Kent Masonic Temple

Stories & Folklore

Stories & Folklore are just that. Stories and personal accounts that have been reported about the location and passed down from generation to generation. This section could also contain research notes as well.

The Kent Masonic Lodge has long been known for its rich history but among locals it is equally remembered for its haunting connection to tragedy. The most well known spirit said to linger within its walls is that of Kitty Kent the daughter in law of Marvin Kent. Her death in the early twentieth century marked a sorrowful chapter in the homes past. According to local accounts Kitty died inside the house after a tragic propane gas accident. The explosion and fire that followed claimed her life and left an indelible mark on the grand Victorian mansion that later became the Masonic Lodge.

Since that time, many who have visited or worked in the building claim that Kitty never truly left. Witnesses report seeing a woman in period clothing wandering near the windows of the upper floor where she once lived. She is often described wearing a long dress, her expression calm yet sorrowful, and surrounded by the faint smell of burning gas or smoke. Some people say her apparition appears only for a few seconds before fading into the shadows, while others insist they have seen her reflection clearly in the glass of the large front windows that overlook West Main Street.

Her presence is not always visual. Members of the lodge have reported sudden cold spots in rooms where there are no vents or drafts. On quiet nights when the building is empty, soft footsteps are heard moving from the parlor to the staircase, followed by a light tapping sound as if someone is gently touching the banister. A few claim to have heard a woman's voice calling faintly for help or murmuring words they cannot make out. These sounds are most often reported late in the evening around the anniversary of her death, as if she relives those final moments again and again.

Visitors have also reported the strong scent of propane or smoke in areas of the house where no modern fuel is used. On one occasion during a guided historical tour, guests described smelling gas and hearing a faint hiss near the old kitchen area, only for it to stop abruptly when one of them called out Kitty's name. Paranormal investigators who have explored the site have captured unexplained audio of a woman saying "please" followed by a long sigh. Electronic equipment often malfunctions during these sessions, especially in the basement and second-floor hallways, where activity is most frequent.

Some believe that Kitty remains bound to the house out of confusion or sorrow, unable to move on from the suddenness of her death. Others think her spirit lingers out of love for her family home and the legacy of the Kent name. Despite the tragedy that ended her life, witnesses often describe her energy as gentle rather than menacing, protective as if she is watching over the place that once brought her happiness. Many who have sensed her presence describe feeling not fear but a deep sadness mixed with warmth, as though she wants her story remembered.

Today the Kent Masonic Lodge stands not only as a historical landmark but also as a memorial to Kitty Kent and the family that helped build the city's identity. Her spirit has become part of the building's character, woven into its walls just as surely as the carved wood and stone that give it form. Whether her presence is a haunting or a reminder of love lost too soon, her memory continues to drift through the hallways of the lodge, a silent echo of the past that refuses to fade.

Added by: sdonley on 11/03/2025 DB#: 1770
Source(s): Various

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