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| Photograph ©Online Tour of Dubuque |
Address:
2241 Lincoln Avenue
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
(563) 557-9545
Constructed in 1837 by Mathias Ham, this residence began as a two-story structure with five rooms, offering a picturesque view of the meandering Mississippi River. Initially serving as a modest abode for Mathias, his wife, and their five children, the house underwent a significant transformation after the untimely demise of Mathias's wife. An additional three stories were added, expanding the dwelling to a grand total of twenty-three rooms.
Mathias, a prosperous entrepreneur involved in mining, lumber, agriculture, and shipping along the Mississippi, frequently occupied the topmost room of the house. From this vantage point, he could oversee his ships navigating the river. Legend has it that Mathias once spotted pirates on the river, promptly alerting the authorities. Subsequently, the pirates, vowing revenge, were apprehended.
By the late 1800s, the only surviving family member, Sarah Ham, one of Mr. Ham's daughters, resided alone in the sprawling mansion. One fateful night, Sarah, reading in bed, heard mysterious movements below. Investigating, she found no intruder but decided to enlist her neighbors' help if the situation recurred. When the sounds persisted, Sarah placed a lantern in her window as a distress signal.
The following night, Sarah, armed with a shotgun, confronted the intruder outside her bedroom. She fired two shots, and when neighbors arrived, they traced a bloody trail to the riverbank, discovering the deceased pirate captain who had threatened Mathias.
Today, the mansion functions as a museum with a reputation for harboring spectral entities. Witnesses have reported inexplicable lights drifting through the corridors and staircases. The top room, where Mathias once kept watch over the river, is believed to be haunted, with chilling sensations and the feeling of being observed reported by visitors.
Some attribute these eerie occurrences to the pirate who met an untimely end within the mansion's walls. Unexplained cold spots, gusts of icy air, and a general feeling of unease have been linked to this particular spirit. Employees have recounted instances of an old pump organ playing after the lights were extinguished, despite it being supposedly non-functional and closed.
Various auditory phenomena, such as disembodied voices and footsteps, have been reported both inside and outside the museum. The basement, near the site of a collapsed tunnel from years past, is a hotspot for strange noises. Despite the wealth of paranormal activity, documented research on the property remains elusive. The rich history and mysterious occurrences make this historical mansion a captivating subject for potential investigations into the supernatural.