'Creepiest Place' In CT Also A Popular Museum: HGTV

HARTFORD, CT — The former home of one of America's most beloved authors is also one of the state's more popular museums.

But, according to home improvement cable channel HGTV, the Mark Twain House & Museum on 351 Farmington Ave., Hartford, just happens to be Connecticut's "creepiest place."

Just in time for Halloween, the channel recently posted the "creepiest place" — in the opinion of HGTV — in all 50 Connecticut states.

And Connecticut's entry just happened to be where the author of "Huckleberry Finn" and "Tom Sawyer" (Not the Rush song) once lived.

Samuel Clemens (Twain's real name) lived there with his family from the 1870s into the 1890s, with the house of this "Connecticut Yankee" carrying with it rumors of ghostly haunts.

This is where, according to HGTV, Clemens ... er .... Twain wrote many of his classics, carrying with it significant cultural and historical significance not just in Connecticut, but the country.

But, according to HGTV, personal tragedy forced the family to leave Hartford, despite years of relative bliss in the Land of Steady Habits.

"However, after daughter Susy died of meningitis, the Clemens family was too heartbroken to continue living in the house and sold it," wrote HGTV on its website.
"Today, the home is maintained as a museum and is said to be haunted by a 'lady in white.'"

The museum hasn't shied away from its ghostly reputation and each October it hosts ghost tours on the grounds at night.

In 2009, the Mark Twain House was featured in an episode of the popular cable television series "Ghost Hunters," which continues today.

On Oct. 13, the museum hosted a well-attended program featuring "Ghost Hunters" cast members Jason Hawes and Dustin Pari.

And, on Dec. 14, the Mark Twain House will host Adam Berry, an ex-"Ghost Hunter" and current cast member of another show, "Kindred Spirits," as well as longtime "Ghost Hunter" Steve Gonsalves for a visit. Tickets are available at this link.

Both will discuss their recently published paranormal books at the Immanuel Congregational Church, 10 Woodland St., Hartford.

For more information on the Mark Twain House & Museum, click on this link.

For the full, HGTV "creepiest places" list in the country, click on this link.

For more information on the museum's Dec. 14 program featuring Adam Berry and Steve Gonsalves, click on this link.