King House (Mayport)

King House is a historic building on 4627 Ocean St, Mayport, Florida, believed by some to be haunted by the spirit of a sailor.[1]

It is not known when the original building was constructed.[2] The first record of the building is from April 25, 1881, when it was destroyed by a fire.[2] The records note that before its destruction it was used as a boarding house for sailors and that the land had previously been used as a Spanish graveyard.[2]

The building was reconstructed by William Joseph King in 1907 and was occupied by his son until his death in 1977.[3] During this time, due to reports of hauntings, the house was investigated by researchers from the Rhine Institute of Duke University and several other paranormal research groups.[3][4][5] A rocking chair was purported to move on its own accord.[5][6] It had been reported that an aunt of William King had been pitchforked to death on the same chair by a jealous sailor ex-boyfriend.[5] The house was also used as the local Catholic church in the 1940s and mass was held there every week.[3] Congregants reported hearing high-heels moving about in the attic when no-one was there.[3]

Other supposed ghosts who occupy the building include a 'Little Butler' who is said to open doors for visitors and guide them into the living room.[5] There have also been sightings of a maid in the kitchen who acts aggressively towards those using 'her' space.[5] A bride who died in a car crash outside the house on her wedding day is also rumored to haunt the building.[7]

The book Jetty Man by Bill Reynolds was released about the hauntings and house in 1999.[4]

The house is currently used as a centre of operations for the Mayport Cats Program, which assists feral cats.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Dixon, Drew (October 16, 2010). "Mayport fest sparks spooky interest; It aims to increase attention to the area and help feral cats.". Florida Times-Union. pp. L–5.
  2. 1 2 3 "King House, Mayport, Florida". The Element Encyclopedia of the Psychic World 1. Harper Element. 2006. p. 361.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Fitzroy, Maggie (October 26, 2002). "A haunting we will go Ghosts claim many Beaches sites". Florida Times-Union. pp. L–1.
  4. 1 2 Hyman, Ann (March 21, 1999). "Exploring Mayport's dark and haunted side". Florida Times-Union. pp. H–4.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Greg Jenkins (February 2005). Florida's Ghostly Legends and Haunted Folklore: North Florida and St. Augustine. Pineapple Press Inc. pp. 60–. ISBN 978-1-56164-328-8. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  6. ↑ Fitzroy, Maggie (August 21, 2010). "HAUNTED? Spirits of the past keep the Beaches lively; Many feel that the dead frequent their favorite old haunts". Florida Times-Union. pp. L–1.
  7. ↑ Pearce, Jamie Roush. (2013, February 16). Spooky tales of Mayport's King House known far, wide. The Florida Times Union Shorelines: retrieved 2/17/2013.

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