By now, you’re probably aware that Oregon has no shortage of haunted places. Perhaps one of the scariest of them all is the Flavel House in Astoria. Over the years, this mysterious mansion has played host to a number of eerie residents, both human and spectral. From hoarders to hatchets, this house has seen it all, and that’s why it’s known today as the most haunted house in Oregon. Let’s go on a little ghost hunt, shall we?

Our story begins back in 1901 when this iconic home was first constructed for Captain George Conrad Flavel.
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At one point in time, the Flavel family was one of the most prominent families in Astoria due to their charity work and contributions to the community.
Flavel House Museum/Google Local
Things took a turn for the worse after the captain’s son, Harry M. Flavel, and his family inherited the house from his father. Neighbors in the area considered Harry's son (Harry Sherman) to be a bit unbalanced.
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In 1947, when Harry Sherman was 20 years old, neighbors reported hearing screams coming from the Flavel house. Fearing the possibility of danger, the neighbor burst into the house, where he found Harry's mother Florence screaming from inside a locked room. Harry, armed with a hatchet, attacked the neighbor and cut his arm. This event earned him the nickname "Hatchet Harry."
At the trial, Florence insisted she had been in no danger and claimed that the neighbor was drunk. Harry stated that he had merely been acting in self-defense when he attacked the neighbor. The charges against Harry would eventually be dropped.
JOHNNY STALL/Google Local

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This would not be the only incident involving Harry, however. In 1983, Harry was walking one of his dogs around the neighborhood when a car belonging to 22-year-old Alec Josephson sped past. Harry hit the car with the dog's chain as it went by.
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Furious, the owner of the car chased Harry down on foot. Harry retaliated by violently stabbing him. Once again, Harry was charged with assault. This time, he ended up being sentenced to probation. After he lost, the family packed up and moved out of Astoria, abandoning their mansion in 1990.
Many people in the community claim that the decaying house, which sat abandoned for so long, was actually haunted.
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For decades, the derelict house remained empty. It eventually fell into such a state of disrepair that the county was able to go in and do some minor work on the property.
Once inside the home, it was discovered that the Flavel family had been hoarding items for the past 100 years. Garbage and clutter were everywhere.
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In 2015, after decades of being abandoned, Greg Newenhof bought the Flavel house and began the restoration process.
Today, the Flavel House once again stands proudly in Portland -- but that doesn't mean the ghost stories have gone away! Visit, and see what you think...
Brandon Olafsson/Flickr

Have you visited the most haunted house in Oregon before? If so, we’d love to hear about your ghost hunting adventures! For more historic Oregon homes, check out our previous article: You’ll Want To Visit These 13 Houses In Oregon For Their Incredible Pasts. Some of them are haunted; all of them are worth a visit!

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most haunted house in Oregon

Sarah | September 28, 2021

What are some other haunted houses in Oregon?

High up in the hills above Portland, Oregon rests one of the most haunted homes in the nation: the Pittock Mansion. This stately house dates back to 1914, when it was owned by Henry and Georgiana Pittock, and was constructed. As legend has it, the historic residence is believed to be haunted by its former owners to this day. The 16,000-square-foot French Renaissance-style home has 23 rooms, including a library, Turkish smoking room, music room, five large bedrooms, and two sleeping porches. It was intended to be a summer retreat for the wealthy family. Sadly, both Henry and Georgiana passed away just five years after construction of their beloved mansion was completed. Family lived there for awhile, and then left it to deteriorate... and that's when the haunted tales started swirling. Read all about this haunted house in Oregon for yourself in this feature!

What are some ghost stories about Oregon?

Here's a fun one: the historical Fort Stevens State Park is haunted by the ghost of a soldier who patrols the area at night holding a flashlight. There are many stories recounting encounters with the man, who, when approached, disappears into thin air. If you camp near Battery Russel you may catch a sight of the ghost yourself!

Are there many ghost towns in Oregon?

The state of Oregon by its nature is frontier land, where scores of speculators, fur traders, and pioneers traveled; longing for their very own plots of land to live out the American Dream. So it should come as no surprise that the Beaver State is full of long-abandoned ghost towns – left to return to nature. We’ve spotted some of these abandoned communities, and while not all of them are creepy, these 10 creepy ghost towns in Oregon are here for your viewing enjoyment. How many have you visited?

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Flavel House Museum, 714 Exchange St, Astoria, OR 97103, USA