The Haldeman Family owned the Locust Grove property for about three generations, more than any other family. They turned what had been mostly an agricultural and wooded property into an industrial complex with a four-story Grist & Commercial Mill, Distillery, Sawmill and Livestock Operations by 1800.

They were close friends with the 15th President of the United States, James Buchanan, Jr. (1791-1868) and Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of War, Simon Cameroon (1799-1889). They, as well as other politicians, undoubtedly passed thru the mansion, it's ballroom and guest room, along with merchants from Baltimore, Lancaster, Philadelphia and York with which the Haldemans carried on business.

The Haldeman Mansion is known as the birthplace and childhood home of Professor Samuel Steman Haldeman (1812-1880). He epitomized the generation of 19th Century scholars, who advanced American science and letters to a position of cultural independence from Europe. He was a famous man among his peers in the United States and Abroad. He was a polymath, his interests spanned a vast array of subjects, as did his expertise and writings. He was a businessman (iron manufacturer), an educator (held positions at several institutes & universities), a scientist (early evolutionist writer, acknowledged by Darwin) and linguist. He was a leader in the development of phonetics as a science.

This mansion dates back to the 1740's and was purchased by John Haldeman in 1812, who enlarged the home. His son, Samuel Steman Haldeman, was a renowned scientist honored by Charles Darwin for his contribution to the famous book "The Origin of the Species" and by Daniel Webster for his help on the dictionary. Paranormal investigators have reported collecting several EVP recording from the front porch of the mansion.

‘Legends of Lancaster:’ The Haldeman Mansion of Bainbridge is a hot spot for haunts

Click on the link below this entry to connect to a video of an interview with Christina Mark, recording secretary with the Haldeman Mansion Preservation Society who explains some paranormal experiences at this location.

A summary of the video:

• An apparition of woman dressed in period clothing has been seen standing by the window.
• Doors upstairs slammed closed on their own.
• Shadows have been seen upstairs.
• Paranormal investigators have collected several EVPs from the location.

There are so many claims its hard to know where to begin!

Most notable are many stories of a little girl and an older man that often make their presence known among the many other spirits that still roam the home, property and nearby burial grounds. Then you have Jacob who was taken in by the Haldemans, and then subsequently banned from the mansion for bad behavior. You see young Jacob was more than a little off his head. He enjoyed harming, often-killing birds and small animals. The final straw as Lora told us, occurred when he was caught killing a bald eagle. Legend has it- he lived out his final days under a large tree on the property and eventually succumbed to the elements. Has he finally made his way back in to the only loving home he ever knew?

One can only assume the mansions close proximity to the Susquehanna River and active train tracks also have something to do with the energy one can easily feel surrounding the Haldeman. Combine all this with the nearby Indian burial grounds that have been disturbed and you have the perfect recipe for a haunting.