Home › Life › This magnificent New York estate is selling for a mere $500,000, and the owner says it's haunted by the former lady of the house
This magnificent New York estate is selling for a mere $500,000, and the owner says it's haunted by the former lady of the house Oct 27, 2018, 02:41 IST
Courtesy of Steve Shoemaker - Amity Photos
There's a 19th century Victorian estate in Albion, New York, listed for sale with a $500,000 price tag. It's been painstakingly restored over the last 11 years to it's original grandeur. The listing comes with a rather unique feature: the owner says the home is haunted by the ghost of the former lady of the house. The property, known as The Pillars Estate , has been on the market for three years now and, even after a $500,000 price cut , has not yet found a buyer. Not far from the coast of Lake Ontario in New York sits a 19th century Victorian home listed for sale for $500,000.
Dubbed The Pillars Estate , it comes with a ballroom, antique furnishings, and even an antique front door key.
It took 11 years for its owner, Tony McMurtrie, to restore the home to its original grandeur.
"This house has just got so much feeling to it," McMurtrie told Zillow . "I actually think every house speaks and has it's own story."
As for this house's story, McMurtrie believes the home is haunted by the former lady of the house.
Take a look around the magnificent Victorian mansion. Welcome to the Pillars Estate.
It was built in 1878, a few years after the Civil War ended, in Albion, New York, a village not far from Lake Ontario.
Source: Zillow
It's one of the oldest properties in the county.
Source: Zillow
The grand manor has 7,228 square feet, six bedrooms, six bathrooms, and sits on a 2-acre lot.
Source: Zillow
It was last sold in 2006 for $52,000 and renovated by the owner before landing on the market again in 2015 for $1 million. That price has since been cut in half.
Source: Zillow
The estate has served both as a private residence and event venue. It looks cheerful enough for a wedding from the outside ...
Source: Zillow
... but turn the antique key to the front door ...
... and you're transported back to a gothic Victorian age.
One of the front parlors bears a piano and seating for entertainment.
Another displays plushy cushions and heavy burgundy drapes.
Beamed ceilings accent the room.
Through a pair of doors is the formal dining room.
It's the perfect room for entertaining guests.
There's a more casual dining nook with a grandfather clock.
And the vintage kitchen appliances further remind you that you're in a 19th century home.
Up a flight of stairs you'll find the bedrooms.
A beautiful chandelier lights your way.
The bed frame in one of them is carved with intricate detail.
Another has a chandelier and patterned wallpaper.
Gold sconces hang above bay windows framed by burgundy drapes.
And a full and bold bed frame is in another bedroom.
Buyers will have turn-key access to the home ...
Source: Zillow
... as well as the inheritance of all furniture and decor.
Source: Zillow
The home's various antique furnishings ...
... and other miscellaneous doodads go straight to the buyer.
Source: Zillow
It's your very own real-life gothic house.
What's a Victorian mansion without a ballroom?
The opulent space was added in 2011.
Source: U.S. News
"The staircase is modeled after the Titanic, so they have an annual Titanic event each year and Christmas parties," Cheryl Krug-Wirth, the home's listing agent, told USA TODAY.
Source: USA TODAY
Imagine throwing an elaborate ball in your own home.
Not many homeowners can say they've got a ballroom on their property ...
... or so much historical value, design, and furnishings.
Tony McMurtrie, who bought the home in 2006 for a mere $52,000, says the home has a lot of character and feeling to it.
Source: Zillow and Yahoo
In fact, he believes it's haunted.
Source: Zillow
Considering the upkeep that a 200-year-old home would entail ...
Source: MarketWatch
... he hired Cora Goyette to help in caring for the home. She initially moved in to do so.
Source: Yahoo
But not long after moving in, Goyette and McMurtrie suspected they weren't alone.
Source: Yahoo
"I'm somewhat skeptical myself, and it wasn't until I'd actually witnessed several things happen here that I begun to realize that there definitely is a spirit moving within the house," Goyette told Zillow.
Source: Zillow
According to Realtor, members of the house staff have said they heard footsteps from behind them as they walk up the stairs.
Source: Realtor
Goyette said the piano in the parlor would begin playing when no one was in the room.
Source: Realtor and Zillow
And Goyette said that while working in the basement one day, a handyman heard the voices of children ... only for him to discover that he was completely alone.
Source: Yahoo
Goyette said she prefers to not be in the house by herself anymore.
Source: Zillow
"It's a very real spirit," Goyette said.
Source: Zillow
But she comes during the day to perform her duties, like cleaning and dusting the vast amount of memorabilia and decor from days long since past.
Source: Zillow
McMurtrie is more so unswayed. He told Zillow that he loves living in the home, despite the occurrences.
Source: Zillow
"I've always known there's been a ghost here, and I do believe it's Mrs. Carr," he said.
Source: Zillow
By Mrs. Carr he means Patricia Carr, the former lady of the house.
Source: Realtor
She and her husband William Carr moved into the home in the 1940s. Goyette said she died in the lady's parlor.
Source: Zillow and Realtor
It was her ghost that Goyette said McMurtrie saw shortly after renovating the home.
Source: Yahoo
After getting up in the middle of the night, Goyette said McMurtrie walked past one of the bedrooms and saw a woman in white lying on the bed.
Source: Yahoo
Goyette said a staff member has also spotted a ghostly woman in a white dress, this time holding a white parasol.
Source: Yahoo
But despite the sightings, the creeping footsteps, the ghostly piano-playing, and the voices in the night, Goyette said the spirit feels warm.
Source: Zillow
"There's nothing evil about it," Goyette said.
Source: Zillow
If anything, Goyette said, the ghost of Mrs. Carr is likely pleased with how her beloved home has been restored and cared for.
Source: Zillow
Benign apparition or not, the property has been listed on Zillow for about three years.
Source: Zillow
But, according to a recent survey, for many potential homebuyers, living in a haunted house isn't necessarily a deal breaker.
Source: Inman
And the 50% price cut certainly makes it that much more enticing.
