In 2019, we traveled down to Marietta, Ohio, to take a couple of ghost tours and research some of the history of the area. During that visit, we discovered a mansion that perfectly matched our vision for the opening of our videos.

What brought us to this location was the scheduled ghost tour that we had. The Anchorage in Marietta, Ohio, is currently owned by the Washington County Historical Society, and its day-to-day operations, including tours and events, are handled by Hidden Marietta through a leasing arrangement. This location serves as the headquarters for Hidden Marietta's tours.

We created a video that showcases the mansion and our inside tour. We also delve into the mansion's history and the documented experiences of paranormal activity. Please watch the video below for more information.

The Anchorage in Marietta, Ohio, blurs the boundary between history and folklore with whispers of the supernatural. Many believe the strongest presence lingering within its halls is that of Eliza Putnam, the woman for whom the mansion was originally built. Only a few years after moving into the house, Eliza Putnam passed away, yet some believe her spirit has never truly left. Visitors have reported seeing a woman in period dress near the upper floors, especially by the room that was once her bedroom. Others describe the unsettling feeling of being watched when standing in the tower, as though Eliza is still gazing over the home she designed so carefully.

Beyond Eliza, stories persist of children’s spirits moving through the halls. Two little girls, sometimes called Henrietta and Clarabelle, are said to giggle in the dark corners or tug at the clothing of unsuspecting guests. Investigators have captured unexplained recordings of laughter, and some claim to have seen small shadows dart across the floor as though children are playing. These accounts add a lighter but still chilling layer to the house’s ghostly reputation, suggesting that the Anchorage may be more than just the domain of restless adults.

Another common tale is of a mischievous entity named Walter. Unlike the quieter spirits, Walter is described as playful but also prone to pranks. Lights have been known to flicker on and off, doors creak shut on their own, and objects move without explanation. Some visitors have felt an invisible tap on their shoulder or had their hair tugged, only to find no one there. Walter is often blamed for these antics, giving him a reputation as a trickster who refuses to fade away with time.

Disembodied voices are frequently reported inside the Anchorage. Guests have heard hushed conversations echoing in empty rooms or a man’s voice calling out when no one else is present. Paranormal teams have recorded electronic voice phenomena that seem to respond to direct questions, raising speculation that the spirits are intelligent and aware of the living who enter their space. These voices are sometimes heard near the grand staircase, adding to the building’s eerie atmosphere.

Shadows are another recurring feature of Anchorage’s lore. People describe dark, humanlike figures that move swiftly along the hallways or peer from the corners of rooms. These shapes often vanish as quickly as they appear, leaving only the sense that something unseen lingers. People most often witness shadowy movements in the basement and tower, areas long believed to be the most spiritually charged parts of the house.

Temperature drops are another unsettling phenomenon frequently reported. Guests often describe sudden chills sweeping through otherwise warm rooms. Some paranormal investigators claim to have mapped these cold spots with thermal cameras, showing figures forming in the air itself. One particularly chilling report involves a sharp drop in temperature that preceded a whisper captured on recording equipment, leading many to believe the cold is tied to the energy of the spirits themselves.

The old nursing home era of Anchorage has also left a spectral imprint. During those decades, the house was filled with the sick and elderly, many of whom likely passed away within its walls. Visitors have claimed to hear the faint sound of a bell ringing, reminiscent of those used in hospitals, and others say they have smelled antiseptic in the air when no such substance was present. These sensory experiences give weight to the belief that spirits from this later chapter of the building’s history linger.

The basement of the Anchorage is particularly notorious. Some people claim that tunnels once connected the house to the river, and these tunnels may have been linked to the Underground Railroad, although this connection remains unproven. Regardless of their historical reality, the tunnels feature heavily in ghost stories. People report feelings of dread in the basement, with some claiming to hear the sound of chains rattling or footsteps echoing through the stone walls. Others say they feel sad or scared for no reason, as if absorbing the energy of those who once suffered or hid there.

The tower is perhaps the most spiritually active part of the house. Long used as a vantage point, it has become infamous for strange lights that appear at night when no one is inside. Some believe Eliza herself lingers there, forever keeping watch over the town below. Others suggest the tower has become a gathering place for restless energies, a beacon for spirits drawn to the mansion. The sense of being accompanied in the tower is so strong that many visitors refuse to stay there alone.

Investigators have often noted Anchorage’s ability to interact directly with those who seek it out. Tools such as spirit boxes, pendulums, and dowsing rods are said to produce unusually strong results in the mansion, with responses that feel personal and intentional. The spirits seem willing to engage, offering names, emotions, and even warnings. This level of interaction has made the Anchorage a staple in paranormal circles, a place where the veil between worlds feels unusually thin.

Some of the most unnerving reports are physical encounters. Guests have felt unseen hands brush against their arms or the pressure of a hand resting on their back. People have occasionally reported experiencing shoves or pushes while on the staircase. Despite the mischievous nature of most spirits, their sudden bursts of physical contact leave lasting impressions on those who experience them.

The Anchorage continues to draw curiosity because it embodies both history and haunting in equal measure. Its Italianate design and storied past provide it undeniable character, but the whispers of voices, the chill of unseen presences, and the figures that appear in the shadows ensure that it remains firmly rooted in legend. For those who visit, it offers not just a glimpse into nineteenth-century Marietta but also the mysteries that lie just beyond the world of the living. Would you like me to create a narrative-style version of these hauntings, as if it were a ghost story told during a tour inside the Anchorage?