The S.K. Pierce Haunted Mansion In Massachusetts
LAER Realty PartnersThe S.K. Pierce Mansion in Gardner, Massachusetts.
The S.K. Pierce Mansion recently reentered the spotlight after the 7,000-square-foot property was listed for sale in April 2025 and billed as one of the “most haunted” mansions in Massachusetts.
Originally constructed in the Second Empire style around 1875 for Sylvester Knowlton Pierce, a prosperous furniture manufacturer, the four-story mansion was designed by E. Boyden & Son and sadly saw tragedy within its walls early on. Shortly after moving in, Pierce’s first wife, Susan, died suddenly of illness. Though he remarried, Susan’s death cast a dark shadow over the property.
Pierce himself died not long after, in 1888, and the family’s fortune started to decline. Pierce’s son converted the mansion into a boarding house, which hosted an array of unsavory activities, from gambling to alleged prostitution.
This unfortunate period also saw the emergence of many paranormal whisperings regarding the estate.
LAER Realty PartnersPhotographs of S.K. Pierce and his first wife, Susan.
Rumor spread that a sex worker was strangled to death in the “Red Room” on the second floor, and during renovations, female pelvic bones were reportedly found in the basement. This fueled speculation that a murder may have indeed been committed in the house, concealed by history.
There was also a particularly grisly story about a Finnish immigrant by the name of Eino Saari, who died in a fire in 1963. While it is true that Saari burned to death in the house, his tale took on a paranormal twist when people began to report that he had actually spontaneously combusted in his bed. Records indicate, however, that the cause was likely related to smoking. Still, his death strongly contributed to the paranormal reputation of the supposedly haunted mansion.
The home has since become infamous among paranormal circles. Guests and investigators have reported seeing the apparition of S.K. Pierce, his wives, their children, and a former nanny named Mattie Cornwell. Others have experienced shadowy figures, doors suddenly slamming, screens being ripped from windows, moving furniture, strange chanting, sudden temperature shifts, foul smells, and a house-rattling roar resembling a lion — said to be Pierce himself expressing disapproval.
TV shows like Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures have also visited the mansion, reinforcing its standing as a paranormal hot spot.
