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Text by Ken DeCosta
Photos by Dawn DeCosta
In 2007, Mrs. DeCosta took a trip to San Diego to visit with her parents, Lori and Dave (who are amused by, but yet supportive of their son-in-law's and grandson's interest in the paranormal). As usual, we insisted the lucky gal make every effort to visit some (or most) of the notorious haunts located there so that we could somehow vicariously visit them ourselves. On this visit she found her way into the Whaley House, named "America's Most Haunted House" by the producers of the Travel Channel's "America's Most Haunted". It is also listed as an authentic haunted house by the United States Department of Commerce! This, of course, lends itself to some debate, but the sheer volume of reported hauntings and sightings certainly gives one pause for thought. Although there are no anomalies to be seen in these shots, we hope those of you who have never visited California State Historic Landmark #65 get a sense of the history and feel of the property. The Whaley House is located at the intersection of San Diego Avenue and Harney Street, in the heart of historic "Old Town" San Diego.
There are also some very compelling mysteries surrounding the Whaley family as you will see.
Enjoy.
The Courtroom
This was once the site of the San Diego County Courthouse as Thomas Whaley rented out the first floor living room to the county for $65 in gold coin per month. A dispute over the construction of a new courthouse resulted in Alonzo Horton, a prominent and wealthy citizen, coercing ranking officials into seizing the court records and having them moved to "New Town" where Horton owned a great deal of property and where the new courthouse was to be located. This event took place while Thomas was away on business and resulted in Anna being held at gunpoint while her home was infiltrated. This incited Whaley who was upset about losing his rent income to the point that he tried and failed to have the city council make reparations for money he claimed he was owed (about $385.00). The room was subsequently rented out to a theatrical group.
A heavy iron chain in the room has been known to swing on its own and footsteps are heard on the floor above it.
Visitors to the Whaley House have also reported seeing a woman wearing a floor-length skirt and a stylish hat in this courtroom. A picture of a woman in "shadowy form" was once taken in this room. Psychics have reported she seems to be "grounded" in this area. Perhaps she was a past tenant?
Or maybe a female member of the theater group who was murdered by a jealous boyfriend out in the
garden one night.
It is reported that a little girl haunts this room. Legend states that it is a playmate of the Whaley children who broke her neck running into a backyard clothesline and whose name was either Annabel or Carrie Washburn. She was said to have died in Thomas Whaley's arms as he carried her into the house. This is now in some dispute as there are no records of any children dying here or of any family named Washburn residing in the county at that time. There is some belief that a former employee of the Whaley House made up the story to enhance the house's mysterious aura. Note for all you occultists: that is not a "cross" design on the wallpaper but a "fleur-de-lis" pattern in gold print. Very shiny and somewhat tacky (just an opinion).
The Stairway Landing
Anna Whaley, wife of Thomas who at the time was away on business, was pushed aside by an angry mob of county officials while court records were taken from the house for the purpose of transferring them to a new location. Anna stood on these steps and watched helplessly. The ghost of a defiant Thomas Whaley has been seen on this second floor landing, wearing a black frock and wide-brimmed hat. Visitors sometimes feel a chill of air on these stairs. Dawn's cousin Lori and her daughter Amber are standing in as no ghosts agreed to be photographed at this time.
The Archway
This doorway arch leading from the parlor to the music room stands in the spot where Yankee Jim Robinson, convicted of stealing a boat named the Plutus in an effort to become a pirate, was hanged in 1852. The trial was a bit of a circus that included a drunken judge and a kangaroo court. People standing in this archway report feeling their throats being constricted. Jim has also been known to stand behind the tour guides from time to time as they conduct their business. As he was a very tall, robust man, his feet were said to scrape the ground as he hung and it took him nearly an hour to expire.
The Music Room
Ghostly laughter and music from another era have been heard in this room. There is also the smell of cigar smoke and a faint aroma of perfume from time to time. In the right corner foreground you can see a lamp on which a couple of ornamental crystals have been seen moving by themselves while the others remain motionless. There are two pianos in the room, one that once belonged to Jenny Lind, a famous singer of that era, and the other was used in the movie "Gone With The Wind" and actually was not in the house when the Whaley family lived there. Mrs. Whaley has been known to request songs through psychics who have been in contact with her.
The Windows
Ground floor windows have been sealed shut as for a time they opened themselves and kept setting off the alarm. Curtains have also been seen billowing even though no breeze comes through the sealed windows.
Little Thomas Whaley's Room
The son of Anna and Thomas died at the age of 17 months. A baby's cries have been heard coming from this room and a ghost dog has been reported entering and leaving the room. Toys that have been left on the bed and the floor have been moved as if by themselves. This room has been sealed off for reasons of preservation and is only viewable through a Plexiglas window that covers the doorway completely. A strange sidebar to young Thomas' death was a poem, written for his mother Anna appearing in the San Diego Tribune the next day. The author of the poem to the grieving mother was George Whaley, Thomas' brother who - wait for it - was actually born two years after Thomas Jr.'s death. Now that is a child prodigy. Nobody has figured that one out yet.
Upstairs Bedrooms
Covers on the beds upstairs appear to be rumpled as if someone has been lying on them. Corinne Lillian Whaley, a daughter always said she felt uncomfortable upstairs in these rooms. It might be because an older sister, Violet, who committed suicide after a failed marriage, haunts the place. After her divorce, Violet moved back home and, despondent, actually attempted suicide two other times before finally getting it done. On one occasion, she supposedly threw herself out of a second-floor window, but to have landed where Thomas Sr. said he found her, she would have had to take a turn in mid-air after her leap.
On the day of her death, a suicide note was found telling of her sorrow about her failed marriage. Thomas Sr. said he heard a gunshot from the bathroom and upon entering, found his daughter barely alive. He carried her to the back parlor where she eventually succumbed to her injury. The inquest into her death seemed very rehearsed as Thomas, Corinne and George (now having actually been born) seemed to give the same pat answers. One problem: no gun was reported found.
But wait......
Soon before Corinne's death, sometime in the 1950's, renovation work was being done to the property. Near the old barn, where horses were kept, was a cement slab. When it was removed a .32 caliber handgun was found beneath it. The bullet removed from Violet was also of the same caliber. Corinne claimed it was her gun, which she carried for protection walking to and from work. Before her death Corinne stated she did not wish to be buried in the family plot, but in another part of the Old Town cemetery which is located adjacent to the property. Thomas Jr., George Whaley, Francis Whaley, Violet Whaley, are all buried in the family plot along with Thomas Sr. and Anna Whaley. There is a child, Victoria Whaley there, but her existence is denied by most Whaley historians. There are also a few rather unusual headstones.
and of course....
