King House – Mayport
King House was originally built on an old Spanish graveyard and was used as a boarding house for sailors. It was destroyed by fire and rebuilt sometime after 25 April 1881. King House still stands in Ocean Street, Mayport to this day.
Before his death in the late 1970s the house was owned and occupied by a John King and it was during these years that it became known as the most haunted house in the area. A master storyteller, Mr King would tell ghost stories to visitors from all over the county and a number of mysterious incidents were reported at the house. Psychical researchers investigating the house have concluded that the atmosphere in it is perfect for hauntings and that there may be some kind of evil presence there.
A distant aunt of Mr King who was pitch-forked to death as she sat in a green rocking chair by her jealous sailor ex-boyfriend is said to roam the halls of the house, and many people, including MrKing, have claimed the chair rocked with no one sitting in it. A little man in red who liked to play tricks on guests in the house has also been reported, as has a lady in white who is thought to be the ghost of a young woman killed on her wedding night in a car crash near the King House. There have also been reports of ghosts pulling the covers from Mr King and guests while they slept in their beds at night, and of doors opening when the handles were reached for.
SEE ALSO:
SOURCE:
The Element Encyclopedia of the Psychic World: The Ultimate A–Z of Spirits, Mysteries and the Paranormal: The Ultimate A-Z of Spirits, Mysteries and the Paranormal – Written by Theresa Cheung – © Theresa Cheung 2006