The Haunting of Annabelle, The Doll

Annabelle, The Doll – Fairfield County, Monroe, Connecticut

Tucked away in a locked glass case in a hidden room once belonging to famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, sits a doll so infamous, so feared, it’s said to be one of the most dangerously haunted objects in the world.

Her name is Annabelle — and contrary to what horror movies have shown, she is not porcelain. She is a floppy, soft-bodied Raggedy Ann doll — red yarn hair, wide stitched smile, innocent button eyes. And yet, it is precisely that contrast — the childlike innocence hiding what lies beneath — that makes her story so deeply unsettling.

Annabelle’s haunting began in the early 1970s, when two young women, Donna and Angie, shared a modest apartment while Donna was in nursing school. One day, Donna’s mother purchased the vintage Raggedy Ann doll from a hobby store and gifted it to her daughter. It was meant to be a cheerful presence, a nostalgic reminder of childhood.

But within days, things began to change.

Subtle Movements and Something Unseen

At first, it was small. The doll would be found in slightly different positions than where Donna had left her. Arms crossed, legs uncrossed, head turned. Then she began moving rooms entirely — from the couch to Donna’s bed, from the bedroom to the hallway. Notes started appearing on parchment paper that the girls didn’t own — small scraps written in a childlike hand that read “Help Us” or “Help Lou.”

Then came the red smears — appearing on the doll’s hands and chest as though she had touched something wet… or wounded.

Feeling unsettled, Donna reached out to a medium. During a séance, the spirit identified itself as a young girl named Annabelle Higgins, who had died tragically on the property years earlier. She claimed to be lonely. Lost. She said she liked Donna and Angie, and only wanted to stay near them.

Moved by the story, the girls agreed to let her spirit remain in the doll.

But they had made a terrible mistake.

The Attacks Begin

Lou, a friend of the girls, never trusted the doll. He warned Donna repeatedly that something was wrong. One night, Lou awoke in a cold sweat, unable to move, and saw the doll staring at him — hovering at the foot of his bed.

Then came the most terrifying moment. Lou entered the apartment one afternoon to find it empty and eerily silent. As he approached the doll, he felt a presence behind him. Spinning around, he found nothing — but then felt a searing pain across his chest. When he lifted his shirt, he discovered seven claw marks, three vertical and four horizontal, as though an invisible animal had torn into his flesh.

The scratches burned but healed unusually fast. Still, the message was clear: Annabelle was not an innocent spirit.

Enter the Warrens

Terrified, the girls finally contacted Ed and Lorraine Warren, the famous paranormal investigators known for their work on the Amityville case and dozens of other hauntings. After interviewing the girls and witnessing the phenomena for themselves, the Warrens concluded that the spirit inhabiting the doll was not a young girl at all — but a malevolent, demonic entity using the name “Annabelle” as a ruse to gain trust.

According to Ed Warren, the spirit was never human. It was inhuman — a demon seeking possession of a human host. The doll was simply a conduit. The invitation had been made during the séance, and the entity had been growing in strength ever since.

They performed a blessing on the apartment, but even transporting the doll back to their museum in Monroe proved harrowing. Ed reported that the car’s brakes failed repeatedly during the drive — only after sprinkling holy water on the doll did the malfunctions stop.

The Museum Warning

Once safely in their Occult Museum, the doll was placed inside a locked glass case with a sign reading:

“Warning: Positively Do Not Open.”

The case was blessed regularly by a priest. Yet even inside the museum, Annabelle’s energy remained active.

Visitors who mocked or challenged the doll were said to suffer tragic consequences. One young man allegedly taunted the doll, banging on the glass. He died in a motorcycle crash later that very day. Another visitor claimed to see the doll’s head turn slightly when no one else was looking.

Lorraine Warren, until her passing, claimed she would never look directly into the doll’s eyes.

What Remains Today

The Warren Occult Museum is no longer open to the public, but Annabelle remains locked inside — watched, contained, but not necessarily dormant.

Paranormal researchers often say that objects can hold energy, but in Annabelle’s case, it’s something more. She’s not a haunted doll. She’s a lure. A Trojan horse of innocence that conceals a darkness far more ancient than most can comprehend.

