Haunted Victorian Mansion in Gardner, Massachusetts

By Chris Baricko

I am sure most of you have either seen or heard about the Victorian Mansion in Gardner, Massachusetts. It has been on just about every paranormal show on TV you can think of. The owner goes on saying he had no idea it was haunted when he bough it. Here are some facts for you to prove he knew full well it was haunted.

This is a clip of the story that in "The Telegram Times" on  Saturday, July 20, 2013.

"Lillian fell in love with the place immediately," said Mr. Gonzalez. "Well, once she makes up her mind, there's not a lot I can do about it. The realtor did mention something about it being haunted, but we didn't really believe in ghosts, so we paid little attention.

Here is the link to the full story:   http://www.telegram.com/article/20130720/TOWNNEWS/307209999&TEMPLATE=TOWNPORTAL

It was on Ghost Hunters in 2006, two years before he bought it.

Click to enlarge

Now they claim they had to move out cause the activity was so bad  but again they say it started when they first moved in.

By Erika Riggs  Oct 29th 2013
Ghost 'Sightings': Gonzalez says he knew nothing of the home's history when he moved in, but from Day One, he's reported odd things happening: an enormous potted plant tipping over for no reason, shadowy figures, footsteps, and a glass ornament that was moved from the mantle to rest exactly in the middle of the floor several time

Here is the link to that story as well:  http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/10/24/edwin-lillian-gonzalez-haunted-house/

It was also in a book called Haunted Massachusetts released in 2007.
As well in a movie called 14 degree that came out in 2006.
Ghost Hunters November 1, 2006
So within two years it was on national TV. In a book. In a movie. And they claimed they did not know on TV but when you read the above they had to.

He goes on TV saying they were in fear but read another quote from the same link as above “I’m not nervous around it,” Lillian says. “I do get very nervous, when Lillian’s not around I leave the lights on,” Edwin says. Little did Edwin and Lillian knows their beautiful Victorian came with company. Every minute of the day spirits inside their 26 room mansion started reaching out:
http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/17743352/real-haunted-house-tour-of-the-victorian-mansion-in-gardner

The new owners claim they hold events and fundraisers, and restored the mansion that they bought in 2008. As of this year the mansion is still is need of most of the same repairs it was over four years ago. The city even condemned it at one point.

The home at one point was slated to be torn down, not because of ghost activity, but for another issue. The house had not been updated for some time and at one point, stood vacant for 20 years.

Yet after the home was condemned, the city of Gardner didn't have the funds to go through with demolition. The house ended up selling to another buyer. A younger couple, Stanway says, bought it with plans to fix it up.

But the new owners only lived there a few years before moving out. Again, the home was vacant until Gonzalez and Lillian decided to buy in 2008.  (See same link as above).

I was going to do a event/fundraiser there till he told me that house was in need of much repair. He told me birds were living in the eves of the roof no water.no heat.no bathroom.  I asked why have no repairs been made yet? He said that is what the fundraisers are for. When I applied to the City of Gardner for the required permits & trust me they made me go through hoops.I found out he has never pulled any permit for any repairs they told me since he bought it.

When I reviewed the city's permit is states clearly it has to have running water& bathroom. Knowing it did not I backed out of the event. It was then I got a call from the owner all upset asking me why was I backing out of the event? I told him why & he was still upset. He was worried about the City. I then got a message from one of his friends telling me to leave the Victorian alone he is just trying to pay his mortgage that is over $3000 a month I said so he knew it was haunted he said so what if her did. My point was don't lie to people were the money is going to get symphony when your not using it for what you tell people. I asked the owner for proof of any repairs recites very easy as he would have used for a tax right off like everyone else. He never did just ignored me  

He has been doing events there since 2009 so over 4 years and on avenge makes about $400 every other weekend in the nice weather so say $800 X 8 months = $6,400 a year now X that by 4 years is $25.000. That's not including any tours or special events others have there were the cost can be  $100 a person. Now I've been in construction over 20 years I know for $25,000 you can repair the eves and roof, fix the plumbing and get working bathrooms. So the question is where is the money really going?

Here is part of a posting from a groups web page from May NO HEAT, ELECTRICITY OR PLUMBING!!! THERE ARE NO PUBLIC BATHROOMS.....Last event we took a break around 9 pm and visited the pizza place next door, by doing this they allowed us to use the bathroom facilities as needed until their closing time.  We will place an order to be ready at a certain time and split the cost of the pizza, drinks will be on your own. THE COST WILL BE SPLIT EVENLY BY ALL PARTICIPANTS AT EVENT.
Here is the link:  http://www.meetup.com/EXPLORE-HAUNTED-LOCATIONS/events/116356072/

You've seen him on TV not being honest in order to get people to come and put more cash in his pocket. They claim they moved due to the activity. In my opinion I think they moved when they did not put the money from the events back into the mansion and it got to the point it is at now. No running water. No Bathroom. No heat. Since that is the city code you would not have a choice but to move.

That brings me to my other point I contacted with my concerns and how they ran me through hoops. They said they would look into it. I never heard nothing back and that triggered a red flag. So after very little effort I knew why. They helped the owner with a fundraiser for a food drive. I have worked in local government over 12 years and can tell you first hand I see what goes on behind closed doors.

This is why they still allow events there knowing the mansion is not up to code.

But my background is also helpful in knowing what steps to take next. So I sent a letter to the State of Massachusetts with the Town of Gardner's own codes they turned a blind eye to and volited. It's a shame when locations and people use others for personal gain. We need to stop supporting locations & people like this. Support only locations that put the money back into keeping the history going. Like The Houghton Mansion in North Adams, MA  & The USS Salem in Quincy, MA Both locations are top notch and great people.