The Historic Farnsworth House Inn – Gettysburg, PA (November 2025)

The Historic Farnsworth House Inn is linked to one of the most famous stories of the occupation of Gettysburg. The Farnsworth House attic window, or garret, was identified as the location of the sniper that shot the fatal bullet that took the life of civilian Jennie Wade, aged 20, the only civilian casualty of this battle. (Once I saw how close all the fighting was and how wild the bullets flew, it seems so amazing to me that more civilians weren’t killed directly as a result of artillery and firing – blessing it was only one.) She was not an intentional target, being inside her house. Residents had been advised to stay in the basement of their homes to avoid accidentally being injured by either side. It is postulated that the shooter didn’t even know his bullet killed the young Jennie Wade before he met his own end a few days later.

The house itself was not known as the Farnsworth House Inn prior to 1972, but was renamed by current owner Loring Schulz. This house was renamed in honor of Union Brigadier General Elon John Farnsworth. Farnsworth, and 65 men and horses of the 1st Vermont, died following orders to “break the enemy skirmish line between Big Round Top and the Emmitsburg Road.” A story wrought with jealousy and honor, this charge never should have happened and the man responsible for it, their divisional commander, Union Brigadier General Judson Kilpatrick, never was held responsible. I recommend reading the story, because it helps you better understand Farnsworth’s quick rise through the ranks and his last interaction with his superior before he rode to his death.

Beyond the name, the house’s history is spilling out of every window and bullet hole in the building. I went on a two hour tour and there was still so much more to this house than what could be shared in those two hours. The Farnsworth House was purchased by the Schulz family in 1972 and they have been operating it ever since, making it a family affair as much as possible. The love and respect for this historic location is evident and allows for visitors to feel just as excited about the history as the operators feel as caretakers. Not only do you learn that there are, according to our guide, a “baker’s dozen” of spirits who occupy the house and grounds (other reports are 16-17, not 13), but you also learn about the shifting landscape, how the location changed and was affected by the war, the architecture and how the building changed over the years (including its origin), and the historical touchstones that made the house a precious piece of history beyond its part in the Gettysburg War.  

November can be a difficult time to travel and enjoy the offerings of these historic and tourist-friendly towns. Many tour companies are closing shop for the season, especially ghost related activities. It is often also not very clear when a location is offering an actual investigation versus simply a tour. That is not the fault of any particular location or tour group, but just a general concern I’ve noticed across the board when it comes to visiting locations that boast paranormal activity. I have realized, though, that, while hosted tours and investigations are great, I do not necessarily need them to connect with spirits or have experiences at the locations I visit. Honestly, it’s sometimes nice to have a general history tour and feel the place out before launching into an investigation event. I can say, though, that I would love to stay in this Inn and engage with the energy I encountered inside.

While I don’t have an investigation to report on or evidence to share, I did have two experiences. The first one was on the second floor. I was standing on the second landing leading up to the second floor with my back facing a hallway. I felt something tugging on my backpack. Its energy felt young and playful. I felt as if they were tugging me down the hallway to their room, not simply making themselves known. It was almost like they were tugging on the various “toys” I have hanging on my bag. There is a monkey and an otter on my bag that seemed to be the source of the tugging. Right as I was gathering this information from the spirit, our guide explained that people have left so many things for the boy spirit in this location that they had to move the gifts to the Sunroom that is right down the hall behind me. “There’s a couple shelves with toys in there and a chest full of toys that people have left over the years since 1972.” At this time, I had a mental flash showing me a young boy with brown trousers, a not-quite-white shirt and suspenders. The outfit was nondescript enough to be difficult to attach to a specific time period. I was shown short brown hair. I learned that this spirit’s name was Jeremy and the guide shared his story which is beyond tragic. It makes sense that he would want to play and even tug on the toys on my backpack. I hung back from the group and whispered to Jeremy that I would love to play, but I have to stay with the group and maybe someday we’d get to interact together again. Jeremy did not follow me upstairs in the attic.

As the story goes, Jeremy was playing a game of horse tag with some older boys outside of the Farnsworth House Inn, known as the Sleepy Hollow Inn under the Black Family. Jeremy waited for a horse or stagecoach or something with horses to come down the street so that he could run out and tag the horse on the hindquarters as it charged by. A stagecoach approached from the south and Jeremy prepared himself. He ran out, tagged the front horse’s hindquarter, but then was struck by the second horse. He crumbled to the ground and, according to our storyteller, was then run over by the stagecoach itself. The father was down the street, heard the commotion and came to check. He then scooped up Jeremy and he was ushered into the Sleepy Hollow Inn and into Sara Black’s bedroom, where the father stayed with Jeremy. A doctor was called and his prognosis was not good. Later that evening Jeremy passed away, his father by his side.

