Vancouver Ghost Stories: Hidden House

It is probably the unseasonably warm weather, but I am not yet feeling the Halloween vibes in this first week of October. I started a series of Vancouver Ghost Stories last week with this post to help me get me in the mood, but I have not yet achieved a sufficient level of spooktasticness. However, I have learned some fascinating local lore. Vancouver is the oldest city in Washington state, and old cities are full of history, old houses and ghosts. Today’s tale focuses on one of the city’s most prominent families and their historic mansion.

The Lowell M. Hidden House at 100 W 13th Street was constructed in 1885 by Lowell Mason Hidden, the founder of Vancouver’s successful Hidden Brick Company. Since its founding in 1871 until its closing in 1992, the Hidden Brick Company supplied millions of bricks to several structures around the Vancouver area as well as other buildings in Portland, Astoria and Tacoma. Lowell and his family lived in the house until after his death in 1923. Clark College occupied the building from 1933 to 1937, and several restaurants have inhabited the house throughout the years. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Clark County Heritage Register. It is also the residence of a mischievous musical ghost.

There have been several reports by visitors over the years of hearing a female voice singing somewhere in the house with no apparent source identified. Items placed overnight on a particular table have been found lying on the floor the next morning. Doors have been known to lock all by themselves. Some suspect that these shenanigans are the handiwork of the spirit of Julia Hidden. Born in 1882 to Lowell and Mary Hidden, Julia lived at Hidden House until leaving home for college and was noted for her singing ability. She performed often at church and at women’s social clubs around town. She passed away in 1957, and perhaps misses delighting audiences with her vocal repertoire. If you get a chance to visit Hidden House (currently operating as an event space), listen closely for a ghostly song.

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