Six years ago, a colleague and I were invited to meet with the current owners of an antibellum colonial that was built in the 1840's. During the Civl War, the home was used by both the Union and Confederate at different times as a hospital. Except for the kitchen and bathrooms, everything else is original, down to the blood stains on the hardwood floors in the dining room. When we lsited the property, the owner had lived there eight years and determined that, with his teenagers, he needed more closet and living space.

As we talked about the home, the owner shared stories with us about the resident ghost who has been there for 140+ years. It seems that at one point when the Union Army was using the home as a hospital, one of the patients heard gunfire and thought the Confederates were going to try and re-take the hospital. Eventhough he was in his bare feet, he grabbed his rifle and went out to defend their position. He was killed in the encounter.

Folklore handed down by the subsequent families who have owned this property since the Civil War has it that the spirit of the soldier who was killed is still there. At least once a week over the last 140 years, sometimes in the middle of the night or in the early afternoon, very distinct footsteps can be heard in the upstairs hallway and sometimes down the steps. They believe it is the soldier coming back, looking for his boots. The current owners were initially very sketical, but after eight years of hearing the steps in the hallway, they grew accustomed to it and really didn't think much about it.

Okay, I believe that there is some type of life after death, but I didn't quite agree that this barefoot soldier was still roaming around. The owners advised us that since they had decided to sell, there had been an increase in the number of times they heard the soldier, as though he was restless and didn't like the idea of someone new moving in.

We agreed to host a Broker's Open the first Tuesday on the market. My co-host was a very intuitive and religious person and, was more than a little nervous about doing the Open House. I tried to assure her we would be gone before he chose to make an appearance.

This is a very, very quiet home. The plaster walls are more than 12 inches thick and very little outside noise comes in though the windows. We had a fairly decent showing as Broker Opens go. We thought we were alone and were cleaning up when we heard a door slam shut in the upstairs hallway. All of the windows were closed, no draft. While there was ductwork for the air conditioning, no air was blowing. No one was in the home except us. Being semi-brave I offered to go check things out. As I headed for the door that led to the upstairs hallway, we both heard eight distinctive footsteps on the hardwood floor hallway and another door, open and close shut. 

After looking at each other for a few anxious minutes, waiting to see if there was going to be any additional activity, I very gingerly opened the door leading to the hallway. Fortunately, for me, there was no one physically present that I could see. I also checked the upper hallway. Nothing but a very eerie quietness. We finished cleaning up in record time and hit the road.

The house sold the following week to a family who was very interested in American history. Our Seller fully briefed them on his impressions of the home and who else may or may not still be present. They were fine with that and looked forward to moving in. I recently checked and found that the same family is still there and very much enjoy the spirit who is with them. They did some research about the names of soldiers who died at the home and came up with a name, Private Jonathan Adler.

Rest in peace Private Adler.