1/5/17

By: Megan Hubbard

Recently, The Oliver house in Middleboro was featured in TLC’s show Paranormal Lockdown. The house is located on 443 plymouth street and was built in 1769 most likely as a newlywed present for the judge’s son Peter Oliver and his wife. Historical figures such as Benjamin Franklin was even a guest in the house.The land that the house was built on was an old Native American site from a couple thousand years ago. 90% of the Natives died there however due to a plague. It was also built where the Oliver Hall used to stand before it was burned down. The house had been passed down through generations of families before coming into the Oliver’s Hands. They renovated it and changed a lot because when they had first gotten the house it was in terrible condition. The basement of the house was used during the times of the underground railroad and there are secret panels and cubbies that can fit up to 12 people in times of threat.

Dr. Peter Oliver and his wife Sally were loyalists in to the crown which had caused tension with the residents in Middleboro. The residents wanted independance at the time from the British Empire. During the first year of living at the house, 2 mobs showed up at their house. In February of 1977 after the second mob, the family fled to England leaving the house abandoned.

Later after the building was abandoned by the Olivers, Thomas Weston moved in with his family. He died not long after that handing down the home to his daughter Bethaniah Sproat who was married to Earle Sproat. This family was doomed for an epic tragedy. The family was made up of Bethaniah, Earle, and 6 childern. 2 of the children past away in infancy. The last child who died in the house was Abby who was 1 years old. She died after knocking down a kettle of boiling water and scolded to death. Earle had then died from tuberculosis.

These mysterious and tragic deaths make the house known for paranormal activity. After the house was bought by the town of Middleboro, it was used as both a museum and ghost tours. This had all attracted Nick Groff and Katrina Weidman from Paranormal Lockdown to come and seek this place out themselves. The duo and their cameraman stayed at the house for 72 hours ( 3 days ) to see what they could find.

Both Katrina and Nick has encounters with some paranormal activity in the house. Katrina had first connected with the 1 year old Abby in a nursery upstairs and Nick had connected with both Earle and a young boy. With 3D images showing spirits touching them they also had audio recordings of whispers saying things like “ shhh “ and “ he’s upstairs.” On the first night Katrina was awoken in the night by an unknown cause. The second night Nick woke up and saw a young boy standing at the end of the hall in a bedroom. The next day they had a resident of Middleboro and her daughter come into the house. On a recent tour, the little girl claimed to be playing with a little boy in the same room where Nick saw him.

Overall the house is filled with tons of historical facts and stories. It was standing through crime and death. The condition of the house is remarkable and open to make reservation for tours or ghost tours. Who knew that this town had a paranormal background.