just might be right up your alley.

This property might also appeal to those who appreciate a touch of the morbid, as this was the home where 35-year-old Raymond Hartenstine ended his life in 1936 after attempting to murder his girlfriend.

214 N. Jordan St.

 

According to the Allentown Morning Call, Hartenstine and 28-year-old Emma Heffner occupied the second floor of the house. On the afternoon of July 22 they got into a heated argument in their bedroom that quickly turned violent. Hartenstine allegedly threw Emma onto the bed, pressed the barrel of a revolver against the woman's head and pulled the trigger. The gun jammed, so he tried again. As fate would have it, the gun misfired a second time. This gave Emma an opportunity to wrestle free and flee from the room. A moment later she heard a gunshot; evidently the third time was the charm for Raymond Hartenstine. Unfortunately for him, this time he had pressed the barrel against his own temple.

244 W. Strawberry St., Lancaster

244 West Strawberry St., Lancaster (Lancaster County). Price: $234,000

Built in 1860, this historic brick townhouse has been meticulously renovated both inside and out. While the freshly-painted stone exterior and stained wood front door enhance the building's 19th century charm, the interior abounds with stylish, modern improvements. The showpiece is the kitchen, with its vaulted ceiling, immaculate white cabinetry and butcher block countertops. On the second floor, you'll find two spacious bedrooms, one of which boasts a tiled shower. A second full bath and laundry area can also be found on the second floor. This property even includes a backyard and two parking spaces!
Considering that this address is just a few short blocks away from Penn Square, it's not a bad deal for someone looking to establish themselves in one of the fastest-growing cities in our state. However, back in 1898, this house was not nearly as charming, and this was the home of Susan and Franklin Lind, whose tumultuous and ill-fated marriage ended on a tragic note.

244 W. Strawberry St.

 

On July 19, 1898, a rumor swept through the city that 48-year-old Susan Lind had been murdered by her husband, Franklin, during a drunken brawl. The impoverished Linds weren't strangers to the authorities; they seemed to be drunk more days of the week than they were sober, and their constant arguing had led to their adopted 16-year-old son running away from home. One neighbor, Jacob Vollmer, even told police that he frequently saw Susan and Franklin passed out drunk in their backyard. But while the Linds often exchanged insults, they were never known to exchange blows.

 

Authorities raced to the house, and found Mrs. Lind deceased on the floor of an upstairs room. There wasn't a mark of violence on her body, and the inquest determined that she had died from congestion of the brain caused by "acute alcoholism". The ordeal was simply too much for Franklin to bear; witnesses remarked that the 47-year-old man's face "bore the hue of death" at the inquest, and that he appeared to be on the verge of collapse. 

 

Sure enough, he died just a few hours later at a little past one o'clock in the morning, after sending for a doctor. Like his wife, he, too, succumbed to the effects of excessive alcohol consumption.