The Murder House: 131 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg

The Murder House

131 Baltimore Street

Gettysburg, PA

Adams county

By The PSEI Research Specialist Team

History and Background of Gettysburg:

Gettysburg the county seat of Adams County, Pennsylvania. The Battle of Gettysburg(1863) and President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address are named for this town. Named after James Getty one of the founding settlers of the area in 1761.

The Gettysburg Railroad was completed in 1858, routing between Gettysburg and Hanover. The Gettysburg Railroad Station opened in 1859, and lasted until 1942. However, the station was restored in 2011.

Civil War, July 1-3 1863:

The Battle of Gettysburg is thought to be the bloodiest battle fought during the American Civil War. When the battle was over, Confederate General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia retreated back into Virginia. Unfortunately, George G. Meade and the Army of the Potomac tried but failed to pursue them. The casualties were quite high; with over 27,000 Confederate and 23,000 Union losses. Many of the residents gathered to care for the wounded and bury the dead once the Confederates retreated. After which, approximately 8,000 men and 3,000 horses were left lay under the early July sun. Gradually, the soldiers' bodies were reinterred into the Gettysburg National Cemetery. On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln attended a ceremony to officially consecrate the grounds and delivered his famous Gettysburg Address.

The Jennie Wade House (other haunted location):

A 20-year-old woman, Jennie Wade, was the only civilian killed during the battle. She was hit by a stray bullet that passed through her kitchen door while she was making bread on July 3. Rumor has it that she died with unfinished business. EVP recording state that she was carrying the child of a Union Soldier. Also, her body was stored in the basement/cellar for several days.

Notable People:

• John Studebaker, co-founder of what would become the Studebaker Corporation automobile company, was born in Gettysburg in 1833.
• Eddie Plank, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, was born in Gettysburg in 1875 and played baseball at Gettysburg College.
• Steve Courson, former NFL player, played football at and graduated from Gettysburg Area High School in 1973. His #71 is the only number to be retired by GAHS.
• Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th US President, and his wife Mamie Eisenhower, retired to a farm near Gettysburg after leaving the White House in 1961. He lived there until his death in 1969.
• The Rev. Samuel Simon Schmucker, a founder of Gettysburg College, and Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.
• The Rev. Henry Eyster Jacobs (1844-1932), theologian and Lutheran seminary president
• Julia Jacobs Harpster (1846-1935), American Lutheran missionary in India, born in Gettysburg.

Gettysburg, PA Crime by Year:

YR	Location	Description	Murder	Rape	Robbey	Assault	Burglary	Theft	Vehicle Theft	Arson	Crime Index
14	Gettys,PA	Count	0	6	2	21	17	112	1	0
	Gettys PA	Per 100,000	0.0	78.3	26.1	273.9	221.7	1,460.8	13.0	0.0	1,187
	PA	Per 100,000	4.8	21.8	105.8	173.5	357.5	1,472.2	102.0	NA	1,111
	U.S.	Per 100,000	4.5	26.4	102.2	232.5	542.5	1,837.3	216.2	NA	1,423
13	Getty PA	Count	0	8	8	11	28	110	3	2
	Gettys PA	Per 100,000	0.0	104.5	104.5	143.7	365.9	1,437.3	39.2	26.1	1,386
	PA	Per 100,000	4.7	20.7	115.6	185.7	407.3	1,545.6	107.8	NA	1,176
	U.S.	Per 100,000	4.5	25.2	109.1	229.1	610.0	1,899.4	221.3	NA	1,477
12	Gettys PA	Count	1	5	1	20	24	155	3	4
	Gettys, PA	Per 100,000	13.1	65.5	13.1	262.0	314.4	2,030.4	39.3	52.4	1,493
	Pennsylvania	Per 100,000	5.4	26.1	122.8	194.4	445.5	1,603.1	117.7	NA	1,272
	U.S.	Per 100,000	4.7	26.9	112.9	242.3	670.2	1,959.3	229.7	NA	1,557
11	Gettysburg, PA	Count	0	3	8	25	23	166	3	0
	Gettys PA	Per 100,000	0.0	39.2	104.7	327.1	300.9	2,171.6	39.2	0.0	1,393
	Pennsylvania	Per 100,000	5.0	26.1	126.6	197.3	454.0	1,636.1	132.2	NA	1,295
	U.S.	Per 100,000	4.7	26.8	113.7	241.1	702.2	1,976.9	229.6	NA	1,576
10	Gettys, PA	Count	0	13	7	13	26	155	1	3
	Gettys, PA	Per 100,000	0.0	159.1	85.7	159.1	318.2	1,896.7	12.2	36.7	1,724
	Pennsylvania	Per 100,000	5.2	26.9	128.8	205.3	434.3	1,607.4	131.2	NA	1,295
	U.S.	Per 100,000	4.8	27.5	119.1	252.3	699.6	2,003.5	238.8	NA	1,610

