So what makes a haunted house look haunted?
We went down to the architectural crypt to find out what design features make a house go bump in the night. Then, we went house hunting in Portland to bring you a grisly, local look — just try not to scream.
There are few obvious architectural styles on a whole that tingle your spine and widen your eyes, namely Victorian-era styles, Adirondack architecture, and Gothic Revival — but to keep this scary story short, we’ve created a checklist with some skeleton key characteristics to look for this spooky season.
Haunted house checklist:
- Mansard roof + widow’s walk — as seen on the “Beetlejuice” house
- Rustic vibes, like heavy timber, natural stone + large fireplaces — like the Overlook Hotel in “The Shining”
- Ornate gables, asymmetry, pitched roofs — like The Haunted Mansion ride at Disney
- Prominent towers and turrets — as seen on the The Pink Palace from “Coraline”
- Located on a hill and/or with a wraparound porch
- Mimics human faces — like “Monster House” + “The Amityville Horror” house
- Lacks domestic features, i.e. void of curves, arches, vaults or domes — think of “House On Haunted Hill”
- Pointed arches, spires, flying buttresses — see Hogwarts castle
- Large and stained glass windows — like Whipstaff Manor in “Casper”
With this list in mind, let’s step through the creaky front doors of these three houses in Portland. Watch your head for cobwebs.
Pittock Mansion
Perched above Portland like a watchful gargoyle, this French Renaissance-style landmark is now a museum where visitors can explore the lives — and potential afterlives — of its namesake family. As you tour each room, it’s hard not to imagine rotary phones ringing in the night or poltergeists rattling the porcelain tea sets.
Johan Poulsen House
A staircase that leads to nowhere, a Prohibition-era wine cellar, and a chandelier that can float up toward the ceiling — this Queen Anne home captures the imaginations of many behind a veil of mystery.
Preservationists developed a plan to save the Fried-Durkheimer House (AKA the first Morris Marks residence) by cutting it in two and transporting it to a new location.
Photo via Google Maps
Fried-Durkheimer House
Don’t let its baby blue exterior fool you, this historic structure is home to... lawyers. Ahh! Several years ago, the 1880-built Italianate mansion crawled its way across town like a freshly unearthed zombie; powerful magic (and maybe a few power tools) later restored its youthful appearance.
