Building 1 "The Couple"

The tragedy that befell the most recent residents of this home is not recounted for the sake of entertainment, and should not be used as an act of condemnation of the actions of the deceased.

The following events ended in April of last year.

Many of the houses on Wellington Street are quite old, some dating back nearly 100 years or more. The house in question is a Victorian style home, one of the oldest on the street. Though many of the persons who recounted the story were unwilling to share with me its location, neighbors were quite adamant about which house it was.

The wood that covers the exterior is a vibrant maroon color, with a long, drawn porch that wraps around the front and left side of the building. On its face, just to the right of the door, is a gold plated plaque declaring that the home was established in 1877. Considering its age, the home is in remarkable condition. This is especially impressive since over the years the home has had no less than 6 different owners. The roof is a charcoal gray, and the windows and fixtures, outside of the plumbing and wiring, are more or less the originals for the home.

The molding on the home is a brilliant white color, though the front door is a deep woodland green. Immediately inside is a wide open parlor, the ceiling a fine example of the heavily detailed work that is classic of this style of home. The space which formally supported the chandelier is now covered with finished plaster, and plans are in motion to find a replacement.

At the back are a set of twin staircases that curl their way to the top, connected to a long hallway that extends to both the right and left side of the home. Under the hall, between the stairwells, is a large set of doors that lead into the kitchen, and from there a large greenhouse. To the right of the parlor is a well-furnished sitting room with an intricate mural covering the whole of the ceiling, a deep red carpet across the floor. To the right is a well-stocked library with a large open rotunda attached at the corner.

The carpet is of significance as the rest of the house is covered in hardwood floors, save the kitchen which is done in black and white tile.

The last residents of the home moved in around a year before the events took place, and were for all intents and purposes described as quiet, all be it pleasant people. The couple moved in with the intent of renovating the home. Much of the work that has been done in terms of wiring and plumbing can be attributed to them. The events in question reportedly started when the couple began discussing plans to replace the rug in the sitting room, which even now is well worn.

During a visit with one of their neighbors, the couple recounted that upon removal of the rug they noticed a set of deep stains in the wood underneath. The stains themselves were a deep black in color, as if copious amounts of ink had been spilled, though the rug itself showed no sign of residue.

What is known of the months after this discovery is overall a matter of speculation. However, for the sake of understanding, all accounts will be included.

The disturbances started a few days after the visit. The couple had yet to replace the rug, though plans were being made to do so. At around 11:30 PM, neighbors reported hearing a series of groans emanating from the home. The sound continued to increase, ending at last in a series of screams. Though the couple were later questioned on the events, and though they both admitted that they had been having trouble sleeping, the neighbors claim that the moans and screams they heard were not those of the couple, who were reportedly out that night. The couple denied this, and to this day no definitive answer can be found.

Three days after that, a call was placed to 911 by the boyfriend. The man claimed that the woman had severely cut herself and was bleeding badly. An ambulance arrived shortly after, and found the woman prone on the floor of the sitting room. She was immediately treated for multiple lacerations, and was rushed to the hospital. The woman survived after receiving a significant blood transfusion. Upon further investigation it was determined that the wounds were self-inflicted, though the couple both claimed it to be accidental.

A psychologist was brought in, and the woman was put on suicide watch. After a significant amount of time spent with the couple, both individually and together, the psychiatrist reported the couple as being of sound mind and the woman was released some days later.

The months that followed are much harder to pin down, as very little of the couple was seen. When they went out in public they were consistently reported to have lost a great deal of weight and looked tired. When asked about their condition they would change the subject, speaking at length about their plans for the house. However, their language and mannerisms showed a great amount of deterioration. After some time of this, concerned neighbors contacted the authorities who were sent to investigate.

Though little is known of the events that followed, what is known is that the couple was once again hospitalized, though their condition prohibited access from visitors. The doctors who treated the couple refused to comment or disclose any information on the subject, some denouncing their involvement completely.

After several weeks the couple were released, though a caseworker was sent daily to check up on them. This caseworker could not be located.

Things were quiet for some time until three days before the tragedy. At this time, the couple invited some of their neighbors over to their house. By all accounts the couple looked surprisingly healthy, though the scars on the woman had healed poorly. In the sitting room was a new carpet. When asked about the change, the couple changed the subject, and made great efforts to redirect the conversation. The party was a great success, and plans were made to get back together the following weekend.

Everything was quiet for the three days leading up to the event, and no one could claim to have seen the couple leave at any point. At 11:30 PM of the third day a commotion was heard coming from the home, followed by a heavy cry, followed by a crash. Several neighbors called the police and even tried to gain entrance, but were unable to get in. When the police arrived no one answered the door. After breaking it down, the police entered the home. Though the officers refused to disclose the details of their investigation, several details have come to light in the time following the tragedy.

One, several officers involved in the investigation have since resigned from their positions. Two, the chandelier that once hung in the parlor was removed from the home in a mangled condition. Three, the wood that was underneath the chandelier has since been removed. Four, the original carpet in the sitting room has been returned. Five, though great efforts have been made, no one has seemed to have been able to remove the black stains that had appeared where the wood had once been.

Since the tragedy the home has had no new owners, though it remains and is maintained as a historical landmark.