So if you ever see a Raggedy Ann doll in a thrift store, sitting upright when it shouldn't be…

Look twice.
And never say yes when something asks, “Can I stay?”

---

Address:
Warren Occult Museum (now closed)
30 Knollwood Street
Monroe, Connecticut 06468
Phone: N/A (museum closed to public)
The museum is no longer open to visitors. Do not attempt to access the location.
Annabelle remains secured and regularly blessed by clergy and Warren Foundation staff.

The Haunting of the Phelps Mansion

Phelps Mansion – Fairfield County, Stratford, Connecticut

Photograph ©Haunted Houses.com

Address:
1738 Elm Street
Stratford, Connecticut 06615

Nestled in historical obscurity, the mansion was once the residence of Dr. Eliakim Phelps, a Presbyterian minister who, with his family, occupied the dwelling during the early 1900s. Little is known about the mansion itself, except that it became a stage for mysterious occurrences that left an indelible mark on its history.

The enigmatic Reverend Phelps, the former inhabitant of the mansion, is believed to be the catalyst for the paranormal phenomena within its walls. Rumors suggest that Reverend Phelps, drawn to the realms of spiritualism and the occult, engaged in numerous séances. During one such session, he purportedly summoned the spirit of Goody Bassett, a witch executed for practicing witchcraft in 1661.

The saga of paranormal activity commenced during the Phelps family's residency and is rumored to persist to this day. One particular Sunday, upon returning from church, the family was startled to discover the spectral form of Goody Bassett lying on their dining room table, only to witness its sudden disappearance.

In subsequent episodes, the family entered their bedrooms to find their clothing meticulously arranged on the beds, resembling the posture of a person lying in a coffin. At times, their garments were shaped to simulate life-sized bodies. Mysterious puppet dolls, possibly poppet or voodoo dolls, materialized throughout the house, adding an eerie layer to the inexplicable occurrences.

As time unfolded, the paranormal manifestations escalated into poltergeist activity – unexplained knocks, autonomously moving objects, levitating furniture, and items inexplicably colliding with walls. The haunting crescendoed with the children of the Phelps family being assailed at night, enduring beatings from an unseen entity. Furniture shifted across the floors, and objects were hurled out of windows, creating an atmosphere of terror.

The Phelps family's ordeal prompted them to send their children to boarding school, resulting in a cessation of the nightly torment. However, when the mansion transitioned into a Convalescent Hospital in 1947, the hauntings resurged. Over the subsequent two decades, hospital staff reported mysterious knocks, disembodied voices, and doors autonomously opening and closing.

By 1971, the mansion stood abandoned. A peculiar incident occurred when police officers, responding to a sighting, pursued a little girl within the mansion, only to witness her inexplicable vanishing act on the third floor.

Regrettably, the mansion has since been demolished, leaving behind only echoes of its mysterious past. The absence of a formal investigation perpetuates the enigma surrounding the mansion's spectral history.

The Haunting of the Hale Family Homestead

Hale House – Tolland County, Coventry, Connecticut

Photograph ©The Stone Wall Initiative

Address:
2299 South Street
Coventry, Connecticut 06238
(860) 742-9025

The historical tapestry of the Hale's family homestead, erected in the mid-1700s by the industrious Deacon Richard Hale, who traversed from Newburyport, Massachusetts to Coventry, unfolds with fascinating intricacies. A testament to the growth of the Hale family, the house expanded alongside the birth of twelve children to Deacon Hale and his wife, Elizabeth. Tragically, Elizabeth Hale's demise occurred shortly after the birth of their twelfth child. Among the progeny, one stands out prominently - the iconic Revolutionary War hero, Nathan Hale.

Captain Nathan Hale, a valiant officer in the Continental Army during the American War of Independence, etched his name in history as America's inaugural spy. In 1776, at the tender age of twenty-one, Nathan embarked on a mission for the Militia, only to be captured by the British and subsequently hanged. His poignant last words, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country," resonated and solidified his status as a Connecticut state hero and a revered American icon.

Following Elizabeth Hale's passing, Deacon Hale found companionship with another widow, Abigail Cobb, bringing seven more daughters into the fold. The household expanded to nineteen members, prompting Deacon Hale to augment living quarters and establish a dedicated schoolroom within the homestead.

