The Conjuring House

The True Story Behind the Haunted Farmhouse

Nestled in the quiet town of Harrisville, Rhode Island, lies one of America’s most infamous haunted houses. Known as the Conjuring House due to its role in the 2013 horror movie The Conjuring, this 18th-century farmhouse has terrified all who dared to cross its threshold. Although the movie took some creative liberties, the real story behind the Conjuring House is just as bone-chilling.

A House with a Dark History

Originally built in 1736, the Conjuring House, officially called the Arnold Estate, has a history as eerie as it is tragic. Over the years, several deaths occurred within its walls and on its grounds. Records indicate that multiple people died there under mysterious or violent circumstances, including drownings, suicides, and even possible murders. Some historians claim that at least eight generations of one family, the Arnolds, lived—and in many cases, died—on the property.

The Perron Family’s Nightmare

In January 1971, the Perron family moved into the farmhouse, looking forward to a fresh start in the countryside. But soon after they arrived, strange events began to unfold. Carolyn and Roger Perron, along with their five daughters, noticed disturbing phenomena: mysterious noises, disembodied voices, and furniture moving on its own. The children saw spirits roaming the halls, many of whom appeared to be friendly, but a few were terrifying.

Carolyn Perron seemed to bear the brunt of the supernatural torment. She claimed to be physically attacked by an unseen force, often waking up to bruises and marks on her body. Carolyn also allegedly encountered a spirit she described as a malevolent woman. Believed to be Bathsheba Sherman, this spirit became the focal point of the hauntings.

The Legend of Bathsheba Sherman

According to local lore, Bathsheba Sherman was a woman who lived near the Arnold Estate in the early 1800s. Some believed she was a witch, accused of sacrificing an infant in a ritual. Although Bathsheba was never convicted due to lack of evidence, the rumors lingered. Bathsheba allegedly cursed the land and vowed vengeance on anyone who trespassed on her property. Decades after her death, many locals claimed to see Bathsheba’s spirit still haunting the grounds, and the Perron family believed that her restless soul was behind the paranormal activity they experienced.

The Warrens’ Investigation

Famed paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren took on the Perron family’s case in 1973. Lorraine, a clairvoyant, claimed to sense a strong, sinister presence within the home. She felt certain that Bathsheba’s spirit was tormenting the family, and Ed believed the land’s dark history fueled the hauntings. The Warrens attempted a seance to communicate with Bathsheba, but the ritual reportedly backfired. Carolyn was overtaken by a violent, unknown force, terrifying everyone present.

After the failed seance, the Perron family chose to live quietly with the hauntings. Although they would eventually leave the farmhouse in 1980, the trauma they endured left a permanent mark on them.

Life After the Perrons

The home’s notoriety only grew after the Perrons left, as tales of its hauntings continued to circulate. In recent years, new owners have opened the house to paranormal investigators and thrill-seekers, hoping to document the ghostly phenomena for themselves. People who have visited often report flickering lights, strange sounds, and cold spots—echoes, they believe, of the spirits that still linger. The house’s current owners even live-stream paranormal investigations, capturing unexplained sounds, shadowy figures, and strange disturbances in real time.

The Conjuring Movie vs. Real Life

When The Conjuring was released in 2013, it sparked renewed interest in the house and the Perron family’s story. While the movie heightened the scare factor, it was inspired by the real experiences of the Perrons and the Warrens’ investigation. The film added dramatic elements, but those who have lived or stayed in the home maintain that reality is often stranger—and scarier—than fiction.

A Modern-Day Haunting

Today, the Conjuring House stands as both a tourist attraction and a paranormal research site. Some visitors arrive out of curiosity; others are on a mission to encounter the paranormal firsthand. Yet, one thing is certain: the legend of the Conjuring House remains as chilling as ever. People continue to report unexplained events, from footsteps in empty rooms to mysterious voices calling out in the night. While skeptics may dismiss these as stories, those who have spent time there often leave believing that something otherworldly calls the Conjuring House home.

So if you ever find yourself near Harrisville, Rhode Island, and decide to visit, prepare for an experience that may just haunt you long after you leave.

Izel…