What are some classic scary old house stories?

Some scary old stories include 'The Monkey's Paw'. In this story, a family is granted three wishes by a mummified monkey's paw, but every wish comes with a dreadful and unforeseen consequence. Also, 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' is well - known. It features Ichabod Crane and his encounter with the Headless Horseman, which is truly spooky.

There's also the story of the Borley Rectory in England. It was known as 'the most haunted house in England'. Witnesses claimed to see a nun's ghost, hear phantom footsteps, and experience poltergeist activity. There were reports of objects moving on their own and cold spots throughout the house.

One classic scary old west story is about the Headless Horseman of the West. Legend has it that a cowboy who was wrongly hanged came back as a headless specter on his horse, haunting the desolate canyons at night. Another is the story of the Ghost Town. When miners left a town in a hurry due to a series of unexplained deaths, it was said that the spirits of those who died remained, and strange noises and apparitions could be heard and seen at night. There was also the tale of the Witch of the Prairie. A woman accused of witchcraft was burned at the stake, and ever since, her angry spirit was said to cause misfortune to those who passed through the area where she died.

This might be a story: 'The old abandoned house was said to be haunted. Everyone in the town avoided it. But I was new in town and didn't believe in such stories. I went inside. There were broken furniture and old portraits on the walls. The eyes in the portraits seemed to follow me. As I walked further, I felt a cold breeze on my neck. I turned around, but there was nothing there. Then, I noticed a locked door. I found a key on the floor and unlocked it. Behind the door was a dark room filled with strange noises.'

The architecture of an old house can play a part in it 'saying' scary stories. For example, if it has long, dark hallways or hidden rooms. These features can make people feel like there are secrets lurking around every corner. Also, the sounds that old houses make, like the groaning of old wooden beams or the rattling of loose shutters, can seem like the house is communicating in a spooky way. Additionally, local legends or rumors about the house can influence our perception, making it seem as if the house is full of scary stories waiting to be told.

Darkness is a common element. Old houses in these stories are often dimly lit or completely dark, which adds to the sense of fear. Another element is strange noises, like creaking floors, moaning sounds, or footsteps when no one is supposed to be there. Eerie apparitions or shadowy figures are also typical. They might be seen out of the corner of one's eye or in a flash. And of course, a sense of isolation, as these old houses are usually far from other inhabited places, making it difficult for the characters to get help.

One old scary story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a narrator who is haunted by the eye of an old man he lives with and eventually kills him. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw' where a family gets a magical paw that grants wishes but with terrifying consequences. There's also 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' which features the Headless Horseman chasing Ichabod Crane.

Once upon a time, there was an old, dilapidated house on the outskirts of a small town. People said it was haunted. A young girl named Lily, who was new in town, didn't believe in such tales. One day, she decided to explore the house. As she entered, the door creaked loudly behind her. The rooms were filled with dusty furniture and cobwebs. Suddenly, she heard a strange moaning sound coming from upstairs. Her heart started to race, but her curiosity got the better of her. As she climbed the rickety stairs, a cold wind blew past her. When she reached the top, she saw a shadowy figure in one of the rooms. Terrified, she ran out of the house as fast as she could and never went back again.

One White House scary story is about the ghosts. Some people claim to have seen the apparition of Abraham Lincoln. It's said that his presence can be felt in the hallways, perhaps because of his great significance in American history. His spirit might be lingering as if he still has a connection to the place.

In the 'Bellows House Scary Stories', the house itself might be scary because of its architecture. Maybe it has long, dark hallways that seem to stretch on forever. The rooms could be filled with antique furniture that gives off an ominous vibe. There could be hidden passages and rooms that hold secrets and terrors. Additionally, the presence of strange, otherworldly entities that are associated with the house, like malevolent spirits or demons, would make it a truly terrifying place.