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Woodburn
The Governor's Residence


 Pages Tagged With: "ghosts"

Woodburn and the Underground Railroad

Many assertions have been made regarding Woodburn’s role as a safe haven for escaped slaves traveling north. The likely basis for this local legend comes from George Alfred Townsend’s “The Entailed Hat,” a novel written in 1884. This book includes a scene where a band of kidnappers, associated with Patty Cannon, captures escaped slaves who […]

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The Girl in the Gingham Dress

A ghostly visitor, according to legend, is a small girl in a gingham dress and bonnet. She carries a candle and walks the grounds around the reflecting pool. She was also seen by some guests in the Great Hall during an inaugural party for Governor Mike Castle.

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The Woodburn Ghost

The first documented Woodburn ghost appeared around 1815, about 25 years after the house was built. Dr. and Mrs. Martin Bates, the owners at the time, were entertaining Mr. Lorenzo Dow, a well-known itinerant Methodist preacher. One morning at the breakfast table, Mrs. Bates asked Mr. Dow to begin the meal with prayer. Mr. Dow […]

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Ghosts and Legends

Woodburn has long been the subject of local legends and thought to be home to other worldly visitors… The Woodburn Ghost The Girl in the Gingham Dress Woodburn and the Underground Railroad

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