The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-01-16
LEGEND OF HAUNTED HOUSE
WILD CAT AND TWO DEATHS
 HAVE BEEN WOVEN

Into the story-But Gentlemen of the Road Don't Mind and There are Flaws in the Yarn Anyway-TrOIIey May Help it Out--SOmething About the Family Which Owns It.
 About two and one-half miles north of Waterville, on the Thomaston road, under the shadow of the outlying clus- ter of Litchf1eld hills, stands a house. or rather the remains of house-with a history It is known as the Haunted House in all that section, and not love or money would induce one of the na- tives to enter it after nightfall. And yet investigation fails to reveal very much of support in fact for the tradi- tion which gives it it's reputation as the habitat of shades The legend runs 1 in this wise:
 Some forty years ago the house was occupied by one William Goggins, an Irishman, and his family, which con- 1 sisted of his wife and one child, a daughter. The child was afflicted by somnambulism, and one night she arose in her sleep and wandered out into the adjacent wood, where she was ] attacked and killed by wild cat. The father, awakened by hearing, or fancy ing he heard, the cry of his child, arose and went in search of her. When he returned to the house with his lifeuess burden the mother, who was in feeble health, was so overcome by the sight that she fell down in swoon, from which she never rallied. The double tragedy so wrought upon Goggin's mind that he soon afterwards drowned himself in the adjacent pond.
 ONE FACT ESTABLISHED.
 It has been said that this story has very little real foundation. It is estab- lished that William Goggins did live there about the time mentioned and that he had sick child whose mind was unfavorably affected by the cries of carniverous animals whichroamed these hills in those days.
 As near as can be learned, the Haunted House was built about seven- | ty-four years ago by Marvin Painter, and was occupied for many years by his son, Harry Painter The latter whose wife was Sally Nichols, of the old Middletown family of that name had four children, two boys and two girls. The sons, Henry and Bennett started for California at the time ot the gold craze. Bennett died of shir fever on the way out, but Henry lived to embark in mining, and twice visited his eastern home. He died some years ago. possessed of a comfortable for tune in Montana silver mines. One of the girls married Henry Hull, of Naug- atuck The other was espoused by the late Daniel Carter and went at once to the place known as the Daniel Garter farm, just above the Haunted House Since her husbands death she has re- sided with her daughter. Mrs. c. Fred Barnes, at the latter's handsome resi- dence on the Columbian Heights Boul- evard
 LIVED ALONE FOR YEARS.
 Mrs. Harry Painter, after her hus' band died, and her children grew UT and left her, lived alone for many years in the Haunted House. She was a clever business woman and accumu- lated considerable property, Her last days were spent at the home of hel son-in-lay, Daniel Carter. Numerous tenants have occupied the house dur. ing the last quarter of a century, bu none for long. It stands in Lonesome spot, and this fact and its ghostly re pute have caused it to be summed by desirable lessees. It has long been z roosting place for hoboes, and it's on! legitimate tenants of late years havt been a gang of laborers engaged il nearby construction work. At presen it is a sorry wreck. It's doors havt been broken down and used for fuel il its ample fireplace, the windows art gone and it's walls are battered Bu 1t is still a good substantial structure and when the trolley runs by the door as it will before many years, ther, may be another story to tell.-Water bury American.