Louis Bromfield’s establishment of Malabar Farm in the late 1930s marked a significant chapter in Ohio’s agricultural and literary history. Bromfield, a renowned Pulitzer Prize-winning author, returned to his roots and transformed the land into a thriving farm. Through diligent efforts, he restored the soil’s fertility and constructed an impressive 32-room farmhouse to serve as a gathering place for his family and friends. Following Bromfield’s passing, between 1972 and 1976, Malabar Farm came under the ownership and protection of Ohio’s Department of Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture. In 1976, it was officially designated as a state park, inviting visitors to explore the farm, learn about Bromfield’s farming philosophies, and bask in the natural beauty it offers.
Within the grounds of Malabar Farm lies a house known as “The Ceely Rose House,” named after a notorious teenage killer. Although less renowned than the House of Wills, the Malabar Farm possesses its own captivating history. The Ceely Rose House, located in close proximity to Bromfield’s residence, has become the focal point of ghostly encounters at Malabar Farm. According to the tale, Ceely Rose, as a teenager, committed a heinous act by poisoning her mother, father, and brother with arsenic-laced water mixed into their cottage cheese. Her motive was to eliminate her family’s disapproval of her suitor. However, her nefarious plan was thwarted, and she was subsequently confined to a mental institution, where she ultimately passed away at the age of 83.
Numerous visitors to the Ceely Rose House have reported witnessing apparitions of a teenage girl wandering its halls, as if trapped in an eternal loop. Additionally, ghostly voices have been frequently heard, adding to the eerie atmosphere surrounding the house. These chilling encounters serve as reminders of the tragic events that unfolded within its walls, leaving an indelible imprint on the spiritual fabric of the Ceely Rose House.
While the veracity of these ghostly encounters cannot be definitively proven, the reported experiences contribute to the allure of Malabar Farm as a site of historical significance and paranormal interest. Today, visitors can immerse themselves in the captivating artifacts and stories of the past, exploring the farming legacy of Louis Bromfield while also contemplating the lingering presence of Ceely Rose within the haunted confines of the Ceely Rose House.
Sources:
1. “Malabar Farm State Park” – Ohio Department of Natural Resources, https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/discover-and-learn/places-to-visit/state-parks/malabar-farm-state-park
2. “Malabar Farm” – Destination Mansfield – Richland County, https://www.destinationmansfield.com/place/malabar-farm/
3. “Ohio’s Malabar Farm State Park: Once Home to Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Louis Bromfield” – The Columbus Dispatch, https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/2020/09/25/ohios-malabar-farm-state-park-once-home-to-pulitzer-prize-winning-author-louis-bromfield/42178847/
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