I will politely say that I wish there was evidence to support Jeremy’s tragic story and the devastating revelation that his father is also a residual haunting at the Inn. I’ve consulted reliable sources, like Richard Estep, timeline documents provided by the house, and even numerous online resources. It is consistently stated that Jeremy was affectionately named as such, which usually means the name was given and is not actually the name of the child. Following my own feelings, I don’t feel that’s his real name, but I didn’t have the opportunity to fully interact with him to learn anything different. I wonder if other mediums who have been to the house have identified his real name. It wouldn’t surprise me if the child just accepts it as his name now and might not even remember his given name. I also was unable to turn up any records on his tragic death, his documented age, or even when he occupied the house. I, by no means, am an expert on Gettysburg post-Civil War, but I would personally think a tragic death like Jeremy’s would have been reported in the newspaper. Many tour guides told me repeatedly that newspapers were very nosey and published everything that was going on. It is disappointing that no such article is readily discoverable to back up the tale woven about Jeremy. Maybe a local paranormal investigator can start to deep dive into the story of this young child and his father.

My second experience was in the attic. I had been feeling fine in the house, physically speaking. I wasn’t having stomach issues or headaches. Nothing that was making me want to leave. But once we arrived in the attic, that all changed. I was the last one in and I was sitting next to the door on the second row bench. As I listened to our guide talk about the attic and the setup, I started feeling really sick to my stomach. I felt so nauseous, I actually started to feel like I should leave and get out of the house. Literally something was in my head encouraging me to get up and leave the tour and that I wouldn’t miss anything if I just walked out. I talked back in my mind saying that I am not easily bullied. Then, the guide got up and came over by me, showing the group the door. When he went to put the door back in its position, it didn’t stay and the guide said “Walter, stop that.” And then the guide propped the door right and went to sit back down to continue on with the stories. Strangely, I started to feel better. The unease slowly withdrew and finally went away altogether after a few minutes. Even my mind felt clearer. 

After the talk, after people filed out, I stayed behind to take a few pictures and I asked Walter if that was him that tried to get me to leave. I felt a chill cross the back of my neck and sensed an affirmative as I turned and carefully made my way back down the stairs to join the group. 

From what I’ve been able to gather, the spirit of Walter was identified by a psychic that was called in by someone at the house. He is a Confederate soldier and part of the sharp shooters that had taken up residence in the garret, allegedly the very one that killed Jennie Wade. According to the guide, he had given up his position and had come down to ground level where a Union soldier sharp shooter picked him off. He wouldn’t make it past July 3. It is argued that he never even knew he killed a civilian and only found out after his death. Several places I have seen and heard pointing out that Walter wouldn’t have known in life that he murdered a woman, but according to a story about Lorraine Warren, she said he was suffering extreme guilt for the murder of Jennie Wade and was struggling to move on. She said that he wouldn’t be able to move on until he came to terms with Jennie Wade’s murder. 

But I also heard, unless it’s a different Walter, that he mostly hangs out in the basement. Walter supposedly does not like women, because before he took up his position at the Farnsworth House during the Battle of Gettysburg, he received a “Dear John” letter from his fiancee. This pain from the loss of his loved one and her breaking his heart has carried over to the other side and he takes it out on women he encounters anywhere in the house. I have learned he can be found in the attic, in the basement, or even in the first floor dining room. While most of his encounters are linked to physically external interactions with female visitors, I wonder if maybe some visitors to the house have not attributed the feelings of sickness to him, because of what they’ve been told his interactions are. I very much felt like Walter was making me sick, but I have found no records or accounts to support sickness in the attic. Maybe others have also felt this way, but didn’t think it was Walter.

There are so many more spirits on the property of the Farnsworth House Inn. And the basement is worth investigating. The mirror that was removed by “Kindred Spirits” is back and numerous people are still taking pictures in it. Clearly I’m guilty of participating in this activity, but there was nothing. Here is a mirror image that doesn’t include me:

So many people have gone to investigate this historic property, but I still feel like there hasn’t been an investigation that has truly validated the many stories told or added to the information in a concrete way. Maybe there are some out there who could share more information about this location with evidence or solid investigative discoveries.

If you are looking for an experience with the paranormal or just something you can’t explain, the Farnsworth House Inn is worth your time. I only stopped in on a tour and had two moments of paranormal connection that I could not debunk. When I go back to Gettysburg, I hope that I can find time to stay a night or two at the Farnsworth House Inn, because there is a great deal to learn and experience.