Investigation September 2009
Gore Orphanage
Vermillion, Ohio
Vermillion, Ohio
The local ghost story is that all the orphans in the home were killed
in a fire. There are a few theories regarding the cause of the fire, from
a child dropping a latern to arson for insurance money and murder. The truth is
that four children did die, but they were not orphans and were not killed in a
fire. The site thought of as the orphanage began as Swift Mansion in 1840. The
owner of this residence, Joseph Swift was the leader of a spiritual group that
held occult rituals in the house. Swift sold the house to Nicholas Wilbur in
1865. Wilbur had four children who died at the mansion in the course of seven
days, at the height of the diphtheria epidemic in 1893. He and his wife held
séances in the attempt to communicate with their dead children. In 1902 the
property became the Light of Hope Orphanage. Reverend and Mrs. Sprunger housed
over 100 children in the orphanage they ran for over twelve years. The orphanage
went bankrupt after Reverend Spunger died. The reports of haunting at the site
started as early as 1905. The still standing Swift Mansion was vandalized by
curious kids. In December 1923 it finally burned down without anyone inside.
Claims of paranormal activity include: finding hand prints on cars, ghostly
children walking, creaking doors, fire crackling, mist, screams, the smell of
burning flesh, bright lights swirling, and a dark shadowy
figure.
in a fire. There are a few theories regarding the cause of the fire, from
a child dropping a latern to arson for insurance money and murder. The truth is
that four children did die, but they were not orphans and were not killed in a
fire. The site thought of as the orphanage began as Swift Mansion in 1840. The
owner of this residence, Joseph Swift was the leader of a spiritual group that
held occult rituals in the house. Swift sold the house to Nicholas Wilbur in
1865. Wilbur had four children who died at the mansion in the course of seven
days, at the height of the diphtheria epidemic in 1893. He and his wife held
séances in the attempt to communicate with their dead children. In 1902 the
property became the Light of Hope Orphanage. Reverend and Mrs. Sprunger housed
over 100 children in the orphanage they ran for over twelve years. The orphanage
went bankrupt after Reverend Spunger died. The reports of haunting at the site
started as early as 1905. The still standing Swift Mansion was vandalized by
curious kids. In December 1923 it finally burned down without anyone inside.
Claims of paranormal activity include: finding hand prints on cars, ghostly
children walking, creaking doors, fire crackling, mist, screams, the smell of
burning flesh, bright lights swirling, and a dark shadowy
figure.
NOPSS Team personal experience: all four of us heard a loud scream.
