History & local legend
The Chester County History Center in West Chester includes Horticultural Hall, built in 1848. Before the historical society moved its collections there in 1942, the hall hosted flower exhibitions, a women's rights convention, speeches by Frederick Douglass, opera performances and veterans' gatherings.
In January 2009, a volunteer who had worked at the society for a year and a half described sometimes feeling that another person was present while alone in the building. A second visitor responded in March with a similar recollection.
Sources
- KreigenGeist89, January 9, 2009, and Datjdmbull, March 26, 2009, firsthand reports on the Chester County Historical Society, archived by StrangeUSA
- Chester County History Center, history of Horticultural Hall, its architect, exhibitions, convention, opera house, veterans’ post and museum
- Chester County History Center, Chester County A–Z, Frederick Douglass, identifies his appearances in the museum building
- Historic American Buildings Survey, Chester County Horticultural Hall, 225 North High Street