As the Hale children matured and ventured into the world, the house assumed varied roles, accommodating family members for diverse reasons. Deacon Hale continued to reside there until his demise in 1802. Step-siblings John Hale and Sara Cobb Hale, wedded in the homestead, met their end in 1803. David Hale, the youngest offspring and a minister, assumed stewardship, transforming the residence into a school for local boys. Joseph Hale returned with his family, seeking refuge after contracting tuberculosis, and his widow and children continued to occupy the dwelling after his 1784 demise.

The year 1914 marked a transformative period for the homestead. George Dudley Seymour, a prosperous New Haven patent attorney, renowned antiquarian, and ardent admirer of Nathan Hale, acquired the dilapidated dwelling. Seymour undertook extensive restoration, resurrecting its former glory, and dedicated himself to immortalizing Nathan Hale's legacy. In addition to preserving Hale family narratives, Seymour meticulously documented paranormal encounters within the hallowed walls.

George Seymour's inaugural encounter with the paranormal transpired in 1914. Accompanied by a friend, Seymour visited the homestead, witnessing the spectral figure of Deacon Richard Hale at a schoolroom window. The apparition, startled by their arrival, retreated and dissipated into the ethereal realm.

Legends of spectral presence endure within the homestead. Lydia Carpenter, once a servant to the Hale family, purportedly lingers in the afterlife, sweeping the upper hall and engaging in kitchen duties. Her ghostly manifestations include eavesdropping in doorways and hallways. The cellar, haunted by the lingering spirit of Joseph Hale, echoes with the eerie sounds of chains clinking and clanking. Apparitions of John and Sara Hale reportedly roam the premises, with whispers of phantom footsteps echoing through staircases and hallways, adding an ethereal layer to the rich historical narrative encapsulated within the walls of the Hale family homestead.

The Haunting of the Lake Compounce Amusement Park

Lake Compounce Amusement Park – Hartford County, Bristol, Connecticut

Photograph ©Alan Ageloff

The land where the park currently stands boasts a rich history, once belonging to the Mattituck Indians. It is fascinating to note that the park's nomenclature, Lake Compounce, pays homage to Chief John Compounce of the Mattituck tribe. In 1684, Chief Compounce entered into a transaction that would significantly alter the course of history, selling the land to settlers from Massachusetts who sought new opportunities in the area.

Tragically, the chief met an untimely demise within days of parting with the land, drowning in the lake under mysterious circumstances. The details surrounding his death remain enigmatic, adding an element of intrigue to the park's origin story.

Another peculiar incident unfolded shortly after the land exchange—the demise of Mr. Norton, the broker of the deal. His life concluded abruptly when he fell from a ladder, breaking his neck. The Nortons, known for their spiritual inclinations, had faced scrutiny from the government before settling in Lake Compounce, creating an intriguing backdrop to the unfolding events.

The park burgeoned in size and popularity over the years, culminating in its completion in 1895. However, alongside its growth, tales of accidents and strange occurrences began to circulate. During construction, numerous workers reportedly met tragic fates, with one worker even suffering the gruesome fate of decapitation due to a ride mishap.

The paranormal phenomena at Lake Compounce date back to the early 1900s, with reports of supernatural activity becoming an integral part of the park's lore. Remarkably, every structure within the park seems to harbor some form of inexplicable happenings. For over a century, employees and visitors alike have borne witness to these eerie events.

Accounts abound of bodiless voices echoing through the night air, mysterious lights flickering on and off independently, and shadows gracefully traversing the grounds after nightfall. Inanimate objects have been known to defy the laws of nature, moving without any apparent human intervention.

The Starlight Ballroom, nestled within the amusement park, holds its own share of spectral tales. Even after the building has been securely closed and locked for the night, the strains of ethereal music have been reported. Some even claim to have witnessed dancing shadows gracefully navigating the hallways.

Today, Lake Compounce remains a hotbed for inexplicable occurrences, with both employees and visitors recounting their encounters with the unexplained. The park stands as a living testament to a history steeped in mystery, where the past intertwines with the present, creating an ambiance that continues to captivate and perplex those who venture within its bounds.

Address:
822 Lake Ave
Bristol, Connecticut 06010
(860) 583-3300
Website