Debra Harman (Victim):

Born: September 16, 1953

Died: August 31, 1985

Buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg PA

Mary Louise Snyder (Mother of Debra Harman)

Born: June 12, 1934

Died: April 12, 1934

Parents: Charles Brooks Hess (1902-1970)

Nellie Leeds Aughinbaugh Hess (1904-1983)

Jacob H. Snyder (Step-father of Debra Harman):

Born: May 28, 1933

Died: January 23, 1993

Buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg PA

Donald E Harman (Father of Debra Harman):

Born: 1936

Died: 1994

Interned at Saint Johns Lutheran Cemetery, Belleville PA

Hazel Harman (Paternal Grandmother to Debra Harman):

Born: 1910

Death: December 25, 1989

Buried at Flours Lutheran Church Cemetery

The Gettysburg Times December 26, 1989

Hazel I Harman, 79, of 1424 Biglerville Road, Gettysburg, died Monday morning at the Piney Mountain Home.

She was born in Adams County, daughter of the late Adam and

Sarah Stover Schultz. She was a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Cashtown, and was employed at the Gettysburg Silk Mill for 30 years before retiring a number of years ago.

She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Gettysburg, the VFW Post 15 Auxiliary, and the fraternal order of the Eagles Auxiliary. She also was a member of the Women of the Moose.

Her husband the late Earl L. Harman Sr. died in 1958.

She is survived by four children, Donald E Harman of Gettysburg, Jean E Sprankle of Orrtanna, Howard F Harman of Buchanan Valley, and Nancy L. McCleaf of Gettysburg, five stepchildren, Charles Harman of Hunterstown, Frances Witter of Hunterstown, Betty Miller of Hunterstown, Mildred Harman of Emmitsburg, Md., and Earl L. Harman Jr. of Philadelphia; nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, a number of step=grandchildren, a number of step-great-grandchildren, one sister Zora Churchman of Gettysburg; one brother, Dorsey A Shultz of Cashtown; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Friday at 2:00 at the Monahan Funeral Home in Gettysburg with her pastor the Rev. Charles E. Falk Jr. officiating. Interment is in Flohr’s Cemetery.

Timothy Hess (One of the 6 Pallbearers):

Born: April 25, 1955

Died: March 23, 2011

Buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg PA

*He was an avid Civil War Reenactor

Gettysburg Times - November 13, 1985

Gettysburg Times - October 3, 1985

Gettysburg Times - August 19, 1986

Gettysburg Times - February 20, 1987

Gettysburg Times - July 20, 1989

133 Baltimore Street - 1891

133 Baltimore Street - 1924

133 Baltimore Street - 1989

133 Baltimore Street - 2007

Modern Day Street View

Prior Investigations of the Murder House:

North Canton Paranormal Detectives (NCPD) of North Canton Ohio investigated the Murder House in 2015. They were quite successful in their investigation. They posted a YouTube video that's just under seven minutes compiling their findings. You can find the link to this video at, https://ncpdohio.com/evidence-video-3/ Here are two screen shots of “intelligent orbs” that were caught on thier IR Cam in the middle of two EVP sessions. A few of the spirits sounded “cranky”.

This is an aerial map to show how close the battlegrounds are to the investigation location.

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PSEI Research Specialists:

Andrea Batteas

Jonathan Batteas

Nicole Jankowski