The Haunted Welty House in Gettysburg

Posted: 07.25.2024 | Updated: 07.25.2024

The Welty House, renowned as the most haunted site in Gettysburg, stands on the grounds of one of the Civil War's most harrowing and pivotal battles. This six-bedroom Victorian brick home was a Confederate sniper's nest during the Battle of Gettysburg - a clash that turned the tide for Union forces and forever marked the Welty House with both bullet scars and spectral activity.The surrounding blood-soaked fields have never been the same, with the spirits of Confederate and Union soldiers continuing to haunt this historic home, captivating ghost hunters and startling unsuspecting visitors. 

Who Haunts the Welty House?

The Welty House is home to numerous spirits, including:

• Confederate and Union soldiers: Their voices and movements are frequently heard and felt throughout the house.
• Charlie Toot: The former owner of the Brickhouse Inn, Toot’s ghost is often seen and heard giving orders or moving furniture.
• Shadow figures: Likely soldiers from the battle, these mysterious apparitions are often seen along the walls and staircases.
• Welty family children: The spirits of two children lost before the Civil War are believed to haunt the home.

 

The Origins of the Haunting

 The Battle of Gettysburg claimed around 7,000 lives in a brutal three-day conflict that engulfed the farmland around the Welty House. Confederate snipers occupied the home, attempting to repel Union forces to Cemetery Ridge. The Welty family, including Solomon Welty and his relatives, took refuge in the basement. At the same time, the battle raged above, leaving an indelible imprint of trauma and otherworldly energy in its wake.Constructed in 1838, the Welty House predated the division of early American democracy. By the time the Battle of Gettysburg erupted, the Civil War had been tearing the nation apart for two years. The house's first occupant, J. Schwartz, lived there until 1853 when he served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and later graduated from Pennsylvania College (now Gettysburg College). After changing hands briefly, the home was acquired by Solomon Welty in 1853, a prominent community member involved in local politics. Welty lived there until his death in 1884, enduring the Civil War's hardships within the home's brick walls.On July 1, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg commenced, with Confederate Major General Henry Heth leading 30,000 men into the town. The overwhelming 20,000 Union soldiers retreated to Cemetery Hill, fortifying their position as reinforcements on both sides swelled the numbers involved in the conflict to 165,000. The three-day battle resulted in 23,000 Union casualties and 28,000 Confederate casualties, with 10,000 soldiers missing or captured and 7,000 killed. The Welty House played a significant role in this violent encounter. 

Spirits of the Welty House

 As the fighting ensued, the Welty family and their neighbors hid in the basement, praying their home would survive the onslaught. The house was spared from artillery fire due to the civilians inside, but Confederate snipers stationed within were picked off one by one by Union sharpshooters. Following the battle, the retreating Confederate forces left behind a home forever changed. Bullet marks and burial sites on the property serve as physical reminders of the conflict, while the sounds of the battle—like the whizzing of bullets and the striking of flint lighters—continue to echo within the house.Visitors and staff at the Welty House frequently report hearing disembodied voices and other inexplicable noises. The house’s sister property, the Victorian-style Brickhouse Inn, built in 1898 by wealthy banker Charlie Toot, also experiences similar unexplained activity. Toot's spirit is said to linger, often seen in the Ohio Room, and known for moving furniture and giving orders to employees. 

The Ghosts of Gettysburg

 Dark shadow figures and apparitions frequently appear in photographs taken within the Welty House. The sounds of battle—gunfire, cannon fire, and soldiers' shouts—seem to be trapped in a loop, replaying the trauma of the past. Gettysburg, the site of one of the Civil War’s most violent battles, has left a permanent mark on the Welty House.A short walk from the house is the Soldiers' National Cemetery, where President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, cementing the town's place in American history. The Welty House and the adjacent Brickhouse Inn stand as testaments to history, offering a unique experience of stepping back into a tumultuous time. Visitors often find themselves perplexed and enthralled by the echoes of the past that resonate through these historic buildings.Considering a trip to Gettysburg? Stay at the Welty House and immerse yourself in the history of America's most turbulent period. Book a Gettysburg ghost tour to explore the haunted sites and learn about the historic battles that took place here. Experience the spectral sounds of bullets, the shouts of soldiers, and the shadows of the past that continue to haunt the Welty House. Sources:https://www.newspapers.com/image/36856645/?terms=%22j.%20schwartz%22&match=1https://www.newspapers.com/image/73840745/?terms=%22j.%20schwartz%22&match=1https://www.gettysburg.edu/about-the-college/college-history/https://www.newspapers.com/image/73628685/?terms=%22solomon%20welty%22&match=1https://www.newspapers.com/image/15523549/?terms=%22solomon%20welty%22&match=1https://brickhouseinn.com/blog/historic-gettysburg-hote/https://brickhouseinn.com/about/https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/gettysburg?ms=googlegrant&gclid=CjwKCAjw__ihBhADEiwAXEazJkinrdoT0NO7UHT7FJ4XbmOise4vb9vvU_2gRQ4KdaxWexqBdKXfrxoCEX4QAvD_BwEhttps://marilynbushnell.com/forsale/bed-and-breakfast-gettysburg-sold-brickhouse-inn-bb/https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2023/01/04/gettysburg-welty-house-tells-a-civil-war-story-that-you-can-touch-brickhouse-inn/69682974007/