Delaware’s Creepiest House, Woodburn Mansion, Is Said To Be Full Of Hauntings
By Kim Magaraci|Updated on January 16, 2020(Originally published January 02, 2020)
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Kim Magaraci
Author
Kim Magaraci graduated Rutgers University with a degree in Geography and has spent the last seven years as a freelance travel writer. Contact: kmagaraci@onlyinyourstate.com
Woodburn Mansion in Dover was built in 1790 and remains one of the finest examples of Georgian homes in the entire state. The 7 bedroom house has been home to many of Delaware’s wealthy citizens, and it was bought by the State of Delaware in 1965 to be the Governor’s Home. It was then renovated to make it more modern. One thing has stayed the same, though, throughout all of the years and all of the residents of the Governor’s House – the ghosts of Woodburn Mansion have never left. Many people consider this the most haunted house in Delaware! The spirits appear in many forms, mostly pleasant, and have been heard and seen by so many people that it’s hard to dispute the fact that there’s just something not quite right about the entire estate. Take a look, and let us know what YOU think. Is Woodburn one of the scariest places in Delaware?
When you look at Woodburn Mansion in the 1950s, pictured below shortly before the State of Delaware purchased it, you can almost tell it's an eerie and historic place.
Prior to being the "Governor's House," this haunted place in Delaware was home to senators, politicians, wealthy farmers, doctors and other members of Delaware's elite class. Nearly every resident has reported hearing or seeing one of the Mansion's many ghosts.
The property is adorned with crepe myrtles, boxwoods and large poplar trees.
These large trees loom over the property, giving visitors a sense of dread. The feeling makes sense when you find out that one of the ghosts of Woodburn Mansion is a southern slave raider who died hanging from a tree that still stands. When Dan Cowgill, a Quaker man, owned Woodburn, it was a stop on the Underground Railroad. One night, a group of slave raiders came to the mansion, and as Mr. Cowgill chased them away, one attempted to escape by climbing the large poplar tree in the front yard. He slipped, unnoticed, and got caught in a knot in the tree, where he hanged until his death. To this day, you can still hear screams and shackles, as this evil man must relive his death frequently, as his own personal hell. This tale is one of the most well-known of the many ghost stories in Delaware.
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The first Ghost of Woodburn Mansion was reported in the early 1820s, just a few decades after the house was built. Early residents and guests had no idea they were sleeping in the most haunted house in Delaware.
Dr. M.W. Bates had a preacher as a guest for the night, and after a night of socializing, the guest retreated to an upstairs bedroom. On his way down the stairs in the morning, he passed another guest who was dressed in colonial garb and shuffling up the steps. When he approached the breakfast table and suggested they wait for this other guest, the Bates' were confused. There were no other guests in the house. The Preacher described the man he encountered in detail, and it was revealed that the man he passed was Mrs. Bate's father - who had been dead for years.
While the decor has changed throughout the decades, the ghosts still remain fascinated with this room at Woodburn. Governors' wives have heard scampering footsteps in the dining room at all hours of the night, Revolutionary-era gentlemen have been seen floating across the room, and the "wine ghosts" seem to imbibe whatever vino is left out here.
Most of the ghosts reported at Woodburn seem to be friendly and fun-loving. In fact, some of them have been a little too fun.
When Governor Charles Terry Jr. was living in the mansion, one ghost in particular was seen helping himself to vintage wines in the dining room. A previous owner of Woodburn reported that he'd fill his wine decanter every night, and find it empty the next morning. These wine-drinking apparitions usually appear dressed in revolutionary-era clothes, even in modern day. Occupying the most haunted house in Delaware is hard work, and even ghosts need to wind down sometimes.
One ghost is quite younger than the rest, and it makes you wonder what occurred to have her haunting Woodburn.
A young girl is seen often in the garden, wearing a red checkered gingham dress. She loves to splash and play in the pools and fountains, and she was seen 'crashing' the inauguration of Governor Michael Castle in 1985. Guests of the new Governor felt something tugging at them throughout the ceremony, and then they saw the young girl floating shyly in a corner of the reception hall.
Do you want to get to know the Ghosts of Woodburn? You can visit the most haunted house in Delaware, if you dare.
Luckily, the Mansion is open to visitors Monday through Friday from 8:30-4:00, but you have to call and make an appointment. Believe it or not, they don't like just anyone strolling about the grounds! Maybe someone should tell that to the ghosts. To schedule a tour and see how haunted it is for yourself, contact Corey Marshall-Steele at (302) 739-5656 or via e-mail at Corey.Marshall-Steele@state.de.us
If you’re looking for more haunted Delaware adventures, be sure to check out our Northern Delaware Haunted Road Trip, and let the ghosts and ghouls terrify you.
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More to Explore
most haunted house in delaware
Kim Magaraci|January 16, 2020
Are there other haunted places in Delaware?
Of course there are more haunted places in Delaware! In fact, you can take a road trip to some of the spookiest places, if you're brave enough. Check out our Haunted Road Trip To Visit Some Of The Spookiest Places In Delaware and gather up your most daring friends to experience your own ghost stories in Delaware
What is the most famous ghost story from Delaware?
The Ghosts of Woodburn Mansion may be the most famous of the many ghost stories in Delaware. After all, who wouldn't love to tell the tale of a wine-drinking ghost? Another well known ghost story in Delaware is the haunting of Fort Delaware. This former Confederate prison was the site of unspeakable horrors, and many of those who were incarcerated do not rest peacefully.
Can I go ghost hunting in Delaware?
Sure - anyone can go ghost hunting in Delaware. Plan a self-guided tour with our road trip above, or mark your calendars for the Fort Delaware paranormal investigations that take place every fall close to Halloween.
