Win tickets to see The Fresno Grizzlies
Win tickets to The Fresno Grizzlies, the... Enter Now
The ghosts of Kearney Park
- Dec 14 2010
- 5
Several miles west of downtown Fresno, lies Kearney Park. The park was first started in 1892 by M. Theo. Kearney who had envisioned it to be part of a 225 acre agriculture complex. But what is now the mansion was originally meant to be the caretaker’s quarters. Unfortunately it and the adjacent servant's quarters were all that were built as Mr. Kearney died in 1906 and his dreams of an agricultural "Garden of Eden" never fully came to fruition.
Though Mr. Kearney died over a century ago, there are rumors that he still walks his property late at night, perhaps discouraged by the fact that his dreams were never fully realized. Stories also persist that a house maid by the name of “Nora S.” also roams the darkened halls of the mansion after the sun sets. Perhaps she feels she must continue to make sure the residence is kept in order for Mr. Kearney. Others have claimed to have seen a man wandering in the wooded area near the house. And still others have felt as if someone from the house was watching them and someone even claiming that they saw a female figure on the porch watching them.
But the ghost stories don’t end at the mansion. There is also stories of a woman dressed in white (some call her the White Witch) that haunts the railroad tracks on the property and that anyone who is unfortunate enough to see her eyes, dies immediately. Whether there is any truth to this story is highly unlikely. If anyone who looked into the eyes of the “White Witch” dies how can there be any witnesses to report on this?
I’ve tried several times to contact the Fresno Historical Society who maintains the mansion, but never received a reply from anyone there. Still, Kearney Park is one of those Fresno treasures that most people know about, but may have never gone. The City of Fresno currently owns the Mansion and Park and you can tour the Mansion for a small fee. Perhaps when you go, you might see one of the ghosts there. But if you see a woman dressed in white, don’t look her in the eyes. You don’t know what might happen.
5 Comment(s) for "The ghosts of Kearney Park"
From what I read about the property, there doesn't seem to be anybody that died IN the house. At the time Kearney died, he was on a boat headed for business in London. At the time that he died, the house on the park grounds was actually relatively new, with construction starting in 1892. http://historicfresno.org/nrhp/kearney.htm
Kearney himself had only stayed there a handful of times from the moment it was built to his death, since he traveled for business all over the place (he was an entrepreneur, it happened). The house that is now known as Kearney Mansion was never intended to be his house, his house was meant to be Chateau Fresno, a massive castle that was meant to rest on what is now the park (the Fruit Vale Estate). The house that became the "mansion" was just going to be the caretaker's house, for when he was away on business. The house, of course, never was finished because of his death. http://historicfresno.org/photo/kearney.htm
From what I could tell, no one had died on that land during the time Kearney owned it. It might be possible Kearney returned, but he never really stayed there for long in life. If there is a haunting, it might have predated the house, or it might have come later.
Either way, weirdfresno, maybe you should do a little research on your topic instead of posting what appears to be merely rumors. It really doesn't take a lot of digging to find some facts.
There is a cemetary at kearney park. Its just a feild. There are no head stones. Kearney park was actully a slave camp, and the field on the land hasn't been built on because the field that just looks like and empty field is actually the resting place of many slaves. City of Fresno is aware of this and that's y they wont build on it.
Can you cite your resources about this information?
I'm asking because that sounds ludicrous.
The original owner of the estate, Martin Theodore Kearney, was born in 1842. Slavery was abolished in the United States in 1833, nine years earlier than Kearney was even born .
Fresno, CA isn't even that old. The city is shown to have the earliest inhabitants in 1867 .
The land used to be owned by the Spanish when Mexico and California were there colonies, but the land became a part of the united states in 1846 . Again this is after slavery was abolished.
This may have been pre-dating US influence over the land, but I'm curios as to what you mean.
The Peacocks howling in the distance at night would add to the spooky feel. Isn't there a little graveyard on the property, too? Welcome, fellow featured blogger.
Where are the peacocks in relation to the house's location? I didn't know there were any at the park. As for the graveyard, I've heard the same stories but last time I was at the park I didn't have a chance to explore. Maybe if it doesn't rain this weekend I may take a drive out there.
And thanks for the welcome, looking forward to contributing the FF along with everyone else.